Hertfordshire and The Civil War

Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

 

Part of the Kings Speech to his Peers at Yorke

Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

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The Kings Speech to Parliament 3rd November 1640

 The knowledge that I have of the Scottish subjects was the cause of my calling the late assembly of Parliament wherein, if I had been believed, I doe sincerely thinke that things had fallen out as wee now see, but it is noe wonder that men are slow to believe that so great a sedicon should be raised upon soe little ground. But now my Lords and Gentlemen, the honour and safety of this kingdom lying so heavily att stake, I am resolved to put my selfe freely and cleerely upon the honour and affections of my English Subjects, as those of my Lords that did waite upon mee att Yorke can well remember, I did there declare. And therefore my Lords I shall not mention myne owne interest or the support I justly expect from you, whether the common safty bee secured, though I must tell you I am not ashamed to saye these charges I have been att, have been meerely for the security and good of this kingdome though the success hath not been answerable to my desires. Therefore I shall only desire you to consider the best way both for the securitie and safety of this kingdom, wherein there are 2 poynts merely considerable: the chasing out of the rebells and the other the satisfying of the just grievances, wherein I shall promise you to concurre soe hartely and cleerely with you that all the world shall saye my intencon hath ever been and ever shalbe to make this a glorious flourishing kingdome. There are only 2 things I shall mention unto you, the one is to tell you that the lone of money which I have lately had from the Cittye of London, wherein my Lords that waited upon me at Yorke assisted mee will only maintayne my Army for 2 months from the beginning of this time. Now my Lords and Gentlemen, I doe leave it to your consideration what dishonour and mischief it may bee in case for fault of meanes my army being disbanded before the rebells bee put out of this Kingdome. The 2nd is the calamity that the northern shires are in at this time, and soe long as the treaty is one foote. And this I may say, that not only they, but all this kingdome will suffer their shaires, therefore I do leave this also to your consideration for the ordering of these great affaires whereof you are to treate at this time. I am soe confident of your love to mee and that your care is for the honour and safety of this kingdome that I shall willingly and freely leave it to you where to begin. Only this that you may the better know the state of affaires, I have commanded my Lord Keeper to give you a short and free accompt of these things that have happened in this interim with this protestacon that if his accompt be not soe satisfactory as it ought to be, I shall whensoever you desire, give you a full and perfect accompt of every particular thing. And desire you as one of your greatest means to make this a happie parliament that you on your part, as I on myne, lay aside all suspicon of one another, and as I promised the Lords at York it shall not be my fault if this bee not a happie and good Parliament.  HALS: DE/Lw/Z8