IF my Country had held me worthy to have served in this Parliament, I had now beene made a member of your lower house as formerly I have beene in sundry other Parliaments, but how unkindly so ever shee dealeth with me, I will ever shew my thankfulnesse to her, and de­liver by way of observation what I have heretofore learned in that grave and wise assembly for admonish­ment to the elder, and a pathway for the younger to walke in.

[Page 2] Parliaments in my time have beene wonte to take up some space at the first meeting to settle the House and to determine of unlawfull elections, and in this point they never had greater cause to bee circumspect, then at this time for by an abuse lately crept in, there is introduced a custome which if it bee not foreseene and prevented will bee great derogation to the ho­nour and a weakening to the power of your house, where the law giveth a freedome to Corporations to elect Burgesses and forbiddeth any indirect course to bee taken in their election many of the Corporations are become so base minded and timerous, that they will not hazard the indignation of a Lord Lieutenants let­ter, who underhand stickes not to threaten them with the charge of a Musket or a horse at a Muster, if that he hath not the election of the Burgesses, and not they themselves.

And commonly those that the Lords recommend are such as desire it for protection, or are so igno­rant of the place they serve for, as that there being an occasion to speake of the Corporation for which they are chosen, they have asked their Neighbours sitting by whether it were a Sea or Land Towne. If you seeke not to prevent this kind of choyce, these mischiefes will follow:

1. The freedome of the Subject will bee lesse­ned.

2. The priviledge of Corporations will bee abroga­ted, men outlawed, and law breakers, will bee law ma­kers.

3. The voices of your House shall bee at the dispose of the Lords of the upper House, and the assembly of the Commons will be made needelesse.

[Page 3] Gentlemen of farre remote Countries, may spare their labour to come up, for there we shall bee contra­dicted with two yeares, and that by such men, if they be examined, and are not liable to taxes, Subsidies, Loanes, or other payments, they shall enjoy their ends, to wit liberty and freedome, and the Lords dispose of such lawes as they shall purpose.

The next thing that is required, is liberty of speech, without which Parliaments have little force or power; speeches begets doubts, and resolves them, and doubtes in Schooles get understanding, he that doubtes much asketh often, and learnes much, and he that feares the worst, soonest prevents a mischiefe.

This priviledge of speech is antiently granted by the testimony of Philip Comines a stranger who pre­ferres our Parliaments, and the freedome of the Sub­jects in them, above all other assemblies, which free­dome if it bee broken or diminished is negligently lost, since the dayes of Comines.

If freedome of speech should bee prohibited when men with modesty make repetition of the grievances & enormities of the Kingdome, when men shall desire reformation of wrongs & injuries committed, & have no relation of evill thought to his Majesty. But with open heart and zeale expresse their dutifull & reverent respect to him and his service: I say if this kind of li­berty of speech be not allowed in time of Parliament, they will extend no farther then to quarter Sessions, & their meetings and assemblies will be unnecessary for all meanes of disorder new crept in, and all reme­dies and redresses will be quite taken away.

As it is no manners to contest with the King in his election of Councellors and Servants (for Kings [Page 4] obey no men) but their lawes, so were it a great neg­ligence and part of treason for a subject not to bee in speech against the abuses wrongs & offences that may bee occasioned by persons in authority, what remedy can bee expected from a Prince to the Subjects if the enormities of his Kingdome be concealed from him, or what King so religious or just in his owne nature, that may not hazard the losse of the hearts of his Sub­jects without this liberty of speech in Parliament. For such is the misfortune of most Princes, and such is the unhappines of Subjects, where Kings affections are settled, and their loves so farre transported to pro­mote servants, as they onely trust and credit what they shall informe.

In this case what Subject dares complaine, or what Subject dares contradict the words or actions of such a Servant, if it be not warranted by freedome of a Par­liament they speaking with humility, for nothing obtaineth favour so much with a King, as diligent obe­dience.

The surest and safest way betwixt the King and his people, and least scandall of partiality with indiffe­rency, with integrity and sincerity to examine the grievances of the Kingdome, without touching upon the person of any man further then the cause giveth occasion; for otherwise you shall contest with him that hath the Princes eares open, to hearken to his in­chanted tongue, hee informes secretly, when you shall not be admitted to excuse, hee will cast your de­served malice against him to your contempt against the King, and seeking to lessen his authority, hee will make the Prince, the sheild of his revenge.

