Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	great_a	king_n	war_n	4,472	5	6.2395	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87744	A discourse of a true English-man, free from selfe-interest, concerning the interest England hath in the Siege of Graveling.	Kilvert, Richard, d. 1649.	1644 (1644)	Wing K477; Thomason E52_21; ESTC R20591	3,396	8

A DISCOURSE OF A true English-man Free from Selfe-interest concerning the interest ENGLAND hath in the Siege OF Graveling Printed at London for Thomas Walkley 1644. A Discourse of a true English-man free from Selfe-interest concerning the interest ENGLAND hath in the siege of Graveling OUr domestick affaires employing the best seeing men of the Realme I having no share in so great actions conceive it my part to represent unto them and the rest of my deare Countrey men what evils are invading us from abroad I feare that whilest England laboureth in her best subjects for the restitution of our peace at home dangers of no small consequence arising from forraine practices may grow past remedy Nature which hath separated England from the rest of the world by a broad and deep sea serving in stead of ditch and wall seemes to tell this Iland that her true interest is to keep herselfe Mistresse of this Sea and by all possible meanes to hinder her neighbours from over-much power in this her ditch and wall the power at sea of each particular of them must be lesse than hers if she will be safe and in as much as she can procure the power at sea of each particular neighbour must be equally ballanced with that of the other one must not over-top the other they must joyne together This for many yeares she hath exactly observed aiding sometime this sometime that never permitting any to command her seas still keeping her neighbours divided and opposite among themselves who had they joyned might have given her just cause of feare Queene Elizabeth alwayes held this course judging the greatnesse and s●fetie of this Kingdome to depend thereon to this she was induced by these or the like reasons 1 Englands chiefe prerogative and g●orie is to command her seas this prerogative and glorie will be easily lost if all neighbouring ports and coasts come into the rule of one Prince or State 2 Whiles these havens and coasts remaine divided among the Spanyard Hollander and French which nations are at enmitie among themselves England is free from feare no one of them being powerfull enough to invade her and if any one should attempt the invasion selfe-interest would enforce the other to assist her But if all come into the hands of one Master his power will be dreadfull to England if he invade who shall assist this Island 3 Neighbouring Countries remaining as they are at contention among themselves and almost in perpetuall wars England groweth rich having free traffick with them all but if the French possesse the coast of Dunkirk the freedome of Englands trade must depend on them they may hold this Island to unequal terms because in arising strifes there will be none to take Englands part 4 The Spanyards being Masters of Dunkirk Ostend and Graveling it hath alwayes been in this Islands power to live at peace with them and good cause why the true interest of the Spanyard is to be at peace with us Experience of many yeares yeelds good proofes no act of hostilitie no suspition of wrong hath come from thence so that England by long triall being assured on that side it behoves her to apprehend the danger of new neighbours in those townes the certaintie of good neighbourhood ought by her to be preferred unto the uncertaintie of others as yet not by her experienced 5 The French have alwayes been held in jealousie by the English pasted wars actuall pretences of the one against the other the memorie which the French retaine of succour sent from hence to Rochell that opinion the English cannot chuse but have that the French will powerfully maintaine our Queenes interests when they have ended with Spaine doing in the meane while what possibly they can to assist her must needs perswade the Parlament that Graveling once had by the French this Kingdome must expect them specially if to the former motive wee adjoyue common experience that the French love to be alwayes in war if not abroad rather than faile at home 6 The plot of the siege of Graveling was laid by treatie and agreement between the Hollanders and the French in this agreement the French permit unto the Hollanders the conquest of the towne and haven of Dunkirk which they presume will presently follow the taking of Graveling Now I leave unto any wise mens judgement what interest England especially the Parlament may have in hindring the Hollanders from the possession of this haven considering that by this meanes it fals into the hands of the Prince of Orange who is Admirall of Holland and Master of all their Sea-forces besides his power by land who sees not the faire pretences he may have to intermeddle in the civill wars of England and the titles he may bring forth for more than this 7. The