BEing ill used by False and Mistaken Representations in Writing published in Coffee-Houses and other Places, of what I said in my Place in the time of my Speaker-ship in the last Parliament. To prevent Falsities and Mistakes relating to what I have said in this Parliament; I am Content these Papers be Printed by Gabriel Kunholt, and that No other Person presume to Print them. Withall, I desire all Persons to take Notice, that I shall endeavour to bring such persons to Punishment, who shall hereafter Publish in Writing any thing relating to me in my present Service, without my Approbation. Ʋnder my Hand 23. March, 1680/1.
THE SPEECH Of the Honorable WILLIAM WILLIAMS Esq SPEAKER Of the House of COMMONS, To the Honorable House of COMMONS, Upon the Electing of him SPEAKRER in the PARLIAMENT at OXFORD, Monday the 21tsh. day of March, 1680/1.
TOGETHER, With his Speeches to His Most Excellent MAJESTY. At the Presenting him Speaker to his Majesty by the Commons in Parliament.
Ʋpon Tuesday 22th. day of the same Month.
OXFORD; Printed by Leo. Lichfield, for Gabriel Kunholt, Book-binder to his Highness Prince Rupert, to be sold at his Shop overaginst the Muse, London, MDCLXXXI.
Numb. 59
THE SPEECH OF THE Honorable William Williams Esq To the House of COMMONS.
Upon the Electing of him Speaker at Oxford, Munday 21th. March, 1680/1.
IT were Vanity in me by Arguments from Weakness and Ʋnfit ness, to disable my self for Your Service in this Chair at this time.
The Ʋnianimous Voice of the House calling me to this Place, Concludes me, and leaves me without Excuse. Whom the Commons have [Page 6] Elected for this Trust, is to be supposed Worthy, and Fit for it. Wherefore I must acquiesce in Your Commands.
Apprehending this Choice proceeds from the Example you have from Your Countreys by Your own Elections, making this Parliament, as much as in you and them lies, the same with the last; Therefore You have the same Speaker.
I ought not to offer any sort of Assurance to this House, of my resolved Constancy, Fidelity, and Vigilancy, in the discharge of this Duty: The Just sence I have of the Honour generously given me this day, is Your Stipulation for my good Abearance. The Trust I owe, and am to answer to God, my Religion, to England and English-men in this Service, must tye me to do and suffer all that Flesh and Bloud can Act or endure, in Your Chair.
This is not the time to speak Much, but to act Well, without more words then in order to our proper Parliamentary method of Proceeding. Centlemen, Admit me to make it my first Motion, [Page 7] That Your Debates and Proceedings, may be Regular and Orderly, without Reflexion, without Passion: and that my actings and Behaviour may have your Kind and Candid Construction, and You shall find there is not any thing so dear to me, which shall not be adventured in the Service of the Commons in Parliament by me.
That the Thanks of this House be given to Mr. Speaker, for the Speech by him made in the House of Lords, upon his being Presented to His Majesty. And that he be desired to Print the same.
THE SPEECH Of the Honorable William Williams Esq To His Most Excellent MAJESTY At the Presenting of him Speaker by the Commons to His MAJESTY at OXFORD, Ʋpon Tuesday 22th. March, 1680/1.
THE Knights, Citizens, & Burgesses in Parliament Assembled, with Duty and Loyalty agreeable to Themselves and the Persons whom they Represent, have in Obedience to Your Royal Pleasure, for the Disposing of Themselves in that Great Assembly, for Your Majesties service Considered of a Speaker, and to manifest to Your Majesty and the World, They are not inclinable to Changes, have with one Voice Elected [Page 12] me Their Speaker, having had the Honor to serve Your Majesty and the Commons in that Trust in the last Parliament.
With all Humility I presume again, by Their Command, to stand before Your Majesty in this circumstance, with an Head and Heart full of Loyalty to Your Sacred Person: Armed with asettled Resolution, never to depart from Your well Constituted and Established Government.
The Lord Chancellor by His MAJETIES Command, said to this Purpose.
FOR so I am Commanded to call You: His Majesty hath well Considered the Choice the Commons have made, and doth very much Approve of that Election, and doth Accept and Allow of you their Speaker.
The second Speech of William Williams Esq Then Presented to his Most Excellent MAJESTY.
NAtural Allegeance Commands Loyalty to Your Majesty from every Subject. Your singular Grace and Favour to me in the last Parliament, Confirmed by the Honor I have in this, add more then Dutifulness and Obedience to my Loyalty.
I am set in the first Station of Your Commons, for Trust and Quality; an High and Slippery Place. It requires a Steady Head and a well Poised Body, in him that will stand firm there: Uprightness is the safe Posture and best Policy, and shall be mine in this Place; guarded with this Opinion, that Your Majesties service in this Trust, is one and the same with the service of Your Commons, and that they are no more to be divided then Your Crown and Scepter.
They truly and best serve the Crown and Country (which shall be my Care and Industry) [Page 14] who make the Safety of Your Sacred Person, the defence and security of the Protestant Religion, the Support of Your Majesties Government, the Maintenance of the Laws, and Preservation of the ancient Constitutions of Parliament; one and the same undevided Interest, one and the same Safety, one and the same inseperable Security, for your Self and People. These are the Desires of all Good men; but must be the effects of Good Counsels; for the Inabling of your Majesties great Counsel now in Parliament Assembled, to Compleat this Blessed Establishment. With all Humility, I address to your Majesty, in the Name, and on the behalf of the Commons in Parliament.
- 1. That we and our servants may be free in our Persons and Estates, from Arrests and other Disturbances.
- 2. That in our Debates, Liberty and Freedom of Speech be allowed us.
- 3. That as occasion shall require, your Majesty will vouchsafe us Access to your Royal Person.
[Page 15] I take leave to join this Humble Petition for my self, that nothing by me in Weakness, or through Inadvertency said or done, may turn to the prejudice of the Commons, and that my Behaviour and Proceedings, may receive a benigne and favourable Interpretation, with your Gracious Majesty.
The Lord Chancellor by Command from His Majesty, said to this effect.
ALL your Petitions are fully and freely granted by His Majesty, in as large and ample manner, as ever any House of Commons yet enjoyed them: The King is very sure the Wisdom of this House of Commons, will make as prudent an Ʋse of them, as any of your Ancestors ever did. Your own particular Petition is grateful to the King too, because he knows you will be as Careful to avid Mistakes, as his Majesty is ready to Forgive them.
And now Mr. Speaker, these Preliminaries being thus over, the King desires you would hasten to the rest that are necessary to be dispatched, [Page 17] before we can enter upon business, that so we may husband time, which is now more necessary then ever; and He hopes this Parliament will come to a very happy and prosperous Conclusion, and that it may do so, God Almighty prosper all your Consultations.