The sovereigns prerogative and the subjects priviledge discussed betwixt courtiers and patriots in Parliament, the third and fourth yeares of the reign of King Charles : together with the grand mysteries of state then in agitation.

The Lord Keeper Coventry's second Reply.

M^r. Speaker,

HIs Majestie with no lesse content then attention hath heard your learned Discourse: he observes your beginning with his gracious incouragement and advice, not forsaking your humble modestie, but adding to it thankfulnesse, alacrity, and joy of heart; a just and right temper.

He observes you derive these aright, first, from the Throne in heaven: he lookes thither with you, and joynes in prayer, that both you and all this Assemblie by that Divine hand and power be moulded, and procured for the honour, safety and good of the Church and Kingdome. Next, you apply your self to the Throne on earth: his Majestie doth graciously accept your pro∣testations of the truth of your heart, the fulnesse of your zeale and duty to his Majestie and the Publick: he believes it, and that not in you alone, but in all this Assembly; so that you are secure not onely from wilfull and pregnant errours, but from doubt of sinister interpretation.

My Lord the King is as an Angel of God, of a quick, of a noble and just apprehension; he straines not at gnats, he will easi∣ly distinguish between a vapour and a fogg, between a mist of er∣rour and a cloud of evill; right he knowes, if the heart be right, Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speakes.

You proceed to a survey of the lustre of this great and glo∣rious Assemblie, and in that, as in a curious Crystall, you ob∣serve the true happinesse which we all here enjoy. You have dis∣tributed and divided aright, and whosoever sees it otherwise hath an evill eye, or a false glasse. We have enjoyed it long, through the happy meanes of gracious and good Princes; and the way to enjoy it still, is to know and heartily to acknowledge it, and that God hath not done so to any other Nation. It is a prime cause or meanes of this our happinesse.

You mention the forme of Government under which we live, a Monarchie, and the best of Monarchies, where Sovereign∣ty is hereditarie, no Inter-Regnum, nor competition for a Crown; Descent and Succession are all one. The Spirit of God by the mouth of the wisest of Kings long since proclaimed this happinesse, Blessed art thou, O Land, where thy King is the son of Nobles.

The frames of other States are subject some to inconstant

Levitie, some to Faction, some to Emulation and Ambition, and all to manifold Distempers, in which the People go to wrack. The Monarchie is most naturall, and in it, Unity is the best cement of all government, principally in respect of the unity of the Head, which commands the rest. And therefore other States, when they have tryed a while, doe for the most part re∣solve into this, as into the best for Peace, for Strength, and for Continuance. But formes of other governments, though never so exact, move not of themselves, but are moved of their go∣vernours. And therefore our Monarchie, (as you have truly said) this glorious Assemblie, the lively image and representation of our Monarchie, is made happy and perfect by the Royall Pre∣sence that sits here in his highest Royal Throne, the Throne of the Law-giver, glorious in it selfe, glorious by those happy Lawes and Oracles which have issued from it, and most glorious by them that sit on it, his Majestie and his Royall Progenitours, incomparable Kings, that with so much honour have swayed the Sceptre of this Kingdome so many successions of Ages.

In the next place, after the Throne of Majestie, you look into the Chaire of Doctrine, the reverend Prelates, and upon the state of Religion, their proper charge. This is the blessing of all blessings, the priviledge and assurance that secures us of all the rest, that as our Religion is most sincere and orthodoxe, so our Clergie is eminent, both for purity of Doctrine and inte∣gritie of Life; our Priests are clothed with righteousnesse, and their lips preserve knowledge, and therefore God's Saints may and doe sing with joyfulnesse.

I must joyn with you in attributing this transcendent blessing to us, as in the first place to God's goodnesse, so in the second to his Majestie's piety, who, following the steps of his ever-bles∣sed Father, is carefull that all the Lamps of the Church may be furnished with Oyle, and especially those which are set on golden Candle-sticks with the purest and best oyle. The Schools also and nurceries of Learning, never so replenished, especially with Divinity, as in this last Age, as they all shew his Majestie's Piety, so are they infallible Arguments of his Constancy.

The triall, which you call the fierie triall, undergone by his Majestie in the place of danger, and again the power and policie of Rome and Spaine, hath approved his resolution inimitable: and his own remarkable example in his closet, and his chamber, his strict over-sight of and command to his Houshold servants, and his charge to his Bishops and Judges, his Edicts, his Proclamations and Commissions, and the like, for the execution of the Lawes, and his general care to preserve the fountain pure both from Schisme and Superstition, are faire fruits and effects of a pious and zealous resolution.

