A worthy SPEECH SPOKEN IN THE HONOURABLE house OF COMMONS Janvarie the xvij MDCXLJ.  
BY Mr. JOHN BROWNE ESQUIRE, And Knight of the Shire for the County of Dorset.  
WHEREIN He explains and lays open to the said House, the manifold eminent Dangers which are like to fall upon that County, by reason of Digby's Escape, and assistance which is to be feared will join with him in his intentions, by reason divers and the most part of Sherborn, evil, Brunswick, and other Towns of which he is Lord over, for the most part consists of Papists, Recusants and other of his Confederates. With the Relation of divers of the Recusants houses that be furnished with store of Ammunition for a sudden service.  
London. Printed for H. Homer. 1642.   

A WORTHY SPEECH SPOKEN In the Honourable House of Commons, on Tuesday last, by Mr. John Brown Esquire, and Knight of the shire for the County of Dorset.  
Mr. SPEAKER,  
IN respect the grounds of my ensuing words, concern the safety of a County: i thought good to present to these riper capacities, and more perspicuous understandings. Which although being but a suspicion, or fear of ensuing danger, by and through the too many apparitions of papistical treacheries. This amongst the rest being more to be feared, as it is more eminent, and apparent to the view of the world; as this Subsequent Declaration of mine shall really testify.  
Mr. Speaker, what I speak, is not for any vainglory, or desire of ●●●●lating my betters, but out of the care and indulgent commiseration of the County, in whose behalf I sit here, I mean the County of Dorset, who now are dependending, betwixt fear and hope, never in so much danger as now, never so dejected, nor ever so oppressed as at this present time, your honours were pleased upon the discovery of the treacherous confederacy betwixt the Lord Digby and Lunsford, to grant out a warrant for their apprehension, which although put in execution, failed of that auspicious sequel, which we did so earnestly and assiduously desire to our sorrow, and the greater terror of the poor County of Dorset, that which makes us so fearful, and to apprehend the dangeriwith such vehemency, is the greatness of his authority with us, his large revenues and multiplicity of tenants, who are for the most part Recusants, and impetuous resisters of the Protestant religion: and not only so, but also by their multiplicity of armour, muskets, and other ammunition every particular man exceeding, having greater and larger store, than any neighbouring Protestant thereunto adjoining, their being within ten miles' distance of the said Lord Digby's house, at Sherborn, evil, Brunswick, Bedminster, and other villages within the compendium of his lordship's demeans; above seventy households of Roman Catholics, well provided to make resistance against any that shall oppose them, I do not say that they do but it is to be feared that they will, having a man so pernicious as Lunsford and his confederacies to join with them in their wicked enterprises, that may be either by him or them devised.  
Mr. Speaker, these and many other considerations, force me this day to speak so much of this matter, viz. the fear of the people, the strength of the enemy, and the former traitorous and treacherous designs intended (although by the divine providence of Almighty God, frustrated and made void) which if not timely looked into, may being patrocinated and ushered in by such able and notorious Delinquents, prove the utter ruin of the County and a means to introduce civil wars within this kingdom. What security, what safety, what liberty; nay what hopes can any true Subject there inhabiting have, when as their obnoxious, and abrogating enemy so nigh a neighbour, nay rather involved within their bowels, one whom they know conspires Plots, and promiscuously intends their Overthrow. Let no man think to direct us from the pursuit of Justice, by poisoning the clear streams of our intellect with zealous expectation of truth, and reality from them, whom we have found such invective persons, agd inveterate politicians, against both church and state.  
The happy assurance of your grace and favour towards others, makes us to have an inexpressible hope, that our loyalty will win you to tender the safety of the people: and certainly all our pressures well weighed, these many years, and now more dangerous and contaminous then ever: it will be found the passive loyalty of this suffering County, hath undone the active duty of all times, and stories; and as the Poet hath it, Fortiter ille facit, qui miser esse potest, i may as properly, and significantly say, fideliter fecimus, we have done loyally, to suffer so patiently.  
The root of all the evils already come upon us, the frustrous labour of this industrious Parliament, the continual fears, the obstupifying Plots, and late hell-nourished Conspiracies, and what else you may call pernicious to Parliamentary proceedings, and necessary affairs, for settling a real peace in this kingdom, spring all from one current, shoot out from one root, viz. papistical heresy.  
And is it not high time then to grub up that root that produces such fruit? He that intends to correct an evil tree, shall begin at the master bough, and so crop downward, is in danger to fall himself, ere the tree fall. The safer and more speedier way is to begin at the root, and there (with submission to better judgement) would I lay to the Axe.  
I have endeavoured, and as much as in me lieth, to lay open before your honours the sudden and almost apparent danger, the said County of Dorset may fall into: unless those that are suspected to be enemies, be disarmed of their store of pernicious provision, & that thosew, hich are suspicious persons, may have their houses searched, for fear of conspiracy: and in so doing, your honours shall clear a doubt of consequence, strengthen the Protestants, and find out such inauspicious designs, as shall be intended against them: and upon a Report thereof, to draw up a Charge against the guilty: and then, Currat Lex, fiat justicia.  
FINIS.