of Dissenters in all the rest besides the irrepairable damage of this Kingdom in their former Bishops driveing the woollen Manufactures back into the Netherlands as the King of Spain had before driven them into England by Persecution where they have ever since increased and where they now remain sad Monuments to this Nation of the impolitick severity of those times they could not but be convinced of the vanity and wickedness of such practices as well as of the civil prejudice they bring to Nations in destroying of their people and therein depriving them of the benefit of Industry thinking charitably of that saying which was antiently in Voge and is still in some places remembred that when a Bishop is created the Devil enters into him and makes him his Executioner which as it had its original in times of Popery so it concerns their Bishops only Fourthly and Lastly As it is the King and Kingdome of Englands Interest to give Libertie of Conscience to all Protestant Dissenters so it is not only to deny it to the Papists after the example of other reformed countries as Denmark Sweeden several Princes in Germany and the reformed Cantons in Switzerland but also to take care to prevent the growth of them and that upon a civil score as first because they own a forein head upon the account of their Religion in which they are carried on by such a blind zeal as cannot render them less than Spies and Intelligencers for that Interest and ready upon all occasions to appear for it And even the wisest Popish States acknowledge the reason of this principle Sir Walter Rawleigh affirming that the Venetians as not holding it safe to have any in their Counsels who have dependance by Oath Homage natural Obligation Pension or Reward when their Senate is Assembled causeth Proclamation before shutting of the doors to be made for all Priests to depart and he who in this Commonwealth is called the Divine of the State an Ecclesiastical Person to be advised within matters of Religion is commonly chosen such a one as is reputed the least Bigot in that Religion as in the memory of some living Padri Pauli and after him Fulgentio both Successively performed that office and were esteemed favourers of the Reformation and corresponders with Diodati of Geneve and if Papists dare not trust their own Clergy in their Counsels upon the account of their forein dependance Protestants upon the same account have no cause to trust Popish Subjects in their Countries longer than until they that are now living die away and that they can breed their Children to the Protestant Religion I am not ignorant that there are a sort of men who with the Author of that Book intituled The State of England seek to infuse a belief into the people that the dispensing with the Laws against the Papists is necessary for the prevention of persecution to Protestant Subjects by their Popish Princes but the imposers of that opinion persumes more upon ignorance and easie nature in the most of men than upon any strength there is in their arguments for this suggested danger must referr to Spain Italy the Emperour or the French King and for the two first they have by former Persecutions though not without depopulating of their several Countries left no Native Protestants in them so that however England shall deal with their own Papists the King of Spain nor the Pope have any Protestant Subjects to use better or worse and for the few reformed Merchant-strangers that are among them they must for their own Interest in reference to Commerce suffer them to enjoy a trading liberty without having their Religion inquired into and more than that they are never likely to have And as to the Emperour he being through facility of Nature acted by the Church hath to almost the ruin of himself as well as his Protestants spent all his Reign hitherto in a grievous and sore persecution of the Reformed in his Hereditarie Countries having no power over them in other places of Germany for by it he hath lost a great part of Hungaria and in a fair way of losing the rest besides that he hath thereby much prejudiced Trade and lessened his people for even the Protestant Gently and Nobility who by birth have great Immunities and ought not to be imposed upon in matters of Religion were lately some forced to leave their Countries and others who stayed to entertain none but Papist Servants in their Families so that England by no kind of treatment of their Papists can increase the Emperours persecution which is already so high of his protestant Subjects And for the French King he cannot persecute his Reformed without breach of the Edict of Nantes their Magna Charta and several other Laws giving them as good a right to exercise their Religion as the Papists have for theirs making them also capable of all civil offices privileges and preferments equal with Papists and that upon consideration of having been alwayes loyal and faithful to the Crown so that there is no parity betwixt the French Kings Arbitrary breaking of his Laws against the reason of them which hath not yet been forfeited and which were made with acknowledged gratitude for the preservation of the reformed And the King of England with the continued reason of his Laws witness the Massacre in Ireland his keeping and executing them against his Papists but further those that observe any thing of France must confess that that King in matters of Religion regards no examples of others or any thing but his own designs as in his present persecution of his reformed Subjects he may well be judged to aime at the advancing of his reputation with the Church of Rome as a means to help him