were to pay at Sea unto that Usurper being regulated as to the manner by the president of what had been Exhibited to the Royal Progenitors of his Majesty the Antient Kings of England the Right of whom was so acknowledged a thing heretofore in Holland that it is not only coâ—…fessed in the League of Cromwel and both the Treaties betwixt his Majesty and the Dutch but in the Twelvthâ—… Article of the Offensive and Defensive League betwixt France and the United Provinces Anno Dom. 1635. It was Agreed That if the Dutch Fleet which was to Scowre the French Coasts in the Mediterranean from Pirats should at any time meet the French the Admiral of the Dutch was to strike his Flag and lowre his Top-sail at his first approach unto tâ—…e French Flâ—…et and to Salute the Admiral of France with Guns who was to return the said Salute by Guns also as was usual when the Dutch and English Fleaets did meet With what sincerity the Dutch did Negotiate with the Crown of France is known only to the Searcher of Hearts and to Themselves For since the first Revolt of these pâ—…rfidious Hollanders unto this day it hath been their constant course to observe no Leagues further then they conduce to the Profit of the United Provinces and to Imbark all Princes in Wars upon promises of a firm Amity and Assistance and as soon as the said Princes are plunged thereinto to desert them and draw Advantages from their Enemies or else compel their Allies aforesaid to yield them more beneficial Articles Thus They served Queen Elizabeth Who complained thereof in 1598. Thus They imposed upon the most Christian King in 1635 and afterwards all along untill the conclusion of the Munster-peace Thus They served the Queen of Sweden in 1643 1644 It is possible that the King of France might suspect their Treachery especially since the same Men do now Sway the States General and Province of Holland who cheated France in the Munster-Peace lest having involved Him in a War with England and transported his Forces into that Kingdom they should change Sides and having extorted Cautionary Towns from the English employ their Armes against Him to His great detriment and disgrace if not Ruine It is much more possible that this Haughty and Generous Prince seeing in the Person of the King of England the Sacred MAJESTY of all Princes Vâ—…lified and Abused and recalling to mind how the same Dutch had Cosened the Crown of France and disappointed all the most hopeful designs of that Kingdom and its Allies by the Munster-peace contrary to so many Leagues renewed from them and after such constant supplies of Men and Money and without any default on the part of the French I say it is much more probable that upon these regards and a Detestation of the late Insolence of the Dutch towards His most Christian Majesty who during his Progress in Flanders had sent their Navy as it were to Brave him on his Coast at Dunkirk He was inclined more to the Amity of the King of England However it were the Dutch Negotiations in France were discovered by His Majesty the King of Great Brittain some months after the aforesaid refusal of the Flag Our King had Expostulated with their Embassadour Boreel concerning the Indignity of that Act which was a notorious Breach of the Articles and a thing which they yielded unto Cromwel As for Cromwel the Embassadour replied THEY FEARED HIM The which words as they carry with them the greatest Contempt in the world towards His Mayesty so they are demonstrations of the Dutch principles that these Hollanders act out of no sense of Honour Honesty and Conscience but accordingly as THEY HOPE AND FEAR He did further answer that If his Mayesty would be informed of the Action and the Sentiments of his Superiours their Assembly was at the Hague and thither he might send to be acquainted therewith Although Replies of this nature sound very harsh in the Ears and sinck deeply into the Minds of Princes yet so averse was His Majesty from a War with the United Provinces so willing to retain an inviolate Amity with that arrogant and ingrateful People that He did purpose to send an Envoy to demand Satisfaction for what had past and to understand their future Intendments But since to precipitate this Message had been to undervalue His Crown and Dignity as also an Argument of His fear to lose the Alliance of their High and Mighties one Moneth viz. August was suffered to Lapse before those Thoughts were assumed again It being but Justice that those who had offered the Affront and those HOLLANDERS HE the King of Great Britain should first apply themselves unto His Majesty After a Moneth or so was past Mr. Boreel takes an occasion to Discourse with the Principal Secretary of State and askes When His Majesty did intend to dispatch His Envoy to the Hague about the Action of Van Ghent It being rumour'd that His Majesty was much displeased thereat The Reply was That His Majesty had very great reason to take it ill that since He had gratified the Hollunders so much in the Treaty of 1662. and that of Breda and also in the Triple Alliance League of Guaranty and defensive Articles They should deny unto HIM above all others the RIGHT OF THE FLAG that antient and undoubted Regality of the Crown of England That he could not comprehend their meanings since if they had any respect for His Majesty or valued his Friendship they should voluntarily have done him right in a case so NOTORIOUS and Well-known unto them That the causless Breach of one Article in this Conjunction of Affairs rendred the Alliance with the United Provinces NULL and their FRIENDSHIP for ever suspected Yet so willing was His Majesty to continne the mutual Amity that an Envoy should ere long be dispatched It seemed harsh to an English Spirit that the King of Great Britain should send any Envoy from London to attend the leisure of an Audience from their High and Mighties at the Hague yet this had been done but that the States General to anticipate the Errand and prevent all hopes of accommodating the Affair but by a new Treaty proceeded to Vote and Decree that Van Ghent had done nothing but what became him nor did the Articles oblige THEIR FLEETS to strike the Flag unto ANY SINGLE MAN OF WAR of the Navy Royal of England They also represented the claim of his Majesty unto the Dominion of the Seas to be most Irrational and Ridiculous THIS was the Subject of the general Laughter and Scorn in Holland and with much Contempt did their Embassadours discourse of it in the Courts of Forein Princes His Majesty did regard these Passages with extraordinary Prudence He considered their Import at present and their future tendency It was manifest that all the Confederacies betwixt Him and the Dutch were at an end that the Defensive Articles were no longer of any force to oblige the
to merit his esteem and affection Such like insinuations have heretofore been made by such as the world valued for policy but we request not any benefit therefrom but upon the regards of Piety desiring to serve the same God and pray for the same Soveraign under our several forms of worship How zealously the Fathers justifie the present Declaration of his Majesty it is a thing well known to the Learned and Mr. Chillingworth a Book licensed by the greatest Episcoparians and reprinted under no less Authority since his Majesties return doth make a large harangue in the behalf of it And if to impose upon men the profession of what they do not believe seem the most ready way to Atheism and if Atheism be much more pernicious to Government then Superstition the late procedure of his Majesty is authorized by the most prudential documents and we do heartily wish that the reign of his Majesty may be as prosperous and as glorious as was that of Constantine Valentinian Theodosius c. who are the illustrious presidents in this way of Royal clemency It is most certain that nothing did more in bolden the Dutch in their insolences against his Majesty and the English Nation then the opinion they had that we being subjected to the rigour of the penal Laws must needs be thereupon discontented with the present Government and inclined to favour them during the war But how cogent soever were those motives which made us desire greater indulgence we have not so learned Christ as thereupon to become rebels and enemies to our native Country Neither should ever De Witte by his artifices and soâ—…hisins convince us of the equity of their Cause who in the heighth of religious extravagancies and fanaticism did so vigorously assert those English rights in the defense of which His Majesty is now embarked We are not at all concerned in favour of the Dutch because They profess the same Protestant Religion which the English adhere unto It is most certain that the sense of Religion doth not extinguish Civil rights neither ought Injuries therefore to be tolerated because the Authors are Protestants No Judge no man regards the Effusion of Christian blood when a cut-â—…urse or a Robber is to be put to death we consider here the demeanour not the Creed of the criminals and injurious The Dutch pressed us with such Arguments as these when they had in â—…ain assaulted our Fleet in the Downs A. D. 1652. They harangued unto us by their Embassadour Adrian Pauw about the Interest of Protestancy in general and the mutual regards that ought to be betwixt Nations avowing the same Reformed and Orthodox Religion But the Council of State then would not be amused with such expressions nor relinquish thereupon the Rights and Honour of England They challenged the Right of the Flag as anciently and indubitably appertaining to this Nation and esteemed that no trivial Ceremony but so important a matter as to bottom the Quarrel and pursue the War thereupon We did not look upon the thing as a Civility which 't was indifferent if payed or omitted but beheld it as Land-lords do those small acknowledgments of a Capon or Pepper-corn by which their Tenants hold their Lands We esteemed it such a Ceremony as whereby wo preserved our Title to the Dominion and Soveraignty of the Brittish Seas the which Seas if we like Prodigals do not improve to all Advantages yet we would not bereave our Posterity of their Right to do it We said 't was a Right which All Princes and States even those of Holland and their Ancestours had allowed to belong unto England that a long Usage and Prescription which 't was easie to deduce out of Authent'ck records had confirmed unto us The Dutch were not then so insolent as to demand of us any Declaration that we pretended not thereby to the Dominion of the Brittish Seas but we know very well that Our Soveraignty over those Seas was suspended thereupon and that they did not refuse the Flag but that they might deprive us of and usurp to themselves the other The Dutch then were not so impudent as openly to justifie their Admiral and other Captains which refused to shew that Obeisance They did not commissionate them to deny it but intimated to them their displeasure at it whilst they publickly avowed That they had ordained them to continue those civilities and testimonies of affection which were usual upon any rancounter with the English Men of War Their Pride was not become so extravagant as of late it shewed it self against His Majesty and yet we thought fit to abate it then and therefore we cannot be justly suspected to be averse from this quarrel All our claim All our prescription was deduced from Crowned Heads and we do not imagine the Rights of England to be lessened because that His Majesty doth sway the Brittish Sceptre We prosecuted that War with so much courage and conduct that our valour amazed the whole world until the atchievements of his Royal Highness did give Men greater occasions for wonder And what we demanded by way of Treaty this Article will attest ARTIC XV. That the Ships and Vessels of the said United Provinces as well Men of War as others be they single Ships or in Fleets meeting at Sea with any of the Ships of War of this State of England or in their Service and wearing the Flag shall strike the Flag and lower their Topsail until they be passed by and shall likewise submit themselves to be visited if thereto required and perform all other respects due to the said Common-wealth of England to whom the Dominion and Soveraignty of the Brittish Seas belong This was one of the Articles delivered to their four Embassadors Novemb. 