THE Duke OF LENOX HIS honourable AND worthy SPEECH in the High Court of PARLIAMENT in SCOTLAND.  
Octob. 28. 1641.  
Concerning the King's majesty's return into England.  
And a certain affront which was given to himself, and the marquis Hamilton When they first came to take their places in the Parliament House.  
LONDON, Printed for John THOMAS. 1641.   

The Duke of LENOX, his Speech in the Court of PARLIAMENT in SCOTLAND, Octob. 28. 1641.  
Concerning the Kings return home into England, and a certain affront which was given to himself and the marquis of Hamilton, when they first came to take their places in the Parliament House.  
My Lords,  
OF this most honourable Convocation, my bounden duty commandeth me to be a Speaker, which as yet have always been silent, and which is not concerning any mean matter, or the affairs of so little consequence, but that it concerns both kingdoms, and my own particular affront at my first coming to this Assembly.  
But first, I begin in my King's behalf, who hath been present here so long, that others bemoan to my knowledge, his absence.  
You cannot but think my Lords, that England will be contented without their sovereign, for a body without a head, what is it but dead, Commissioners are left behind it is true, but yet the Land receives the more courage while their King is present, concerning State affayires, than is to be conceived they can, he being absent.  
I very well know, that when his majesty came first hither, it was not his royal intent to stay so long, but promised a speedy return, which is well known unto yourselves, as others, and yet do I perceive that you are all sick of a lingering disease, that I am forced to confess that there have many great disturbances concerning the State, and many Treacheries are daily discovered, but yet my Lords consider, distractions are as well in England and Ireland, as in this kingdom, Religion there claims its due, which is to be preferred before a private danger, which is both wicked & pernicious to the Common wealth.  
The one may destroy some particular persons, but the other destroys a whole Commonwealth, where but in part a kingdom halts concerning Religion, great danger must needs hang over the head of the whole, as long as error is crowned, truth must consequently be dispossessed of its right and it behooves a King to defend the right.  
Why is our sovereign styled the defender of the faith, but to defend the righteous & just, for where there is neither right nor justice, Faith cannot subsist.  
To bring the first part of my intents to a period, it is requisite that the return of the King be no longer delayed.  
Let not England be deceived any longer of its diurnal expectation, lest danger be heaped on your heads, for why it is already suspected, that you keep him here for no loyal intents.  
Although I must confess that his entertainment hath been such amongst you; that Envy itself, can find no just cause to complain, and ever since his majesty hath been here, you cannot deny, but that he hath been willing to condescend to your Demands.  
The Castle of Edinburgh is discharged of all its forces, the soldiers are disbanded, and the Ordinances dismounted, although Carleile as yet have not yielded to do the like, yet no wtong is offered by them, but they wish well to both kingdoms, and the sovereign thereof.  
His majesty subscribes to any thing that is lawful, and hath yielded to all things hitherto according to justice, and he being absent hath given his power into your hands, wherefore it is now requisite my Lords, that he return home into England, all delay being put aside, so shall you stop the mouths of all which be apt to report the worst.  
Now my Lords, give me way to speak for myself, for I have hitherto spoken in the behalf of my sovereign the King.  
When first I intended, according to my degree, to take my place in this house of Parliament, both myself, and the marquis of Hamilton were disturbed, and must not be permitted hither without a subscribing to the Covenant, which command of yours we seemed not to disobey.  
And yet daily do I hear mutterings and murmurings, as if both of us were unworthy to receive such honours, and blame me not, if at this time you perceive me untongue-tied, so much as now at length I am forced to speak.  
Can it be the lowliness or baseness of our births, which do force such ill conjectures of us, or have you known us to be either traitors or Rebels to our King or country, from whence I wonder then doth issue, such unheard of rumours, I think, nay I dare avouch it, that neither of us in a just and right cause would be timorous to lose our bloods in your defence.  
My Lords, let not loyal hearts be accounted as those which be treacherous, let Caesar have his due, and let not the just be wronged, I know that there be some here present, which wonder how my excitated passion, could be so long cohibited, I have now utteedr my mind, judge of it as your Lordships shall please; my Conclusion shall be as I said before, that Caesar may have his due, and that the just may not be wronged.  
FINIS.