I Must acknowledge that God hath been good unto me from my Cradle to this moment, and of all his Providences to me there is none for which I have greater reason to bless his holy name, than that he hath enabled me to govern my self and actions so, as to gain your good opinion and kindness, and I cannot but own I have your favour accom­panied with all the obliging Circumstances imaginable: for the first time that you were plea­sed to command my Service was in the 18 Years Parliament, upon the death of Sir Foulk Lucy, who had served you faithfully in that Parliament; and though I was raw and unacquainted with those affairs, and without any Tryal of my Integrity, you ventured all you had in my hands at a time when England was in danger to be lost for want of a Vote: For that Parliament chiefly consisted of such as sold their Country for private advantage, and would have sold their King too, if they could have made a better market; I served you some time in that Parliament, at last it was Dissolved, and a new one called, and then as if you had approved of what I did, you thought fit to imploy me again in that Service, though you laid him aside who had been my Colleague; that Parliament continued not long, but was Dissolved, and a new one called; and then again a third time you thought me fit to represent you in Parliament, though as you had done before you set him aside whom you had sent along with me, and Chose a new one in his room; but why you did me so Singular an honour as to continue me in your Service two Parliaments together, and did not the like to the other Gentlemen, it is not for me to give the reasons of it, those are best known to your selves. This is now the fourth time that I have waited on you on the like occasion, and it is not a lessening of your former kindness, that you have not changed my former Partner; but rather a Confirmation of it, because that the first time you have continued him is when he appears to be of my opinion; and that which [Page 2]still adds weight to your kindness is, that notwithstanding all this stir, this bustle, this unnecessary charge and expence, all the Stories by which I have been traduced, you have not been prevailed upon to withdraw or diminish your favour.

Gentlemen, I humbly beg your Patience to speak a few words in answer to what they say of me, lest by Silence I may seem to cry Amen to their reports and Stories; the first thing they reported, was that I would not stand again, but would decline your Service: but withall they give no reasons for it, only it is so because they said it; but what reason there is to con­tradict them now who said so the last time, and how true it was you well remember. So that this being the Second time that they have told you the self same falshoods, I hope for the future that others will believe them as little as you have done. It was reported that I was kill'd without giving any reasons or Circumstances, and that to this also they expected an implicit belief, I wish they are not for an implicit faith in all things; it was truly an excellent Artifice to threap you out of your Votes; yet had I been kill'd, had it been for your Service, I should have thought my self well bestowed, and rather meet than avoid the occasion of my Death. They t [...]l you also that I am very obnoxious to the King, but they do not tell you that I am restored to my former Station of my Commission of the Peace, without seeking or desiring it, it cannot be imagined that his Majesty would be so Gra­cious to a man of whom he hath an ill opinion, and it is a reflection to his Majesty to think he will do a thing of that Nature out of any regard whatsoever, but when a thing carries its weight and reasons with it; so that by this you may discern how all their reports are grounded, being rather the effects of their desires than that the thing is truly so.

It seems the Gentlemen are much displeased that this County have frequently command­ed those of my Family to serve them in Parliament, they call it an entailing upon the Fa­mily, but they are not pleased to vouchsafe the reasons why the Son may not be imployed as well as the Father, in case he proves as fit for it; but the truth is, they would govern you, and are angry that you will be your own chusers; yet whether in this they design to serve you or their own ends, I submit to your Judgement; but as to my own particular, they think the County highly—that I have served you in several Parliaments. Alas Gentlemen, I know I am much inferiour in Parts and Learning to a great many, but in faithfulness to your Interest, I will submit to no man; but if you would observe it, they would impose that upon you which they would not have done to themselves. If they have a Servant who hath served them faithfully, they would not take a new one in his room; be­cause they have entertained him several years; but you must change your Members as oft as you have new Parliaments, though they serve you well, and you ought to hate them because they would have it so: for they give no better reasons for it; but whether they seek your good or their private regard I leave to you to determine.

A Reverend Gentleman at Northwich was pleased to tell you, that you must not chuse the same Members again, for if you did, the King and Parliament would not agree. I won­der how long he hath been one of the Kings Cabinet Council that he can tell so well before; if we may believe the greatest Ministers, they say otherwise, and that the King out of his gracious disposition to his people will deny himself in that which is most dear, rather than break with his people, so that either he or they are out; and I am not convinced that he is infallible, and am apt to believe that he is in the wrong, since I have ob­served that they are for the most part mistaken, who take upon them to judge of matters when they are at so great a distance from White-Hall, though it may be remembred that this Gentleman hath an affair at London, that requires his presence much oftner than he is pleased to afford it; and but that great wits are unhappy in short memories, that Gentleman could not have forgot that if the Parliament had continued, one of his Cloth had been severely reproved for medling with matters not belonging to his Function, I mean Mr. Thomson of Bristol, and I hear there is so great a number of the last House chosen, and like to be chosen, that his fault will be remembred, which by the way, Gen­tlemen, is the Judgement of you in your choice of me, you doing that which the rest of the Nation hath done, and where any change is, it is only to reject those that were Pensio­ners, or else vehemently suspected to be Mercenaries. But I could wish it were not the opinion of too many, that the way to recommend themselves as true Sons of the Church is to Preach seldom, and meddle with State affairs more.

