Speech 20 September 1641
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/A49195.0001.001
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 Made by The Lord Lowden To the LORD'S in the upper House of PARLIAMENT in Scotland, the 20 of September. Anno 1641. Concerning, The Restoration of the Electoriall Family.
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London Printed 1641.
A SPEECH Made by The Lord Lowden.
My Lord's,
THe great difference between the two Kingdoms England and Scotland, through the great Mercies of God being now appeased, and an act of oblivion past of all by-gone deeds since the last troubles, we may with cheerfulness and thankfulness, not only settle all things here at home, which by reason of the want of the benefit of ordinary Judicature, are now out of order, with all duty and affection, but likewise to consider of, and assist his Majesty in such matters & enterprises, as he shall be pleased to propound unto us. Now first for the difference, give me leave to say somewhat of them; and (indeed) in speaking somewhat of them, I may hold my peace, and say nothing at all, for the truth is, there was no difference between the two Kingdoms, there were troubles, and fears on either side, but consider, it was not through the default of the two Kingdoms, that were like to have produced such miserable effects, and calamities, as were threatened, but it was the fault of malignant men, who by their wicked actions, and improvident Counsels, strived (in what in them lay) to sow the seeds of discord and dissention betwixt his Royal Majesty, and his good subjects of both Kingdoms: If then these calamities, threatened and feared, were by ill instruments wrought and caused, and that now by the goodness of the Almighty wisdom of his Royal Majesty, and prudent endeavors of the Honorable Assemblies of both Kingdoms, both the cause and the causers are removed and averted, what cause is there, or can there be imagined to be, that either Kingdom or any particular member of either, can be otherwise then really united in more tender and hearty affection one towards another then ever they were? For our Kingdom of Scotland, however the great Impostures of these troubles scattered false rumors and reports both in the ears of his Majesty, and many of his loyal and good subjects, that we should aim altogether at our own ends, and that all our pretences were to insinuate both into the hearts and estates of the subjects of England, yet I hope it hath now fully appeared to his Majesty, and the Honorable Assembly of that Kingdom, and all other his loving subjects that will not be willfully or maliciously blind, that we sought only our own peace both in Church and State at home, and not the least prejudice (much less the ruin) of our brethren of England. For the truth of this I dare boldly say, I may call the Northern Counties to witness where our Army lay, that they cannot say that our soldiers used them as enemies, but as friends; and that where such an Army lay so long time, there was never so little harm done to a Country, and that little which was done (I hope) satisfaction is or shall be suddenly made. And I hope none of his Majesty's good Subjects in England, will take it to be any dishonor in granting us that sum of money the Parliament did towards our great losses and charges, which have appeared to be more then double the sum granted, but a friendly demonstration of one Nation to another, we are brethren not enemies, and by ill instruments were forced both into the field, having no cause of malice one towards another, let mischief then fall on neither Nations, but on those instruments; let them be made exemplary, that were the caufers of such calamities, and great let the honor be to his Majesty, and the wise prudent assembly of both Kingdoms that have applied themselves to fair things, and composed the quarrel without shedding of blood, and even from a state gasping, have restored both Kingdoms to their former unity, peace, and concord, and disbanded the Armies upon reasonable conditions. Since then there is such and unity between both Kingdoms, and that the Armies are both united in true hearty affection one towards another, how considerable may these Armies make us abroad? If God shall bless us, then certainly those Armies that were lately ready to offend one another, may show a capabilities with unity of hearts, and well designed may effect great matters, and may by unity of counsel raise both Kingdoms to as good estimation, and as great honor in the world as ever. And how can they be better designed then to restore the Electorical Families to their former inheritance? can there be a better cause then the truth of God? can there be a cause wherein we can be more intressed, then to assist his Royal Majesty's dearest and only Sister, and her royal issue, to obtain their lawful and rightful Inheritance, out of which they have been so long time unjustly divested? doubtless there cannot. Now to the interest of the cause, let us add his Royal Majesty's proposition, which make all complete. Let us therefore proceed to the perfecting of so religious so lawfully, and so laudable a work as this, and no doubt but our brethren of England will be as forward as we being intressed alike in the cause as we are, I shall here not unfitly make mention of a homely Story. I have read of an Emperor in Turkey, that hearing there was civil wars in England, had a design to taken the advantage of the same, and invaded that Kingdom, but an English man being in some favor and estimation with the Emperor, and wishing well to his native Country, caused a cupple of mastiff Dogs to be set together by the ears before the Emperor; and as they were fighting, caused a bear to be put to them, which the Dogs perceiving, left fighting, and fell both upon the Bear, which the Empetour taking notice of the English man, told him he had caused that to be done, to show him the condition of his Country-men, who though they would fall out among themselves, yet they would take part each with other against an enemy. And therefore though they were at variance amongst themselves, yet it would be little advantage to his his intended undertaking-upon, which the Emperor changed his resolution touching that design.
If then this were the nature of Englishmen, unto whom we now by the Almighty's Providence are united, under one King, one Nation, and one Island, I doubt not but the same remains, and that though we were lately ready to offend each other, yet being now united in more tender and hearty affection one towards another, then ever we were, we shall hold and maintain such a good correspondency amongst ourselves, that shall nor only bring both Nations to a condition of prosperity at home, but make us formidable to our enemies abroad.