A SPEECH Delivered at a Conference with the Lords, January 25. MDCXLII.  
By occasion of the PETITIONS from the city of London, and the Counties of Middlesex, Essex, and Hertford.  
By JOHN PYM, Esquire.  

Published by Order of the house of Commons.   
Printed at Edinburgh, 1642.   

JANUARY 25. 1642.  
At a Conference betwixt both Houses, concerning divers Petitions presented &c.  
My LORDS,  
I Am commanded by the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, assembled in Parliament, to present to your Lordships divers Petitions, which they have received from several parts concerning the State of the Kingdom: whereunto they are chiefly moved by that constant Affection, which they have always expressed, of maintaining a firm Union and good correspondence with your Lordships, wherein they have ever found much advantage, and contentment; but never held it more important and necessary, then at this time, wherein the wisdom and Resolution of Parliament, have as many great Dangers and difficulties to pass through, as ever heretofore.  
We are united in the public trust, which is derived from the Common-wealth in the common duty and obligation whereby God doth bind us to the discharge of that trust: and the Commons desire to impart to your Lordships whatsoever Information or Intelligence, whatsoever encouragement or assistance they have received from those several Countries, which they represent, that so likewise we may be united in the same intentions and endeavours of improving all to the service of his Majesty, and the common good of the kingdom.  
The Petitions which I am directed to communicate to your Lordships, are four: from London, Middlesex, Essex, and Hertfordshire. We have received many more, but it would take up too much time, & be too great a trouble to peruse all; & in these four, you may perceive the effect & sense of all: First, I am to desire your Lordships to hear them red, and then I shall pursue my Instructions in propounding some Observations out of them.   

The Petitions being red by four several Members of the House, M. PYM reassumed his Discourse.  
My LORDS,  
IN these four Petitions you may hear the voice, or rather the cry of all England, and you cannot wonder if the vrgency, the extremity of the condition wherein we are, do produce some earnestness and vehemency of expression more than ordinary; the agony, terror, and perplexity in which the kingdom labours, is universal, all parts are affencted with it; and therefore in these you may observe the groans and miserable complaints of all.  
Divers reasons may be given why those diseases which are epidemical, are more dangerous then others. The cause of such diseases is universal and supernal, not from an evil constitution, or evil diet, or any other accident: and such causes work with more vigour and efficacy, than those which are particular and inferior. 2. In such diseases there is a communicative quality, whereby the malignity of them is multiplied and enforced. 3. They have a converting, transforming power that turns other diseases and evil affections of mens bodies into their own nature.  
The common and epidemical disease wherein this Commonwealth lies now gasping, hath a superior and universal cause from the evil counsels and designs of those, who under his Majesty bear the greatest sway in Government. 2. It hath a contagious and infectious quality, whereby it is diffused and dispersed through all parts of the kingdom. 3. It is apt to take in the discontents, evil affections, and designs of particular persons, to increase and fortify itself.  
I shall take occasion from several branches of those Petitions which your Lordships have heard, to observe.  
1. The variety of Dangers to which this kingdom is now subject.  
2. The manifold distempers which is the cause of those Dangers.  
3. The multiplicity of those evil Influences which are the causes of that distemper.  
The first danger is from enemies abroad; this may seem a causeless and impertinent observation at this time, seeing wee are in peace with all Nations about us: But( my Lords) you may bee pleased to consider that the safety of the kingdom ought not to depend upon the will and disposition of our Neighbours, but upon our own strength and provision; Betwixt States there are often changes, from peace to war, according to occasion and advantage. All the States of christendom are now armed, and wee have no reason to believe but that those of greatest power have an evil eye upon us in respect of our Religion: And if their private Differences should bee composed, how dangerously, how speedily might those great Armies, and other preparations now ready, be applied to some enterprise and attempt against us? and if there were no other cause, this were sufficient to make us stand upon our guard; but there are divers more especial symptoms of dangers of this kind.  
We may perceive by several Advertisements from abroad, that they did fore-see our dangers many moneths before they broken out; They could fore-tell the time and manner of them, which is a clear evidence, they held Intelligence with those which were the Contrivers & workers of the present troubles.  
Wee have many dangerous traitors and Fugitives now in other parts, who can discover the weakness and distemper of the kingdom; who hold Intelligence with the ill-affected party here, and by all cunning and subtle practices endeavour to encite and provoke other Princes against us.  
Some of the Ministers of our neighbour Princes may be justly suspected to have had a more immediate hand and operation in the Insurrection and Rebellion of Ireland, many of the Commanders, and most of the Souldiers levied for the service of Spain are now joined with the Rebells there: and those Irish Friars, which were employed by the Spanish ambassador for the making of those Levies, are known to have been chief Incendiaries to this Rebellion, and are still very active in the prosecution and encouragement of it.  
