THE copy OF A LETTER WRITTEN TO THE LOWER house OF PARLIAMENT TOUCHING DIVERS GRIEVANCES AND INCONVENIENCES OF THE STATE &c.  
LONDON Printed by John Dawson for Thomas Walkley, 1641.   

THE copy OF A LETTER WRITTEN TO THE LOWER House of Parliament touching divers greivances and inconveniences of the State &c.  
To my Noble friends of the lower House of Parliament.  
IF my Country had held me worthy to have served in this Parliament, I had now been made a member of your lower house as formerly I have been in sundry other Parliaments, but how unkindly so ever she dealeth with me, I will ever show my thankfulness to her, and deliver by way of observation what I have heretofore learned in that grave and wise assembly for admonishment to the elder, and a pathway for the younger to walk in.  
Parliaments in my time have been wont to take up some space at the first meeting to settle the House and to determine of unlawful elections, and in this point they never had greater cause to be circumspect, then at this time for by an abuse lately crept in, there is introduced a custom which if it be not foreseen and prevented will be great derogation to the honour and a weakening to the power of your house, where the law giveth a freedom to Corporations to elect Burgesses and forbiddeth any indirect course to be taken in their election many of the Corporations are become so base minded and timorous, that they will not hazard the indignation of a Lord lieutenant's letter, who underhand sticks not to threaten them with the charge of a Musket or a horse at a Muster, if that he hath not the election of the Burgesses, and not they themselves.  
And commonly those that the Lords recommend are such as desire it for protection, or are so ignorant of the place they serve for, as that there being an occasion to speak of the Corporation for which they are chosen, they have asked their Neighbours sitting by whether it were a Sea or Land town. If you seek not to prevent this kind of choice, these mischiefs will follow:  
1. The freedom of the Subject will be lessened.  
2. The privilege of Corporations will be abrogated, men outlawed, and law breakers, will be law makers.  
3. The voices of your House shall be at the dispose of the Lords of the upper House, and the assembly of the Commons will be made needless.  
Gentlemen of far remote Countries, may spare their labour to come up, for there we shall be contradicted with two years, and that by such men, if they be examined, and are not liable to taxes, Subsidies, loans, or other payments, they shall enjoy their ends, to wit liberty and freedom, and the Lords dispose of such laws as they shall purpose.  
The next thing that is required, is liberty of speech, without which Parliaments have little force or power; speeches begets doubts, and resolves them, and doubts in schools get understanding, he that doubts much asketh often, and learns much, and he that fears the worst, soonest prevents a mischief.  
This privilege of speech is anciently granted by the testimony of Philip Comines a stranger who prefers our Parliaments, and the freedom of the Subjects in them, above all other assemblies, which freedom if it be broken or diminished is negligently lost, since the days of Comines.  
If freedom of speech should be prohibited when men with modesty make repetition of the grievances & enormities of the kingdom, when men shall desire reformation of wrongs & injuries committed, & have no relation of evil thought to his Majesty. But with open heart and zeal express their dutiful & reverent respect to him and his service: I say if this kind of liberty of speech be not allowed in time of Parliament, they will extend no farther than to quarter Sessions, & their meetings and assemblies will be unnecessary for all means of disorder new crept in, and all remedies and redresses will be quite taken away.  
As it is no manners to contest with the King in his election of councillors and Servants (for Kings obey no men) but their laws, so were it a great negligence and part of treason for a subject not to be in speech against the abuses wrongs & offences that may be occasioned by persons in authority, what remedy can be expected from a Prince to the Subjects if the enormities of his kingdom be concealed from him, or what King so religious or just in his own nature, that may not hazard the loss of the hearts of his Subjects without this liberty of speech in Parliament. For such is the misfortune of most Princes, and such is the unhappiness of Subjects, where Kings affections are settled, and their loves so far transported to promote servants, as they only trust and credit what they shall inform.  
In this case what Subject dares complain, or what Subject dares contradict the words or actions of such a Servant, if it be not warranted by freedom of a Parliament they speaking with humility, for nothing obtaineth favour so much with a King, as diligent obedience.  