18. 1653. And the pretended Common-wealth did so peremptorily insist thereon that without the Solemn declaration and acknowledgment of the English Soveraignty over the Brittish Seas they could not any way treat with the Hollanders And it is well known to those which were commissioned to treat with their Embassadours I had this relation from Sir Robert Reynolds who was one of them that the said Embassadours being introduced and recommended to their pitty by Hugh Peters did offer to the several Commissioners that the States General should by a publick deed acknowledge that The Dominion and Soveraignty of the Brittish Seas did belong unto the pretended Common-wealth of England and that Thus much should be expressed in the several Commissions and Instructions issuing out of their Admiralties and Their Ships upon this account avowedly to strike the Flag and lower their Topsail We so much the more insisted thereon because we knew the usual evasions of the Dutch would otherwise reduce affairs to a second dispute if ever They recollected their strength We wonder that They should so far obliterate in their minds all sense of the respect due to Crowned Heads above the Republicks and so extreamly forget what
occasion these evils which thus ensue nor is He any way guilty of them If then the War with the United Provinces be Just which is an unquestionable truth if it be lawful for the Protestant King of Great Britain to enter into a League with the King of France though a Papist which cannot well be questioned those considerations ought not to perplex the Consciences of any English man which arise from the voluntary and subsequent proceedings of his most Christian Majesty It became the States General at first to weigh those things they are extrinsical to our Business But we ought to take notice with what circumspection as to this point his Majesty hath proceeded by Inviting them to come hither and securely to profess their Religion in England Whereupon his Majesty did most piously and motuproprio make as great a provision for the support of the Protestant Religion as it was possible for him in that condition which the Treachery and Villany of the Dutch Governours had reduced Him unto They had made the Interests of the two Nations to be incompatible and as it becomes all English-men to prefer their own Welfare before that of a Stranger so it is manifest that the Reformed Religion will be in a better Posture by the Grandeur and Puissance of these Realms than if they fell under the force of Holland Out of what hath been alledged in Answer unto the first Scruple there hath been in a manner suggested a Reply unto the Second Yet I do further say That his Majesty hath a Cordial and sincere regard unto the general good of the Protestants and how much he regarded the welfare of the Dutch it doth appear by the Treaty at Breda the Triple Alliance and Defensive Articles It is not in His Power to oblige them further against their Wills nor is it requisite and fitting that he give up the Rights of England and abandon the concerns of His natural Subjects for the benefit of Holland It is for the general benefit of Protestancy that England flourish rather then be destroyed Hereunto His Majesty hath bent all His Councils He neither sought this War nor ever declined a just and honourable Peace We cannot expect He should perform impossibilities in behalf of the reformed Religion in general and we ought not to amuse the People with insinuations that are either vain or malitious Let us rather contemplate the success which hath happened upon the contests betwixt Protestants heretofore When Maurice aided Charles the 5th though the Lantgrave of Hesse and Elector of Saxony both were overthrown in the quarrel yet was not Protestancy it self prejudiced thereby and the like events have sundry times fallen out so that we have no such reason to prognosticate these calamities unto the reformed Religion whether we attend unto experience or the good will of God in the disposition of affairs and whilst we perplex our selves about the Hollanders it may be they are now saying It is good for us that we were afflicted They may now be reclaimed from their Pride and Insolence and at once become better Christians and better Neighbours But to resume my Discourse The Reasons aforesaid did not the more elevated judgement of His Majesty suggest unto Him any others are sufficient to authorize our Amity with France and Enmity with Holland Which His Majesty did so conclude upon as to remember the English interest in preserving Flanders unto the Spaniard The Embassadour of that Crown I am sure hath with repeated Declarations been satisfied that His Majesty did not intend nor had by this League abandoned those thoughts which at first led Him to enter upon the Triple Alliance and that an Article to that purpose was so penned that a Son of Spain could not have been more express as to that point then the King of England was If his Majesty did transact this whole affair with great secrecy it is an Argument of His extraordinary Conduct which was necessary to so great an affair If He did not advise with the Parliament about the War let us believe it not to have been fit that His privacies should be made publick or that the League should be protracted by their tedious debates and let us acknowledge that according to the English Laws His Majesty is sole Arbitrator and Judge of War and Peace and if our Kings have sometimes advised with their Parliaments about Wars they were never obliged thereunto If that hitherto the Conduct of His Majesty hath appeared to be such that every man must be satisfied with His care and vigilancy for the welfare and honour of His Subjects that which I now come to treat of is such an Action that represents His Prudence to be as great as Clemency and as by the latter vertue He hath equalled Himself to the best of former Princes so I am confident that Antiquity even those Ages which our Homily terms purer then our's did never produce any contrivance equal to what I now come to discourse upon and that is His Majesties Declaration to all His loving Subjects March 15. 1671. To do His Majesty justice about this point and to describe the excellency of that advise I shall choose to imitate the Painter of Crotona who being to draw the Picture of Venus assembled all the beautifull Damsels of the City and by reducing all those perfections which were scattered amongst them into one Effigies did pourtray His Deity or as in some Optick Tables the beautie of a multitude of little Figures are transferred and by reflexion form the Image of some Hero which is all life charm and attraict Thus I will faithfully repeat the several Decrees of the Christian Emperours in the purest times whose Prudence and Piety hath endeared their memories unto all the Church and whom the Church of England doth oblige all Her Sons to have in Reverence and thence it will be manifest that His Majesty hath revived again with advantage that Piety and Policy which is thought to have declined these thirteen hundred years Before I descend to the particulars it is requisite that I deduce these Counsils of His Majesty from their true Original that is His great Devotion unto and tenderness for the preservation of the Church of England Were Our Church retired into the Wilderness were their Dioceses in the desarts of Thebais or some unknown corner of the Earth the Ecclesiasticks might with safety perhaps attend unto their Devotion and perform in their Cells Hermitages and Mandrae the duties of Religion with poverty and without molestation But since it hath pleased Divine Providence to advance the Christian Church above its Primitive Streights want and persecution being originally its allotment to reduce the Kings and Emperours of the Earth unto the Christian Faith and to incorporate the concerns of Religion with those of the Empire other contrivances other means are necessary to support the Lustre and Grandeur of this Church now then were practised in its first condition and those are such as conform
with the dictates of humane Policy It is now no less requisite unto the Clergy that the Nation be puissant populous and rich then it is unto the Layety and the common interest of all is that the Monarchy be supported and Rents duely paid But these ends could not be accomplished without the Declaration aforesaid As to the Divisions in these Kingdomes the Sects and Heresies which distract and afflict the Church His Majesty is innocent as to their original and progress Inimicus homo fecit haec He did not make them but found them and from Holland they were constantly fomented His Majesty not only by His Royal Example but by sundry Acts of Parliament and reiterated endeavours for the space of twelve Years hath laboured to compose the affairs and promote the interest of the Church of England And perhaps if all others in their proper Sphears had contributed as much to the removing of Scandals and re-establishing of the Peace of the Church there had not been any need to exchange the wayes of Coercion for those of Toleration But since those pious intendments of His Majesty have been frustrated so long partly by the negligence and other defaults of some and the untamed obstinacy of the Sectaries it seems the dictate of ordinary Wisdom rather to endure then attempt the healing of inveterate Ulcers and to continue them as running Sores rather then to endanger the whole Body by amputation or violent Remedies It is apparent that this Nation doth want Men to carry on our Trades at home and Merchandizing abroad And if we consider how requisite it is unto the common security that the Naval strength be always great and that the Fishing be resumed nothing can be more clear then that we ought by all possible means continue amongst us the People which we already have and invite in hither also what Numbers we can of Foreiners We do not live in the