These are the sinister practises of such servants to de­ceive [Page 5] their Soveraignes, when these grievances shall be authentically proved and made manifest to the World, by your paines to examine, and freedome to speake, no Prince can be so affectionate to a servant, or such an enemy to himselfe, as not to admit of this indifferent proceeding, if his services be allowable and good they will appeare with glory: if bad, your labour shall de­serve thankes both of Prince and Countrey, when ju­stice shall thus shine, people will bee animated to serve their King with integrity; for they are naturally in­clined to imitate Princes in good, or bad: the words of Cicero will then appeare, that malitious and evill men make Princes poore, and one perfect good man is able to make a Realme rich.

One case I will instance, that is common in the mouthes of all people, and generally vox populi, vox Dei; If one of quality in the last expedition to the Isle of Rhee endeavoured to conceale the number of men lost in the last encounter, and confidently affirmed their number not to exceed three or foure hundred, till a Doctor of phisick out of tendernesse of conscience and duty to his Majesty could not dissemble, the vulgar and true report, but acquainted his Majesty of 2000. of his Subjects there lost, this was so contrary to the first information, and so displeasing to the Informer and his designes, that hee caused the Physitians re­moove, from his highnesse presence, who yet remaines in kind of a banished man.

The truth of this two reports is easily determined by the Clarkes of the bands of each Company, and is worthy to be discovered for truths sake, truth being so noble of it selfe, as it will make him honourable that pronounceth it, lyes, may shadow it, but not [Page 6] darken it, they may blame but never shame it, by this small precedent his Majesty shall see himselfe abused, and it may bee a meanes for him to reflect, both upon men and matter.

The men slaine are no lesse injured by concealing their names, whose lives were lost for King and Coun­trey.

The Romans would have held it the highest honour for their friends and posterity so to doe, and the Par­liament may feare that those that stick not so palpably to wrong a King, may as unjustly cast aspersions upon the house and other his loving Subjects.

There is no remedy left for thse mis-reports, but a freedome of speech in Parliament, for there is no wise man, but knowes what and when to speake, and how to hold his peace, whilest Subjects tongues are tied, for feare they may reach him a rap, whose conscience cries guilty; The King and his people are kept from understanding one another, the enemy is hartened a­broad, and the malignant humour of discontent nou­rished at home, and all for one who is like a Dragon that bites the eares of the Elephant, because he knowes the Elephant cannot reach him with his Trunke; And Princes are abused by false reports, whispered in their eares by Sicophants and Flatterers. Diogines being asked what Beast bite soarest, answered of wild Beasts the Backbiter, of tame the Flatterer.

Now to discend to grievances which are of two kinds:

First, Some concerning the Kingdome in gene­rall.

Secondly, Some in particular, which have relation to the generall.

[Page 7] The grievances in generall are so many as will serve for every member of your House to present two a peece to your viewes; and because I cannot bee ad­mitted amongst you my selfe, yet in regard I have beene a member of you, I will presume so farre as to ranke my selfe with you, and to tender the number of two to your consideration.

1. My first complaint is of titles of honour, and that in two kinds.

First, In respect of the parties themselves, their e­states, and parentage.

Secondly, In respect of the manner of their attaining therunto, which is mercenary, ease, and corrupt, which in reason should not hold, for by Law the considera­tion is unlawfull.

Trajan commended Plutarch for his precepts in Schoole, when hee taught that men should labour to deserve honour, but avoid the getting of it basely, for if it were reputation to have it by desert, it was in­famie to buy it for money; in that age, where rich men were honoured, good men were despised.

Honour is not to bee valued according to the vul­gar opinion of men, but prized and esteemed as the surname of vertue ingendred in the mind, and such honour, no King can or men can purchase; Hee that will strive to bee more honourable then others, ought to abandon passion, pride, and arrogancy; that so his vertue may shine above others, for honour consists not in the title of a Lord, but in the opinion people have of his vertue, for it is much more honour to de­serve and not to have it, then to have it, and not de­serve it.

There is one of three things that commonly cau­seth [Page 8] a mans advancement, desert, favour, and power.

