A SPEECH By the marquess of Argile TO THE Honourable Lords and Commons in Parliament. 25. June 1646. With a Paper Concerning their full consent to the PROPOSITIONS To be presently sent to His Majesty for a safe and well grounded PEACE.  

Die Veneris 26. Junii 1646.  
ORdered by the Lords in Parliament assembled, That the marquess of Argiles Speech, with the Paper concerning the Propositions, be forthwith printed and published.  
Jo. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.   
LONDON: Printed for John Wright at the King's Head in the Old Bayley. 27 June 1646.   

The marquess of ARGYLES Speech to the Grand Committee, concerning Propositions of Peace to be sent to his Majesty.  
My Lords and Gentlemen:  
THough I have had the honour to be named by the Kingdom of Scotland, in all the Commissions which had relation to this Kingdom, since the beginning of this War; yet I had never the happiness to be with your Lordships till now, wherein I reverence God's providence, that he hath brought me hither at such an opportunity, when I may boldly say, it is in the power of the two Kingdoms, yea, I may say, in your lordship's power to make us both happy, if you make good use of this occasion, by settling Religion, the Peace and union of these Kingdoms.  
The work of Reformation in these Kingdoms, is so great a work, as no age nor history can parallel since Christ's days, for no one Nation had ever such a Reformation set forth unto them, much less three Kingdoms, so that this Generation may truly think themselves happy, if they can be instrumental in it. And as the work is very great, so it cannot be expected, but it must have great and powerful Enemies; not only flesh and blood which hate to be reformed, but likewise Principalities and Powers, the Rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickednesses in high places. As the dangers are great, we must look the better to our duties, and the best way to perform these, is to keep us by the Rules which are to be found in our national Covenant, principally the Word of God, and in its own place, the example of the best Reformed Churches; And in our way we must beware of some Rocks, which are temptations both upon the right, and upon the left hand, so that we must hold the middle path. Upon the one part, we would take heed, not to settle lawless liberty in Religion, whereby, in stead of uniformity, we should set up a thousand Heresies and schisms, which is directly contrary and destructive to our Covenant. Upon the other part, we are to look that we persecute not piety and peaceable men, who cannot through scruple of conscience, come up in all things to the Common Rule; but that they may have such a forbearance as may be according to the Word of God, may consist with the Covenant, and not be destructive to the Rule itself, nor to the Peace of the Church and Kingdom, wherein I will insist no further, either to wrong your lordship's patience or judgements, who I doubt not will be very careful to do every thing according to our Covenant.  
As to the other Point, concerning the Peace and union of the Kingdoms, I know it is that which all profess they desire, I hope it is that all do aim at; sure I am, it is that which all men ought to study and endeavour. And I think it not amiss to remember your Lordships of some former experiences, as an argument to move us to be wise for the future. If the kingdom of England in the 1640 year of God, then sitting in Parliament, had concurred, as they were desired, against the kingdom of Scotland, no question we had been brought to many difficulties, which, blessed be God, was by the wisdom of the Honourable Houses prevented. So likewise when this kingdom was in difficulties, if the kingdom of Scotland had not willingly, yea cheerfully, sacrificed their peace to concur with this kingdom, your Lordships all know what might have been the danger. Therefore let us hold fast that union which is so happily established betwixt us, and let nothing make us again two, who are so many ways one, all of one Language, in one Island, all under one King, one in Religion, yea one in Covenant; so that in effect we differ in nothing but in the Name (as Brethren do) which I wish were also removed, that we might be altogether one, if the two Kingdoms shall think fit; for I dare say, not the greatest Kingdom in the Earth can prejudice both so much as one of them may do the other.  
I will forbear at this time to speak of the many jealousies I hear are suggested, for as I do not love them, so I delight not to mention them, only one I cannot forbear to speak of, as if the kingdom of Scotland were too much affected with the King's interest. I will not deny but the kingdom of Scotland, by reason of the reign of many Kings his Progenitors over them, hath a natural affection to his Majesty, whereby they wish he may be rather reformed then ruined; yet experience may tell, their personal regard to him has never made them forget that common Rule, The safety of the People is the Supreme Law. So likewise their love to Monarchy makes them very desirous that it may be rather regulated then destroyed, which I hope I need not to mention further to your Lordships, who I trust are of the same mind.  
