Several Speeches, Speech 4
The Lord Chancellour of Scotland his Speech, to the Kings Majeſty at Newcaſtle.
YOur Majeſty was pleaſed on Monday laſt to cal the Lords of your Privy counſel of Scotland & the Committee, to acquaint them with the Propoſitions, & told, that before the delivery of your anſwer you would make the ſame known to them. The time aſſigned for the ſtay of the commiſſioners is ſo ſhort, & the conſe…uence of your Majeſties anſwer is of ſo great importance, either for the preſervation, … ruine of your Crown and Kingdoms as we could not be anſwerable to God, nor to …ut truſt repoſed in us, unleſſe we repreſent to your Majeſty how neceſſary it is (as the …ondition of affairs now ſtand, and in ſo great an extremity) that your Majeſty ſhould …ſſent to the Propoſitions, and that the danger and loſſe of your refuſall will be re…edileſſe, and bring on ſudden ruine and deſtruction.
I ſhall begin firſt with the laſt, which is the danger, and ſhall next ſpeak a word of …e remedy: The differences between your Majeſty and your Parliament (which no …an knows better then your Majeſties ſelfe) are grown to ſuch a heighth, that after any bloody battels, there is no cure but a preſent peace, otherwiſe nothing can be …pected but certain deſtruction. The Parliamſent is poſſeſt of your Navy and of all … Forts, gariſons & ſtrong holds of the kingdom: they have the Exciſe, aſſeſſements, … ſequeſtrations at their diſpoſal, & have authority to raiſe all the men & mony in the …ingdom, and (after many victories and great ſucceſſes) they have a ſtrong Army on …ot, and are now in ſuch a poſture for ſtrength and power, as they are in a capacity do what they will, both in Church and State: & ſome are ſo afraid, others ſo unwil…g to ſubmit themſelves to your Majeſties government, as they deſire not you, nor …y of your race longer to reign over them: Yet the people are ſo wearied of the wars, … great burthens they groan under, are ſo deſirous of peace, and loth to have Monar…al government (under which they have lived ſo long in peace & plenty) changed; a ſuch as are unwearied of your Maieſties government, dare not attempt to caſt it …lly off, till once they ſend Propoſitions of peace to your Majeſty, leſt the people …ithout whoſe concurrence they are not able to carry on their deſign) ſhould fall …m them. And therefore all the people being deſirous that (after ſo great wars and …ubles) they may have a perfect ſecurity from oppreſſion and arbitrary power, the …uſes of Parliament have reſolved upon the Propoſitions which are tendred to your …jeſty, as that without which the Kingdom and your people cannot be in ſafety, … moſt part of the people think, that there cannot be a firm peace upon any other …mes. Your Majeſties friends, and the commiſſioners from Scotland, (after all the …ſtling we could,) were forced to conſent to the ſending thoſe Propoſitions, or to …ated as the hinderers of peace, and to ſend no Propoſitions at all. And now Sir, if … Majeſty (which God forbid) ſhall refuſe to aſſent to the Propoſitions, you will …all your friends, loſe the City, and all the country, and all England will joyn …nſt you as one man, and (when al hope of reconciliation is paſt) it is to be feared will proceſſe and depoſe you, and ſet up another Government; they will charge … deliver your Majeſty to them, and to render the Northern garriſons, and to re…e our Army out of England: & upon your Majeſties refuſing of the Propoſitions, … Kingdoms will be conſtrained for their mutual ſafety, to agree & ſettle Religi… …nd Peace without you, which (to our unſpeakable grief) will ruine your Majeſty your poſterity: and if your Majeſty reject our faithfull advice, (who deſire no…g on earth more then the eſtabliſhmrnt of your Majeſties throne,) and loſe Eng… by your wilfulnes, your Majeſty wil not be permitted to come & ruine Scotland. …, We have laid our hand upon our hearts, we have asked counſell and direction … God, and have had our moſt ſerious thoughts about the Remedy, but can find …her (as affairs ſtand for the preſent) to ſave your Crown and Kingdoms, then Majeſties aſſenting to the Propoſitions. We dare not ſay, but they are higher in ſome things (if it were in our power and option to remedy it) then we do approve of; but when we ſee no other meanes for curing the diſtempers of the Kingdoms, and cloſing the breaches between your Majeſty and your Parliament: Our moſt humble and faithful advice is, that your Majeſty would be graciouſly pleaſed to aſſen… to them, as the only beſt way to procure a ſpeedy and happy peace; becauſe your Majeſty ſhall thereby have many great advantages, You will be received again in you… Parliament with the applauſe and acclamations of your People; by your Royall preſence your friends will be ſtrengthened, Your enemies (who fears nothing ſo much as the granting the Propoſitions) will be weakened, your Majeſty will hav… a fit opportunity to offer ſuch Propoſitions as you ſhall in your wiſdome judg… fit for the Crown and Kingdom; all Armies will be disbanded, and you… people finding the ſweet fruits of your peaceable Government, your Majeſty will gain their hearts and affections, which will be your ſtrength and glory, and will recover all that your Majeſty hath loſt in this time of tempeſt and trouble.
And if it pleaſe God ſo to incline your Royal heart to this advice of your humb… and faithfull ſervants, who (next to the honour of God) eſteem nothing more prec… ous then the ſafety of your perſon and crown, Our actions ſhall quickly make appear to all the world, That we eſteem no hazard too great for your Majeſties ſa… ty, and that we are willing to ſacrifice our lives and fortunes for eſtabliſhing your Throne.
And now, Sir, we proſtrate our ſelves at your Majeſties feet, and in the loweſt p… ſture of humility do beg, That your Majeſty may (in end) grant the ſuit of your … humble ſervants and faithfull ſubjects who have no private aimes, but only the g… ry of God, and ſafety of your Majeſties perſon, poſterity, and crown before … eyes. And the granting of our deſires will revive our fainting ſpirits: refreſh our hearts, which are overwhelmed, and like to break with ſorrow, and will turn prayers and tears of the many thouſands of your people, in prayſes to God and m… them embrace your Majeſty with acclamations of joy.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Loudoun, Several Speeches (1646)