like it if it be carried on by a Conjunction of some of the Forces of the Confederates and back'd by a strong Fleet. Then would it soon alter the Scene and distract the Councils and break the Measures of the Enemy as not knowing where the Storm will fall which will consequently oblige them to make a Defensive War in all Parts and would England but Exert its Strength I doubt not but it would soon pull down the Pride and Haughty Look of that Aspiring Monarch whose Insatiable Ambition is such that he hath made Europe a Golgotha a Field of Blood And there 's nothing like pushing on the War with Vigour a Lingering Consumption being worse than Death least render'd all Attempts of this Nature more difficult And it was ever the Genius and Temper of the English as do witness their Wars both Foreign and Domestick to push on a War and come to Action leaving the Event to Providence And whereas the Number of Loose and Vagrant Persons are exceedingly increas'd in the Kingdom through the Laws not being duly put in Execution and the King having ever had a Power of taking these up by Warrants from the Justices of the Peace to be sent on Board the Royal Navy Therefore I humbly conceive it would much Contribute to the Publick Service that his Majesty may have the same Liberty by Act of Parliament of taking them up by the same Methods and Employ them as he shall think fit either in mixing them with the Regular Troops or otherwise which would be the Raising of several Thousands of stout and able Men fit for Service who are now but Drones and as it were the Vermin of the Land but by these means may be made Serviceable to the Publick and a great Kindness it will be to all Parts of the Kingdom I am My Lords and Gentlemen Your Honours most Faithful and Obedient Servant Robert Crosfeild TO THE READER I Here present to your View some Propositions which I hope may be of use to the Publick and Posterity for which they were intended But as I have handled the matter but weakly though to the best of my Skill so it is evident through the whole Book that it may be much improv'd But having observ'd with much Regret under what unhappy Circumstances things lay in reference to Sea-Affairs and matters growing daily worse and worse by our Merchants being so long detained in Port to the great damage of their Majesties and the whole Kingdom I conceived there must be some Natural Obstruction that occasioned it or that there must be some great defect in those Measures that were taken and by long ruminating upon the matter my thoughts suggested to me that I had discover'd from whence those Evils did proceed which after having drawn into some Form I then presumed to Address my self to the Government and now have ventured to expose my self to the Censure of the World And it s not any vain desire of Applause that hath induc'd me thus to appear in Print but a due Sense of that Duty which I owe to their Majesties and my Native Country for I was under much and great Reluctancy before I could bring my self to a Resolution of doing it and not without just Cause For I was not bred a Schollar nor ever was concerned either in Shipping or Custom-house Affairs So that if these things prove successful as I have no great reason to doubt then must I wholly attribute it to the Hand of Providence 'T is the Opinion of a great many and those Good Men too that we have been betrayed and a general Out-cry there is of it through the Town and Kingdom and prosecuted with much Heat and I believe it as much as they But 't is the sins of the Nation which have betrayed us this is no imposing at all or any desire I have of being Advocate for any But setting them aside and calmly waying and considering things it will be found that otherwise the Original of all our Misfortunes arise from those Methods that are taken for the supplying the Royal Navy with Saylers and this being but the Effects of Natural Causes I hope no Man will be Offended if I do in a great measure make it so appear if he will seriously and impartially peruse the ensuing Discourse before he gives Judgment for so long as these Methods continue in use we can humanely expect no better success War was always an Enemy to Trade and Losses will come whenever it s on foot notwithstanding all the Industry that can be us'd but it s seldom a Nation doth obstruct and annoy its own Trade but that hath been our misfortune For for near half the year all Ports have in them those that are Enemies both to King and Kingdom though not in Person or Affection yet being arm'd with Power do obstruct Trade and prevent the Merchants from making their several Voyages who would carry off the Product of the Country By which means the King loses vast Sums of Mony and the Trade of the Nation 's greatly impair'd It s the Press Ketches which are guilty of all this and it s by reason of their slowness and difficulty they meet with in getting Men for their Majesties Service which is the grand Cause why our Merchants have been so long detain'd in Port and they and