A SEASONABLE SPEECH MADE TO THE LORD MAIOR AND Common council of London, by Mr. Harvey, being accompanied thither with many Citizens of quality.  
Concerning the great Distempers of the times.  
LONDON, Printed in the year 1642.   

My Lord,  
We are all come with one Errand consisting of two parts; First, a discharge of our duties, Secondly, the endeavour of our safety.  
The discharge of our duty lieth in acquainting your Honour, and your Worships, with the causes of our fears, perplexities and dangers, with which we are environed, which arise from divers particulars.  
My Lord, lest any here should judge our fears to be groundless, and but fancies, give me leave to premise,  
That as his majesty is the head of this kingdom, and our prayer, with all loyal Subjects, is, and ever shall be, that his highness may long, and happily continue so to be:  
So the two eyes in the head, are the two Houses of Parliament, the house of Lords, and house of Commons.  
My Lord, naturalists tell us, that although the act and office of both eyes be one and the same, yet each hath his particular and peculiar distribution of light and knowledge to the faculties, as appears, in that the soul receiveth light and knowledge by one eye, when the other is fast shut, or winketh.  
My Lord, if one eye wink, yet the eye of the house of Commons is wide open, it seeth clearly, and by that eye only the Commons of England, which are not stark blind, may receive knowledge of and discern their dangers.  
My Lord, the Honourable house of Commons unto all their actions lay the line of judgement, and the plummet of prudence, and they have seen, and we by them, our dangers, at a distance, and in the approaches, with the many good provisions for our safety which that honourable Assembly have resolved upon. As 

1. First, that the kingdom should be put into a warlike posture of defence.  
2. That a Navy of ships should be at Sea, to surround our Coasts, and to hinder the invasion of a foreign enemy.  
3. That the Castles and Cinqueports and other Maritine ports should be repaired, & put into the custody of persons of honour & trust, deputed thereunto by the Authority of the King, to them conveyed by an order of both houses of Parliament: all which the house of Commons would not have done upon fancies, they being most studious how to settle and compose, not to affright, charge, or distract, the people of this kingdom.  
4. That Sir John Byron the now lieutenant of the Tower is an unfit man to be Commander of that citadel which hath so great a command of this City.    
And surely, my Lord, it appeareth by the merchant's Petition, that his being lieutenant much hindereth Trade, for those Merchants that formerly did mint or put to coining are now deterred, both from importing, or coining of Bullion.  
My Lord, we sensibly feel the smart of Trades decay. Who seeth not the whole fabric of the City and kingdom, whose foundation is Trade and Commerce, much shaken, and, if not speedily repaired, like to bury itself in its own ruin?  
My Lord, Trade is like a clock, if one pin or wheel be out of order, the whole stands still, or moves disorderly.  
And now my Lord, give me the liberty of an orator, although I be none, to end, and close with the highest.  
My Lord, the house of Commons have long since resolved, that considerable forces from England, and 10000 men from Scotland, should be sent for Ireland, to relieve that poor gasping Nation, against those bloody popish Rebels, who most cruelly and barbarously butcherlike murder and make desolate that Nation.  
The knowledge of all which resolutions by the house of Commons hath been communicated to the Honourable house of Lords; but there all still dwells while Ireland and we in it bleed on to death.  
My Lord, give me leave to soar a littl● higher; can any History relate so sad a story, as that a kingdom involved with others under one crown, all holding one faith and profession in Religion, was laid waste by an inconsiderable party, as are those bloody Rebels, compared with the strength that England and Scotland might afford them: and the desolation not made all at once, but gradually, in three months' space of time 30000. persons slain, 100000. Families undone, and utterly ruined, and an innumerable company that have tasted of life's sweetness, merely upon that consideration, turned to the popish party, and none or no considerable forces to control that bloody enemy dispatched? and yet all this may be truly predicated of England and Scotland, in reference to Ireland.  
And this day, my Lord, news is come from Ireland, telling us that Waterford, and the County of Munster, is revolted. Who is not secure may see cruelty upon the legs of fury coming in a Jehu march towards us. If any be as fast asleep as was Peter, let him awake, it's now a time for Peter's prayer to be made use of, there is now no time for neutrality or indifferency, it befits all to be positive, and let none think that if that flame which burneth Ireland, an already sore scorcheth us, be not presently quenched, but that it will totally devour us also.  
And now, my Lord, we are come to the second part of our Errand, namely to endeavour our safety, for which we fight with the all-ages-allowed weapons, our supplications, and in all humble manner pray your Honour, and right worshipful you the Aldermen, and the rest of this Assembly, to be pleased to join together, heartily, effectually, and speedily, to petition the honourable house of Lords, that the kingdom may be put into a warlike posture of defence, and chiefly that to Ireland may be sent speedy and sufficient aid, and that the forenamed, or what other resolution of the house of Commons tending to England's safety or Ireland's succour, and lie obstructed in the House of Lords, may be thence discharged, and have life given unto them by execution, and use, as may tend to the restauration and peace of the kingdoms.  
FINIS.