A SPEACH TO THE LORDS AND COMMONS OF THE PARLIAMENT AT WHITE-HALL, ON WEDNESDAY THE
 XXI. OF MARCH. ANNO 1609. WE being now in the middest of this season appointed for penitence and prayer, it hath so
 fallen out, that these two last dayes haue bene spent in a farre other sort of exercise, I
 meane in Eucharisticke Sacrifice, and gratulation of thankes, persented vnto mee by both the
 parts of this body of Parliament: and therefore to make vp the number of three, (which is the
 number of Trinitie, and perfection) I haue thought good to make this the third Day, to be
 spent in this exercise. As ye made mee a faire Present indeed in presenting your thankes and louing dueties vnto
 mee: So haue I now called you here, to recompence you againe with a great and a rare Present,
 which is a faire and a Christall Mirror; Not such a Mirror wherein you may see your owne
 faces, or shadowes; but such a Mirror, or Christall, as through the transparantnesse thereof,
 you may see the heart of your King. The Philosophers wish, That euery mans breast were a
 Christall, where- through his heart might be seene, is vulgarly knowne, and I touched it in
 one of my former Speaches vnto you: But though that were impossible in the generall, yet will
 I now performe this for my part, That as it is a trew Axiome in Diuinitie, That Cor Regis is in manu Domini , So wil I now set Cor Regis in oculis populi . I know that I can say nothing at
 this time, whereof some of you that are here, haue not at one time or other, heard me say the
 like already: Yet as corporall food nourisheth and mainteineth the body, so doeth Reminiscentia nourish and mainteine
 memory. I will reduce to three generall and maine grounds, the principall things that haue bene
 agitated in this Parliament, and whereof I will now speake. First, the Arrand for which you were called by me; And that was, for support- ing of my
 state, and necessities. The second is, that which the people are to mooue vnto the King: To represent vnto him such
 things, whereby the Subiects are vexed, or wherein the state of the Commonwealth is to be
 redressed: And that is the thing which you call grieuances. The third ground that hath bene handled amongst you, and not onely in talke amongst you in
 the Parliament, but euen in many other peoples mouthes, aswell within, as without the
 Parliament, is of a higher nature then any of the former (though it be but an Incident ?) and
 the reason is, because it concernes a higher point; And this is a doubt, which hath bene in
 the heads of some, of my Intention in two things. 
 First, whether I was resolued in the generall, to continue still my gouernment according to
 the ancient forme of this State, and the Lawes of this Kingdome: Or if I had an intention not
 to limit my selfe within those bounds, but to alter the same when I thought conuenient, by
 the absolute power of a King. The other branch is anent the Common Law, which some had a conceit I dis- liked, and (in
 respect that I was borne where another forme of Law was estab- lished) that I would haue
 wished the Ciuill Law to haue bene put in place of the Common Law for gouernment of this
 people. And the complaint made amongst you of a booke written by doctour Cowell , was a part of the occasion of this incident: But as touching my censure of
 that booke, I made it already to bee deliuered vnto you by the Treasurer here sitting, which
 he did out of my owne directions and notes; and what he said in my name, that had he directly
 from me: But what hee spake of himselfe therein without my direction, I shal alwayes make
 good; for you may be sure I will be loth to make so honest a man a lyer, or deceiue your
 expectations: alwayes within very few dayes my Edict shall come forth anent that matter,
 which shall fully discouer my meaning. There was neuer any reason to mooue men to thinke, that I could like of such grounds: For
 there are two qualities principally, or rather priuations that make Kings subiect to
 flatterie; Credulitie and Ignorance ; and I hope
 none of them can bee iustly obiected to mee: For if Alexander the
 great, for all his learning, had bene wise in that point to haue considered the state of his
 owne naturall body and disposition, hee would neuer haue thought himselfe a god. And now to
 the mat- ter. As it is a Christian duety in euery man, Reddere rationem fidei , and not to be ashamed to giue an
 account of his proession before men, and Angels, as oft as occasion shall require: So did I
 euer hold it a necessitie of honour in a iust and wise King, though not to giue an account to
 his people of his actions, yet clearely to deliuer his heart and intention vnto them vpon
 euery occasion. But I must inuert my order, and begin first with that incident which was last
 in my diuision (though highest of nature) and so goe backward. The State of MONARCHIE is the supremest thing vpon earth: For Kings are not onely GODS
 Lieutenants vpon earth, and sit vpon GODS throne, but euen by GOD himselfe they are called
 Gods. There bee three principall similitudes that illustrates the state of MONARCHIE: One
 taken out of the word of GOD; and the two other out of the grounds of Policie and
 Philosophie. In the Scriptures Kings are called Gods, and so their power after a certaine
 relation compared to the Diuine power. Kings are also compared to Fathers of families: for a
 King is trewly Parens patriae , the
 politique father of his people. And lastly, Kings are compared to the head of this Microcosme
 of the body of man. Kings are iustly called Gods, for that they exercise a manner or resemblance of Diuine
 power vpon earth: For if you wil consider the Attributes to God, you shall see how they agree
 in the person of a King. God hath power to create, or destroy, make, or vnmake at his
 pleasure, to giue life, or send death, to iudge all, and to be iudged nor
 accomptable to none: To raise low things, and to make high things low at his pleasure, and to
 God are both soule and body due. And the like power haue Kings: they make and vnmake their
 subiects: they haue power of raising, and casting downe: of life, and of death: Iudges ouer
 all their subiects, and in all causes, and yet accomptable to none but God onely. They haue
 power to exalt low things, and abase high things, and make of their subiects like men at the
 Chesse; A pawne to take a Bishop or a Knight, and to cry vp, or downe any of their subiects,
 as they do their money. And to the King is due both the affec- tion of the soule, and the
 seruice of the body of his subiects: And therefore that reuerend Bishop here amongst you,
 though I heare that by diuers he was mistaken or not wel vnderstood, yet did he preach both
 learnedly and trewly annent this point concerning the power of a King: For what he spake of a
 Kings power in Abstracto , is most
 trew in Diuinitie: For to Emperors, or Kings that are Mon- arches, their Subiects bodies
 & goods are due for their defence and maintenance. But if I had bene in his place, I
 would only haue added two words, which would haue cleared all: For after I had told as a
 Diuine, what was due by the Subiects to their Kings in general, I would then haue concluded
 as an Englishman, shewing this people, That as in generall all Subiects were bound to relieue
 their King; So to exhort them, that as wee liued in a setled state of a Kingdome which was
 gouerned by his owne fundamentall Lawes and Orders, that according thereunto, they were now
 (being assembled for this purpose in Parliament) to consider how to helpe such a King as now
 they had; And that according to the ancient forme, and order established in this Kingdome:
 putting so, a difference betweene the generall power of a King in Diuinity, and the settled
 and established State of this Crowne, and Kingdome. And I am sure that the Bishop meant to
 haue done the same, if hee had not bene straited by time, which in respect of the greatnesse
 of the presence preaching before me, and such an Auditory, he durst not presume vpon. As for the Father of a familie, they had of olde vnder the Law of Nature Patriam potestatem , which was Potestatem vitæ & necis , ouer their
 children or familie (I meane such Fathers of families as were the lineall heires of those
 families whereof Kings did originally come:) For Kings had their first originall from them,
 who planted and spread themselues in Colonies through the world. Now a
 Father may dispose of his Inheritance to his children, at his pleasure: yea, euen disinherite
 the eldest vpon iust occasions, and preferre the youngest, accord- ing to his liking; make
 them beggers, or rich at his pleasure; restraine, or banish out of his presence, as hee
 findes them giue cause of offence, or restore them in fauour againe with the penitent sinner:
 So may the King deale with his Subiects. And lastly, as for the head of the naturall body, the head hath the power of directing all
 the members of the body to that vse which the iudgement in the head thinkes most conuenient.
