Speech 12 September 1645
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A88562.0001.001
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 THE RIGHT HONORABLE The Earl of LOUDEN, Lord Chancellor of SCOTLAND:
To a Grand Committee of both Houses of Parliament, upon the 12 of September, 1645.
Published by Authority.
Printed at London by E. P. for Hugh Perrey, and are to be sold at his Shop in the Strand. 1645.
A SPEECH OF THE Right Honorable the Earl of LOUDEN, Lord Chancellor of SCOTLAND.
My Lord's and Gentlemen,
T He occasion of this meeting is to represent to the Honorable Houses of the Parliament of this Kingdom, the condition of the affairs of Scotland, which at this time is very sad, in respect that those bloody Rebels who came from Ireland (whom this Kingdom by the large Treatie are obliged to repress) and their treacherous Confederates and Malignants, who have conspired against the Covenant and League betwixt the two Kingdoms; have so much prevailed in Mischiefe, especially in that unhappy late rancounter with our Forces at Kilsyth, where the Rebels being upon their march Southward, and (according to our best intelligence) to join with the King, whom they did expect in Scotland, or to break through our borders into England, and to come with their Army into this Kingdom, and our Army being then very weak by reason of their former losses and conflicts, wherein most part of our Forces were cut off, did raise some Country Forces, and brought them along with them, and (out of their zeal, to the good and safety of both Kingdoms) did pursue them with more forwardness and haste then good speed or success; for the Enemy having placed themselves in a ground of advantage, betwixt sleep Mountains on the one hand, and Woods and Bogs on the other, possessing the best ground, wherein a latent place they were all drawn up in battle; our Forces advanced up to them, and the ground being very strait, & the Enemy lurking in a place where they were not perceived till our Forces were close at them, and none of ours being drawn up, nor put in order but only the Regiment that marched in the Van, the Enemy did fall upon them with their whole Horse & Foot, and after fighting with that first Regiment (who did fight very valiantly till oppressed with the multitude of the Enemies whole Forces) they were most part cut off, and the rest broken: the few Horse we had retreated disorderly, breaking through their own Foot, and all being in disorder the Enemy prevailed, and routed our Forces with great execution, giving quarter to no • e.
After this sad blow, we having no other Army, not reserve of Forces on the Fields, some Towns near the Enemy, wherein there be many Malignants ready to welcome them, and others out of fear were glad to capitulate with the Enemy, and submit themselves to their mercy, upon such conditions as they could obtain.
The deportment of the Enemy since, is by all craft and cruelty to strengthen and recruit their Army, wherein they leave no means unessayed that policy or violence can effect; they offer Peace and protection, Immunity from all Excise, Assessements, raised for the entertainment of our Armies in Scotland, England, and Ireland, and the ratifying of the former Covenant of Scotland, to all that shall join with them or lie Neutrall; and (as they term it) return to their loyalty and obedience to the King, and shall renounce the mutual League and Covenant with England; and such as will not, are threatened with Fire and Sword, which in divers places they put to execution most cruelly: And Montrosse, as the Kings Lieutenant-General, Issues forth Commissions to Popish and Malignant Lord's, and other, to Array the Country for the King.
Papists & divers Malignants, who before were with them in their hearts, but durst not appear, are now avowedly join'd with them; others out of fear to preserve themselves, their wives & children from destruction of the Sword & Fire, are fled, & some take protections from them: the Enemy is roaring and triumphing in the heart of the Kingdom, and is now possessed of the Houses, Lands, and Estates of many Noblemen, Gentlemen, and others of the best affected in the Kingdom, to whom nothing is left but Families without maintenance, honor without means to support it, & who are under all the grievous Calamities of War, and under the mercy of a most cruel and bloody Enemy, not having (when I came from that Kingdom) any Army in the Fields to oppose them. And in the mean time the Angel of God is striking our Cities, especially Edenbrough, the chief City of that Kingdom, with the Plague of Pestilence so fearfully, as there is no living there, nor any Commerce, Trade, nor exchange of Money, which increases our difficulties to maintain a War, & a Parliament is indicted by Montrosse, to establish all these iniquities by a Law.
In this our extremity, we were forced to have our recourse to our Armies in England and Ireland, to crave their aid; and for that end I am sent hither to the Honorable Houses of Parliament, to represent to them and this Honorable Meeting the necessity of calling our Army, for the relief and safety of their Native Country, and that the party who was nearest them, under the conduct of Lieutenant General David Lesly, might with all possible speed march into Scotland, to whom the Committee did earnestly write for that effect: this was the readiest remedy which did fall within the compass of their present consideration; they desire, and are confident, to find the Honorable Houses approbation thereof, there being no hope of assistance from our Army in Ireland.
Their next desire to the Honorable Houses is, that the Wars in Scotland against these bloody Rebels, may be carried on by the joint Counsels and assistance of both Kingdoms, against the common enemies of both Nations, and the Cause wherein we are so deeply engaged, the War and our Enemies being still the same, and the place of our War only changed; and if the King or his forces break into Scotland that proportionable forces from the Parliament may closely follow them.
No man hath conscience or honesty, but he will remember the solemn League and Covenant, the Treatie, and the Declarations of both Kingdoms, which are the strongest bonds betwixt God and man, and betwixt man and man, and Nation and Nation, before the world: no man hath true zeal to Religion, that will shrink for such adversity and opposition, as hath been ordinary in the like work, and hath been obvious to us since our first undertaking, but hath been always overcome by the assistance of God: no man hath prudence, will hope for a powerful and prosperous War, or any firm or true peace, but in the conjunction of both Kingdoms.
How great then would the sin and shame be, if either Nation, against so manifold Obligations whereby we stand obliged before God and the world, should desert other in this Cause?
How great advantage would it be to our common Enemy, who ha's still followed that Machiavilian Maxim, Divide & impera, to get us divided, and the greatest favor either Nation could expect in the end is, but to be the last that shall be devoured?
As in the time of your greatest distress and lowest ebb, when Scotland enjoyed peace and quietness, they did from their sympathy of your sufferings forsake their own peace for your aid, apprehending also your mine and servitude might be a fore-runner of theirs; so if this Kingdom shall withdraw, or be wanting in their assistance to us, in the day of our distress, brought upon us for imbarking with them, and we perish in it; will it not usher in and hasten upon you that same ruin, intended from the beginning by our common enemy? And if the godly and honest party in that Kingdom perish for want of assistance, you may certainly expect as great an Army from the ••• for your destruction, as came formerly for your preservation; which God forbid.
But from our Brethren of England, and the Honorable Houses of Parliament, who are the true Pilots, set at the Helme in so great a storm, we expect better and greater things, that their whole authority, power and means will in this exigent be aiding to us: And it is the firm resolution of that Kingdom, by God's grace, never to forsake this, but against all opposition, with courage and constancy to live and die with you in this Cause; and although all the world should forsake us, so long as there is one drop of blood in our veins, we resolve never to relinquish this Work, but to put our confidence in the justness of the Cause, and in the invincible power of God, whose Cause it is, till it please him by a prosperous War, or happy Peace (which we still desire may by all good means be sought after) to put an end to our troubles, trusting he will strengthen us and send deliverance to his people: But if either Nation draw back their hand, or deal treacherously in it, their judgment and doom will be harder then I desire to pronounce.