I Very much wonder that the Kings Speech , that was so short and moderate , as though his Majesty was loath to offend with too many Circumstances ; and sure I am , if the care of his Kingdom had not compelled him , he would not have troubled your Honours with any ; therefore I much wonder you return'd His Majesty such an Answer , which never was spoken by any Peer to a King or in his presence : therefore I can hardly believe any Peer of this Realm would so speak ; because it is to be supposed that your Wisdom should teach you better things , than to go above your Element : for God never gave such power , no not to his Church ; but to submit to all Authority : Nay Christ himself submitted for Examples sake , and I am sure that the Church of England hath no such Principles ; but the Whore of Babylon , and the Pope , and Antichrist , is known to usurp Authority over Kings and Princes , and compels them to go against their Conscience for their own Interest ; but the Primitive Christians were known by their purity : and if their Prince did command them any thing that was against their Conscience , they would sacrifice their lives rather than to offend God or Man ; but God be thanked this is not our Case , why then should any one be so jealous without a Cause , when God out of his infinite Goodness hath given us a Protestant King , that abhors the Superstition and Idolatry of the Church of Rome ? Give me leave , Sir , to speak a little in this matter ; for I know if the King was not a true sincere Protestant , he would never have hearkened to a poor Subject , who about 9 or 10 years ago was by chance compelled to have some Discourse with a Roman Catholick ; who finding her not easily to be perswaded , they imployed others , to try if they could perswade her , sometimes lifting her up to Heaven , sometimes flinging her down to Hell ; but when they saw that neither flatteries nor threats would move her to incline or hearken to their pernicious Principles , they fell out a railing , saying , We were all Hereticks from the highest to the lowest . At which words the Woman was sadly troubled , and was resolved after few days to shew it to the King , who graciously received her Petition . Though his Majesty could not tell what to do in the matter , and notwithstanding their Plottings were not manifested , within a few days the King put out a Proclamation ; by which he delivered the Woman from her Spiritual Adversaries ; who shall ever speak of his praise , and does think it a great sin to speak against the Lords Annointed , or to think much of what God hath given him . No Prince in the World liveth meaner than he doth , therefore it would be a madness to desire that to be less that is too little already . I much wonder , Sir , you press so hard for the pleasing of the People , which is unpossible , for David saith , It is God subdued the People unto me . But I much wonder your Honour being so Good , so Wise , and so Holy , do forget God in all your Speech . Now it would have been the joy of my Soul that his Majesty had been so happy as to enjoy a true Protestant Wife , but such is the misfortune of Kings and Princes , that they have not that liberty as their Subjects have , to take where they like best , but they must be confined to many disadvantages ; so that his Majesty who should be in perfect freedom , is more confined then any .

May it please your Honour , since the case stands so , there is no body much to blame ; but however , cursed are them that part Man and Wife : And as for chargeable Ladies , God forbid that we should desire the destruction of their Souls , that they should be a Sacrifice to the People .

Sir , you say there will be a change , but I wonder what change you mean , if you mean as you declare , against Popish Favourites , or Popish Mistrisses , and Popish Councellors ; if it be so that you sincerely desire it for Gods Glory , and for the Good of his Majesty , and for the Example of others , I sincerely desire it my self , and I am certain there is no true Christian in the World but heartily desires the same . But , Sir , may not you be under a mistake , in supposing them to be Popishly inclined that are not ; for it is Crime enough to be a Courtier as the World goes now , as though all Courtiers of necessity must be evil , though they are never so good ; for I dare to say there is as many good Souls ( for quantity ) there as in the City ; and it is heighth of my desire , that as they exceed others in Greatness , they may exceed them in Goodness : and I am sure there is no good Soul but would say Amen to that . But who is able to work this Change ? None but God alone ; for the Almighty has said , The Tares and the Wheat shall grow together till the Harvest ; and then he will send his Angels : and methinks you speak like a Man and not like an Angel ; because the Nature of Angels is to rejoyce at New Converts .

Sir , I know not who you mean , that is a Lady , and belongs not to the Court , that is so mischievous ; sure if I knew her , I should be her Enemy , if she be as mischievous as you say .

And for the Kings Distress , I hope God will give him such Courage and Innocency , that he need not fear his Enemies abroad nor at home ; and why is your Honour so fearful , for when the ways of men please God , he makes their Enemies to be at peace with them .

