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 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 argentle 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 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 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 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 Rhee 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
manner of vice his mercy his temper his chastity 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 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 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 High-wayes 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 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 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 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 't is 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 FINIS
THE COPPY OF A LETTER WRITTEN TO THE LOWER HOVSE OF PARLIAMENT TOUCHING DIVERS GRIEVANCES AND INCONVENIENCES OF THE STATE c. LONDON Printed by Iohn Dawson for Thomas Walkley 1641. THE COPPY OF A LETTER WRITTEN TO THE LOWER House of Parliament touching divers greivances and inconveniences of the State c. To my Noble friends of the lower House of Parliament 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 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 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 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 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