A SEASONABLE SPEECH BY Sir Nathaniel Coppinger. SPOKEN IN THE HIGH court OF PARLIAMENT. October 24. 1641.  
For the bringing of the Archbishop of Canterbury to his long expected trial. And concerning the Expulsion of Papists, in respect of their late dangerous Plots: and the correcting of Separatists, in regard of their errors.  
Vera floreat Ecclesia.  
London, Printed by B. A. for T. Bates, 1641,   


C R  SIR Nathaniel Coppinger HIS WORTHY SPEECH In Parliament, spoken October 24. 1641.  
Mr. Speaker:  
SInce the Contagious time did dissipate us a while, and it hath pleased the mighty and Almighty God to recollect us again, let us unanimously concur in ratifying, determining, and establishing the weighty affairs of this kingdom: for it is not unknown to you all, what Plots, &; formidable Conspiracies have been invented against our Brethren the Scots, who are blessedly convented in that Assembly: and God knows, what Stratagems are now plotted against our selves. Therefore i acknowledge it very expedient, and requisite, that all our consultations be firmly concatenated, in the indissoluble link of unanimity.  
The Papists have been always mortal enemies to our State, and especially to our Religion, and if they be not prevented with the expedition of Justice, I fear they will add constructively to their former intentions.  
They swarm most confusedly in our streets, daily studying to subvert, and fully eradicate the true Reformation of Christian Religion.  
And their hourly intent is to supplant the Foundation of our pious laws, and to diffuse aspersions upon our Church. They expalliate their knavery, and have done so a long time, although, thanks be to God, they have now been discovered, and many of their Stratagems apparently demonstrated, to the public Spectacle of the world.  
You know in what danger our Scottish Brethren were incident unto; Therefore, I beseech you, lay it to your serious cogitations, and if it be possible, let us labour to prevent their Treason-growing malice. It hath been oftentimes moved unto us, to expel them utterly from our Dominions, but as yet we have not enacted it.  
And for my part, I pray God we may confirm that first motion, and what we have heretofore in action conceived fit, let us now indeed perfect. For I am confident hereof, that our State, and Commonwealth cannot be secure, until we exenterate those deadly Exulcerators of our Religion. In the mean while, give me leave to pause.— And now i think on't, we have a second crew, and but a little inferior to the former, I mean the Separatists.  
These are the new crept in Caterpillars of our kingdom, who by their private malice do as much contaminate the purity of Religion, as the former. Alas! can we not keep the middle way? can we not walk in the middle, and secure path of piety, but we must thus variously deviate; either swelling too high in papistical opinions, or else sinking too low in brownistical Heresies?  
Oh that we had a second Cicero to cry out again, O tempora! O mores! The Poets feigned that Phaeton, when he neglected the middle way, wherein his Father did direct him, was incontinently destroyed with a praecipitious ruin.  
The mythology and Affabulation hereof, may agree with our times; for there may be a Golden moral contained in a leaden Fable: And I doubt, if we likewise neglect the middle, and true ground of Religion, all things will turn into a sudden confusion; for according to the Poet, Medio tutissimus ibis.  
But stay! what should the cause be of these in digested Distractions of Impurity. I conceive there is some proper, and peculiar Author of ale these malignities. For according to the philosopher's rule, Nullus effectus datur sine causa; there can be no effect without a cause naturally: neither can I imagine, but that our corrupted springs of Piety do flow from one polluted fountain.  
You know my meaning, my mental reservation includes Canterburry, that incendiary of this kingdom: therefore let us not defer or procrastinate the business any longer, but call him to an Answer, with all possible expedition.  
He hath hanged as Abraham's Ram in the briars a long time: therefore I think it high-time now to sacrifice him on his own Altar.  
〈◊〉 beseech you, take all these precedent premises into your serious; and grave considerations, and let not this kingdom, which hath a long time languished in various, and erroneous opinions, be any longer frustrated of the peaceful expectations of all men.  
Once more, I beseech you, let us proceed in our determinations begun; for the whole Nation depends upon us: therefore I crave your judicious resolutions herein.  
Let the Petition be read, and let us enter upon the work.  
FINIS.