The surest and safest way betwixt the King and his people, and least scandal of partiality with indifferency, with integrity and sincerity to examine the grievances of the kingdom, without touching upon the person of any man further than the cause giveth occasion; for otherwise you shall contest with him that hath the Prince's ears open, to harken to his enchanted tongue, he informs secretly, when you shall not be admitted to excuse, he will cast your deserved malice against him to your contempt against the King, and seeking to lessen his authority, he will make the Prince, the shield of his revenge.  
These are the sinister practices of such servants to deceive their sovereigns, when these grievances shall be authentically proved and made manifest to the World, by your pains to examine, and freedom to speak, no Prince can be so affectionate to a servant, or such an enemy to himself, as not to admit of this indifferent proceeding, if his services be allowable and good they will appear with glory: if bad, your labour shall deserve thanks both of Prince and country, when justice shall thus shine, people will be animated to serve their King with integrity; for they are naturally inclined to imitate Princes in good, or bad: the words of Cicero will then appear, that malicious and evil men make Princes poor, and one perfect good man is able to make a realm rich.  
One case I will instance, that is common in the mouths of all people, and generally vox populi, vox Dei; If one of quality in the last expedition to the Isle of Rhee endeavoured to conceal the number of men lost in the last encounter, and confidently affirmed their number not to exceed three or four hundred, till a Doctor of physic out of tenderness of conscience and duty to his Majesty could not dissemble, the vulgar and true report, but acquainted his Majesty of 2000 of his Subjects there lost, this was so contrary to the first information, and so displeasing to the Informer and his designs, that he caused the physicians remove, from his highness' presence, who yet remains in kind of a banished man.  
The truth of this two reports is easily determined by the clerks of the bands of each Company, and is worthy to be discovered for truth's sake, truth being so noble of itself, as it will make him honourable that pronounceth it, lies, may shadow it, but not darken it, they may blame but never shame it, by this small precedent his Majesty shall see himself abused, and it may be a means for him to reflect, both upon men and matter.  
The men slain are no less injured by concealing their names, whose lives were lost for King and country.  
The Romans would have held it the highest honour for their friends and posterity so to do, and the Parliament may fear that those that stick not so palpably to wrong a King, may as unjustly cast aspersions upon the house and other his loving Subjects.  
There is no remedy left for these misreports, but a freedom of speech in Parliament, for there is no wise man, but knows what and when to speak, and how to hold his peace, whilst Subjects tongues are tied, for fear they may reach him a rap, whose conscience cries guilty; The King and his people are kept from understanding one another, the enemy is heartened abroad, and the malignant humour of discontent nourished at home, and all for one who is like a Dragon that bites the ears of the Elephant, because he knows the Elephant cannot reach him with his trunk; And Princes are abused by false reports, whispered in their ears by sycophants and Flatterers. Diogenes being asked what Beast bite soarest, answered of wild Beasts the Backbiter, of tame the Flatterer.  
Now to descend to grievances which are of two kinds:  
First, Some concerning the kingdom in general.  
Secondly, Some in particular, which have relation to the general.  
The grievances in general are so many as will serve for every member of your House to present two a piece to your views; and because I cannot be admitted amongst you myself, yet in regard I have been a member of you, I will presume so far as to rank myself with you, and to tender the number of two to your consideration.  
1. My first complaint is of titles of honour, and that in two kinds.  
First, In respect of the parties themselves, their estates, and parentage.  
Secondly, In respect of the manner of their attaining thereunto, which is mercenary, ease, and corrupt, which in reason should not hold, for by Law the consideration is unlawful.  
Trajan commended Plutarch for his precepts in school, when he taught that men should labour to deserve honour, but avoid the getting of it basely, for if it were reputation to have it by desert, it was infamy to buy it for money; in that age, where rich men were honoured, good men were despised.  
Honour is not to be valued according to the vulgar opinion of men, but prized and esteemed as the surname of virtue engendered in the mind, and such honour, no King can or men can purchase; he that will strive to be more honourable than others, aught to abandon passion, pride, and arrogancy; that so his virtue may shine above others, for honour consists not in the title of a Lord, but in the opinion people have of his virtue, for it is much more honour to deserve and not to have it, then to have it, and not deserve it.  