 It may apply sharpe cures, or cut off corrupt members, let blood in what proportion it
 thinkes fit, and as the body may spare, but yet is all this power ordeined by
 God Ad ædificationem, non ad
 destructionem . For although God haue power aswell of destruction, as of
 creation or maintenance; yet will it not agree with the wisdome of God, to exercise his power
 in the destruc- tion of nature, and ouerturning the whole frame of things, since his
 creatures were made, that his glory might thereby be the better expressed: So were hee a
 foolish father that would disinherite or destroy his children without a cause, or leaue off
 the carefull education of them; And it were an idle head that would in place of phisicke so
 poyson or phlebotomize the body as might breede a dangerous distemper or destruction thereof. But now in these our times we are to distinguish betweene the state of Kings in their first
 originall, and betweene the state of setled Kings and Monarches, that doe at this time
 gouerne in ciuill Kingdomes: For euen as God, during the time of the olde Testament, spake by
 Oracles, and wrought by Miracles; yet how soone it pleased him to setle a Church which was bought, and redeemed by the blood of his onely Sonne Christ , then was there a cessation of both; Hee euer after gouerning his
 people and Church within the limits of his reueiled will. So in the first originall of Kings,
 whereof some had their beginning by Conquest, and some by election of the people, their wills
 at that time serued for Law; Yet how soone Kingdomes began to be setled in ciuilitie and
 policie, then did Kings set downe their minds by Lawes, which are properly made by the King
 onely; but at the rogation of the people, the Kings grant being obteined thereunto. And so
 the King became to be Lex loquens , after a sort, binding himselfe by a
 double oath to the obseruation of the fundamentall Lawes of his kingdome: Tacitly , as by being a King, and so bound to protect aswell the people, as the Lawes
 of his Kingdome; And Expresely , by his oath at his Coronation: So as
 euery iust King in a setled Kingdome is bound to obserue that paction made to his people by
 his Lawes, in framing his gouernment agreeable thereunto, according to that paction which God
 made with Noe after the deluge, Here after
 Seed-time, and Haruest, Cold and Heate, Summer and Winter, and Day and Night shall not
 cease, so long as the earth remaines . And therefore a King gouerning in a setled
 Kingdome, leaues to be a King, and degenerates into a Tyrant, assoone as he leaues off to
 rule according to his Lawes. In which case the Kings conscience may speake vnto him, as the
 poore widow said to Philip of Macedon; Either gouerne according to your Law, Aut ne Rex sis . And though no Christian man ought to allow any rebellion
 of people against their Prince, yet doeth God neuer leaue Kings vnpunished when they
 transgresse these limits: For in that same Psalme where God saith to Kings, Vos Dij estis , hee immediately thereafter concludes,
 But ye shall die like men. The higher wee are placed, the greater
 shall our fall be. Vt casus sic
 dolor : the taller the trees be, the more in danger of the winde; and the
 tempest beats sorest vpon the highest mountaines. Therefore all Kings that are not tyrants,
 or periured, wil be glad to bound themselues within the limits of their Lawes; and they that
 perswade them the contrary, are vipers, and pests, both against them and the
 Commonwealth. For it is a great difference betweene a Kings gouern- ment in a setled State,
 and what Kings in their originall power might doe in Indiuiduo vago . As for my part, I thanke God, I haue euer giuen good
 proofe, that I neuer had intention to the contrary: And I am sure to goe to my graue with
 that reputation and comfort, that neuer King was in all his time more care- full to haue his
 Lawes duely obserued, and himselfe to gouerne thereafter, then I. I conclude then this point touching the power of Kings, with this Axiome of Diuinitie, That
 as to dispute what God may doe, is Blasphemie; but quid vult Deus , that Diuines may lawfully, and doe ordinarily dispute and
 discusse; for to dispute A Posse ad Esse is both against Logicke and
 Diuinitie: So is it sedition in Subiects, to dispute what a King may do in the height of his
 power: But iust Kings wil euer be willing to declare what they wil do, if they wil not
 incurre the curse of God. I wil not be content that my power be disputed vpon: but I shall
 euer be willing to make the reason appeare of all my doings, and rule my actions according to
 my Lawes. The other branch of this incident is concerning the Common Law, being con- ceiued by some,
 that I contemned it, and preferred the Ciuil Law thereunto. As I haue already said, Kings
 Actions (euen in the secretest places) are as the actions of those that are set vpon the
 Stages, or on the tops of houses: and I hope neuer to speake that in priuate, which I shall
 not auow in publique, and Print it if need be (as I said in my BASILICON DORON.) For it is
 trew, that within these few dayes I spake freely my minde touching the Common Law in my
 Priuie Chamber, at the time of my dinner, which is come to all your eares; and the same was
 like- wise related vnto you by my Treasurer, and now I will againe repeate and con- firme the
 same my selfe vnto you. First, as a King I haue least cause of any man to dislike the Common
 Law: For no Law can bee more fauourable and aduan- tagious for a King, and extendeth further
 his Prerogaiue, then it doeth: And for a King of England to despise the Common Law, it is to
 neglect his owne Crowne. It is trew, that I doe greatly esteeme the Ciuill Law, the
 profession thereof seruing more for generall learning and being most necessary for matters of
 Treatie with all forreine Nations: And I thinke that if it should bee taken away, it would
 make an entrie to Barbarisme in this Kingdome, and would blemish the honour of Eng- land: For
 it is in a maner LEX GENTIVM, and maintaineth Intercourse with all forreine Nations: but I
 onely allow it to haue course here, according to those limits of Iurisdiction, which the
 Common Law it selfe doeth allow it: And there- fore though it bee not fit for the generall
 gouernment of the people here; it doeth not follow, it should be extinct, no more, then
 because the Latine tongue is not the Mother or Radicall Language of any Nation in the world
 at this time, that there- fore the English tongue should onely now be learned in this
 Kingdome, which were to bring in Barbarisme. My meaning therefore is not to preferre the
 Ciuill Law before the Common Law; but onely that it should not be extinguished, and yet so
 bounded, (I meane to such Courts and Causes) as haue beene in ancient vse; As
 the Ecclesiasticall Courts, Court of Admiraltie, Court of Requests, and such like, reseruing
 euer to the Common Law to meddle with the fundamentall Lawes of this Kingdome, either
 concerning the Kings Prerogatiue, or the possessions of Subiects, in any questions, either
 betweene the King, and any of them, or amongst themselues, in the points of Meum & tuum . For it is trew, that there is no
 King- dome in the world, not onely Scotland, but not France, nor Spaine, nor any other
 Kingdome gouerned meerely by the Ciuill Law, but euery one of them hath their owne municipall
 Lawes agreeable to their Customes, as this Kingdome hath the Common Law: Nay, I am so farre
 from disallowing the Common Law, as I pro- test, that if it were in my hand to chuse a new
 Law for this Kingdome, I would not onely preferre it before any other Nationall Law, but euen
 before the very Iudiciall Law of Moyses : and yet I speake no
 blasphemie in preferring it for conueniencie to this Kingdome, and at this time, to the very
 Law of God: For God gouerned his selected people by these three Lawes, Ceremoniall, Morall , and Iudiciall : The Iudiciall , being onely fit for a certaine people, and a certaine time, which could not
 serue for the generall of all other people and times. As for ex- ample, If the Law of hanging
 for Theft, were turned here to restitution of treble or quadruple, as it was in the Law of
 Moyses , what would become of all the middle Shires, and all the
 Irishrie and Highlanders ? But the maine point is, That if the fundamentall Lawes of any