Parliament having the administration of this Realme and possessing the Navie thereof its honour and interest exacteth such a government as may hinder while it lasteth all detriment from within and from abroad which it shall do most securely by collecting such experienced maximes by which this Kingdome hath subsisted hitherto and by which it hath maintained unto it selfe strength wealth and splendor In so doing it will more freely possesse the Subjects love who by this must see they seek the true interest of the Crown Against these reasons two Objections may be opposed 1. That England is too much imployed in her own affaires hindering her from attending to forraigne businesse 2. That the Parliament cannot succour Graveling without danger of provoking France and drawing the French Force upon England To the first of these Objections I easily answere First that Englands Civill Wars should rather incite than hinder the Parliament from succouring Graveling This Kingdomes divisions causing it's weakness should also cause an apprehension of France her growing Great and strong by adjoynig Graveling to her dominions This apprehension should produce an effectuall desire to hinder this growth and strength as I have already made manifest Secondly to succor Graveling no forces of ours are needfull to the Spaniard but those of Sea such of these as are in the Parlia possession are not so much imploied for the present as a sufficient part of them may not for some few dayes be assigned for this expedition It seems a thing most certaine to me that this town being of so great consequence to the Spaniard he will most readily free us from all charges in this action and not onely this but also afford us no small present gaine in case we give him this assistance To the other Objection of provoking France and drawing her Forces upon England for my part I see no pretext France can take against the Parliament in regard of this helpe seeing that it will be afforded by the Parliament for the indempnity and security of this Kingdome and according to those maximes England hath alwaies used without violation of her amity with France Secondly England wrongeth none in using her right Now this Kingdom possessing the Dominion of her seas may with just cause hinder the invasions and usurpations of those who with her prejudice seek to spoil her neighbour 3. According to the ordinary use and course of W●r such succours as these induce no breach of peace The Hollanders who have neutrality with the Empire sent notwithstanding ayde to the Castle of Hermetsteyn and the towne of Dorsten besieged by the Imperiallists and contributed the value of great sums to the Sweden and to the Widow of the H●ssian without giving cause of War against them unto the Emperour At this present they supply the Sweden with Ships and men against the Dane continuing amity notwithstanding with this King The French themselves have done the like for the Hollanders against the Spaniard even at that time they were in peace with Spaine they gave aid of men an● money to the King of Sweden against the Empire not having any open War with the Emperour whence it plain ensues that such succours cannot be esteemed acts of Hostility according to the examples and maximes of the French and Hollanders themselves 4. In case such aides would provoke the French it is certain that after the raising of this siege the Spaniards and the Empire will give them worke enough so to hinder them from any enterprize against England Farther if the French shall actually enter into War against this Realme in regard of the frustrating their hopes of Graveling Spaine no doubt will oblige her selfe to defend it and keep it free from harme ensuing from the said Instruction 5. The suffering France to get means to do hurt unto England is much more to be feard than the giving to the French a pretence for doing her harme France cannot hurt unlesse shee hath power and meanes but if the French get power and meanes to hurt this will bee executed by them here although pretences fail as they have done not onely once elsewhere and not onely in one place where they have broken solemne Treaties without any cause yea without colour of Iustice 6 When France shall be in case to invade England pretences will never want old quarrels aid given to Rochell the interest of the Queene of England and other like will suffice So that England's securitie consisteth not in avoyding to provoke France which is sufficiently stirred up by her owne ambition and her desire to devoure this Kingdome but England must procure securitie to her selfe by taking away from France meanes and power to hurt her The will to hurt England can never faile in the French Lastly if a more particular treatie with the Spanyard about this businesse please the Parlament other meanes and wayes questionlesse will be found out by which a satisfying securitie for England against France will appeare So that the aid which England shall give to Spaine in this present occasion shall appeare no way prejudiciall to this Kingdome FINIS