â—…ind in your own reason an Apology for our being resolute in this point you must needs be convinced that We ought not to abandon a Ceremony which is of so high concernment It is no policy to attempt the change of inveterate customs and usages Even errours and abuses are upon this account legally tolerated Let us then so adjust the matter Let Equity and all those inclinations you express for Us as Neighbours English-men and partakers of the same Faith induce you to continue those Honorary respects to the Ships of war of this Nation which All the Neighbour-States and Princes and which you your selves and your Progenitors have constantly exhibited Which you may do without detriment or disgrace But We cannot for bear to demand without our unspeakable prejudice Private persons move in another Sphear and act by other Rules then Soveraign Powers The regards of Credit with them may oftentimes yield to those of Utility or other Motives the publick receives little of injuâ—…y thereby nor is their wisdom questioned for such punctilio's if they relinquish them for other emoluments or peace-â—…e But Soveraigns cannot transact so Their Subjects The People participate in their Honour and Indignities They have a propriety a direct Right in the former Soveraigns cannot alienate or suffer their Honour to be impaired because it is not really Theirs it appertains to the Nation universally and They are all effectually injured by such transactions either because the Indignity doth directly extend unto them or because the Government and Authority is thereupon weakned and prejudiced which is the greatest of Civil detriments that can befall a People though ordinarily they are not aware thereof As prudence doth thus distinguish betwixt the demeanour of private and publick persons So doth Châ—…istianity it self for albeit that the Gâ—…spel-precepts do oblige particular persons to bear injuries and contumelies with patience and to surrender even the Coat as well as Cloak yet is not this so to be construed as if even private Christians were to yield up their Civil rights to every insolent that would encroach upon and usurp them or that they were to deprive themselves of those reâ—…arations which the Law and Government affords them Neither is it so to be understood as if the Civil Magistrate in Christendome might not secure himself of that obedience and reverence which is due â—…nto his dignity but bear the sword in vain Do not therefore go about to teach Us patience that you may more easily wrong us Do not insinuate the concerns of the Frotestant Churches the interest of Religion the Evangelical rules for peace and brotherly love that You thereupon may deprive Us of our Rights destroy our Fleets ruine our Trade and either subject Us to Your States or render Us a facile conquest for any invader Hither to We have acquainted you with the value we ought to place upon the Right of the Flag were it only an Honorary salute with what prescription we claim it and with what injustice you refuse it We now adde that The English Nation did never regard it only as a Civility and Respect but as a Principal Testimony of the unquestionable Right of this Nation to the Dominion and Superiority of the adjacent Seas acknowledged generally by all the Neighbour-States and Princes and particularly by You and Your Predecessours besides many most authentick Records and undeniable proofs together with a constant practise in confirmation thereof Yet did a Captain of yours refuse it affirming that If He did it He should loose his Head Your Vice-Admiral denied it to the English Admiral and menaced such as rendered that submission to our Ships We do not upbraid you with meer incivility in this procedure though the grandâ—…ur of England and the obligations which the United Netherlands have to thâ—…s Nation might contain you from being rude It is the absolute and substantial Soveraignty of the Brittish Seas which on our parts by such a deportment as the striking of the Flag or Topsail to our Ships on those Seas is required to be acknowledged and so hath been for many hundred years understood agreed unto and acknowledged by the Nations of Europe Would you know the extent of this Maritime Dominion our English Laws have alwayes reckoned upon the Four Seas Such as are â—…rn thereon are not Aliens and to be within them is to be within the Ligieance of the King and Realm of England The Records of Parliament in the dayes of King Edward III. and Henry V. proclaim it that those Kings and their Progenitors had ever been Lords of the Sea And God forbid that ever there should be any Parliament in England that should consent to erase those Records or cast dirt upon them by renouncing the Soveraignty asoresaid In the Records of the Tower there is a Libel relating to the times of Edward I. and Philip the fair of France in which the Procurators of most Nations bordering upon the Sea throughout Europe as the Genoâ—…ses Catalonians Almains Zelanders Hollanders Frieslanders Danes and Norwegians besides others under the dominion of the Roman-German Empire Allâ—… these joyntly declare That The Kings of England by Right of the said Kingdom from time to time whereof there is no memorial to the contrary have been in peaceable Possession of the Soveraign Lordship of the Sea of England and of the Isles within the same with power of making and establishing Laws Statutes and Prohibitions of Arms and of Ships otherwise fâ—…rnished then Merchant-men use to be and of taking surety and affording safe-guard in all cases where need shall require and of ordering all other things necessary for the maintaining of Peace Right and Equity among all manner of People as well of other Dominions as their own passing through the said Seas and the Soveraign Guard thereof Out of this Libel we deduce that The Kings of England had then been in peaceable possession of the said Dominion of the said Sea of England by immemorial prescription That the Soveraignty belonged unto them not because they were Domini utriusqâ—… ripae as when they had both England Normandy and so were Lords of both Shores For Edw. I. at this time had not Normandy but that it is inseparably appendant and annexed unto the Kingdom of England Our Kings being Superiour Lords of the said Seas by reason as the said Record speaketh of the said Kingdom And since that the Soveraignty of the Sea did appertain to the English Kings not in any other Right then that of the Kingdom of England you cannot doubt the Title by which Our present claiâ—… is deduced 'T is in right of Britannia that We challenge it 'T was in that right the Romans held it This claim justified K. Edward III. and his Rose-nobles Though there are other reasons regarding to the Lancastrian line which yield a colour for the use of the Portcullis in the Royal banners of England yet as we read in reference to his