I know likewise there are many jealousies and unjust aspersions cast upon our Armies in England and Ireland, I can, if it were needful, presently produce heads of a Declaration intended by the Army in England, for vindicating themselves from such injuries, and showing the clearness of their resolutions and integrity, both in the Cause, and towards this kingdom, wherein their undertakings and coming in at such a season of the year, their hard sufferings, and constant endeavours since, may be sufficient testimonies. Therefore I am the more bold to desire your Lordships, that so long as they stay in England (which I wish may be for a short time) they may be supplied with some moneys, and their Quarters enlarged, lest their lying in too narrow Quarters, make the burden insupportable to that exhausted corner of the Country where they now remain and so beget outcries against them, when they are not able to discharge their Quarters, as other Armies within the kingdom.  
As for the Army in Ireland, I have been an eyewitness to their sufferings, and so may speak of it likewise upon certain knowledge, That never men have suffered greater hardships, who might have been provided, for they have lived many times upon a few beans measured out to them by number, and never had any other drink but Water. And when they were in some better condition, they had but an Irish peck of rough Oats for a whole week. And now at their best condition, when they are quartered upon the Country (which is able to entertain them only for a very short time) they have only an Irish peck of Oatmeal●, or a shilling in the ten days, both for Meat and drink. Therefore according to the many desires given in to the Honourable Houses for that end, I humbly entreat that your Lordships will take care to provide for them, so long as it is thought fit they remain in that kingdom.  
For a renewed testimony of our earnest desires to comply with the Honourable Houses for settling the Peace of these Kingdoms so much longed for, we do return unto your lordships the Propositions of Peace (which we received on Tuesday last) with our consent thereunto, wishing they may be hasted to his majesty, who hath so often called for them. And I likewise offer to your Lordships the Copy of his majesty's Letter to my Lord of Ormond, discharging him from any further meddling in any Treaty with the Rebels in Ireland, I hope in order to his Majesties further condescending to the settling of that Proposition concerning Ireland, and the rest of the Propositions now to be sent unto him. Another Paper there is which concerns the supplying of the Scottish Armies in England and Ireland, and the perfecting of the accounts between the Kingdoms, together with a Letter from general Monro to the Committee of Estates of the kingdom of Scotland, concerning the state of affairs in Ireland. All which when your Lordships have considered, I trust you will take such course therein as ma● satisfy our just desires, may put an end to our present troubles, and settle these kingdoms in a happy Peace.   

A Paper delivered in from the Commissioners of Scotland, concerning the Propositions.  
IT is a twelve month since we did earnestly press the sending of Propositions to the King for a safe and well-grounded peace; In answer whereunto the Honourable Houses were pleased to acquaint us, That they had resolved Propositions should be sent to his Majesty, but did intend to make some alterations in the former Propositions, and after eight or nine months' deliberation, we received from the Honourable Houses some of those Propositions; and though we did find therein very material additions, alterations, and omissions, which for their great importance, and the interest of the kingdom of Scotland therein, might very well have required the delay of an Answer until the Estates of that kingdom had been consulted; yet so unwilling were we to retard the means of peace, that in a fortnight's time we returned an Answer upon the whole Propositions; and the Houses of Parliament not resting satisfied therewith, in less than ten days we prepared a further Answer; wherein we did very much comply with the desires of the Honourable Houses, especially in the matter of settling the Militia of England, and Ireland, and in other things did show our readiness to hear, or propose such expedients as might determine any differences, so that in a whole years' time the Propositions have not remained in our hands the space of four weeks, which we only mention to clear our proceedings from mistakes and aspersions; and the Houses having now after two months farther deliberation, delivered unto us upon the 23. of this instant June, all the Propositions they intend to send to the King at this time; We do, without any delay, return such an Answer and resolution thereupon, as will be unto the present and future Generations, one undeniable testimony (besides many others) of the integrity and faithfulness of the kingdom of Scotland in their solemn League and Covenant, of their love to Peace, and earnest desire to satisfy their Brethren of England in those things which concern the good and Government of this kingdom; being further resolved touching the kingdom of Scotland, That as nothing of single or sole concernment to that Nation did engage them in this