A speech, of Colonell Edward Leigh, as it was delivered by himselfe to the honourable House of Commons, upon occasion of presenting a Stafford-shire petition: as also the petition it selfe, presented by the same colonell, and divers other gentlemen of Stafford-shire, on Munday the thirtieth of Septem. 1644.

A speech, of Colonell Edward Leigh, as it was delivered by himselfe to the honourable House of Commons, upon occasion of presenting a Stafford-shire petition: as also the petition it selfe, presented by the same colonell, and divers other gentlemen of Stafford-shire, on Munday the thirtieth of Septem. 1644.

Table of contents

Title page

A True Copie of a Speech of Colonell Edward Leigh, sodainely composed, and spoken by himselfe to the Honourable House of Commons, upon occasion of presenting a Staffordshire Petition, published by himselfe, to prevent the printing, and scattering of any false Copies.

To the Right honourable the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament; The humble Petition of the Committee, Commanders, Gentlemen, and others well affected in the County of Stafford.

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A SPEECH, Of Colonell Edward Leigh, as it was delivered by himselfe to the Honourable House of Commons, upon occasion of presenting a STAFFORD-SHIRE PETITION: As also the Petition it selfe, presented by the same Colonell, and divers other Gentlemen OF STAFFORD-SHIRE, On Munday the thirtieth of Septem. 1644.

LONDON, Printed by F. L. for Matthew Walbancke, at Grays-Inne-Gate. 1644.

A True Copie of a Speech of Colonell Edward Leigh, sodainely composed, and spoken by himselfe to the Honourable House of Commons, upon occasion of presenting a Staffordshire Petition, published by himselfe, to prevent the printing, and scattering of any false Copies.

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Mr. Speaker;

WE are sent hither by our Chiefe Commander (though wee could bee ill spared at this time) to represent unto this Honourable House the sad condition of our Country. VVhat a miserie it is for a Politick body to be deprived of its head, you all know sufficiently, and will therefore [Page] bee the more sensible (we hope) of our troubles in Staffordshire. England hath heretofore beene divided from the whole world, (toto divisos orbe Britannos) but was never in any age so much and so long divided in it selfe wee labour now, not onely under the grand division of King and Parliament, Head and Members, but under many subdivisions of Generalls, & Committees, and commanders. These unhappie divisions in the State, and diverse other sad differences in the Church, do threaten suddaine ruine to both, unlesse You honourable VVorthies (who are the grand Physitians or our Church and State) doe wisely and seasonably compose them. Inveterate diseases are hardly cured, evill spirits are more easily rais'd then laid Principis obsta, is good counsell in this case. The eyes of the three Kingdomes, shall I say? Nay of all the Christian world are upon you, [Page] Worthie Patriots, expecting a happie Reformation, and timely redresse of errours in Religion, and grievances in the Common-wealth: And as you have given ample Testimony already both of Your zeale to Gods glory (and your love to your deare Countrie) so wee doubt not but you will still persist in so good a Cause, that both our selves and our posterity may blesse you, as Repairers of our breaches, and the maine Pillors (under God) of upholding our tottering State. The Earle of Denbigh first received his power from you, and my Lord Generall, and therefore it must be dissolved by you, before it bee voyde. The chiefe commanders, the Deputie Leiutenants, the Gentlemen of quality, and greater part of the Committee, with thousands of the Communaltie in Staffordshire, do humbly desire, that he may be accommodated as a Noble Generall, and then speeded into the Country, action being now more seasonable then dispute. Many of the subscribers to this Petition have attended on my Lords person in this service, and ventered their lives with him. They see no reason to question his fidelitie, who hath for this cause lost great friends, displeased neere friends, spent his estate, and hazarded his life. His wisedome and affability, are generally known, his courage and resolution hath appeared to those, which have beene eye-witnesses, of his actions, and one vertuou qualifications in a Commander, I cannot omit in this Honourable Lord, though hee have beene much opposed by some ever [Page] since hee first embarqued himselfe in this imployment, [...]et he hath ever had a great command over himselfe and his owne passions, therefore I shall thus conclude, humbly submitting to your wise Iudgments; He is fit to command others who can so well command himselfe.

To the Right honourable the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament; The humble Petition of the Committee, Commanders, Gentlemen, and others well affected in the County of Stafford.

Humbly sheweth.

THat whereas the continuall and grievous pressures of Plunder, insupportable taxations, imprisonments, terrours and murders by the Enemy, now much encreasing by the addition of many falling into these counties of Stafford and Salop, being the weakest part of the Kingdome, as we conceive, through our distractions, and the unhappy absence of our Lord Generall the Earle of Denbigh, and are now (as we are credibly informed) preparing to plant themselves in Garisons for this winter.

We are forced humbly to pray, as formerly, that no obstacles (not worthy to be compared with the sufferings of these Countries, and the cause in generall may any longer retard the accommodation and timely dispatch of our L. Generall, by whose wisdome and power (under God) we are [Page] confident there will be raised, united, and disposed such a seasonable and considerable Force in these, and parts neare us, that are disingaged, which now for want of a head, are disioynt and unserviceable) as will not only cleare these, But assist other parts. And that the differences betwixt his Lordship and others, may either be speedily reconciled and ordered, or deferred untill the leasure of the honourable Houses and the exigents of our condition will admit.

And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c. With 4000. hands of Gentlemen and others of good ability.

FINIS

Information about this book

Title statement

A speech, of Colonell Edward Leigh, as it was delivered by himselfe to the honourable House of Commons, upon occasion of presenting a Stafford-shire petition: as also the petition it selfe, presented by the same colonell, and divers other gentlemen of Stafford-shire, on Munday the thirtieth of Septem. 1644.

Leigh, Edward, 1602-1671.

Edition statement

1644

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A87837

ID [STC]

Wing L1006

ID [STC]

Thomason E10_26

ID [STC]

ESTC R14525

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99859681

ID [PROQUEST]

99859681

ID [VID]

111776

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This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A87837)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 111776)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 2:E10[26])

Source

— A speech, of Colonell Edward Leigh, as it was delivered by himselfe to the honourable House of Commons, upon occasion of presenting a Stafford-shire petition: as also the petition it selfe, presented by the same colonell, and divers other gentlemen of Stafford-shire, on Munday the thirtieth of Septem. 1644., Leigh, Edward, 1602-1671..

Extent

7, [1] p.

Printed by F. L. for Matthew Walbancke, at Grays-Inne-Gate,. London :: 1644.. (Annotation on Thomason copy: "Octob: 2d".) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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