SIR ROBERT PHILIPS.

This gentleman was not one of those who make speeches out of mere parade and ostentation; he never spoke but when he was in earnest, nor indeed till he was in a downright passion.

Sir Robert Philip's Speech on the Dissolution of the Parliament

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PERCEIVE, that towards God and towards man, there is little hope, after our humble and careful endeavours, seeing our sins are so many and so great. I consider my own infirmities, and if ever my passions were wrought upon, it is now. This message stirs me up, especially when I remember with what moderation we have proceeded. I cannot but wonder to see the miserable strait we are now in-what have we not done to have merited better? Former times have given wounds enough to the people's liberty; we came hither full of wounds, and we have cured what we could; yet what is the return of all, but misery and desolation! what did we aim at, but to have served his majesty, and to have done that which would have made him great and glorious? if this be a fault, then we are all criminous. What shall we do, since our humble purposes are thus prevented, which were not to have laid any aspersion on the government; for they tended to no other end, but to give his majesty true information of his and our danger; and to this we are enforced out of a necessary duty to the king, our country, and to posterity; but we being stopped, and stopped in such a manner as we are now enjoined, must leave to be a council. I hear this with that grief as the saddest message of

the greatest loss in the world. But let us still be wise, be humble; let us make a fair declaration to the king.

Let us presently inform his majesty, that our firm intents were to shew him in what danger the commonwealth and state of christendom stands, and therefore, since our councils are no better acceptable, let us beg his majesty's leave, every man, to depart home, and pray to God to divert those judgments and dangers which too fearfully and imminently hang over our heads.

EDMUND WALLER

(The celebrated Poet,)

Was born 1605, and died in 1687. He was member for St. Ives. At first he was hostile to the court; but he seems to have been very wavering and undecided in his political opinions, and changed his party very often, according to his whim or convenience. I do not think there is any thing in the following speech very excellent, either for the matter or manner of it.

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Mr. Waller's Speech on the Supply.

Mr. Speaker,

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I WILL use no preface, as they do who prepare men for something in which they have a particular interest. will only propose what I conceive fit for the house to consider, and shall be no more concerned in the event than they that shall hear me.

Two things I observe in his majesty's demands; first, the supply, secondly, your speedy dispatch thereof.

Touching the first, his majesty's occasions for money are but too evident: for to say nothing how we are neglected abroad, and distracted at home, the calling of this parliament, and our sitting here (an effect which

no light cause in these times hath produced) is enough to make any reasonable man believe, that the exchequer abounds not so much with money, as the state doth in occasions to use it; and I hope we shall appear willing to disprove those who have thought to dissuade his majesty from this way of parliaments as uncertain, and to let him see that it is as ready and more safe for the advancement of his affairs, than any new or pretended old way whatsoever.

For the speedy dispatch required, which was the second thing, not only his majesty but res ipsa loquitur. The occasion seems to importune no less; necessity is come upon us like an armed man.

The use of parliaments heretofore, as appears by the writs that call us hither, was to advise with his majesty, of things concerning the church and commonwealth. And it hath ever been the custom of parliaments, by good and wholesome laws, to refresh the commonwealth in general, yea, and to descend into the remedies of particular grievances, before any mention made of a supply. Look back upon the best parliaments, and still you shall find, that the last acts are for the free gifts of subsidies on the people's part, and general pardons on the king's part. Even the wisest kings have first acquainted their parliaments with their designs, and the reasons thereof, and then demanded the assistance both of their counsel and purses. But physicians, though they be called of the latest, must not stomach it, or talk what might have been, but apply themselves roundly to the cure. Let us not stand too nicely upon circumstances, nor too rigidly postpone the matter of supply to the healing of our lighter wounds. Let us do what possibly may be done, with reason and honesty on our part, to comply with his majesty's desires, and to prevent the imminent evils that threaten us; consider that they who think themselves already undone, can never apprehend themselves in danger, and they that have nothing left can never give freely; nor shall we ever discharge the trust

of those that sent us hither, or make them believe that they contribute to their own defence and safety, unless his majesty be pleased first to restore them to the property of their goods and lawful liberties whereof they esteem themselves now out of possession One need not tell you that property of goods is the mother of courage, and the nurse of industry; it makes us valiant in war, and industrious in peace. The experience I have of former parliaments, and my present observation of the care the country has had to chuse persons of worth and courage, make me think this house like the Spartans, whose forward valour required some softer music to allay and quiet their spirits, too much moved with the sound of martial instruments. 'Tis not the fear of imprisonment, or if need be, of death itself, can keep a true hearted Englishman from the care, to leave this part of his inheritance as entire to his posterity, as he received it from his ancestors.

This therefore let us first do, and that speedily, that we may come to the matter of supply. Let us give new force to the old laws, which have been heretofore for the maintaining of our rights and privileges, and endeavour to restore this nation to its fundamental and vital liberties, the property of our goods, and the freedom of our persons; no way doubting, but that we shall find his majesty as gracious and ready as any of his royal progenitors have been, to grant our just desires therein. For not only the people do think, but the wisest do know, that what we have suffered in this long vacancy of parliaments, we have suffered from his ministers; that the person of no king was ever better beloved of his people, and yet that no people were ever less satisfied with the present ways of levying money. These are two truths which may serve, the one to demonstrate the other; for - such is the opposition to the present courses, that neither the admiration they have of his majesty's natural incli nation to justice and clemency, nor the pretended consent of the judges, could make them willingly submit

themselves to this late tax of ship money; and such is their natural love and just esteem of his majesty's goodness, that no late pressure could provoke them, nor any example invite them, to disloyalty or disobedience. What is it, then, that hath bred this misunderstanding betwixt the king and his people? How is it that, having so good a king, we have so much to complain of? Why, Mr. Speaker, we are told of the son of Solomon, that he was a prince of a tender heart, and yet by the advice of violent counsellors how rough an answer he gave to his people,-that his fingers should be as heavy as his father's loins: this was not his own, but the voice of some persons about him, that wanted the gravity and moderation requisite for the counsellors of a young king.

I wonder at those that seem to doubt the success of this parliament, or that the misunderstanding between the king and his people should last any longer, when now they are so happily met. His majesty's wants are not so great, but that we may find means to supply him, nor our desires so unreasonable or incompatible with government, but that his majesty might well satisfy them; for our late experience, I hope, will teach us what rocks to shun, and how necessary the use of moderation is; and for his majesty, he has had experience enough how that prospers which is gotten without the concurrent good will of his people: never more money taken from the subject, never more want in the inchequer. If we look upon what has been paid, it is more than usually the people of England were wont to pay in such a time. If we look upon what has been effected therewith, it shews as if never king had been worse supplied; so that we seem to have endeavoured the filling of a sieve with water. Whosoever gave advice for these courses, has made good the saying of the wise man, Qui conturbat domum suam, possidebit ventum. By new ways they think to accomplish wonders, but, in truth, they grasp the wind, and are at the same time cruel to us and to the king too; for let the commonwealth flouVOL. I.

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