There is one of three things that commonly causeth a man's advancement, desert, favour, and power.  
1. The first makes a man worthy of it, the other two are but abuses; for favour is but a blind fortune, an ounce of which at Court is better than a pound of wisdom; fortune never favoreth but flattereth; she never promiseth, but in the end she deceiveth; she never raiseth, but she casteth down again, and this advancement is meeter to be called luck, than merit. That honour, that is compassed by power, takes unto itself liberty, and desires not to be governed by wisdom, but force; It knows not what it desires, nor hath a feeling of any injury, it is neither moved with sweet words, nor pitiful tears; such men leave not to do evil, because they have a desire to it, but when their power faileth to do it; The true honour amongst the honourablest, is where fortune casteth down, where there is no fault; but it is infamy where fortune raiseth, where there is no merit.  
Examine the state and condition of men raised to honour these five and twenty years past, and whether it be desert, favour, or power that hath preferred them.  
Enter into the mischief the kingdom hath suffered, and doth suffer by it, and the cause of his majesty's great wants will soon appear.  
Collect with yourselves, how many poor and needy companions have been raised to the highest top of honour, then will it appear whether desert, favour, or power advanced them.  
After this examine, their Princely expenses in these five and twenty years, their estates in present, and what is requisite to maintain their future degrees of honour, to themselves and their posterity, and you shall find his majesty's annual revenues consumed and spent upon those unworthy persons, besides the impairing and impoverishing of the state, it bringing with it the contempt of greatness and authority.  
It breeds an inward malice in Gentlemen better deserving of their Country, better able to maintain the degree of honour without charge to King or kingdom, and whose houses and alliance may better challenge then the best of them.  
It breeds discontent in the meaner sort of Subjects to see his majesty's wealth and revenues of the kingdom, thus wasted and consumed, whereby his Majesty is enforced to exact from them, who would otherwise be able to help himself.  
The ancient and great Nobility of the land cannot choose, but inwardly fret to see themselves ranked yea overtopped by these men, that once would have thought it an honour to be a follower of theirs.  
The second abuse of honour is the base and mercenary buying of it, observe commonly what these people are by birth, and mark the manner of their and their Fathers getting of wealth to compass this title, and you shall find them people most odious to the commonwealth, by their extortion usury and other ungodly kind of getting.  
Can there be a greater grievance to a noble mind, then to see these upstart families by their unsufferable misery, penury, and extortion grown to wealth, to precede the best of you in rank, degree, and calling, whose Ancestors have lost their lives for King and Country, and yourselves in many respects more able and capable of serving your Prince and commonwealth, than they and every way better deserving.  
The character of a covetous man is, that he getteth his goods with care, and envy of his Neighbours; with sorrow to his enemies, with travel to his body, with grief to his Spirit, with scruple to his conscience, with danger to his soul, with suit to his children, and curse to his heirs, his desire is to live poor, to die rich; But as these vices are made virtues, even so is he honoured for them with title of Nobility.  
It is a strange ambition of some of them to purchase the degrees of Earls, Viscounts, and Barons of other Countries, as of Scotland and Ireland, only for the name of a Lord, for no other privilege they can challenge in England, if they commit any criminal offences, they shall be tried by an ordinary jury, and hanged, if they stood in danger of arrest (as I think they are not much enriched by their title) they are subject to catchpooles, and a dungeon in the Counter may be their Sanctuary.  
And seeing their pride makes them covet to divide themselves from you, and to become Scots and Irish, you can do no less in requital, but make an Act, that so long as they hold the titles of foreigners, they be made uncapable to sit in the House of Parliament, or to enjoy any freedom more than his majesty's Subjects of Scotland or Ireland.  
Few, of you are there, that have not seen. Nobility highly praised in England, and much esteemed abroad, and none of you now liveth, but to see it abused, and liberty with too great familiarity in use, the State of the Court, and reputation of Lords, are much decayed and boldness with contempt crept in, and no way to be redressed but by a gentle speech in Parliament, that so his Majesty may see the mischief of it, and reform it, for it rests only in his power, who only hath power to create honour.  