the Coasters have been so much expos'd to the Violence of the Enemy Therefore those Methods we have hitherto taken being the same that were in use an Hundred Years ago will not do in this Age. So it s from our being wanting to our selves in our Maritime Affairs and not making due Provision for the Sailers which hath been the Fountain from whence our Evils have sprung and not from any great Force of the Enemy Notwithstanding all this the Sailers are as Zealous for the Publick Service as any Men in the Kingdom but Interest and Self-preservation is that which governs the Actions of Men and there is now a great Incongruity between the Sailers Interest as shall be made appear and that of the Publick and so long as that remains it must always be expected they will decline the Publick Service But if the Government will be pleas'd to put the first of these Propositions in execution and pass the second into an Act then will they be Consentaneous For by them the Sailers Wages will be reduced and as there will be little odds between the King's Pay and that of Merchant-men so they will have no cause to shun the Service neither indeed can they and their Encouragement to it will be great for they will have the benefit of enjoying two Charities whereas those on Board Ships of Trade can enjoy but one I cannot without Amazement call to mind his most Gracious Majesties great Courage Bravery and Conduct in the late Battle at Landen which was to the Astonishment of his Enemies But at the same time tremble to think to what Dangers he expos'd his Royal Person for our Safeties
for should he have fallen our Candlestick would have been removed and our Church and Nation have become a Prey to our Enemies but God of his wonderful Providence hath protected him and reserved him for greater Actions and no doubt will make him the Blessed Instrument of restoring Peace to Europe It must be acknowledg'd things lie heavy but no ways to be compar'd to that Deplorable Condition unto which France is reduc'd yet we have the least reason to complain of any Nation in Europe that is engag'd in this War for we have sat down in the midst of Peace while our Neighbouring Nations and Country-men have been shedding their Blood abroad and they have had their Countries expos'd to the Ravage of the Enemy and Violence of Armies and have willingly undergone all this that they may obtain a durable and lasting Peace Therefore let us not repine but chearfully assist his Majesty in prosecuting so Just and Honourable a War and doubt not but the same Hand of Providence which so wonderfully deliver'd us will still protect us and Bless our Arms that we may bring it to a happy Period and every Man sit down in Peace under his own Vine At the first blooming of the Gospel in the very Apostles times we may see that there were Disputes in the Church and Men had different Conceptions of things but yet we find they were still guided by a Spirit of Meekness and Charity to each other according to the dictates of that holy Religion they profest but this Age in which we live is much deviated and fallen from that Love and Union which was so Conspicuous in the Primitive Christians and which the Word of God so positively Commands and Directs But the Excess and Vitiousness of Mens Lives are now such that more are destroy'd by it than devour'd by the Sword And so long as we continue these uncharitable and unchristian Feuds and practice these Immoralities we can have little reason to expect the Divine Goodness should shower down Blessings upon us but rather have a fearful Expectation of Iudgment for our Impieties Sin being always the forerunner thereof Therefore let us seriously consider these things and repent before it be too late then may we with Comfort look up For God doth not willingly afflict the Children of Men or any People or Nation but for the Sins of the Inhabitants thereof For like as a Father pitieth his Children so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him For he knoweth the Frame of Man that he is but Dust But the generality of People among us seem much unconcern'd as to publick Affairs otherwise than in hearing and telling of News But let every individual person be well assured that a great Duty and Obligation lies upon him in reference to the obtaining National Mercies and Blessings and it cannot be conceived that a bare Observation of a Monthly Fast during the time of Action can obtain them for we can never expect them unless we daily and fervently beg them of God Therefore let us with all Humility wrastle and contend with him for a Blessing upon this Land but first let us do all Acts of Mercy and Compassion then may we with the greater Assurance approach the Throne of Grace King be engaged in a War the Government must be first serv'd and the private give way to the Publick Interest But yet notwithstanding there 's an absolute necessity of preserving our Coasting Trade for the supplying London and other Parts with Coles Corn c. There 's no Arguments I can offer will