new Atlantis nor have we for our Neighbours the Natives of China who desire not to enlarge their Domions nor any such Potentates as have made a decree not to encrease their Territories Our Shores are washed with the British Seas the United Provinces and France are our immediate Neighbours Ever since the days of John Olden Barnevelt unto the Reign of John de Wit the Hollanders have been constantly undermining our Reputation and our Trade and our long sufferance had so far imboldened them as that at length they doubted not by open force and Clandestine machinations to effect our ruine or reduce us under their protection Had we been at the same time attacqued by their Fleets and imbroiled by domestick Commotions what would have been the condition of our State and Church If there be no Trading how little will the difference be betwixt the alienation of Church-lands and the receiving no Rents from them In fine let the Clergy consider how they are better provided for by his Majesties Declaration then they would have been by the Pensionary of Holland and any Placart of the States General and they will see just cause to acquiesce in and magnify that Prudence which hath preserved the Nation that Prudence whereby our domestick Peace is ensured our Trade and Strength pnt into a possibility to be advanced and whereby His Majesty hath obliged the Non-Conformists unto His Service whom the Dutch presumed upon as their Friends and had rendered as it were their Pensioners by their joynt Trade and the sums of money which had been remitted to Amsterdam Whereupon they seemed to be the most fitting Instruments and were treated with in order to the involving their native Country in another civil War It is certain John de Wit omitted not any artifice or suggestion that might conduce unto these ends That Faction did not propose to themselves a generous War the issue whereof might be an honourable and lasting Peace but such a one as should end in the desolation of these Realms and final subjection under them Less would not secure unto the Dutch the universal Trade and the passage through our Chanel for their East-India Ships whose Voyage by Scotland they complain of as tedious expensive and dangerous Not would the malice of the de Wits satisfie it self with any more moderate terms then the ruine of His Majesty of His Royâ—…l Highness and the Court and a total alteration in the Government The Pensioner the better to inveigle the English pretended that they had no quarrel with the Protestants of this Nation they beheld them as dear Brethren and begged they would either divert His Majesty from this War or pray to God to confound His Counsils that the Advisers of this War were the common Enemies of both Nations and from the insinuations of John de Wit came that vulgar jealousie of the designs on Foot to introduce amongst us a change of Religion and an Arbitrary Government by this War with Holland But those they treated with did not prove such absolute Phanaticks as the great Minister of the States of Holland did imagine they would Experience had shewed them how difficult a thing it was to overthrow an hereditary Monarchâ—… and how impossible it was for a Nation inured to Monarchy divided in interests discriminated by degrees of honour debauched in its manners irreconcileable in its factions to retain its liberty though Fortâ—…ne upon any accident or attempt should dissolve its present Monarchy They did consider the general treachery of Men and the particular Impostures which their own Partisans had deluded them by heretofore nor could theâ—… upon the most diligent enquiries propose to themselves any Person in whose hands they could wish the Conduct of affairs entrusted rather then in those of His Majesty of whose Prudence Generosity and Clemency they had seen so great and unexpected Trials They knew that the Dutch hated the Phanaticks by reason of the dammages they had received by them in the War 1652 1653. And that they would never endure England to be modelled into a Republick especially under the leading of the Phanatick Party Nor could they believe the design feasible upon this account though the beginnings should happen prosperous that all new Governments are weak and there being two such potent Neighbours adjoyning unto England it seemed unimaginable that they should be Passive in the business and neither of them endeavour to possess themselves of all or some of these Realms and draw to themselves so great and facile advantages as such a revolution would invite them unto Upon such considerations besides that regard to the honour of old England which nothing can obliterate in any English Soul those generous Phanaticks who were most of them removed out of the Dominions of His Majesty did abominate the enterprize discovered the Plots of the Lovesteine faction and prepossessed their Friends against the artifices of the Dutch and fixed them unto the service of His Majesty and of their native Country This deportment of that supposed Faction created in the breast of his Majesty better
prudence and piety there is not any of their projects no nor all of them summed together which may compare with the Declaration of His Majesty in order to the preserving at present and re-setling for the future the Church of England If the Primitive Emperours did publish their own judgments concerning the Orthodox Church thereby to insinuate unto their subjects which way they wished and desired them to conform their Opinions If they did extend several priviledges and emoluments of Revenue and Legacies unto the Catholicks which the Sectaries were not to receive Behold what His most Sacred Majesty doth declare In the first place We Declare our express Resolution Meaning and Intention to be That the Church of England be preserved and remain entire in its Doctrine Discipline and Government as now it stands Established by Law And that This be taken to be as it is the Basis Rule and Standard of the General and Publick Worship of God and that the Orthodox Conformable Clergy do receive and enjoy the Revenues belonging thereunto and that no person though of a different Opinion and Perswasion shall be exempt from paying his Tythes or other Dues whatsoever Hitherto the Ancient Politicks concur with the modern prudence of His Majesty yet there is this advantage on the part of the Church of England above what the Primitive Christians had that the Revenues of the Conformists are better settled and greater by far then the Nicene Fathers then the Hillary's the Basil's and the Nazianzen's could pretend unto And the power and dignity which our Bishops hold as Spiritual Lords not to mention their influence upon the subordinate Clergy hath nothing parallel to it in the four first Centuries except we should seek for particular instances in Rome and Alexandria Here are no Pagan Pontifices Sacerdotales Agrorum Hierophantae c. to rival much less transcend them No Jewish Patriarchs Primates Archisynagogi c. that equal them in Titles and are to be respected and exempted by Franchisements equal unto theirs The common Schools and Universities are not now as Athens in the time of Nazianzen and generally the Professors and Sophistae devoted to Gentilisme but managed by the Church The Parliament as of old the Senate doth not consist of Paynims or Arians c. Those which sway in our Councils and in the Magistracy are now no such kind of Men as heretofore From whence it is easie to conclude that If the Orthodox Church did advance it self in the Primitive Ages amidst those circumstances there is no fear that the Church of England which takes that Antiquity for its pattern as to Doctrine and Discipline should be ruined amidst much better conditions His Majesty doth further adde That no person shall be capable of holding any Benefice Living or Ecclesiastical Dignity or Preferment of any kind in this Our Kingdom of England who is not exactly Conformable This is conform unto the Presidents of Constantine Theodosius c. who did require an exact Subscription to the Niâ—…ene Council Thus Athanasius and S. Hilary c. urge an unalterable Conformity to the Decrees of the Three hundred and eighteen Bishops at Nice From thence the Fathers never would reeede And when the Emperour Constantius at the Councils of Sirmium Ariminum c. had formed sundry Comprehensional Creeds whereunto both Arians and Catholicks might saving their sundry judgments subscribe the best of the Fathers totally rejected the contrivance and those which out of a desire for the Union of the Church had assented thereunto did soon repent themselves for thereby the Orthodox Church received extraordinary prejudice The Nicene Fathers and the Catholicks seemed to have condemned the practices of their Chief Prelates and of themselves in making so great a Schisme and fulminating out Anathema's against their Brethren for needless words and forms which the Church might want and which they now expunged The Arians triumphed every where as Victors the whole World seemed to follow them and the rest appeared to be justly exiled and scorned who had raised such Divisions and Animosities in the Church and State about Trifles Hereupon the Comprehension was utterly dissolved and never resumed again in old Christendome as the most foolish and impracticable design that could be Upon this precedent did the D. of Saxony rather proceed by a special form of Concord then by any General and Comprehensional course â—…hus did the Calvinists in the Synod of Dort The Romanists in the Council of Trent Q. Elizabeth in her Subscriptions Thus have all wise Princes done except Charles V. who by an ill-favoured Interim tried the other way but with so bad success that 't is no president for His Majesty How Orthodox soever the Novatians were yet were they ranked alwayes amongst the Hereticks and Schismaticks nor did the Church ever project a Comprehension for them It is true the Primitive Emperors did grant them the same priviledges with the Catholicks which I believe did help to continue their Schisme so long But herein the Judgment of His Majesty seems more clear and elevated in that He doth not imbolden any Pretenders unto Orthodoxy to be Schismaticks by communicating with them His publick favours c. equal emoluments with the true Sons of the Church of England As we do now reckon all Separatists whatever under the Name of Non-Conformists albeit they differ as much as Novatians Basilidians and Manichees so did the Antient prudence esteem them all Hereticks and Schismaticks And if the hopes of preferment if the honour of a publick Church be not motives sufficient to make some men Proselytes to the Church of England It is rational to think that the being indiscriminately mixed in such a loathsome company and character may operate upon the minds of many to abate of their preciseness It follows We do in the next place Declare Our Will and Pleasure to be That the Execution of all and all manner of Penal Laws in Matters Ecclesiastical against whatsoever sorts of Non-Conformists or Recusants be immediately suspended and they are hereby suspended His Majesty herein writes after the Copy of the Primitive Times The Penal Laws are suspended the Defaults the Heresie the Schisme are not authenticated The punishment is taken off the guilt is not None is encouraged hereby unto Separation but indulged if he do separate They are still Non-Conformists to the Church of England They are still Recusants as to the Law They may assemble publickly but 't is under this ignominious denomination What power properly belongs to the Church is entirely reserved unto it by His Majesty Ecclesia enim jus Judicii habet Imperii minimè They are Spiritual Fathers and Judges their Authority their Censures are not suspended The Parliamentary and Secular Laws are invalidated for a season which is conformable to the Ancient Proceedings It is not declared that They are not Hereticks or Schismaticks but that They shall be tolerated though such It is one thing to encounter an Heresie or Schisme
