The Speech which was to have been delivered to the Kings Majestie, at his coming to HOLY-RUD-HOUSE the 14 of August, in the name of the citie of EDINBURGH, By A. G. Cler. But by the spent day, and other importunities, was interrupted.
IT is not without great reason that Politians parallel the government of Kings in the little world of man, to the government of the Sun in the greater; the Ʋniverse, Though by many arguments this resemblance may be demonstrated, experience above all others hath lately proven it to be true unto us: Since your Majestie turned from our Tropick, we have suffered a sharp Winter, many Ecclipses, as many long and tedious nights [Page] in the darknesse of which, we have wandered in many by-paths, and have been assaulted with many uncouth fears and ghostly shadows: But since it pleased Almightie God to bring your Majestie again to glance upon us; our spring beginneth, dissipate is our darknesse, our feares all evanished, and we are as men transported to some other world; and truly in one of the fortunate Islands; the Golden age is renewed unto us, Justice and Peace begin to kisse one another, every man returning to his wonted trade and lawfull calling: Of what during your absence hath amongst us fallen forth, no imputation can be laid to your Ma: such who presumed to take the reins of government and rule in your place, not being sufficiēt for so great a charge; like so many Phaetons have wrought their own down fall, and our trouble, their weaknesse interrupted and cut off, that mutual intelligence which should have been between You, our Head and Prince, and us the bodie your Subjects; meere accidents occasioned many surmises and great mistakings, all being increased [Page] and blown up by a panicall terrour and fear of servitude, which combyning with religious zeal, went near to produce an abortive chaos.
Doubts now are resolved, all damps and mistes cleared, and wee hope that saying shall prove true, Amantium irae amoris redinte gratio; this assurance is wrought in us by that confidence we have of your Majesties clemencie, which vertue is more proper to you then any Prince living: You are the common Father of your people, we are your children; ingratitude of children towards their Father, is accursed, and crueltie of Fathers towards their children, unnaturall, though every vertue be requisit in a Prince, yet Justice and clemencie are most in him to bee desired, by which he is made good and wise, and approaches nearest to the excellencies of his Maker, who is most just and most mercifull.
We are here in a sublunarie place, subject to alterations, producing occasions, which wrought upon by others produce many mis-intelligences, [Page] and at length bringeth forth unexpected & marvellous abortives in State: God, Prudencie and Occasion are the three principall causes in the moderation of all estates, and these three concurring together, are called fatum: And certainly God to shew the unconstancie of the world, hath suffered this birth of mis-intelligence, which hath so long estranged and parted us from your Majestie; but now as ever we confesse you are our Saveraigne Lord, and we swear and declare we will live and die loyall Subjects to your Majestie, acknowledging you are ordained and placed over us by Almighty God, the King of kings: who least he should dazell our weak sight by his exceeding brightnesse, did not here below establish the throne of his excellency, but granted us to look upon it, by the representation of one Sunne in the heaven, and one Prince in the Commonwealth.
Accept Sir of our obedience, receive us into your wontid favour, and using your clemencie passe by what is by past, your justice also in this [Page] shall appear if you gather together and unite the dispersed members of this Kingdome, if you calme all apparent troubles, establish a lasting peace and tranquilitie amongst your Subjects, who now put up their cryes to save and relieve them. It being more expedient thus to do, then by any rigour to exasperat sick mindes, & melius savare vitiosas partes quam exsecare, remembring that to Princes, qui benignitate & clementia nuperium tenuere candida & laeta omnia fuisse.
As the clemency of King Henrie the 4. your Father in law is perpetually praised, so the rigorous and great severitie of Charles Duke of Burgundie against Liege, and the Emperor Charles the 5 against his people of Gant, is to all posteritie branded and made blacke, qui vult amari languidâ regnet manu. Pericles before his death is said to have accompted himself happie, that during his government none in Athens by wrong from him did wear a mourning weed: It is more expedient for the good of Your Crown to preserve your whole people, [Page] then to sacrifice to your wrath any part of them, and so to loose that Gordian knot of difficulties, not with the sword of furie as Alexander did, but with the knife of prudencie as Solomon. Sir wee have long conceived hopes of your sweetnesse and debonaritie, but now is the time in which we shall finde the effects, Clemencie is the true and only praise of a Prince, his never fading lawrels which recommendeth him to all Nations, and after times.
Accept then of us your humble and faithfull Subjects; and thus (Sir) you shall be still obeyed, we assured, all your people shall redouble their prayers and vows for your prosperous Reigne, and acknowledge you not onely their King, but their deliverer, preserver, and father, Your designes shall have a happie successe upon earth, and your self an immortall crowne of Glorie, when the curtaines of this mortall stage shall be drawn in Heaven.
God save the King.