TO
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
THE
LORDS SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL;
AND TO
THE KNIGHTS, CITIZENS, AND BURGESSES
OF THE
HONOURABLE HOUSE OF COMMONS:
NOW ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT.
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
Be not startled if I address to all, and every of you, this Century of Summary Heads of Wonderful Things, even after the dedication of them to his most excellent Majesty, since it is with his most gracious and particular consent, as well as indeed no ways derogating from my duty to his sacred self, but rather in further order unto it, since your Lordships, who are his great Council, and you, Gentlemen, his whole kingdom's Representatives (most worthily welcome unto him) may fitly receive into your wise and serious considerations, what doth or may publicly concern both his Majesty and his tenderly-beloved people.
Pardon me, if I say, (my Lords and Gentlemen) that it is jointly your parts to digest to his hand, these ensuing particulars, fitting them to his palate, and ordering how to reduce them into practice, in a way useful and beneficial, both to his Majesty and his kingdom.
Neither do I esteem it less proper for me to present them to you in order to his Majesty's service, than it is to give into the hands of a faithful and provident steward, whatsoever dainties and provisions are intended for the master's diet; the knowing and faithful steward being best able to make use thereof to his master's contentment, and greatest profit, keeping for the morrow whatever should be overplus or needless for the present day, or at least to save something else in lieu thereof. In a word, (my Lords and Gentlemen,) I humbly conceive, this simile not improper, since you are his Majesty's provident stewards, into whose hands I commit myself, with all properties fit to obey you; that is to say, with a heart harbouring no ambition, but an endless aim to serve my King and Country: and if my endeavours prove effectual, (as I am confident they will,) his Majesty shall not only become rich, but his people likewise, as treasurers unto him; and his peerless Majesty, our King, shall become both beloved at home, and feared abroad; deeming the riches of a King to consist in the plenty enjoyed by his people.
And the way to render him to be feared abroad, is to content his people at home, who then with heart and hand are ready to assist him; and whatsoever God blesseth me with to contribute towards the increase of his revenues, in any considerable way, I desire it may be imployed to the use of his people; that is, for the taking off such taxes or burthens from them as they chiefly groan under, and by a temporary necessity only imposed on them; which being thus supplied, will certainly best content the King, and satisfy his people; which, I dare say, is the continual tend of all your indefatigable pains, and the perfect demonstrations of your zeal to his Majesty, and an evidence that the kingdom's trust is justly and deservedly reposed in you. And if ever Parliament acquitted themselves thereof, it is this of yours, composed of most deserving and qualified persons; qualified, I say, with your affection to your Prince, and with a tenderness to his people; with a bountiful heart towards him, yet a frugality in their behalfs.
Go on therefore chearfully (my Lords and Gentlemen) and not only our gracious King, but the King of Kings will reward you, the prayers of the people will attend you, and his Majesty will with thankful arms embrace you. And be pleased to make use of me and my endeavours to enrich them, not myself; such being my only request unto you, spare me not in what your wisdoms shall find me useful, who do esteem myself not only by the act of the Water-commanding Engine (which so chearfully you have past) sufficiently rewarded, but likewise with courage enabled to do ten times more for the future; and my debts being paid, and a competency to live according to my birth and quality settled, the rest shall I dedicate to the service of our King and Country by your disposals: and esteem me not the more, or rather any more, by what is past, but what's to come; professing really from my heart, that my intentions are to outgo the six or seven hundred thousand pounds already sacrificed, if countenanced and encouraged by you, ingenuously confessing, that the melancholy which hath lately seized upon me (the cause whereof none of you but may easily guess) hath, I dare say, retarded more advantages to the public service than modesty will permit me to utter: and now, revived by your promising favours, I shall infallibly be enabled thereunto in the experiments extant, and comprised under these heads, practicable with my directions by the unparalleled workman both for trust and skill, Caspar Kaltoff's hand, who hath been these five and thirty years as in a school under me employed, and still at my disposal, in a place by my great expences made fit for public service, yet lately like to be taken from me, and consequently from the service of King and kingdom, without the least regard of above ten thousand pounds expended by me, and through my zeal to the common good; my zeal, I say, a field large enough for you (my Lords and Gentlemen) to work upon.
The treasures buried under these heads, both for war, peace, and pleasure, being inexhaustible; I beseech you pardon me if I say so; it seems a vanity, but comprehends a truth; since no good spring but becomes the more plentiful by how much more it is drawn; and the spinner to weave his web is never stinted, but further inforced.
The more then that you shall be pleased to make use of my Inventions, the more inventive shall you ever find me, one invention begetting still another, and more and more improving my ability to serve my King and you; and as to my heartiness therein there needs no addition, nor to my readiness a spur. And therefore (my Lords and Gentlemen) be pleased to begin, and desist not from commanding me, till I flag in my obedience and endeavours to serve my King and Country:
For certainly you'l find me breathless first t'expire,
Before my hands grow weary, or my legs do tire.