no arguments to excite his valour where indignities are offered These are the same Enemies which the Parlamentarians did heretofore contend with the Subject of the quarrel is the same there is the same justice therein that was formerly the Government is only varied to a Monarchy under which they possess their former Indulgence It behoves them now to convince the Dutch by new atchievements and redoubled fervour that they were no less valiant then fortunate and to satisfie His Majestie that they are not factious but deserve the favours they now enjoy I had forgot to tell the Reader one thing which is that the Dutch and English Memorials and Narratives do differ in their dates not only in the old and new Styles but otherwise two or three days so that if any person should endeavour to invalidate this Treatise upon such trivial exceptions I confess thus much and desire any man who can to amend such mistakes which are not much material to the grand controversies This ensuing Treatise was written long before the late revolutions in Holland and the death of the two brothers Cornelius and John deWit and whatsoever therein doth reflect upon the treacherous designs and villany of the States general and People it is to be applyed unto the Lovestein faction which hath always presided directed and swayed in the Councils and Determinations of the United Provinces partly by Artifice and popular insinuations partly by the interest of the Province of Holland For the better understanding of this affair it is requisite that I deduce the History of that faction from its first original whereby it will appear that the English have just cause to detest the Memory thereof and the Dutch good reason to impute thereunto the Odium Infamy and Calamities under which they at present suffer and upon the sense whereof the Burghers of the Hague did so barbarously murther those two insolent criminals John Olden Barnevelt was born at Amersfort in the Province of Utrecht his Extraction was mean but such his insinuation so popular his address so ready his wit so great his prudence so extraordinary his Learning in the Civil and Municipal Laws Usages and Records of his Countrey that having spent several years at Lovain in France Italy Germany and Switzerland at his return the Province of Holland entertained an high respect for him and He was much resorted unto being one of the Advocates at the Hague when the Count vander Marck had seized the Brill and that the rest of Holland began generally to embrace the party of the Pr. of Orange he was one of the three Advocates who in the year 1572. first acknowledged the proscribed Prince to be the lawful Governour of Holland He had no aversion for Popery his wife was of that Religion He contested with Leicester and the Protestant party in the Netherlands for an equal toleration of the Romanists c. But he was so fierce an Enemy to the Roman Ecclesiasticks that the Spaniards formed particular designs against him who by his niceties in Law disturbed the civil power and animated the people unto those outrages whereby their Church and Church-men were destroyed Having signalized himself by this demeanour he was chosen Councellor and Pensioner for the City of Roterdam A. D. 1576. The which office He executed with so much Zeal for the general liberties of his Countrey and of Roterdam particularly he so studiously caressed the Burgomasters and populace so fervently did he perswade his masters of Holland to seize upon all Church-lands so vigilant was he that the Magistrates in each Province and City should preserve their Soveraignty over the Protestant Clergy by placing and displacing them at pleasure and confining them to preach as the Magistrates pleased that he gained the repute of a most worthy Patriot in Holland and West-Friesland His Councils and Actions always shewed him to be implacable against the Spaniards and he pretended a great devotion to the House of Orange in 1579 he was zealous for the contracting that everlasting Union at Utrecht At which time the Provinces had not cast off all obedience to the King of Spain the Prince of Orange was Governour or State-holder of Holland Zealand and Utrecht by vertue of a Commission from the King in his name and for his service all things were said to be done by the United Provinces Notwithstanding that by this Union Art 9. No agreement for truce or peace or war was to be undertaken but by common consent And notwithstanding another League or Union particularly contracted betwixt Holland and Zealand for their acting joyntly and by communication of councils in 1575 1576. This Barnevelt faction designing to erect themselves into a Republick did take a resolution and privately sware amongst themselves that they would never acknowledge the king of Spain for their Soveraign pretend his authority or make use of his Seals whereby through an immutable negative Suffrage of that Province the rest were involved in a perpetual revolt This determination was made and they absolved one another from the Oath of Allegiance without the consent of the other Provinces and a good while before that the Deputies of Holland could perswade Zealand to consent thereunto It was decreed by Holland and West-friesland April 19. 1581. whereas the States General did not before 1582. declare that the king of Spain had forfeited his right and Dominion over those countries and all princely authority ceasing in him thereby was consolidated into the Estates and the whole Soveraignty devolved to the States of the respective united provinces Hereupon the Pr. of Orange from a Spanish Governour became subordinate to them and derived his Commission of State-holder and Captain-General from their Authority I shall not mention what the said faction did in opposition to the Archduke Matthias and the Duke of Anjou whereby they enervated their authority always acting separately and clandestinely from the rest of the Union It is an acknowledged case that the Province of Holland being swayed by the faction of Barnevelt were averse from the incorporating their Province with the Realm of France and had that king seriously inclined to accept the overture he would have found such private restrictions on the part of Holland as would have frustrated the negotiation indeed they were contrary to the conditions which the same province had assented unto in the Assembly of the States General Neither was Barnevelt better inclined unto Engalnd in reference to any real subjection thereunto It was never the intention of that party to return under any Monarchy and whatever he as one of the Deputies protested upon his knees whatever he signed unto it was his purpose only to engage the Queen to their protection and to involve Her Majesty in a war with Spain and thence to derive all the strength and profit imaginable without ever submitting unto her or to the Crown of Spain In that Treaty with Q. Elizabeth in 1585. He with the rest told the Qâ—…een that the
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-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-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-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
