WHen did ever King of this Kingdome, sit in white robes so long yeeres to­gether, & scarce any one made to feele the sensible stroake of the Axe, nor blood drawne, but in pet­ty and particular causes.

Mr. Speaker, It was a good wish, and I will joyne with you in it with all my heart; that they may be cursed and anatomized by the Parliament, by all the Kingdome, and by all succeeding Ages, that goe about in the least way to innovate or alter any thing in that happy government.

The Commons applauding his Lordships expres­sion with a generall hymne, His Lordship pro­ceeded.

It is a joyfull acclamation, and J doubt not, but that [Page] your hearts are full: and certainly you my Lords, and you of the house of Comons, will easily know, that those that are of that spirit, and that dispositi­on▪ will quickly resolve all their debates▪ and all their actions into keales, and into Cades princi­ples, which is to ruine the Nobility, to ruine the Gentry, to ruine and eat up one another.

Mr. Speaker, you have lifted up your Contempla­tions, and raised them on five excellent pillars.

That of religion, you doe well in the first place to begin with; for certainly, it is that which must season all our other blessings: and it is that, to w ^ch we ought to ascribe the great happinesse that wee have so long enjoyed. In that, with great judgment and discretion, you fixe your eye and your case up­on the reverend prelats, that assist his Majesty on his right hand. Certainly to them, and to their Prede­cessors we owe the due preservation of the Gospell, in that purity and sincerity that now we enjoy it.

Let any man but looke backe, from the first of Queene Elizabeth, and somewhat before to these times, and see to whom we owe it most.

The Prophet Elizha, when he had Eliaes spirit doubled upon him, he tooke up his Mantle, and there are golden Candlesticks, and there are gates of Saphire, and Onixe, and other rich stones spoken of, aswell in the new Testament, as in the old. And God forbid, that wee should live to see God, that is the God of decency, served in such sort and manner, as Plow-men come home from their ploughes.

Mr. Speaker, you shall not need to doubt, but that [Page] his Majesties pious example vnpresidented by a King (if I should say by any man I should not say amisse) will give you for the house of Commons, and all the world, cause to rest confident, and most assured of his zeale and constancy in the Religion which hee professeth; which nothing within, or without the Kingdome hath ever found to move.

In the next place, you looke upon the Judges and Sages of the Law, and well you may, persons for gr [...]vity and for learning: certain [...]y not exceeded in any age. And for justice and integrity. I am sure if any of them be guilty of the lest defect therein, they have the least reason reason to be excused for it, that ever Judges in any time or age. They have the ex­ample of the King, they have the freedome of his royall Election, they have received from time to time charge and command, that they should with equity, and with indifferency distribute that Justice committed to them: and so discharge the trust by God laid upon his Majesty, and by him transmitted to their dispensation.

For Chivalry, the next pillar on which you set up the Trophies of honour, the Grandees, and great Lords of this Kingdome. You behold them in num­ber I thinke, far greater then ever their Ancestors were: and I doubt not, but their courage is every way equall, and I assure my selfe, they will never forget the famous Acts, that have left them hono­rable to all posterity, nor doe the least thing that may deface the monumentall name and accounts of them: or that may in the least kind staine their no­bility and magnanimity.

[Page] For Commerce, it is most certaine, Mr. Speaker, it is the royall Mines of this Kingdome, the East & West Indies of our Nation, and in that we have all great cause to blesse God, and to give humble thanks to his Majesty, that he takes such paines to maintain and encourage it: that this Nation never had a more flourishing time since the Conquest, then now it hath.

There remaines but unity, and as you say well, without that we can never be happy: I will but turne your saying, you have said, Si sumus insepera­biles, sumus insuperabiles, I will but say it is a bor­rowed one; but it is a true one: and I will as soone borrow that, Si icolldimur, frangimur.

Mr. Speaker, let all the world avoid distrust, as­sure your selfe, there will not lack out of malignant and ill affections, there will not lacke from pestilent and peevish indeavours to make good their actions, there will not lacke mailcious and ambitious spi­rits, that may disjoynt and unknit his Majesty and this House.

And you of the House of Commons, you see his Majesty hath gratiously invited you hither: and let me put you in mind, that you forget not what was said unto you, which howsoever I will repeat unto you, that [...]on may the better remember.

That there is nothing doth so much take, a grati­ous and good nature, as humble, sweet, and cheerfull expressions of affections.

For your Petitions, his Majesty hath heard them all, and grants them all, as fully and as freely, as ever [Page] himselfe in other Parliaments did, or have any of his predecessors before him done.

And therefore there remaines nothing now, but that you goe on with cheerfulnesse, you goe on with duty, you goe on with the expressions, that may re­joyce the heart of so gracious, so just, and so good a King; and that may be more then showers in the drought, and heat of Summer to refresh and cheere this Kingdome, and all his Majesties Dominions,

I Will onely say one word to you, now that you are the Speaker, I command you to doe the Of­fice of a Speaker; which is faithfully to report the great cause of the meeting, that my Lord Keeper in my name, did represent unto you the last day, with this assurance, that you giving me your timely helpe, in this great affaire, I shall give a willing eare to all our just Grievances.