Master speaker his speech to His Majestie, in the High Court of Parliament, the fifth day of November, 1640. — Mr Speaker his speech to His Majestie.

Master speaker his speech to His Majestie, in the High Court of Parliament, the fifth day of November, 1640. — Mr Speaker his speech to His Majestie.

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Title page

Master Speakers Speech in the High Court of Parliament, to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, the fifth of November, 1640.

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Master Speakers Speech in the High Court of Parliament, to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, the fifth of November, 1640.

Most gracious and dread Soveraigne,

IN all submissive humblenesse, the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons are here assembled, who taking along with them your gracious inclination, have according to their ancient liberties designed me their Speaker.

Whereas I cannot but lament to think how great a mist may overcast the hopes of this Sessions, yet a note of favour to me, who cannot but judge my self unfit for so great imployment, which so appeares to the whole World.

Many there be of deep Judgment, and sad experience, that might have added lustre to this action, and [Page] expedition to the work, if they had pleased to have left me in that mean condition they found me.

Non mihi tacuisse nocet, Nocet esse Locutum.

And then might your Sacred and pious intentions have had their full advancement.

But is it yet too late? may I not appeal to Caesar?

Yes▪ I may, and in the lowest posture of humility. I humbly beseech your Sacred Majesty to interpose your Royall Authority, to command a review of the house, for there were never more than now fitted for such Imployments.

My Lord Keeper approves of him by his Majesties direction, Then he goes on,

It pleaseth not your Sacred Majesty to vouchsafe a change.

Actions of Kings are not to be by me reasoned.

Therefore being imboldened by this Gracious approbation, give me leave a little, Dread Soveraigne, to expresse my own thoughts unto our gracious Lord the King.

I see before my eyes with admiration the Majesty of great Brittaine, the Glory of times, the history of honour, CHARLES the First, in his forefront placed by discent of antiquity (Kings) setled by a long succession, and continued to us by a pious and peacefull government.

[Page]On the one side the Monument of Glory, the Progeny of valiant and puissant Princes, the Queens most Excellent Majesty.

On the other side, the hopes of posterity, and joy of this Nation, those Olive branches set round your tables, Emblems of peace to posterity.

Here shine those Lights and Lamps placed in a Mount, which attend your sacred Majesty as supreme head, and borrow from you the Splendor of their Government.

There the true state of Nobility, figures of Prowesse and Magnanimity, fitted by their long contracted honour in their blood, for the Councell of Princes.

In the midst of those the Reverend Judges, whither both parts (as to the Oracles of Judgment and Justice) may resort, Cisterns that hold fair waters, wherein each deviation; each wrinckle is discernable, and from thence (as from the Center) each crooked line ought to be levelled; The footstoole of your Throne is fixed there, which renders you glorious to all posterity.

Here we the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons house, at your royall feet, contracted from all parts of your Kingdom, Ensignes of obedience and humility, all these united by the law equally distributed, which cements this great body to the obedience of your Sacred Majesty;

And compells as well the hearts as the hands to contribute for the preservation of your Majesty, and the Common interest,

Dissipates the Invaders of the Church and Common Wealth, and discovers the Impostures, but (give me [Page] leave dread Soveraigne) knits the Crown to the Sacred Temples, and frees Majesty from the Interpretation of mis-doing.

Amongst these this great Councell is most Soveraign against the distempers of this Nation.

Were they infested at Sea, troubled at home, or invaded from abroad, here was the Sanctuary of refuge, hither was the resort, and no other way found for a foundation of peace.

It is reported of Constantine the great, that he accounted his Subjects purse his Exchequer, and so it is.

Subtile inventions may pick the purse, but nothing can open it but a free Parliament; which lets in the eye of Soveraignty upon the publique maladies of the state, and vigilancy for the preservation of our ancient liberties; for this we need not search into antiquity, look but a little back, there we shall see our just liberties gratiously confirmed by your most sacred Majesty,

And is our happiness shut up in the remembrance of times past only? No.

Those gratious expressions lately fal'n from your sacred lips, as hony from the combe, make glad the hearts of your people.

So that now we do more then promise to our selves a large and free consideration of the wayes to compose the distempers of these Kingdomes, and then present them to your royall hand for perfection.

And such shall be our deportment, that as we shall labour the continuance of our liberties, so shall we carry a high regard to preserve that Soveraigne power wherewith your Majesty is invested for the preservation of your Kingdome, and to render your sacred Majesty [Page] terrible to the Nations, and glorious at home▪

Are these the fruits we have enjoyed by Parliaments? we cannot then but wonder at that horrid invention in this place projected, Monstrum horrendum, informe, ingens but the Lord be thanked, Cui lumen ademptum est. Can this receive a Palliation? Men, Fathers, and Brethren, and all at one blast; no reverence to sacred Bones of Princes? were we not all in a lump by them intended to be offered up to Moloch.

Let us never forget this days solemnization (But whither?) It is too much boldness to presume longer on your Majesties grace and goodnesse; and therefore for the better expedition of this service; We humbly desire;

1. That our selves and servants may obtain freedome from arrests of their persons and goods.

2. That we may have free liberty of speech without confinement, with a full and free debate.

3. That your Majesty will vouchsafe our repaire to your sacred person upon matters of importance, according to the ancient priviledges of the house.

That with such alacrity we may now proceed to manifest to the world, that our retirements were to reinforce a greater unity and duty, and to endeavor a sweet violence, which may compell (pardon dread Soveraigne the word Compell) your Majesty to the love of Parliaments.

[Page]And thus God will have the honour, your sacred▪ Majesty splendor, the Kingdome safety, and all our votes shall passe, That your sacred Majesty may long, long, long reigne over us; And let all the people say, Amen. (*⁎*)

FINIS.

§

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MASTER SPEAKER HIS SPEECH TO HIS MAJESTIE▪ IN THE High Court of PARLIAMENT, the Fifth day of November, 1640.

WS

LONDON, Printed for William Shears, 1660.

Information about this book

Title statement

Master speaker his speech to His Majestie, in the High Court of Parliament, the fifth day of November, 1640.Mr Speaker his speech to His Majestie.

Lenthall, William, 1591-1662.

Edition statement

1660

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A87856

ID [STC]

Wing L1085

ID [STC]

Thomason E774_4

ID [STC]

ESTC R207289

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99866348

ID [PROQUEST]

99866348

ID [VID]

118619

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This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A87856)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 118619)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 118:E774[4])

Source

— Master speaker his speech to His Majestie, in the High Court of Parliament, the fifth day of November, 1640., Mr Speaker his speech to His Majestie., Lenthall, William, 1591-1662., England and Wales. Parliament. House of Commons..

Extent

8 p.

Printed for William Shears,. London, :: 1660.. (Attributed to William Lenthall by Wing.) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "Feb. 3. 1659.".) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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