in the begininng and another when it hath made a large progress Then it may be suppressed easily and the publick receives little prejudice by the banishment or ruine of a few But in the latter case it is to be considered that the Kingdom receives a great and irreparable damage in its strength in its trade in its unanimity if Multitudes come to be exiled or impoverished The Manufactures may be transported into foreign Countries as happened in Flanders upon the persecution there by the D. of Alva Secrets of State and Interest may be divulged Or if they will not retire foreign correspondences and complotments may happen to be driven on by the enraged or desperate to the ruin of the Kingdom and Church If the revolt of Africk to the Vandals If the revolt of Italy unto the Goths were an effect of the rigorous usage against the numerous and obstinate Donatists and Arians If the progress of Mahometanisme was facilitated by the severity practised against the Arians in Syria AEgypt and Africk I would fain know whether the Church benefited more by the Indulgence of the first Emperours or rigors of the latter It was a Rhodomontado of Philip II. King of Spain that He had rather have no Subjects at all than those He had to be Hereticks By such Maximes the Moors the Jews were ejected Spain If a Wise-man examine the consequence of this opinion He will find that the Exchequer of Spain hath been exhausted the Revenues infinitely lessened the strength and riches of the Kingdom mightily diminished several Provinces lost the Monarchy scarce able to support it self And is this nothing unto the Bishop and Canons of Toledo Next It is Declared That there may be no pretence for any of Our Subjects to continue their Illegal Meetings and Conventicles We do Declare That We shall from time to time allow a sufficient number of Places as they shall be desired in all parts of this Our Kingdome for the use of such as do not Conform to the Church of England to meet and assemble in in order to their Publick Worship and Devotion which Places shall be open and free unto all persons This Paragraph contains a part of Wisdom which is superiour unto any thing the Fourth Century doth suggest unto me about this Subject Hereby His Majesty understands the Place the Persons meeting and their Numbers and may the access being free inform Himself of the Doctrine taught of the Discipline practised and of the Immoralities that may happen amongst some Sects which may resemble the Valentinians Gnostics Basilidians Priscillianists c. Those Sects which most distract the Church and subvert the Common-wealth are such as cannot bear the Light and a publick view There cannot be a more Moral certainty that neither Church nor State shall be damnified by these Schismatical Assemblies then this That His Majesty doth allow the Place and Teacher Amongst the old Hereticks and Schismatics the Emperors never had the Approbation of their Bishops but they were Elected and Ordained and admitted without His privity This occasioned great troubles to the Emperors and to the Schismatics themselves for as they sometimes chose out of faction at other times they were deceived by the Hypocrisie of an Ambitious person who was to rise by a seeming piety and cajolling of the populace so the Emperors did persecute them frequently for the disorders and misdemeanors of their Pastors and were forced to enact Laws against those Hereticks that did ordain or were ordained Something like unto what His Majesty doth I remember to have read of in the life of that brave and wise Goth Theodoric King of Italy He was an Arian yet did tolerate the Orthodoxe their Bishops and Churches And it is observed that whilest He had the Approbation of the Catholick Bishops the Churches were better served then ever He inviolably adhered unto the Indulgence given and placed His interest in approving of such Bishops onely as were peaceable and pious Nor did They endeavour to serve their private ends but the Church in their Ministry because that such courses might endanger their Bishopricks which were held but precariously of the King Whosoever shall compare this Declaration and way of meeting with that Act whereby four besides the family might convene under any Teacher will discern the sagacity of Our King who hereby prevents the Blasphemies Gross Errors un-moral and pernicious principles which might be inculcated into his subjects privily that way by the illiteterate ignorant wicked Teachers as Ranters c. who might be retained I cannot but take here notice of that Ancient Prudence and Respect unto the Church of England which His Majesty shews in the form of His Licences wherein He doth not vouchsafe unto their Assemblies the Name of Churches but Meetings and their Instructor is called a Teacher not a Pastor or Presbyter which is exactly consonant to the Edicts of Theodosius the Great and His Son Arcadius His Majesty concludes And if after this Our Clemency and Indulgence any of Our Subjects shall presume to Abuse this Liberty and shall Preach seditiously or to the Derogation of the Doctrine Discipline or Government of the Established Church or shall meet in places not allowed by Us We do hereby give them warning and Declare We will proceed against Them with all imaginable severity And We will let them see We can be as severe to punish such Offenders when so justly provoked as We are Indulgent to truly Tender Consciences Those that preach Sedition do abuse their Liberty and if they suffer thereupon the Indulgence to Tender Consciences is not violated To be obedient unto the Magistrates in Civil affairs To walk orderly and without giving offence these are indisputable Duties of Christianity If we consider the example of Our Saviour he fulfilled all Righteousness If we regard S. Paul he retracts the harsh Language which he had given unto the Jewish High Priest and at Ephesus He was not found Blaspheming or Reviling the Gods of the Gentiles In the Levitical Law there was a precept Not to blaspheme the Gods And it was a tenet of the first Christians that they ought not to blasphome or rail against the false Deities of the Pagans lest They should give the Gentiles occasion to blaspheme the true God There is a Canon of the Church which denies unto them the Glory of Martyrdom who should disturb a Priest at his Sacrifice or demolish their Altars and Idols Such a reverence had They for Government and so great a care to preserve the Peace The Donatists were persecuted by Constantine Constans and Honorius by reason of the frequent tumults they made contemning the Authority of the Emperors seising violently the Churches of the Catholicks committing intolerable outrages upon their persons sometimes killing their Bishops and Clerks Whereas the Novatians demeaning themselves Civilly and Peaceably were not molested The Arians were enjoyned by the Great Theodosius to hold their Meetings without the City of Constantinople And
the ignominy of this Age that a VVoman should dare to attempt greater things then Men dare to imagine now We are not to build ships the care vigilance and indefatigable industry of His Majesty hath prevented us in that important point Our Coyne is not imbased as in those dayes nor our City so poor that Six thousand pounds should be the greatest sum with the Loan whereof the necessities of our Prince may be supplyed England hath been oftentimes in a lower condition then it is at present as in the end of the Reign of King Henry VIII In the days of K. Edward VI. the Commons were constrained to supply the Kings wants by a Taxe of Sheep Cloaths Goods Debts c. for three years We are not so weak as we conceit our selves we are troubled with the Spleen and therefore phansy our selves so crazy that we are continually dying or Metamorphosed into Glass We delude our selves into timerousness and think it to be caution and Sagacity We quit the most pleasant passion for the most vexatious Hope for fear this last is the worst of Councillors and therefore 't is not to be wondered if so many at this time do form unto themselves a wrong Idea of things whilst the Advice hath its original hence Calamities are Calamities when they doe befall us why do we anticipate them and make our selves reaâ—…ly unhappy under imaginary evils The timorous Languisheth already under all the evils that He apprehends a thousand whereof in course of nature will never ensue But Hope is the great condiment of humane life the great support of the distressed the great Spurr unto the generous and valiant Hope though irrational and ill-grounded or erected upon weak foundations hath gâ—…ined Victories subdued Empires avoided dangers and distresses which were impossible unto Men excessively cautious I tell you O most couragious English that distress and poverty are not the way to ruine but universal Empire and the miserable have atchieved greater things then the Rich and Luxurious Are you so wretchedly poor and weak who have a greater stock left then Rome had to erect its Empire upon Enquire into the conquests of Sparta Athens Venice and those others your predecessors who claim of a Dominion over the Seas consider the progress of the Macedonians Goths Saracens or more modern Swedes You are in a better condition and yet despair then they when they began But that the declination of antient Learning hath bereaved us of the knowledge of former times Old Rome and old England afford us no Examples of despondency Those Annals suggest unto us nothing but what is Great and Brave and fit for our Imitation But we are degenerated from the School of Aristotle to that of Epicurus from all Moral Gallantry and Virtue to a most impertinent and effeminate Virtuosity Renowned Pericles told the Athenians that if they were â—…slanders and had a potent Fleet they would be invincible We are possessed of both these qualifications by the Goodness of God and Prudence of our King and yet abandon our selves unto Despair and even that passion which usually produceth the greatest efforts of Valour hath not that operation on our minds which were to be desired To imbolden us a little more Let us consider that the most difficult part of our work is overcome the puissance of the Dutch and the opinion thereof is in a manner extinct It cannot require above one years provision