A SPEECH Spoken by Sr. THOMAS WROTH KNIGHT, In the Honourable House of COMMONS: upon his delivery of a Petition from the Knights, Gentlemen, and Freeholders of the County of Somerset.  
February, 25. 1642.  
Together with the Petition of the said County then delivered.  
LONDON, Printed for H. S. 1642.   

A SPEECH spoken by Sir THOMAS WROTH Knight, in the Honourable House of Commons upon his delivery of a Petition from the Knights, Gentlemen, and Freeholders, of the County of Somerset, February, 25. 1641.  
Mr. Speaker,  
THe High and Glorious Assembly of the three Estates in Parliament, hath a near Resemblance to the Day of Judgement; for in Parliament we are called to Account for our Actions both Good and evil; here we hear the Voice of Ite and Venite; From this Venite, the Knights, Gentlemen and Freeholders of the County of Somerser have been encouraged to entrust Us humbly to present their Petition to this Honourable House. It comes not attended with a numerous or multitudinous Troop, but guarded with some thousand of Hands to attest their approbation and assent. By reason of our remoteness, divers other Countries have had the Honour to presede Ours in the like Expressions of Loyalty and Duty, which Precedency may much disadvantage our cordial Intentions, if this House be not candid.  
Mr. Speaker, It is our humble Supplication to this great Senate in behalf of them that sent us and ourselves, that neither the paucity of our Attendance, nor the circumstance of time in the exhibiting this Petition, may make It or Us invalid or unacceptable, since we have Hearts and Hands as zealous and ready to maintain whatsoever is contained in our Petition, as any of the preceding Countries.  
The Labourers who entered into the work at the shutting in of the Day, received as much Wages as those that came early. It is the earnest desire of our Hearts that this Honourable and prudent council would vouchsafe Us such wages (Gratious-Acceptance) and that our Petition may be honoured with a Reading.  
Sir, I have but one thing more in charge; Whilst this Petition was ambulatory in our Country for Hands, that renowned Act concerning Bishops and others in Holy-Orders, never to be forgotten, and ever to be memorised with thankfulness to God, his majesty, the peers and Commons, passed, to the unspeakable content of all the well-affected Christians of this kingdom; For which, I am commanded to give this Honourable House all humble and hearty thanks. And Mr. Speaker, might it be lawful in humility to speak my own thoughts, when the Bill of Pluralities (the next great work towards the blessed Reformation) is perfected, I will then say, Lord, now let thy servant depart this World in peace, for mine eye hath seen the great Salvation thou art beginning to work for England.  
God bless England.