 Kingdome should be altered, who should discerne what is Meum & tuum , or how should a King gouerne ? It would be
 like the Gregorian Calender, which destroyes the old, and yet doeth
 this new trouble all the debts and Accompts ot Traffiques and Merchandizes: Nay by that
 accompt I can neuer tell mine owne aage; for now is my Birth-day remooued by the space of ten
 dayes neerer me then it was before the change. But vpon the other part, though I haue in one
 point preferred our Common Law, concerning our vse to the very Law of GOD; yet in another
 respect I must say, both our Law and all Lawes else are farre inferiour to that Iudiciall Law
 of GOD; for no booke nor Law is perfect nor free from corruption, except onely the booke and
 Law of GOD. And therefore I could wish some three things specially to be purged & cleared
 in the Common Law; but alwayes by the aduise of Parliament: For the King with his Parlia-
 ment here are absolute, (as I vnderstand) in making or forming of any sort of Lawes. First I could wish that it were written in our vulgar Language: for now it is in an old,
 mixt, and corrupt Language, onely vnderstood by Lawyers: whereas euery Subiect ought to
 vnderstand the Law vnder which he liues: For since it is our plea against the Papists, that
 the language in GODS Seruice ought not to be in an vnknowne tongue, according to the rule in
 the Law of Moyses , That the Law should be written in the fringes of
 the Priests garment, and should be publikely read in the eares of all the people: so mee
 thinkes ought our Law to be made as plaine as can be to the people, that the excuse of
 ignorance may be taken from them, for conforming themselues thereunto. 
 Next, our Common Law hath not a setled Text in all Cases, being chiefly grounded either
 vpon old Customes, or else vpon the Reports and Cases of Iudges, which ye call Responsa Prudentum . The like whereof is
 in all other Lawes: for they are much ruled by Presidents (saue onely in Denmarke and Norway , where the letter of the Law resolues all
 doubts without any trouble to the Iudge,) But though it be trew, that no Text of Law can be
 so certaine, wherein the circum- stances will not make a variation in the Case, (for in this
 aage, mens wits increase so much by ciuilitie, that the circumstances of euery particular
 case varies so much from the general Text of Law, as in the Ciuill Law it selfe, there are
 there- fore so many Doctors that comment vpon the Text, & neuer a one almost agrees with
 another; Otherwise there needed no Iudges, but the bare letter of the Law.) Yet could I wish
 that some more certaintie were set downe in this case by Parlia- ment: for since the very
 Reports themselues are not alwayes so binding, but that diuers times Iudges doe disclaime
 them, and recede from the iudgment of their predecessors; it were good, that vpon a mature
 deliberation, the exposition of the Law were set downe by Acte of Parliament, and such
 reports therein confirmed, as were thought fit to serue for Law in all times hereafter, and
 so the people should not depend vpon the bare opinions of Iudges, and vncertaine Reports. And lastly, there be in the Common Law diuers contrary Reports, and Presi- dents: and this
 corruption doeth likewise concerne the Statutes and Acts of Parliament, in respect there are
 diuers crosse and cuffing Statutes, and some so penned, as they may be taken in diuers, yea
 contrary sences. And therefore would I wish both those Statutes and Reports, aswell in the
 Parliament as Com- mon Law, to be once maturely reuiewed, and reconciled; And that not onely
 all contrarieties should be scraped out of our Bookes, but euen that such penall Statutes as
 were made, but for the vse of the time (from breach whereof no man can be free) which doe not
 now agree with the condition of this our time, might likewise be left out of our bookes,
 which vnder a tyrannous or auaritious King could not be endured. And this reformation might
 (me thinkes) bee made a worthy worke, and well deserues a Parliament to be set of purpose for
 it. I know now that being vpon this point of the Common Law, you looke to heare my opinion
 concerning Prohibitions ; and I am not ignorant that I haue bene
 thought to be an enemie to all Prohibitions , and an vtter stayer of
 them: But I will shortly now informe you what hath bene my course in proceeding therein. It
 is trew that in respect of diuers honorable Courts, and Iurisdictions planted in this
 Kingdome, I haue often wished that euery Court had his owne trew limit, and iurisdiction
 clearely set downe, and certainly knowne; which if it be exceeded by any of them, or that any
 of them encroch one vpon another, then I grant that a Prohibition in
 that case is to goe out of the Kings Bench , but chiefliest out of the
 Chancery ; for other Benches I am not yet so well resolued of their
 Iurisdiction in that point. And for my part, I was neuer against Prohibitions of this nature, nor the trew vse of them, which is indeed to keepe euery
 Riuer within his owne banks and channels. But when I saw the swelling and
 ouerflowing of Prohibitions in a farre greater abundance then euer
 before, euery Court striuing to bring in most moulture to their owne Mill, by multitudes of
 Causes, which is a disease very naturall to all Courts and Iurisdictions in the world; Then
 dealt I with this Cause, and that at two seuerall times, once in the middest of Winter, and
 againe in the middest of the next following Summer; At euery of which times I spent three
 whole daies in that labour. And then after a large hearing, I told them as Christ said concerning Mariage, Ab initio non
 fuit sic . For as God con- teins the Sea within his owne bounds and marches
 (as it is in the Psalmes ,) So is it my office to make euery Court
 conteine himselfe within his own limits; And therefore I gaue admonitions to both sides: To
 the other Courts, that they should be carefull hereafter euery of them, to conteine
 themselues within the bounds of their owne Iurisdictions; and to the Courts of Common Law,
 that they should not bee so forward, and prodigall in multiplying their Prohibitions . Two cautions I willed them to obserue in graunting their Prohibitions : First, that they should be graunted in a right and lawfull
 forme: And next, that they should not grant them, but vpon a iust and reasonable cause. As to
 the forme, it was, That none should be graunted by any one particular Iudge, or in time of
 Vacation, or in any other place, but openly in Court. And to this the Iudges themselues gaue
 their willing assent. And as to the Cause, That they should not be granted vpon euery sleight
 surmise, or information of the partie, but alwayes that a due and graue examination should
 first precede. Otherwise if Prohibitions should rashly, and headily be
 granted, then no man is the more secure of his owne, though hee hath gotten a Sentence with
 him: For as good haue no Law, or Sentence, as to haue no execution thereof. A poore Minister
 with much labour and expense, hauing ex- hausted his poore meanes, and being forced to
 forbeare his studie, and to become non resident from his flocke,
 obtaines a Sentence , and then when hee lookes to enioy the fruits
 thereof, he is defrauded of all by a Prohibition , according to the
 parable of Christ, That night when hee thinkes himselfe most happy, shall his soule be taken
 from him: And so is he tortured like Tantalus , who when he hath the
 Apple at his mouth, and that he is gaping and opening his mouth to receiue it, then must it
 be pulled from him by a Prohibition , and he not suffered to taste
 thereof. So as to conclude this point, I put a difference betweene the trew vse of Prohibitions , and the superabounding abuse thereof: for as a thing which
 is good, ought not therefore bee abused; so ought not the lawfull vse of a good thing be
 forborne, because of the abuse thereof. Now the second generall ground whereof I am to speake, concernes the matter of Grieuances : There are two speciall causes of the peoples presenting Grieuances to their King in time of Parliament. First, for that the King
 cannot at other times be so well informed of all the Grieuances of his
 people, as in time of Parlia- ment, which is the representatiue body of the whole Realme.
