Selected quad for the lemma: love_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A61941
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The coppy of a letter written to the Lower Hovse of Parliament touching divers grievances and inconveniences of the state &c.
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Suckling, John, Sir, 1609-1642.
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1641
(1641)
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Wing S6124; ESTC R318
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12,954
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26
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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