Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface and acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Principal events in James' life
- Bibliographical note
- Select biographical notes
- Basilicon Doron
- The Trew Law of Free Monarchies
- Triplici Nodo, Triplex Cuneus. Or an Apologie for the Oath of Allegiance
- Speech to parliament of 19 March 1604
- Speech to parliament of 9 November 1605
- Speech to parliament of 31 March 1607
- Speech to parliament of 21 March 1610
- Speech in Star Chamber of 20 June 1616
- A Meditation upon the 27th, 28th and 29th Verses of the 27th Chapter of Saint Matthew (1619)
- His Maiesties Declaration, Touching his Proceedings in the Late Assemblie and Conuention of Parliament (1622)
- Notes
- Glossary
- Index
- Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought
Speech to parliament of 31 March 1607
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface and acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Principal events in James' life
- Bibliographical note
- Select biographical notes
- Basilicon Doron
- The Trew Law of Free Monarchies
- Triplici Nodo, Triplex Cuneus. Or an Apologie for the Oath of Allegiance
- Speech to parliament of 19 March 1604
- Speech to parliament of 9 November 1605
- Speech to parliament of 31 March 1607
- Speech to parliament of 21 March 1610
- Speech in Star Chamber of 20 June 1616
- A Meditation upon the 27th, 28th and 29th Verses of the 27th Chapter of Saint Matthew (1619)
- His Maiesties Declaration, Touching his Proceedings in the Late Assemblie and Conuention of Parliament (1622)
- Notes
- Glossary
- Index
- Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought
Summary
MY Lords of the higher House, and you Knights and Burgesses of the Lower house, All men at the beginning of a Feast bring foorth good Wine first, and after, worse. This was the saying of the Gouernour of the Feast at Cana in Galile, where Christ wrought his first miracle by changing water into Wine. But in this case now whereof I am to speake vnto you, I must follow that Gouernours rule, and not Christs example, in giuing you the worst and sowrest Wine last. For all the time of this long Session of the Parliament you haue bene so fed and cloy'd, (specially you of the Lower house) with such banquets, and choise of delicate speeches, and your eares so seasoned with the sweetnesse of long precogitate Orations; as this my Speach now in the breaking vp of this Assembly, cannot but appeare vnto your taste as the worst Wine proposed in the end of the Banquet, since I am onely to deliuer now vnto you matter without curious forme, substance without ceremonie, trewth in all sinceritie. Yet considering the Person that speaketh, the parties to whom I speake, the matter whereof I meane to speake; it fits better to vtter matter, rather then wordes, in regard of the greatnesse of my place who am to speake to you, the grauitie of you the Auditorie, which is the high Court of Parliament; the weight of the matter, which concernes the securitie and establishment of this whole Empire, and litle world.
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- King James VI and I: Political Writings , pp. 159 - 178Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1995