Mr. Speakers Speech BEFORE HIS majesty, And both the Houses of Parliament, after his return from SCOTLAND, upon passing the Bill for Tunnage and Poundage, on Thursday the 2. of December.  
Relating the present distempers of England and Ireland.  
ALSO, The King's most excellent majesty's SPEECH To the Honourable House of PARLIAMENT, the same Thursday Decemb. 2. 1641.  
LONDON, Printed for John Greensmith, 1641.   
Most Dread Soveraign●, 
THe observation taken from the unlike Compositions, and various motions of the world, made the Philosopher conclude, Tota hujus mundi concordia ex discordibus constat.  
The happy conjuncture of both these Nations in the Triumph and joy of your Sacred presence, extracted from the different and divided dispositions and opinions, gives us c●use to observe and to admire these blessed effects from such contrary causes. We may without flattery commend your Sacred Majesty, the glorious Instrument of this happy change, whose piety and prudence, directed by the hand of God, hath contracted this union from these various discord.  
The Story of these times will seem paradox●● in following generations, when they shall he●re of Peace sprung from the Root of dissension, of union planted upon the stock of divisio●s, two Armies in the field both ready to strike the first blow, and both united without a stroke.  
Nothing can reduce these truths into a belief, but the knowledge of your piety and justice, who hath accomplished these acts of wonder by goodness, and gentleness, without force and violence.  
This way of conquest, this bellum in cruentum, hath been the Rule of the most valiant and puissant Monarchs, advancing your glory, in safe guard of one Subject, more in the death of a thousand enemies.  
Thus have you erected a Monument of glory to your Sacred memory for all generations.  
And as your care and piety for the welfare of your Northern kingdom called you to that work for the great comfort of your people which your wisnome hath so happily consummated: So now the distemper of your other kingdom (Fomented by the same spirits, whose presence admits no peace in Israel) Calls on your providence to h●ale the diseases of that Nation.  
The one from whence you returned, hath with Abel (though the elder brother) offered an acceptable Sacrifice: The other with Cam hath erected altars of blood and revenge (the old Jmmolations of ●esuiticall Priesthood) which invokes the necessity of your Justice.  
The one to a natural, hath added a politieke brotherhood.  
The other of brothers (I am sorry to say it) are become strangers.  
The fidelity of the one hath written a Story of admiration to the world.  
The disloyalty of the other hath paralleled that horrid design (Matchless before amongst all generations) First in their intention, the destruction of a kingdom, even than when Unity and Peace was tying the knot of Religion and safety.  
In the discovery a moment of time prevented the execution.  
In the actors (Jesuits and Priests) without whom the malice of the devil could not have found a party in the world fitted to act over the like bloody tragedy.  
But this amongst our many joys we receive by Your happy return is not the least, nay the greatest, That that providence which protected that gracious King, your most religious Father, from that bloody Attempt, and increased the blessing of a long and happy reign, hath also defended your Sacred throne from all their Machinations.  
Thus we see Religion is the greatest policy, the never-failing support of King and kingdom, that which Firmes your and your Posterity to your Throne, and our duty and obedience to it.  
Give me leave here most gracious sovereign, to sum up the sense of eleven months' observation without intermission (scarce) of a day, nay an hour in that day, to the hazard of life and fortune, and to reduce all into this Conclusion, The Endeavours of your Commons assembled, guided by Your pious and religious example, is to preserve Religion in its purity without mixture or composition, against these subtle invadors; and with our lives and fortunes to establish these Thrones to your Sacred person, and those beams of majesty, your royal Progeny, against treason and rebellion.  
The ways that conduce to this end are the defence of the Land and Sea, for the one, we have already voted to raise moneys, for the other, this Bill in some measure will accomplish for a little time, and to that end i by the Command of the Commons) humbly beseech your royal assent.   

His majesty's SPEECH the 2. of December.  
I Am to speak a word unto you, since i have been so long absent from you; It is no way in answer to the Learned Speech of Mr. Speaker: But yet i shall touch one point of it-concerning Ireland; But first I must tell you, though i have been absent longer than indeed i did expect, or could have been expected by you, yet i stayed no longer in Scotland then the necessity of those affairs would absolutely permit▪ and indeed I have therein done so much good, that i will boldly affirm unto you, that i have left the people a most contented and happy Nation; That if i did misreckon a little in time i do not misreckon in the end.  
Now though i have deceived you a little of your expectation in point of time, i confess you have deceived my expectation in finding of business here; for i had thought to have found things in quietness and settled both for Religion and peace of this kingdom, but I found distractions, such as i could not expect, in so much, as the Parliament was thought fit to be guarded, this I speak not any way to seek out a fault, or to have any distrust of the hearty affections of my Subjects, but on the contrary when i came here (as you all see) i found the affection of my people unto me, to my great comfort.  
Now I assure you, i come with the same affection that you or any good people of the world could wish, for I am so far from disliking any thing that i have done hitherto, that if it were to do again (in the favour and good of my people) that I protest i would do it again.  
And whatsoever may be justly expected of me for the securing of Religion and Liberty of my people, I shall not fail to do it, and therefore I shall mention no particular at this time, but only that great particular of Ireland, which Mr. Speaker did mention, of which I do not doubt, but you have had a great care, yet me thinks, things go on slowly; and i mention this more reasonably, because a couple of Noble men are come out of Scotland according to the Petition and Jnstructions, which it pleased both Houses to send unto me at Berwick, which I instantly dispatched to the chancellor, who now have the disposing of all things, i spoke to them this morning, and I decreed both Houses to appoint a select Committee and make an end of that business with them.  
I have but this word more to say, that I assure you, I have no other end but the happiness of my People, for their flourishing, is my greatest Glory, and their affection, my greatest strength.  
FINIS.