Two Speeches, Speech 2
Master Marshals Speech, spoken at Guild-hall, London, on Friday Octob. 27. 1643.
MY Lord Major, and worthy Aldermen, and Gentlemen of this City, God has shewed me that mercy to bee an eye witnesse, and an eare witnesse of all the maine carriages of the Nation of the Scots, in relation to our afflicted condition, since it pleased the two Houses to send me thither, to bee assistant to their Honourable Commissioners; and I am most willing (being as I am now called thereunto) to give you an accompt of what I have observ'd.
But this Noble Gentleman hath already declared it so fully, that there is not much left for mee to relate, though I were fitter to speake then I am at this present. OnelyOnly this I beseech you believe, that I am able (as in the presence of God; to attest the truth of (I thinke) every particular hee hath delivered to you, concerning the good affections of that Nation, their tendring our Cause, their willingnesse and readinesse to live and die with us in it; And since the Lord made mee able to judge of any thing; I never beheld so much unanimity and consent in so much deepe sense of the Afflictions of Brethren and Neighbours, as I have beheld there, both in the Generall Assembly, and Convention of Estates, and in Multitudes of other well-affected Persons, …aying our miseries to heart, I believe, as much, if not more, then wee our-selves have done.
You have heard the substance of all from Sir Henry Vane; you may please from me to receive a few things in way of confirmation of what hath beene already delivered unto you: Hee told you, what they have d…ne to help to sustaine the Army of Scots in Ireland, who have beene imployed there seventeene or eighteene Moneths in our service, since they received any pay (our distresses at home, having hindered us from doing what else we would and ought to have done) how that they have laid out a very great summe. I adde, they have made it apparant to us, that they have expended in Meale, Clothes, and other Necessaries, no lesse then foure score Thousand pounds this last yeere, toward the subsistance of that Army, which else had perish't before this time▪ Yea, that in that part of Scotland where we were, about Lowthian▪ that there was scarce any on Nobleman or Gentleman of any considerable estate, but hee was this last yeere out of Purse one full yeeres Revenue, as if hee were worth 100, 200, or 300. pound, Sterl. per Annum, hee hath disburst so much for the Irish Army.
And as to that which Sir Henry declared as a demonstration of their willingnesse to Assist us, that they have already charged themselves to the value of 100000. pound. I adde, they have beene so ingenuous and cleere in it, that they have given us a particular to bring with us, which is in the hand of this Noble Gentleman: So that any Man who desires to be satisfied▪ may see the particulars of the charge which they are put to, but to bring their Army upon English Ground; and indeed, they so cleerely see the bleeding condition of Religion and Libertie in both Kingdomes, and are so sensible of our great exhaustions, that I have heard many of their worthy Nobles and others, whom God hath stirr'd up to bee Active and Excellent Instruments in this time of Common danger and Calamitie, solemnly to protest; That were they able to come in, and carry on the worke without putting us to any charge at all, they would do it most gladly; yea, I am able yet further to say, and have leave to speake it freely, that if money can be found in Christendome, to carry on this work, they are ready not onelyonly to engage the Publike Faith of their Kingdome with ours, (as you have already received) But that if either the Bonds or the Mortgages of the Lands of any of the well-affected Nobility or Gentry throughout that Kingdome, will bee taken for security, they are ready to give it; yea further yet, so deepely are they affected, that they are willing (I had allmost said) to Plunder their owne Kingdome to save ours; being ready, if necessity require it, to call throughout all the Kingdome, each Man to declare upon his Oath, what Money, or Victuall he hath; that they may therby know what proportion to set out for the maintenance of this Cause. And lest any suspitions, or Malignant Men should surmise, that all this forwardnesse is but to get themselves into some strength in a Countrey, better then their owne, I beseech you know, that the Honourable Commissioners, my self, and others, who have beene attending this Service with them, have received that abundant satisfaction of their integrity and Justice, that what Articles are, or shall be agreed upon betweene them, and the two Houses of Parliament, wee verily believe they will not breake one Article of the Agreement, to gain the Kingdom of England: Their affections to this Cause are as your hearts could wish: it is onelyonly necessity compels them to desire your assistance towards the maintenance of their Army when they are come in; For should they come in, and Monies faile them, so that for want of Provision (for you will easily conceive that the Northerne Countries may bee much wasted by the Enemie when they are readie to come) they should be compelled to disband, or turne to plunder the Countries for want of subsistance, how scandalous, yea how destructive it might prove to both the Kingdomes you your selves are able to judge.