 Secondly, the Parliament is the highest Court of Iustice, and therefore the
 fittest place where diuers natures of Grieuances may haue their proper
 remedie, by the establishment of good and wholsome Lawes. But though my Speech was before
 directed to the whole Body of Parliament; yet in this case I must addresse my Speech in
 speciall to you of the Lower House. I am now then to recommend vnto your considerations the matter and manner of your handling
 and presenting of Grieuances . As for the manner, though I will not
 denie, but that yee, representing the Body of the people, may as it were both opportune and inopportune (I meane either in Parliament as a Body, or out of
 Parliament as priuate men) present your Grieuances vnto mee; yet would
 I haue you to vse this caution in your behauiour in this point: which is, that your Grie- uances be not as it were greedily sought out by you, or taken vp in
 the streetes (as one said) thereby to shew a willingnesse that you would haue a shew made,
 that there are many abuses in the gouernment, and many causes of complaint: but that
 according to your first institution, ye should only meddle with such Grieuances , as your selues doe know had neede of reformation, or had informations
 thereof in your countreys for which you serue, and not so to multiply them, as might make it
 noised amongst the people, that all things in the gouernment were amisse and out of frame:
 For euen at the beginning of this very Session of Parlia- ment, the generall name of Grieuances being mentioned among you, such a con- ceipt came in the heads
 of many, that you had a desire to multiply and make a great muster of them, as euery one
 exhibited what his particular spleene stirred him vnto. In deed there fell out an accident
 vpon this occasion, for which I haue reason to thanke you of the Lower house, I meane for
 your fire worke, wherein I confesse you did Honour to me, and right to your selues: For
 hauing one after- noone found many Grieuances closely presented in
 papers, and so all thrust vp in sacke together, (rather like Pasquils ,
 then any lawfull Complaints) farre against your owne Orders, and diuers of them proceeding
 from grudging and murmuring spirits; you, vpon the hearing read two or three of the first
 lines of diuers of them, were not content with a publique consent to comdemne them, and to
 dis- charge any further reading of them, but you also made a publique bonefire of them. In
 this, I say, you shewed your care and ielousie of my Honour, and I sent you thankes for it by
 the Chancellour of the Exchequer, a member of your owne House, who by your appointment, that
 same night acquainted me with your proceedings; And by him also I promised at that time, that
 you should heare more of my thankes for the same at the first occasion; And now I tell you it
 my selfe, that you may know how kindely I take your duetifull behauiour in this case. But
 since this was a good effect of an euill cause, I must not omit also to admonish you vpon the
 other part, to take a course amongst your selues, to preuent the like accident in all times
 hereafter: otherwise the Lower house may become a place for Pasquils ,
 and at another time such Grieuances may be cast in amongst you, as may
 conteine Treason or scandal against Me, or my Posterity. Therefore in this
 case, looke ouer your ancient Orders, & follow them, and suffer not hereafter any
 petitions or Grieuances to he deliuered obscurely or in the darke, but
 openly and auowedly in your Publique house, and there to be presented to the Speaker. And as
 to the matter of your Grieuances , I wish you here now to vnderstand me
 rightly. And because I see many writing and noting, I will craue your pardons, to holde you a
 little longer by speaking the more distinctly, for feare of mistaking. First then, I am not to finde fault that you informe your selues of the partic- ular iust
 Grieuances of the people, Nay, I must tell you, ye can neither be
 iust nor faithfull to me, or to your Countreys that trust and imploy you, if you doe it not:
 For true Plaints proceed not from the persons imployed, but from the Body re- presented,
 which is the people. And it may very well bee, that many Directions and Commissions iustly
 giuen forth by me, may be abused in the Execution thereof, vpon the people: and yet I neuer
 to receiue information, except it come by your meanes, at such a time as this is; (as in the
 case of Stephen Procter ). But I would wish you to be carefull to
 auoide three things in the matter of Grieuances. 