When Philip the second King of Spain entered with arms upon his kingdom of Portugal, and that with his sword, he might have any fitting laws, yet were there four privileges which the Portugals besought they might enjoy; One, whereof was that the King would make no unworthy person noble without their approbation, which was granted them, And to this day, they hold that freedom, which keeps that kingdom in the ancient state honour and dignity, That is to say, two Dukes, one marquess, and eighteen Earls; and thus much for the point of honour.  
The second grievance, I will recommend to your views, is the carriage of our wars, the excessive charges vainly spent therein, the unworthiness of the people employed, the grave experience neglected, the designs not warranted by reason and discretion, and the executions worse performed, with many other circumstances, that depend upon it.  
But before I proceed herein, I must crave leave to speak to two points.  
The one to declare the property and condition of Impostures and Deceavers of Princes.  
In the other, I must clear the House of Parliament, of an imputation cast upon it.  
Abusers of Princes are they, that persuade them to war, to become poor, when they may live in peace, and become rich, when they may be loved, causeth them to be hated, when they may enjoy their lives securely, put them in hazard of cross fortune rashly; And lastly having necessity to use their Subjects, puts them into that necessity, as they refuse to do for him, all this is pride of the persuader as Socrates saith.  
In the second, I will clear the Parliament, in which I was a member, of an ingrateful aspersion cast upon it, that is to say, that the Parliament was a cause to draw his Majesty into war, and failed on their part to contribute towards it.  
These have been often repeated and the Parliament accused, the contrary hath been as often reiterated, and the truth expressed how far the Parliament proceeded therein, but to stop the mouths of such false reports, and to free the Parliament of such a calumniation, I must use this Argument.  
At the assembly at Oxford, the Parliament being prorogued thither, money was required of us towards the furnishing of his majesty's Fleet, then preparing upon many reasons alleged too tedious now to repeat; with one consent it was refused, whereupon there was offer made by him that next the King seemed to have best authority, that if they would, but contribute 40000.l. they should choose their enemy.  
Whereupon I enferre, that before that proposition, there was no enemy, and therefore no wars.  
The motion of money being denied, the Parliament instantly broke up, and seeing no enemy was nominated, nor money consented to by us; I see not how the house can be taxed for peace breakers, but rather the name cast upon some young men, for youth by nature is prone to pride, especially where experience wants, they are credulous what they hear that pleaseth them, and incredulous with what is told them by wise men, they are despisers of others counsels, and very poor in their own, they are dangerous for Princes to rely on, for self-will is of greater force, than precepts.  
Now to proceed in October following the fleet put to Sea, and what they did is apparent by relation written by their general at his return.  
The voyage being ended another followed the next Summer under the command of that noble Lord the Earl of Linsey, which through the weakness and disability of the Ships was not able to perform what he had in charge, and what he desired.  
The last and most lamentable was that to the Isle of Rhee which I likewise refer to a man I have seen, and to the books printed and extant.  
These, with that to Algiers, to make up a mess of Island voyages, I wish might be referred to examination of choice and experienced soldiers by land and by Sea, to report their opinions of it, that so their errors, their wasteful expenses, their negligences, their weak designs, and want of experience may appear with the success that might have proved, if advice and council had had pre-eminence above will and arrogancy; for he that is ignorant of truth and knowledge and led away with pride of his own opinions must needs err.  
After it hath past your approbation it is worth his majesty's view, who then shall see the difference of actions well managed, and rash and heady enterprises undertaken by ignorance, and performed with folly.  
Business of so great a consequence ought to be considered of council and not only of the necessity profit and honour, but of the possibility that was like to follow, for an action well begun is half ended.  
My experience in Discipline of wars by Land and Sea, can say no more than to refer it to others, for it is a course, I never was bred to in my youth, and now to late in my age to practise, only one thing I observe, that in the two vogayes of Cadeze and R●ee, in the first a Land soldier commanded at Sea, who knew not what belonged thereunto; And the other was carried by him that was no soldier neither by Land nor by Sea, and the success proved accordingly in both, yet their errors were never questioned, but they both highly advanced.  
In my opinion the charge they took upon them was as improper as for a Merchant to become a Judge, for I have ever heard, that there are five things necessary in a general, to wit knowledge, valour, prevention, authority, and fortune; The last whereof but one had been better spared at the Isle of Rhee, for also late authority joined with wilfulness of the Commander was the utter bane of the action, as the relation tells us.  