war, so nothing of that nature shall continue the same. Although these Propositions now to be sent do much differ from the Propositions formerly agreed upon by the Parliaments of both kingdoms, and the most material additions, omissions, and alterations are in such particulars as concern the joint interest, and mutual confidence and conjunction of both Kingdoms, which were, as we conceive, much better provided for, and strengthened by the former Propositions then by these. Although the particular Propositions presented by Us, concerning the kingdom of Scotland are not yet agreed unto by the Houses of Parliament, as was offered in their Papers of the tenth of April. Although divers Propositions of joint concernment be now superseded, and the sending of them delayed to a more convenient time, as is expressed in the Votes of both Houses of the twenty sixth of March; and although (which is to Us more than all the rest) those Ordinances of Parliament unto which the fifth and sixth Propositions do relate, (and were therefore communicated unto Us upon our desire to see what the Houses had already agreed upon concerning Religion) do not contain the establishment of such a Reformation of Religion, and uniformity as was expected, and was the chief end of our engagement in this war; and as all these Ordinances put together come short of what we wished, so there are some particulars which we conceive to be inconsistent with the Word of God, and the example of the best reformed Churches, and therefore cannot in our consciences consent unto them; which particulars were expressed to both Houses in the Remonstrance of the Commissioners of the Church of Scotland of the date, March 26. 1646.  
Yet nevertheless we do so earnestly desire and so highly value the easing of the heavy Pressures under which both kingdom's groan, and the bringing of this bloody lasting war to a speedy and happy end, considering withal that not only the book of Common Prayer and the prelatical Government are abolished, & a Common directory of worship established in both Kingdoms, but that likewise the Ordinances afore mentioned do contain divers Parts of a Positive Reformation and uniformity in Church-Government, unto which we formerly gave our consent in our answer upon the whole propositions of Peace, of the 20. of April, and for so happy beginning, and so good a foundation laid for the future, we heartily thank God, and do acknowledge the zeal, Piety and wisdom of the Honourable Houses therein, remembering also that those Ordinances do not contain the whole model of Church government and that the Houses have been Pleased to express [that it cannot be expected that a perfect Rule in every Particular should be settled all at once, but that there will be need of supplements, & additions, and happily of alterations, in some things, as experience shall bring to light the necessity thereof] upon these Considerations as we do cheerfully consent to many material Parts of these Propositions so we Resolve to make no let, but to give way to the sending of such other particulars therein contained, with which we are unsatisfied in the matters for the Reasons formerly Represented to both Houses, of which some still stand in force, though others of them be taken away by the new expedients it being always understood that our not Dissenting from, nor our opposing of the sending of the Propositions as they now stand, shall be no prejudice nor Impediment to all or any one of the Articles of the solemn League and Covenant, especially to the first Article, concerning the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, against our Common enemies, the Reformation of Religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, according to the Word of God, and example of the Best Reformed Churches, and the bringing of the Churches of God in the three kingdoms, to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion, Confession of faith, form of Church-government, Directary, for Worship, and Catechising; Which thing both kingdoms are by Covenant obliged sincerely and Really to Endeavour, and that not for a time, but constantly, so that neither of the kingdoms can be loosed or acquitted from the most strait and solemn obligation of their continued and constant endeavouring these good ends so far as any of them is not yet attained, it being also understood that our concurrence to the sending of the Propositions shall be without prejudice to any Agreement or Treaty between the kingdoms, and shall not infringe any Engagement made to the kingdom of Scotland, nor be any hindrance to our insisting upon the other Propositions already made known to the Houses; and it being understood that it is not our judgement that every Particular and Circumstance of these Propositions is of so great Importance to those kingdoms as Peace and war should depend thereupon.  
Upon these grounds which we make known only for clearing our consciences, and for discharging ourselves in the trust put upon us, without the least thought of Retarding the so much longed for Peace, We condescend and agree that the Propositions as they are now Resolved upon be in the Name of Both kingdoms presented to the King, whose heart we beseech the Lord wholly to incline to the counsels of Truth and Peace.  
June 25. 1646.   
FINIS.