IF we conſider thoſe dangerous diſturbances that this Kingdome hath of late yeares laboured under, 'tis certaine, that in a generall and originall conſideration, we cannot but impute them to the wrath of God for the ſinnes of this nation. But in a ſecond and more particular conſideration, we may properly aſſigne them unto the violent Councells of ſome late Miniſters of State, who either for want of Counſell; or by malitious practice, have brought this State, from a happy, firme and ſtrong conſtitution, to ſo weake and feeble a temper, that the great Phyſitian the Parliament, cannot, but with extreame difficulty, apply remedies fit and proportionable to the diſeaſe, but they inevitably run ſome hazard of indangering the body it ſelfe; it being very perilous to apply ſtronger remedies then the ſtrength and conſtitution of the patient can well beare.

Mr. Speaker, You were truly told by a grave and worthy Member, at the beginning of this Parliament: that it muſt be ſome extreame neceſſity that would rectifie and recover this State; and that when that extremity did come, it would be a great hazard whether it might prove a remedy or a ruine. And this is occaſioned, chiefely becauſe violent diſeaſes, doe moſt commonly require violent remedies, and, violent remedies are ordinarily pregnant of new miſchiefes: which hath cauſed your States, beſt skilled in governement, alwayes to diſcerne evill a farre off in their cauſes, and by their wiſedome and fore-ſight, prevent them: and I am confident, had we had frequent Parliaments, we ſhould have given a timely ſtop to miſchiefes, and never have ſuffered them to have broken in upon us with ſuch an inundation of diſtempers, that without Divine prevention, may yet ſwallow and deſtroy us.

Mr. Speaker, 'Tis obſerved of the Romane State, a patterne of beſt governement, ſo long as they held up their firſt vertue and valour, that after a great defeat by Hannibal, Polye their confederates began to forſake them. But Hero King of Siracuſa, having ſo piercing a judgement, that he could ſee through the preſent to the future; and obſerving the Romanes ſo conſiderate and conſtant in all their proceedings; even in this extreame exigent of their affaires, and that their Lawes were never more ſtrictly obſerved by their Magiſtrates,Lin. nor their people more obedient to their Senate or Parliament, and how their Military Diſcipline was never likewiſe more ſeverely obſerved: this wiſe Prince ſeeing their foundations ſtood thus firme, ſent them Preſents of great value, and correſponded with them in a ſtricter league of friendſhip then ever before. Not unlike a good Phyſitian, who ſeeing favourable ſimptomes, in the ſtrongeſt fit of his patients diſeaſe, conceives firme hope of his perfect recovery.

Now Mr. Speaker, if we ſet before us an Image or repreſentation of thoſe diſtempers we ſtand environed withall; there could not poſſibly be that extreame danger in them, but that there might be good hopes of a ſpeedy recovery, had we kept cloſe and conſtant to thoſe grounds of Religion, Lawes and Military Diſcipline, which have bin noted by wiſeſt Legiſlators, to have bin the maine cauſe next under God, of the ſtrength and duration of a State.

But Sir, If we examine it, how have our very foundations bin ſhaken? what Superſtition and Innovations have bin brought in upon our Religion of late times by ambitious heady and paſſionate men? And from this fountaine originally as I conceive, flowes moſt part of our preſent diſtractions. Queene Elizabeth, of ſacred and pretious memory to this nation, keeping ſtedfaſt and conſtant to this ground of Religion, kept this Kingdome peaceable and united at home, afforded a comfortable influence and aſſiſtance to the Proteſtant parties abroad, and after a long and happy Raigne, went unto her eternall reſt in glory.

And truly Sir, I ſpeake it with all humility, yet with ſome confidence, that I ſhall never expect, to ſee the quiet ſetled ſtate of this Kingdome, till there be ſome courſe taken to ſettle Religion to ſome rule and uniformity, and not to be thus ſuffered in an uncertaine condition, betweene illegall Innovations and ſuperſtitions on the one ſide, and I know not what lawleſſe and Irregular confuſion on the other.