And it is no marvel, for according to the old saying, the best Fencer is not always the best Fighter, the fairest Tilter not the best experienced soldier, nor the ear of the favourite at the Court, the best general of an Host. And whosoever every takes upon him that command beholds himself in a false glass, that makes him seem what he is not, as on the contrary experience is the Mother of prudence, and prudence will not take council, lest she join her will with her will, hastiness causeth repentance, and frowardness causeth hindrance.  
For the evils that followed upon these two voyages, yourselves are sufficient witnesses, and can judge of it.  
As namely the billetting of soldiers in the country, and bringing their Ships in harbours, not abating the entertainment of the one, nor the wages of the other; And yet notwithstanding, this needless cost and charges, our ships and coasts are daily infested, in such sort as we dare not peep out of harbour.  
Were the carriage of things now answerable to the prudence and precedents of former times, we cannot pretend a fear of invasion, because our Ships are divided into several harbours, and our soldiers billeted in inward Countries, besides the season of the year giveth no opportunity to an enemy to attempt it.  
Here is a mass of wealth carelessly consumed, whether the King or Subject bear it, & no man bettered, but only those that have the titles of soldiers, yet never had the happiness or honour to see what appertained to service, they are taught instead of work, by which they have lived and been bred, now to spend their time in idleness, & alehouses, and to forget their occupations, their example of disorder encourageth other to follow their liberty.  
People that were wont to live poorly, yet safely, are now by their fellows and their followers, robbed and spoiled, and no remedy for redress.  
The rich stand upon their guard and dare not resort to Church, lest in their absence, their houses be surprised and rifled.  
The Justices have only the name of Officers, but have no power to punish i●justice, all men's prayers are now a days to be de●ended from the wroth of a mighty man, and the tumult of the people.  
Garrisons in England which have no strong walled towns, nor is used to the disorder and loose carriage of soldiers, is more perilous uncouth and straying then where war is practised, innovations in all states are dangerous, especially where there is a diminution of the laws, or a fear to execute Justice, through too much liberty given to soldiers.  
No country but hath more hurt by their Garrisons then by their enemies.  
Enemies only rob the frontiers, others the whole country.  
The enemy may be resisted, the other not spoken against.  
The enemy giveth a sudden attempt, and returneth, the others do every day rob and spoil.  
The enemy surpriseth with fear, the other have neither fear nor shame.  
The first lessoning the greatness of the Roman Empire, who by the insolency of soldiers, and the first raising of the house of Ottoman was by promission and his conniving at his Army.  
What man is so old in England that hath seen, or what youth so young, that ever thought to see Scot●ishmen, and Irishmen garrisoned in England, and no enemy appear against us, or who could have imagined, he should have ever a seen our own people tyrannised over, in our own kingdom by this of our own Nation, and those Scottish and Irish, yea and dare not so much as complain.  
Would our forefathers have thought it safety, or policy to draw 2000 Scottishmen and Irishmen into the Isle of Wight, for their defence against France, when they of the Isle desired it not, nay when they opposed it.  
Would they have thought it wisdom that 2000 mouths besides the Inhabitants should live on the food of that Island, and so bring themselves into want and penury of victuals, if they should in earnest be attempted by an enemy.  
Would they have thought fit, the charge of it should be required of them, And yet they to suffer all injuries from the hands of strange soldiers, where the meanest boy in the Island is thought to manage arms better than the best of them that are there billeted.  
No, but they would rather have thought it discretion, upon the return of those voyages to have caused the men to repair to the place where they were pressed, and to have ordered that each parish should have set them on work for their maintenance, with command to be ready upon warning to repair to the place of rendezvous.  
There is no part or place in England so remote from the Sea, but they might have re●orted to the port assigned, before the Ships could be furnished, or drawn together.  
They would have thought it more wisdom to have retired to their own harbours, and to have had their men discharged, then to have continued this needless and expenseful course that is taken.  
They would have judged it better, to have supplied the Isle of Wight with 2000 men out of the main land, when they feared any evil to the Island, then to send for them into Scotland, and to keep them in continual entertainment.  