1. The first makes a man worthy of it, the other two are but abuses; for favour is but a blind fortune, an ounce of which at Court is better then a pound of wis­dome; fortune never favoreth but flattereth; shee ne­ver promiseth, but in the end shee deceiveth; shee ne­ver raiseth, but shee casteth downe againe, and this ad­vancement is meeter to bee called luck, then merit. That honour, that is compassed by power, takes unto it selfe liberty, and desires not to bee governed by wisedome, but force; It knowes not what it desires, nor hath a feeling of any injury, it is neither mooved with sweet words, nor pittifull teares; such men leave not to doe evill, because they have a desire to it, but when their power faileth to doe it; The true honour amongst the honorablest, is where fortune casteth downe, where there is no fault; but it is infamy where fortune raiseth, where there is no merit.

Examine the state and condition of men raised to honour these five and twenty yeares past, and whe­ther it be desert, favour, or power that hath preferred them.

Enter into the mischiefe the Kingdome hath suffe­red, and doth suffer by it, and the cause of his Majesties great wants will soone appeare.

Collect with your selves, how many poore and needy companions have beene raised to the highest top of honour, then will it appeare whether desert, favour, or power advanced them.

After this examine, their Princely expences in these five and twenty yeares, their estates in present, and what is requisite to maintaine their future degrees of [Page 9] honour, to themselves and their posterity, and you shall find his Majesties annuall revenewes consumed and spent upon those unworthy persons, besides the im­payring and impoverishing of the state, it bringing with it the contempt of greatnesse and authori­ty.

It breeds an inward malice in Gentlemen better de­serving of their Country, better able to maintain the de­gree of honour without charge to King or Kingdome, and whose houses and alliance may better challenge then the best of them.

It breeds discontent in the meaner sort of Sub­jects to see his Majesties wealth and revenewes of the Kingdome, thus wasted and consumed, whereby his Majesty is enforced to exact from them, who would otherwise bee able to helpe himselfe.

The ancient and great Nobility of the land cannot choose, but inwardly fret to see themselves ranked yea overtopped by these men, that once would have thought it an honour to bee a follower of theirs.

The second abuse of honour is the base and merce­nary buying of it, observe commonly what these peo­ple are by birth, and mark the manner of their and their Fathers getting of wealth to compasse this title, and you shall find them people most odious to the Com­mon-wealth, by their extortion usury and other un­godly kind of getting.

Can there bee a greater grievance to a noble mind, then to see these upstart families by their unsufferable misery, penury, and extortion growne to wealth, to preceede the best of you in ranke, degree, and calling, whose Ancestors have lost their lives for King and Country, and your selves in many respects more able [Page 10] and capable of serving your Prince and Common-wealth, then they and every way better deser­ving.

The character of a covetous man is, that hee getteth his goods with care, and envy of his Neighbours; with sorrow to his enemies, with travell to his body, with griefe to his Spirit, with scruple to his con­science, with danger to his soule, with suite to his children, and curse to his heires, his desire is to live poore, to die rich; But as these vices are made ver­tues, even so is hee honoured for them with title of Nobility.

It is a strange ambition of some of them to pur­chase the degrees of Earles, Viscounts, and Barons of other Countries, as of Scotland and Ireland, onely for the name of a Lord, for no other priviledge they can challenge in England, if they commit any criminall offences, they shall bee tried by an ordinary jury, and hanged, if they stood in danger of arrest (as I thinke they are not much inriched by their title) they are sub­ject to catch-pooles, and a Dungion in the Counter may be their Sanctuary.

And seeing their pride makes them covet to di­vide themselves from you, and to become Scots and Irish, you can doe no lesse in requitall, but make an Act, that so long as they hold the titles of Forrainers, they be made uncapable to sit in the House of Parlia­ment, or to enjoy any freedome more then his Ma­jesties Subjects of Scotland or Ireland.

Few, of you are there, that have not seene. No­bility highly praised in England, and much esteemed abroad, and none of you now liveth, but to see it abu­sed, and liberty with too great familiarity in use, the [Page 11] State of the Court, and reputation of Lords, are much decayed and boldnesse with contempt crept in, and no way to bee redressed but by a gentle speech in Parliament, that so his Majesty may see the mischiefe of it, and reforme it, for it rests onely in his power, who onely hath power to create honour.

When Philip the second King of Spaine entred with Armes upon his Kingdome of Portugall, and that with his sword, hee might have any fitting lawes, yet were there foure priviledges which the Portugals besought they might enjoy; One, whereof was that the King would make no unworthy person noble without their approbation, which was granted them, And to this day, they hold that freedome, which keepes that Kingdome in the ancient state honour and digni­ty, That is to say, two Dukes, one Marquesse, and eighteen Earles; and thus much for the point of ho­nour.

