A SPEECH ON THE MOTION OF A SUBSIDY. 77 



cloud, and stayeth not there long ; but upon the 

 same earth it falleth again : and what if some drops 

 of this do fall upon France or Flanders ? It is like 

 a sweet odour of honour and reputation to our 

 nation throughout the world. But I will only in 

 sist upon the natural and inviolate law of preserva 

 tion. 



It is a truth, Mr. Speaker, and a familiar truth, 

 that safety and preservation is to be preferred before 

 benefit or increase, inasmuch as those counsels which 

 tend to preservation seem to be attended with neces 

 sity : whereas those deliberations which tend to 

 benefit, seem only accompanied with persuasion. 

 And it is ever gain and no loss, when at the foot of 

 the account there remains the purchase of safety. 

 The prints of this are every where to be found : the 

 patient will ever part with some of his blood to save 

 and clear the rest : the sea-faring man will, in a 

 storm, cast over some of his goods to save and assure 

 the rest : the husbandman will afford some foot of 

 ground for his hedge and ditch, to fortify and defend 

 the rest. Why, Mr. Speaker, the disputer will, if he 

 be wise and cunning, grant somewhat that seemeth 

 to make against him, because he will keep himself 

 within the strength of his opinion, and the better 

 maintain the rest. But this place advertiseth me 

 not to handle the matter in a common place. I will 

 now deliver unto you that, which, upon a &quot; pro- 

 &quot; batum est,&quot; hath wrought upon myself, knowing 

 your affections to be like mine own. There hath 

 fallen out, since the last parliament, four accidents 