They would have thought it more fit to have returned the barbarous Irish into the country from whence they came, then to make them a vexation to the places and parts where they remain, seeing no shadow of reason can be pretended for it.  
England wants no men, and hath as good and able men as either of the other two Nations, if his Majesty had occasion to use them.  
England with small charge and trouble can raise what men his Majesty pleaseth to command and that suddenly, and discharge them again without trouble or charge as quickly.  
The Wisemen of England would have thought 2. or 300000. pound better spared then thus wastefully consumed and disorders committed, we may compute it to that sum, and yet keep ourselves within compass, and notwithstanding the want of money, and the ways to exact it of the subject, is all the song now sung; he that sees or complains of the evil managing of things, is either imprisoned, banished the Court or censured for a discontent.  
There is no Englishman, but knoweth the heart of every other true hearted Englishman, and with one consent will all obey their Prince, and to his person owe all due reverence, and we may truly say, no King is more happy in Subjects for their love, nor never subjects readier to serve their King, with their purses & persons, nor never people was better blessed with a King, who is endued with all kind of virtues, & stained with no manner of vice, his mercy, his temper, his chastity, and his meekness, is such as we may say of him, as of David, that he is a man according to God's own heart.  
But, if any man, shall poison, this opinion of ours, by sinister reports, he is a worker of sedition; he hath a lying tongue, and speaketh not truth, he is worthy, to be spewed out, not of the Court, but even from the face of the earth.  
False Informers and misguiders of good Kings, are much more perilous, then if Princes themselves were evil, for commonly as worms breed soonest in soft and sweet wood, so are the best natures (inclined to honour, and Justice) soonest abused by false Flatterers.  
The evil they commit, under the authority of good Princes is accounted as done, by the Prince himself; But commonly such people in the end, pay for it, for he that desires not to do good, cannot be wise, but will fall into 4000 follies.  
One of the first propositions made to the house, will be for money to support his majesty's vast expense; at this time, that the enemy threatens thunder against the kingdom, your often alarms, upon such pretences may make you now to secure, for true it is, that the last Parliament books were published of invincible preparations intended against us, and nothing came of it, but beware you be not deceived, by an old saying, that when one usually tells lies, he is not trusted, when he speaks truth, for certainly the danger, is much more, then by the power and greatness of another enemy.  
In this case you must give for your own sakes, that so you may be sure to enjoy what is yours, for your sovereigns sake to maintain his greatness, and state, and for your country's sake to keep it from oppression of the enemy, but withal you ought to lay down the condition of the kingdom, and to show that your necessity cannot parallel with your hearts and desires, that your minds will be carried with a willingness to give, but your hands will keep back your hearts for want of ability to give.  
Themistocles demanding tribute of the Athenians told them he brought two Gods with him, that is to say, persuasion and violence, they answered that they had other two Gods in their country both great and powerful, which were poverty and impossibility which hindered them from giving, but least this answer should be poisoned or misreported to his Majesty and wrested to the worst sense, I pray you to examine the state and condition of every man in particular, and their impossibility of giving will appear.  
What can be hoped for, from the Merchant, that is prohibited the greatest Trade of profit and gain; and daily damnified by the spoil of dunkirks.  
What can we expect from the owners of Ships, that have suffered more shipwrecks lately, then in an hundred years before.  
What can we look for from the Husbandmen, when corn and wool is underfoot, for it was an observation of the wise Lord Treasurer Burleigh, that every twelve pence abated in a stone of wool was 100000. pound loss to the kingdom.  
What can be required, from the multitude, considering the little commerce, the daily payments to the King, to the Houses of correction, to the poor, to the maimed soldiers, to the often appearing at Musters, the altering of arms, the watching of highways, the guarding of Beacons, and other services at the justice's command.  
What can Knights and Gentlemen give, their sheep dying, their tenants decaying, and their rents falling and failing.  
What can be looked for, from the Clergy, considering their charge of induction, their first fruits, and the maintenance of their Wives, Children, and Families; yea though they came freely to their benefices.  
What can be expected from the tradesmen or Artificers when all other, either want or decay; Now people will be contented with one suit of clothes, that two heretofore would not have served, shoes, boots, hats, and all other apparel, they will Husband after that proportion.  
