GEORGE VILLIERS,

(Created Duke of Buckingham by James I.)

Was born 1592, and was assassinated by Felton in 1628. It is said that he had originally but an indifferent education. Perhaps it was owing to this that there is more ease and vivacity, and less peagantry, in the style of his speeches, than in those of most of his cotemporaries. We can hardly account for it from his haying been privately tutored by king James the First. The subject of the following speech was the war with Spain, and recovery of the Palatinate.

THAT the first and last time he had the honour to speak in this auditory, it was on the same business; and then he was so happy as to be honoured and applauded by both houses and he made no question, but, speaking with the same heart, and on the same business, he should be so now for, if they looked upon the change of affairs in christendom, they could not think it less than a miracle, that the king of Spain was sought and courted by all the world; he was become master of the Valtoline; had broke all Germany in pieces, and was possessed of the Palatinate. The princes of Germany were weak, and not able to resist ; and by reason of his master's neutrality, caused by a treaty, he kept all other kings and princes in awe. Now, on the contrary, the Valtoline is at liberty; the war is proclaimed beyond the Alps; the king of Denmark is in arms, with 17,000 foot and 6000 horse, besides commissions to make them up 30,000; the king of Sweden is also interesting himself; the princes of the union are revived; the king of France is engaged against Spain, and for that purpose, having made peace with his own subjects, had joined and confederated himself with Savoy and Venice. Why should not he, therefore, hope for the same success, considering that, since the time of his last speech to both

houses, there was not one action, or a thought of his, that levelled at any other than one and the same object, which was to please their desires? If he should credit all rumours, which he would not do, he should speak with some confu. sion of fear to hold the same place he formerly did in their affections: but, having still the same virtuous ambition, and considering his own heart to the king and state, he could find no cause of alteration, but was all courage and confidence.

Here the duke made a request to the house of commons, that if any man had spoken or should speak any thing in discharge of his conscience, zeal of reformation, or love to his country, which may seem to reflect upon some particular person, he may be the last that shall apply it to himself: because he is confidently assured of two things; first that they are so just as not to fall upon him without cause who was so lately approved by them; and secondly, that himself shall deserve nothing that shall misbecome a faithful Englishman.

DR. JOHN WILLIAMS,

(Keeper of the Great Seal, Bishop of Lincoln, and afterwards Archbishop of York,)

Was born in Caernarvenshire in Wales in 1582, and died in 1650. He preached James the First's funeral sermon, in which he compared him to king Solomon. How well he was qualified for this courtly task may be seen by the following specimen.

The Lord Keeper's Speech.

My lords, and you the knights, citizens, and burgesses of the house of commons: You are here assembled by his majesty's writs and royal authority, to hold a new par

liament, the general, ancient, and powerful council of this renowned kingdom: whereof if we consider aright and think of that incomparable distance between the supreme height and majesty of a mighty monarch, and the submissive awe and lowliness of a loyal subject, we cannot but receive exceeding comfort and contentment in the frame and constitution of this highest court, wherein not the prelates, nobles, and grandees, but the commons of all degrees have their parts; and wherein that high majesty doth descend to admit, or rather to invite the humblest of his subjects, to conference and counsel with him, of the great, weighty,and difficult affairs of the king and kingdom; a benefit and favour, whereof we cannot be too sensible and thankful; for sure I am, that all good hearts would be both sensible and sorrowful, if we did want it, and therefore it behoveth all, with united hearts, and minds free from distraction and diversion, to fix their thoughts upon counsels and consultations worthy of such an assembly; remembering, that in it is presented the majesty and greatness, the authority and power, the wisdom and knowledge, of this great and famous nation: and it behoveth us to magnify and bless God, that hath put the power of assembling parliaments in the hands of him, the virtue (inherent) of whose person doth strive with the greatness of his princely lineage and descent, whether he should be accounted major or melior, a greater king or a better man; and of whom you have had so much trial and experience that he doth as affectionately love, as he doth exactly know and understand, the true use of parliaments: witness his daily and unwearied access to this house,before his accession to the crown; his gracious readiness to all consequences of importance; his frequent and effectual intercession to his blessed father, of never dying memory, for the good of the kingdom, with so happy success that both this and future generations shall feel it, and have cause to rejoice at the success of his majesty's intercession. And when the royal diadem descended upon himself, presently, in the midst of his tears and sighs for the departure of his most dear and

royal father in the very first consultation with his privy council, was resolved to meet his people in parliament: and no sooner did the heavy hand of that destroying angel* forbear those deadly strokes, which for some time did make this place inaccessible, but his majesty presently resolved to recall it, and hath now brought you together, and in a happy time, I trust, to treat and consult with uniform desires and united affections, of those things that concern the general good.

And now being thus assembled, his majesty hath com manded me to let you know, that his love and affection to the public moved him to call this parliament; and looking into the danger, and the spreading of that late mortality, and weighing the multitude of his majesty's pressing occasions, and urgent affairs of state, both at home and abroad, much importing the safety and state of this kingdom, the same affection that moved him to call it, doth forbid him to prolong the sitting of this parliament: and therefore his majesty, resolving to confine this meeting to a short time, hath confined me to a short errand; and that is, that as a king, most agreeable to the kingly office, to the example of the best times and to the frame of modern affairs, his majesty hath called you together to consult and advise of provident and good laws, profitable for the public, and fitting for the present times and actions; for upon such depends the assurance of religion and of justice, which are the surest pillars and buttresses of good government in a kingdom: for his majesty doth consider, that the royal throne, on which God out of his mercy to us hath set him, is the fountain of all justice, and that good laws are the streams and rills by which the benefit and use of this fountain is dispersed to his people. And it is his majesty's care and study, that his people may see, with comfort and joy of heart, that this fountain is not dry, but they and their posterity may rest assured and confident

* The Plague.

in his time, to receive as ample benefit from this fountain, by his majesty's mercy and justice, as ever subjects did in the time of the most eminent princes, amongst his noble progenitors; wherein, as his majesty shews himself most sensible of the public good, so were it an injury to this great and honourable assembly, if it should be but doubted, that they shall not be as sensible of any thing that may add to his majesty's honour, which cannot but receive a high degree of love and affection, if his majesty, succeeding so many religious, wise, and renowned princes, should begin his reign with some additions unto those good laws which their happy and glorious times have afforded: and this his majesty hath caused me to desire at this time especially, above others; for his majesty having, at his royal coronation, lately solemnized the sacred rites of that blessed marriage, between his people and him; and therein by a most holy oath, vow. ed the protection of the laws and maintenance of peace, both to church and people, no time can be so fit for his majesty to advise and consult at large with his people as at this present time, wherein so lately his majesty hath vowed protection to his people, and they have protested their allegiance and service to him.

This is the sum of the charge which I have received from his majesty to deliver unto you, wherein you see his majesty's intent to the public; and, therefore, his desire is, that, according to that conveniency of time, which his affairs may afford, you will apply yourselves to dispatch the business of this parliament.