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make their own Fortunes: But from his Parlia ment he need not want very plentiful fupplies to preferve the Honour of himself and the Kingdom: Would he maintain his Dominions and Rights, what can his Creatures doy but when he clofes with his Parliament, he can neither want the Heads, Hearts, and Purses of his People to ferve him fo that whatever His Majefty would have, it is only to be had by his Parliament: For his Favourites cannot in the least contribute to make him Safe or Honourable; or whatever else a King may want or defire: All the Ufe a King can have from His Favourites, is to have Stories and Lies to fet him at variance with his People. I hope when the Cafe is laid before His Majefty, that he will clofe with us; but if his Judgment is fo prepoffeffed that it will not convince him of his Intereft, then we must conclude that it is with him as it was with Rehoboam, who forfook the Council of the Old Men, and inclined to that of the Young Men, who councelled him to tell the People that his little Finger fhould be thicker than his Fathers Loynes : And I pray what was the effect of that huffing Speech? Why Ten Tribes were taken from him, and it was not his Young Men that could recover them for him again; neither was it without a Parliament that his Majefty was brought into Eng land, I hope his Majefty has not forgot it.

Let them advise what they will, but I am confi dent they will think on't a good while before they wili adventure to put thofe Arbitrary Councils into Execution; it will prove a hot matter to handle: For though I hope no Man here will lift up his hand againfi His Majefty, yet we may oppofe

any

any Man that does feek to invade our Properties: And for my own part I will Piftol any Subject, be he the greatest in England that fhall indeavour to deprive me of my juft Right: Let us do what we can to effect an Union between the King and his People, and leave that Succefs to God Almighty, and his will be done.

A SPEECH

A

SPEECH

On the Occafion of fome

JUSTICES

Being put out of

COMMISSION.

Was in hopes that fome Gentlemen would have prevented me in what I have to fay, for I fear the House is under a great mistake as to those Gentlemen of the Houfe who are put out of the Commiffion of the Peace: For it is to speak to that chiefly I ftand up: I acknowledge that it is an unanfwerable thing that other Gentlemen were put out, but no doubt it was upon very weighty and warrantable grounds that the Gentlemen of the House were put out.

For without doubt His Majefty, or who lie be that advised him to it, did think it reasonable, and were fenfible that we who attend the fervice of our Country in this place, do fpend our Time and Money, and neglect our own Affairs, and therefore when we come home, its fit that we have a time of reft, and that we be eafed both in our Bodies and Purfes, and be at leafure to fettle our own conK

cerns,

cerns, and not that we fhould be toffed from one chargeable and troublefome Imployment to another So that we have great caufe to be thankful for the care that is taken of us.

Befides, there is a further regard had to us; for this is a dangerous time to put the Laws in Execution against the Papifts, because there are Examples where Magiftrates fome have been murdered, others attempted to be affaffinated for putting the Laws in Execution against the Papists, and because we appear'd to be zealous m it, therefore this care is taken off us; I fuppofe that might be the chief reafon why I was put out, because I have help't to convict above Five Thousand Papists în Lancashire.

And furthermore it was neceffary to know how we ftand in the thoughts of our Countrymen, whether they have a good opinion of us now we are turn'd out of Office, becaufe it look't like a defign'd difgrace: For my part it has gain'd me ground, and I believe every Gentleman elfe finds his Countreymen not to effeem the worfe of him, I rather think better, therefore feeing our Countreys believe us to be honest Men, there's no great queftion but we fhall be in great efteem at Whitehall, now they have had this Tryal of us: For White-ball is very apt to incline to the opinion of the Country: And that Cart is not well upon the Wheels, when it is otherwife.

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Therefore for my part I am very thankful that I am put out. I'le affure you I find my Purfe the fuller for it, and I find my Countrey to pay me altogether as much refpect, if not more than formerly There is but one thing that I grudged to part with, and that was the Office of Cuftos Rotu

lorum

Justices being put out of Commission. 131

lorum which had been in my Family for feveral Generations, and for that I hop'd a particular reafon might have been affign'd why they took it from me, but from that day to this I cannot learn what was the cause: It's gone, and farewel it: And that's all the lofs I had by being put out of the Commiffion of the Peace: I have done with our felves, and now give me leave to speak a little concerning other Gentlemen who are put out, and no reafon given for it.

When any Gentleman is made a Juftice of Peace, it is out of respect to him, and for the good of the Country, because he is fuppofed to be honest and able, and without difpute no Man ought to be put out; but either that he is unfaithful, unwilling to do his part, or else he does not understand it: And it's a great injuftice to any Gentleman to put him out without hearing him; for to judge a Man unheard is not allowed by the Law. And what is it, but to judge a Mans Reputation a thing most dear to every honeft Man: For in any Age but this it would be a great reflection upon a Gentleman to be turn'd out of the Commiffion of the Peace: But God be thank 't the Nation fees very plainly who and what fort of Perfons rule the Roft: By all the inquiry I can make I do not find that any Man is put out, but fuch as were very active against the Papifts, fuch as are against Arbitrary Power, and fuch as approved of the Bill against the Duke: I wish they would give the reason why one Gentleman was put out in my County, for besides my felf there are but two put out, the one was newly put in, and had not acted, the other is an Ancient Juftice of Peace, and a Man that cannot be reprehended in relation to the discharge of his truft; 'K 2

without

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