Page 166
XVII. To the House of Lords, at the Dissolving of His Third Parliament, at WESTMINSTER, Mar. 10. MDCXXVIII. IX.
MY Lords, I never came here upon so unpleasing an occasion, it being the Dissolution of a Parliament. Therefore men may have some cause to wonder, why I should not rather chuse to do this by Commission, it being a general Maxime of Kings, to leave harsh Commands to their Ministers, Themselves only executing pleasing things. Yet considering that Justice as well consists in reward and praise of Vertue as punishing of Vice, I thought it necessary to come here to day, to declare to you, My Lords, and all the world, that it was merely the undutiful and seditious carriage of the Lower House that hath caused the Dissolution of this Parliament; and that You, My Lords, are so far from being causes of it, that I take as much Comfort in your dutiful demeanours as I am justly distasted with their Proceedings.
Yet to avoid mistakings, let Me tell you, that it is so far from Me to adjudge all that House guilty, that I know there are many there as dutiful Subjects as any in the world; it being but some few Vipers among them that cast this Mist of undutifulness over most of their Eyes. Yet to say truth, there was a good number there that would not be infected with this Contagion: insomuch that some did express their duties in speaking, which was the general fault of the House the last day.
To conclude, As these Vipers must look for their reward of punishment; so you, My Lords, may justly expect from Me that Favour and Protection that a Good King oweth to His loving and dutiful Nobility.
And now, My Lord Keeper, do what I have commanded you.