Speech to the House of Commons
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A87837.0001.001
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
A SPEECH, Of Colonel Edward Leigh, as it was delivered by himself to the Honorable House of Commons, upon occasion of presenting a STAFFORD-SHIRE PETITION: As also the Petition it self, presented by the same Colonel, and divers other Gentlemen OF STAFFORD-SHIRE, On Monday the thirtieth of Septem. 1644.
LONDON, Printed by F. L. for Matthew Walbancke, at Grays-Inn-Gate. 1644.
A True Copy of a Speech of Colonel Edward Leigh, suddenly composed, and spoken by himself to the Honorable House of Commons, upon occasion of presenting a Staffordshire Petition, published by himself, to prevent the printing, and scattering of any false Copies.
Mr. Speaker;
W E are sent hither by our Chief Commander (though we could be ill spared at this time) to represent unto this Honorable House the sad condition of our Country. What a misery it is for a Politick body to be deprived of its head, you all know sufficiently, and will therefore be the more sensible (we hope) of our troubles in Staffordshire. England hath heretofore been divided from the whole world, ( toto divisos orbe Britannos ) but was never in any age so much and so long divided in it self we labor now, not only under the grand division of King and Parliament, Head and Members, but under many subdivisions of Generalls, & Committees, and commanders. These unhappy divisions in the State, and diverse other sad differences in the Church, do threaten sudden ruin to both, unless You honorable Worthies (who are the grand Physicians or our Church and State) do wisely and seasonably compose them. Inveterate diseases are hardly cured, evil spirits are more easily raised then laid Principis obsta, is good counsel in this case. The eyes of the three Kingdoms, shall I say? Nay of all the Christian world are upon you, Worthie Patriots, expecting a happy Reformation, and timely redress of errors in Religion, and grievances in the Common-wealth: And as you have given ample Testimony already both of Your zeal to God's glory (and your love to your dear Country) so we doubt not but you will still persist in so good a Cause, that both ourselves and our posterity may bless you, as Repairers of our breaches, and the main Pillors (under God) of upholding our tottering State. The Earl of Denbigh first received his power from you, and my Lord General, and therefore it must be dissolved by you, before it be void. The chief commanders, the Deputy Leiutenants, the Gentlemen of quality, and greater part of the Committee, with thousands of the Communaltie in Staffordshire, do humbly desire, that he may be accommodated as a Noble General, and then speeded into the Country, action being now more seasonable then dispute. Many of the subscribers to this Petition have attended on my Lord's person in this service, and ventered their lives with him. They see no reason to question his fidelity, who hath for this cause lost great friends, displeased near friends, spent his estate, and hazarded his life. His wisdom and affability, are generally known, his courage and resolution hath appeared to those, which have been eye-witnesses, of his actions, and one vertuou qualifications in a Commander, I cannot omit in this Honorable Lord, though he have been much opposed by some ever since he first embarqued himself in this employment, • et he hath ever had a great command over himself and his own passions, therefore I shall thus conclude, humbly submitting to your wise Iudgments; He is fit to command others who can so well command himself.
To the Right honorable the Lord's and Commons now assembled in Parliament; The humble Petition of the Committee, Commanders, Gentlemen, and others well affected in the County of Stafford.
THat whereas the continual and grievous pressures of Plunder, insupportable taxations, imprisonments, terrors and murders by the Enemy, now much increasing by the addition of many falling into these counties of Stafford and Salop, being the weakest part of the Kingdom, as we conceive, through our distractions, and the unhappy absence of our Lord General the Earl of Denbigh, and are now (as we are credibly informed) preparing to plant themselves in Garrisons for this winter.
We are forced humbly to pray, as formerly, that no obstacles (not worthy to be compared with the sufferings of these Countries, and the cause in general may any longer retard the accommodation and timely dispatch of our L. General, by whose wisdom and power (under God) we are confident there will be raised, united, and disposed such a seasonable and considerable Force in these, and parts near us, that are disengaged, which now for want of a head, are disioynt and unserviceable) as will not only clear these, But assist other parts. And that the differences betwixt his Lordship and others, may either be speedily reconciled and ordered, or deferred until the leisure of the honorable Houses and the exigence of our condition will admit.