SIR, Benjamin Rudyard HIS Learned Speech in Parliament on Wednesday, being the twenty ninth day of December 1641. Concerning the treaty with the Scottish Commissioners, about the Irish affairs. With the lets, and Impediments that have hindered the Proceedings of the Parliament therein. As also the removal of the Papists from Court, and all Popish officers, from several places of employment within this kingdom.  
Printed at London, for John Thomas. 1641.   

SIR Benjamin Rudyard his Speech in Parliament, made on Wednesday the twenty ninth day of December, concerning the treaty with the Scottish Commissioners about the Irish affairs, and the lets and impediments that have hindered the proceedings of the Parliament therein.  
Master Speaker,  
THis day is appointed for our giving our resolution in our request to the Scottish Commissioners concerning their assistance of and for the Irish affairs. I desire Sir to speak somewhat under favour concerning the same.  
We see the danger and necessity of our aid they are in, and we have had much hindrance in our expediting of our assistance for that service which I intend to remember you off.  
The first let or impediment that hath hindered our proceedings in that business, is the disagreement between the two houses or the causes of their disagreement, I persuade myself is the Bishops and such Lords as favour them, and I conceive that unless they be speedily brought to trial, and by the sword of justice taken out of the way, those that shall be so Condemned by the Parliament and the rest of them, with those Lords that favour them may be removed from the presence of his majesty (by whom he is miscouncelled, and his mind somewhat averted from Complying so willingly with the Parliament as otherwise it is conceived he would be, this Statute cannon be secure from great danger.  
Secondly, a second let is the derision, and often disagreement amongst ourselves not known these many years in Parliament of former years.  
Thirdly, the multiplicity of Petitions daily delivered to the House irregularly taking up a great deal of time in answering.  
Fourthly, the great danger this kingdom is in through the practices of Priests and Jesuites, and all of the Popish Religion is a main cause of the slow proceedings in the Irish affairs. The Parliament politicly concerning that it was most necessary to provide first for the security of this Kingdom, whereof they be the chiefest, before allyances and in doing that they have spent a great deal of time: and I wish our consultations, resolutions and laws we make may be the firm settlement in good order all things that are amiss both in Church and State.  
Fiftly, the delay in execution of the Priests lately condemned hinders somewhat our proceedings in that businesses.  
Sixtly, the not removing of those popish officers in this state, that have places of great trust and strength committed to their fidelity, as towns, Forts, Castles, Magazines, Colloneles, captains, Livetennants, and other officers of war, which puts this kingdom in as much danger as Ireland, if God in mercy do not defend it, giving such wisdom, and Courage to the wise council of the state, that they may by degrees remove such dangerous officers, and place good Protestants in their room, which I wish withal my heart may be done in time, for fear we have not cause to repent their enjoyments of such places. But Master Speaker, it may be objected that many of the Popish religion are very faithful and loyal to the crown of England and his majesty having found their fidelity preferred them, and doubtless all of them are not perfidious though many be refractory and willing to increase their number in their religion, and likewise many officers in this kingdom, that are not Papists, but profess themselves Protestants, have been as treacherous to their King, and country as recusants, yet Neverlesse they confess that it is necessary Papists be removed and Protestants entrusted with their places.  
But Sir under favour I conceive it more then necessarily, of absolute necessity to remove such as are not inclined towards the Protestants Religion, for I could give you many instances, by woeful experience, of the treacherous stratagems that have been attempted against, not only the persons of the Princes of this kingdom that have been Protestants, by Papists, and the favourers of that part, but also against the whole State, to bring it to confusion, and place themselves and their religion herein. The records of King Henry the eight, King Edward the sixth, Queen Elizabeth, and in the reign of our late peaceable Solomon of blessed memory King James do sufficiently testify, whereas you find not one to twenty Protestants have done the like besides, the present troubles in Ireland, altogether raised by the Papists, and others in that Kingdom also raised by the practice of the Priests and Jesuites, I could also instance many of their treacherous designs against the persons of Peers, Noblemen, Barons, & Knights, also against several Parliaments in this kingdom, & divers particular members thereof which most of this House know rightwell. Therefore Master Speaker I could wish there might not be so many suffered to inhabit this kingdom as do put those that are not natives might be banished if they refuse to be conformable to the laws of this Land which is my humble motion.  
And now Master Speaker having given you a short touch of such Impediments as have hitherto hindered our proceedings in these Irish affairs which is our business for this day I shall humbly desire no longer time may be protracted in our determination of the Scots propositions, being as I conceive reasonable to be agreed unto, but that we may determine of the same, and send up to the Lords for their Concurrence with us in the same fear our protraction of further time herein may prove of such dangerous effect that we may not have cause to repent the same and that then all our Endeavours prove of little avail towards their relief and although the gentleman that last spoke concerning other Impediments of the unseasonable repair of tumultvous persons; is a great hindrance to us in expediting the same.  
Yet let them be no further cause of our delay herein but having taken order for their suppressing we cheerfully proceed in prosecution of our designs for the speedy settling of the most weightiest affairs of this kingdom, in Church and commonwealth.  
FINIS.