SIR Benjamin Rudyerd HIS SPEECH IN THE HIGH court OF PARLIAMENT The 17. of February, for a speedy Treaty of PEACE with His majesty.  
LONDON, Printed for MICHAEL YOUNG, 1643.   

Sir Benjamin Rudyerd his Speech in the High Court of Parliament, the 17. of February, for a speedy Treaty of Peace with his Majesty.  
Mr Speaker.  
I do verily That the Vote we have already passed, For the Disbanding the Armies the first and tenth of March, will find us no farther on our way, than where we now are, besides the ill Accidents that may happen, and so much precious time spent, as till then.  
Sir, The Main business is, whether we shall have a present treaty or no? and this concerns us in all that we Have, and Are Since we Refused a Treaty at Nottingham, I do not find that we have gotten much ground, although our Army then was fresh, full, and full paid; the People erect, bountiful, and forward to the war. Now, the Disposition of the kingdom, for the greatest part, stands bent towards a Peace: so that wheresoever the refusal, or Delay of the way to it shall be fixed, the Disadvantage will fall on that side. How clear soever the intentions of the House are, yet abroad it will be taken but as a show without Reality, and so it will be returned upon us.  
For the Propositions, i have not known, nor heard, that all the Propositions in any Treaty of Jmportance, were ever swallowed whole. If some be harsh and rough, they may be wrought and suppled by wise Treaters, made fit for an acceptable agreement. If other be unpassable, they may be totally rejected. Those that are our unquestionable Rights, may be so claimed, and held.  
Mr Speaker, We have already tasted the bitter bloody fruits of war, we are grown exceedingly behindhand with ourselves since we began it: if we persist, there will such a confluence of Mischiefs break in upon us, as I am afraid will ruin the King, the kingdom, the Nation; unless God be merciful to us, and do step in with a great Miracle, for a little one will not serve our turn.  
I have long and thougtfully expected, that the cup of trembling which hath gone round about us to other Nations, would at length come in amongst us it is now come at last, and we may drink the dregs of it, the worst; which God divert.  
There is yet some comfort left, that our Miseries are not likely to last long. For, we cannot fight here as they do in Germany, in that great, large, vast continent: where although there be war in some parts of it, yet there are many other remote quiet places, for trade and tillage to support it. We must sight as in a cockpit, we are surrounded with the sea. We have no stronger Holds, than our own Sculls, and our own Ribs, to keep out enemies; so that the whole kingdom will suddenly be but one flame.  
It hath been said in this House, that we are bound in conscience to punish the shedding of innocent blood: but Sir, who shall be answerable for all the innocent blood which shall be spilled hereafter, if we do not endeavour a Peace, by a speedy Treaty? Certainly, God is as much to be trusted in a treaty, as in a war: it is He that gives wisdom to treat, as well as courage to fight, and success to both, as it pleaseth Him. Blood is a crying sin, it pollutes a land: why should we defile this land any longer?  
Wherefore Mr Speaker, Let us stint blood as soon as we can. Let us agree with our Adversaries in the way, by a present, short, wary Treaty. God direct us.  
FINIS.