A Learned SPEECH Made by the Right Worſhipfull Sir John Hotham, A Member of the Houſe of Commons, At a meeting of ſeverall Knights and Gentlemen in the ſaid County, on the 33. of May. 1642.
Wherein is manifeſted the manifold Reaſons why the Subject being commanded by the Parliament; ought not to diſobey, but to venture life and eſtate in the maintenance and performance thereof, VVith a Remarkeable Paſſage concerning the Lord Littleton, Lord Keeper of the Great Seale of England, and many other perſons of Note.
LONDON, Pri••••〈…〉
ON the 23 day of this inſtant moneth, Sir John Hotham ſūmoned ſome particular Knights and Gentlemen to Hull, to adviſe with him concerning the preſent eſtate of the Towne in regard his Majeſty was ſo highly incens'd againſt him, likewiſe the Major, Aldermen, and all other men of good Ranke and Quality were at that time aſſembled to whom Sir John Hotham (after an affable ſalutation to all) began to addreſſe himſelfe to ſpeake, which being obſerved a generall ſilence covered all the place, each man with attentive admiration catcht every ſyllable as ſoone as it vttered, fearing the aire delight with that Candor ſhould ſnatch them up and rob them or their onely happineſſe, ſince twas a comfort to all Loyall Subjects to heare and learne their duties from him that had given an ample Teſtimony, how well he knew his owne.
The ſubſtance of his Oration as neere as could be gathered, is ſet downe in this enſuing Treatiſe.
You may perhaps expect that I intend to make a large Narration with intent to cleare your doubts and make my Actions to His Maieſty ſeeme (as they are) faire, Legall and Loyall.
But it is not my intention, nor will J waſt ſo much time in that buſineſſe, but leave it to the end, not doubting but when my Actions ſhall define their wiſhed event, that the end ſhall crowne the bad that is paſt with a more full renowne. The Scope of my words at this time ſhall be confined to theſe two heads, which indeed are twins not to be ſeparated.
The firſt is an encouragement to gaine perfect Honour from your Soveraigne.
Let Loyalty be the rule of all your actions, if you intend to be truely Honourable, for honour no grounded on Loyalty, is like Friendſhip without Love, loſt in a moment, and oft times growes the greateſt Enemy, ſo the greateſt Title, the vaſteſt Wealth the greateſt Wiſdome, if not guided by Vertue, and ſo imployed, proves ruine to the inioyer; Next, let your Loyalty take its limit from Law, otherwiſe, in doing things ſeemingly good, the end may prove dangerous, and your Loyaltie prove worſe then diſloyalty; Therefore the next thing that J inſiſt upon, is Obedience to the Parliament, that pious and Iudicious Councell whom you in particular, and all the Kingdome in generall, have choſen as fit men to diſcuſſe and examine all cauſes that have dependency on his Majeſties ſafety, and the Kingdomes ſecurity: Now to diſallow of what is by them thought covenient both for his Majeſtie and the Kingdomes ſecurity, is to condemne your ſelves of folly, that you have choſen men in whom you cannot confide, but I preſume (though there be many that theſe words may and doe concerne in this Kingdome) that there is no one here that would not lay downe his life for the defence of his Maieſtie and the Parliament, neither are there any, I ſuppoſe, that need this motive to Obedience to the Honourable Houſes of Parliament, their owne ſafeties depending on the happy iſſue of their religious Councels.
Onely my aime is to give you one generall reaſon and apparent Teſtimony, why the Subiect being Commanded by the Parliament ought not to diſobey their Commands, though by the King commanded the Contrary.
Becauſe the Parliament being called and eſtabliſhed by the Authority of the King and conſent of the Kingdome, has power to Command and effect all things that are agreeable to Law, tending to the preſervation of his Maieſties Peace and welfare, and the generall good of the Subiect, they being by King and People, intruſted with that waighty and great charge, and if they ſhould fore-ſee an imminent danger threaten his Maieſties Perſon, or the generall good, and ſhould not take ſpeedy care to prevent it, they ſhould make a violation of that Faith and Truſt repoſed in them, ſo on the contrary part, if they, foreſeeing a darger, by their Councels and Commands endeavour to prevent it, and the Perſons by them commanded falſifie their truſt, they are traitors both to their Roy•ll Soveraigne, and deſtroyers of the Kingdome, This is the truth, & this is my glory, that God has ſo farre enabled me to undergoe ſo great a taske, and this is my hope that all of you will manifeſt your Loyalties to his Maieſty and Obedience to the Parliament.
Many other matters J have to tell you concerning an Information of the Lord Keepers having le•t the Parliament.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A86592)
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