Avarice Gruelty and Insolence of the Spaniard which qualities since he was not likely to change it was in vain for Her to think of a safe and durable Peace The same Inclinations the same Incentives continuing wouldin a short space produce their usual effects that by this Amity she would but give him time to Recruit that Strength which would be employed against Her The conclusion with a little Change runs thus Those Kings and States have taken wiser Courses who without any particular Provocation have made a timely Opposition to growing Empires lest the Conquest of their Neighbours should render them a Prey to the Victour They knew that there are some Wars made to procure a Peace some because no Peace can be had For as betwixt Fire and Water both being of a contrary Nature so between those that are ambitious to Rule over all and those that scorn to become Tributaries and Vassals to any there is a perpetual Strife and everlasting Enmity wherein 't is too late to revenge Injuries when received It becomes the Wise and it is most Glorious to prevent them whilst they are yet only Threatned or Imminent Heaven hath not given unto Kings their Power and Government only that they might redress and punish Evils their chief Business and Care ought to be to provide that they may never happen He doth not so much as defend himself who contains within the narrow bounds of Defence Wicked minds are excited by Impunity Whether the Dutch make War with France or enlarge their Conquests in both Indies or Fight with the Dane or Swede or with great Fleets guard their Fishermen and Merchants those dangers which we do not yet feel do still hang over our Heads and whilst they are in Arms England must be in a continual Jealousie and at a constant Expense The question is Whither it be best to perpetuate or dispel our Fears And which is the most prudent course to spend our own Incomes or subsist upon the Spoils of others These considerations prevailed with that Queen whose Memory and Actions are to this day Celebrated and Reverenced in England Were that Queen now alive let us examine what Maxims She would inculcate to this Age upon the present Juncture and if we may conjecture by her past Deportment what She would urge it would be to this effect Never to Relinquish any thing of Honour A Prince despised and contumeliously used is already half-ruined If he endure it long he is totally lost at Home and Abroad She made the States decree Death to such as should Libel or revile her Majesty and one reason of Her quarrel with Spain was that the King had slighted her Embassadours Never to abandon the Dominion of the Sea but to maintain constantly such a Fleet of Ships as may secure it and strike an Awe into the Neighbouring States To propagate Trade by all possible means into all Parts as the principal means of encreasing the Riches of private Men the Revenues of the Prince and the Renown and Puissance of the Realm To improve the Fishery by all manner of Contrivances as observation of Lent and Fasting-days encouraging and protecting the Fisher-men whence will arise besides the effects for a gainful Trade a constant Seminary of Mariners inured to the Sea acquainted with the Coast and skill'd in Navigation Never to suffer any Nation to grow more Powerful at Sea or greater Traders then our selves but by sundry Artifices or open War to dâ—…stress them and draw the Trade to England Thus She undermined the Hanse-Towns because they did prejudice the English Trade notwithstanding that many of them did profess the Reformed Religion Such Aphorisms as these would She instil into the English were She now living And I am confident had She lived to see France and the United Provinces both in their grandâ—…ur last Winter She would neither have stood Neutral nor joyned Her Forces with those of the Dutch Against a Neutrality it is a Rule in Politicks That in a War begun betwixt two mighty States it is dangerous for a Thâ—…rd and Neighbour to them both not to be a Party being called into the Action For he is in peril of becoming a Prey to the incensed Victor Except the Neutral Prince be so Potent as to be able to secure himself from the Conquerour But this not being our condition at present the next Debate is Whether we ought to adhere to the United Provinces or to France Against the United Provinces so many Arguments have been already Alledged that it is a shame not to assent unto them except the like or greater can be produced against the League with France Although it be true Policy for every Prince to oppose the excessive growth and strength of another State that it arrive not at that heighth of Puissance as to be able to reduce the rest under obeisance yet Wise men suggest many considerations before a War be commenced against this so Potent Empire For if we judg of Events by the ordinary course of Humane Affairs whosoever makes War upon a State infinitely surpassing his in Power doth but occasion his own Ruine Neither is it providentiâ—…l for a weak Prince though he foresee that he shall be at last subdued by this puissant Empire therefore to run Precipitously into a War against it any more then it would seem Wisdom for a company of Men to Accelerate their own Destruction because they are ascertained that in time they shall be Destroyed If the Question were now the same that it was in the days of Cromwel which way the Scales should be turned betwixt Rising France and Declining Spain the debate might end in favour of the House of Austria but since that Cromwel by Assisting France and Depressing of Spain hath contributed much to the paramount Greatness of that Monarchy and that His Majesty of Great Britain hath since his Restauration been enforced to emplóy his Cares upon those most necessary and urgent Affairs of composing his distracted Kingdoms Re-establishing the Government Securing and Advancing the Trade of his Subjects in opposition to the Hollanders without leisure to regard the growth of the French Monarchy The Case now seems different from what it was and it doth not seem prudential to oppose the greatness of France now that it is Arrived unto its present Heighth under so Haughty Martial and Wise a King so able Council so plentiful a Treasury so Vast Well-commanded and Well-disciplined Armies There is no one State that is able to Counter-poise the Forces of his most Christian Majesty and great Leagues which are to be made up of a multitude of Parties and Confederates are so uncertain Strengths to be relied on by the Wise that History doth not acquaint us with any Instances almost of their succeeding well and 't is manifest to any who understands the Genius of this Age that any such League would become Ineffectual Let Us therefore resolve that it is at present best for