to compleat and ensure the happiness and prosperity of England Their own wants and necessities will enforce their Fishermen to settle here for a subsistance and that one Trade is more to be valued than ten East-India Fleets This year They are deprived of it by the wisdom and prudence of His Royal Highness whose courage not the most dreadful battails nor more terrible Storms and Tempests can deject or intimidate This together with the domestick distresses of Their States must distract and break the Trade and Correspondences of Holland in all parts of Europe and transfer them to the English if we do not neglect the opportunity A potent Fleet is the least charge and the best security of these Realms It carries an universal awe and terrour with it I read it in the Instructions of Pius V. to his Nuncio who negotiated in Spain for a League against the Turks In somma un ' armata potente allegerisce le spese assicura d'ogni periculo casa sua porta gran speranza d'acquisto in casa d'â—… congiunge le Provincie lontane le loro forze quasi come un ponte l'historie antiche moderne demostrano la prova A powerful Navy doth diminish the expence of a Realm secures the Territories at home carries terror every where and gives hopes unto Foreign Conquests it unites the strength and force of distant Provinces as it were by a Brâ—…dge as Ancient and Modern Histories testifie This is the old policy of England and Edward IIII. armed out 400 ships Henry V. provided above 200 great ships against France in 1418. Henry VII Henry VIII never kept fewer than 100 able Men of War with Men and Munition even in times of Peace The same courses were pursued by Q Elizabeth at the instigation of Dr. Dee whose Proposals for a facile maintenance thereof 't would be too long to insert here But I dare say If we duly assert our Dominion of the Sea a constant and potent Fleet will be no charge to the Nation whereas to maintain 40 or 50 onely will in time undo us The Sea-men are our Legionaries our Janizaries and Mammelucks There is not any Fund or Bank for the English to adventure their Money in but a good Navy well supplied Security and Riches are the natural result of these Councils and all other projects for the advancement of Trade or improvement of Lands are in a manner inutile This is the true Treasury of S. Marc whereby Venice subsists All the Glory and Riches which England did enjoy during this last Century were but a consequent of these Advises There are two flourishing Cities in Italy Venice and Genoa yet betwixt them there is this disparity that Venice far surpasseth the other and the reason thereof is this The Venetians have alwayes had an especial regard unto the Publick Honour and Naval Strength each private person esteeming of his Welfare and Riches by the Greatness and Puissance of the Common-wealth but in Genoa each man minds his particular interest and advantage without any regard to the dignity or opulency of the State whereby the Publick Revenues are small their strength inconsiderable and the Seigniory liable to the invasion of every Neighbour It is indeed manifest that there will happen some times when a regard to the State may prove inconsistent with the immediate profit of private persons such cases we read of in all Governments especially of Rome Athens and Constantinople but if we examine the events of affairs the former preserved themselves by
years but K. James had asserted his right and prohibited the Dutch to fish without License A. D. 1609. the like was done by K. Charles and the E. of Nâ—…rthumberland enforced them to recognise the English rights These Arguments were vehemently urged by the Commissioners of the Council of State at several conferences and notwithstanding the boast of the Hollanders that they would largely and plainly deduce their possession and rights All that They did alledge was That they had Immemorally fished there without License That this was assented unto by the Treaty of 1495. That before that League they did not take Licenses nor could it well be imagined that they did for the Herring-fishing since the Invention to pickle Herrings was not much more ancient then that Treaty It being discovered A. 1414. That They did not know upon what grounds K. Philip did take the Lease aforesaid since He needed not to do it by reason of the said Treaty That the Proclamation of K. James was never put in execution but at the request of the Hollanders either suspended or totally abrogated That the enterprise of the E. of Northumberland was an act of force and violenâ—…e and his expedition meerly praedatory That They expected more from the Justice of the Republick then that They should follow so evil presidents Hereunto the Commissioners replied That the English were obliged to vindicate their proper Rights which were conveyed to them by a Prescription and possession truly Immemorial And of the reality thereof They had in the beginning of the War convinced their Embassadour the Lord of Hemsted That the Kingdoms of France and Sweden were not less potent nor less considerable then the United Provinces and might as well insist upon the Freedom of the Fishing as they but They did not but did seek leave for to fish in the Brittish Seas That the Dutch ought to follow so illustriâ—…us examples in recognising the English rights rather then create an ill precedent for others to dispute them That it was not the intention of the Parliament to exact any vâ—…st sum of money from them â—…nnually but to acquiesce with a moderate recognition But They would never do England that dishonour as to relinquish totally that Right These Dutch are alwayes arrogant in their Language but empty in their proofs How vain is their Immemorial possession Coâ—…mon Impudence would not embolden a man to insist thereon It is evident They never fished without License except that it was otherwise agreed upon by League And if that the modern way of pickling Herring were of so late an Invention yet They had some other way of ordering them heretofore For it appears by the Treaties betwixt the Crown of Denmark and the Dutch A. D. 1324. and afterwards by other Leagues betwixt that Realm and the Hanse-Towns A. D. 1370. as also by the Records of Scotland and England that the Herring-fishing was very great and considerable long before that the Fisherman of Bierâ—…let was born The reason K. â—…hilip proceeded to take the Lease was because that His Spanish Subjects could not fish otherwise in the Irish Seas they not being comprehended in the Intercursus magnus and and He well knowing the English rights as to the Fishery If K. James did not execute his Proclamation He never did suspend or renounce it but with great fervour pursued his claim and forced the Dutch to acknowledge his rights and desert the pleas of Immemorial possession and Freedom of the Sea I do not find any violence or depredation used by the E. of Northumberland nor that the Dutch did protest against his actions I have already given an account of that expedition and I had rather believe what that Honourable Person sets his hand unto then all the clamours of these impudent Hollanders It is most certain that the pretended Common-wealth did suspend the whole Treaty upon this one point of the Fisâ—…ing they duly considered that it would be impossible that the English should be able to counterpoise the Naval force of the United Provinces without a numerous Seminary of Sea-men and that in order thereunto the English had no other means at present but the Colliery at New-castle which did not bear any proportion with the Dutch Fishery They supposed that it would be impossible for the English ever to replenish the maritime Towns to advance Trade and render themselves terrible or usefull to forreign Princes which motives sway chiefly in Alliances unless they did regain the Fishery unto England And they esteemed these reasons so powerful that they seemed impregnable against the most amicable and religious harangues of the Dutch and also against the tender of 300000 l. offered to purchase their Amity On the other side the Dutch not minding the title of Soveraigns of the Sea nor the glory of the Flag but the real prejudice whereto they should subject themselves if they relinquished the Fishing or made a temporary and precarious contract for it with a people jealous of the growth and power of Holland and therefore determined to encrease their Naval force Sea-men and Trade did resolutely declare They would treat no longer but must return to their Superiours Decemb. 15. 1653. In the mean while Oliver determines openly to proclaim himself Protectour and having effected that the Embassadours were stayed and the Treaty resumed and Oliver sends them this Answer to their last Memorial concerning the Fishing The Lords Deputies having by their former Papers desired that Freedom of Fishing in these Seas might be declared in this Treaty the seventeenth Article was thereupon propounded whereby License is granted to the people of the United Provinces upon the Terms therein expressed which notwithstanding is in their Lordships power to accept or refuse But it cannot be admitted that any thing should be inserted in this Treaty that may prejudice the right of this State in the Fishery No sooner had Oliver enstated Himself in the Protectorship but He found the Dutch to dally with His Highness They listened to His proposals and essaied how far He would condescend offering to stand uncovered in his presence but protesting They had no power from their Superiours to conclude and sign any Articles with this New Government Whereupon They desired a pass and departed Jan. 6. 1653. In the ensuing Spring the Treaty was resumed and concluded The points of the Soveraignty of the Seas and Of the Fishery were left undecided The Protectour thinking it most for His convenience to decline the mentioning of those particulars since He had gain'd other Articles that did conduce to His personal security against the Sectaries and Commonwealth-men at home and the Royalists abroad The Dutch not being to aid or suffer any in their Territories to assist with Ships Arms Money Victuals or advise any of His Enemies but to assist Him upon any occasion of danger with Souldiers and Ships in what proportion should be agreed upon Nor should They receive into their
