Speech July 1646
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A49197.0001.001
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
THE LORD CHANCELLOR OF SCOTLAND HIS SPEECH To the King in NEWCASTLE, JULY, 1646. As it was sent up by a Faithful Hand from thence.
Published according to Order.
LONDON, Printed by Matthew Simmons for Rich. Tomlines at the S • nne in Pie-Corner. 1646.
〈1 page missing〉 ••• ter of 13 th . instant, from Newcastle, where several Copies had been given out (as was supposed) by the Lord Chancellors consent and direction; and a transcript thereof falling into my hands, I thought it so worthy of public view, that although the Scottish Commissioners had omitted to Print it; yet I have done both them and England that right as to commit it to the Press: I shall for present say no more on it but this, Well weigh all things in it.
August 29. 1646.
Thine Ingenuously, I. I.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR OF SCOTLAND his SPEECH, To the King in Newcastle, July 1646. As it was sent up by a faithful Hand from thence.
Y Our Majesty was pleased on Monday last to eall the Lord's of Your Council and Committee, to acquaint them with the Propositions, and told them before you would deliver Your Answer, You would make the same known to them: The time assigned to the Commissioners stay is so short, and the consequence of your Majesty's Answer of so great importance, either for the preservation or ruin of Your Crown, and Kingdoms, as we could not be answerable to God, nor to that Trust reposed in us, unless we represent to your Majesty how necessary it is that your Majesty assent to the Propositions as the condition of affairs now stand in so great extremity, and that the danger and loss of your refusal will be remediless, and bring on a sudden ruin and destruction.
I shall begin first with the last, which is the Danger, and shall next speak a word of the Remedy.
The differences betwixt your Majesty and your Parliament (which no man knoweth better then your Majesty's self,) are grown to such a height, that after many bloody battles, the Parliament having your Majesty, all the Forts, Garrisons, and strong holds in their hands, having your Majesty's Revenue, Excise, Assessements, Sequestrations, and the Authority to raise all the men and money in the Kingdom, and having, after many victories and great successes, a strong Army on Foot, are now in such a posture for strength and power: they are in a capacity to do what they will, both in Church and State. And some are so afraid, and others so unwilling to submit themselves to your Majesty's Government, that they desire not you, nor any of your Race, longer to reign over them: But the people are so wearied of the War, and great burdens they do groan under, are so loath to have Monarchical Government destroyed, that they dare not attempt to cast it totally off, till once they send Propositions of Peace to your Majesty, least the People (without whose concurrence they are not able to carry on their design) should fall from them; but after so great War and trouble, that they may have a perfect security from opposition and Arbitrary power, they have resolved upon the Propositions, which are tendered to your Majesty, as that without which the Kingdom and your people cannot be in safety, and that there cannot be a firm Peace upon any other terms.
Your Majesty's friends in the Houses, and the Commissioners from Scotland, (after much wrasling) did consent to the sending of those Propositions, or to be rated the hinderers of Peace, or other ways to send no Propositions at all.
And now Sir, if your Majesty (as God forbid) shall refuse to assent to the Propositions, You will lose all Your friends in the Houses, lose the City, and all the Country. And all England will join against you as one man; they will process and depose you, and set up another Government; they will charge us to deliver your Majesty to them, and to render their Garrisons, and remove our Armies out of England, and upon your Majesty's refusal of the Propositions, both Kingdoms will be constrained for their mutual safety, to agree and settle Religion and peace without You, which (to our unspeakable grief) will ruin your Majesty and your Posterity, and if your Majesty refuse our faithful advice (who desire nothing on Earth more then the preservation of your Majesty's Royal Throne.) And if your Majesty lose England by your willfulness, you will not be permitted to come and reign in Scotland.
Sir, we have laid our hands upon our hearts, we have asked Counsel and direction from God, and have had our most serious thoughts upon the Remedy, but can find no other to save your Crown and Kingdoms, then your Majesty's assenting to the Propositions, and dares not say but they are higher in some things, (if it were in our power and option to remedy) then we approved of, but when we see no other means for curing the distempers of the Kingdoms, and closing the breach between your Majesty and your Parliament, Our most humble and safe advise is, your Majesty will be graciously, pleased to assent to them as the only way to establish your Throne; Because your Majesty shall be thereby received again in your Parliament, with the applause and acclamations of your people, by your Royal presence all friends will be strengthened, and all Enemies, (who fear nothing so much as the granting the Propositions) will be weakened; your Majesty will have a fit opportunity hereafter, to offer such Propositions as You and your Parliament in wisdom shall think fit, for your Crown and Kingdom, the Armies will be disbanded, and your people finding the sweet fruit of a peaceable Government: you will gain their hearts and affections, and that will be your Majesty's strength and glory, and will recover all that you have lost in this time of tempest and of trouble.
And if it please God to incline your Royal heart to this advise of your humble, and faithful servants, who next to the honor and service of God, esteem nothing more precious, then the safety of your Person, and Crown: our actions shall make it appear, that we esteem no hazard too great for your Majesty's safety, and that we are willing to sacrifice our Lives and fortunes for establishing your Throne and just Right.