Selected quad for the lemma: friend_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
friend_n	answer_n	letter_n	sir_n	1,046	5	5.4825	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A48636	Observations on the letter written to Sir Thomas Osborn, upon the reading of a book called The present interest of England stated written in a letter to a friend.	Bethel, Slingsby, 1617-1697.; Leeds, Thomas Osborne, Duke of, 1631-1712.; Lisola, François Paul, baron de, 1613-1674.; Holles, Denzil Holles, Baron, 1599-1680.	1673 (1673)	Wing L2375; ESTC R20948	11,893	23

OBSERVATIONS On the LETTER Written to Sir THOMAS OSBORN Upon the Reading of a BOOK called the Present Interest OF ENGLAND STATED Written in a Letter to a Friend LONDON Printed for I. B. Anno Domini 1673. Observations c. SIR SO soon as some indispencible occasions would permit I did at your instance strictly peruse the Pamphlet called The present Interest of England stated as also the Letter directed to Sir Thomas Osborne in answer to it and at your request shall now give you my sense of both I find no Cause by the scope of the Letter to believe otherwise of the Author then according to his own Professions that he really designs the Honour Greatness and Prosperity of this Natoin An Honest and Honourable undertaking the perfect discovery whereof I wish may be pursued by men of leasure and put in practice by those of Power I understand the Letter to agree fully with the Pamphlet in all its Maxims relating to our domestick Interest not differing neither from our Forrein in anything save what relates to Holland and therein likewise not in all but only in some particulars but in several of them I observe also the Author of the Pamphlet to be by the Letter exceedingly mistaken for whereas it renders him so Byassed with affection to the Dutch as makes him overlook the usefulness of Forreign Alliances I cannot 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 grounds all he writes concerning Holland upon the safety and benefit of England insomuch as it seems strange to me how a person of that Candor and Ingenuity as the 〈◊〉 of the Letter must be sh●●● so for 〈…〉 the world that the Pamphlet he answereth pleadeth First For allowing all the injuries and wrongs done by the Hollanders to this Nation Page 5. Secondly For the studying of their Interests and loving of them because they 〈◊〉 Trades though by being so they take our Trade from us Page 5 6. And Thirdly That their Parsimonie is no good Reason for dislike of them Page 6. As if all these were Arguments made use of by express words in that Book when I do not find any expressions relating to any of these particulars that do either in words say so much or will in the least admit of any such Inferences or Conclusions although as to this Third if there were any word to that purpose it might be defended For all the Arguments made use of by the Pamphlet against the destroying of the Hollanders are either upon the account of Justice and Righteousness which establisheth a Nation or clearly in reference to the safety and utility of this Kingdom both in Church and State and not in the least upon any particular affection to the people of that Countrey as the Letter doth insinuate the Pamphlet being no otherwise concerned for them then as it is for preserving the Ballance of Christendome in opposition of Popery and Slavery I find the Pamphlets commendning the Dutch for their Morals compared with the French c. to be answered by objecting that if the Author had lain but one night in any Inn of theirs he would have been convinced of the contrary which implyeth that he had never done it or at least never told the world he had and yet the Book justifies his opinion of them in affirming his experience from having travelled their Countries Interest of England Page 30. and truly by his general knowledge of the Netherlands he may well be supposed to have throughly done it and granting so much it consequently follows that he must then have experienced their Inns but if from Cousening and Cheating in Inns Alehouses and Taverns the measures of a peoples Morals must be Calculated I fear some other Countries by high reckonings false measures in Bottles Pots and Cans exceeding them and tacitly allowed of c. will be found as faulty as they and to lie at least equally with them under the burden of that uncharitable Syne●do●he of blaming the whole for a part for I can my self by experience so far joyn with the Pamphlet in justifying of it as to aver That I never trevelled in all my life in any Countrey so cheap as in theirs and that no private person doth otherwise but either voluntarily by being profuse or carelesly in spending more then he needeth in not keeping to his ordinaries but living at large for their Rates by Land or Water are so certain that none can pay one more then another and the like is in their Inns for Ordinaries and Lodgings insomuch that I have often wondered their great Trade and Populousness which in all other places makes things dear considered I found living there so cheap as I did But as no number or society of men can be said to be perfectly good or altogether evil so the most just and certain Rule for applauding or condemning any Countrey is not from a few Instances of a small part of it but by way of Comparison with other Countries and by that Standard Holland cannot be found by much so bad as Popish Countries where the Doctrines of the Jesuits which hath more or less an influence upon most of their Religion of good Intentions Probability and Necessity c. and of their whole Church of keeping no faith with Heriticks c. is inconsistant with honest Conversation rendering them unfit even for one anothers Society there being no fence against such Principles The Cruelty at Amboina is I confess to be had by all in abhorrence but since it was before we were born that it was acted but by a few and disowned and not justified at home That King James of happy memory and his wise and excellent Council and Favourites thought therefore not fit to revenge it and that it hath since by several treaties been buried and put in Oblivion I question whether we ought still to remember it but provided that the constant Trade that the Popish Nations have in all ages down to our times driven in Massakres and Cruel Torterings and that with the applause and approbation of their chief Bishop and Church as Italy Savoy France and Ireland do witness may be remembered I can be well pleased that that single Act at Amboina committed by a few Protestants condemned by the rest and which is abhorred by the Principles of their Religion may not be forgotten and thereupon the whole designs of the Pamphlet and Letter each severally considered I cannot observe that they differ in any Material Circumstance but that both aim at the same end the Honour Greatness Prosperity and safety of this Nation unless the first is too straight laced in the Rules of Honesty and Justice believing that though Interest rightly understood or mistaken governs all the world yet that that precept of doing to others as we would have them to do to us gives no latitude to any Countrey to destroy another to the end to increase their own Trade or greatness for were it otherwise nothing could be more for our security against Invasions and the