 First, that you doe not meddle with the maine points of Gouernment; that is my craft: tractent fabrilia fabri ; to meddle with
 that, were to lesson me: I am now an old King; for sixe and thirtie yeeres haue I gouerned in
 Scotland personally, and now haue I accomplished my apprenticeship of
 seuen yeeres heere; and seuen yeeres is a great time for a Kings experience in Gouernment:
 Therefore there would not bee too many Phormios to teach Hannibal : I must not be taught my Office. Secondly, I would not haue you meedle with such ancient Rights of mine, as I haue receiued
 from my Predecessors, possessing them, More
 Maiorum : such things I would bee sorie should bee accounted for Grieuances . All nouelties are dangerous as well in a politique as in a
 naturall Body: And therefore I would be loth to be quarrelled in my ancient Rights and
 possessions: for that were to iudge mee vnworthly of that which my Predecessors had and left
 me. And lastly, I pray you beware to exhibit for Grieuance any thing
 that is estab- lished by a setled Law, and whereunto (as you haue already had a proofe) you
 know I will neuer giue a plausible answere: For it is an vndutifull part in Subiects to
 presse their King, wherein they know beforehand he will refuse them. Now, if any Law or
 Statute be not conuenient, let it be amended by Parliament, but in the meane time terme it
 not a Grieuance : for to be grieued with the Law, is to be grieued with
 the King, who is sworne to bee the Patron and mainteiner thereof. But as all men are flesh,
 and may erre in the execution of Lawes; So may ye iustly make a Grieuance of any abuse of the Law, distinguishing wisely betweene the faults of the
 person, and the thing it selfe. As for example, Complaints may be made vnto you of the high
 Commissioners: If so be, trie the abuse, and spare not to complaine vpon it, but say not
 there shall be no Commission; For that were to abridge the power that is in me: and I will
 plainely tell you, That something I haue with my selfe resolued annent that point, which I
 meane euer to keepe, except I see other great cause: which is, That in regard
 the high Commission is of so high a nature, from which there is no appellation to any other
 Court, I haue thought good to restraine it onely to the two Archbishops, where before it was
 common amongst a great part of the Bishops in England. This Law I haue set to my selfe, and
 therefore you may be assured, that I will neuer finde fault with any man, nor thinke him the
 more Puritane, that will complaine to me out of Parlia- ment, aswell as in Parliament, of any
 error in execution thereof, so that hee prooue it; Otherwise it were but a calumnie. Onely I
 would bee loath that any man should grieue at the Commission it selfe, as I haue already
 said. Yee haue heard (I am sure) of the paines I tooke both in the causes of the Admiralty,
 and of the Prohibitions: If any man therefore will bring me any iust complaints vpon any
 matters of so high a nature as this is, yee may assure your selues that I will not spare my
 labour in hearing it. In faith you neuer had a more painefull King, or that will be readier
 in his person to determine causes that are fit for his hearing. And when euer any of you
 shall make experience of me in this point, ye may be sure neuer to want accesse, nor ye shall
 neuer come wrong to me, in, or out of Parliament. And now to conclude this purpose of Grieuances , I haue one generall
 grieuance to commend vnto you, and that in the behalfe of the
 Countreys from whence ye come. And this is, to pray you to beware that your Grieuances sauour not of particular mens thoughts, but of the generall griefes rising
 out of the mindes of the people, and not out of the humour of the propounder. And therefore I
 would wish you to take heede carefully, and consider of the partie that propounds the grieuance : for ye may (if ye list) easily discerne whether it bee his
 owne passion, or the peoples griefe, that makes him to speake: for many a man will in your
 house propound a Grieuance out of his owne humour, because
 (peraduenture) he accounts highly of that matter: and yet the contrey that imployes him, may
 per- haps either be of a contrary minde, or (at least) little care for it. As for example, I
 assure you, I can very well smell betweene a Petition that mooues from a generall Grieuance , or such a one as comes from the spleene of some particular
 person, either against Ecclesiasticall gouernment in generall, or the person of any one Noble
 man, or Commissioner in particular. And now the third point remaines to bee spoken of; which is the cause of my calling of this
 Parliament. And in this I haue done but as I vse to doe in all my life, which is to leaue
 mine owne errand hindmost. It may bee you did wonder that I did not speake vnto you publikely at the beginning of this
 Session of Parliament, to tell you the cause of your calling, as I did (if I bee rightly
 remembred) in euery Session before. But the trewth is, that because I call you at this time
 for my particular Errand, I thought it fitter to bee opened vnto you by my Treasurer, who is
 my publike and most principall Officer in matters of that nature, then that I should doe it
 my selfe: for I confesse I am lesse naturally eloquent, and haue greater cause
 to distrust mine elocution in matters of this nature, then in any other thing. I haue made my
 Treasurer already to giue you a very cleere and trew accompt both of my hauing, and ex-
 penses: A fauour I confesse, that Kings doe seldome bestow vpon their Subiects, in making
 them so particularly acquainted with their state. If I had not more then cause, you may be
 sure I would be loth to trouble you: But what he hath affirmed in this, vpon the honour of a
 Gentleman, (whom you neuer had cause to distrust for his honestie,) that doe I now confirme
 and auow to be trew in the word and honour of a King; And therein you are bound to beleeue
 me. Duetie I may iustly claime of you as my Subiects; and one of the branches of duetie which
 Subiects owe to their Soueraigne, is Supply: but in what quantitie, and at what time, that
 must come of your loues. I am not now therefore to dispute of a Kings power, but to tell you
 what I may iustly craue, and expect with your good wills. I was euer against all extremes;
 and in this case I will likewise wish you to auoyd them on both sides. For if you faile in
 the one, I might haue great cause to blame you as Parliament men, being called by me for my
 Errands: And if you fall into the other extreme, by supply of my necessities without
 respectiue care to auoyd oppression or partialitie in the Leuie, both I and the Countrey will
 haue cause to blame you. When I thinke vpon the composition of this body of Parliament, I doe well consider that the
 Vpper house is composed of the Secular Nobilitie, who are hereditary Lords of Parliament; and
 of Bishops, that are liue Renter Barons of the same: And therefore what is giuen by the Vpper
 house, is giuen onely from the trew body of that House, and out of their owne purposes that
 doe giue it; whereas the Lower house is but the representatiue body of the Commons, and so
 what you giue, you giue it aswell for others, as for your selues: and therefore you haue the
 more reason to eschew both the extreames. On the one part, ye may the more easily be
 liberall, since it comes not all from your selues; and yet vpon the other part, if yee giue
 more then is fit for good and louing Subiects to yeeld vpon such necessary occasions, yee
 abuse the King, and hurt the people; And such a gift I will neuer accept: For in such a case
 you might deceiue a King, in giuing your flattering consent to that which you know might moue
 the people generally to grudge and murmure at it, and so should the King find himselfe
 deceiued in his Calcule , and the people likewise grieued in their
 hearts; the loue and possession of which (I protest) I did, and euer will accompt the
 greatest earthly securitie (next the fauour of GOD) to any wise or iust King. For though it
 was vainely saide by one of your House, That yee had need to beware, that by giuing mee too
 much, your throats were not in danger of cutting at your comming home: yet may ye assure your
 selues, that I will euer bee lothe to presse you to doe that which may wrong the people, and
 make you iustly to beare the blame thereof. But that yee may the better be acquainted with my
 inclination, I will appeale to a number of my Priuie Councell here present, if that before
 the calling of this Parliament, and when I found that the necessitie of my
 estate required so great a supply, they found me more desirous to obtaine that which I was
 forced to seeke, then carefull that the people might yeeld me a supply in so great a measure
 as my necessities required, without their too great losse. And you all that are Parliament
 men, and here present of both Houses can beare me witnesse, if euer I burthened or im- ployed
 any of you for any particular Subsidies, or summes by name, further then my laying open the
 particular necessities of my state, or yet if euer I spake to any Priuie Councellour, or any
 of my learned Councell, to labour voyces for me to this end; I euer detested the hunting for
 Emendicata Suffragia . A King that
 will rule and gouerne iustly, must haue regard to Conscience, Honour and Iudgement, in all
 his great Actions, (as your selfe M. Speaker remembred the other day.) And therefore ye may
 assure your selues, That I euer limit all my great Actions within that compasse. But as vpon
 the one side, I doe not desire you should yeeld to that extreame, in giuing me more then (as
 I said formerly) vpon such necessary occasions are fit for good and louing Subiects to yeeld;
 For that were to giue me a purse with a knife: So on the other side, I hope you will not make
 vaine pretences of wants, out of causelesse apprehensions, or idle excuses, neither cloake
 your owne humours (when your selues are vnwilling) by alledging the pouertie of the people.
