SIR Benjamin Rudyerd HIS SPEECH Made in answer to the Spanish and French Ambassadors request for our Soldiers at their Disbanding,  
August 28. 1641.  
LONDON Printed Anno Domini, 1641.   

Mr. Speaker,  
THis is a Business of great Consequence, and therefore requires a wel-advised Resolution. I will put France and Spain together, take them both before me, because the Reasons will serve one another, as they stand in Relation to us.  
We are, Master Speaker, so bounded by the nature of our Situation, as we are not so proper to extend ourselves upon the firm Land of our Neighbours; Our Aptitude is rather to Balance, which being rightly used may make the King the great Arbiter of all the Affairs of Christendom, by Assisting, withholding, or Opposing.  
Henry the Eighth is an Example of This; He was sometimes of the side of the Emperor, other times of the French Party, according as he faw either side of the Scales to weigh heavier or lighter; Some might think this to be Inconstancy in him, but it was certainly out of a true and peculiar understanding his Power.  
The present State of Christendom is apparent, That the House of Austria gins to diminish, as in Spain, so consequently in Germany. That the French do swell and enlarge themselves: if they Grow and Hold, They will be to us but Spain nearer hand.  
Alliances do serve well To make up a present Breach, or mutually To strengthen those States who have the same Ends; but Politic Bodies have no Natural Affections, they are Guided by particular Interest, and beyond That are not to be trusted.  
Although it may be good Policy to breed a Militia at the charge of other States abroad for our own use and occasions at home, yet That ought rather to be done amongst Friends of the same way, and so the Low Countries have been an Academy to us.  
His Majesty hath now an Ambassador treating with the Emperor about the Palatinate, If we send away our Men, it will so damp and discountenance the Affairs of the Prince Elector, as the World will believe, we never had, nor ever shall have any Intentions, to Assist him at all.  
I have observed for divers years, That England is not so well Peopled, but we do want Work-folks to bring in Harvest, Our disbanded Soldiers will least dislike that kind of work, and if they be speedily dissolved, That Employment will entertain them for the present, and inure them to labour for hereafter.  
Upon these Considerations, Mr. Speaker, I cannot give my advice to add more strength to France, by weakening both ourselves and our Friends.  
As for sending the Irish into Spain, Truly, Sir, I have been long of Opinion, That it was never fit to suffer the Irish to be promiscuously made Soldiers abroad, because it may make Them abler to trouble the State when they come home. Their Intelligence, and practice with the Princes whom they shall serve, may prove dangerous to that Kingdom; They may more profitably be employed upon Husbandry, whereof that Country hath great need.  
Besides, it will be exceeding prejudicial to us, and to our Religion, If the Spaniard should prevail against the Portuguez.  
It were better for us He should be broken into lesser pieces, his Power shivered.  
If the King of Portugal had desired these Irish, I should rather have given my vote for Him, then for the King of Spain, because it would keep the Balance more even; Spain hath had too much of our Assistance, and connivance heretofore; I am sure it lost us the Palatinate. Now that it is come to our Turn to advise, I hope we shall not Do-over other men's faults again.  
If the present Government of Ireland be not able to restrain their disordered People, there is a Noble Lord already designed to that Charge, who by his knowledge in Martial Affairs, and other his great Abilities, will be, no doubt, abundantly capable, to reduce them to a due obedience.  
Wherefore, Mr. Speaker, upon the whole Matter, My Opinion is, That we should not be forward to spend our Men, but rather to Preserve and husband them for our own use and Employments, for our Friends, for our Religion.   
FINIS.