THE SPEECH OF SERGEANT GLANVILL, IN THE upper house OF PARLIAMENT FOR Peace and unity. Also showing that the way to preserve peace, is to be well provided for war.  
LONDON, Printed in the year 1641.   

THE SPEECH OF SERGEANT GLANVILL in the upper House of Parliament, for the redress of the present grievances.  
His majesty being seated on his Throne, Sergeant Glanvill was called to the bar, being represented by the House of Commons for their Speaker; who spoke as followeth.  
May it please your majesty,  
THe Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of your Commons House of Parliament in conformity to ancient and most constant usage (the best guide in great solemnities) according to their well known privileges (a sure warrant for their proceedings, and in obedience to your majesty's most gracious commands (a duty well becoming loyal subjects have met together, and chosen a Speaker, one to be the mouth, indeed the servant of all the rest to steer watchfully and prudently in all their weighty consultations and debates, to collect faithfully and readily the votes and genuine sense of that numerous assembly, to propound the same seasonably and in apt questions for their final resolution, and to present them and their conclusions, their declarations with truth and light, with life and lustre, and with full advantage to your most Excellent majesty. With what Judgement, with what temper, spirit, and elocution he ought to be endued, your majesty in your great wisdom is best able to discern, both as it may relate to your own peculiar and important affairs of State to the proper work and business of this House of Commons, which was never small or mean, and now like to be exceeding weighty.  
It is a learned age wherein we live under your majesty's most peaceful government and your House of Commons is not only the representative body, but the abstracted quintessence of the whole communality of this your noble realm.  
I most humbly therefore beseech your majesty as the father of the Commonwealth, and hope of the whole nation, to whom the care of all our welfares appertains, to have respect to your own interest, have regard to your House of Commons, have compassion upon me the unworthiest member of that body, ready to faint with fear, before the burden lights on me, I have only a hearty affection to serve you and your people, little abilities for performance; In the fullness therefore of your royal power, your piety, goodness, be graciously pleased to command the House of Commons to deliberate, upon a better choice who may be worthy of their choosing, and your majesty's acceptations.  
My Lord Keeper having by his majesty's direction confirmed him as Speaker, he addressed himself to his majesty as followeth.  
Most gracious sovereign:  
My profession hath taught me, that from the highest Judge there lies no writ of Error, no appeal; what then? remains, but that I first beseech Almighty God the author and finisher of all good works, to enable me to discharge honestly & effectually so great a task, so great a trust; and in the next place humbly to acknowledge your majesty's favour. Some enemies I might fear, the common enemy of such services, expectation and jealously; I am unworthy the former, and I contemn the latter. Time the touchstone of truth shall teach the babbling world, I am and will be found an equal freeman, zealous to serve my sovereign, zealous to serve my dearest Country.  
Monarchy royal of all governments the most illuustrious and excellent, whether we regard the glory, wealth, or safety of the governors or people; I hope none of this Nation are of antimonarchical spirits, nor friends to such, if there be, I wish no greater honour to this Parliament, then to discover them and to assist your majesty to suppress and confound them.  
To behold your majesty in peace and safety afoards complete joy to all loyal Subjects, who cannot but conclude with me in this desire.  
Serus in Caelum redeas diuque,  
Laetus in terris Populo Britanno  
England is your seat of residency, Scotland is your native place, and herein hath the advantage Ireland imitates England by a great and quick progression in civility and conversation, in improvement of the soil and plantation.  
France is still attendant on your royal style; A King's Prerogative is as needful as great, without which he should want that majesty which ought to be inseparable from his crown, nor can any danger result thereby to subjects' liberties, so long as both admit the temperament of law and Justice, specially under such a Prince, who to your immortal Honour hath published this to the whole world for your maxim, that the people's liberties strengthens the King's Prerogative, and the King's Prerogative is to defend the people's liberties; Apples of gold in pictures of silver.  
Kings as Kings are never said to err, only the best may be abused by misinformation; this the highest point of Prerogative that the King can do no wrong; if then by the subtlety of misinformers▪ by the specious false pretences of public good, by a running and close contrivance of their ways to seduce the Sacred royal Person, it be surprised and over wrought to command contrary to law, and be executed accordingly; this commands will be void & these King innocent even in his very person, and the authors of such misinformations, the actors of such abuses stand exposed to just censure, having nothing to defend themselves but the colour of a void command, made void by just prerogative, and the fundamental reasons of state.  
Touching justice, there is not a more certain sign of an upright Judge, then by his patience to be well informed before sentence given, and I may boldly say, all the Judges in your kingdom may take example by your majesty, and learn their duties by your practice, myself have often been a witness thereof to my no little admiration.  
From your patience, please you give me leave to press to your righteous judgement, and exemplify it but in one instance. When your Lords and people in your last Parliament presented your majesty a Petition concerning their rights and liberties, the Petition being of no small weight, your majesty after mature deliberation, in few but most effectual words; (soit droict faict co●e est desire) made such an answer, as shall renown you for just Judgement to all posterity.  
Let us heartily pray that this Parliament may be famous for the advancement of Sacred Religion, and to that end that the most Reverend Prelates, sitting on the right hand of your Kingly side, be most forward therein, to whom it is most proper.  
That the Nobles girt with their swords in their creation, and most especially rewarded and honoured for Actions military: call to mind the most renowned Acts of their Ancestors, whose lands and honours they inherit, and how renowned this Land hath been through the whole World for Art and arms, and labour to restore it to its ancient splendour: The best way to preserve peace, is to be well fitted for War.  
But were this Nation never so valiant or wealthy, if unity be not among us what good will riches do us, or your majesty but enrich the conqueror, he that commands all hearts by love, he only commands assuredly; greatness without goodness can at best but command bodies.  
It shall therefore be my hearty prayer, That such a knot of love may be knit betwixt the Head and members that like Gordius knot it never be loosed: That all Jesuited foreign states who look a squint upon our Jerusalem may see themselves defeated of all there subtle plots and combinations of all their wicked hopes and expectations to render us, if their mischief might take effect, a people in considerable at home, and contemptible abroad.  
Religion hath taught us (Si Deus nobiscum quis contranos,) and experience I trust will teach us (Si sumus inseperabiles sumus insuperabiles.) It was found and I hope it still shall and will be the Tenet of the House of Commons; That the King and people's good cannot be severed: And cursed be every one that goes about to divide them.  
FINIS.