A speech spoken by an honorable knight in the House of Commons: upon the delivery of the city petition : being Tuesday the 27 of June, 1648.

A SPEECH SPOKEN By an Honorable Knight IN THE House of Commons Upon the Delivery of the CITY PETITION Being Tuesday the 27 of June, 1648.

Mr. Speaker,

AS long as I have breath in my body I shall stand for the honor of this House; I have told you when I came first in the House, that Credit and Reputation was the life or soul of the

Parliament should be dissolved, then be broken or bank-routed; alas your sacred publick faith is very much faln to a noble in the pound.

It was a great comfort unto me when I was in prison to observe the brave resolution of my fellow-sufferers, and other worthy Citizens that came to visit us; though they were brought very low, and much persecu∣ted, yet they lifted up their hearts to God and prayed for the prosperity of the Parliament; and said. That God was the same, the Cause was the same, and Truth was the same; therefore they would never desert the ••••••••iament.

In the Petition delivered unto you, there you may see apparently not only the sense of the City, but of the whole Kingdom; all are weary of the War, and desire a Personal Treaty with his Majesty, which they conceive will produce a safe and well-grounded Peace.

And M. Speaker, I must do my duty and deal freely with you; both the City and Kingdom groans under a grievous Monopoly, and they think all things are monopolized. As first, they declare publickly that the Kings person is monopolized to a few hands of a party (I have forgot what you call it) and it is the table talk every where, that the King was juggled in that box or mouse-trap of the Isle of Wight.

M. Speaker, You have declared the King is the foun∣tain of Honor and Justice, and every subject hath an equal share in him; and the people begin to murmur and complain, that the King is hardly and cruelly dealt with; and so are they, being deprived of him; for you see the people had as lieve want the Sun as want a

King, I, and King Charles too. It is high time to re∣solve, to content the people, their burdens are intolle∣rable, they are galled sore; and you know a gall'd horse will touch dangerously.

And M. Speaker, I cannot but commend your wis∣dom in being tender of the Kings Person, in examining the business of Osborne, concerning the poysoning of the King, which will give the people great satisfacti∣on, for they will hardly believe His Majesty is living, except the see him: But there is an other business of higher concernment, which I fear your Brethren of Scotland will remind us of, which was the principal cause of all our latter troubles, namely, the taking a∣way the King from Holdenby, contrary to the Agree∣ment of both Nations. I am afraid this may be thrown in our dish another day, and be made one of the grounds of the Scots coming into England. I pray you prevent it by anticipating them, and put it in a way to be exa∣mined by a Committee of both Houses.

It is generally spoken, That all offices and places of profit are monopolized. I was lately upon the Ex∣change, and there was great complaining of the dead∣ness of trade, that no Bullion came to the Tower, and that within these 9 moneths 200000. l. was gone to other Countries, which had come for England only for fear of new troubles, the Presbyterians lying under such a Cloud; and that there was little or no Manu∣facture, that thousands of people, both in London and in the Country, must strave for want of work, and how that the Sea-men were discontented.

A Gentleman stood by, who overhearing them, replyed; That he wondered at their discourse, for that there was never such trading as at present; every body was a∣maz'd, and said it was a paradox. The Gentleman an∣swered no; I will be judged by your selves: Was there ever such trading amongst the lower and poorest of the people and a generation that call themselves the Saints, why! they have all, said he, and none can get a penny except he be of that faction.

M. Speaker, Long ago I gave you warning of these Monopolists, which I called the Royal Presbyterians, & Royal Independents, Statesmen, that sought them∣selves, and to set up their faction to the destruction of the Publique. This Government will not prosper with us; I am confident God will never honor the Grandees, to do the great work he hath in hand by them; therfore, seeing you have experience, avoyd these Rocks of Scylla and Carybdis, and sail between both; Let us lay aside all faction, and let us unite a∣mongst our selves, and forget, and forgive personal a∣nimosities, and apply our selves solely to the Pub∣lique.

The chief cause is removed, for we have no money left to give our selves; Therefore let us do righteous things, and win the hearts of the People. God can do his work by few as well as by many. M. Speaker, loquere ut videam; give the City such a satisfactory answer, as they may speedily reap, and see the fruits of it: I hope the worthy Gentlemen, whom we have nomina∣ted to draw it up, will do it effectually. M. Speaker I had almost forgot one thing, which I beleeve was o∣mitted

by the Sheriff of London. There was lately a Common Hall, and a great expectation of Tumults, but the business of the day was carryed on in an admi∣rable good order, for there was none but Livery-men there, and they watched one another when the Sheriffs were chosen, which was unanimous. There was a Pa∣per handed to the Lord Major, the chief head was, That they would engage their lives and fortunes, that if the Parliament would bring the King to treat at Lon∣don, that the King and Parliament might treat freely and safely without any Tumults. I thought to ac∣quaint you with this passa••e, and recommend it to the consideration of your Committee.

FINIS.