Speech for a Speedy Treaty of Peace
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A92064.0001.001
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
SIR Benjamin Rudyerd HIS SPEECH IN THE HIGH COVRT OF PARLIAMENT The 17. of February, for a speedy Treaty of PEACE with His Majesty.
LONDON, Printed for MICHAEL YOUNG, 1643.
Sir Benjamin Rudyerd his Speech in the High Court of Parliament, the 17. of February, for a speedy Treaty of Peace with his Majesty.
M r Speaker.
I Do verily That the Vote we have already passed, For the Disbanding the Armies the first and tenth of March, will find us no farther on our way, then where we now are, besides the ill Accidents that may happen, and so much precious time spent, as till then.
Sir, The Main Business is, whether we shall have a present Treatie or no? and this concerns us in all that we Have, and Are Since we Refused a Treaty at Nottingham, I do not find that we have gotten much ground, although our Army then was fresh, full, and full paid; the People erect, bountiful, and forward to the war. Now, the Disposition of the Kingdom, for the greatest part, stands bent towards a Peace: so that wheresoever the Refusall, or Delay of the way to it shall be fixed, the Disadvantage will fall on that side. How clear soever the Jntentions of the House are, yet abroad it will be taken but as a show without Reality, and so it will be returned upon us.
For the Propositions, J have not known, nor heard, that all the Propositions in any Treaty of Jmportance, were ever swallowed whole. If some be harsh and rough, they may be wrought and suppled by wise Treaters, made fit for an acceptable agreement. If other be unpassable, they may be totally rejected. Those that are our unquestionable Rights, may be so claimed, and held.
M r Speaker, We have already tasted the bitter bloody fruits of war, we are grown exceedingly behindhand with ourselves since we began it: if we persist, there will such a confluence of Mischiefs break in upon us, as I am afraid will ruin the King, the Kingdom, the Nation; unless God be merciful to us, and do step in with a great Miracle, for a little one will not serve our turn.
I have long and thougtfully expected, that the cup of trembling which hath gone round about us to other Nations, would at length come in amongst us Jt is now come at last, and we may drink the Dreggs of it, the worst; which God divert.
There is yet some comfort left, that our Miseries are not likely to last long. For, we cannot fight here as they do in Germany, in that great, large, vast continent: where although there be war in some parts of it, yet there are many other remote quiet places, for trade and tillage to support it. We must sight as in a Cock-pit, we are surrounded with the sea. We have no stronger Holds, then our own Sculls, and our own Ribs, to keep out enemies; so that the whole Kingdom will suddenly be but one flame.
Jt hath been said in this House, that we are bound in conscience to punish the shedding of innocent blood: but Sir, who shall be answerable for all the innocent blood which shall be spilled hereafter, if we do not endeavor a Peace, by a speedy Treaty? Certainly, God is as much to be trusted in a Treatie, as in a war: it is He that gives wisdom to treat, as well as courage to fight, and success to both, as it pleaseth Him. Blood is a crying sin, it pollutes a land: why should we defile this land any longer?
Wherefore M r Speaker, Let us stint Blood as soon as we can. Let us agree with our Adversaries in the way, by a present, short, wary Treaty. God direct us.