1638.—November 21.
92, 93. Speech of Commissioner to the Assembly, and the King’s offers to it.[116]
My Lords and the rest of this Reverend Assembly,
The making of long Harangues is not suitable either with my Education or Profession, much less with this Time, which now after so much talking ought to be a time of Action.
I pray God that as a great (and I hope the worst) part of mens Spirits have been evaporated into bitter and invective Speeches, so the best and last part of them may be reserved for Deeds, and these answerable to the Professions which have been made on all sides when this great Assembly should come.
For the Professions which have been made by Our Sacred Soveraign (whom God long preserve to reign over us) I am come hither by His command to make them good to His whole People, whom to His grief He hath found to have been poysoned (by whom I know not well, but God forgive them) with misconceits of His Intentions, concerning the Religion professed in this Church and Kingdom. But to rectifie all such Misconceptions of His Subjects, his Majesties desire is, that before this Assembly proceed to anything else, His Subjects may receive ample and clear satisfaction in these Points, wherein His Majesties gracious Intentions have been misdoubted, or glanced at, by the malevolent Aspects of such as are afraid that His Majesties good Subjects should see His clear mind through any other Glasses or Spectacles, than those they hare tempered and fitted for them.
Those sinistrous Aspersions, dispersed by surmizes, have been especially two; first, as if there had been in His Majesty, if not some Intention, yet at least some inclination, to give way, if not to Alterations, yet to some Innovations in the Religion professed in, and established by the Laws of this Church and Kingdom.
I am confident that no man can harbour or retain any such thought in his breast any more, when His Majesty hath commanded that Confession of Faith, (which you call the Negative) to be subscribed by all His Subjects whatsoever, and hath been Graciously pleased to put the Execution of this His Royal Command in your own hands.
The next false, and indeed foul and devilish Surmize, wherewith His good Subjects have been misled, is, that nothing promised in His Majesties last most Gracious Proclamation, (though most ungraciously received) was ever intended to be performed, nay, not the Assembly it self: but that only Time was to be gained, till His Majesty by Arms might oppress this His Own Native Kingdom; than which Report Hell it self could not have raised a blacker and falser.
For that part which concerneth the Report of the Intention of not holding the Assembly, this Day and Place, as was first promised and proclaimed, (thanks be to God,) confuteth that Calumny abundantly; for the other of making good what His Majesty did promise in His last Gracious Proclamation, His Majesty hath commanded me thus to express His Heart to all His good Subjects.
He hath seriously considered all the Grievances of His Subjects, which have been presented to Him, by all and several of their Petitions, Remonstrances, and Supplications, exhibited unto Himself, His Commissioner, and Lords of His Secret Council, and hath graciously granted them all; and as He hath already granted as far as could be by Proclamation; so he doth now desire, that His Subjects may be assured of them by Acts of this General Assembly, and afterwards by Acts of Parliament respective.