towards His Majesty that 't was thence their Superiours derived much of their confidence They did believe the suggestions of John de Wit and his Partisans that His Majesty did seek what He could not avoid That what they made unavoidable was purely the effect of his unsatiable avarice and ambition That he was the most blood-thirsty person in the World that He armed against them such a Militia as would make Fricacies of their Children and Salt up the Men and Women for Naval Provision If the prevailing Party which swayes their Councils and Determinations were thus animated whatsoever be the fatal consequences of the War they are not to be imputed unto Us but unto the Loevesteine Faction and their deluded or malicious adherents If their ill success and time hath undeceived some what doth this reflect upon the Resolutions which His Majesty assumed last Year before they were dis-possessed We may reckon them unfortunate we may pity those who were averse from the War and His Majesty did express as much concern for the interest of the Prince of Orange as the nature of His Treaties would permit but we can charge no injustice upon the Arms of our King There was heretofore a sort of People who did not think it lawful for Protestants to contract Leagues with Papists or Idolaters But Prince William of Orange and His Divines did long since refute this Opinion For albeit that the Israelites might not make any League with the Inhabitants of Canaan whom God destined unto destruction yet with other Nations as with Hiram King of Tyre the Kings of AEgypt and Assyria c. they might The Cantons of Swizzerland as well Protestants as Papists are consederated for mutual defense The Protestant Princes of Germany joyn with the Papists in one Empire and in the Election of a Romanist to be Emperour The same Princes have sometimes called in by League the French to their assistance as Geneva hath implored their protection against the Savoyard If we consult the Law of nature the respect we owe to our Lives Liberties and Estates requires this at our hands that we preserve our selves and if we cannot effect thus much by our Domestick Forces we must recur to forein assistance The Law of Grace doth not destroy that of Nature hence it is that the Obligation doth still remain and that those Alliances made by Kings with Infidels and Hereticks when profitable or necessary may not justly be blamed Do we not see in holy Writ how the Patriarchs and the most renowned Kings of Juda have authorized this Doctrine by their Example Did not Abraham covenant with Abimelech both for himself and his Posterity as also with the Canaanites was not Lot confederate with the King of Sodom and went to War in his Company The Maccabees though zealous in the observance of their Religion did yet confederate themselves with the Lacedaemonians and Romans King David joyned his Forces with those of the Philistines against Israel nor doth it appear but He would have fought in that quarrel since He tells the King now thou shalt see what thy Servant will do To pass by the examples of Antiquity let us descend to latter times where seeking for Proofs of this Truth we find St. Paul recommending to the Primitive Christians a Peace with all men He himself makes use of the protection of the Pharisees against the Saducees and refuseth not to be secured against the violence of the Jews by the assistance of two hundred Archers and seventy Horsemen all Infidels What can be objected against this Reason It is permitted every one to make an alliance with all such as are comprised under the notion of Neighbours and it may not be doubted for the Son of God hath commanded Us to love them as our selves The Infidels are positively comprehended under that Title especially when they are of advantage unto us as Jesus Christ testifieth in the Parable of the Samaritan And by consequence it is evident that alliances with Infidels and Hereticks are permitted unto Princes If it be said that a Prince may make an alliance with such to have Peace with them or commerce or perhaps employ their Forces against others of the same Religion with them but not against such as profess the same Religion with himself I answer that the general practice of Christianity hath been otherwise How often did the Emperours of Constantinople the Kings of Spain and France contract for the assistance of the Sarracens against Christians Which of these Realms hath not confederated with the Turks to invade the Christians Which of them hath not combined with the Hereticks and made use of their assistance against their Enemies though of the same Religion with them If we turn our Eyes upon the Protestants do we not find Q. Elizabeth contriving with the Count of Embden how to undermine the Hanse-Towns many whereof were Protestants Do we not find the Dutch assisting the French King against the Protestants of Rochel Do we not read of Maurice Duke of Saxony assisting Charles the Fifth against the other Protestants Did not the House of Brandenburgh do the like Have not the Swedes fought against the Duke of Saxony and other Protestants in Germany who were reconciled to the Emperour by the Peace of Prague and did not the one Party adhere to the House of Austria whilst the other was supported by France Have not the Danes fought against the Swedes by confederation with Poland and the Emperour In such cases every Party regards the other as Potent Ambitious and Injurious Adversaries not as Protestants and whatever Dammage befals the Reformed Religion in the heat of War it is to be charged upon those that give occasion thereunto not unto them that are enforced to secure themselves We must distinguish betwixt the Church and State this War is not commenced against the First but the Latter nor doth his Majesty contract to advance the Religion but Dominions of France Whatsoever hath or may fall out as to the Popish Religion being restored in the United Provinces is not to be imputed unto Us but unto the French who are Zealous for its Promotion His Majesty is but indirectly and by accident concerned therein it being contrary to his Wishes and Inclinations nor can He be said so much as Interpretatively to Will the thing We ought to distinguish betwixt those events which do by a natural consequence follow our own Actions and those which ensue accidentally by reason our Allies are of another Religion Though there may be found a way to argue an indirect and interpretative Will in the former case yet that cannot be extended indefinitely to all such evil contingencies as arise not from our Wills but the particular intendments of another And it is a received Maxime amongst the Casuists that in such Circumstances no man is bound to avoid such enterprises if He have just Causes and Reasons moving Him thereunto Nor can he be said either expresly or interpretatively to Will or
were to be inserted into the Munster-Treaty but that all was to be of no effect in the mean while and thus much indeed was expressed in the Preface to the Treaty and so much of them was imparted unto the French the rest they needed not to inquire into since the Articles were to be hereafter approved by them and were only agitated now to pass the time In the mean space The Dutch declined to assist the French or manage an offensive war against Flanders and being pressed to regard their Treaties the Provincials of Holland began to hate the French as men that presumed too much upon old musty Leagues and Confederacies which was one of the greatest absurdities in the world Instead of prosecuting the war in 1647. They found out an expedient to fulfill the League by ceasing from all acts of hostility at Sea the which cessation was proclaimed by Leopold June 15. 