Mr: HENRY MARTIN HIS SPEECH In the House of COMMONS, BEFORE his Departure thence.  
June 8. 1648.  
Printed in the Year 1648.   

Mr. Henry Martin's Speech.  
Mr. Speaker:  
YOU know how forward I have been always from the beginning, to act and speak Treason. I was not like Adam, that old fool, to hid my transgressions in my bosom. I am an Achan in part, but not in whole: for he confessed his sins troubled Israel, in a penitent way, but I scorn his baseness: I have troubled Israel and glory in it. I hate that Traitor judas, who will repent of his Treason, and restore that money which was the price of Christ's blood: what base principles had these blades? Had I receyved the 30 pieces of silver, I would have gone with it strait to a Bawdy house, and have had a gallant young Wench for it. I was once in hope to have spent the King's Revenue this way, and you know I put the same in a very good forwardness; but now I fear much those Welsh Rogues, have been the leading Card to all mischief; and will be a means to hinder my intention of erecting a famous Stews in the City of London, with the Kingdom's money. The Rascals pretend it is for their Arrears, and an act of Indemnity they stand for: what cowardly Traitors are these? Stand to ask an act of Indemnity of a King in prison, when I that am no soldier (unless it be under Venus' banner) durst speak high Treason as frequently, as I dare lie with Mrs. Dunce. When the King had power equal with ours, I durst tear his Proclamation: nay if I were sure I could do it, I durst tear his heart out of his body, and drink healths of his blood to my little creature in Drury lane; and yet these cowardly Goats who have swords in their hands, must stand for that of us, which we have as much need of as themselves, if the King should come again. And for their arrears, Mr. Speaker, you know as well as I, what for buying of Land and Bawdy houses, we cannot spare them one penny. For how shall you and all covetous men in the House, have their full number of Lordships which they intent to buy, if these Knaves should have their arrears? Or how shall I, and all the Whoremasters of the House, keep half a dozen Whores, if they have their arrears? if that be granted them, we should never be able to keep above one a piece (except some private friends.) And, Mr. Speaker, what do you think Mr. Corbets wife, and the rest of the Members wives would do, and how would they be able to maintain their Closet Gentlemen, if the Soldiers should have their arrears? Pox eat them, they have hindered our trading already: and now Langdale and Glemham are come in to assist that wicked wight, the King. The Citizens fear a new War, and will not part with their money. Mr. Speaker, I will turn up their Wives, and you shall plunder their Bags, if the Army prevail. But what a Devil made those Pippins of Kent to rise? they begin to bud, and preach, and threaten Rebellion against us; that had been enough had we sat these 7. years with them, and laid with their wives, as we have done with the Londoners, than they had had some colour of complaint: but if Sir Thomas prevail over their husbands, I will take a Country house amongst them, and you shall see how I will come over their wives.  
Mr. Speaker, I would advise you beg and buy all the Land in Kent, that you may rack and punish them sound, for rising against your profit, and my pleasure. Would they, Knaves, have the King come home? which if they obtain, what shall we have? I know nothing but a fair new Gallows, and a Gregory to be our Godfather. I pray you, Mr. Speaker, do you think ever to enjoy your Lands, bought since this Reformation, if the King come home? Or do you think I shall go any more to a Bawdy house, or will my Wenches be suffered to come to me, when I have no money, and lie in prison? No, no. Remember that the King is a stern solid man, and no fool, and having all the people for him, we shall hardly scape with our lives.  
Mr. Speaker, nothing troubles me so much, as those Calves of Essex, who gave entertainment to those old dry bones of Goring, who is able to do their wives no good: had they but sent for the Earl of Stamford, or me, we should soon have got the love of their wives, or else we would have hazarded the running of the Reins. But, M. Speaker, my greatest sorrow is, that I must be forced to leave Mrs. Dunce, and the rest of my creatures behind me, if Sir Thomas do not prevail. If there be any Gentleman in the House, that hath been in New England, I desire to know whether there be any Bawdy houses in that Country; if there be none, I must be at charge to carry a score or two of honest Wenches with me. I know in Spain and France be good store, but their King is not in prison, and I will not come amongst such obedient scabs. But I fear much that I shall scarce get out of the Land, but must die like a Bird upon a Tree, now the Navy is gone; but if I should, it will not trouble me half so much, if the King will but suffer a handsome Whore to be my Executioner: I conceive it could not but well please john Baptist that his head was danced off with so handsome a Wench as Herodias Daughter: I know, Mr. Speaker, the King loves me better than he doth Vane, or Perpoint, or Mildmay, or Haslerigge, or Evillin, or St. john, or Wild, or yourself, because I am plain with him, and tell him and the world the truth of our intentions; I keep me to my principles, and scorn to deal underhand like a judas; I had rather kill my King then kiss him; I know I kissed his hand at Hampton Court, but I speak ingeniously I had rather kiss Mrs. Dunces breech. Mr. Speaker, pray if you have any money that is not laid our upon Lands, send the Army some, that they may murder our enemies furiously: I should not have been backward myself to send them some, but that I have been too forward with the Bawdy houses, which have almost gleaned me dry of money, of marrow, and almost frenchified my tongue, that I can scarce speak out my speech.  
Another question I have to ask, which is to know whether there be any Apothecaries and Doctors there; if there be none, it will put me to a great charge; therefore I hearty wish you, Mr. Speaker, to give your vote for me that I may have 10000 l. granted me by the House, to furnish me with a Doctor and Drugs, to keep and preserve my life; which if it be denied me, the French scab will eat out my bowels: and if you vote for me to day for that money, I will vote for you to morrow, for as much as will buy you a whole County in New England. Mr. Speaker, let us betwixt us, take the King's Crown out of the Abbey, and make sale of that Babylonish Relic: it will yield us as much coin as will buy you a great Town or two, and it will maintain part of my Wenches charge. But I hear some say, that in New England they will not suffer us to keep a score of whores apiece: but it is no matter; I have a project in my head, to set the people in love with a Parliament, by telling them it is the only way to make Religion flourish, and so deceive them, as we have done our English at home: they being very factiously given, will be led in blindness with much ease; then we being Parliament men may keep what Whores we please, and you may buy what Lordships you please. You shall be Speaker of that House, and I willbe Chayreman of a close Committee at least: and when we are there, we will send for Hugh Peter to Preach that it is no sin to lie with a Saint. You know they of that Nation are all such, who have been moved by the spirit to lie with their maids, neighbours daughters, neighbour's wives, their own daughters, and the like; and have for that been banished by the Minister of the Parish, in which they lived, or else forced through shame to go thence, because they would not stand in a white sheet, in their Parish Church: nay most of them had no shame but would willingly have stood, would their conscience but have given them leave to have come within a Church where the wicked meet.  
Thus, Mr. Speaker, have I spoke my mind, as fully as I can at present: more I could say, did not these sad tidings of arising in Wales, and almost the rest of the whole Kingdom, call me to a speedy work; which is to choose my number of Creatures, I intent to carry with me. For my Doctor, I have chosen him already; a man without exception, and one known to you all his name is Dr. Bastwicke, whom I know hath good skill in my disease. Thus Mr. Speaker, I take my leave of the House, hoping we shall all meet in New England very shortly. Farewell.  
FINIS.