Speech 28 August 1641
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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 Made in answer to the Spanish and French Ambassadors request for our Soldiers at their Disbanding,
August 28. 1641.
LONDON Printed Anno Domini, 1641.
M r . Speaker,
T His is a Business of great Consequence, and therefore requires a well-advised Resolution. I will put France and Spain together, take them both before me, because the Reasons will serve one another, as they stand in Relation to us.
We are, Master Speaker, so bounded by the nature of our Situation, as we are not so proper to extend ourselves upon the firm Land of our Neighbors; Our Aptitude is rather to Ballance, which being rightly used may make the King the great Arbiter of all the Affairs of Christendom, by Assisting, With-holding, or Opposing.
Henry the Eighth is an Example of This; He was sometimes of the side of the Emperor, other times of the French Partie, according as he faw either side of the Scales to weigh heavier or lighter; Some might think this to be Inconstancy in him, but it was certainly out of a true and peculiar understanding his Power.
The present State of Christendom is apparent, That the House of Austria begins to diminish, as in Spain, so consequently in Germany. That the French do swell and enlarge themselves: if they Grow and Hold, They will be to us but Spain nearer hand.
Alliances do serve well To make up a present Breach, or mutually To strengthen those States who have the same Ends; but Politike Bodies have no Natural Affections, they are Guided by particular Interest, and beyond That are not to be trusted.
Although it may be good Policy to breed a Militia at the charge of other States abroad for our own use and occasions at home, yet That ought rather to be done amongst Friends of the same way, and so the Low Countries have been an Academie to us.
His Majesty hath now an Embassador treating with the Emperor about the Palatinate, If we send away our Men, it will so damp and discountenance the Affaires of the Prince Elector, as the World will believe, we never had, nor ever shall have any Intentions, to Assist him at all.
I have observed for divers years, That England is not so well Peopled, but we do want Work-folks to bring in Harvest, Our disbanded Soldiers will least dislike that kind of work, and if they be speedily dissolved, That Employment will entertain them for the present, and inure them to labor for hereafter.
Upon these Considerations, Mr. Speaker, I cannot give my advice to add more strength to France, by weakening both ourselves and our Friends.
As for sending the Irish into Spain, Truly, Sir, I have been long of Opinion, That it was never fit to suffer the Irish to be promiscuously made Soldiers abroad, because it may make Them abler to trouble the State when they come home. Their Intelligence, and practice with the Princes whom they shall serve, may prove dangerous to that Kingdom; They may more profitably be employed upon Husbandry, whereof that Country hath great need.
Besides, it will be exceeding prejudicial to us, and to our Religion, If the Spaniard should prevail against the Portuguez.
It were better for us He should be broken into lesser pieces, his Power shivered.
If the King of Portugal had desired these Irish, I should rather have given my vote for Him, then for the King of Spain, because it would keep the Ballance more even; Spain hath had too much of our Assistance, and connivence heretofore; I am sure it lost us the Palatinate. Now that it is come to our Turn to advise, I hope we shall not Do-over other men's faults again.
If the present Government of Ireland be not able to restrain their disordered People, there is a Noble Lord already designed to that Charge, who by his knowledge in Martial Affaires, and other his great Abilities, will be, no doubt, abundantly capable, to reduce them to a due obedience.
Wherefore, Mr. Speaker, upon the whole Matter, My Opinion is, That we should not be forward to spend our Men, but rather to Preserve and husband them for our own use and Employments, for our Friends, for our Religion.