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The Speaker Sir John Finches Speech, March 19. 1627.
Most Gracious Sovereign,
YOur obedient and loyall Subjects, the Knights, Citizens and Bur∣gesses by your royall Summons here assembled, in obedience to your gracious direction, according to their antient usage and privi∣ledge, have lately proceeded to the choice of a Speaker, and, (whether sequestring their better Judgements for your more weighty affairs, or to make it known that their honour and wisdome can suffer neither increase nor diminution by the value or demerits of any one parti∣cular Member, in what place soever serving them) omitting others of worth and ability, they have fixed their eyes of favour and affecti∣on on Mee.
Their long knowledge of my unfitnesse every way to undergo a charge of this important weight and consequence, gave mee some hope they would have admitted my just excuse: yet for their further and clearer satisfaction, I drew the curtains, and let in what light I could upon my owne inmost thoughts, truely and really discover∣ing to them what my self best knew, and what I most humbly beseech your royall Majestie to take now into consideration; that of so many hundreds sitting amongst them, they could have found few or none whose presentation, to your Majestie would have been of lesse repute, or advantage to them: For, & impeditioris linguae sum, and the poore experience I have of that royall Assembly is so ill bal∣lanced with true judgement, that every gust and wave hath power on me; whereby I shall not onely suffer in my own particular, but (which I apprehend with much more care and sorrow) prejudice their common Interest.
Wherefore, dread and dear Sovereign, as low as the lowest step of your royal throne I humbly bend, appealing to your great & sovereign judgement for my discharge from this so unequall a burthen imposed on me: most humbly and earnestly beseeching your most excellent Majestie, for the honour of that great Councell, and the better dige∣stion of publick Services there, and withall to avert so ill an Omen as the choice of Me in the beginning of a Parliament, ordained (I hope) for the joy of our own, and the envy of other Nations, that by your gracious Command the House may re-consult, and settle their bet∣ter thoughts on some more worthy their election, and your Majestie's approbation.