bear any thing like unto matter of Fact and if your Lordships will be pleas'd to look back to the preceding years you will find That after their Majesties Fleet hath been fully Mann'd and at Sea there hath bin notwithstanding no want of Sailers to carry on the Coasting Trade as it hath evidently appear'd and when it hath met with Obstructions it hath been occasion'd by having so many Privateers on the Coast and the want of necessary Convoys So that its apparent that there is a sufficient Body of Sailers whereby to answer the Ends of the Government and the Necessities of Trade as will be farther demonstrated in this ensuing Discourse with the Cause why the Publick is not more timely serv'd and the Reasons of it seem to be plain For there are a very great number of Sailers that abscond and hide till such time the Fleet is out and if they can afterwards use the Coasting Trade or make some Voyage for five or six Months time they will get more Mony than the Kings Pay will amount to in the whole year and have their Pay so soon as their Voyage is over whereas the Publick is always in Arrears and it s but Natural for every Man to pursue his own Interest And withall these Men are not unsensible that if they lose their Limbs or are Maim'd that the Fate of them generally is that they become Vagabonds notwithstanding they receive the Kings Pay during Life it not being a sufficient Maintenance The Sailers thus using all the Industry they can to avoid the publick Service and the ways taken to bring them in being so Dilatory Indeed the want of due Convoys is the Grand Occasion of the Exorbitant Wages now given in the Coasting Trade As to the Outward-bound Shipping who carry off the Product of the Country it must must be acknowledg'd on all Hands that they ought to have the Preference above all others so far as is Consistent with Government For it s the Foreign Trade that makes this Nation Potent and Happy and not that within our selves It 's from thence all our Riches flow 't is that which brings the Bullion and Coin into the Kingdom Besides our Plantations abroad cannot subsist without frequent Supplies from us and of what great Consequence they are I need not say And 't is our Outward Trade which is a Support to a great part of the Body of the People of this Kingdom and if that be long obstructed they must Languish Therefore if any hardship must lie upon Shipping it may with submission I think be rather thrown upon the Coasting Trade as being the least Evil and the soonest Remitted For suppose Coals are now at Thrity Shillings a Chaldron and by reason that the Government Press so many of the Colliers Men that few Ships pass between Newcastle and London for which reason they run up to Fifty Shillings a Chaldron it would not be long before this might be Remitted if there be but due Convoys and some Frigats constantly to Cruise on the Northern Coast for the People that live upon the Coast will be drawn into the Service by reason of the great Wages given And there is Shipping frequently coming in which would supply the Colliers In September the great Ships are usually laid up and those Men may be dismist and then there could be no want However it was never yet known that we suffer'd in our Coasting
England's GLORY Reviv'd Demonstrated in several PROPOSITIONS SHEWING An easie and speedy Method for fully Maning the Royal Navy with Saylers without Charge or Obstruction to Trade AS LIKEWISE Reasons proving from whence all our Losses have happen'd with proper Remedies for the better securing of Trade for the future by making due Provision for all Saylers that shall be wounded or the Widows and Children of such of them as shall be Slain in the Publick Service or in Defence of our Ships of Trade and the Building of Hospitals in all the Ports of the Kingdom All which may be done without any Charge to the Government As likewise Propositions for an Act of Tonnage By ROBERT CROSFEILD LONDON Printed in the Year MDCXCIII To the King and Queen's most Excellent Majesties MAny Endeavours have been us'd whereby to take off that Heavy Burthen that hath lain upon Trade during the whole Course of this War and to secure it from the Violence of the Enemy though most have hitherto prov'd ineffectual But I have I humbly conceive found out an Expedient that will remove those Mischiefs and the Trade of the Nation thereby be protected and preserved and likewise your Majesties Royal Navy may in little time be fully Mann'd without giving any obstruction to Trade Which with all Humility I do lay at your Royal Feet in hopes that you will graciously Accept and Countenance these my Vndertakings Not doubting but to see England Flourish and Re-gain its Ancient Glory under the happy Influence of your Majesties most Auspicious Reign and by your Royal Endeavours in few years see Europe in perfect Peace and Tranquility And that God may Bless and Prosper your Majesties and the Confederates Arms is the daily Prayer of Your Majesties Most Faithful and Loyal Subject Most Dutiful