Speech in Parliament January 5th
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A86050.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
MASTER GLYNN HIS SPEECH, IN PARLIAMENT, on Wednesday, the fifth of January, at the Committee sitting in Guild-Hall,
Concerning the Breaches of the Privileges of Parliament, by breaking open the Chambers, Studies, and Truncks, of the six Gentlemen, upon their accusation of high Treason, by his Majesty. 1641.
London, Printed 1642.
MASTER GLYN HIS Speech in Parliament, on Wednesday the fifth of January, at the Committee, sitting in Guild-Hall, concerning the breaches of the Privileges of Parliament, by breaking open the Chambers, Truncks, and Studies, of the six Gentlemen, upon their accusation of high Treason by his Majesty. 1641.
Master Speaker,
WEe sit now upon that Grand business of the breaches of the Rights and Privileges of Parliament, which are so many, and great, so carefully preserved, and defended, and having in former times severely punished the infringers thereof, that I had thought and conceived, that no Subject of what degree or dignity soever, would either in their own persons, or by mis-informing his Majesty, concerning the same, have presumed to have entrenched in the least measure upon the free Liberty, Rights, and very being of Parliaments, tending to the breach thereof. But Master Speaker, I perceive the perverseness, and obstinate frowardness of divers persons in this Kingdom, in places of power, and authority, as well of the Clergy, as Layitie, are grown to that height, that they dare not only presume to instigate, and provoke His sacred Majesty, by their subtle and political mis-informations, but themselves in their own persons dare attempt, if His Majesty in His royal wisdom, tender care, and affection towards his loyal subjects do refuse to do the same, to endeavor as much as in them lies, by their malignant carriages in Petitions, and Protestations to resist the lawful power, and undoubted Jurisdiction, both of the King, and his high Court of Parliament.
Master Speaker, These men notwithstanding, they apparently perceive that their wicked Practises, and malicious Designes, cannot take effect according to their expectation, but are rejected, and detected, as well by his Sacred Majesty, as his Lord's and his whole Council, dare aventure, to endeavor by casting aspersions, and spreading abroad evil reports, not only of the Members, but of the Proceedings of the House of Commons against them, and others of their Adherents and Favorites, in their wicked and desperate actions and designs against their lawful Sovereign, and his Liege people.
I conceive Master Speaker, did these persons, but remember the many presidents, yet extant of the just and deserved punishments inflicted by former Parliaments upon such miscreants, as witness the Archbishop of York, the Duke of Suffolk, Chief Justice Belknap, and the rest of that conspiracy in the reign of K. Richard the 2. they would have prejudicated to themselves, the like danger would follow upon them for their evil actions; Nay Master Speaker, did these men but consider with themselves, the just Judgments of God, that have immediately lighted upon the necks of such, as have been the Troublers of Kingdoms and Common-wealths, whereof they have been members, as well recorded in sacred writ, as of late times in this Kingdom, yet still in fresh memory, they would have laid their hands upon their mouths and hearts, when they went about to speak or do anything tending to the dishonor of Almighty God, in innovating of his true Religion, corrupting the sincere Doctrine and Discipline of Christ and his Apostles, as also anything tending to the dishonor and perpetual destruction of his Royal Majesty, and however, otherwise they may pretend the fundamental laws and liberties of this Kingdom, the rights and privileges of Parliaments, and the very being thereof: but surely Master Speaker, they are altogether benumbed and stupefied, their consciences dead and seered, their lives and conversation altogether devoted to the works of darkness, and impurity; their desires altogether Sensuall, Carnal, and Divelish, forgetting God, kicking and spurring with maliciousness against all piety and godliness, or else, they would never have adventured to practice such things, as it is too too manifest they have done.
Master Speaker, I intend to be brief in that, which I am to speak concerning the breaches of the privileges of Parliament
First, to inform his Majesty of any proceedings in the House of Commons upon any business whatsoever, before they have concluded, finished and made ready the same, to present to his Majesty, for his Royal assent, thereupon is a breach of the privileges of Parliament.
Secondly, to mis-inform his Majesty contrary to the proceedings in Parliament, thereby to incense and provoke him against the same, is a breach of privilege of Parliament.
Thirdly, to cause or procure any information or accusation to be brought, or preferred without the knowledge or consent of the Parliament into the House, against any of the members thereof, is a breach of privilege of Parliament.
Fourthly, to apprehend any such accused, to imprison their persons, to cease upon their goods or estates, to prosecute and proceed against them to their trial and judgment, to condemn or execute them upon such accusation, without the consent or advice of the Parliament, is a breach of the privileges thereof.
Fifthly, to endeavor to cast an evil opinion of such members accused into the hearts of His Majesty's loyal Subjects, whereby they dis-affecting them, may be ready and willing to put in execution any command or warrant for their apprehension, and imprisonment, is a breach of the privileges of Parliament.
Sixthly, to come in open Parliament, for any Officer, or Sergeant, to demand and arrest any such member accused, be it of high Treason, or any other crime whatsoever, without the knowledge of the whole House, is a breach of the privileges of Parliament.
Seventhly, to come to a Parliament sitting in free consultation, assisted and guarded with Armed men, and with them besetting the House, to demand as it were ( vi & (armis ) such members accused, is a breach of the privileges of Parliament.
Lastly, to procure to be set forth, or to set forth under His Majesty's name, any Proclamation, or Declaration, prohibiting the repair of such persons accused to the Parliament, as members thereof, and to apprehend them in what place soever they shall be found, without the advise and consent of the whole State assembled, and sitting in free Parliament, is a manifest breach of the privileges thereof. And this Master Speaker is all that I have to say, concerning this days business, humbly leaving the same to the further consideration of this Honorable Assembly.