Territories any Rebels or declared Enemies of His nor aid them in any manner wheresoever They were nor permit any others to do it In fine It was agreed that no person in the United Provinces of what dignity or degree soever living under the United Provinces At first the Prince of Orange and the Princess Mary were named but the Dutch desired that They might not be expresly named but included in the general terms afaresaid should receive into their Dominions Houses Castles priviledged or not priviledged wheresoever scituate any Enemy or Rebel of England or assist them with Men Ships Anmunition Counsil Victuals upon penalty of forfeiting all their Estates during life Whereby iâ—… is apparent that His present Majesty of great Brittaâ—…n could not have been relieved by His Sister or Nephew in the greatest extremities imaginable with one morsel of bread Upon these concessions which make up the 7 8 9 10 11 12th Articles of the Treaty did Oliver consent to leave those other important points undecided Wherein as He never had any â—…onsent of Ours so we must declare that We should think Our selves guilty of all the Blood shed in that fierce War if we did not profess That the Right of the Flag the Dominion of the Brittish Seas and the disposal of the Fishery are just honourable and necessary causes of a War with the Hollanders or any else Thus much being said in behalf of what is the principal subject of this War We shall say less in defense of the other complaints insisted on by his Majesty We cannot see any reason why we may not reckon upon the English at Surinam as our Fellow-Subjects since it never was their intention by Capitulation to become otherwise It cannot seem to any intelligent person a Question Whether They be the King of England's Subjects If there can be any dispute it is this onely Whether Adrian Crynsen had power to make any such Capitulations with those of Suâ—…inam If there had been any Superiour Commander at that time in those parts or had there been any possibiliâ—…y of consulting the States General upon the matter somewhat might be said for the Dutch But affairs being otherwise and the Articles only such as that They might transport themselves and their Goodâ—… into some of the plantations of his Majesty No Civil Lawyer will say but that Adrian Crynsen might grant thus much and the States be concluded by His transaction Otherwise it will be necessary that the Commander in chiâ—…f or Admiral be present in all places or opportunities of War will be lost It is therefore adjudged that in cases of no higher moment that Captain be reputed Supream who hath none upon the place above Him And in case that the States General would not ratifie the Articles Common equity obligeth that the inhabitants of Surinam be put again into the condition they were in before the surrender for the one party cannot be deemed bound the other being free upon the non-ratification In the East Indies they have so injured the English from time to time that it cannot be presumed They will ever put a stop to their attempts there until they have totally destroyed our Trade which is now reduced to that pass that it consists in Pepper Calicoes and such Commodities as are scarce worth the fetching if we compare them with the Gemms and Spices wherewith the Hollanders are fraighted The Earbarities of Amboyna will never be forgotten by the English Nation being acted in time of peace and which is more the chief Actors thereof justified and preferred by the States and never any justice done upon them though the pretended Common-wealth and Oliver obliged them thereunto Artic. 27. No Treaty though K. James concluded many with them in any Kings raign no nor under Oliver could ever oblige the Hollanders there In the East Indies it is that they seem to have renounced not only Christianity but Morality or rather 't is there they shew that wickedness which here they palliatâ—… Our Court of Admiralty preserves so many late Records of complaints against the Dutch in Guinâ—…y and several parts of Europe that the cries from the East Indies would not be heard but that they are able to reach Heaven and move the most oâ—…durate and â—…nsensible on earth We cannot remember that War of the pretended Common-wealth against the Dutch without forming a parallel thereof with that His Majesty is now engaged into The Dutch having attacqued the Fleet of Blake in the Downs with an intent to destroy the English power at Sea and consequently to bereave them totally of their Trade and reduce them to a condition of receiving protection from Holland or becoming liable to any invasion We did not thereupon seek a tedious and uncertaâ—…n redress from an Embassy and Treaty with that â—…erfidious State but without denunciation proceeded to seize their Ships and exercise all Acts of hostility We did not think it requisite to proceed by the ordinaâ—…y rules of War against such an Enemy Those formalities are to be observed amongst the Civil part of mankind not with Carthaginians or Hollanders They that suffer not themselves to be concluded by the Laws of Nations cannot challenge any benefit from them neither ought They to remonsâ—…rate against the violation of those Rules by which they never acted Since their first Erection into a Republick their constant practise hath been an open or clandestine piracy upon the English since K. James first reigned in great Brittain they have never kept any League in reference to Trade and Commerce that rich Trade which we had into the East-Indies at Japan Amboyna Banda and the Moluccos is totally ruin'd our Islands of Poleron Polaway Lantore unjustly seized into their hands and the damages we have suffer'd there are computed in 1653. at 1656233 l. 15 s. And we are now totally excluded those Seas by these Hollanders who pretend that by the Law of nature and Nations The Sea and Commerce ought to be free Their usurpations there have been accompanied with such barbar ties and outrages as we find more cause to wonder that they were so long tolâ—…rated then that by the effusion of the blood of Dutch Protestants we should at last vindicate the Honour Interest Trade of England and revenge the deaths of our murthered Country-men Besides the cruelties of Amboyna they exercised innâ—…merable others as appears by the depositions from 1616 to 1620. The English Ships being taken and their Goods confiscated the Captains Souldiers Factors and Mariners were made prisoners clogg'd with irons kept in stocks bound hand and foot tied to stakes haling and pulling them with ropes about their necks spurning them like dogs throwing them head-long down rocks and cliffs murdering some and starâ—…ing others to death some were landed amongst the Indians where they found better usage amongst the Paynimâ—… then the Protestants of Holland some were so lodged that they were forced to tumble in their own excremenâ—…s
encroaching Dutch to grow too potent thereon nothing being so certain as this That the Dutch wheresoever they mingle themselves do undermine and destroy the Trade of all other Nations that resort unto those parts The Convention summoned by the Council and vulgarly stiled Praisegod Barebone's Parliament were as averse from the Dutch as any men They looked upon them as carnal and worldly politicians Enemies to the Kingdome of Christ and such as would upon all occasions retard the progress of the Saints and People of God in overturning the powers of this world that Antichrist the Man of Sin could never be destroyed in Italy whilst the Dutch retained any considerable strength in the United Provinces The Nicety of the Flag they did not much insist upon nor assert the dominion of the Seas but they did hold it necessary in order to the coming of Christ and the personal Reign that the Seas should be secured and preserved as peaceable as the Land and that all Powers whether by Sea or Land ought jointly to submit unto the Sceptre of King Jesus whose wayes They and not the Hollanders were to prepare As for the procedure of the Dutch by way of Petition they thought it might be continued since the power of the Council of State was all one with that of the Saints and theirs derived from Him to whom all power is given And upon that account the Dutch ought to continue their addresses of Messeigneurs and Tres-illustres Seignâ—…urs most honourable Lords unto the said Council not in that sense wherein it is forbid by the Gospel but in that whereby our Lord Christ assumes such Tâ—…les and likewise confers them on the Saints that the signification not sound of words was to be attended unto that there is a great equivocation in Language that King and Kingdom Power and Dominion are names equally communicable to Christ and Satan but yet there is a vast difference in their import on such dâ—…stant cases The Saints therefore might tolerate them without scruple and the Dutch ought not to refuse them least it should be deemed a rejection of the Kingdom of Christ which was now approaching that the Dutch ought to kiss the Son least he be angry and they perish and should have a care how they contemned his holy ones least they were chastised with the rod of Iron In sine so little did they value these empâ—…y Titles in reference to the world that if the Deputies would salute every masiiff dogg or barking curr in England with the complement of Monseignor they would not resent it as an Indignity The Embassadours were now móre perplexed then before it was difficult to treat with and impossible to prevail upon these Men they were now in danger to be absolutely ruined as Enemies of Christ rather then of England and a Coalition with England would not satisfie except they likwise annexed their Provinces unto the Fifth Monarchy In Holland the distractions were so great that the common people obeyed no longer their Governours The Placaris of the States General were despised and They in danger to be plundered and ruined by the ignorant and impetuous rabble However the Provincials met and consult about new Instructions for their Embassadours in this juncture The opinion of Holland was that The Coalition should never be assented unto but a strict League Defensive should be proffered in the same manner as before that They ought to contract forreign Amities especially with France and equip out a Fleet with all possible expedition The other Provinces advised that assistance should be given to the Scots and no satisfaction yielded unto the English and that a League should be made with France Brandenburgh and the German Princes After this Nieuport and Joâ—…aestall depart for England with instructions to protract time according as they saw disorders to encrease there upon the male-governance of that pretended Parliament to be ample in the Ganerals concerning the defense of the Reformed Religion and of the houshold of faith to reject the Coalition absolutely and to offer a strict and intimate League but dealing as tenderly as They could in point of Reparation Satisfaction and Security Being come to London their Reception was somewhat cold The most secret transactions of the States General were known to the Council as also their private Instructions They knew also that They were distracted into innumerable factions at home the which were not to be reconciled That Holland complained it was exhausted by the losses they had sustained and contributions paid in this war that some other Provinces excused themselves by their poverty from contributing to the publick that they were afraid least the Electors of Colâ—…gne and Brandenburgh should repossess their Towns or the Emperour in right of the Empire seize them They were jealous of Spain and uncertain least France should resent the Munster-peace so as to delay their Amity Neither was it to be doubted but that all these Princes would make them dearly purchase their Allyance nor was it possible for them ever to man forth their Fleets so great a consternation had the last fight and the death of Van Trump infused into them The Fifth-Monarchists were animated against them by the news of their Forreign Alliancâ—…s It was no more then was prophesied in Scripture and in course to be expected that the Gentiles should rage and the Kings of the earth set themselves against the Kingdom of Christ but they should all fall before him and be broken to pieces They were fierce to encounter Gog and Magog and by a series of victories inflamed to the combat with this Antichristian host After the Deputies had consulted together a few dayes they repaired to Mr. Jessop Octob. 