A Printed Paper Called The Lord Digbies Speech to the Bill of Attainder of the Earle of Strafford

This issue contains "The Lord Digbies Speech to the Bill of Attainder of the Earle of Strafford," a political polemic in early modern English. The text, heavily marked by OCR errors, presents an argument defending the Earl of Strafford against charges of high treason. The author critiques the logic and testimony used in the Bill of Attainder proceedings, challenging whether the evidence—particularly testimony regarding an Irish army—sufficiently proves treason. He disputes the reasoning that Strafford's practices were treasonous, examines the nature of legal subversion, and questions the credibility of witnesses against the accused, notably contrasting their testimony with Sir Henry Vane's oath. The piece engages contemporary legal and constitutional debates surrounding Strafford's trial during the Long Parliament period.