 For although I will be no lesse iust, as a King, to such persons, then any other: (For my
 Iustice with Gods grace, shalbe alike open to all) yet ye must thinke I haue no reason to
 thanke them, or gratifie them with any suits or matters of grace, when their errand shall
 come in my way; And yet no man can say, that euer I quarrelled any man for refusing mee a
 Subsidie, if hee did it in a moderate fashion, and with good reasons. For him that denies a
 good Law, I will not spare to quarrell: But for graunting or denying money, it is but an
 effect of loue: And therefore for the point of my necessities, I onely desire that I be not
 refused in that which of duety I ought to haue: For I know if it were propounded in the
 generall amongst you, whether the Kings wants ought to be relieued or not, there is not one
 of you, that would make question of it. And though in a sort this may seeme to be my
 particular; yet it can not bee diuided from the generall good of the Common wealth; For the
 King that is Parens Patriæ ,
 telles you of his wants. Nay, Patria
 ipsa by him speakes vnto you. For if the King want, the State wants, and
 therefore the strengthening of the King is the preseruation and the standing of the State;
 And woe be to him that diuides the weale of the King from the weale of the Kingdome. And as
 that King is miserable (how rich soeuer he bee) that raines ouer a poore people, (for the
 hearts and riches of the people, are the Kings greatest treasure;) So is that Kingdome not
 able to subsist, how rich and potent soeuer the people be, if their King wants meanes to
 maintaine his State: for the meanes of your King are the sinewes of the kingdome both in
 warre and peace: for in peace I must minister iustice vnto you, and in warre I must defend
 you by Armes: but neither of these can I do without sufficient meanes, which must come from
 your Aide and Supply. I confesse it is farre against my nature to be
 burthensome to my people: for it cannot but grieue me to craue of others, that was borne to
 be begged of. It is trew, I craue more then euer King of England did; but I haue farre
 greater and iuster cause and reason to craue, then euer King of England had. And though my
 Treasurer hath at length declared the reasons vnto you of my necessities, and of a large
 supply that he craued for the same, wherein he omitted no arguments that can be vsed for that
 purpose; yet will I my selfe now shortly remember you some of the weightiest reasons that
 come in my head, to proue the equitie of my demaund. First, ye all know, that by the accession of more Crownes, which in my Person I haue
 brought vnto you, my charge must be the greater in all reason: For the greater your King be,
 both in his dominion and number of Subiects, he cannot but be forced thereby to be at the
 more charge, and it is the more your honour, so to haue it. Next, that posteritie and issue which it hath pleased God to send me for your vse, cannot
 but bring necessarily with it a greater proportion of charge. You all know that the late
 Queene of famous memory (notwithstanding her orbitie) had much giuen vnto her, and more then
 euer any of her predecessors had before her. Thirdly, the time of creation of my Sonne doeth now draw neere, which I chuse for the
 greater honour to bee done in this time of Parliament. As for him I say no more; the sight of
 himselfe here speakes for him. Fourthly, it is trew I haue spent much; but yet if I had spared any of those things, which
 caused a great part of my expense, I should haue dishonored the kingdome, my selfe, and the
 late Queene. Should I haue spared the funerall of the late Queene ? or the solemnitie of mine
 and my wiues entrie into this King- dome, in some honourable sort ? or should I haue spared
 our entrie into London, or our Coronation ? And when most of the
 Monarches, and great Princes in Christendome sent their Ambassadours to congratulate my
 comming hither, and some of them came in person, was I not bound, both for my owne honour,
 and the honour of the Kingdome, to giue them good entertainement ? But in case it might be
 obiected by some, that it is onely vpon occasions of warre, that Kings obtaine great Supplies
 from their Subiects: notwithstanding my interne Peace, I am yet in a kinde of warre, which if
 it bee without, the more is your safetie: For (as the Treasurer tolde you at large) I am now
 forced both in respects of State, and my promise, and for the general cause of Religion, to
 send a Supply of forces to Cleues , and how long that occasion may
 last, or what greater supply the neces- sitie of that Errand may draw mee vnto, no man can
 yet tell. Besides that, al- though I haue put downe that forme of warlike keeping of Barwicke ; yet are all those commaunders my pensioners that were the late
 Queenes souldiers. And I hope I sustaine a prettie Seminarie of Souldiers in my Forts within
 this King- dome, besides the two cautionary Townes in the Low-countreys, Flushing and Brill . And as for Ireland ,
 yee all know how vncertaine my charges are euer there, that people being so easily stirred,
 partly through their barbaritie, and want of ciuilitie, and partly through
 their corruption in Religion to breake foorth in rebellions. Yee know, how vnlooked for a
 Rebellion brake foorth there the last yeere, which could not but put mee to extraordinary
 charges. Besides I doe maintaine there continually an Armie, which is a goodly Seminarie of
 expert and old Souldiers. And I dare neuer suffer the same to be diminished, till this
 Planta- tion take effect, which (no doubt) is the greatest moate that euer came in the Rebels
 eyes: and it is to be looked for, that if euer they will bee able to make any stirre, they
 will presse at it by all meanes, for the preuenting and discouraging this Plantation. Now it
 is trew, that besides all these honourable and necessary occa- sions of my charge, I haue
 spent much in liberalitie: but yet I hope you will con- sider, that what I haue giuen, hath
 bene giuen amongst you; and so what comes in from you, goes out againe amongst you. But it
 may be thought that I haue giuen much amongst Scottishmen. Indeed if I had not beene liberall
 in rewarding some of my old seruants of that Nation, ye could neuer haue had reason to expect
 my thankefulnesse towards any of you that are more lately become my Subiects, if I had beene
 ingrate to the old: And yet yee will find, that I haue dealt twice as much amongst English
 men as I haue done to Scottishmen. And therefore he that in your House was not ashamed to
 affirme, that the siluer and gold did so abound in Edenburgh , was very
 farre mistaken; but I wish him no worse punish- ment, then that hee should onely liue vpon
 such profit of the money there. But I hope you will neuer mislike me for my liberalitie,
 since I can looke very few of you this day in the face, that haue not made suits to mee, at
 least for some thing, either of honour or profit. It is trew, a Kings liberalitie must neuer
 be dried vp altogether: for then he can neuer maintaine nor oblige his seruants and well
 deseruing Subiects: But that vastnesse of my expence is past, which I vsed the first two or
 three yeeres after my comming hither: And, as I oft vsed to say, that Christmas and open tide
 is ended: For at my first comming here, partly ignorance of this State (which no man can
 acquire but by time and experience) and partly the forme of my comming being so honourable
 and miraculous, enforced me to extend my liberalitie so much the more at the beginning. Ye
 saw I made Knights then by hundredths, and Barons in great numbers: but I hope you find I doe
 not so now, nor minde not to doe so hereafter: For to conclude this point anent ex- pences, I
 hold that a Kings expence must alwayes bee honourable, though not wastefull, and the charges
 of your King in maintaining those ancient honourable formes of liuing that the former Kings
 of England my Predecessours haue done, and his liuing to bee ruled
 according to the proportion of his greatnesse, is aswell for the honour of your Kingdome, as
 of your King. Now this cannot be supplied out of the ayre or liquid elements, but must come
 from the people. And for re- mouing of that diffidence which men may haue, that I minde not
 to liue in any wastefull sort hereafter, will you but looke vpon my selfe and my posteritie;
 and if there were no more but that, it will teach you that if I were but a naturall man, I
 must needs bee carefull of my expences: For as for my owne person, I hope none 
 that knowes me well, can thinke me but as little inclined to any prodigall humours of
 vnnecessary things, as any other reasonable man of a farre meaner estate. Therefore since (as
 I haue said) I cannot be helped but from the people; I assure my selfe that you will allow
 mee such measure of Supplie, as the people may beare, and support him with more Honourable
 meanes then others haue had, that (as I may say without vaunting) hath brought you more
 Honour then euer you had: For I hope there are no good Subiects either within, or out of the
 Parliament House, that would not be content for setting streight once and setling the Honour-
 able State of their King, to spare so much euery one of them out of their purses, which
 peraduenture they would in one night throw away at Dice or Cards, or bestow vpon a horse for
 their fancies, that might breake his necke or his legge the next morning: Nay I am sure euery
 good Subiect would rather chuse to liue more sparingly vpon his owne, then that his Kings
 State should be in want. For conclusion then of this purpose, I wish you now to put a speedie end to your businesse.