27. 1653. to deliver this Petition to the Council in French and English A Messeigneurs dú Conseil d'Estat de la Republique a'Angleterre THe subscribed Deputies of the States General of the United Provinces being charged by their Superiours to propose to the Council of State several points of importance doe thrice humbly and instantly beseech that to them favourable Audience may be granted as soon as it is possible and the important affairs of the said Council will permit On the next day They obtained Audience Octob. 28. 1653. and with great submissions delivered the following Paper in French and English The Translate of the said Paper in English as the same was then delivered by the said Deputies Most honourable Lords OUr fellow Deputies Nieuport and Jongstall having with all integrity and fidelity related to the Lords the States General of the United Provinces all the Propositions which on our part since our first arrival here have been exhibited to your most honourable Lordships and the answers which you have been pleased to return are come back again with express orders of our Lords Superiours that we together should make our addresses again to this most honourable Assembly and renew yet once again the most sincere and cord al protestations of their
mentioned in the first Paper the Deputies considering the necessities of their Country and the unmovâ—…able haughtiness of the Council did afterwards sue for and enter iâ—…to several Conferences though I do not find the particular dayes set down In all which the Commissioners whereof Cromwel was alwayes one did insist obstinately upon the acknowledgment of the Domiâ—…ion of the Seas and Rights of fishing in such terms as hath been related before where we spoke concerning those subjects The Deâ—…uties did remonstrate that the States General had as great desires to enter into a firm and streight and everlasting League as the Parliament of England could have but as the English had declared in August lâ—…t when they proposed a Coalition that if the Dutch accepted thereof all disputes about the Soveraignty of the Seas and Fishing would surcease So upon the settlement of Peace Union and eternal Amiâ—…y those scruâ—… contesâ—…s ought to receive an end especially since neither the United Provinces nor any other Nation had ever owned such Rights of the English That it would be repugnant unto the nature and constâ—…tions of each Countrey to mixe confound them both in one but if no more were looked after then a mutual participation of all emoluments priviledges rights and 〈◊〉 these might be as well made common and mutâ—…al by a strict League as by the said Coaliâ—…ien betwixt which and the said Union the difference was but verbal Hereupon Cromwel replying said Because you have been pleased à gain to make mention of the Coalition and to explain and apply it according to your own sense Know that the intentions of the Council were to find out those means which were most valid and really secure not such as had only the strength which Idle words and Paper could give unto them They purposed not only to compose the present war but to prevent all possible ruptures hereafter And to effect this great work Coaliâ—…ion most availeth For thereby without any distinction except of Municipal Laws and Usages in the ordinary administration of Justice all the Soverâ—…ignty Government and whatever depends thereupon in the two Nations would become indistinct and joint But because you did decline this Proposal and desired a strict Amiâ—…y and League with a reserve of the Soveraignty and Emoluments proper to each Republick tâ—…e Council was pleased to condescend thereto And this being now agitated it behooves us to find out such expedients whereby we may redress the present inconveniencies and prevent the like for the future What you now speak concerning an imperfect Coalition seems to proceed from a defect in your Instructions otherwise We should not have expected to hear from so Wise and Honourable Ministers as You are such an overture Then He eâ—…larged upon the singular affection which the English did bear towards the Dutch the sincerity the candid purposes of the Council the extraordinary care which the Parliament had for their wellfâ—…re and prosperity that They might share therein for ever equally with England Upon this score purely They had urged the Coalition and if the proposal be duly and rightly weighed it will appear that the English therein have no other scope nor think to derive thence any other benefit then a secure peace All the Emoluments and Priviledges would redound unto the United Provinces To evince this He discoursed of the scituation and riches of England the conveniency and goodness of the ports and coasts the benefits of fâ—…shing the opportunity of trading to the English plantations of purchasing lands and putting out their moneys to a greater interest Concluding that the English for their parts had offered unto them what was beneficial and reasonable and were satisfied in their own consciences and If the Deputies would not demean themselves with greater sincerity and confidence there was no good sâ—…cces to be hoped for from this Treaty The Deputies withdrew aside a little and after some discourse resumed their places Avowing that They had dealt candidly and sincerely and had proposed what They thought most advantageous and seasonable That since They had conferred with Their Superiours related all passages exactly unto them and received orders not to treat about any Coalition But They were ready to confer about a strict and firm Union and to demonstrate that the same Peace and Security which the English expect by the Coalition might be established by a strict Union Adding that it was easie to demonstrate that The Dutch were already possessed in themselves of all those advantages or greater which the English offerred to communicate unto them by the Coalition In fiâ—…e seeing that the Commissioners seemed to expect that the Dutch should make the first overtures about a firm peace They declared that if the English would proceed frankly The Deputies had power to oblige their Superiours to maintain defend and promote the Liberty and common good of the present Government and people of England against all indifferently and without any exception who should attempt to disturb impede or evert it and this either at Sea or Land with all those forces and by all those means which should be agreed upon mutually That they did not comprehend what greater or more sufficient assurance of peace and Security the English could find in their Coalition And therefore it was manifest that in this great debate the contest was meerly about words As to the pretended benefits that would accrue to them by the Coalition They with much modesty answered that it was true the English had several conveniencies which the Dutch wanted but yet God had been pleased to recompense the United Provinces with peculiar advantages that if their Territory was small yet all the Rivers of the vast in-land did flow through their Countrey that they had so great a multitude of fair and opulent Towns and other felicities that They had no cause to repine at the unequal dispensations of Providence As to the Rights and Priviledges which They were offered in England the people of Holland stood in no want of them c. Cromwel and the Commissioners having withdrawn and advised together awhile returned to the Deputies and Cromwel made a long Speech which proved to be only a Repitition of what he had said before He protested that the Coalition was mentioned out of no other design then that the English might receive Satisfaction Peace and Security that there was not the least comparison to be made betwixt Security to be had by confederacy and that of an intrinsick Union that How specious soever the title of Soveraignty might seem to them yet that was but a trifle which He valued no more then a feather in his cap nor did He care a button for the troubles and cares which inseparably and constantly attend such as are the chief in Government He knew how much the Dutch valued their Liberty and how dearly they had purchased it yet really the tenders of the English ought to prevail above all regards They might without boasting say
Maritime Dominion K. Henry VIII did imbellith his Navy Royal therewith and Q. Elizabeth stamped it upon those Dollars which she designed for the East-India trade A. D. 1600. thereby expressing their power to shut up the Seas with the Navy Royal as it were with a Portcullis This Dominion of the Brittish Seas did authenticate the proclamation of K. James in 1609. ordaining your Fishermen to take licenses at London and Edinborough This justified the like Proclamation in K. Charles and warranted the E. of Northumberland in his naval expedition in 1636. That Prescription is valid against the claims of Soveraign Priâ—…ces cannot be denied by any who regards the Holy Scripture Reason the Practise and the Tranquility of the World That the Dutch challenge the Freedom to fish in the Brittish Seas by Prescription is certain But Prescription depends not upon the Corporal but Civil possession and that is retained if claim be but made so often as to bare the Prescrâ—… contrary and it be evident by frequent Medails or retention of Arms or the like that the Civil possession is not relinquished Our Kings have constantly claimed the Dominion of the Sea none else pretending to it and all acknowledging it to be in them till the most modern Dutch arose They never abandoned their Right and These Medails which are all Elias Asâ—…mole Esq could help me unto preserve their claim 1. The Britannia of Aâ—…toninus 2. Appertains to Edward III. 3. To Henry VI. 4. To Edward IV. 5. To Henry VII 6. To Henry VIII 7. To Edward VI. 8. To Q Mary 9. To Qu. Elizabeth 11. To K. James 12. To K. Charles I. I II III IIII V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII In right of this Dominion of the Seas do we appropriate to Our selves the Brittish Fishery and exclude all others from the free use thereof except License be obtained or the same be conditionated for by Treaty It is most certain that were the Sea free for Commerce and Navigation yet would it not thence follow that 't were lawful for every one to fish therein for Divers private grounds have through them by Prescription grant or purchase some Iter some Actum some Viam Yet no man that may there lawfully pass may also lawfully digg to his gain or otherwise In itinere Actu oâ—… Vid of that sort without further and due license obtained So all High-wayes are counted common and