GENERALL LESLEYS SPEECH [...]n the Parliament of Scotland, the 25. of October, 1641. In defence of himselfe upon certaine slanders which are reported of him.
Wherein be expresseth his affection to the King and Kingdome of England.
Also concerning the Traytors of Scotland which did lay a plot to take away his life.
Generall Lesley's SPEECH IN PARLIAMENT.
TO purge my selfe of some slanderous accusations, I have presumed to present my selfe before your honours, thereby to stoppe the mouthes of my enemies, and to revive the former good opinion which true and loyall subjects have had of mee: There have beene some lately my Lords, which have not beene ashamed to say, that whatsoever of late I attempted [Page]in the defence of piety and truth, were all for my owne ends, not for the good of my Country.
Whereas God is my true and best of witnesses, that all my intents were reall and for the good of both Kingdomes.
My Noble Lords, it is unknowne to very few of you that I have exercised armes these many yeares, almost from my childehood, and yet did I never take part with the Church of Rome, but have alwaies beene a sworne foe against it.
Many battells have I fought since fortune was my friend to make me a Commander; but (I praise God) not speaking in a boasting way, as yet I never left the field but was crowned with victory.
I was your Generall against England, and yet not against it but for it, as it hath now happened by the most happy pacification.
Ye see my Lords now, that nature doth claim its due, old age overcommeth the strongest, but yet were there occasion in England for to employ me against a forraine foe, my service should attend the Kings command, I would make use of my best of skill to overthrow his foes: I know my Lords that I have beene censured hard of abroad, but I hope that my [Page]truth and loyalty to my Soveraigne, shall stop the lying tongue of flying same; a long time was I branded with that accursed title of traitor which my soule abhorres, and to defend my innocency, my heart at all times is ready.
My Lords, give me licence to make use of a dolefull expression, which is for the ingratitude of those for whom I feared not to venture my dearest bloud, yet these deceitfull Iudases have agreed together to betray mee and snatch away my short breathing life.
How many dayes when they have beene sporting and taking their pleasures, have I beene taking paines, and studying for to preserve both them and their families? How many nights have I watched, when they have beene mantled in their silkes, and prostrated upon their downe beds, taking their sweet, silent and quiet rest: And yet for all this my Lords, am I the marke they have chiefely shot at to destroy, for which the great God forgive them, for my owne part I freely doe appealing to their consciences which I know can truly tell them, whether I have deserved their hate or no.
But yet my Lords, give me leave to speake both pro and con, although I freely forgive them the particular injury which they thought to have wrought upon me, yet must [Page]the Law have its proceeding against them for they which will goe about to robbe the King of his true and loyall subjects, will not be afraid in time to try their utmost skill to destroy the King himself.
O Ambition, Ambition! How loftily dost thou soare? For it is thee and none but thee which doth steere the actions of each disloyall traitor for being great, yet because they doe not daily arise to bee greater, they will strive to swimme to their intents through a sea of bloud: What honour would these Lords have got to take away my life? O but they had greater prises which they did aime at, but God did hinder them, who alwaies hath beene and alwaies will bee the defender of those which put their trust in him the living God.
In what a miserable estate are these men in now? They have gained themselves the everlasting hate of all good men, they have lost their honours, stained their Ancestors same, and prejudicated their owne lives: Oh did a traitor but thinke before what hee went about when his minde is first hampering upon treachery! he would change his wicked resolution; for first, let him thinke of the danger which will follow, and then of ten hundred [Page]thousand times much more in the world to come.
My Lords, may I finde the joyes of heaven, but as truly as I meane faithfully both to my King and Country, and then were I certaine of an everlasting, most happy, joyfull and heavenly estate: That God would alwaies blesse King Charles our lawfull native King and Governour, & his true subjects shal alwaies be my praier, and so is it I know of all those which wish well unto Sion.