M r. SMITH'S SPEECH In Parliament, made in the House of Commons, On VVednesday the 29. of DECEMBER, 1641.
Concerning the late tumultuous Assemblies about the Parliament Houses.
LONDON, Printed for A. R. 1641.
Master Smith his Speech the 29, of December, 1641.
THe businesse wee have now in agitation concerning the Irish Affaires, and the Treatie with the Scottish Commissioners for their timely assistance of Ayde (being to be determined this day) is of great consequence and weight, even of such importance, that I have not read of greater, when the greatest troubles were in that Kingdome in Queene Elizabeth her Reigne of good Memory, these troubles with them being comparatively similized are of farre greater danger; And I would to God wee might so agree with the Lords, that a speedy concurrence might be with the Scots, towards their reliefe in Ireland.
Yet notwithstanding (Master Speaker) the greatnesse of this Rebellion and most outragious Cruelties committed daily by the Rebels, hazarding neerly the losse of that Kingdome (without speedy helpe, which takes up all our debates and arguments) if we remove not therewithall such impediments here at home, as doe hinder our speedie proceeding not only in that businesse, but in the setling of the peace and quiet of this Kingdome, all our endevours in the suppressing the Rebels in Ireland will little availe.
Vnder favour of this honourable Assembly I entend to give you a touch of such Lets which doe much hinder us, as I (conceive) in expediting the great Affaires of Church and State, and our proceedings against such Incendiaries and Delinquents in the same.
We have daily you know, Master Speaker, received Petitions from the Citizens of London, some of them having been delivered by good hands, and men of good worth and qualitie, which wee have willingly taken, and I doubt not but we shall in due time give them good satisfaction in answering of them.
Likewise wee have received Petitions from abrupt and disordered persons without any matter that may deserve our consideration, but are more fitter to be rejected as I under favour conceive.
But Master Speaker, that which I intend to intimate to you, as the greatest stoppe in our proceedings, is the riotous, and tumultuous Assembly of vaine and idle persons, who presume to begirt our House, not only in an irregular manner to preferre their Petitions, but with open clamour would prescribe us what lawes to in act, and what not; and what persons to prosecute, and who not.
These tumultuous persons, Master Speaker, take up a great deale of our pretious time in Answering and appeasing of them, when as I conceive other businesse more neerly concerning the welfare and security of his Sacred Majesty, and his Kingdomes, lyes even as it were gasping, and ready to perish for want of our timely assistance.
Master Speaker, Our Patience I perswade my selfe is one of the greatest causes that Animates, and encourages these illegall outrages, and if some rebukes were ministred from the House to them, they would not surely bee so Audacious.
It is true Master Speaker, I confesse it, that their Trading is decayed, and hard for them, (many of them) to subsist with their Families, by reason of the slow proceedings against Delinquents, the reason whereof they are uncapable of, neither as I conceive should they bee made acquainted therewith; otherwise then to understand that their unseasonable, and unfitting repaire to the [Page 4] House, is one principall cause thereof.
Therefore Sir, I conceive if some speedy course were taken for the suppressing these tumults, by a strict guard about the House, with a Command, not only by perswasions to avert their resort hither, but to shoot at them if they obstinately refuse to bee perswaded, it will bee the best and speediest meanes to repell them.
Likewise that in the Citie of London and Suburbs (by some trusty Officers, appointed by the House for that service) diligent search may be made for Papists and Recusants to apprehend them, if they find them Armed with any weapons, and bring them before a Committee for Examination appointed for that purpose. Which is my humble motion,
For, Master Speaker, the Papists resort as well as others hither to severall places, as I am informed, which as these tumultuous persons pretend, is one great cause of their meeting here, which if they perceive, that they bee prosecuted according to the Lawes of this Kingdome in that case inacted, they conceive they shall have lesse cause to trouble us.
And truly Sir, may I speake my mind really herein, I perswade my selfe, that unlesse the Lawes be put in execution with severity against some of the greatest Recusants, to make them exemplary to the rest, and that with speed, neither this Citie, nor other places of this Kingdome [Page 5] can bee secure from their devillish practises and plots, and that our too favourable proceeding against them, if so continued, may cause our too late repentance, if any of their perverse and wicked stratagems should take effect, which God forbid, and I heartily wish that such course may be taken by the blessing of the Almighty on our endevours, that for ever all the Inhabitants of his Majesties Kingdomes that are true Christians, and Loyall Subjects, may lye downe in peace, and rise in safety, to which I shall alwayes say, Amen.