A SPEECH Made by the RIGHT HONOURABLE, JOHN Earl of BRISTOL, IN THE HIGH COURT OF PARLIAMENT; May 20. 1642.  
Concerning an ACCOMMODATION.  
Whereunto is added, THE COPY OF A LETTER Sent from the Right Honourable, the Lord PAGET, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Buckingham, to the Right Honourable the Earl of Holland; showing the great readiness of that County, to obey the Ordinance of the Parliament touching the MILITIA.  
LONDON, Printed for W. G. 1642.   

A SPEECH made by the Right Honourable JOHN Earl of Bristol, in the high Court of Parliament, May 20. 1642.  
MY LORDS,  
I Have spoken so often upon the subject of Accommodation, with so little acceptance, and with so ill success, that it was in my intention not to have made any further assay in this kind; but my zeal to the peace and happiness of this Kingdom, and my apprehensions of the near approaching of our unspeakable miseries and calamities, suffer me not to be master of mine own resolutions.  
Certainly, this Kingdom hath at all times many advantages over the other Monarchies of Europe. As, of Situation, of plenty, of rich commodities, of Power both by Sea and Land: But more particularly at this time, when all our neighbouring States are, by their several interests, so involved in war, and with such equality of power, that there is not much likelihood of their mastering one another, nor of having their differences easily compounded. And whereby, we being only admitted to all trades, and to all places: Wealth and Plenty (which ever follow, where trade flourisheth) are in a manner cast upon us.  
I shall not trouble your Lordships by putting you in mind of the great and noble undertake of your Ancestors: Nor shall I pass higher than the times within mine own remembrance.  
Queen Elizabeth was a Princess disadvantaged by her Sex, by her age, and chief, by her want of Issue: yet if we shall consider the great effects which were wrought upon most of the States of Christendom by this Nation under her prudent government; (The growth of the Monarchy of Spain chief by her impeached; The United Provinces by her protected; The French in their greatest miseries relieved; Most of the Princes of Germany kept in high respect and reverence towards her and this Kingdom, and the peace and tranquillity wherein this Kingdom flourished; and which hath been continued down unto us by the peaceable government of King james of blessed memory, and of his now Majesty, until these late unhappy interruptions) We cannot but judge this Nation equally capable, with any other, of Honour, Happiness, and plenty.  
Now, if in stead of this happy condition, in which we have been, and might be, upon a sober and impartial inquiry we shall find ourselves to have been for some few years last passed involved in so many troubles and distractions, and at the present to be reduced to the very brink of miseries and calamities; It is high time for us to consider by what means we have been brought into them, and by what means it is most probable we may be brought out of them.  
This Kingdom never enjoyed so universal a peace, neither hath it any visible enemy in the world either Infidel or Christian: Our Enemies are only of our own house, such as our own dissensions, jealousies, & distractions, have raised up: And certainly where they are found (especially betwixt a King and his people) no other cause of the unhappiness and misery of a State need to be sought after: For civil discord is a plentiful Source, from whence all miseries and mischiefs flow into a Kingdom.  
The Scripture telleth us of the strength of a little City united, and of the instability of a Kingdom divided within itself; So that upon a prudent inquiry, we may assign our own jealousies, and discords, for the chief caus● of our past and present troubles, and of our future fears.  
It must be confessed, that by the counsel and conduct of evil Ministers, th● the Subject had cause to think their just liberties invaded; And from thence have our former distempers grown: For it is in the body politic of a Monarchy, as in another Natural body, the health whereof is defined to be, Partium Corporis aequa temperies, an equal temper of the parts: So likewise a State is well in health and well disposed, when Sovereign powers, and common right, are equally balanced, and kept in an even temper by just and equitable rules.  
And truly, (My Lords) by the goodness of his Majesty, and by the prudent endeavour of the Parliament, this State is almost reduced to that equal, and even temper, and our sickness is rather continued out of fancy and conceit (I mean fears and jealousies) then out of any real distemper or defect.  
I well remember, That before the beginning of this Parliament, some Noble Lords presented a Petition unto the King, and in that Petition did set down all or most of the grievances and distempers of the Kingdom, which occurred to them. To these (as I concieve) the Parliament have procured from his Majesty such redresses as are to their good satisfaction.  
Many other things for the ease, security, and comfort of the subject, have been, by their great industry, found and propounded, and by his Majesty's goodness condescended unto. And now we are come so near the happiness of being the most free and most settled Nation in the Christian world; Our dangers and miseries will grow greater and nearer unto us every day th●n other if they be not prevented.  
The King on his part offereth to concur with us in the settling of all the liberties and immunities either for the propriety of our goods, or liberty of our persons, which we have received from our ancestors, or which himself hath granted unto us; And what shall yet remain for the good and comfort of his Subjects, He is willing to hearken to our just and reasonable proportions: And for the establishing of the true Protestant Religion, he woos us to it: And the wisdom and industry of the Parliament hath now put it in a hopeful way.  
