us be careful, then, to preserve the king's good opinion of parliaments, which bringeth this happiness to this nation, and makes us envied of all others, while there is this sweetness between his majesty and the commons, lest we lose the repute of a free-born nation, by turbu lency in parliament; for, in my opinion, the greatest and wisest part of a parliament, are those that use the greatest silence, so as it be not opiniative, or sullen, as now we are,* by the loss of these our members that are committed.

This good correspondency being kept between the king and his people, will so join their love and favour to his majesty with liking of parliaments, that his prerogative shall be preserved entire to himself, without our trenching upon it; and also the privilege of the subject (which is our happiness) inviolate, and both be maintained to the support of each other. And I told you, if you would hear me patiently, I would tell you what exception his majesty doth take at those gentlemen that are committed. You know that eight members were chosen to deliver the charge against the duke; but there were only six employed for that purpose, and to these there was no exception.

As for Sir Dudley Digges's part, that was the prologue: and in that his majesty doth conceive that he went too far beyond his commission, in pressing the death of his ever blessed father in these words: That he was commanded by the house, to say concerning the plaister applied to the king, that he did forbear to speak farther in regard of the king's honour, or words to that effect. This his majesty conceiveth to be to his dishonour, as if there had been any underhand dealing by his majesty, in applying of the plaister; and this may make his subjects jealous of his doings. In this point his majesty is assured, that the house did not warrant him. Now for that which is excepted against Sir John Elliot, his over bitterness in the aggravation upon the whole charge, and specially

That is, obstinately silent.

upon some of the heads of it; (as I never heard the like in parliament before, but I have indeed heard the like when the criminal was indicted, or accused at a bar.) For if you please to remember, when I moved for putting of the St. Peter, of Newhaven, out of the charge against the duke of Buckingham, and shewed my reasons for that purpose, you know how tender Sir John Elliot was of it, as if it had been a child of his own; and so careful in the handling thereof by a stranger, that he would not suffer it to be touched, though with never so tender a hand, for fear it might prove a changeling: which did manifest, how specious soever his pretences were, that he had oculum in cauda; and, I must confess, I was heartily sorry, when he delivered his aggravation to the lords, to see his tartness against the duke, when as he had occasion to name him, he only gave him the title of this man, and the man; whereas, the others observed more respect and modesty, in their charges against so great a person as the duke is; considering, that then he was not convicted, but stood rectus in curia. Lastly, for pressing the death of his late majesty, you know that the sense of the house concluded, That it was only an act of presumption; nay, some of them expressly said, nay, God forbid that I should lay the death of the king to his charge. If he, without warrant from the house, insisted upon the composition of the plaister, as if there were aliquid latet quod non patet, this was beyond his commission from our house, and this is that which his majesty doth except against: and this, I say, drew his majesty, with other insolent invectives, to use his royal authority in committing him to the Tower. I move, therefore, for a grand committee, to consider of the best remedy to get us out of this strait.

SIR HENEAGE FINCH.*

The Speaker's Speech, on delivering the Declaration of the House of Commons, relating to the Supply.

Most gracious and dread sovereign,

ACCORDING to that liberty of access, and liberty of speech, which your majesty and your royal progenitors have ever vouchsafed to your house of commons, your majesty's most humble and loyal subjects, the commons, now assembled in parliament, have been suitors for this access to your royal throne.

And out of their consideration of the nature, and of the weight and importance of the business, they have thought the attendance of the whole house, with their speaker, not too solemn; and yet, they have not thought fit barely to commit those words, which express their thoughts, to the trust of any man's speech, but are bold to present them in writing to your gracious hands, that they may not vanish, but be more lasting than the most powerful words of a more able speaker are like to be.

I have much to read, and shall, therefore, as little as I can, weary your majesty with speeches.

This parchment contains two things; the one, by way of declaration, to give your majesty an account and humble satisfaction, of their clear and sincere endeavours and intentions in your majesty's service; and the other, an humble petition to your majesty, for the removal of that great person, the duke of Buckingham, from access to your royal presence.

For the first, They beseech your most excellent majesty to believe, that no earthly thing is so dear and pre

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cious to them, as that your majesty should retain them in your grace and good opinion; and it is grief to them, beyond my expression, that any misinformation, or misinterpretation, should at any time render their words or proceedings offensive to your majesty.

It is not proper for any one to hear the echo of a voice, that hears not the voice; and if echoes be sometimes heard to double, and redouble, the echo of the echo is still fainter, and sounds not louder.

I need not make the application : words misreported, though by an echo, or but an echo of an echo, at a third or fourth hand, have oft a louder sound than the voice itself; and may sound disloyalty, though the voice had nothing undutiful or disloyal in it.

Such misinformations, they fear, have begot interruptions and divisions, which have delayed the ripening and expediting of those great counsels, which concern your majesty's important service, and have enforced this declaration.

I pass from that to the petition; in which my purpose is not to urge those reasons, which your majesty may hear expressed in their own words, in the language of the people.

I am only directed to offer to your great wisdom, and deep judgment, that this petition of theirs is such, as may stand with your majesty's honour and justice to grant.

Your majesty hath been pleased to give many royal testimonies and arguments to the world, how good and gracious a master you are; and that, which the queen of Sheba once said to the wisest king, may, without flattery, be said to your majesty: Happy are those servants which stand continually before you.

But the relations, by which your majesty stands in a gracious aspect towards your people, do far transcend, and are more prevalent and binding, than any relation of 4 master towards a servant; and to hear and satisfy the

just and necessary desires of your people, is more honourable than any expression of grace to a servant.

To be a master of a servant, is communicable to many of your subjects; to be a king of a people, is regal, and incommunicable to subjects.

Your majesty is truly stiled by that name, which the greatest emperors (though they borrow of names and titles, from those countries which they gained by conquest,) most delighted in, Pater Patria; and the desires of children are preferred before those of servants; for the servant abideth not in the house for ever, but the son abideth ever.

The government of a king was truly, termed by your royal father, a politic marriage between him and his people; and I may safely say, there was never a better union between a married pair, than is between your majesty and your people.

MR. CRESKELD.

If the thoughts in the following introduction to an elaborate legal dissertation are conceits, they are nevertheless ingenious and poetical conceits.

Mr. Creskeld's Speech on the Detention of some members of the House.

I STAND up to speak somewhat concerning the point of the subject's grievances, by imprisonment of their persons, without any declaration of the cause, contrary to, and in derogation of, the fundamental laws and liberties of this kingdom.

I think I am one of the puisnes of our profession,. that are members of this house; but howsoever, sure I