The second grievance, I will recommend to your viewes, is the carriage of our Warres, the excessive charges vainely spent therein, the unworthinesse of the people imployed, the grave experience neglected, the designes not warranted by reason and discretion, and the executions worse performed, with many other circumstances, that depend upon it.

But before I proceede herein, I must crave leave to speake to two points.

The one to declare the property and condition of Impostures and Deceavers of Princes.

In the other, I must cleare the House of Parliament, of an imputation cast upon it.

Abusers of Princes are they, that perswade them to Warre, to become poore, when they may live in peace, [Page 12] and become rich, when they may be loved, causeth them to bee hated, when they may enjoy their lives securely, put them in hazard of crosse fortune rashly; And lastly having necessity to use their Subjects, puts them into that necessity, as they refuse to doe for him, all this is pride of the perswader as Socrates saith.

In the second, I will cleare the Parliament, in which I was a member, of an ingratefull aspersion cast upon it, that is to say, that the Parliament was a cause to draw his Majesty into Warre, and failed on their part to contribute towards it.

These have beene often repeated and the Parliament accused, the contrary hath beene as often reiterated, and the truth expressed how farre the Parliament pro­ceeded therein, but to stop the mouths of such false re­ports, and to free the Parliament of such a calumnia­tion, I must use this Argument.

At the assembly at Oxford, the Parliament being prorogued thither, money was required of us towards the furnishing of his Majesties Fleet, then preparing u­pon many reasons alledged too tedious now to repeat; with one consent it was refused, whereupon there was offer made by him that next the King seemed to have best authority, that if they would, but contribute 40000.l. they should choose their enemy.

Whereupon I enferre, that before that proposi­tion, there was no enemy, and therefore no Warres.

The motion of money being denied, the Parlia­ment instantly brake up, and seeing no enemy was no­minated, nor money consented to by us; I see not how the house can bee taxed for peace breakers, but rather the name cast upon some young men, for youth by na­ture [Page 13] is prone to pride, especially where experience wants, they are credulous what they heare that plea­seth them, and incredulous with what is told them by wise men, they are despisers of others Councels, and very poore in their owne, they are dangerous for Princes to relie on, for selfe-will is of greater force, then precepts.

Now to proceede in October following the Fleete put to Sea, and what they did is apparant by relation written by their Generall at his returne.

The voyage being ended another followed the next Summer under the command of that noble Lord the Earle of Linsey, which through the weakenesse and dissability of the Ships was not able to performe what he had in charge, and what he desired.

The last and most lamentable was that to the Isle of Rhee which I likewise referre to a man I have seene, and to the Bookes printed and extant.

These, with that to Algiers, to make up a messe of Island voyages, I wish might be referred to examina­tion of choyce and experienced souldiers by land and by Sea, to report their opinions of it, that so their er­rours, their wastfull expences, their negligences, their weake designes, and want of experience may appeare with the successe that might have proved, if advice and councell had had preheminence above will and arrogancy; for hee that is ignorant of truth and know­ledge and led away with pride of his owne opinions must needs erre.

After it hath past your approbation it is worth his Majesties view, who then shall see the difference of actions well managed, and rash and heady enterprises undertaken by ignorance, and performed with folly.

[Page 14] Busines of so great a consequence ought to be con­sidered of Councell and not onely of the necessity profit and honour, but of the possibility that was like to follow, for an action well begun is halfe en­ded.

My experience in Discipline of Warres by Land and Sea, can say no more then to referre it to others, for it is a course, I never was bred to in my youth, and now to late in my age to practise, onely one thing I observe, that in the two vogayes of Cadeze and R [...]ee, in the first a Land souldier commanded at Sea, who knew not what belonged thereunto; And the other was carried by him that was no souldier neither by Land nor by Sea, and the successe proved accordingly in both, yet their errours were never questioned, but they both highly advanced.

In my opinion the charge they tooke upon them was as improper as for a Merchant to become a Judge, for I have ever heard, that there are five things necessary in a Generall, to wit knowledge, valor, pre­vention, authority, and fortune; The last whereof but one had beene better spared at the Isle of Rhee, for also late authority joyned with wilfulnesse of the Com­mander was the utter bane of the action, as the relation tels us.