And let us all I beſeech you, calmely and ſeriouſly conſider, how naturall a motion tis to moſt men, not limited by ſome Law, when they are come out of one extreame, wherin they have bin held by feare, to run with a ſwift violent courſe into another extreame; from ſuperſtition and idolatry to irreverence and contempt of Gods publike Worſhip and Ordinances.

For our Laws (Mr. Speaker) how have they bin violated by illegall Taxations, Impriſonments, Monopolies, and other preſſures, wherby the Subject hath bin proſecuted and grieved; but this is ſo obvious to every mans underſtanding and ſence, that I ſhall not inſiſt upon it.

M. Speaker, I come next to our Military Diſcipline, and how hath this ground of ſtrength bin ſhaken, partly by the loſſe of able and experienced Commanders in fruitleſſe, if not dangerous, attempts abroad; and partly by neglect, and not duly keeping up our muſters at home.

M. Speaker, Every man may lay it as lightly to heart as he pleaſe, but I ſhall be bold to tell you that all the Laws that we have or ſhall make for the defence of our Religion or Liberties without provident care in this particular will be but like to ſumptuous and glorious ſtructures without roofe or covering, ſubject to all weather and ſtormes that ſhall ariſe, and whatever Parliaments ſhall with great wiſdome and providence plant for the good eſtate of future times, without due proviſions for our Military defence, may be ſoon cut down again by the violence and malice of a ſtronger ſword.

Therfore (M. Speaker) as you have taken a provident care for the ſecuring of the Havens and Port Towns, ſo I deſire there may be timely conſideration had of the Inland ſtrength of the Kingdome, and that the Muſters in all Counties of the Kingdome be carefully (eſpecially in theſe perilous times) kept up; and that care be taken that every County may have a ſufficient proportion of pouder, and other proviſion for their neceſſary defence. And that all commands may reſt in faithfull hands, and that certificates of the true ſtate of all things how they ſtand for defence, may from time to time be ſent either to the Councell of Warre you appoint for Ireland, or to any other whom the Parliament ſhall think meet, and therupon to take order from time to time, to ſupply all defects, as well of Captains, as of Munition, Pouder, and other neceſſaries.

M. Speaker, This point is more timely to be had in conſideration, becauſe our perils will increaſe, as forrain eſtates ſettle and compoſe their affairs to their beſt advantage: And therfore I ſhall deſire that our quietneſſe may not reſt any longer upon ſo tickle a ground, as the unquietneſſe of our Neighbour Kingdoms; for no State ſtands firme and ſecure, but upon its owne foundations.

There is one thing more with which I will conclude, and I ſhall humbly repreſent it as, in my weake opinion, a great cauſe of our growing diſtempers, which is the abundance of humours we have ſtirred, and not purged away, which are but fit fuell for freſh fires to take hold of, if it ſhould burſt forth; therefore as there be a great number of this State, Qui paena & calamitate publicae impunitatem ſibi ſpondeus; I ſhall make it my humble motion and deſire, that we make ſome ſevere examples of ſome few of the moſt capitall offenders, and either pardon the meaner delinquents, if Juſtice will admit therof, or at leaſt to let them in ſome reaſonable time know what they may truſt too; otherwiſe you ſhall have as many as looke deſperately upon their owne fortune be too ready to give their vote for troubles, and ſeek their owne peace in the publike diſturbance, the number of whom, as I conceive, would be warily prevented, eſpecially in theſe times of encreaſing diſtraction.

Sir, I have troubled you too long, and am not ſo inconſiderate, but to object to my ſelf, that some 〈◊〉 are of more inſtant preſent conſiderations than any thing I have touched upon. As your ſending 〈…〉 for Ireland, but I deſire as thoſe affairs are in ſome 〈◊〉 ſure ſetled in a way we may timely apply our ſelves to the Root and cauſes of our diſtempers, and to begin with thoſe of moſt importance, and to proceed with them to effect.