I hear some have taken offence, because at Northwich I did commend the last House of Commons; truly Gentlemen I only gave it as my Opinion, and till the contrary doth appear I must believe that for Riches, Integrity, Learning, Experience, and all things that are expedi­ent for Members of that House, England never had a better; and why the Parliament was Dissolved I know not, for they who advised it, have neither dared to own it, nor the reasons for it. There is one thing I could not but take notice of, in the opposition [Page 3]that hath been made against me; If you will observe, they are the persons that were most inveterate one against another in the dispute between Sr. Philip Egerton and my Cou­sin Chollomondley; but to oppose me they are united as one man. If their new made Friend­ship be sincere, and they have this way to do it, I am very glad I have been the occasion of their reconciliation; but if in this matter alone they are cemented, then it doth disco­ver upon what principles they act, and they are to be blamed, and not the Gentlemen who were set up to oppose me; for I believe them both to be very worthy men, one of them is my Neighbour, and I will do him what Service I can, and for the other he shall find me a Gentleman if he hath occasion to use me.

Gentlemen, I have as well as I can repeated the particular charges against me, I had but a short time to recollect my self: there remains yet a general Charge which I desire to speak to; and truly it is an heavy charge, a charge not to be born if I were guilty of it. They say I am an evil man as to the King and Church; I wish my accusers had either so much power or will to serve the King or Church as I have; and because I do not know my self to be guilty as to either of them, I hold my self obliged to say something in my Vindication.

I know not where I ever gave my Vote to impair the Kings Prerogative; for this is my principle and ever hath been my opinion, that the Kings Prerogative when rightly used, is for the good and Benefit of the People; and the Liberties and Properties of the People are for the support of the Crown and Kings Prerogative, when they are not abused; but this blessed Harmony may sometimes be disordered either by the influence of some ill Coun­sel about the King, who to obtain their own ends, do not care to ruin their King and Master; or else from the restless Spirits of some ambitious men of broken fortunes, who hope to repair them out of other mens Estates. But it seems that I and the House of Com­mons are much to blame, because by one of our Votes we forbid the People to lend Money upon the Revenue by way of anticipation: I never knew it was a Crime to pass a Vote the Law had justified, for the Law will maintain every part of that Vote; and therefore I need say no more of it, and besides this is not a place to argue it in. As for my part I'll do my best to preserve the Kings Prerogative, and the way to do it is neither to add nor diminish; for to make a King absolute is not to support but pull down his Prerogative, for the King holds his Prerogative by the Law, and if that be destroy'd, the Title is to be dispu­ted by the Sword, and he that hath the sharpest will prove to have the best right. As to the Church I am for it as it is now Established under Episcopacy, but I would have them to be such as St. Paul to Tim. in his first Book and 3 chap. describes, and when they live according­ly, I have as great a reverence for them as any man, but when they live otherwise they prove to be—& a ruin of the Church, and ought to be abhorr'd of all true Christians. And for Ceremonies I take them not to be necessary to Salvation, but for decency and order sake, and I conceive, this Ceremony is so much the more necessary, as it tends to the more effectual uni­ting of Protestants, and to preserve Peace and concord in the Church: I am of opinion the Church is in danger, and I'le do my best to support it, and as the case stands we must either bring in Protestants or Papists; I am for bringing in Protestants, and that is my Crime; but you are pleased to judge me to be in the right. Now I will no longer doubt of my opinion, I am sure he that is against bringing in Protestants is for bringing in Papists; and whether it be more profitable to support the Church by uniting of those who differ in Ceremonies, or those who differ in Fundamentals I think is very plain. Is he a wise man who if his house be falling, by reason of too much weight upon the roof, will lay more upon it, rather than prop it up and take off some of the weight? So they who take the Church to consist of Ceremonies, must pardon me that I am not of their opinion, since the word of God warrants no such thing, and my reason tells me that they are too much interested in the cause to be fit judges: for with them he is accounted a good Son of the Church, who keeps a great stir about Ceremonies, though he live never so ill a life, and perhaps is drunk when he performs his Devotion: but if a man seem to be indifferent as to Ceremonies and make them no more than indeed they be, yet in Practice Conforms more than he that makes a greater noise about them, though he live never so godly a life, and as near as he can to the rule of Gods word, yet he is a Fanatick and an enemy to the Church; but God Almighty tells us he will have mercy and not Sacrifice.

Gentlemen, They who accuse me for an enemy to the King and Church have left you out of the story; but I hope I shall not forget you, but remember on whose errand I am sent; and as I have hitherto stuck to your interest, I hope nothing will draw me aside from it, and if I know my own heart, I am perswaded that neither rewards, threats, hopes nor fears will prevail upon me. I desire nothing but to promote Gods glory and the interest of the King and people, and if it shall please God to let me see the Protestant Religion and Government established, I shall think I have lived long enough, and I shall be willing [Page 4]at that instant to resign my breath. Gentlemen, I thought good to say this to you, and I thank you for your patience, and hope I shall so behave my self in your Service, that I shall make it appear I am sensible of the honour you have done me.

I humbly thank you all.