Selected quad for the lemma: majesty_n
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A42803
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The speech of Sergeant Glanvill in the vpper Hovse of Parliament for peace and vnitie also shewing that the way to preserve peacc [sic] is to bee well provided for warre.
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Glanville, John, Sir, 1586-1661.
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1641
(1641)
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Wing G797; ESTC R11717
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2,750
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8
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THE SPEECH OF SERGEANT GLANVILL IN THE VPPER HOVSE OF PARLIAMENT FOR Peace and Vnitie Also shewing that the way to preserve peace is to bee well provided for Warre LONDON Printed in the yeare 1641. THE SPEECH OF SERGEANT GLANVILL in the upper House of Parliament for the Redresse of the present Greevances His Majestie being seated on his Throne Sergeant Glanvill was called to the Barre being represented by the House of Commons for their Speaker who spake as followeth May it please your Majestie THe Knights Citizens and Burgesses of your Commons House of Parliament in conformity to ancient and most constant usage the best guide in greate solemnities according to their well known privileges a sure warrant for their proceedings and in obedience to your Majesties most gratious commands a duty well becomming Loyall Subiects have met together and chosen a Speaker one to be the mouth indeed the servant of all the rest to steare watchfulie and prudently in all their weighty consultations and debates to collect faithfully and readily the uotes and genuine sense of that numerous assembly to propound the same seasonablie and in apt questions for their finall resolution and to present them and their conclusions their declarations with truth and light with life and lustre and with full advantage to your most Excellent Majestie With what Judgement with what temper spirit and elocution he ought to bee endued your Majestie in your great wisedome is best able to discerne both as it may relate to your owne peculiar and important affaires of State to the proper worke and businesse of this House of Commons which was never small or meane and now like to bee exceeding weighty It is a learned age wherein wee live under your Majesties most peacefull government and your House of Commons is not onely the representative body but the abstracted quintessence of the whole Communalty of this your noble Realme I most humbly therefore beseech your Majestie as the father of the Commonwealth and hope of the whole nation to whom the care of all our welfares appertaines to have respect to your owne interest have regard to your House of Commons have compassion upon me the unworthiest member of that body ready to faint with feare before the burthen lights on me I have only a hearty affection to serve you and your people little abilities for performance In the fulnesse therefore of your Royall power your piety goodnesse be gratiously pleased to command the House of Commons to deliberate upon a better choise who may be worthy of their choosing and your Majesties acceptations My Lord Keeper having by his Majesties direction confirmed him as Speaker hee adrest himselfe to his Majestie as followeth Most gratious Soveraigne My profession hath taught me that from the highest Judge there lies no writ of Error no appeale what then remaines but that I first beseech Almighty God the Authour and finisher of all good works to enable me to discharge honestly effectually so great a taske so great a trust and in the next place humbly to acknowledge your Majesties favour Some enemies I might feare the common enemie of such services expectation and jealously I am unworthy the former and I contemne the latter Time the touchstone of truth shall teach the babling world I am and will bee found an equall freeman zealous to serve my Soveraigne zealous to serve my dearest Country Monarchy Royall of all governments the most illuustrious and excellent whether wee regard the glory wealth or safety of the governours or people I hope none of this Nation are of Antimonarchicall spirits nor friends to such if there bee I wish no greater honour to this Parliament then to discover them and to assist your Majestie to suppresse and confound them To behold your Majestie in peace and safety afoards compleat joy to all Loyall Subjects who cannot but conclude with me in this desire Serus in Caelum redeas diuque Laetus in terris Populo Britanno England is your seate of residency Scotland is your native place and herein hath the advantage Ireland imitates England by a great and quicke progression in civility and conversation in improovement of the soyle and plantation France is still attendant on your Royall style A Kings Prerogative is as needful as great without which he should want that Majestie which ought to bee inseparable from his Crowne nor can any danger result thereby to subjects liberties so long as both admit the temperament of law and Justice specially under such a Prince who to your immortall Honour hath published this to the whole world for your maxime that the peoples liberties strengthens the Kings Prerogative and the Kings Prerogative is to defend the peoples liberties Apples of gold in pictures of silver Kings as Kings are never said to erre onely the best may bee abused by misinformation this the highest point of Prerogative that the King can doe no wrong if then by the subtilty of misinformers by the specious false pretences of publique good by a running and close contrivance of their waies to seduce the Sacred Royall Person it bee surprized and over wrought to command contrary to law and be executed accordingly this commands will be void these King innocent even in his very person and the authors of such misinformations the actors of such abuses stand exposed to just sensure having nothing to defend themselves but the colour of a void command made void by just prerogative and the fundamentall reasons of state Touching justice there is not a more certaine signe of an upright Judge then by his patience to bee well informed before sentence given and I may boldly say all the Judges in your Kingdome may take example by your Majestie and learne their duties by your practise my selfe have often beene a witnesse thereof to my no little admiration From your patience please you give mee leave to presse to your righteous judgement and exemplifie it but in one instance When your Lords and people in your last Parliament presented your Majestie a Petition concerning their rights and liberties the Petition being of no small weight your Majestie after mature deliberation in few but most effectuall words soit droict faict coâ—e est desire made such an answer as shall renowne you for just Judgement to all posterity Let us hartily pray that this Parliament may bee famous for the advancement of Sacred Religion and to that end that the most Reverend Prelates sitting on the right hand of your Kingly side bee most forward therein to whom it is most proper That the Nobles girt with their swords in their creation and most especially rewarded and honored for Actions military call to minde the most renowned Acts of their Ancestors whose lands and honours they inherite and how renowned this Land hath beene through the whole World for Art and Armes and labour to restore it to its ancient splendor The best way to preserve peace is to bee well fitted for War But were this Nation never so valiant or wealthy if unity bee not among us what good will riches doe us or your Majestie but inrich the conquerour he that commands all hearts by love hee onely commands assuredly greatnesse without goodnesse can at best but commmand bodies It shall therefore bee my harty prayer That such a knot of love may be knit betwixt the Head and members that like Gordius knot it never bee loosed That all Jesuited forraigne states who looke a squint upon our Hierusalem may see themselves defeated of all there subtill plots and combinations of all their wicked hopes and expectations to render us if their mischiefe might take effect a people in considerable at home and contemptible abroad Religion hath taught us Si Deus nobiscum quis contranos and experience I trust will teach us Si sumus inseperabiles sumus insuperabiles It was found and I hope it still shall and will bee the Tenet of the House of Commons That the King and peoples good cannot bee severed And cursed be every one that goes about to divide them FINIS