Speech of Sir George Pudsey, serjeant at law, recorder of the city of Oxford, spoken in the Guild-Hall of the said city, at the swearing the new mayor, September 30. 1685

t * 3
THE
OF
Sir George Pudfey,
Seijeant at Law, Recorder of the City of 0 XFO %<Di
Spoken in the CVILD-HA LL of the faid City, '
S E P T E M B E R 1^8 5.
GENTLEMEN,
jm Engknd is fecond to no Nation for all things that can delight the Sons of men for
\ ■ a happy Government, for a Valiant, Loyal, and Religious Teople; all Authors, both
j ■ Antient and Modern, do allow Ids our Glory that the firfl Chriflian Emperour
and King in the Z/niverfe, were Natives of this Iftand; The Gofpel flourijht here in
the very dawning of it, and fo continued until the Tenth Rerfecution under Diocle-
fian9 for though it was the laft, yet 'twas the firfl: the Britains felt: afterwards it was reftord by
Cottftantine the Great, the aforefaid Emperour ; and did fhine again here, until the Saxon Cru¬
elty and Taganifm had almofl utterly extinguijht it: It was afterwards reviv9d Auguftine the
great Apoflle of the Englifh Saxons, in the year 686.
That Providence has given us fo choice an Inheritance, is no ordinary. Mercy, though common to
all its Inhabitants. Now if this Blefling is capable of any improvement, we Citizens of Oxford en¬
joy it. Tou know in the Land c/Ham there was a Gomen for Gods chofen People, in which they
here fafe, when all Egypt be fides felt the heavy Hand of Divine Vengeance for its Wickednefi.
This City has been the peculiar care of God, and his Servants our Soveraigns, for more than eight
hundred years. It was the Learned and Warlike King Alfred that firft made it the Seat of our
Englifh Rabbies; no doubt but he confulted the Scituation, the Fertility of its Soil about it, the
Purenefl of its Air, and all things convenient for fo glorious an undertaking : IPs the Boaft of our
Country, and the Sight of it; the Brag of all Travellers. From Alfred^ days to ours,it has been the
Fountain of all Learning, Piety, Lojalty, and Virtue; fo that ifs hard to believe that our Citizens,
can be otherwife than Good men. Ten Righteous. Perfons had fav d Sodom; Can a Soul then be
loft here , that have fo many eminent Divines to Inflrult and Pray for us? That our Kings have
always held this Place in great Efteem, I (ball make you fenfeble of: Twas the Royal Seat of fome
of the Saxon Kings. Maud the Emprefs, the Daughter and Heir 0/Henry the Firfl, found fafety
here again ft the Vfur per Stephen* King John and Henry the third held Parliaments in this
place to curb their head-ftrong and unruly Barons. Many other Kings have call'd their Great
Councils hither, to ftem the Tyde of Fall ion and Rebellion, Charles the Martyr, and Charles the
Merciful are full to our purpofe.. Charles the Firfl, from this place had opportunity to retire from
a PrevailingTrapterous tLnglifhArmy, though indeed he unfortunately met with as bad, or worfe,
of Scots. Charles the Second, here received Advice from Heaven to put an end to the
worfl Councils of the worfl Parliaments that ever England I fay again, the Worfl, and will
not yield the point, though that of Forty One be offered to me : the Reafon s manifefl, becaufe
that Parliament did not fall to the extremity pfMijchief, till it was firft model! d and forced
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