forward in his aspiring designs for but few years since when the Papists were under the most severity in England the Protestants were under most liberty in France and now they enjoy the greatest liberty in England the Reformed are the most persecuted in France but besides these circumstances it cannot but be of evil consequence and a lessening unto Soveraignty to own the having an eye to other Princes in the execution of their Laws for nothing can be more dishonourable to a Prince than to be under the awe of Forein Potentates in his administration within his own Dominions but this Gentleman doth not alwayes ponder what he writes for when I consider his sharpness against the Presbyterians c. in England calling them Mushromes Tares and the Sons of Belial insinuating the transplantation and extirpation of them I cannot but wonder he should have so much concern for the reformed abroad who are the same with the Presbyterians of England and therefore must judge it to proceed from favour to the Papists towards whom he so tenderly avoids all reflections and severity as if he thought the revolt of a Presbyterian c. to Popery to merit a pardon from transplantation or extirpation and not
the same in hitting upon his true Forein Interest in that triple League of which he was the Author and into which he hath with so much wisdome and prudence lately entered for opposing all growing greatness by Sea or Land in the French they being already too potent for their bordering Neighbours so constantly and effectually to adhere thereunto in joyning with all others to that end and particularly with Spain with whom England hath a much more profitable Trade than with France is according to present affairs the same For should France by the acquisition of those convenient Provinces and ports of the Netherlands become Competitors with England in Trade to say no worse of them they would in a short time make good Sir Walter Rawleighs Character of them in being false insolent and covetous neighbours Secondly As England and the Vnited Netherlands which are in ordinary discourse understood by the name of Holland that Province by way of eminence giving denomination unto the whole are the two great Masters of Naval strength and seated with such advantages for assisting each other that whilst a true intelligence is preserved betwixt them it is not in nature for all their enemies combining together to prejudice either of them so it is the true Interest of England to maintain a firm and perpetual friendship and union with them and that First Because as the Netherlands are naturally strong so they are above all other Countries fitted by situation for the use of England to give check to any aspiring Prince and be as invincible bulwarks against the all devouring designs of the French King in being able at any time with the countenance of England to destroy him at Sea who being brought down there and so in his Commerce will soon abate of his power at Land and surely nothing can be more for the security of Europe than to reduce the Naval strength of that threatning King within former bounds for the world found that untill the Spaniard lost his Maritime force in the year 1639. which he never after recovered he maintained his design for the Universal Monarchy very vigorously and never sunk till then Secondly Because it is equally their Interest with England in reference to their Navigation to keep the ballance betwixt the Northern Kings and Sovereigns not suffering any of them to engross that Sea because Naval Commodities coming thence neither of them can be safe longer than the Sea remains divided among several Princes and States whose general Interest it can never be to deny them necessaries for their shipping the chief walls of their several Countries or a general Trade with them as a Monarch he being sole Master of the whole would peradventure in some cases judge it his and presume to refuse them all accommodations and this principle the States of Holland have wisely in our dayes several times owned as in the years 1643. in siding with the Crown of Sweeden when the Danes would had not the States assistance been in the way have run them down at Sea as also on the contrary in the year 1658 in taking part with the Danes when the Swedes had otherwise done the like by them by which means both the Crowns are preserved and kept within tolerable limits and bounds Thirdly Because that as Providence seems to have placed them with conveniencies for joyning with England in keeping all other Maritime Princes or Powers in order so without any capacity of being dangerous to their Neigh-Neighbours their Constitution being such as will not well admit of any further acquists Fourthly Because as England and Holland are of one and the same Religion save in some Ceremonies so it would be of great incouragement and countenance to all the Protestant Countries to have a firm League betwixt two such for midable Powers of their own belief and as great a trouble and disturbance to all the Popish Counsels Fifthly Because the world having had such large experience of the happy success of their Conduct in being principal Instruments in preventing the House of Austria in their grand design for the universal Monarchy and consequently in the propagation of the reformed Religion as well as at several times in preventing both Dane and Sweed from either of them devouring the other it were surely high impolity as well as in some degree ingratitude to suffer such useful instruments and allies to whom this Generation is so much obliged for their wise and excellent management of the general Interest of these parts