Understanding a short speech by the Speaker of the House of Commons from the mid-1600s
Can someone please explain to me the meaning of the middle paragraph here, the direct quote from the Speaker of the House of Commons. I really don't understand what is being meant by it.
On 9 January 1641 Sir Henry Mildmay blamed him [William Lenthall, Speaker of the House of Commons from 1640 to 1660] for letting too many
speak during a debate, and on 9 March he was accused of partiality in
a squabble between members. But the real challenge came when on 4
January 1642 when King Charles attempted to arrest five members of the
Commons and one of the Lords, entering the House of Commons in search
of them. Of course, he found that the birds had flown. Quickly,
Lenthall fell to his knees before his king and said:
“May it please your majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to
speak in this place but as this house is pleased to direct me whose
servant I am here; and humbly beg your majesty’s pardon that I cannot
give any other answer than this is to what your majesty is pleased to
demand of me.”
This courageous and clever response combined a defence of the Commons
with deference to the King – but Lenthall was also making it clear
that he was not going to give away the whereabouts of the men the
monarch sought.
Source: https://unherd.com/2019/03/history-backs-bercow/
speech
asked Mar 22 at 11:44
niemironiemiro
1155
add a comment |
Can someone please explain to me the meaning of the middle paragraph here, the direct quote from the Speaker of the House of Commons. I really don't understand what is being meant by it.
On 9 January 1641 Sir Henry Mildmay blamed him [William Lenthall, Speaker of the House of Commons from 1640 to 1660] for letting too many
speak during a debate, and on 9 March he was accused of partiality in
a squabble between members. But the real challenge came when on 4
January 1642 when King Charles attempted to arrest five members of the
Commons and one of the Lords, entering the House of Commons in search
of them. Of course, he found that the birds had flown. Quickly,
Lenthall fell to his knees before his king and said:
“May it please your majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to
speak in this place but as this house is pleased to direct me whose
servant I am here; and humbly beg your majesty’s pardon that I cannot
give any other answer than this is to what your majesty is pleased to
demand of me.”
This courageous and clever response combined a defence of the Commons
with deference to the King – but Lenthall was also making it clear
that he was not going to give away the whereabouts of the men the
monarch sought.
Source: https://unherd.com/2019/03/history-backs-bercow/
speech
asked Mar 22 at 11:44
niemironiemiro
1155
add a comment |
Can someone please explain to me the meaning of the middle paragraph here, the direct quote from the Speaker of the House of Commons. I really don't understand what is being meant by it.
On 9 January 1641 Sir Henry Mildmay blamed him [William Lenthall, Speaker of the House of Commons from 1640 to 1660] for letting too many
speak during a debate, and on 9 March he was accused of partiality in
a squabble between members. But the real challenge came when on 4
January 1642 when King Charles attempted to arrest five members of the
Commons and one of the Lords, entering the House of Commons in search
of them. Of course, he found that the birds had flown. Quickly,
Lenthall fell to his knees before his king and said:
“May it please your majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to
speak in this place but as this house is pleased to direct me whose
servant I am here; and humbly beg your majesty’s pardon that I cannot
give any other answer than this is to what your majesty is pleased to
demand of me.”
This courageous and clever response combined a defence of the Commons
with deference to the King – but Lenthall was also making it clear
that he was not going to give away the whereabouts of the men the
monarch sought.
Source: https://unherd.com/2019/03/history-backs-bercow/
speech
asked Mar 22 at 11:44
niemironiemiro
1155
Can someone please explain to me the meaning of the middle paragraph here, the direct quote from the Speaker of the House of Commons. I really don't understand what is being meant by it.
On 9 January 1641 Sir Henry Mildmay blamed him [William Lenthall, Speaker of the House of Commons from 1640 to 1660] for letting too many
speak during a debate, and on 9 March he was accused of partiality in
a squabble between members. But the real challenge came when on 4
January 1642 when King Charles attempted to arrest five members of the
Commons and one of the Lords, entering the House of Commons in search
of them. Of course, he found that the birds had flown. Quickly,
Lenthall fell to his knees before his king and said:
“May it please your majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to
speak in this place but as this house is pleased to direct me whose
servant I am here; and humbly beg your majesty’s pardon that I cannot
give any other answer than this is to what your majesty is pleased to
demand of me.”
This courageous and clever response combined a defence of the Commons
with deference to the King – but Lenthall was also making it clear
that he was not going to give away the whereabouts of the men the
monarch sought.