1647. and 't is supposed ratified by the States though Aitzma could not find any deeds to that purpose for They suffer'd their Subjects to take the benefit thereof even the Zealanders who condemned the Action as perfidicus did by vertue thereof drive on a gainful trade with Flanders This year being thus passed in 1648. The province of Holland by sundry circumventions and such proceedings as repugned to the Union of the Provinces commute the provisional Articles into an Absolute Treaty and ratifie it without communicating it unto the French or any way attending their consent Six of the Provinces were amased hereat the people astonished the Heer van Nederhorst one of the Plenipotentiaries feigns himself sick refuseth to sign thereunto and gave in his reasons to the States General viz. that it was contrary to the Treaty with France and contrary to his instructions and Oath as Plenipotentiary The which action of his was justified by his Superiours of Utrecht and He received great thanks for adhering to his Instructions and the real interest of his Countrey On the other side the States of Helland by a publick Act do assert the integrity and honour of their Plenipotentiaries and avow they will protect and vindicate them against all the world giving them the general thanks of the Province The Plenipotentiaries also by a Manifest endeavoured to authorise their demeanour pleading That Treaties were subject to several senses how express soever that their procedure at Munster might fall under a good construction if men would interpret it aright and consider how much is to be attributed to emergencies and occasions That They had done nothing contrary to their Oaths and Instructions as some especially the contradictious French did clamour They did respect the French Amity very much but yet they found the obligations to their Countrey to be paramount that 't was true they had an Instruction to observe strictly the League of 1644. and to communicate all their affairs with the French But they had another more important Command also which was That they should do all things that were for the benefit of their Countrey and Republick and eschew all such things as in their judgment might turn to its detriment and prejudice The French King writ Letters and sent Embassadours to expostulate and protest against this Peace but De la Thuillery either got no answer to his Memorials or only this That the States General were satisfied They had not failed in their respects to His Master Most of the Provinces at first refused to ratifie the Peace and Zeland was obstinate to the last never signing it nor suffering their Plenipotentiary Knuyt to attend the ratification They desired that since things were proceeded so far the States General would but be so civil to their old confederate His most Christian Majesty as to send unto him and acquaint Him with the true condition of affairs and suspend the raâ—…ification untill the French had perfected their Treaty that this was the great intent of the Munster-Treaty to effect a peace for France and Holland if not for all Europe That to gratifie his Majesty thus far was but a small return for such kindness as he had alwayes expressed for the United Netherlands the particular testimonies whereof They should not relate but so many so ample they were that when Historians should record them they would not be believed by posterity as they could not be sufficiently acknowledged by any retributions or assiduity of service which the Dutch could pay unto that Crown Besides to ratifie this Treaty at Munster what was it but to put an end to all the Leagues betwixt the United Provinces and France even those of Guaranty and then They should loose their best support and allyance to the great danger of their Republick But no Remonstrances could prevail against the Artificles of the Hollanders wherefore by a plurality of votes a course not legitiâ—…ate in so high matters the States General did ratifie the peace and appoint it to be proclaimed and celebrated with bone-fires June 5. 1648. The Zelanders again interposed Calling God and Men to witness that They did never assent unto this Peace with the exclusion of France and that They were innocent as to all those calamities and misfortunes which either the wrath of Heaven or Indignation of exasperated Princes might create unto the United Provinces The Peace was proclaimed on the day asoresaid but the people were so possessed with the horrour of the Action that many in Holland as Leyden made not any bone-fires and none elsewhere gave those usual signs of joy The French KIng whose candour was justified by Nederhorst recalled his Embassadour from the Hague adding that since He had no manner of League with them a Resident might serve the turn there By the same peace they betrayed their confederates the Prince Palatine and the other Protestants of Germany who might have had great advantages by a General Peace but the Dutch only reaped the benefits of this These Dutch left their old friends the Hanse Towns out of the Treaty betwixt Denmark and Sweden in 1645. without any other motive then their peculiar profit There is not a Prince or State in Europe or the Indies that doth not form the like complaints against them Even the Spanish Embassadour Le Brun averred that the Dutch in a little time violated Seventeen Articles of the Munster-peace As to Their Religion we could never be convinced that The Hollanders did regard any Their first revolt was not founded upon any such principles They patiently endured the suppression of their Churches and Ministers the Country did not stir thereat nor upon the execution of so many thousand Protestants The best of their Historians and who was privy to the secret transactions of that age begins his Annals with a quite different account The States of Holland and West-Friesland avowed it and it is notorious that the exaction of the Tenth penny by the D. of Alva did more exasperate them then the
Their Instructions and Mandates whereas This whole affair and this insuperable difficulty was still remaining to be transacted Such a demeanour hath not been read of but in the Annals of the United Provinces yet did their Provincial Superiours justifie them for Honest men and true Natives of Holland This and the interposition of Cromwel saved them from punishment and silenced all contests upon that subject This mutual defensive Alliance and secret Article did secure the greatness of Cromwel not only against the Republicans and Sectaries but Royalisis who together with His Majesty were excluded from any Aid or Assistance out of those Provinces and not permitted to reside there It depressed the House of Orange and all that party It advanced Holland so far above the other Provinces that They gave Laws to them ever since till their Arrogance and perfidiousness made them insupportable to the rest of the Provinces as well as to their Neighbours and so expedited their present calamities It is remarkable that notwithstanding that Cromwel and the Dutch had pretended so fervent zeal for the advancement and protection of the Reformed Religion and Houshold of faith during the Treaty yet in the Articles there is not any mention made thereof neither were All the Protestants comprehended in the League It is also observable that the said League was never well kept on the part of the Hollander but so violated in the East and West-Indies and elsewhere that Cromwel determined to fight them again upon the first opportunity and leisure The Lord Nieuport came over to pacifie Him a little before His death and attended in mourning at his Funeral and was the first Embassadour which condoled His late Highness's death and congratulated