Mr. SMITH'S SPEECH In Parliament, made in the House of Commons, On Wednesday the 29. of DECEMBER, 1641.  
Concerning the late tumultuous Assemblies about the Parliament Houses.  
LONDON, Printed for A. R. 1641.   

Master Smith his Speech the 29, of December, 1641.  
Master Speaker,  
THe business we have now in agitation concerning the Irish Affairs, and the Treaty with the Scottish Commissioners for their timely assistance of Aid (being to be determined this day) is of great consequence and weight, even of such importance, that I have not read of greater, when the greatest troubles were in that Kingdom in Queen Elizabeth her Reign of good Memory, these troubles with them being comparatively similized are of fare greater danger; And I would to God we might so agree with the Lords, that a speedy concurrence might be with the Scots, towards their relief in Ireland.  
Yet notwithstanding (Master Speaker) the greatness of this Rebellion and most outrageous Cruelties committed daily by the Rebels, hazarding nearly the loss of that Kingdom (without speedy help, which takes up all our debates and arguments) if we remove not therewithal such impediments here at home, as do hinder our speedy proceeding not only in that business, but in the settling of the peace and quiet of this Kingdom, all our endeavours in the suppressing the Rebels in Ireland will little avail.  

Master Speaker,  
Under favour of this honourable Assembly I intend to give you a touch of such Lets which do much hinder us, as I (conceive) in expediting the great Affairs of Church and State, and our proceed against such Incendiaries and Delinquents in the same.  
We have daily you know, Master Speaker, received Petitions from the Citizens of London, some of them having been delivered by good hands, and men of good worth and quality, which we have willingly taken, and I doubt not but we shall in due time give them good satisfaction in answering of them.  
Likewise we have received Petitions from abrupt and disordered persons without any matter that may deserve our consideration, but are more fit to be rejected as I under favour conceive.  
But Master Speaker, that which I intent to intimate to you, as the greatest stop in our proceed, is the riotous, and tumultuous Assembly of vain and idle persons, who presume to begird our House, not only in an irregular manner to prefer their Petitions, but with open clamour would prescribe us what laws to in act, and what not; and what persons to prosecute, and who not.  
These tumultuous persons, Master Speaker, take up a great deal of our precious time in Answering and appeasing of them, when as I conceive other business more nearly concerning the welfare and security of his Sacred Majesty, and his Kingdoms, lies even as it were gasping, and ready to perish for want of our timely assistance.  
Master Speaker, Our Patience I persuade myself is one of the greatest causes that Animates, and encourages these illegal outrages, and if some rebukes were ministered from the House to them, they would not surely be so Audacious.  
It is true Master Speaker, I confess it, that their Trading is decayed, and hard for them, (many of them) to subsist with their Families, by reason of the slow proceed against Delinquents, the reason whereof they are uncapable of, neither as I conceive should they be made acquainted therewith; otherwise then to understand that their unseasonable, and unfitting repair to the House, is one principal cause thereof.  
Therefore Sir, I conceive if some speedy course were taken for the suppressing these tumults, by a strict guard about the House, with a Command, not only by persuasions to avert their resort hither, but to shoot at them if they obstinately refuse to be persuaded, it will be the best and speediest means to repel them.  
Likewise that in the City of London and Suburbs (by some trusty Officers, appointed by the House for that service) diligent search may be made for Papists and Recusants to apprehend them, if they find them Armed with any weapons, and bring them before a Committee for Examination appointed for that purpose. Which is my humble motion,  
For, Master Speaker, the Papists resort as well as others hither to several places, as I am informed, which as these tumultuous persons pretend, is one great cause of their meeting here, which if they perceive, that they be prosecuted according to the Laws of this Kingdom in that case enacted, they conceive they shall have less cause to trouble us.  
And truly Sir, may I speak my mind really herein, I persuade myself, that unless the Laws be put in execution with severity against some of the greatest Recusants, to make them exemplary to the rest, and that with speed, neither this City, nor other places of this Kingdom can be secure from their devilish practices and plots, and that our too favourable proceeding against them, if so continued, may cause our too late repentance, if any of their perverse and wicked stratagems should take effect, which God forbidden, and I hearty wish that such course may be taken by the blessing of the Almighty on our endeavours, that for ever all the Inhabitants of his Majesty's Kingdoms that are true Christians, and Loyal Subjects, may lie down in peace, and rise in safety, to which I shall always say, Amen.   
FINIS.