THE SPEECH OF Sr. Edw. Turnor, Kt. SPEAKER of the Honourable House of COMMONS, TO THE KING'S most Excellent MAJESTY.  
Delivered on Friday the Eighth Day of February 1666. Upon the Prorogation of the PARLIAMENT.   royal blazon or coat of arms 
C R  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT 
LONDON, Printed by Tho. Ratcliff, for Robert Pawlet, at the sign of the Bible in Chancery-Lane. 1666.   

THE SPEECH OF Sr EDW. TURNOR, Kt Speaker of the Honourable House of Commons, TO THE KING'S most Excellent MAJESTY.  
Delivered on Friday the Eighth day of February 1666. Upon the Prorogation of the Parliament.  
May it please Your Most Excellent Majesty,  
NOthing conduceth more to the happiness of a Nation, than a Right Understanding between the Prince and the People: and nothing more advanceth this Correspondence, than frequent Meetings in Common Council. By the wisdom of our Forefathers the Security of our Lives, our Liberties, and our Properties, is lodged in our English Parliaments; and so Gracious have Your Majesty's Predecessors been, that for the Satisfaction of their People, they have made several Laws, some for Triennial, some for Annual Parliaments. Your Majesty by their Example, upon the humble Suit of Your Lords and Commons, hath in a former Session of this Parliament passed an Act for Triennial meetings in Parliament: but in this Your Majesty hath exceeded all Your Predecessors, That as Your Happy Restauration was in a Convention of Parliament, so of your own accord, for the Public Good, and as a Demonstration of your extraordinary Love to Parliaments, You have vouchsafed ever since your Return to converse with your People in Parliament; this being the sixth Year, and the sixth Session of this present Parliament.  
The last time Your Majesty was pleased to speak to us, You commanded us to make ready all things that you were to dispatch this Session: In obedience thereunto, we have with all industry imaginable endeavoured, so to prepare those Matters that were before us, that Your Majesty, and the whole Nation may receive Satisfaction in our Dispatches.  
First it concerned Us to keep our Words with your Majesty, in finishing that Supply which We promised You for the Carrying on the War. In order whereunto I do here present unto Your Majesty this Bill of Eleven Month's Assessment upon our Lands, to take place in a Post Charge after the additional Royal Aid now current is expired: This Act, together with the Poll Bill lately passed, we conceive will fully make good the 1800000 l. we promised to Your Majesty.  
We must for ever with humility acknowledge the Justice of God in punishing this whole Nation by the late dreadful Conflagration of London; We know They were not the greatest Sinners on whom the Tower of Syloe fell; and doubtless all Our Sins did contribute to the filling up that measure, which being full, drew down the Wrath of God upon that City; But it very much reviveth us to behold the miraculous blessing of God upon Your Majesty's Endeavours for the Preservation of that part of the City which is left: Et fas est resurgere Moenia Trojae! We hope God will direct Your Royal Heart, and Fortunate Hand, in a few days to lay a Foundation Stone in the re-building that Royal City: the Beauty and Praise whereof shall fill the whole Earth.  
For the encouragement of this Noble Work we have prepared several Bills: One, for the establishing a Judicatory for the speedy determining all Actions and Causes of Action, that have or may arise between Landlords and Tenants upon this sad accident; though I persuade myself no English Man would be exempted from making some Offering to carry on this pious Undertaking; yet the exemplary Charity of your Majesties 12 Reverend Judges is fit with Honour to be mentioned before your Majesty, They are willing to spend all their Sand that doth not run out in your Majesty's immediate Service, of dispensing Justice in their several Courts to your People, in hearing and determining those Controversies that may arise upon Old Agreements, and making New Rules between Owners and Tenants, for their mutual Encouragement in this Glorious Action.  
We have likewise prepared a Bill for the Regularity of the New Buildings, that they may be raised with more Conveniency, Beauty, and Security, than they had before: Some Streets we have ordered to be opened and enlarged, and many Obstructions to be removed; but all with your Majesty's approbation: This we conceive cannot be done with Justice, unless a Compensation be given to Those that shall be Losers; We have therefore laid an Imposition of 12 d. upon every Chalder, and 12 d. upon every Tun of Coals that shall be brought into the Port of London for Ten years, the better to enable the Lord Maior and Aldermen to recompense those Persons whose Grounds shall be taken from them.  
Rome was not built in a Day. Nor can we in the close of this Session finish the Rules for the dividing of Parishes, re-building of the Churches, and the Ornamental Parts of the City that we intended; these Things must rest till another Session: But we know your Majesty in the mean time will take them into your Princely Consideration, and make it your Care, that the Houses of God, and your own Royal Chamber, be decently and conveniently restored.  
And now, Great Sir, having thus happily finished the Business of this Session, we beg your Majesty's leave that we may return to our own Homes, there to put in Execution the Good Laws which You have made, and to defend our several Countries against all Designs to disturb the Peace of the Nation. And we beseech Almighty God, who hath hitherto wonderfully preserved your Majesty's Person, and made You Glorious in all your Achievements, still to prosper your Forces both at Sea and Land, till He hath made your Majesty an Asylum for all your Friends, and a Terror to your Enemies both at Home and Abroad.  
FINIS.   

I Do appoint Robert Pawlet to print this Speech, and that no other presume to print the same.  
Edw. Turnor.