From the chaire of Doctrine you turn to the state of Honour, un∣to the Nobles and Barons of England. These are Rob••r belli, who for the service of the King and Kingdome, are to make good with their Swords what the Church-men must hallow and blesse by their Prayers. And therefore as the Prelates are the great Lights of the Church, so the Nobility are the Starres of the State; and you know that the starres have fought, and fought powerfully against the enemies of God.

From the state of Honour, you come to the state of Justice, and to the twelve Lyons under Solomon's Throne, the Iudges and Sages of the Law, and as their peculiar charge intrusted to them by our Sovereigne, the Lawes of the Kingdome: Lawes undoubt∣edly fitted to the constitution of this people, for Leges Angliae and Consuetudines Angliae are Synonyma, and Consuetudo est altera na∣tura; so as besides the justnesse and rightnesse of the Lawes, they are become naturall to our people, and that is one of the powerfullest meanes which begetteth obedience: and such Lawes in the mouthes of learned and upright Judges, are like waters in a pure chanel, which the fairer it runs, the clearer they run, and produce that whereof Solomon speaks Prov. 29.2. When the righte∣ous are in authority, the People rejoyce.

From the Law you passe to the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses, and the third Estate, who represent the Commons of England, in whom the Scripture is verified, In the multitude of People is the Kings honour: and therefore you may be sure that distance of place and order breeds no distance in affection; for wise Kings ever lay their honour next to their hearts. Kings are Pastores populi; and the Shepherds care is nothing lesse to the furthest, then to the next part of his Flock; and it is asmuch towards the least of his Lambs, as towards the greatest Cattel. And as in the Natural bodie, no member is so remote, but it is still within the care of the head: so in this great Politick bodie of the Kingdome, no ranck or or∣der of People so low, is at such distance from the Throne, but it dayly feeles the influence and benefit of the Kings care and prote∣ction. And, to say the truth, in a well-governed Kingdome, the superiour rancks of Nobles, of Judges, and of Magistrates, are not ordained for themselves, but as conduits for the Kings justice, protection and goodnesse to the lower rancks of his People. And as the People are, so its just cause they should be, constant to the Poles of Love and Loyalty.

And thus having perused both Houses by divided parts, joyn them together, and in that juncture, you believe truly and mate∣rially that the greatest denyal of their joynt requests is, The King will advise. A note very remarkable: It shewes the indulgence of Kings, it shews also the wisdom and judgement of the Houses; the King not willing to deny his People, People not willing to

presse their King to a deniall; the one wise and modest in their requests, and the other moderate and sweet in the answer. This is the ancient and right way of union in Parliament. The God of unity keep it in this, and all insuing Parliaments.

This union you rightly call the union of Hearts, and a greatnesse be∣yond the Kingdomes which the King inherits: so then its a present fit for a wise people to offer to their gracious King. Wise and magnani∣mous Kings are a speciall gift from God, having hearts capable of greatnesse: union of hearts is greatest, and greatnesse was never un∣welcome to Kings; and therefore present and offer it to your King, you cannot doubt of acceptance.

Having spoken of union, you fall presently into a memoriall of the great and glorious actions of his Majestie's Predecessours, and into the height and contemplation of greater that remain. If I mistake not your meaning, you would have it understood that the union of Prince and people make way to those remarkable acts of former times, and that we that wish the like successe in our time should look back upon our Forefathers. Wisdome requires it, Honour and the Time requires it, that we should shew our selves the sonnes of our Auncestours, at least in holding that which they left us.

The pride of Rome abated (as you say) by England, now lifts up her horns against Religion: Gods vine planted and deeply rooted here, o∣verspread into our neighbour Countreys, hath of late lost many of her goodly branches. The Austrian Eagle, that wanted feathers till of late, now soares and preys at will over all. Spain, so often foiled by us, hath (by disguised treaties) dispoiled of their patrimonie those princely Branches of our royall Cedar, and posts apace to his universall Monar∣chy, to the ruine of us, our Friends and Religion.

God hath his time, and I trust a time to stop thier course: I know not but we may expect it as well now as ever. There is a resolution in our King, and there is, I trust, (for I am sure there was) a resolution in our Parliament, for great actions. Our king as he hath a Solomon, so hath he many Davids in the glorious catalogue of his royall Descent, and hath linked himself in the House of Henry the Great, and he bears a glorious and auspicious name sutable to his thoughts and desires: and therefore since Honour and Religion call for it, and since you have incouraged him to fight Iehovah's battels, let all put to their hands, that our King and Nation may have the honour to set Christendome in her right Balance.

And now to come to the petitions you have made for the House; his Majestie most graciously and readily grants them all according to your true and ancient Rights and Priviledges of Parliament, which his Ma∣jestie trusts you will have care not to exceed or transgresse: and there∣fore you may go chearfully together, and speedily settle about the pub∣lick affairs. And the almighty God prosper the works of your hands, I say, the almighty God prosper your handy-work.