Source: https://unherd.com/2019/03/history-backs-bercow/
speech
speech
asked Mar 22 at 11:44
niemironiemiro
1155
asked Mar 22 at 11:44
niemironiemiro
1155
edited Mar 22 at 12:43
niemiro
asked Mar 22 at 11:44
niemironiemiro
1155
asked Mar 22 at 11:44
niemironiemiro
1155
asked Mar 22 at 11:44
niemironiemiro
1155
1155
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
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“May it please your majesty,
A deferential beginning: "I hope you will be satisfied by what I say"
I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place
In this place (i.e., Commons) I cannot see or speak at all
but as this house is pleased to direct me whose servant I am here;
except by the direction of the House—I am the House's servant—
and humbly beg your majesty’s pardon
again, deferential: and I hope you will forgive me
that I cannot give any other answer than this is
for being unable to give any other answer
to what your majesty is pleased to demand of me.”
again, deferential: to what you ask.
answered Mar 22 at 13:29
StoneyBStoneyB
65k3114215
add a comment |
The Speaker was saying that, as Speaker, he only "saw" and "said" what the House of Commons desired him to see and say, and that he asked the king's pardon for not being able to give any other answer to the king's request.
answered Mar 22 at 13:27
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,60811120
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
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2 Answers
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active
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“May it please your majesty,
A deferential beginning: "I hope you will be satisfied by what I say"
I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place
In this place (i.e., Commons) I cannot see or speak at all
but as this house is pleased to direct me whose servant I am here;
except by the direction of the House—I am the House's servant—
and humbly beg your majesty’s pardon
again, deferential: and I hope you will forgive me
that I cannot give any other answer than this is
for being unable to give any other answer
to what your majesty is pleased to demand of me.”
again, deferential: to what you ask.
answered Mar 22 at 13:29
StoneyBStoneyB
65k3114215
add a comment |
“May it please your majesty,
A deferential beginning: "I hope you will be satisfied by what I say"
I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place
In this place (i.e., Commons) I cannot see or speak at all
but as this house is pleased to direct me whose servant I am here;
except by the direction of the House—I am the House's servant—
and humbly beg your majesty’s pardon
again, deferential: and I hope you will forgive me
that I cannot give any other answer than this is
for being unable to give any other answer
to what your majesty is pleased to demand of me.”
again, deferential: to what you ask.
answered Mar 22 at 13:29
StoneyBStoneyB
65k3114215
add a comment |
“May it please your majesty,
A deferential beginning: "I hope you will be satisfied by what I say"
I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place
In this place (i.e., Commons) I cannot see or speak at all
but as this house is pleased to direct me whose servant I am here;
except by the direction of the House—I am the House's servant—
and humbly beg your majesty’s pardon
again, deferential: and I hope you will forgive me
that I cannot give any other answer than this is
for being unable to give any other answer
to what your majesty is pleased to demand of me.”
again, deferential: to what you ask.
answered Mar 22 at 13:29
StoneyBStoneyB
65k3114215
“May it please your majesty,
A deferential beginning: "I hope you will be satisfied by what I say"
I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place
In this place (i.e., Commons) I cannot see or speak at all
but as this house is pleased to direct me whose servant I am here;
except by the direction of the House—I am the House's servant—
and humbly beg your majesty’s pardon
again, deferential: and I hope you will forgive me
that I cannot give any other answer than this is
for being unable to give any other answer
to what your majesty is pleased to demand of me.”
again, deferential: to what you ask.
answered Mar 22 at 13:29
StoneyBStoneyB
65k3114215
answered Mar 22 at 13:29
StoneyBStoneyB
65k3114215
answered Mar 22 at 13:29
StoneyBStoneyB
65k3114215
answered Mar 22 at 13:29
StoneyBStoneyB
65k3114215
65k3114215
add a comment |
add a comment |
The Speaker was saying that, as Speaker, he only "saw" and "said" what the House of Commons desired him to see and say, and that he asked the king's pardon for not being able to give any other answer to the king's request.
answered Mar 22 at 13:27
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,60811120
add a comment |
The Speaker was saying that, as Speaker, he only "saw" and "said" what the House of Commons desired him to see and say, and that he asked the king's pardon for not being able to give any other answer to the king's request.
answered Mar 22 at 13:27
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,60811120
add a comment |
The Speaker was saying that, as Speaker, he only "saw" and "said" what the House of Commons desired him to see and say, and that he asked the king's pardon for not being able to give any other answer to the king's request.
answered Mar 22 at 13:27
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,60811120
The Speaker was saying that, as Speaker, he only "saw" and "said" what the House of Commons desired him to see and say, and that he asked the king's pardon for not being able to give any other answer to the king's request.
answered Mar 22 at 13:27
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,60811120
answered Mar 22 at 13:27
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,60811120
answered Mar 22 at 13:27
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,60811120
answered Mar 22 at 13:27
Michael HarveyMichael Harvey
6,60811120
6,60811120
add a comment |
add a comment |
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