The Lord BALMERINO'S SPEECH In the High Court of Parliament in Scotland, Spoken Novemb. 4. 1641. Concerning the levying of an Army against the Papists in Ireland. Describing their Conspiracies, which have a long time insulted and continued against these two kingdoms of England and SCOTLAND.  
Printed at London for T. B. 1641.   

THE LORD BALMERINO'S SPEECH, In the high Court of Parliament in SCOTLAND.  
My Lords,  
I Stand not up with a Petition in my hand, for I have already a Petition in my mouth: Neither do I annunciate any thing to my own proper gain, but to the real accommodation of this whole kingdom. For although a particular conspiracy by some confederates was intended against myself, and other Noble members of this House; yet that very thing does not so much exasperate me to speak, as the epidemical dangers impendent on this Nation. Behold how promiscuously men wander in the distracted paths of Religion! Behold how preposterously our mortal enemies the Papists, do not only cast their invective aspersions, but also their intended malice against us! And shall we thus sleep in vindication? Shall we not exstimulate the height of justice to those that promerit worse?  
It strikes a repercussive stupidity into my mind to think of those stratagems which they have forged, both for our beloved brethren in England, and lately for the perdition of some in this illustrious assembly; and yet shall we still permit the Popish recusants to perfect in their former hell-guided imaginations? It is an old saying among the Latinists, but not so old as true, The impunity of a fault does add more courage to the offender; and I fear if we do not curb in time their extended malice, all things will grow to an higher anarchy: The remission of some faults, are the cause of the commission of others; and if we connive at their nefarious conspiraces, we do in some manner encourage them in their wicked proceedings, and so by subsequent conclusion, become ourselves confederates unto them.  
I confess, many of their accursed crew are aggregated in Ireland, and by an irregular insurrection, do intend the utter demolition of Christian Religion. But God foresees their erroneous imaginations, and will in due time (as we trust in his omnipotent justice) precipitate all their Babylonish intents. Many may build Castles in the air but to little effect, & many likewise may aim at the ruin of Protestants, but although they be in strength like Goliath, yet will the little stone of Religious David guided by God's own hand, maugre all their Gigantean puissance.  
My Lords, if my tongue have committed any error in its prolixity, and longinquity of words, that error shall wait upon your gracious pardon: But this I am confident of, neither will I ever desist from my opinion, that unless we do fully vindicate these malicious Papists, these two Kingdoms both Scotland and England, cannot sleep long in security. If they do not intend our subversion, why did they conspire against us? If they do not intend our subversion, why have they so oftentimes plotted against England? If they do not intend our subversion why are they now gathered together in Ireland, daily studying the demolition of this State and kingdom?  
My Lords, assure yourselves that these things cannot proceed from a good intent: And if you annect and consummate all their conspiraces into one bundle, you will find them so various, and intricately numerous, that I am persuaded that they themselves can expect nothing but justice. Is it so then, that their very own actions do cry out for justice, why are we then so backward in the execution thereof? Is it so then, that revenge herself stands idle, why do we not employ her? Is it so then, that the kingdom expects a vindication, why do we then frustrate them of their quotidian expectation?  
My Lords, I conceive it very expedient, that we should levy a sufficient army to repel them, and if that will not suffice, then utterly to expel them, I am sure and confident thereof, that England will conjoin with us in munition, therefore let us labour with all expedition to beat down their aspiring malice: Let us not procrastinate this business, lest in the deferment hereof, God himself be angry with us, whose cause we ought to maintain: What fear can be conceived to oppose us, when the Almighty omnipotence will fight for us? Therefore let us raise a sufficient Army against them, for no better cause can ever offer itself unto us, than the maintenance of true Religion.  
My Lords, I beseech you weigh my words with your sage gravity, and entertain my hearty desire with all your consent herein; which hoping I shall obtain of you, these are my hopes, these are my wishes, and lastly these are my prayers.  
FINIS.