publick to travail on But for any private man though He be a Subject in any part thereof to digg for any Quarry of Stone or Mine for Oare or Stone-coles c. It is not lawful though He would fill it up again as well as He found it at first Concerning this Right to the Fishing it hath been alwayes acknowledged by Forreigners to appertain to England and such Flemmings and Hollanâ—…ers as used to repair to the Herring-fishing on our coasts did constantly take Licenses and ask leave to fish at Scarborough-castle by an immemorial custom For saith our great Antiquary Mr. Cambden the English have ever granted them leave to fish reserving alwaies the honour and priviledge to themselves but thorough a kind of negligence resigning the profit to strangers It is evident that at such time as the Danes and Norwegians did exercise their Soveralgnty over the North-Sea they did not permit any Strangers either Flemmings or English to fish near Shotland without License previously obtained as appears by the Danish records and other Muniments preserved in England If any did presume to fish without License they were punished with the loss of life and limbs and besides this License they were obliged to repair to Berghen to pay their customs and duties to that King's Exchequer And this is avowed to have been practised constantly time out of mind A. D. 1432. And in a Treaty betwixt K. Edward IV. and Christian I. King of Denmark and Norwey A. D. 1465. It was agreed that no English should so much as sail upon any pretense into those particular Seas and Islands without the Permission of the Kings of Norwey upon penalty of loosing life and goods Afterwards by vertue of Leagues this special license was so dispensed withall that such English as traded thither were only to take a New license once in seven years And even this was discontinued A. D. 1521. upon the expulsion of King Christierne by reason that the Right of the Danish crown was in controversie so that the succeeding Kings insisted not thereon until King Christierne IV. did exact it and morâ—… of the English Q. Elizabeth offering that her Subjects of Hull and elsewhere should submit to that Upon this Quarrel there passed sundry disputes and Embassies betwixt that Queen and Christierne IV. In the same condition were the Hollanders and Flemmings they being excluded those Seas though permitted to trade and fish about the Kingdome of Norwey Nor did they ever fish in those Seas but by special License or General indult of the Kings of Norwey and albeit that the License-money were abated yet were they obliged to pay the Kings customs upon the fish taken by them and in order thereunto to bring all their fish on sâ—…ore and there to pack it up that the King might not be defrauded of his rights as appears by the Indult given them by King Woldemarus A. D. 1324. This Dominion of the Sea was never disputed in those dayes as to the King of Norwey and the Rights of Shâ—…tland being passed over to the Kings of Scotland A. D. 1470. or rather 1468. by Christian I. upon the marriage of his daughter Margaret with James III. the same powers were vested in the Kingdom of Scotland which were before inherent in that of Norwey And the like Laws and Usages established All Fisher-men being obliged to bring their fish on shore at some of the free Forts and there to pâ—…y the Assize-herring and other dues the which Assize-herring and other customs upon the Fishery had been continued immemorially in those Seas immediately appertaining to the Realm of Scotland and not subject to the dominion of Norwey And a Scotch Lawyer speaking about the fishing in the Eastern Sea of Scotland writeth thus I cannot omit to tell you that in the past Age after a most bloody quarrel between the Scots and Hollanders about occasions belonging to the Sea the matter was composed in this manner that in time to come the Hollanders should keep at least fourscore miles distant from the Coasts of Scotland And if by accident they were driven nearer thorough violence of weather they paid a certain tribute at the Port of Aberdeen before their return where there was a Castle built and fortified for this and other occasions and this was duly and really paid still by the Hollanders within the memory of our Fathers until that by frequent dissensions at home this Tribute with very many other Rights and Commodities came to nothing partly thorough the negligence of our Governours and
use Nor is there any fisting permitted in the open Sea there but by the leave and direction of the Governour of the neighbouring Porâ—… Neither are these the only Princes which either exact money for Licenses or totally exclude others from fishing on their Seas In Portugal the same is practised in the Kingdom of the Algarbes and the Natives pay a certain tribute for their liberty to fish In Spain the Duke of Medina Sidonia doth rent out the maritime jurisdiction which he hath in reference to fishing for eighty thousand Duckets of yearly revenue and the D. of Arcos raiseth by the same course the annual rent of twenty thousand Duckets And you your selves do impose taxes on the Fish taken by your own Fishermen upon our Seas In so much that above 30 years since there was paid to the State for Custom of Herring and other Salt-fish above 300000 l. in one year besides the Tenth fish and Cask paid sor Waftage which cometh to at least as much more Whereas there ought to be no other Wafters tolerated in the Brittish Seas but what are of English appointment nor any receive Convoy-money but by their Authority Could you claim any thing by vertue of the Intercursus magnus yet you have notoriously violated those Articles and forfeited those Priviledges by molesting our Fisher-men You have with your Busses and Dogger-boats come nearer and nearer to the Brittish coasts year by year then you did in former times without leaving any bounds for the English and Scotch to fish upon their own coasts and you have affronted and seized upon several for enterfering with your Fleets of Busses your Wafters terrifie them and you frequently let some of your greater vessels drive thorough their nets thereby to endamage the poor men and to deterr them from fishing near you Thus you anticipate and intercept the great Scoles of white fish and the Scotch and English have no advantages but upon the broken Scoles and they are so broken and so far scattered away from our Coasts that sew are sound worth the taking So that the English and Scotch now buy of you their own Herrings against which there were Laws enacted by K. Henry VIII An. regn 33. which continued in force until the first of Q. Mary and then expired by the artifices of the Spanish and Netherland interest concurring in the person of K. Philip. To conclude Be your Priviledge to fish in our Seas what you will and How valid soever They do undoubtedly cease upon this account that they do intolerably prejudice and endamage the English the donors thereof and although they had been granted you upon valuable considerations yet upon this principle They would cease Thus Q. Elizabeth did abrogate the priviledges of the Hanse-Towns in England when by their excessive trade and great immunities in this nation it appeared that the Crown had suffered prejudice thereby to the sum of a million and an half and that they did depress the English merchants hinder their commerce to the great decrease of shipping and Sea-men amongst Us. Hereby our fishing is discontinued our Shipping and Marriners decreased our maritime towns depopulated our General Trade and consequently our homerents diminished and the whole Nation weakned and impoverished whilst you employ at least 6800 ships and busses in the fishing and thereby perpetuate a large Seminary of 20000 Mariners who are hereby not only enabled to brook the Seas and to know the use of the tackle and Compass but are like wise instructed in the principles of Navigation and Pilotage you do also thereby supply all Europe with fish and engross all that Trade which of right appertains to the English and the greatest part being sold for ready money you commonly export the finest gold and silver and coming home recoyn it of a baser alloy under your own stamp whereby your Treasury is advanced and others impoverished At the first your fishing was not so great as it is now nor the dammage so sensible and evident as it is at this present The way of pickling Herrings was discovered only in 1416. by Gulielmus Buckeldius a Flemming yet even in the dayes of Henry VIII the Parliament complained of the decay of the English fishery and fisher-men and made an Act 33 Henrici to this purpose Because the English Fisher-men dwelling on the Sea-coasts did leave off their Trade of fishing in our Seas and went half-seas over and thereupon the Seas did buy fish of Picards Flemmings Normans and Zelanders by reason whereof many incommodities did grow to the Realm viz. The decay of the wealth and prosperity as well of the Cinque-ports and Members of the same as of other Coast-towns by the Sea-side which were builded and inhabited by great multitudes of people by reason of using and exercising the craft and fear of fishing Secondly the decay of a great number of Boats and Ships And thirdly the decay of many good Marriners both able in body by their diligence labour and continual exercise of fishing and expert by reason thereof in the knowledge of the Sea-coasts as well within this Realm as in other parts beyond the Seas It was therefore enacted that no manner of persons English Denizens or Strangers at that time or any time after dwelling in England should buy any fish of Strangers c. The considerations insisted upon in this Act are much more prevalent with Us now then they could be at that time when the evil effects of your so great fishing did but begin to diffuse themselves The towns which were then lessened in their greatness are now reduced to such a condition that they scarcely find a place in our Mapps The fishing is abandoned quite and the Men and Boats are no where to be found It was observed in England that by your fishing at Yarmouth-coast for Herrings for 36 years only the coasts of Norfolk and Suffolk decaied in their Ships to the number of 140 sail and they from 60 to 100 tun and upwards besides Crayers and lesser vessels and hence it arose that in 1572. the English were not able to trade to Island as they used to do to the great detriment and loss of the English Nation We are now brought to this estate that we cannot carry on our forreign Trade or manage our Naval Force without retriving the Fishery and you must excuse Us if we regard our own welfare before your emoluments No tenderness to our Neighbours ought to induce Us to prefer their Interest before that of England No policy allows Us to permit you to grow so potent at Sea and so rich in Trade especially by our detriment seeing that this will be the fatal consequence thereof that you will in a short time devour our Trade and reduce Us your former Protectours and Fatrons to a precarious dependance upon the Power and Mercy of Hollanders Somewhat might be said for you were your fish the product of your own Seas and