 Freenesse in giuing graceth the gift, Bis dat, qui
 citò dat ; The longer I want helpe, the greater will my debt still rise:
 and so must I looke for the greater helpes. And now I would pray you to turne your eyes with
 mee from home, and looke vpon forreine States. Consider that the eyes of all forreine States
 are vpon this affaire, and in expectation what the successe thereof will be; And what can
 they thinke, if ye depart without relieuing mee in that proportion that make me able to
 maintaine my State, but that either ye are vnwilling to helpe mee, thinking me vnworthy
 thereof, or at least that my State is so desperat, as it cannot be repaired, and so that the
 Parliament parts in disgrace with the King, and the King in distaste with the Parliament,
 which cannot but weaken my reputation both at home and abroad ? For of this you may be
 assured, that for- reine Princes care the more one for an other, if they may haue reason to
 expect that they may bee able to doe them good or harme in Retribution. And ye know, that if
 a King fall to be contemned with his neighbours, that cannot but bring an oppression and
 warre by them vpon him, and then will it be too late to support the King, when the cure is
 almost desperate. Things foreseene and preuented, are euer easliest remedied: And therefore I
 would aduise you now so to settle your businesse, as ye may not take in hand so many things
 at once, as may both crosse my errand, and euery one of them crosse another. Yee remember the
 French Prouerbe, Qui trop embrasse, rien
 estreint ; We are not in this Parliament to make our Testament, as if wee
 should neuer meete againe, and that all things that were to be done in any Parliament, were
 to be done at this time: and yet for filling vp of your vacant houres, I will recommend to
 your consideration such nature of things, as are to bee specially thought vpon in these
 times. First I will beginne at GOD: for the beginning with him makes all other actions to bee
 blessed: And this I meane by the cause of Religion. Next I will speake of some things that
 concerne the Common-wealth. And thirdly, matters of Pleasure and ornament to the Kingdome.
 
 As for Religion, we haue all great cause to take heed vnto it; Papists are waxed as proud
 at this time as euer they were, which makes many to think they haue some new plot in hand.
 And although the poorest sort of them bee (God be thanked) much decreased, yet doeth the
 greater sort of them dayly increase, especially among the foeminine Sexe; nay they are waxed
 so proud, that some say, no man dare present them, nor Iudges meddle with them, they are so
 backed and vpholden by diuers great Courtiers. It is a surer and better way to remooue the
 materials of fire before they bee kindled, then to quench the fire when once it is kindled.
 Nam leuius laedit quicquid praeuidimus
 ante. I doe not meane by this to mooue you to make stronger Lawes then
 are already made, but see those Lawes may bee well executed that are in force; otherwise they
 cannot but fall into contempt and become rustie. I neuer found, that blood and too much
 seueritie did good in matters of Religion: for, besides that it is a sure rule in Diuinitie,
 that God neuer loues to plant his Church by violence and bloodshed; naturall reason may euen
 perswade vs, and dayly experience prooues it trew, That when men are seuerely persecuted for
 Religion, the gallantnesse of many mens spirits, and the wilfulnes of their humours, rather
 then the iustnesse of the cause, makes them to take a pride boldly to endure any torments, or
 death it selfe, to gaine thereby the reputation of Martyrdome, though but in a false shadow. Some doubts haue beene conceiued anent the vsing of the Oath of Allegiance, and that part
 of the Acte which ordaines the taking thereof, is thought so obscure, that no man can tell
 who ought to bee pressed therewith. For I my selfe, when vpon a time I called the Iudges
 before mee at their going to their Circuits, I mooued this question vnto them; wherein, as I
 thought they could not resolutely answere me: And therefore if there bee any scruple touching
 the ministring of it, I would wish it now to bee cleared. And since I haue with my owne pen
 brought the Popes quarell vpon mee, and proclaimed publique defiance to Babylon in maintaining it; should it now sleepe, and should I seeme (as it were) to
 steale from it againe ? As for Recusants, let them bee all duely presented without exception: for in times past
 there hath beene too great a conniuence, and forbearing of them, especially of great mens
 wiues, and their kinne and followers. None ought to be spared from being brought vnder the
 danger of Law, and then it is my part to vse mercie, as I thinke conuenient. To winke at
 faults, and not to suffer them to bee discouered, is no Honour, nor Mercy in a King, neither
 is he euer thanked for it; It onely argues his dulnesse: But to forgiue faults after they are
 confessed, or tried, is Mercie. And now I must turne me in this case to you, my Lords the
 Bishops, and euen exhortyou earnestly, to be more carefull, then you haue bene, that your
 Officers may more duely present Recusants, then heretofore they haue done, without exception
 of persons; That although it must be the worke of GOD hat must make their
 mindes to bee altered, yet at least by this course they may be stayed from increasing, or
 insulting vpon vs. And that yee all may know the trewth of my heart in this case, I diuide all my Subiects
 that are Papists, into two rankes: either olde Papists, that were so brought vp in times of
 Poperie, like old Queene Mary Priests, and those, that though they bee
 younger in yeeres, yet haue neuer drunke in other milke, but beene still nusled in that
 blindnesse: Or else such as doe become Apostats; hauing once beene of our Profession, and
 haue forsaken the trewth, either vpon discon- tent, or practise, or else vpon a light vaine
 humour of Noueltie, making no more scruple to seeke out new formes of Religion, then if it
 were but a new forme of Garment, or a new cut or courtsey after the French fashion. For the former sort, I pitie them; but if they bee good and quiet Subiects, I hate not
 their persons; and if I were a priuate man, I could well keepe a ciuill friendship and
 conuersation with some of them: But as for those Apostates, who, I know, must be greatest
 haters of their owne Sect, I confesse I can neuer shew any fauourable countenance toward
 them, and they may all of them be sure without exception, that they shall neuer finde any
 more fauour of mee, further then I must needs in Iustice afford them. And these would I haue
 the Law to strike seuereliest vpon, and you carefullest to discouer. Yee know there hath
 beene great stirre kept for begging Concealements these yeeres past; and I pray you, let mee
 begge this concealment both of the Bishops, and Iudges, That Papists be no longer concealed. Next, as concerning the Common wealth, I doe speciall recommend vnto you the framing of
 some new Statute for preseruation of woods. In the end of the last Session of Parliament, ye
 had a Bill amongst you of that subiect; but because you found some faults therein, you cast
 out the whole Bil: But I could haue rather wished that yee had either mended it, or made a
 new one; For to cast out the whole Bill because of some faults, was euen as if a man, that
 had a new garment brought him, would chuse rather to go naked, then haue his garment made fit
 for him: But on my conscience, I cannot imagine why you should so lightly haue esteemed a
 thing, so necessary for the Common wealth, if it were not out of a litle frowardnesse amongst
 you at that time, that what I then recommended earnestly vnto you, it was the worse liked of.