There are two sorts of people in the commonwealth well able to give, the one the usurer which is commonly free from all payments, in regard the necessities of most making them beholding to them, in one kind or other, for themselves and their friends, they in requital show him all possible ease and favour in public disbursements.  
The other are Noblemen and Gentlemen formerly spoken of, that have had their advancement from the King, and his Father, though not immediately, but Collaterally, for if you cast your eyes upon divers servants of great persons and remember what you have known them, 10. or 12. years past, it would put you into an admiration, yea some from Horsekeepers other base callings, are now promoted to the degrees of baronets', Knights and the like, for though that new devised order of baronets' was first instituted for money, yet such is the fortune of servants, if one great man that is their master, once prefer them to the King, the first day they enjoy the dignities of baronets'; when Gentlemen of great rank and qualities that have long served their Princes cannot compass it without consideration of money.  
When these things you shall collect and seriously call to mind, you would think yourselves these 12. years' last past a sleep, and that you are now newly wakened, you shall hear of many things past in that space as making and removing of Treasurers, Keepers, Secretaries, Judges, and all manner of counsellors and Officers, with a million of such memorable and unlooked for accidents.  
But leaving these as grievances and vexations to the Subject, let us come to a nearer point which is the safety of the kingdom that the enemy threatens so in danger, we may truly say, that God hath so placed and seated this Isle of England, that nothing but evil council can hurt it: but true it is, advice that is not warranted from wise men, may prove more forcible and perilous than the power of an enemy, the Scripture telleth us that the thought perisheth that taketh not council.  
A King of the lacedaemonians asked how a kingdom might ever stand; was answered two ways, if a King take council of wise honest men, that they speak freely and do justice uprightly.  
There was never Censor that judged, senator that ordered, Emperor that commanded, consul that executed Orator that persuaded, nor any other mortal man but sometimes he committed errors, and deserved either blame or punishment for his misdoings, and if he were wise desired advise what to do.  
Saint Gregory saith, no man can give so faithful council, as he who loves one more than his gift, than who are or can be so true counsellors to our noble King as a house of Commons, that hath no relation to a King's gift, but only to his honour flourishing estate and safety.  
This is the time to amend evil counsels past, and to let evil counsellors see their errors.  
This is the time for all men to put to their helps, some with their hands to fight, others with their advice to counsel.  
And for mine advice, this it is, that you present to his Majesty in all humbleness your, willing minds and hearts to repair and fit to Sea, his Majesty navy, yourselves to have power to make them able and serviceable, with the advice of experienced men, that you may call unto you, this is a matter of great importance at this present, for the safety of the realm King and Subject, for the strength of the kingdom much depends upon this Bulwark, which we may well term the walls of England.  
His Majesty shall find himself much eased by it, businesses shall be carried without his trouble or care, moneys shall not be sought for to that end, but provided by you, his Majesty may dispose of the rest of his revenue at his pleasure.  
By your frugality and husbandry, his Majesty shall have occasion to judge of things past, of yours in present, and hereafter it will serve for a precedent to walk after, It will stop the mouths of malignant tongues, that inform his Majesty of the unwillingness of the Subject to give, and it will make it apparent that their true grief is not in the matter of giving, but to see the evil employing of it, when it is given.  
If any man shall prevent this good meaning and motion of yours and infringe his Majesty, 'tis a derogation from his honour to yield to his Subjects upon conditions. His Majesty shall have good cause to prove such men's eyes malicious and unthankful, and thereby to disprove them in all their other actions, for what can it lesson the reputations of a Prince, whom the Subject only and wholly obeyeth, that a Parliament which his Majesty doth acknowledge to be his highest council should advise him, and he follow the advice of such a council what dishonour rather were it to be advised and ruled by one counsellor alone, against whom there is just exception taken, of the whole commonwealth.  
Marcus Portio saith, that, that commonwealth is everlasting where the Prince seeks to get obedience and love, and the Subjects to gain the affection of the Prince, and that the kingdom is unhappy where their Prince is served out of ends and hope of reward, and hath no other assurance of them, but their services.  
FINIS.