the advancement of Richard hoping that the same firm League and Peace might be continued between His Highness and those States which had been between them and his Princely Father He delivered His message in a publick Audience and received an Answer conformable to His desires But yet whereas by the Eighth Article of that League they were obliged to defend Him against all His Enemies The Dutch contributed nothing to his support but quietly permitted Him to be deposed and immediately before He had resigned courted those at an Audience within the House which had so injured their good Friend and Ally Upon a due regard unto the Considerations and Reasons alledged We think it our duty humbly to declare that We are entirely satisfied with the Righteousness of the present War with Holland and that Common Equity and the most infallible Reasons of State did oblige His Majesty to vindicate the Dignity of his Crown and the Honour of His Kingdoms as also to assert those ancient and inseparable Regalities which do not only adorn but chiefly support His Crown We do thankfully acknowledge the constant endeavours of His Majesty to promote the Trade and welfare of His subjects and to preserve them from being injured and oppressed by the depredations of the Dutch And seeing that the Perfidiousness of the Hollanders who have no regard to Oaths and Promises no sense of Religion Honour or Moral Honesty did render All Leagues with Them infirm and instable Seeing Their dilatory and treacherous Negotiations did render any Treaty with Them unsafe in so perillous a juncture as the puissance of the French King and their juglings with that Count made Us to be in We cannot but admire and celebrate those Counsils by which We enjoy an undisturbed peace and tranquility of our Consciences at home and are secured by a potent and victorious Navy at Sea It is the prudent conduct of His Majesty next under God which hath seasonably prevented that desolation whereunto the Hollanders would have subjected Us by transporting hither the French Armies We are not redevable to their care or kindness for that We are free from a calamitous war and all the miseries which the United Provinces do now sink under That Our condition is not the same with Theirs it is a felicity we derive from the wisdom vigilance and Generosity of our Prince who hath indefatigably busied Himself exposed his only Brother to all the dangers of the Sea and the perils of those dreadful Fights and exhausted His proper Treasury to supply the present exigence and to ensure the Estates of His Subjects May all his Subjects be sufficiently sensible How much They owe unto His Care and Goodness May their acknowledgments equal His merits May every one by His Royal Example contribute what He can to the General welfare of the Nation May no Animosities divide our Minds No impertinent quarrels No unnecessary and unseasonable debates retard or distract our Consultations and proceedings But may all advises and actions tend to the common utility which all Intelligent and Loyal persons must measure by the Riches Strength and Honour of their Soveraign Such ought to be the Prayers Wishes and Sentiments of every English Man Here followeth a Memorial read and delivered to the Lord of Hemsted Adrian Paaw extraordinary Embassadour from the States General of the United Provinces unto the pretended Parliament of the Common-wealth of England June 1652. Wherein the Importance of the Right of the Flag and of the Dominion of the Brittish Seas and of the Fishery together with the Rights of England thereunto are deduced and demonstrated This Memorial was originally very brief in comparison of what it is now It being not the mode of those Times to alledge any proof by way of Autority I have found out consulted and supplied the â—…eficient Citations which if they are not those They went upon are I am sure such as the Reader may rely upon And I have inserted them frequently into the Text as conceiving it more convincing and agreeable to the phansie of any Reader If the whole were represented as an entire piece and He not distracted with the multitude of References by way of Post-script Who prepared and penned it I cannot tell but it was as I am told supervised by Sir Henry Vane and others of the Commissioners and any man will find it answerable to that opinion which the world had of His parts and abilities who was the chief director and manager of that war and whose constant judgment it was that the Interests of England and the United Provinces were as irreconcileable as those of Rivals Trade being to both Nations what a Mistress is unto Lovers that there nevâ—…et since 〈◊〉 â—…ene any durable peace except both Nations did unâ—… Coalition or the English subjugate the others and reduce them into a Province or by strict conditions and contrivances ensure themselves against the growth and future puissance of the Dutch About the middle of June 1652. A conference was held betwixt the Commissioners from the Council of State and the Lord Adrian Paaw Kt. Lord of Hemsted Extraordinary Embassadour from the United Provinces In which the said Embassadour expatiated upon the mutual interest both Nations had to preserve peace and amity
the great sincere affection which the Dutch continued to bear unto the English the recâ—…procal bonds of professing the same Reformed Religion and the dangers that might be fall Proâ—…estancy in general should such important Members thereof ingage in a war That Christian bâ—…ood was precious â—…n the sight of God and ought not rashly or on a slâ—…ght occasion to be shed by Men that the fight in the Downs was casual and not designed by His Masters That The strâ—…strâ—…king of the Flag was but a Ceremony of Honour and matter of complement about which He hoped the true Professours of the Gospel of peace meekness long-suffering and brotherly love would not contest unto blood that howsoever His Superiours did never pretend nor should pretend to dispute the Honour and Dignity of this Common-wealth which they repute the first and most considerable in Europe That no Delâ—…beration had been made No Resolution taken No Commâ—…ssion directly or indirectly given to their Vice-Admiral for to undertake any Dispute against the Fleet and Ships of the said Common-wealth upon the Controversies and Differences of the Sea And that The Ships of war meeting at Sea and behaving themselves as before and during the time of the former Government there should be thereupon no more Dispute hereafter Some Reply was then made but a full Answer was tendered and read unto Him at the next conference to this effect My Lord WE are very glad to understand from you mouth the sincerity with which you profess the true Reformed Religion and that cordial affection with which you declare your selves to seek Amity and Friendship with this Nation We would put as good a construction upon the Intents of your Superiours as the regards of our own safety will permit and certainly a prudent and due respect to our own preservation is not repugnant to the Gospel or Protestancy But we cannot conclude otherwise from the Actions of your States then that the late attempt in the Downs arose from a formed and premeditated Design To usurp the known Rights of England in the Seas to destroy the Fleâ—…ts that are under God their Walls and Bulwarks and thereby expose this Common-wealth to be invaded or otherwise imposed upon at your pleasure During an actual Treaty for a nearer Union offered by your selves you took a resolution to equip out 150 say 〈◊〉 besides what were already in your service and of this your Emâ—…dours gave notice to the Parliament March 15. 