The Rebels have a ready and speedy supply from some of our Neighbours. Two convoys of Munition and arms we are certainly informed of: one from Dunkirk, the other from Nantes in Britany: and certainly, those that are so forward to enable others to hurt us, will not forbear to hurt us themselves, as soon as they shall have means and opportunity to do it.  
Another danger is from the Papists and ill affencted party at home. The Papists here, are acted by the same Principles, with those in Ireland; many of the most active of them have lately been there; which argues an intercourse and communication of councils. They have still store of arms and Munition at their disposing, notwithstanding all our endeavours to disarm them, they have a free resort to the City and to the Court, they want no opportunities to consult together; they have the same or greater encouragements from above, and from about them, than ever, in respect of the example & success of the Rebels in Ireland, and the great confusions and divisions which by their cunning and subtle practices, are raised and fomented amongst ourselves at home.  
3 A third Danger is of Tumults and Insurrections of the meaner sort of people: by reason of their ill vent of Cloth and other Manufactures, whereby great multitudes are set on work, who live for the most upon their daily gettings, and will in a very short time be brought to great extremity, if not employed; Nothing is more sharp and pressing then necessity and want; what they cannot buy they will take; and from them the like necessity will quickly be derived to the farmers and Husband-men; and so, grow higher, and involve all in an equality of misery and distress, if it be not prevented. And at this time such Tumults will be dangerous, because the kingdom is full of disbanded Souldiers and Officers which will be ready to head and to animate the Multitude to commit violence with more strength and advantage, and if they once grow into a Body, it will be much more difficult to reduce them into order again, because necessity and want, which are the causes of this disturbance, will still increase as the effects do increase.  
A fourth Danger is from the Rebels in Ireland, not only in respect of that kingdom, but in respect of this: They have seized upon the body of that kingdom already, they abound in men of very able bodies, they increase in arms and Munition, they have great hopes of supplies from abroad, of encouragement here, and are sure of good entertainment from the Popish party, so that they begin to speak already of the transporting themselves hither, and making this kingdom the seat of the war.  
The Distemper which hath produced these Dangers is various and exceeding violent. Whensoever nature is hindered in her proper operations and faculties, distempers, will necessary follow.  
The obstructions which have brought us into this distemper, are very many, so that we cannot wonder at the strength and malignity of it. Some of the chiefest of these obstructions, I shall endeavour to remember.  
1. The obstruction of Reformation in matters of Religion: no Grievances are sharper than those that press upon the tender consciences of men; and there was never Church or State afflicted with more Grievances of this kind, then we have been. And though they are by the wisdom of this Parliament partly eased and diminished, yet many still remain: and as long as the Bishops and the corrupt part of the clergy continue in their Power, there will be little hope of freedom either from the sense of those which continue, or the fear of those which are removed. And of this obstruction,( my Lords) I must clear the Commons, we are in no part guilty of it: some good bills have past us, and others are in preparation, which might have been past before this, if we had not found such ill success in the other. Whatsoever mischief this obstruction shal produce, we are free from it: we may have our part of the Misery, we can have no part in the guilt or dishonour.  
2. An obstruction in Trade; it is the Trade that brings food and nourishment to the kingdom. It is that which preserves and increaseth the stock of the whole, and distributes a convenient Portion of maintenance to every part of it: therefore such an obstruction as this must needs be dangerous; the freedom of Trades being so necessary, the benefit so important, as that it gives life, strength, and beauty to the whole Body of the Common-wealth: but I must protest, the House of Commons hath given no Cause to this Obstruction, we have eased Trade of many burdens, and heavy Taxes which are taken off, we have freed it from many hard restraints by patents and Monopolies, we have been willing to part with our own privileges, to give it encouragement, we have sought to put the Merchants into security and confidence in respect of the Tower of London, that so they might bee invited to bring in their Bullion to the Mint as heretofore they have done, and we are no way guilty of the Troubles, the fears, and public dangers which make men withdraw their Stocks, and to keep their money by them, to be ready for such sudden Exigents, as in these great distractions we have too much Cause to expect.  
3. The obstruction in the Relief of Ireland. It must needs be accounted a great shane and dishonour to this kingdom that our Neighbours have shewed themselves more forward to supply the Rebels, than we have been to relieve our distressed brethren and fellow-Subjects. But I must declare that we are altogether innocent of any neglect herein. As soon as the first news of the Rebellion came over, we undertook the war, not by way of Supply and aid, as informer Rebellions the Subjects have used to do, but we undertook the whose charge of it, and we suffered not 24 houres to pass, before wee agreed to a great leavy of Money and Men, to be employed against the Rebells, even in a larger proportion, than the Lord Justices & council there did desire: & from time to time wee have done all for the furtherance thereof, though in the midst of many distractions and diversions; but the want of Commissions for levying Men, for issuing arms, and divers other Impediments, have been the Causes of that Obstruction; and I wish we had not onely found Impediments to ourselves, but also Encouragements to them. Many of the chief Commanders, now in the Head of the Rebells, after we had with your Lordships concurrence stopped the Ports against all Irish Papists, have been suffered to pass by his Majesties immediate Warrant, much to the discouragement of the Lord Justices and council there; and, this procured, as wee believe, by some evil Instruments, too near his regal Person, without his Majesties knowledge and intention.  
