THis day is appointed for our giveing our re­solution in our request to the Scottish Com­missioners concerning their assistance of and for the Irish affaires. I desire Sir to speake som­what under favour concerning the same.

Wee see the danger and necessity of our aide they are in, and wee have had much hinderance in our expediting of our assistance for that service which I intend to remember you off.

[Page 2] The first Lett or impediment that hath hindred our proceedings in that businesse, is the disagree­ment between the two houses or the causes of their disagreement, I perswade my selfe is the Bishops and such Lords as favour them, and I conceive that unlesse they bee speedily brought to tryall, and by the sword of Iustice 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 bee removed from the presence of his Majestie (by whom hee is mis-councelled, and his minde somewhat averted from Complying so willingly with the Parliament as otherwise it is conceaved hee would bee, this Statute cannon bee secure from great danger.

Secondly, a second Lett is the dirision, and often disagreement amongst our selves not knowne these many yeares in Parliament of former yeares.

Thirdly, the multiplicity of Petitions daily de­livered to the House irregularly taking up a great deale of time in answering.

Fourthly, the great danger this Kingdome is in through the practizes of Priests and Iesuites, and all of the Popish Religion is a maine cause of the slow proceedings in the Irish affaires. The Par­liament Pollitiquely 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 deale of time: and I wish our consultations, reso­lutions and lawes we make may be the firme setle­ment [Page 3] in good order all things that are amisse 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 Townes, Forts, Castles, Magazines, Collo­neles, Captaines, Livetennants, and other offi­cers of warre, which puts this Kingdome in as much danger as Ireland, if God in mercy do not defend it, giving such wisedome, and Cou­rage to the wise Councell of the state, that they may by degrees remove such dangerous officers, and place good Protestants in their roome, which I wish withall my heart may be done in time, for feare wee have not cause to re­pent their injoyments of such places. But Ma­ster Speaker, it may be obiected that many of the Popish religion are very faithfull and loyall to the Crowne of England and his Maiesty ha­ving found their fidelity preferred them, and doubtlesse all of them are not perfidious though many be refractory and willing to increase theire number in their religion, and likewise many officers in this Kingdome, that are not Papists, but professe themselves Protestants, have beene as treacherous to their King, and Countrey as recusants, yet Neverlesse they con­fesse that it is necessary Papists be removed and Protestants intrusted with their places.

[Page 4] 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 woefull experience, of the treacherous strata­gems that have beene attempted against, not onely the persons of the Princes of this King­dome that have beene Protestants, by Papists, and the favourers of that part, but also against the whole State, to bring it to confussion, and place themselves and their religion herein. The records of King Henry the eight, King Edward the sixth, Queene Elizabeth, and in the raigne of our late peaceable Solomon of blessed memo­ry King Iames doe sufficiently testifie, whereas you finde 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 practise of the Priests and Iesuites, I could also instance many of their treacherous designes against the persons of Peers, Noblemen, Barons, & Knights, also against severall Parliaments in this kingdom, & divers perticular members therof which most of this House know right-well. Therefore Ma­ster Speaker I could wish there might not bee soe many suffered to inhabite this Kingdome as doe put those that are not natives might bee banished if they refuse to be conformable to the Lawes of this Land which is my humble mo­tion.

[Page 5] And now Master Speaker haueing given you a short touch of such Impediments as haue hitherto hindered our proceedings in these Irish Affaires which is our busines for this day I shall humbly desire noe longer time may bee protracted in our determination of the Scots propositions, being as I conceive reasonable to bee agreed unto, but that wee may determine of the same, and send up to the Lords for theire Concurrence with us in the same feare our pro­traction of further time heerein may prove of such dangerous effect that wee may not have cause to repent the same and that then all our Endeavours prove of little availe towards their releife and although the Gentlman that last spake concerning other Impediments of the unseasonable repaire of tumultvous persons; is a great hinderance to us in expediting the same.

Yet let them bee noe further cause of our de­lay heerein but haveing taken order for theire suppressing wee Cheerefully proceed in prose­cution of our designes for the speedie settling of the most waightiest affaiers of this Kingdome, in Church and Common-wealth.