Mr. HOLLIS HIS SPEECH IN PARLIAMENT, On Monday the 31. of January, 1642.  
Upon the delivery of a Message from the House of Commmons, concerning the poor tradesmen's Petition.  
London, Printed for F. C. T. B 1642.   

Mr. Hollis HIS Speech to the Lords, upon the delivery of a Message from the House of Commons.  
My Lords,  
I Am commanded by the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House, to present your Lordships with a Petition now delivered into their House, by divers poor tradesmen in and about the city of London, containing in the same the great want and necessity they and their families are fallen into, through the decay of trading. The means and causes that have produced this decay, and the remedies to prevent further misery, and revive trading: My Lords, it is a common observation, and the experience of former Ages hath made it manifest, that when the sword of war is unsheathed, famine follows, the greatest destruction of all commonwealths and kingdoms, witness the miserable calamities and troubles that have of late years befallen upon Italy and Germany. If we call to mind ancient Histories mentioning the fatal destruction of the Eastern Empires, we shall find that the first step to their desolation, hath been● domestic dissension, and homebred mutinies, upon which hath followed national wars, and the effects of all hath been famine and pestilence, which hath given a full period to the utter confusion of those kingdoms. If we pry and search into the ancient Histories of Italy and Rome, we shall find the only destruction both of that kingdom and city, hath happened only by these occasions, the pride and abition of the Popes and Bishops of that See, usurping authority to themselves over the Churches in the East, produced the wars between the East Vandals and the Romans, between the East and West Goths, and the Italians, which was the utter desolation of the City of Rome.  
First, by Allarick captain of the West Goths.  
Secondly by Adolph their captain.  
Thirdly, by Athila King of the Huns.  
Fourthly, by Genserick King of the Vandals.  
Fifthly Odasar a German.  
Sixthly Theodericke and East Goth.  
And lastly, Totela Baldevil.  
These Princes by the sword and fire, executed the just judgements of God upon proud and wicked Rome; the original whereof was occasioned by the impurity and uncleanness of the Clergy: and what terrible Famines and grievous pestilencies followed these wars, is likewise too manifest by History; whereas in the beginning when Rome first began to lift up her head against God's true Religion and his anointed Servants, Kings and Emperors, she had been dashed and suppressed, all those blondy and long wars procured by the Bishops thereof in all parts of the Christian world had been prevented and avoided.  
My Lords, I have spoken this only to remember your Lordships of the miseries and calamities that have happened unto those Nations that have entertained amongst themselves dissension and division about the diversity of worship of God in Religion, which always hath proved the root and principal means of future destruction that now in time while opportunity doth serve such occasions of difference as do threaten the same desolations to the state wherein we live, and whereof we be a part, may by the wisdom of this high Court of Parliament be prevented and avoided.  
My Lords, if Dearth and Famine be in a Nation, there can be nothing expected but confusion as well of the rich, as of the poor, It is the Common Proverb, necessity hath no law. There is no delaying of present necessity. It is not to be thought that Millions of men, women & children will starve and perish, so long as there is Corn in the Land of Goshen, or in the custody of Joseph, It is therefore the desire, my Lords, of the Commons, that as they have compassionately considered among themselves this necessitated Petition of distressed tradesmen, and have limited a day certain for answering the same, so your Lordships would be pleased to take the same Petition into your considerations with them, that the petitioners may at the time appointed, receive from both Houses of parliament, such answer from their demands, as may give them full satisfaction.  
My Lords, under favour, I am to speak a word or two of the means that have occasioned the decay in trading, & the remedies to prevent the same for future time, and again renew Trading, the means they conceive is principally want of due ●xecution of Justice upon those persons that have been the causers, and Authors thereof, and then the remedies, due execution of justice, without any further protraction of time and the Enacting of such wholesome and good laws, for the restriction of vice, and maintaining of virtue, both in government of the Church and State, as shall be congruent to the Word of God, and the peace and prosperity of his Sacred Majesty, and all his Kingdoms, as shall be thought meet by the wisdom and policy of this great and High Court of Parliament, which I further humbly leave to the grave consideration of this Honourable House.  
FINIS.