Densell Hollis Esquire, his worthy and learned speech in Parliament on Thnrfeday [sic] the thirtieth of December 1641 vpon the reading of the petition and protestation of the twelve bishoppes, for which they were accused of high treason, and committed to the Tower : wherein is discovered the danger of this protestation, that it is both against the King and his royall prerogatives, the priviledges of Parliaments, the liberties of the subject, and the subvertion of the fundamental lawes of this kingdome.

A SPEECH MADE BY Master HOLLIS in Parlia∣ment, upon the reading of the Petition and protestation of the 12. Bishops since Committed to the Tower on Thurseday the 30th. of December. 1641.

Master Speaker,

THis Petition and Protestation of the Bi∣ships presented to his Majestie, is the cheife subiect of our present debate, I de∣sire under the favour of this Honorable House, to speake somewhat concerning the same, and in speaking thereof I shall observe the persons that deluded it, the subiect and matter conteined in the same; the dangerous effects that are likely to fol∣low thereupon if it bee not suddently prevented; And lastly their crime in making and deluding thereof.

First Master Speaker, concerning the persons Actors of this tragedy, Bishops of a holy function, the dedomination of their stile prescribes them in Scripture to bee men of God, Fathers of the Church, Starres, (not blazing Commets or Me∣teors

(as it is to apparant, many of them have bne;) lights, the salt of the Earth. (That should seasons the hearts lives and conversation of the people of God, with piety and godlines, for these Men.

Master Speaker, the hinderers of the peace and quiet of the Kingdome, is extreame vilenesse, for Bishops Governours (aswell as teachers of the people of God) to instruct, admonish, rebuke, re∣prove, and correct evill doers in the Clergy, for these I say not onely to convey, and winke at su∣perstition, Innovations, and ceremonies introdu∣ced into the Church, by the inferiour and scanda∣lous Ministers, but to Amnimate and incourage them in their evill practises, nay not contented therewith, but themselves to Innovate Religion, corrupt the true and Orthodox doctrine of the Church, to attempt, to intice and draw the minds of Peeres, Nobles and great officers of State; nay his most sacred Majesty, to favour their indeavours and designes, shew them plainely to be the In∣struments of the devill, striving to increase and build his Kingdome, to the decay of the propaga∣tion of the Gospell; and the Kingdome of Christ, to whom they would seeme to be devoted, these corrupt officers and Ministers Master Speaker, both in Church and State, haue, produced these corrupt and dangerous times, this it is that makes religion seeme vile, and hatefull to most men, this it is Master Speaker that staines their functi∣on, of it selfe uncorrupted (sacred) this changes their names of being called men of God, to be men serving onely the devill, if Fathers and nurses of the Church, prove the betrayers of the Church,

woe to that flocke of whom Christ is the sheap∣heard; If starres fall to the earth, wee notifie there∣by great change and alterations in a state to insue; if the lights of the Church be put out, or put out themselves, or be hid and appeare not, how is it likely the Children of God should, see to walke in the right way, If salt be corrupt and putrified and thereby looseth its savour, what profitteth it for the use of man, you know the Phrase well enough. Then Master Speaker to conclude these persons (that have had all these titles) that have (as we have proved by woefull experience, shamed themselves, complyable to all the defects that are thus disho∣nourable to their denominations) are as I under fa∣v••ur conceive altogether unfit, and unworthy to beare them any longer.

2 Now Master Speaker I come in the Second place to the subiect of their Petition and Protesta∣tion, which is of most dangerous Consequence, being altogether treacherous, both against his most sacred Majestie his Royall Queene and Princ∣ly Progeny, his rightfull Throane seated ouer all his Maiesties Kingdomes, against the Fun••amen∣tall lawes of this Kingdome and all other statuts and lawes made for the good Gouernment therof by the wisdome of his Maiestie and his great and wise Councell of state, against the Priuiledges of Parliament and the free proeeedings therof, And against all his Maiesties Loyall subiects that are true and good Protestants.

3 Thirdly the dangerous effects of this their Malitious and traiterous actions are easie to be guessed at.

1 By this meanes the division betweene the two houses may be increased, the Lords most of them favouring rheir cause, thereby keeping them from comming to triall vpon our accusations of them for their haynous Crimes Commited by them.

2 If ihey proceed in their intentions, it may prove the Maine cause of setting an Irreconcile∣able division betwene the King and his Leig people who desire ther grevance may be redrest and all Malefactors delinquents receiue Condigne pu∣nishment for their misdeeds both in Church and state, And especially the Bishops accused whom they Conceaue to haue bine the principell incen∣daries betwene Scotland and us, Great favorers of the dangerous Rebellion in Ireland, cheife Actors in Innovating our Religion, & the greatest oppres∣sors of Parliamentarie proseedings.

3 By this attempt the Romish faction will be much imbouldened to put in practise their wicked plotts priuatly now in Agitation amongst them.

4 It may cause great uproares and tumults in the City, and about Westminster, of the Citizens who are altogether set against Bishops.

5. It will be a great incouragement to forraigne Princes that are disaffected, and private enemies to this State, (seeing our devisions betweene our selves) to put in practise some dangerous designe against the whole Kingdome.

6. Lastly, It will disable us for continuall supply of ayde into Ireland to app••••se the rebellion there.

4. I come now (Master Speaker) to the fourth and last thing I intimate to you concerning this

Petition, and that is what fault they have commit∣ted, in-framing and delivering the same, my op∣pinion is Master Speaker, that they are guilty of high treason; I will give you a few reasons and grounds of this my opinion, and then humbly leane it to the further Consideration of this Ho∣nourable house.

To protect against the proseedings of a free Par∣liament is adiudged high treason in the tenth year of Edw: the second, by the Parliament holden then at Westminster where the Bishop of Yorke the Duke of Suffolke, and others of that conspiracy, protest∣ing against the proceedings of the parliament for their Appointing and placeing the Commicinors about the King for the Government of the King∣dome for one yeare, were adiudged Guilty of high treason and some of them Executed, some banish∣ed and the rest fleed.

2. To endeavour to subvert the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome, was adiudged high trea∣son in the Earle of Straffords case, my example of Strafford take this present Parliament, and to pro∣test or incense the King by petition, or otherwise against the proceedings of Parliament, (which is a constitution of Government, found to be the an∣ninentest of this Nation, and the onely meanes to preserve and defend the fundamentall Lawes of this Kingdome; the powerfull councell of indica∣cature, to punish all delinquents in the government thereof, and the breakers, and infringers of the laws of this land,) is to subvert the fundamentall lawes.

3. To endeauour to bring into this state an Ar∣bitrary

way of gouernment was likewise by this Parliament adiudged high treason in the Earle of Straffords case, to protest against Parliamentary proseedings, is to change that forme of gouern∣ment and to introduce an Arbitrary and tiranicall forme of Gouernment, for these reasons I con∣ceive Master Speaker these Bishop that have signed this petition and protestation are guiltie of high treason.

And my humble motion, is wee may send up to the Lords to accuse them Perticularly and with all Convenient speed make ready a Charge or Im∣peachment of high treason against them.

FINIS.