4. The Obstruction in prosecution of Delinquents: many we have already brought up to your Lordships: divers others we have been discouraged to transmit; such difficult proceedings have we met withall: such terrors and discountenance have been cast upon ourselves and our witnesses, and those who have shewed themselves their friends Patrons, have found it the most ready way to preferment, yea, his Majesties own hand hath been obtained, his Majesties Ships employed for the transporting of divers of those who have fled from the Justice of the Parliament.  
5 A general Obstruction and interruption of the proceedings of Parliament, by those manifold designs of violence( which through GODS mercy we have escaped,) by the great and frequent breaches of privilege, by subtle endeavours to raise parties in our House, and jealousies betwixt the two Houses.  
6. The Obstruction in providing for the Defence of the kingdom, that we might be enabled to resist a foreign Enemy, to suppress all Civill Insurrections: and what a pressing necessity there is of this, the exceeding great decays in the Navy, in the Forts, in the power of ordering the Militia of the kingdom, and Means of furnishing them with Munition, are sufficient evidences, known to none better than to your Lordships, and what endeavour we have used to remove them( but hitherto without that success and concurrence which we expected:) and where the stop hath been, and upon what good grounds we may claim our own innocency, and faithfulness in this, we desire no other Witnesses but yourselves.  
Lastly, I come to the evil Influences which have caused this distemper, and I shall content myself to mention some few of those which are most Apparent and Important.  
1. In the first place, I shall remember the evil Councells about the King, whereof we have often complained. Diseases of the brain are most dangerous, because from thence Sense and Motion are derived to the whole Body The malignity of evil Councells will quickly be infused into all parts of the State. None can doubt but wee have exceedingly laboured under most dangerous and mischievous Councells. This evil Influence hath been the cause of the preparation of war with Scotland, of the procuring a Rebellion in Ireland, of corrupting Religion, suppressing the Liberty of this kingdom, and of many fearful and horrid Attempts, to the subverting the very being of Parliament, which was the onely hopeful means of opposing and preventing all the rest: And this doth appear to be a most predominant evil of the Time: whereat wee need not wonder, when we consider how counsellors have been preferred and prepared. And I appeal to your Lordships own Consciences, whether the giving, and the countenancing of evil council, hath not been almost the onely way to favour and advancement.  
2. The discouragement of good council: divers honest and approved councillors have been put from their places: others so discountenanced, as that the way of favour hath been shut against them, and that of danger and destruction onely open to them.  
3. The great power that an interested & faction party hath in the Parliament, by the continuance of the Votes of the Bishops and Popish Lords in your Lordships House, and the taking in of others both out of the House of Commons, and otherwise, to increase their strength.  
4. The fomenting and cherishing of a malignant party throughout the whole kingdom.  
5. The manifold jealousies betwixt the King, his Parliament, and good subjects, whereby his protection & favour hath in a great measure been withheld from them: their inclination and resolution to serve and assist him, hath been very much hindered and interrupted. We have often suffered under the misinterpretation of good Actions, and false importation of evil which we never intended. So that we may justly purge ourselves from all guilt of being Authors of this jealousy and misunderstanding: We have been, and are still ready to serve his majesty with our lives and fortunes, with much cheerfulness and earnestness of affection as ever any Subjects were; and wee doubt not but our proceedings will so manifest this, that we shall be as clear in the apprehension of the world, as we are in the testimony of our own Consciences  
I am now come to a conclusion, and I have nothing to propound to your Lordships by the way of Request, or desire from the House of Commons, I doubt not but your judgements will tell you, what is to be done, your Consciences, your Honours, your Interests will call upon you for the doing of it, The Commons will be glad to have your help and concurrence in saving of the kingdom, but if they should fail of it, it should not discourage them in doing their duty. And whether the kingdom be lost or saved( as through GODS blessing I hope it will be) they shal be sorry that the story of this present Parliament should tell Posterity, that in so great a Danger and Extremity, the house of Commons should be enforced to save the kingdom alone, and that the House of peers should have no part in the Honour of the preservation of it, you having so great an Interest in the good success of those endeavours, in respect of your great Estates, and high degrees of Nobility.  
FINIS.