THE SPEECH OF Sr Edw: Turnor Kt Speaker of the Honourable House of COMMONS, To the Kings most Excellent Majesty, and both Houses of Parliament, AT THEIR Prorogation, The second of March, 1664.  
C R  DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  English royal blazon, surmounted by a crown and flanked by the English lion and the Scottish unicorn 
LONDON: Printed by John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, 1664.  
CUM PRIVILEGIO.   

THE SPEECH OF Sr Edward Turnor Kt Speaker of the Honourable House of COMMONS, To the Kings most Excellent Majesty, and both Houses of Parliament, March 2. 1664. AT THEIR Prorogation.  
May it please Your most Excellent Majesty,  
THe Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the Commons House of Parliament, having in the beginning of this Session applied themselves to the aiding Your Majesty in Your Naval Preparations, have of late considered of some Bills, that may be most grateful to the People, either in redressing things that are grievous to them, or in advancing their Trade and Commerce, which are the soul and life of the Nation.  
Evil manners produce good Laws, but the best Laws in time may grow obsolete; and such is the wicked nature of Man, that when he cannot by force break through a Law, he will by fraud and tricks endeavour to evade it.  
I may with great truth affirm, the Common Law of England is the best Municipal Law in the World; and yet if the Legislative power were not ready to countermine the Works, and make up the Breaches that are daily made upon it, the sons of Zeruiah would be too strong for us.  
We have now presented Your Majesty with several Bills, for the Regulation of the Law, which will serve to prune some exuberant branches, and to pull away the Ivy that robbed this Tree of her just nourishment: And if Your Majesty now be pleased graciously to shine upon her, she will yield her fruit in great abundance, to the content of Your Majesty, and all Your people.  
Cosmographers do agree, that this Island is incomparably furnished with pleasant Rivers, like Veins in the natural Body, which convey the Blood into all the parts, whereby the whole is nourished, and made useful: but the Poet tells us, he acts his part best,— Qui miscuit utile dulci: Therefore we have prepared some Bills for making small Rivers Navigable: A thing that in other countries' hath been more experienced, and hath been found very advantageous; it easeth the people of the great Charge of Land-Carriages, preserves the Highways, which are daily worn out with Wagons, carrying excessive Burdens; it breeds up a Nursery of Watermen, which, upon occasion, will prove good Seamen; and with much facility maintains Intercourse and Communion between Cities and Countries.  
We have been much affected with the cries and wants of the Poor this hard season, especially those about this Town, who are ready to starve for want of Fuel, the price of Coals being so unreasonably enhansed by the extorting Engrossers; We have therefore for their present and future ease, prepared a Bill, authorising the Lord Mayor and the Court of Aldermen in the City of London; and Three Justices of Peace in the Country, whereof one to be of the Quorum, from time to time to set the Prices of Coals; having regard to the Price paid to the Importer, and other emergent Charges.  
And now Great SIR, having finished our present Counsels, we hope Your Majesty will give us leave to return for a time into our Countries, where, in our several Spheres, we shall be ready to serve You with our Persons and our Purses, and also with our Prayers to the Great God of Hosts, that he will be pleased to strengthen Your Hands in the day of Battle, and make Your Majesty victorious over all Your Enemies both at home and abroad.   
FINIS.  

LONDON, Printed by John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, 1664.