HIS majesties speech IN THE Vpper House of Parliament, On monday the 26. of March, 1621. floral illustration LONDON Printed by BONHAM NORTON and John BILL, Printers to the KINGS most Excellent majesty. 1621. I R dieu ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE English royal blazon surmounted by a crown and flanked by the English lion and Tudor rose on one side and the Scottish unicorn and thistle on the other HIS majesties speech in Parliament. MY Lords: the last time I came hither, my errand was to inform you( as well as my memory could serve me, of things so long passed) of the verity of my proceedings, and the cautions used by me in the passing of those Patents, which are now in question before you; to the effect, that they might not bee abused in the execution: and this I did by way of declaration. But now I am come( understanding the time of your censure to draw near) to express my readiness to put in execution ( which is the life of the Law) those things, which ye are to sentence( for even the Law itself is a dead letter without execution) for which office God hath appointed me in these kingdoms. And though I assure myself, that my former behaviour, in all the course of my life, hath made me well known for a just King; yet in this special case I thought fit to express my own intentions, out of my own mouth, for punishment of things complained of. The first proof whereof I haue given by the diligent search I caused to bee made after the person of Sr. Giles Mompesson, who though he were fled, yet my Proclamation pursued him instantly: and as I was earnest in that, so will I be, to see your Sentence against him put in execution. Two reasons move me to bee earnest in the execution of what ye are to Sentence at this time: First, that duty I owe to God, who hath made me a King, and tied me to the care of government, by that politic marriage betwixt me and my people. For I do assure you in the heart of an honest man, and by the faith of a Christian King( which both ye and all the world know me to be) had these things been complained of to me before the Parliament, I would haue done the office of a just King, and out of Parliament haue punished them as severely, and peradventure more, then ye now intend to do. But now that they are discovered to me in Parliament, I shall be as ready in this way, as I should haue been in the other. For( I confess) I am ashamed( these things proving so, as they are generally reported to bee) that it was not my good fortune to be the only Author of the reformation and punishment of them, by some ordinary Courts of Iustice. nevertheless, since these things are now discovered by Parliament, which before I knew not of, nor could so well be discovered otherwise, in regard of that representative body of the kingdom, which comes from all parts of the country: I will be never a whit the slower to do my part for the execution. For, as many of you that are here haue heard me often say, so I will still say: So precious unto me is the public good, that no private person whatsoever, were he never so deere unto me, shall be so respected by me, by many degrees, as the public good, not onely of the whole Common-wealth, but even of any particular Corporation that is a member of it: and I hope, that ye, my Lords, will do me that right, to publish to my people this my heart and purpose. The second reason is, that I intend not to derogate or infringe any of the Liberties or privileges of this House, but rather to fortify and strengthen them. For never any King hath done so much for the nobility of England, as I haue done, and will ever bee ready to do. And whatsoever I shall now say or deliver unto you as my thought, yet when I haue said what I think, I will afterwards freely leave the iudgement wholly to your House. I know ye will do nothing, but what the like hath been done before: and I pray you be not jealous, that I will abridge you in any thing that hath been used. For whatsoever the precedents in times of good government can warrant, I will allow. For I aclowledge this to bee the supreme Court of Iustice, wherein I am ever present by representation. And in this ye may bee the better satisfied by my own presence coming diuers times amongst you: neither can I give you any greater assurance or better pledge of this my purpose, then that are now discovered by Parliament, which before I knew not of, nor could so well be discovered otherwise, in regard of that representative body of the kingdom, which comes from all parts of the country: I will be never a whit the slower to do my part for the execution. For, as many of you that are here haue heard me often say, so I will still say: So precious unto me is the public good, that no private person whatsoever, were he never so deere unto me, shall be so respected by me, by many degrees, as the public good, not onely of the whole Common-wealth, but even of any particular Corporation that is a member of it: and I hope, that ye, my Lords, will do me that right, to publish to my people this my heart and purpose. The second reason is, that I intend not to derogate or infringe any of the Liberties or privileges of this House, but rather to fortify and strengthen them. For never any King hath done so much for the nobility of England, as I haue done, and will ever bee ready to do. And whatsoever I shall now say or deliver unto you as my thought, yet when I haue said what I think, I will afterwards freely leave the iudgement wholly to your House. I know ye will do nothing, but what the like hath been done before: and I pray you be not jealous, that I will abridge you in any thing that hath been used. For whatsoever the precedents in times of good government can warrant, I will allow. For I aclowledge this to bee the supreme Court of Iustice, wherein I am ever present by representation. And in this ye may bee the better satisfied by my own presence coming diuers times amongst you: neither can I give you any greater assurance or better pledge of this my purpose, then that I haue done you the honour, to set my only son among you, and hope that ye with him shall haue the means to make this the happiest Parliament, that ever was in England. This I profess, and take comfort in, that the House of Commons at this time haue shewed greater love, and used me with more respect in all their proceedings, then ever any House of Commons haue heretofore done to me, or( I think) to any of my Predecessors. As for this House of yours, I haue always found it respective to me, and accordingly do I, and ever did favour you, as ye well deserved. And I hope, it will bee accounted a happiness for you, that my son doth now sit amongst you, who when it shall please God, to set him in my place, will then remember, that he was once a Member of your House, and so bee bound to maintain all your lawful privileges, and like the better of you all the dayes of his life. But because the world at this time talks so much of bribes, I haue just cause to fear, the