of Europe to be destroyed These States I know have many enemies some envying their Trade and Riches others their revolt from the King of Spain as of bad example and the Church of Rome their established National Religion as that which is past shaking but because none of these arguments can be plausibly made use of against them by the Papists who dreads the conjunction of England with them nor by those Princes and States who assisted them in their revolt the grand reason for subducing of them is made the greatness of their Trade which being destroyed would be divided amongst their Neighbours loading them sometimes untruly with accusations of unjust dealings exactions and falseness to which I shall only answer this that although I have no cause to become an Advocate for them from any advantages or benefit received yet having travelled their Countries observed their Manners and read their Disputes and Transactions with other Nations I think it but an Act of Justice to acknowledge that in the generality of their Morals they are a reproach to some Nations and particularly in so little using that art of over-valuing their Commodities in their selling to France who so shamefully use and practise it and as to their Treaties and Alliances after which I have been inquisitive I have sometimes found them wrongfully charged with breach of Articles and do not find cause to accuse them of having been in the observance of Treaties less candid or faithful than other Countries and I cannot think their Trade or Wealth although I believe that Holland singly taken is the richest spot of ground for its bigness that ever was since the Creation to be a good or honest foundation of a quarrel for their Commerce being alone the effects of Industry and Ingenuity it is no reason for any to be angry with others because they exceed them in these Virtues but besides that the destroying of the Netherlands would be the shaking the safety of these Northern Regions the increase of Trade to other Countries so much promised by some in their destruction would surely fail for were Trade ruined in Holland as less cannot be the effects of Conquest and Slavery the example and emulation of their Trade which hath been the great increase of it in other Countries being taken away and Trade fallen to a sort of people of less concern for it men would grow lazy and weary of Commerce every one thinking they did well so long as they were upon equal
terms with their Neighbours so that the subversion of Holland would be no benefit to any save to the French King into whose mouth their Country would most fall who wanting nothing for the making of him uncontroulable but Havens and Ports to harbour Ships nourish and breed Seamen would find supply there and whose Kingdom being over-stocked with people would be able to spair men to plant an un-inhabited Countrey as would certainly be the fate of Holland under a Conquest and Arbitrary Government as it hath been to all the free Cities in Tuscany and Italy since they lost their Liberty whereas England wanting neither Havens nor Ports nor having an over-plus of people it would be a dammage to them in the loss of their Inhabitants and an unprofitable charge to maintain Forein Colonies where the Seas must be perpetually crossed for supplying of them with men monie and necessaries insomuch that the Netherlands under such circumstances as they would be reduced unto by subduing of them would not be in the hands of the English so much for their own security as in theirs that now possess them for restraint and freedome makes so great difference in prosperity that less than Liberty incouraging Trade and Industry would never be able to maintain their Walls against the Sea which are kept up with incredible labour charge and ingenuity but expose those parts lying upon the Sea which are many times more considerable than all the rest to be devoured by it or laid much under water and so rendred inconsiderable And the truth of this principle in thus much advancing the benefit of freedom above Arbitrary Government which would be the lot of Holland under any Conquerour may be observed by the two Cities of Wesell and Mastrick which whilst in the hands of the Spaniard were without Trade miserable wretched and poor many of the houses of the latter being left in ruines by the Inhabitants as wanting ability to repair them and now in less than 38 or 39 years that the States have been Masters of them they are both become flourishing places the latter being in a great part new built with one of the fairest and best new publick Town-house that is ordinarily met with next Amsterdam and Augustbourg in Germany But if there were not these considerations in the case as well as that of the advantage that the fall of Holland would be to the French which alone is sufficient to ingage England to support them it could no way be the Interest of England to ruine them to the end to increase their own Trade because if their aims be only traffick the world affords matter enough to satisfie both Nations and that England hath so much the advantage of Holland in natural helps for Trade that if they do but improve them they cannot miss of exceeding all others in it and if they will be careless of their common concerns they ought not to draw an argument from their own neglects and sloth for the envying other mens activity and diligence And lastly so long as a firm Peace and amity is maintained by England with the Netherlands they may look upon them as the out-works which must be first taken in by any invader that will attempt them for as it never can be the Interest or in the power of Holland