They are ready and prepared to come, and I hope it will not bee long before you heare that they are advanced, willing to live and dye with you in this cause of God, and will endevour (by Gods assistance) speedily to settle our peace; and as willingly (according to their agreement) to returne home into their owne Scotland, knowing well, that to enjoy peace with God in their owne poore countrey, will be better, then under colour of helping us to usurpe upon ours, though far the richer.
Sir Henry Vane related further unto you, what care they have taken, and how roundly they goe to work in putting on the COVENANT, give me leave to adde, that (beside what the Commissioners of the Convention of Estates have done, in injoyning it under paine of being esteemed and punished as enemies to Religion, his Majesties honour, and peace of the Kingdomes, and to have their Goods confiscate for the use of the publike, &c.) the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly, according to the power given unto them by the said Assembly, have ordained, That particular account shall be taken by the severall Presbyteries, of all who shall refuse, or shift to sweare and subscribe, and that they bee proceeded against with the censures of the Church, as enemies to the preservation and propagation of Religion.
Beside, what this noble Gentleman hath further related concerning their temptations or allurements to desist from this worke, and the other difficulties they are like to meet with in carrying it on, I have nothing to adde, unlesse I should tell you how deeply they are affected with the Cessation in Ireland, and the great danger threatned to both Nations from it; and the utter ruine of the remainder of our poore Brethren yet preserved from slaughter in that miserable Kingdome: For by this Cessation, they, and all others see, that these bloody Rebells, who have shed so much innocent blood, who boast that they have slaughtered 100000 Protestants, and that they will not leave one Protestant alive in that and this, Kingdome, and who have committed the most out ragious and most barbarous cruelties that have ever beene heard of in Christendome, are now (notwithstanding all this) without any either repentance or submission, acknowledged to be his Majesties subjects, and have leave to keepe and hold what they have; to enjoy free passage, intercourse, commerce, and trafficke, with all other his Majesties good subjects by sea and land, and no interruption to be made to any ships which shall furnish them with Armes, Ammunition, or any thing whatsoever; their prisoners released, and such as are indicted for any capitall offence to be set at liberty upon baile; they may send to his Majesty such Agents as they please; yea they have authority to prosecute all in that Kingdom who shall stand in opposition to this agreement, and all this to last for a whole yeare: in which time, our Brethren in Scotland easily discerne how these inhumane and bloody wretches, may from all other Popish Kingdomes be furnisht, both to root out the remainder of our distressed Brethren of that Nation, and enabled to come over and exercise the like butcheries upon our selves and them. In a word, they looke upon it as the most cleare stating of the Question and intention of these warres, to be betwixt Papists and Protestants: And againe, I say they apprehend extreme danger from this cessation to both these Nations, unlesse some speedy supply be sent over to enable the Scottish army there to give checke to their proceedings, upon whom they will be ready to fall as a Torrent; and when once they have devoured them (which God forbid) we may be sure they will endeavour the like against our selves.
In all these our troubles hitherto, our greatest supplies have been drawne, or rather flowed willingly from this Honourable City, and it troubles mee to thinke that I should bee force to use any Rhetorick (if I had it) to draw more disbursements of money from you, who to the admiration of all this part of the Christian world have (under God) upheld this great cause▪ and (I know) are resolved to live and dye with it: I onelyonly beseech you to consider, that if timely supplies may be found, this crop that hath beene swept off from us, will grow againe with greater abundance, and wee may yet sit every one under our owne Vine, and under our owne Fig-tree; and, which is much sweeter, enjoy the fruit and benefit of the Gospel of Iesus Christ, which now we contend for, and which these wicked instruments would deprive us of. But if God for our sins should deliver us into the hands of those that have thus desperately plotted our ruine, I thinke none of you would desire to swim when this cause should sinke; or be vvilling to have either gold, silver, or plate, or any thing found in your houses, vvhen they should come to be possest by these men, vvhose tender mercies would bee more bitter then bloudy cruelties. I beseech you therefore consider of these motions vvhichwhich have been made unto you, and accept of this unfained Relation, which we are able to call God to vvitnesse is nothing but the truth. And for my owne part, I did see more, and doe beleeve more, and my heart hath much more satisfaction concerning the integrity of that Nation, their fellow-feeling of our miseries, and their willingnesse to helpe us, then my tongue is able to utter. This is the sum of vvhat I had to say, the Lord direct you in vvhat you are to doe.
FINIS.
End of the text · Henry Vane, Two Speeches (1643)