The rule of this government, he professeth, shall be, The Laws of the Kingdom, And for the comforting and securing of us he offereth a more large and more general pardon than hath been granted by any of his Predecessors.  
And truly (My Lords) This is all, that ever was or can be pretended unto by us.  
We on the other side make profession, That we intent to make his Majesty a glorious King, To endeavour to support his dignity, and to pay unto him that duty and Obedience, which, by our Allegiance, several Oaths, and late Protestation we own unto him, and to maintain all his just Regalities and Prerogatives, which I conceive to be as much as his Majesty will expect from us.  
So that (My Lords) we (being both thus reciprocally agreed of that which in the general would make both the King and people happy) shall be most unfortunate, if we shall not bring both inclinations and endeavours so to propound and settle particulars, as both King and people may know what will give them mutual satisfaction, which certainly must be the first step to the settling of a right understanding betwixt them. And in this I should not concieve any great difficulty, if it were once put into a way of preparation. But the greatest difficulty may seem to be, how that which may be settled and agreed upon may be secured. This is, commonly, the last point in Treaties betwixt Princes, and of the greatest niceness, But much more betixt a King and his Subjects, where that confidence & belief which should be betwixt them, is once lo: And to speaee clearly, I fear, that this may be our case, and herein may consist the chiefest difficulty of accommodation: For it is much easier to compose differences arising from reason (yea even from wrongs, than it is to satisfy jealousies, which arising out of the diffidence & distrust, grow and are varied upon every occasion.  
But (My Lords) if there be no endeavours to allay and remove them, they will every day increase and gather strength; Nay they are already grown to that height, and the mutual replies to those direct terms of opposition, That if we make not a present stay, it is to be feared, it will speedily pass further then verbal contestations.  
I observe in some of His Majesty's Answers, a Civil War spoken of. I confess it is a word of horror to me who have been an eyewitness of those unexpressible calamities, that (in a short time) the most plentiful, and flourishing Countries of Europe have been brought unto by an intestine war,  
I further observe, that His Majesty protesteth against the miseries that may ensue by a War, and that he is clear of them. It is true, what a protestation of that kind is no actual denouncing of War, but it is the very next degree to it, Vltimo admonitio, as the Civilians term it, The last admonition; So that we are upon the very brink of our miseries; It is better keeping out of them, then getting out of them: And in a State, the Wisdom of Prevention, is infinitely beyond the Wisdom of Remedies. If for the sins of this Nation, these misunderstandings should produce the least Act of Hostility, it is not almost to be believed, how impossible it were to put any stay to our miseries: For a Civil War admits of none of those Conditions, or Quarter, by which cruelty and blood are amongst other enemies kept from extremitiss; Nay, if it should but so happen (which God of his goodness avert) That mutually forces, and Armies should be raised, Jealousies and Feats would be so much increased thereby, that any Accommodation would be rendered full of difficulty and length; and the very charge of maintaining them, (whilst first a cessation of Arms, and then a general Accommodation were in treating) the Wealth of the Kingdom would be consumed.  
And of this we had lately a costly example, for in those unhappy troubles betwixt us and Scotland, after there was a stop made to any further Acts of Hostility, and a desire of peace expressed on both sides, Commissioner nominated, and all the Articles propounded, yet the keeping of the Armies together for our securities (whilst the cessation at Rippon, and the peace at London were in treating) cost this Kingdom not much less than a Million of pounds. And if two Armies be once on foot here in England, either a sudden encounter must destroy one of them, or the keeping of them both on foot must destroy the Kingdom.  
I hope therefore we shall make it our endeavour by moderation, and calmness, yet to put a stay to our so near approaching miseries, and that we shall hearken to the wise advice of our Brethren of Scotland, in their late Answer to the King and Parliament, wherein they earnestly entreat us, That all means may be forborn which may make the breach wider, and the wound deeper; And that no place be given to the evil spirit of Division, which at such times worketh uncessantly, and resteth not: But that the fairest, the most Christian and compendious way may be taken by so wise a King and Parliament, as may (against all malice and opposition) make his Majesty and his Posterity more glorious, and his Kingdom more happy than ever. And in another place they say, That since the Parliament have thought meet to draw the practice of the Parliament of Scotland into example, in point of Declaration: They are confident that the affection of the Parliament will lead them also to the practice of that Kingdom in composing the unhappy differences betwixt his Majesty and them, and (so fare as may consist with their Religion, Liberties, and Laws) in giving his Majesty's  
Certainly (My Lords) this is wise and brotherly advice; And I doubt not but we are all desirous to follow it. We must not then still dwell upon generals (For generals produce nothing) But we must put this Business into a certain way, whereby particulars may be descended unto; And the way that I shall offer with all humility is, That there may be a select Committee of choice persons of both Houses, who may, in the first place, truly state and set down all things in difference betwixt the King and the Subject, with the most probable ways of reconciling them. Secondly, to descend unto the particulars, which may be expected by each from other, either in point of our supporting of him, or his relieving of us. And lastly, how all these Conditions, being agreed upon, may be so secured, as may stand with the honour of His Majesty; and the satisfaction of the Subject.  