And it is no marvell, for according to the old say­ing, the best Fencer is not alwayes the best Fighter, the fairest Tilter not the best experienced Souldier, nor the eare of the favorite at the Court, the best Ge­nerall of an Host. And whosoever every takes upon him that command beholds himselfe in a false Glas, that makes him seeme what hee is not, as on the contrary experience is the Mother of prudence, and prudence [Page 17] will not take Councell, least shee joyne her will with her will, hastinesse causeth repentance, and fro­wardnesse causeth hinderance.

For the evils that followed upon these two voyages, your selves are sufficient witnesses, and can judge of it.

As namely the billetting of Souldiers in the Coun­trey, and bringing their Ships in harbours, not abating the entertainement of the one, nor the wages of the other; And yet notwithstanding, this needlesse cost and charges, our ships and coasts are daylie infested, in such sort as we dare not peepe out of harbour.

Were the carriage of things now answerable to the prudence and presidents of former times, wee cannot pretend a feare of invasion, because our Ships are divided into severall harbours, and our Souldiers billetted in inward Countries, besides the season of the yeare giveth no oportunity to an enemy to attempt it.

Here is a masse of wealth carelesly consumed, whe­ther the King or Subject beare it, & no man bettered, but onely those that have the titles of Souldiers, yet never had the happinesse or honour to see what ap­pertained to service, they are taught insteade of worke, by which they have lived and beene bred, now to spend their time in idlenesse, & ale-houses, and to forget their occupations, their example of disorder encourageth other to follow their liberty.

People that were wont to live poorely, yet safely, are now by their fellowes and their followers, robbed and spoiled, and no remedy for redresse.

The rich stand upon their guard and dare not re­sort to Church, least in their absence, their houses bee surprized and rifled.

[Page 18] The Justices have onely the name of Officers, but have no power to punish i [...]justice, all mens prayers are now a dayes to bee de [...]ended from the wroth of a mighty man, and the tumult of the people.

Garrisons in England which have no strong walled Townes, nor is used to the disorder and loose carriage of Souldiers, is more perillous uncouth and straying then where Warre is practized, innovations in all states are dangerous, especially where there is a dimi­nution of the Lawes, or a feare to execute Justice, through too much liberty given to Souldiers.

No Countrey but hath more hurt by their Garri­sons then by their enemies.

Enemies onely rob the frontiers, others the whole Countrey.

The enemy may bee resisted, the other not spoken against.

The enemy giveth a sudden attempt, and returneth, the others doe every day rob and spoile.

The enemy surpriseth with feare, the other have neither feare nor shame.

The first lessoning the greatnesse of the Romane Empire, who by the insolency of Souldiers, and the first raising of the house of Ottoman was by promission and his conniving at his Army.

What man is so old in England that hath seene, or what youth so young, that ever thought to see Scot­ [...]ishmen, and Irishmen garrisoned in England, and no enemy appeare against us, or who could have imagi­ned, hee should have ever a seene our owne people tyrannized over, in our owne Kingdome by this of our owne Nation, and those Scottish and Irish, yea and dare not so much as complaine.

[Page 19] Would our fore-Fathers have thought it safety, or policy to drawe 2000. Scottishmen and Irishmen into the Isle of Wight, for their defence against France, when they of the Isle desired it not, nay when they opposed it.

Would they have thought it wisedome that 2000. mouthes besides the Inhabitants should live on the food of that Island, and so bring themselves into want and penury of victuals, if they should in earnest be at­tempted by an enemy.

Would they have thought fit, the charge of it should bee required of them, And yet they to suffer all injuries from the hands of strange Souldiers, where the meanest boy in the Island is thought to manage Armes better then the best of them that are there bil­letted.

No, but they would rather have thought it discre­tion, upon the returne of those voyages to have caused the men to repaire to the place where they were pres­sed, and to have ordered that each parish should have set them on worke for their maintainance, with com­mand to be ready upon warning to repaire to the place of randevous.

There is no part or place in England so remote from the Sea, but they might have re [...]orted to the port assigned, before the Ships could be furnished, or drawn together.

They would have thought it more wisedome to have retired to their owne harbours, and to have had their men discharged, then to have continued this needlesse and expencefull course that is taken.

They would have judged it better, to have supplied the Isle of Wight with 2000. men out of the maine [Page 20] land, when they feared any evill to the Island, then to send for them into Scotland, and to keepe them in con­tinuall entertainement.

They would have thought it more fit to have re­turned the barbarous Irish into the Countrey from whence they came, then to make them a vexation to the places and parts where they remaine, seeing no shadow of reason can be pretended for it.