1652. Whether this intimation was made to amuse or terrifie us your Superiours do best know but such extraordinary preparations were not requisite at that time to secure the Trade and Navigation of the United Provinces when they had no Enemy abroad which upon the Rules and Maximes of State was a just cause of Jealousie unto the English and They had reason to put themselves into a posture and condition to defend themselves and their known Rights at Sea Nevertheless this State proceeded so slowly therein that until their Fleet was actually assaulted by Trumpe and thereby the true reason of preparing so great a Fleet made evident they had not increased their Fleet by one Ship and in fact there were not above 22 Ships of their Fleet at Sea May 19. 1652 when they were assaulted by the Dutch Navy and We were so unprovided whereby to answer those exigencies that we were constrained to hire about fifty Merchant Ships to strenghthen and reinforce the Fleet. How confidently soever you aver that Van Trumpe had no instructions to undertake any dispute against the Fleet or Ships of this Common-wealth upon the controversies and differences at Sea yet it is notoriously known and He himself avowed it that He had no Orders to take down his Flagg The which Omission wâ—… cannot reconcile with your so Christian desires to preserve a good correspondence strict League and nearer Union with this Common-wealth It being an indirect way and course to create a quarrel at any time Others of your Captains have been reproved and threatned with the loss of their Heads in case they did strike the Flag unto Us and 't is most true that Van Tâ—…umpe refused to do it and seconded his refusal with acts of the highest hostility From whence we can make no other deduction then that the words you use of Unity Peace League and a very near Friendship are different from what you imagine and purpose and that Noble work which you say all honest men wish for especially all the Churches of the Reformed Christian Religion is not at all pursued or intended by the States General of the United Provinces Wherein have you demonstrated the least sincerity in your Negotiations with this Common-wealth How unheartily and dilatorily did you deal with our Embassadours at the Hague in relation to their Errand whereby those endeavours for Friendship became fruitless When your Embassadoâ—…rs came hither How amicably weâ—…e they received And with what delayes did they protract the Treaty When positive demands were pressed they were evaded in thâ—…ngs not of the hardest resolution with Allegations of want of power though their Commission shewed no such restraint yet to obtain further Power Returns must be made to their Superiours and before Answers could be had the Provincial States must be Assembled the which gave small grounds of any real intendment of a firm Peace and Amity As to the business of the Flag How meanly soever you think of it and however you represent it as too trivial a subject to give beginning to a War We cannot look thereon but with different considerations Were it only an Honorary Salute and Cereâ—…ony yet since it is such an Honour as hath been paid to our Ancestâ—…urs for above four hundred years since it is of such an advantage to the continuance of the renown of this Nation and serveth to imprint new reverence in the forreigners that render it and adds so much to the courage of those our Sea-men that exact it We should not consent to relinquish it No Rules of â—…rudence no Maxims of State would authoriâ—…e the deed We know how much it imports a State that it be reverenced abroad and that Reâ—…e is the principal support of any Government it equally influenceth the Subjects ut home and forreign Allies No Nation in the world is more tender of their honour then the English none more impatiently tolerate the diminution thereof With what resentments would 〈◊〉 only the more generous and noble but even the popular and vulgar Seamen detest Us should this Age remit or loose that Regâ—…lity those acknowledgments which their Predecessours with so much glory asserted and the neglect whereof was alwayes punish'd as oâ—…en Rebellion We are confident the Nation would be so provoked at the indignity of such an action that to avoid an uncertain ruin by the forces of Holland we should precipitate our selves into evident danger of periâ—…hing by the English fâ—…ry And we doubt not but you my Lord by this time
Inquisition By the pacification of Ghent A. D. 1576. the Hollanders and Zelanders united with the other more Catholick Provinces it being agreed that They should not attempt any thing against the Roman-catholick Religion or molest any for professing it but demean themselves without any offense except it were within their proper Provinces Governments and Commands were promiseuously disposed of to Papists and those of the Reformed Religion And by the Union at Utrecht A. D. 1579. The Provinces of Holland and Zeland are to be of what Religion they please the rest of the confederates are to continue the Roman Cotholick Religion or at least to make no alteration therein but by General consent or the Authority of the proper Magistrates When they tendered the Soveraignty of their Provinces to France it appears by the Articles and Instructions that They did not insist upon the having Protestant Magistrates but left that King to choose others so they were but honest peaceable men who would not persecute or molest those that were of a different Religion When the Earl of Leicester came to be Governour there He found not only Papists but even Ecclesiastics at Utrecht to rule in the Senate and Province and the original of the quarrel and complaints against Him were that He depressed the Papists and advanced Protestants contrary to the League at Utrecht in Their defense did Holland remonstrate against the Earl's proceedings this was the reason why the Ministers and all the zealous protestants honoured and loved the Earl and only the Atheistical politicians of Holland opposed him If we look upon them in their more flourishing condition All Religions are tollerated there as well as Protestants even such as are most repugnant to the Deity and Gospel of Christ. Their actions are regulated by principles of State and upon those grounds do they invite and encourage all Sects to live in their territories When their interest doth sway them they desert or fight against Protestants Thus they assisted the King of France with twenty Ships of war against Rochel A. D. 1627. 