and Devoted Servant Robert Crosfeild To the Right Honorable the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament Assembled VVHoever with an Impartial Eye shall behold the Constitution of the English Monarchy must acknowledge it the best Establish'd Government in the World and whose Parliaments are and have been the Glory of their Prince the Bulwark of the People and the Terrour of their Enemies and whenever there was that happy Union between King and Parliament which we have now the Blessing to Enjoy it hath begot an Excellent Harmony and Great and Glorious Actions have been perform'd by our Ancestors to their Immortal Fame who have often made the Gallick Shore to Tremble And I apprehend there hath nothing been wanting in the Subject that the same things have not been again effected but the Defect hath been in those Measures that have been taken Therefore I do humbly present these ensuing Propositions in the same Form they were deliver'd to the Lords of the Admiralty in which may be seen as in a Glass the Source from whence our Evils have sprung And with all due submission do humbly conceive that the whole matter carries so much of Reason along with it that I think its unanswerable Not that I have any Opinion I have manag'd the Argument so well but there are some Truths that may be easily evidenced and which require not those exquisite Parts which are necessary in more abstruse Matters and may be perform'd by a Man of but indifferent Education Trade is altogether of as great Consequence and Importance to this Nation as the Nerves and Sinews are to the Body of Man which being Cut is debilitated and weaken'd So if our Trade be ruin'd we shall be Impoverish'd and become a Prey to our Enemies But I fear my Zeal will transport me beyond my Bounds for I plainly see that the Happiness of Europe and the very Existence and Well-being of the Protestant Religion and Welfare of these Kingdoms depend upon the Success of this War And God hath given us Strength and Ability whereby we may be able to Cope with our Enemies and Reduce them to Reason But hitherto we have not taken such proper Measures in our Naval Preparations as we ought which I humbly conceive hath been the Genuine Cause and Foundation of all our Misfortunes and Losses at Sea during this War and which hath greatly impair'd their Majesties Revenue and the Trade of the Nation There can no Revolution happen in any Kingdom be it never so Just but there will be some Malecontents and the nearer Ruin their Cause is so much the more will they struggle in it being like the Convulsions of a dying Man and use all Arts and turn themselves into all shapes so they may but possibly disorder the publick Proceedings of the Kingdom And now are the Eyes of this Nation and all Europe upon this August Assembly waiting the Issue of the Debates thereof which being Vigorous and Early Mony being the Sinews of War will beget the like Vigour and Resolution in the Allies and prevent the French King from making any separate Peace which by his Emissaries he hath with so much Industry endeavour'd as knowing he must sink under the wait of the Confederate Arms. But it astonishes me when I consider that two Nations who are so Potent at Sea as we and the Dutch are should not make a more advantagious use of that strength which God hath given us The being strongest at Sea was ever an unspeakable advantage which is apparent to the whole World that we are notwithstanding those Losses we have had And we may plainly see that the Providence of God generally works and brings things to pass by Natural Causes and Effects as may evidently be seen by the late Revolution in this Kingdom for it was by the Evil Administration of Government under various Circumstances of Affairs that contributed to it and which gave just ground and occasion for it and was that which turn'd the Hearts of the People and thereby begat a Union of Parties and was the great outward Cause of our present Settlement Therefore in vain will it be for us to cry unto God for Help and to give a Blessing to our Endeavours when we take not apt and proper Measures And it seems highly unreasonable his Majesty should be so much expos'd to the Violence of the Enemy to the great hazard of his Royal Person upon whose Safety depends not only the happiness of these Kingdoms but all Europe and he hath hitherto been obliged to attend the Motions of the Enemy and to take his Measures according as they move which brought his Person into Imminent danger Therefore with all due Submission I humbly conceive that notwithstanding all the utmost Efforts that can be made it s morally impossible of making any Impression upon the French in Flanders they being so strong on that side but by making a Descent upon their Maritime Coast if not to Conquer yet to commit the same Depredations they have done upon our Neighbouring Nations that they may Drink and have their share of the Cup of Affliction and feel the dismal Effects of War Nothing can possibly wound the Enemy