Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	king_n	lord_n	sovereign_a	12,705	5	9.8164	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17451	A discourse concerning the drayning of fennes and surrounded grounds in the sixe countreys of Norfolke, Suffolke, Cambridge with the Isle of Ely, Huntington, Northampton, and Lincolne	H. C.	1629 (1629)	STC 4270; ESTC S115722	18,918	23

were wont to haue their dependance vpon vs and reliefe from vs. Is the old Actiuity and abilities of the English Nation who in former times were esteemed the greatest vndertakers in the Westerne parts of the world growne now so dull and insufficient that we must pray in ayde of our neighbours to improue our owne Demaynes The Duke of Venice is said to marry the sea as if he had with it but diuisum Imperium wee haue beene alwayes Lords of the sea and our Common Law hath adiudged the sea to be part of our Kingdome shall wee suffer that Regality to become obnoxious to Strangers and not that onely but the fresh waters within our Continent as if our selues were not able to bring them into order Surely our great plenty and abundance of fruitful Land hath beene hitherto one cause why this improuement hath beene neglected but of late the blessing of peace hath so multiplyed our people vnder our last two peacefull Princes that we haue transplanted many Colonies into Ireland Virginea Bermuda St. Christophers New England c. and beside hath stirred vp men at home to gaine much rich Land from the seas and in particular to attempt vpon this surrounded Leuel wherin that they haue not hitherto preuailed hath not beene want of skill or will nor yet of indeauour For diuers worthy men haue appeared in the vndertaking the last and worthiest being our late Soueraigne Lord of blessed memory who thought it no dishonour to declare himselfe an Vndertaker herein but being translated hence hath left The Honour of this Worke to Crowne the Raigne Of his deere Sonne our now dread Soueraigne For matter of security shall wee esteeme it of small moment to put into the hands of Strangers three or foure such Ports and Harbours as Linne Wisbeach Spalding and Boston will be when the out-fals shall bee opened to Low water marke and permit the Countrey within and betweene them to be peopled by ouerthwart neighbours whose strength and vndertakings begin to grow formidable or if they quaile themselues must giue place to our most Auncient dangerous enemies who will be ready enough to take aduantage of so many faire Inlets into the bosome of our Land lying so neere together that an Army landing part in each of them may easily meete and strongly intrench themselues with wals of water and drowne the Countrey about them at their pleasure This very thing was obiected by a worthy Patriot in a late Parliament wherein a bill was preferred for the admitting of Strangers to vndertake this Worke and thereupon cast out Finally if nothing were considerable but the matter of profit would it be thought fit to giue so great a portion of our Land as the third part of that Leuell to Strangers to empty themselues into and leaue our owne Countreymen with so great trauell charge and aduenture to seeke for seates abroad in remote parts when we may comfort both them and our selues by placing them at home Neither yet would I be vnderstood to be so enuious to Strangers as that I had rather the water then they should possesse the Land but the question being whither should be preferred to the Vndertaking of the worke Strangers or men of our owne Countrey I am out of doubt that no true English man will be scrupulous in the choyce Yet I doe ingeniously acknowledge that the industrye of some of our neighbours especially the Dutchmen deserueth commendations and imitation for enlarging themselues into the sea especially in and about Amsterdam and securing themselues from the sea by costly and ingenious deuices but such deuices are not proper for our busines which is to be performed in a farre different manner the error leading vs directly to the remedy which is meerely Naturall for Nature hath giuen to all riuers and waters as well their courses issues and out-fals into the sea as their heads and springs and by the former hath as well prouided for the vse of man as by the latter This guidance of Nature if wee follow and adde Art as a hand-mayd vnto it wee shall by remouing the cause auoyd also the effect and by consideration how the mischiefe hath growne learne to preuent it in the future wherein the sparing of cost is no frugality But if it be questioned Whether those Englishmen that offer to aduenture their estates and the reputation of their skill be able to accomplish the businesse the answer is That beside that they can demonstrate their abilities What praejudice can it be to any man to be an idle spectator whilest they expend their money and exercise their skill they requiring no recompence till the Worke be performed The third and last Question is How a Competent Reward may be apportioned for them that should vndertake so great a Worke This indeed hath beene the great and maine Impediment of the Drayning of the Fennes for many yeeres most men interessed being vnable to disburse Money and also vnwilling to part with any of their Land of how little value soeuer it hath beene vnto them or how great soeuer the improuement of the remainder might be or if some were willing yet the minds of the multitude haue not beene vnlike the Waters of the Fenne which not being contained within due limits but dispersed abroad ouer the surface of so great a Leuell are easily interrupted in their course by the slender opposition of Flagges and Reedes euen so these mens minds not being restrained by Authoritie nor guided by rule of Reason doe stray into seuerall Opinions and receiue Impediment from Oppositions as slender as those Weedes some of them being not ashamed to alleadge that by gayning of Grasse they should loose their Reedes and Sedge not considering the difference of their values But of late receiuing information from the King and his Councel and the Commissioners of Sewers taking into their consideration that the Wisdome of seuerall Parliaments haue thought fit to giue a part of such Lands to those that should improue the whole and pondering how great the benefit of such improuement would be to them and their posteritie haue not many yeeres since fallen vpon an excellent course to encourage men of skill and abilitie to embarke themselues in that Designe Whereupon after a Tax layd vpon the Lands of that whole Countrey by the Acre to enable the Commissioners of Sewers legally to conuey part thereof to beare the charge of aduancing the whole King Iames of blessed memorie declaring himselfe to be the Vndertaker a Decree of Sewers was enacted at Cambridge the 20. day of February in the yeeres of the Reigne of our late Soueraigne Lord King Iames of England France and Ireland the 19. and of Scotland the 55. Whereby was designed to be granted to his Maiestie for the supportation of that vast Charge 120000. Acres of the Fenne Lands to be conueyed vnto his Maiestie his Heires and Successors that is to say out of euery particular part a proportion answerable to the quantitie of