A Speech by Cambel of Lorne, Text
A MOST NOBLE SPEECH Spoken by the LORD CAMBEL OF LORNE. One of his Majeſties moſt Honourable Privie Counſell of SCOTLAND.
Moving the Lords HOVSE in Scotland, in his Maieſties preſence, for the prevention of ſuch Advantages; whereby Incendiaries may in the vacancy of Parliaments, any way extort from his Highneſſe Proclamations, to inforce the bringing in of Innovations into the Kirke; or confirming of Monopolies, that ſo all Oppreſſions may be removed from his Majeſties Subjects of both Kingdomes.
As alſo, an Honourable REPLY Made by the Lord Lowden, againſt ſuch, who objected againſt his former SPEECH.
London, Printed by B. Alſop, 1641.
A MOST NOBLE SPEECH SPOKEN BY THE Earle of Argile, Lord of Lorne, &c. Competitour for the Chancellor-ſhip.
MY LORDS,
WHat was more to bee wiſhed for on Earth, then the great happineſſe, this day wee enjoy? viz. To ſee his Royall Majeſty, our Native Soveraigne, and his loyall Subjects of both Kingdomes, ſo really reconciled, and united: that his Maieſty is piouſly pleaſed to grant unto us his Subiects, our lawfull demands concerning Religion and Liberties, and wee his Subjects of both Nations, cheerfully rendring to his Maieſty, that duty, affection, and aſſiſtance, which he hath juſt cauſe to expect from good People, and each Nation concurring in a brotherly amity, unity, and concord, one towards the other?
O what Tongue is able to expreſſe the Honour and Praiſe due to that great and good God, who in thoſe late Commotions, ſuffered not the prudent Counſels of either Kingdomes to deſpaire of the ſafety of either Commonwealth: but through his bleſsing to their painfull and prudent Endeavours, hath wrought ſuch a happineſſe for us, that after the great toyle and trouble, wee have ſo long on both ſides endured, we may now each man, with his wife, children, and friends, under his owne Vine, and Figtree (and all under his Maieſties Gracious protection) refreſh himſelfe with the ſweet fruits of peace: which I beſeech the Lord of Peace make perpetuall to both Nations.
Now my earneſt deſire is, that our beſt ſtudies and endeavours, may be ſpent in contriving, and enacting ſuch wholeſome Lawes; whereby (as much as in us lyes) the opportunity and occaſion of producing ſuch Calamities, as lately threatned to fall upon both Nations, may be prevented, if in any Age hereafter ſuch miſcreants ſhall goe about to attempt it.
It is notorious, that the late Incendiaries that occaſioned the great differences, betwixt his Maieſty and his Subjects, tooke much advantage and courage, by the too long intermiſſion of the happy Conſtitution of Parliaments.
In the vacancy of which, they by falſe Information, incenſed his Maieſty againſt his Loyall ſubiects; and by their vile inſinuations extorted from his Highneſſe Proclamations, for obedience to their Innovations in the Kirk, and Pattents for Proiects: whereby the poore Subiect was both polled, and oppreſſed in his Eſtate, and enthralled in his Conſcience.
And thus by their wicked Practiſes, his Maieſty was diſtaſted, and his ſubiects generally diſcontented: in ſo much, that had not the great mercy of God prevented them, they had made an obſtruction betwixt his Maieſty, and his liege People, and had broken thoſe mutuall & indiſſoluble bonds of Protection and Allegeance.
Whereby J hope his Majeſty, and his loyall ſubjects of all three Kingdomes, will be ever bound together: to which let all the ſubiects ſay, Amen.
My Lords, The diſtaſte of his Majeſty, nor diſcontents of his Subiects, could never have growne to that height they did (nor conſequently have produced ſuch effects) had there not bin ſuch an interpoſition by thoſe Innovators and Projectors, betwixt his Majeſty our glorious Sunne, and us, his loyall Subjects: that his goodneſſe could neither appeare to us, nor their diſloyalty and our obedience to him.
For no ſooner was that happy Conſtellation, the Parliament in England raiſed, and thoſe vaporous Clouds diſſipated; but his Maieſties goodneſſe, his ſubiects Loyalty, and their treachery evidently appeared.
Our Brethren of England finding the Intermiſſion of Parliaments, to be prejudiciall and dangerous to the State, have taken a courſe for the frequent holding of them; whoſe prudent Example, J deſire may be our Patterne: forthwith to obtaine his Maieſties Royall aſſent for the ſame.
By which meanes, his Maieſty may in due time, heare, and redreſſe the Grievances of his Subjects, and his ſubjects cheerefully (as need ſhall require) ayd and aſsiſt his Maieſty: and not onelyonly the Domeſtique peace, and quiet of each Kingdome preſerved;
But likewiſe all Nationall differences (if any happen) by the wiſedome of the Aſſemblies of both Kingdomes, from time to time, reconciled and determined, to the perpetuating of the happy Peace, and Vnion of both Nations.page missing
End of the text · Archibald Argyll, A Speech by Cambel of Lorne (1641)