But , Sir , as to the greatest Influence in your present Councils , let it be the fear of God , that his Wisdom may make you wise , to search out the matter ; for your Honours may think to do great matters , and without the assistance of God perform nothing ; and if so , how will the King be supplied ?

And as for the House of Commons , I hope God will give them such Wisdom and Goodness , as they shall never offer to the King any thing that His Majesty shall not think worth answering .

If the King should fall into any Inconvenience , for want of your Aid and Assistance , would it not be thought that you are ungrateful People ; that would not help your King in his necessities , even Gods Anointed ; would not this justly provoke the Almighties Anger to deliver us up to believe Lies ; for what hath provoked the Lord , but Sin and Wickedness , and Distrusting of his Providence in Governing the World . If the Lord be your God , study to appease his Anger ; for if you were zealous , and in good earnest loved God truly , how could you suffer such Antichristian Actions in a Christian City , as the Picking up Men and Women in the Streets , which is the Ruin of many Families , and the Destroying of Youth : the very Motion of this Wickedness every Good Christian ought to abhor . So that there is a necessity laid upon you , first by discouraging and punishing all known Evils in your selves and out of your selves , both at home and abroad . Then will God make you acceptable in his sight , that you may be helpful to His Majesty , both for Soul and Body ; but whilst you have Jealousies and Ill Thoughts , how is it possible for His Majesty to joyn with you ; for I dare to say you have no cause to distrust him : and that I do really think that he is a Prince that scorns to deceive , therefore I much wonder how you dare to say you can't trust him : but I am certain his Majesty has been disappointed many times of his hopes ; for when his Majesty expected Figs he found Thistles : And as for discontented Persons , the Lord help them , for the Court cannot . And why should you be so unkind to so excellent a Prince , whom you say your self no Story affords us a parallel , and truly no more there don't ; for was there ever any King came into his Throne with such an Arm of Providence , and with such great Splendor and Glory . Therefore his Majesty can't forget the infinite Mercies of God in preserving him , and that Goodness doth teach him to imitate Christ , who was kind to his Enemies , even to his Murderers ; and as for the Kings Murderers , God will send them to Hell , and all that forgets God , as David saith : and I am sure whoever has a design to destroy his Majesty , must of necessity forget God : And for his Thoughts none is able to judge how much or how little his Majesty is concerned . And for the Transactions between him and his Brother , you say they are admirable , and indeed so they be , but not for mischief , but for love and unity ; the excellency of that David has declared , who saith , It is more precious than Aarons Oyl . 't is not for a King to declare whom he fears or whom he not fears ; it is prudence in his Majesty to love his Brother ; but if his Royal Highness had such early thoughts of aiming at the Crown , many times 't is the Wisdom of God to disappoint Princes of their expectation as well as ordinary Men . And if his Royal Highness be treacherous , shall not God find it out ? But if he be innocent , God forbid that we should impose that upon him that we are not willing to suffer our selves .

Sir , I much wonder that you reflect upon the Duke of York , in the making of Bishops , as though his presence had more operation to infect them with Popery , than their own Conscience , Knowledge of the Truth , Love of God , and the presence of all others , to continue them good Protestants ; which I nor any else can ever believe .

You say , This Prince changed his Religion to make himself a Party , and such a Party as would destroy the King his Brother ; certainly the Duke must be out of his senses , that would joyn with such a Party ; for he might well be assured that God would not let Murther go unrevenged ; and that he should meet with a far more numerous Party to oppose him : Therefore I cannot believe that the Duke is so guilty as some would have him . Besides , I have heard him protest that he is innocent , and that if he had a Thousand lives , he would lose them all to defend the King his Brother . I am apt to believe him by what I hear you say , That be should so long have his Lodgings at Whitehall , his Guards upon the same Floor , without any interposition between him and the King ; so that the King was in his hands . Certainly if he had been so gaceless and wicked , what opportunities had he to accomplish such Devillish Designs many year ago . But God forbid that the Duke should have such thoughts .

