Mr. Speakers SPEECH, WITH HIS majesty's SPEECH TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, At the passing of the Bill for Tonnage and Poundage: BEING An Answer to Mr. SPEAKERS Speech at the presenting thereof, 22. June 1641.  
Printed in the year, 1641.   


HONI SOIT x MAL Y PENSE  
CR   royal blazon or coat of arms   

Mr. SPEAKERS SPEECH In the Lords' House of Parliament, June 22. 1641.  
THat policy, most gracious and dread sovereign, which weighs the Prerogative of the King and property of the Subject in the same Scales, and increases the plenty of the crown, and contentment of the people; the even poising of this beam enables both, the one being ordained for the preservation of the other.  
This principle is so riveted into the hearts of your Subjects by the Acts of their ancestors, & traditions of their forefathers, that it hath created a belief in them, that their wills are bound to a due allegiance, and their fortunes and estates, as well as their duty and subjection, must bend to the Commands of that sovereign power with which God hath invested your sacred majesty.  
Compulsory obedience, advanced by the transcendent power of Prerogative, is too weak to support the right of government: It is the affections & estates of your people, tied with the threads of obedience, by the rules of Law, that fastens safety and prosperity to the crown.  
The experiment of elder times, in the reigns of the most valiant puissant Princes, hath concluded this the sovereign preservative against the diseases of distraction and confusion, and makes it manifest to the world, that the honour and glory of this Throne is to command the hearts of freemen.  
This admitted, the permission of the least diminution, or any eclipsed interposition between the honour and plenty of the crown, contracts a scorn upon the Nation.  
Several Parliaments in former times have stamped the Character of a free gift upon the forefront of this aid, still offered by the people, as a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the crown, for the safe conduct of your Merchants, and provision of the navy, to strengthen your undoubted dominion over the seas, which hath protected your allies, and is a terror to your Enemies.  
Our hopes were long since to have settled this for the measure and the time, and with this to have presented to your sacred majesty the triumphant palm of Tranquillity in all your kingdoms: But, as a ship floating upon a rough Sea, we have been cast upon the Rock of fear and dangers, and tossed on the Billows of distraction and distrust of Church and commonwealth, where we yet remain hopeless ever to pass through that narrow channel which leads to the Haven of Peace, unless we be speedily steered on by the hand of your sacred wisdom, care and providence.  
In the midst of all these troubles, and the several opinions which have been amongst us, no division had power to distract any one of us from the care and duty we owe to your sacred Person.  
And, to that end am I now sent by the Commons of England, to present this as a mark only, whereby your sacred majesty may view the inward duties of our hearts, until time and opportunity will give leave for a further expression of our duties and affections. The acceptation of this Gift will glad the hearts of your people, and the approbation by the royal assent of this Bill (being the largest for the measure which was ever given) will join wings to our desires and hopes, which shall never return without that olive-leaf, which may declare that the waters are abated, and your sacred majesty may have full assurance of the faith and loyalty of your Subjects.  
FINIS.