SIR William DRAKE HIS SPEECH IN PARLIAMENT. Concerning the present Distempers, and putting the kingdom in a state of defence. November 10. 1641.  
LONDON, Printed for W. L. 1641.   

SIR WILLIAM DRAKE, His Speech in PARLIAMENT: November 10th. 1641.  
Mr. Speaker,  
IF we consider those dangerous disturbances that this kingdom hath of late years laboured under, 'tis certain, that in a general and original consideration, we cannot but impute them to the wrath of God for the sins of this nation. But in a second and more particular consideration, we may properly assign them unto the violent counsels of some late Ministers of State, who either for want of counsel; or by malicious practice, have brought this State, from a happy, firm and strong constitution, to so weak and feeble a temper, that the great physician the Parliament, cannot, but with extreme difficulty, apply remedies fit and proportionable to the disease, but they inevitably run some hazard of endangering the body itself; it being very perilous to apply stronger remedies than the strength and constitution of the patient can well bear.  
Mr. Speaker, You were truly told by a grave and worthy Member, at the beginning of this Parliament: that it must be some extreme necessity that would rectify and recover this State; and that when that extremity did come, it would be a great hazard whether it might prove a remedy or a ruin. And this is occasioned, chiefly because violent diseases, do most commonly require violent remedies, and, violent remedies are ordinarily pregnant of new mischiefs: which hath caused your States, best skilled in government, always to discern evil a far off in their causes, and by their wisdom and foresight, prevent them: and I am confident, had we had frequent Parliaments, we should have given a timely stop to mischiefs, and never have suffered them to have broken in upon us with such an inundation of distempers, that without Divine prevention, may yet swallow and destroy us.  
Mr. Speaker, 'Tis observed of the Roman State, a pattern of best government, so long as they held up their first virtue and valour, that after a great defeat by Hannibal, 
Polye  their confederates began to forsake them. But Hero King of Siracusa, having so piercing a judgement, that he could see through the present to the future; and observing the Romans so considerate and constant in all their proceedings; even in this extreme exigent of their affairs, and that their laws were never more strictly observed by their Magistrates, 
Lin.  nor their people more obedient to their Senate or Parliament, and how their Military Discipline was never likewise more severely observed: this wise Prince seeing their foundations stood thus firm, sent them Presents of great value, and corresponded with them in a stricter league of friendship then ever before. Not unlike a good physician, who seeing favourable symptoms, in the strongest fit of his patient's disease, conceives firm hope of his perfect recovery.  
Now Mr. Speaker, if we set before us an Image or representation of those distempers we stand environed withal; there could not possibly be that extreme danger in them, but that there might be good hopes of a speedy recovery, had we kept close and constant to those grounds of Religion, laws and Military Discipline, which have been noted by wisest Legislators, to have been the main cause next under God, of the strength and duration of a State.  
But Sir, If we examine it, how have our very foundations been shaken? what Superstition and Innovations have been brought in upon our Religion of late times by ambitious heady and passionate men? And from this fountain originally as I conceive, flows most part of our present distractions. Queen Elizabeth, of sacred and precious memory to this nation, keeping steadfast and constant to this ground of Religion, kept this kingdom peaceable and united at home, afforded a comfortable influence and assistance to the Protestant parties abroad, and after a long and happy reign, went unto her eternal rest in glory.  
And truly Sir, I speak it with all humility, yet with some confidence, that I shall never expect, to see the quiet settled state of this kingdom, till there be some course taken to settle Religion to some rule and uniformity, and not to be thus suffered in an uncertain condition, between illegal Innovations and superstitions on the one side, and I know not what lawless and Irregular confusion on the other.  
And let us all I beseech you, calmly and seriously consider, how natural a motion 'tis to most men, not limited by some Law, when they are come out of one extreme, wherein they have been held by fear, to run with a swift violent course into another extreme; from superstition and idolatry to irreverence and contempt of God's public Worship and Ordinances.  
For our Laws (Mr. Speaker) how have they been violated by illegal Taxations, Imprisonments, Monopolies, and other pressures, whereby the Subject hath been prosecuted and grieved; but this is so obvious to every man's understanding and sense, that I shall not insist upon it.  
M. Speaker, I come next to our Military Discipline, and how hath this ground of strength been shaken, partly by the loss of able and experienced Commanders in fruitless, if not dangerous, attempts abroad; and partly by neglect, and not duly keeping up our musters at home.  
M. Speaker, Every man may lay it as lightly to heart as he please, but I shall be bold to tell you that all the Laws that we have or shall make for the defence of our Religion or Liberties without provident care in this particular will be but like to sumptuous and glorious structures without roof or covering, subject to all weather and storms that shall arise, and whatever Parliaments shall with great wisdom and providence plant for the good estate of future times, without due provisions for our Military defence, may be soon cut down again by the violence and malice of a stronger sword.  
Therefore (M. Speaker) as you have taken a provident care for the securing of the Havens and Port Towns, so I desire there may be timely consideration had of the Inland strength of the kingdom, and that the Musters in all Counties of the kingdom be carefully (especially in these perilous times) kept up; and that care be taken that every County may have a sufficient proportion of powder, and other provision for their necessary defence. And that all commands may rest in faithful hands, and that certificates of the true state of all things how they stand for defence, may from time to time be sent either to the council of war you appoint for Ireland, or to any other whom the Parliament shall think meet, and thereupon to take order from time to time, to supply all defects, as well of Captains, as of Munition, powder, and other necessaries.  
M. Speaker, This point is more timely to be had in consideration, because our perils will increase, as foreign estates settle and compose their affairs to their best advantage: And therefore I shall desire that our quietness may not rest any longer upon so tickle a ground, as the unquietness of our Neighbour Kingdoms; for no State stands firm and secure, but upon its own foundations.  
There is one thing more with which I will conclude, and I shall humbly represent it as, in my weak opinion, a great cause of our growing distempers, which is the abundance of humours we have stirred, and not purged away, which are but fit fuel for fresh fires to take hold of, if it should burst forth; therefore as there be a great number of this State, Qui paena & calamitate publicae impunitatem sibi spondeus; I shall make it my humble motion and desire, that we make some severe examples of some few of the most capital offenders, and either pardon the meaner delinquents, if Justice will admit thereof, or at least to let them in some reasonable time know what they may trust too; otherwise you shall have as many as look desperately upon their own fortune be too ready to give their vote for troubles, and seek their own peace in the public disturbance, the number of whom, as I conceive, would be warily prevented, especially in these times of increasing distraction.  
Sir, I have troubled you too long, and am not so inconsiderate, but to object to myself, that some 〈◊〉 are of more instant present considerations than any thing I have touched upon. As your sending 〈…〉 for Ireland, but I desire as those affairs are in some 〈◊〉 sure settled in a way we may timely apply ourselves to the Root and causes of our distempers, and to begin with those of most importance, and to proceed with them to effect.  
FINIS.