And as touching the Kings Behaviour , the World , as you say , knows very well , and truly so it does ; for never any King in this world governed with greater moderation than he doth towards all men ; which bespeaks His Majesty to be a very Gracious Prince , and one that feareth no hurt , because he doeth none . Therefore you have great reason not to doubt the King or the Court , or to imagine that the King could ever think Presbyterians to be Plotters , who pretend to so much zeal and loyalty for His Majesties Interest . The Papists may plot to inlarge the Popes Dominions and to think to merit Heaven , but what can the Presbyterians plot for ?

Sir , You wonder at a Parliament , and cannot understand the Riddle of it , surely it is not so hard , but your Wisdom may unfold greater Mysteries .

And for the Duke's going away , I dare to think he would rather have staid , if he might have had that happiness ; but to prevent unquietness he went , though unwillingly ; and can his Highness go to a better place than Scotland , for their zeal against Popery is known of old ; and you need not fear a Popish Army coming from thence , for I hope they may be Instrumental to make him a Convert ; for I believe he is not so popishly inclined as you imagine .

Let us leave our Sins , and put our whole trust in God , and forsake our Sins ; and not reflect upon His Majesty for any thing that is done ; for I am certain the King will do nothing but what is for his own safety and your good : And how contrary is it to reason , that a King should betray himself ; and what advantage would it bring him ? Is not his safety the Peoples safety , and the Peoples safety his safety ? Far is it from the Kings thoughts to think to set up Popery and Arbitrary Government . Your Lordship can't but know how that he is not Ambitious , but contents himself with mean things ; and desires no greater Treasure in this World but Peace , Love , and Unity .

Why then does your Lordship say you want a Governour and a Prince that you may trust for some time , as though this Nation would not always want a Governor , certainly you can have no thoughts of any other , and if no other , Why should your Honour disincourage this with Fears and Jealousies ? It was the Punishment of Cain to suppose that every one that met him should kill him , when God had ordered to the contrary ; who was the First Antichristian in the World , and the Root of Popery . Your Honour may seriously consider what difference there is between a true Christian and an Anti-Christian ; for one puts his trust in God , the other in Man , and God cannot give a greater gift to Mortals , then to make them true Christians . I hope the King will never change his Government , nor break the Oath that he has taken . Therefore if your Honour is a true Church-man , according as it is now Established by Law , you need not fear but the King is yours : Truly I may say that he is a true Lover of all his People , distinquished , by what Name soever ; for he is so truly Vertuous that he loves all : and that is the Reason that His Majesty can scarce Punish any , but thinks that his Mildness and Sweetness would move them the more to love him . Would to God that you were his so much as he is yours : For the growing greatness of France we shan't have no need to fear , if we have but Unity among our selves : Why should we not be Christians as well by Nature as by Name , and if it hath not been usual in England , for a Prince to want Supplies , why now ? For it is not lawful neither by the Law of God or Man , not to afford his Majesty such Supports , as may be for the good of the Nation . His Majesty scorns the very thoughts to make his Peoples Slaves or Papists . I beseech your Honours think not Evil of Ministers who are Gods Messengers , though their Arguments don't please you ; neither put you too much confidence in your Treasure , least God should blast it with a Curse . There is no need for any man to fear the Kings Fidelity , for he is resolved to Die in Defence of the true Protestants of the Church of England ; therefore I much wonder what Principles you mean the King must change : certainly it is not the Principles of his Religion ; for if it be so , His Majesty had better want your Assistance , then submit to such Impositions ; for certainly I should think then that Gods Wrath should destroy us for changing our Principles for a little money . That is that as the Devil and the Pope would have , but we will Sacrifice our Lives , rather than change the least Tittle contrary to Gods Will . We have been bereav'd of one King already and of our Religion too , and now how many does envy our happiness , and would fain make us believe he is not ours , and that is the ready way they may bereave us of him , by taking away his good Name . Now Sir if you would oblige me to think well of you , you must love His Majesty your self ; and exhort all others to love him ; for that is the way through Gods Blessing to make us all happy .

Noble Sir , I should not have spoke so much at this time , but that I could not rest satisfied that my Sovereign should be thought so hardly of ; because I am sure His Majesty doth not deserve it : and I hope I shall obtain your Candid Censures to pardon her who is a zealous Lover of her King and Countrey , and longeth for the happiness of every Individual Soul , as much as for her own ; hoping the Almighty will accept of my sincere , though weak endeavours , to defend my Sovereign according to my knowledge ; for I hope no body shall have cause to say I have spoke an Untruth .