When such a Committee shall have drawn up the heads of the Propositions, and the way of securing them, they may be presented unto the Houses, and so offered unto His Majesty by such a way as the Parliament shall judge most probable to produce an Accommodation.  
(My Lord) What have I yet said unto you, hath been chief grounded upon the apprehensions and fears of our future dangers. I shall say something of the unhappiness of our present estate, which chief standeth in as much need of relief and remedy, as our fears do of prevention; for, although the King and people were fully united, and that all men that now draw several ways, should unanimously set their hand to the work, yet they would find it no easy task to restore this Kingdom to a prosperous and comfortable condition: If we take into our consideration the deplorable estate of Ireland, likely to drain this kingdom of men and treasure; If we consider the debts and necessity of the Crown, the engagements of the Kingdom, the great and unusual contributions of the people, the which, although they may not be so much to usual contributions of the people, the which, although they may not be so much to their discontent (for that they have been legally raised) yet the burden hath not been much eased: Let us likewise consider the distractions (I may almost call them confusions in point of Religion) which of all other distempers, are most dangerous and destructive to the peace of a State.  
Besides these public calamities, let every particular man consider the distracted and uncomfortable estate of his own condition; for mine own part, I most ingeniously profess unto your Lordships, That I cannot find out, (under the different Commands of the King and the Parliament) any such course of caution and wariness, by which I can promise to myself security or safety. I could give your Lordships many instances of the inconsistancie and impossibility of obeying these commands: But I shall trouble you with only one or two.  
The Ordinance of Parliament (now in so great agitation) commandeth all persons in Authority, to put in execution, and all others to obey it according to the Fundamental Laws, of the Land; The king declareth it to be contrary to the Fundamental Laws, against the Subject, and Rights of Parliament; And commandeth all his Subjects of what degree soever upon their allegiance not to obey the said Ordinance, as they will answer the contrary at their perils.  
So likewise in point of the King, commanding the attendance of divers of us upon His person whereunto We are obliged by several relations of our service and oaths: In case We comply not with his Commands, We eaten liable to his displeasure, and the loss of those places of Honour and Trust, which We hold under Him: If we obey his Commands without the leave of the Parliament, (which hath not been always granted) We are liable to the censure of Parliament; and of ●oth these We want not fresh examples; So that certainly, this cannot but be acknowledged to be an uncomfortable condition.  
I am sure I bring with me a ready and obedient heart to pay unto the king all those duties of loyalty, allegiance, and obedience which I own unto him: And I shall never be wanting towards the Parliament, to pay unto it all those due Rights, and that obedience which we all own unto it: But in contrary Commands, a conformity of obedience to both, is hardly to be lighted on. The Reconciliation must be in the commanders, and the Commands, and not in the obedience, or the person that is to obey. And therefore until it shall please God to bless us with a right understanding betwixt the King and Parliament, and a conformity in their Commands, neither the Kingdom in public, nor particular men in private can be reduced to a safe or comfortable Condition.  
I have said thus much to give occasion to others, to offer likewise their opinions: For we shall sit st●ll, and nothing (tending to the stay of the unhappy misunderstanding betwixt the King and his People) be propounded: It is to be feared, That our miseries will hasten so fast, and opportunity of applying remedies may be past.  
I have herein discharged my conscience, suitable to that duty which I own to the King my Sovereign and Master, and suitable to that zeal and affection, which I shall ever pay to the happiness and prosperity of the Kingdom, towards which I shall ever fully contribute my humble prayers, and honest endeavours. And I shall no way doubt (whatsoever success this my proposition may have) it will be accompanied with the good wishes of your Lordships, and of all peaceable, and well minded men.  
The Copy of a Letter sent from the Right Honourable the Lord Paget, Lord Lieutenant of the County of Buckingham, To the Right Honourable the Earl of Holland; showing the great readiness of that County, to obey the Ordinance of the Parliament touching the Militia.  
I Have received so great expressions of my Countrymen of Buckinghamshire, of their good affections to the Public, and ready Obedience to the commands of Parliament, in the present Master this day begun for a fourth part of this County, that I held it my duty to make your Lordship acquainted therewith, to the end an account may be given of it to the Parliament, if your Lordship shall think fit.  
Ten of my Deputy Lieutenants met me this morning at Beckonsfield, where we called over the Train Band, consisting but of one hundred and fifty men, who made a very good appearance, with their Arms and supplies, and as full as they have been formerly upon any other summons. Besides these, eightscore Volunteers and upwards within this Division, presented themselves to us very well armed, and exercised in two Companies; more in number then the Trained Band, summoned to this place I am also informed of another Company of an hundred and fifty Volunteries more within this Division, that intent to show themselves in our way to the next place of meeting, and of another Company of an hundred more, who there intent to meet us, besides the Trained Band.  
This public testimony of my Countrymens' good affections, for the safety of the King and Kingdom, I thought not unfit to make known. And rest  
Your Lordship's most dutiful son, and humble servant, WILL: PAGET. Beckonsfield 23. May. 1642.  
FINIS.