to invade England so their Interest in reference to Religion as well as Civil security will alwayes oblige them not to suffer any others to do it or to endanger them in whose safety they can onely be safe it being the clear Interest of England not to suffer any other Potentate to subvert their Government So that upon the whole since the subduing of Holland cannot be a benefit but losse to England and may be of great advantage to France and the Church of Rome against which they are impregnable Fortresses with some smaller profit to other Popish Soveraignes bordering upon them as to the Elector of Colne and Bishop of Munster c. It must be the chief Forreign Interrest of England to support the present Governmeut of Holland Thirdly It is the Interest of England to hold a good Correspondence with Spain not onely because that People being little inclinable to Commerce gives a Trading Countrey the more advantage in their Friendship but also for that that Crowne is necessarily to be made use of for the ballancing of France Fourthly and lastly as the French King striveth for the Protectorship of the Romish profession so it is surely the King of England's Interest to render himself wherein he can have no opposition the General Protector of the Protestant Religion whereby he will become more formidable and glorious then he can by other means For as Queen Elizabeth adhering thoroughly and cordially to that Party advancing the Religion holding intelligence and taking part with them in all their engagements and considerable treaties was not onely able in the infancy of the reformation in England to maintain the reformed in Scotland France and the Netherlands against their Enemies their then seveveral Soveraignes but also at last to bring down Philip the second of Spain one of the wisest and greatest Kings they ever had and in him the whole Popish Party by which her memory is made famous unto posterity so his Majesty having many lesse difficulties to struggle with than she had by espousing the same principles cannot fail of the like glorious success And now to sum up the Domestick Interest of England it lyeth in the advancement of Trade by removing all obstructions both in City and Country providing such Laws as may any way help it and make it most easie especially in giving Liberty of Conscience to all Protestant Non-conformists and denying it to Papists In not covering Foreign Conquests which have alwayes been prejudicial and can never be of advantage to them and retrench the unreasonable Fees of Lawyers Physicians and Officers as they are great iimpoverishers of the Nation And as to the Foreign Interest of England that may be calculated to be in keeping the balance among their Neighbours and other European Princes being in order thereunto firm to their present tripple League and in that especially to Holland in holding a good correspondence with Spain and in being jealous of all growing greatness in the French keeping the Baltick Sea open in His Majesties making himself Protector of the whole Protestant party and as Peace is the adadvancer of Trade to seek it and not war except an inavoidable necessity require it And thus I shall conclude this Chapter and in it the Interest of England with begging pardon of the Author of that Book intituled A Discourse of Ecclesiastical politie for my Non-conformity to his Doctrine which teacheth That it is safer for a Prince to allow Vice and Debauchery than Liberty of Conscience whereby he prefers the breach of the ten Commandments and that which the whole Word of God the Old and New Testament the Law and Gospel so dreadfully threatens and declares against before that which neither the practise of our Saviour nor his Apostles nor any Text in Scripture forbids or at least himself being Judge not positively and indisputably as they do the other wherein I confess I am so far from agreeing with him as also in many of his other railing principles not much better that I think the Church of England hath reason to wish his Book had been writ by some of another Coat and of a more remote relation to the Church then the Author is reputed to be by reason of the advantage that their enemies may have of drawing arguments from it to prove their old Charge that the power of godliness is so far from being held out in the Lives Conversations and Principles of many of their Priests that they rather seek to debauch and make the people wicked and profane This is all I have at present to say of this Country besides adventuring to Prophesie that when England neglecting Church Politicks which are commonly founded in passion revenge and self and Lawyers Divinity which is generally collected out of their own Books more than the Books of God will effectually pursue their true Interest they cannot fail their natural advantages for trade considered of being more great and glorious than any other Nation FINIS * The late Dutch War * State of England pag 434 435 436. State of England pa. 60. 61 62. State of England The History of the Siege of Rochell The Grecian and Armenian Popish congâ—egations c. Interest of Holland The Edict of Nantes granted by Henry 4th 30 April 1593. The Edict of Nantes confirmedly Lewis 13th the 22 May 1610. and again 10 Nov. 16â—5 and by Lewis 14th the 8 July 1643. confirmed in Parliament 3 Aug. 1643. and again confirmed by the said Lewis 14th this present King the 21 May 1652. State of England pa. 50 56 60. King James his Proclamations 22 Feb. 1603. and 10 Janu. 1606. the preamb. of the Stat. of 35 Eliz. cap. 2. 35 Eliz. ch 2. and 3 Jacob. ch 5. Duke of Rohan his Memoires Sir Walter Rawleighs Cabinet Counsellor