6 A SPEECH TOUCHING PURVEYORS. 



and respective carriage of our proceeding ; next, the 

 substance of our petition ; and thirdly, some rea 

 sons and motives which in all humbleness we do 

 offer to your majesty s royal consideration or com 

 miseration ; we assuring ourselves that never king 

 reigned that had better notions of head, and mo 

 tions of heart, for the good and comfort of his lov 

 ing subjects. 



For the first : in the course of remedy which we 

 desire, we pretend not, nor intend not, in any sort, 

 to derogate from your majesty s prerogative, nor to 

 touch, diminish, or question any of your majesty s 

 regalities or rights. For we seek nothing but the 

 reformation of abuses, and the execution of former 

 laws whereunto we are born. And although it be 

 no strange thing in parliament for new abuses to 

 crave new remedies, yet nevertheless in these abuses, 

 which if not in nature, yet in extremity and height 

 of them, are most of them new, we content our 

 selves with the old laws : only we desire a confirma 

 tion and quickening of them in their execution ; so 

 far are we from any humour of innovation or en 

 croachment. 



As to the court of the green-cloth, ordained for 

 the provision of your majesty s most honourable 

 household, we hold it ancient, we hold it reverend. 

 Other courts respect your politic person, but that 

 respects your natural person. But yet, notwith 

 standing, most excellent king, to use that freedom 

 which to subjects that pour out their griefs before so 

 gracious a king, is allowable, we may very well 