 The maintenance of woods is a thing so neces- sary for this Kingdome, as it cannot stand, nor
 be a Kingdome without it: For it concernes you both in your Esse, Bene esse , and in pleasures. Your Esse : for without it you want the vse of one of the
 most necessarie Elements (which is Fire and fewell to dresse your meate with; for neither can
 the people liue in these colde Countries, if they want fire altogether, nor yet can you
 dresse your meate without it; and I thinke you will ill liue like the Cannibals vpon raw
 flesh: for the education of this people is farre from that. As to your bene esse ; The decay of woods will necessarily bring
 the decay of Shipping, which both is the security of this Kingdome; since God hath by nature
 made the Sea to bee the wall of this Iland; and the rather now, since God hath
 vnited it all in my Person and Crowne; As also by the decay of Shipping will you loose both
 all your forraine commodities that are fit for this contrey, and the venting of our owne,
 which is the losse of Trade, that is a maine pillar of this Kingdome. And as for Pleasure,
 yee know my delight in Hunting and Hawking, and many of your selues are of the same minde;
 and all this must needes decay, by the decay of Woods: Ye haue reason therefore to prouide a
 good Law vpon this Subiect. Now as to the last point concerning matters of Pleasure, it consists in the pre- seruing of
 Game, which is now almost vtterly destroyed through all the King- dome. And if you offer not
 now a better Law for this, then was made in the last Session of Parliament, I will neuer
 thanke you for it: For as for your Law anent Partridge and Phesant, you haue giuen leaue to
 euery man how poore a Farmour that euer hee bee, to take and destroy them in his owne ground
 how he list. But I pray you, how can the Game bee maintained, if Gentlemen that haue great
 Lordships shall breed and preserue them there, and so soone as euer they shall but flie ouer
 the hedge and light in a poore fellowes Close, they shall all be destroyed ? Surely I know no
 remedie for perseruing the Game that breedes in my grounds, except I cast a roofe ouer all
 the ground, or else put veruels to the Partridges feet with my Armes vpon them, as my Hawkes
 haue: otherwise I know not how they shall bee knowen to be the Kings Partridges, when they
 light in a Farmours Close. And by your Lawe against stealing of Deere or Conies, after a long discourse and
 prohibition of stealing them, you conclude in the end with a restriction, that all this
 punishment shall bee vnderstood to bee vsed against them that steale the Game in the night:
 Which hath much encouraged all the looser sort of people, that it was no fault to steale
 Deere, for they doe it not like theeues in the night. As was that Law of the Lacedemonians against theft, that did not forbid theft, but onely taught
 them to doe it cunningly, and without discouerie: Whereupon a foolish boy suffered a Foxe to
 gnaw his heart through his breast. And this doc- trine is like that Lesson of the Cannon Law,
 Si non castè, tamen cautè .
 I knowe you thinke that I speake partially in this case like a Hunter; But there is neuer a
 one of you that heares mee, that cares the least for the sport, for perseruation of the Game,
 but he would be as glad to haue a pastie of Venison if you might get it, as the best Hunter
 would: And if the Game be not preserued, you can eate no Venison. As for Partridge and
 Phesant, I doe not denie that Gentlemen should haue their sport, and specially vpon their
 owne ground. But first I doe not thinke such Game and pleasures should be free to base
 people. And next I would euen wish that Gentlemen should vse it in a Gentlemanlike fashion,
 and not with Nets, or Gunnes, or such other vngentlemanlike fashions that serue but for vtter
 destruction of all Game, nor yet to kill them at vnseasonable times, as to kill the Phesant
 and Partridges when they are no bigger then Mice, when as for euer one their Hawkes kill, ten
 will be destroyed with their Dogs and Horse feet; besides the great and intolerable harme
 they doe to Corne in that season. 
 And now in the end of all this faschious Speach, I must conclude like a Grey Frier, in
 speaking for my selfe at last. At the beginning of this Session of Parlia- ment, when the
 Treasourer opened my necessities vnto you, then my Purse onely laboured; But now that word is
 spread both at home and abroad of the de- maunds I haue made vnto you; my Reputation
 laboureth aswell as my Purse: For if you part without the repairing of my State in some
 reasonable sort, what can the world thinke, but that the euill will my Subiects beare vnto
 mee, hath bred a refuse ? And yee can neuer part so, without apprehending that I am dis-
 tasted with your behauiour, and yet to be in feare of my displeasure. But I assure and
 promise my selfe farre otherwise. Thus haue I now performed my promise, in presenting vnto you the Christall of your Kings
 heart. Yee know that principally by three wayes yee may wrong a Mirrour. First, I pray you, looke not vpon my Mirrour with a false light: which yee doe, if ye
 mistake, or mis-vnderstand my Speach, and so alter the sence thereof. But secondly, I pray you beware to soile it with a foule breath, and vncleane hands: I
 meane, that yee peruert not my words by any corrupt affections, turning them to an ill
 meaning, like one, who when hee heares the tolling of a Bell, fancies to himselfe, that it
 speakes those words which are most in his minde. And lastly, (which is worst of all) beware to let it fall or breake: (for glasse is
 brittle) which ye doe, if ye lightly esteeme it, and by contemning it, conforme not your
 selues to my perswasions. To conclude then: As all these three days of Iubile haue fallen in
 the midst of this season of penitence, wherein you haue presented your thanks to me, and I
 the like againe to you: So doe I wish and hope, that the end of this Parliament will bee
 such, as wee may all haue cause (both I your Head, and yee the Body) to ioyne in
 Eucharisticke Thanks and Praises vnto God, for our so good and happie an end.