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
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 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 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 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 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 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