England wants no men, and hath as good and able men as either of the other two Nations, if his Majesty had occasion to use them.

England with small charge and trouble can raise what men his Majesty pleaseth to command and that suddenly, and discharge them againe without trouble or charge as quickly.

The Wisemen of England would have thought 2. or 300000. pound better spared then thus wastfully consumed and disorders committed, wee may com­pute it to that summe, and yet keepe our selves within compasse, and notwithstanding the want of money, and the wayes to exact it of the subject, is all the song now sung; Hee that sees or complaines of the evill managing of things, is either imprisoned, banisht the Court or censured for a discontent.

There is no Englishman, but knoweth the heart of every other true hearted Englishman, and with one consent will all obey their Prince, and to his person owe all due reverence, and wee may truly say, no King is more happy in Subjects for their love, nor never subjects readier to serve their King, with their purses & persons, nor never people was better blest with a King, who is endued with all kind of vertues, & staynd with no manner of vice, his mercy, his temper, his chastity, [Page 21] and his meekenesse, is such as wee may say of him, as of David, that hee is a man according to Gods owne heart.

But, if any man, shall poison, this opinion of ours, by sinister reports, hee is a worker of sedition; Hee hath a lying tongue, and speaketh not truth, hee is worthy, to bee spued out, not of the Court, but even from the face of the earth.

False Informers and misguiders of good Kings, are much more perilous, then if Princes themselves were evill, for commonly as wormes breed soonest in soft and sweet wood, so are the best natures (incli­ned to honour, and Justice) soonest abused by false Flatterers.

The evill they commit, under the authority of good Princes is accounted as done, by the Prince himselfe; But commonly such people in the end, pay for it, for hee that desires not to doe good, cannot bee wise, but will fall into 4000. follies.

One of the first propositions made to the house, will bee for money to support his Majesties vast ex­pence; at this time, that the enemy threatens thunder against the Kingdome, your often Alarums, upon such pretences may make you now to secure, for true it is, that the last Parliament bookes were published of in­vincible preparations intended against us, and nothing came of it, but beware you bee not deceived, by an old saying, that when one usually tels lies, he is not trusted, when hee speakes truth, for certainely the danger, is much more, then by the power and great­nesse of another enemy.

In this case you must give for your owne sakes, that so you may bee sure to enjoy what is [Page 22] yours, for your soveraignes sake to maintaine his greatnesse, and state, and for your Countries sake to keepe it from oppression of the enemy, but withall you ought to lay downe the condition of the King­dome, and to shew that your necessity cannot para­lell with your hearts and desires, that your minds will bee carried with a willingnes to give, but your hands will keepe back your hearts for want of ability to give.

Themistocles demanding tribute of the Athenians told them hee brought two Gods with him, that is to say, perswasion and violence, they answered that they had other two Gods in their Countrey both great and powerfull, which were poverty and impossibility which hindred them from giving, but least this answer should be poisoned or mis-reported to his Majesty and wrested to the worst sense, I pray you to exa­mine the state and condition of every man in particu­lar, and their impossibility of giving will appeare.

What can bee hoped for, from the Merchant, that is prohibited the greatest Trade of profit and gaine; and dayly damnified by the spoile of Dun­kirkes.

What can we expect from the owners of Ships, that have suffered more Shipwracks lately, then in an hun­dred yeares before.

What can wee looke for from the Husbandmen, when Corne and Wooll is underfoote, for it was an observation of the wise Lord Treasurer Burleigh, that every twelve pence abated in a stone of Wooll was 100000. pound losse to the Kingdome.

What can bee required, from the multitude, con­sidering the little commerce, the dayly payments to [Page 23] the King, to the Houses of correction, to the Poore, to the maimed Souldiers, to the often appearing at Musters, the altering of Armes, the watching of High­wayes, the garding of Beacons, and other services at the Justices command.

What can Knights and Gentlemen give, their sheepe dying, their tennants decaying, and their rents falling and fayling.

What can bee looked for, from the Clergy, conside­ring their charge of induction, their first fruits, and the maintenance of their Wives, Children, and Fami­lies; yea though they came freely to their bene­fices.

What can bee expected from the Trades-men or Artificers when all other, either want or decay; Now people will bee contented with one suite of cloathes, that two heretofore would not have served, shooes, boots, hats, and all other apparell, they will Husband after that proportion.