whole body of this House hath bribed him to bee a good instrument for you vpon all occasions: he doth so good offices in all his reports to me, both for the House in general, and every one of you in particular. And the like I may say of one that sits there ( Buckingham) he hath been so ready vpon all occasions to do good offices, both for the House in general, and every member thereof in particular. One proof thereof, I hope my Lo. of arundel hath already witnessed unto you, in his report made unto you of my answer, touching the privileges of the nobility, how earnestly he spake unto me in that matter. Now, my Lords, the time draws near of your recess: whether formality will leave you time for proceeding now to Sentence against all, or any of the persons now in question, I know not. But for my part, since both Houses haue dealt so lovingly and freely with me, in giuing me, as a free gift, two Subsidies, in a more loving maner, then hath been given to any King before, and so accepted by me; and since I cannot yet retribute by a general Pardon, which hath by form usually been reserved to the end of a Parliament: the least I can do( which I can forbear no longer) is to do something in present, for the ease and good of my people. Three Patents at this time haue been complained of, and thought great grievances: 1. That of the inns, and hosteries. 2. That of the Alehouses. 3. That of gold and silver thread. My purpose is to strike them all dead, and( that time may not bee lost) I will haue it done presently. That concerning the Alehouses, I would haue to be left to the managing of the Iustices of peace, as before. That of gold and silver thread was most vilely executed, both for wrongs done to mens persons, as also for abuse in the stuff; for it was a kind of false coin. I haue already freed the persons that were in prison: I will now also damn the Patent: And this may seem in stead of a Pardon. All these three I will haue recalled by Proclamation, and wish you to aduise of the fittest form for that purpose. I hear also, that there is another Bill amongst you against Informers: I desire you, my Lords, that as ye tender my honour, and the good of my people, ye will put that Bill to an end so soon as ye can, and at your next meeting to make it one of your first works. For I haue already shewed my dislike of that kind of people openly in star-chamber, and it will bee the greatest ease both to me, and all those that are near about me at Court, that may be. For I remember, that since the beginning of this Parliament, Buckingham hath told me, he never found such quiet and rest, as in this time of Parliament, from projectors and Informers, who at other times miserable vexed him at all houres. And now I confess, that when I looked before vpon the face of the government, I thought( as every man would haue done) that the people were never so happy as in my time. For even as at diuers times I haue looked vpon many of my Coppices, riding about them, and they appeared on the outside very thick, and well grown unto me: but when I entred into the midst of them, I found them all bitten within, and full of plains and bare spots, like an apple or pear, faire and smooth without, but when ye cleave it asunder, ye find it rotten at the heart: even so this kingdom, the external government being as good as ever it was, and I am sure as learned Iudges as ever it had( and I hope, as honest) administering iustice within it; and for peace, both at home and abroad, I may truly say, more settled, and longer lasting, then ever any before, together with as great plenty as ever: so as it was to bee thought, that every man might sit in safety under his own vine, and his own figtree: Yet I am ashamed, and it makes my hair stand upright, to consider, how in this time my people haue been vexed, and polled by the vile execution of projects, Patents, bills of Conformity, and such like, which, besides the trouble of my people, haue more exhausted their purses, then Subsidies would haue done. Now, my Lords, before I go hence, since God hath made me the great judge of this Land under him: and that I must answer for the iustice of the same: I will therefore( according to my place) remember you of some things, though I would not teach you. For no mans knowledge can bee so good, but their memories will bee the better to be refreshed. And now because ye are coming to give Iudgement, all which moves from the King, that you may the better proceed, take into your care two things: First, to do Bonum, Secondly, next to do it Benè. I call Bonum, when all is well proved, whereupon ye judge, for then ye build vpon a sure foundation; And by Benè I understand, that ye proceed with all formality and legality: wherein you haue fit occasion to aduise with the Iudges, who are to assist you with their opinions in cases of that nature, and woe be to them, if they aduise you not well. So the ground being good, and the form orderly, it will prove a course, fitting this high Court of Parliament. In Sentence ye are to observe two parts: First, to recollect that which is worthy of judging and censuring: And secondly to proceed against these, as against such like crimes properly. Wee doubt there will bee many matters before you, some complained of out of passion, and some out of just cause of grievance. Weigh both; but bee not carried away with the impertinent discourses of them, that name as well innocent men, as guilty. Let your judgements onely take hold of the guilty: proceed iudiciallie, and spare none where ye find just cause to punish. But let your proceedings be according to law: and remember, that laws haue not their eyes in their necks, but in their foreheads. For the moral reason of the punishment of vices in all kingdoms and commonwealths is, because of the breach of laws standing in force, for none can bee punished for breach of laws by predestination, before they be made. There is yet one particular, which I am to remember you of. I hear that Sir Henry Yeluerton( who is now in the Tower, vpon a Sentence given in the Starchamber against him, for deceiving my trust) is touched concerning a warrant dormant, which he made while he was my attorney: the which my Lo. Treasurer here, refused to set his hand unto, like an honest man, when it was brought unto him. I protest, I never heard of this warrant dormant before, and I hold it as odious a matter, as any is before you: and if, for respect to me, ye haue forborn to meddle with him in examination, because he is my prisoner, I do now here freely remit him unto you, and put him into your hands. And this is all I haue to say unto you, at this time; wishing you to proceed justly and nobly, according to the orders of your House: and I pray God to bless you: and ye may assure yourselves of my assistance; wishing that what I haue said this day amongst you, may bee entred into the Records of this House. FINIS. LONDON Printed by BONHAM NORTON, and John BILL, Printers to the Kings most Excellent majesty. 1621.