THE SPEAKER S EXCUSE. (57 



well composed both to grow and to continue. From 

 this I pass. 



For the second part of your speech, wherein you 

 did with no less truth than affection acknowledge 

 the great felicity which we enjoy by his majesty s 

 reign and government, his majesty hath commanded 

 me to say unto you, that praises and thanksgivings 

 he knoweth to be the true oblations of hearts and 

 loving affections : but that which you offer him he 

 will join with you, in offering it up to God, who is 

 the author of all good ; who knoweth also the up 

 rightness of his heart ; who he hopeth will continue 

 and increase his blessings both upon himself and his 

 posterity, and likewise upon his kingdoms and the 

 generations of them. 



But I for my part must say unto you, as the 

 Grecian orator said long since in the like case : 

 &quot; Solus digrius harum rerum laudatur tempus ;&quot; 

 Time is the only commender and encomiastic wor 

 thy of his majesty and his government. 



Why time ? For that in the revolution of so 

 many years and ages, as have passed over this king 

 dom, notwithstanding, many noble and excellent 

 effects were never produced until his majesty s days, 

 but have been reserved as proper and peculiar unto 

 them. 



And because this is no part of a panegyric, but 

 merely story, and that they be so many articles of 

 honour fit to be recorded, I will only mention them, 

 extracting part of them out of that you, Mr. Speaker, 

 have said ; they be in number eight. 