There are two sorts of people in the Common-wealth well able to give, the one the Vsurer which is commonly free from all payments, in regard the ne­cessities of most making them beholding to them, in one kind or other, for themselves and their friends, they in requitall shew him all possible ease and favour in publique disbursements.

The other are Noblemen and Gentlemen former­ly spoken of, that have had their advancement from the King, and his Father, though not immediatly, but Collaterally, for if you cast your eyes upon divers ser­vants of great persons and remember what you have knowne them, 10. or 12. yeares past, it would put you into an admiration, yea some from Horsekeepers [Page 24] other base callings, are now promoted to the degrees of Baronets, Knights and the like, for though that new devised order of Baronets was first instituted for mo­ney, yet such is the fortune of servants, if one great man that is their master, once preferre them to the King, the first day they enjoy the dignities of Baronets; when Gentlemen of great ranck and qualities that have long served their Princes cannot compasse it without consideration of money.

When these things you shall collect and seriously call to mind, you would thinke your selves these 12. yeares last past a sleepe, and that you are now newly wakened, you shall heare of many things past in that space as making and removing of Treasurers, Keepers, Secretaries, Judges, and all manner of Councellours and Officers, with a million of such memorable and unlookt for accidents.

But leaving these as grievances and vexations to the Subject, let us come to a neerer point which is the safety of the Kingdome that the enemy threatens so in danger, wee may truely say, that God hath so placed and seated this Isle of England, that nothing but evill councell can hurt it: but true it is, advice that is not warranted from wise men, may prove more forcible and perilous then the power of an enemy, the Scrip­ture telleth us that the thought perisheth that taketh not Councell.

A King of the Lacedemonians asked how a King­dome might ever stand; was answered two wayes, if a King take Councell of wise honest men, that they speake freely and doe justice uprightly.

There was never Censor that judged, Senatour that ordered, Emperour that commanded, Consull that [Page 25] executed Orator that perswaded, nor any other mor­tall man but sometimes hee committed errours, and deserved either blame or punishment for his mis­doings, and if hee were wise desired advise what to doe.

Saint Gregory saith, no man can give so faithfull Councell, as hee who loves one more then his guift, then who are or can bee so true Councellours to our noble King as a house of Commons, that hath no re­lation to a Kings guift, but onely to his honour flouri­shing estate and safety.

This is the time to amend evill Councels past, and to let evill Councellours see their errours.

This is the time for all men to put to their helpes, some with their hands to fight, others with their ad­vise to counsell.

And for mine advice, this it is, that you present to his Majesty in all humblenesse your, willing minds and hearts to repaire and fit to Sea, his Majesty navy, your selves to have power to make them able and servicea­ble, with the advice of experienced men, that you may call unto you, this is a matter of great importance at this present, for the safety of the Realme King and Sub­ject, for the strength of the Kingdome much depends upon this Bulwark, which wee may well tearme the walles of England.

His Majesty shall find himselfe much eased by it, businesses shall bee carried without his trouble or care, moneyes shall not bee sought for to that end, but pro­vided by you, his Majesty may dispose of the rest of his revenew at his pleasure.

By your frugality and husbandry, his Majesty shall have occasion to judge of things past, of yours in pre­sent, [Page 26] and hereafter it will serve for a president to walke after, It will stop the mouthes of malignant tongues, that informe his Majesty of the unwilling­nesse of the Subject to give, and it will make it ap­parant that their true griefe is not in the matter of giving, but to see the evill imploying of it, when it is given.

If any man shall prevent this good meaning and motion of yours and infringe his Majesty, 'tis a de­rogation from his honour to yeeld to his Subjects upon conditions. His Majesty shall have good cause to prove such mens eyes malicious and unthankefull, and thereby to disprove them in all their other acti­ons, for what can it lesson the reputations of a Prince, whom the Subject onely and wholly obeyeth, that a Parliament which his Majesty doth acknowledge to bee his highest Councell should advise him, and hee follow the advise of such a Councell what dishonour rather were it to bee advised and ruled by one Coun­cellour alone, against whom there is just exception taken, of the whole Common-wealth.

Marcus Portio saith, that, that Common-wealth is everlasting where the Prince seeks to get obedience and love, and the Subjects to gaine the affection of the Prince, and that the Kingdome is unhappy where their Prince is served out of ends and hope of reward, and hath no other assu­rance of them, but their services.