1628. When the Bosch Maestricht and Breda were conquered the Popish Religion was alwayes tolerated openly in those districts in such manner as it was exercised before and so it was intended if Antwerp had been taken and at the Munster-Treaty the States General did include as a part of their Treaty another private one made betwixt the Crown of Spain and the Prince of Orange in which it was agreed that in the districts of Sevenberg Turnhout and other places the Roman-Catholick Religion should be preserved entire and in the same manner as it was when that League was made and that All the Ecclesiasticks should enjoy their Endowments Estates Immunities and Priviledges At Munster their Excellencies the Embassadours and Plenipotentiaries of the High and Mighty States General those pure Protestans out of meer ostentation not business sent to the Pope's Nuncio twice to acquaint Him that They intended Him a visit The Nuncio was not at home to receive the first Complement Upon the second message He was solicitous what Answer to return It was most true That He might entertain them as the Embassadours from a Free State whereupon neither the Catholick King nor Catholick Church had any pretensions the one having relinquished His temporal claim and the other having no Spiritual Power over Locusts Infidels and Divels Yet He considered That where the Keys of Saint Peter were of no value those of His porter ought not to be made use of That in this visit He should rather give then receive Honour That these Dutch were very arrogant and had instructions to dispute every punctilio of Ceremony and Respect That in His Palace These Fishermen would take place of any Roman Fisher and quarrel with Him as They did with Mr. D. Avaux for lolling a little upon their Half of the Table That He must attend them to their Coaches and instead of Benedictions Excommunications or Exorcisms He must teach them to pay respect not Reverence by beginning it Upon such motives as these He sent them word That he was undressed and not in a condition to see Them The which Answer They took as if They had been interdicted his sight Sub sigillo Piscatoris If the Devil had sent a Plenipotentiary thither who would pay them all the punctilities of Honour which their Instructions obliged them to insist upon with the Agents of Spain and France These Embassadours to shew their grandeur would at Noon-day have made a visit to the publick Ministers of the Prince of darkness In that peace They pursued nothing but their private advantage for if they had joyned in the makeing of one General peace as France and Sweden offered the Prince Palatine had been restored and the Protestant Religion â—…etled in Germany according as it was before the war in 1618. This consideration was pressed by some of the Provinces earnestly and as a motive for the adhering to the Treaty with France But these High and Mighty professours of the Reformed Religion were swayed too much by the Maxims of Holland to prosecute any such matter and instructed their Embassadours to the contrary their demeanour at Japan is not the onely Scandal they have given unto Christendom In the Kingdom of Pegu when the English Merchants had refused being commanded to attend the Emperour at a Solemnity modestly to sacrifice some parched-Rice to the Idol in the Temple as also did the Portugueses spitting upon the said Rice the second man of the Dutch factory the principal declining it briskly takes the Rice and addressing himself to the Idol offers it as became a Christian of Holland And Mr. Bevernâ—…ngk being Embassadour to the pretended Common-wealth did say occasionally upon discourse with a great Man in those dayes That it was impossible for England to continue a Republick by reason of the violent animosities arising from the differences in Religion That in Holland Christianity had no such effects upon the spirits of Men so as that it might be said There were many opinions indeed in Holland yet but one Religion which was their Interest And we dare confidently avow that of all that have lived as exiles there not one found his reception to be bettered by the State upon the account of Protestancy or Puritanism Seeing the Cause of Religion did so little intercede for the Dutch and their Treachery having been such as is expressed the pretended Parliament and Council of State weighing well their extraordâ—…nary success at Sea did conclude that Treaties of Allyance how express and solemn soever could not yield any security to the English against the perfidious Hollanders that no contracts were able to ensure them that the Dutch would not attempt again to surprise their Fleets in the time of peace and when they professed as great kindness as they had done in May 1652. Whereupon 't was determined to put no
end unto the war until the Dutch should assent unto a Coalition so as that the two Soveraign powers should be united into one to consist of persons of both nations as should be agreed upon and All the people to enjoy the like priviledges and freedom in respect of habitations possessions trade ports fishing and all other advantages whatsoever in each others Countrey as Natives without any difference or distinction Other course they saw none in which they might with prudence and safety acquiesce The Province of Holland being particularly sensible of the expense and other detriments which that war brought upon them did privately employ Col. Doleman and others gaining unto them Hugh Peters to try the inclinations of the pretended Parliament this was concealed from the States General and known to few of the Provincials of Holland The English did not seem averse to a good peace upon just and honourable terms but refused to treat either in Holland or any neutral place nor would they condescend to any such negotiation except the Hollanders did make the first overtures by a Letter For as their necessities not affection to peace protestancy or the English Republick made them to seek it so it was requisite for the Honour of England which had been so despised and ignominiously treated by them that They should repair the pass'd Infamy and disgrace by effectual submissions The States of Holland and West-friesland considering the miserable distress and incorrigible disorders of their people did submit thus to confess their Errours March 8. 1653. THe States of Holland and West-friesland considering that without doubt it is a remarkable punishment from the just judgment of God irritated by the sins of the people that notwithstanding the communion of the pure Reformed Religion which ought to oblige the two Nations to Love Unity and a reciprocal care to procure each others good at home and mutual lustre abroad whereto Nature it self by the vicinity of the Countreys on both sides seems to have contributed and given advantage yet contrarily the present differences have caused that the prudence of nature is forced against Her aims and the means which might tend to mutual Conservation are employed to the ruin of each other and that the Religion the most dear and precious pledge which by the Grace of God hath been so long and until this present marvailously preserved between the two Nations against the machinations of the Enemies of its Honour is become endangered And also the Lord God having furnished both Nations with matter of thanks and praise to his clemency in that by his grace they may subsist of themselves and that they have the convenience of assisting each other in case of necessity and where his honour shall require it by these very Nations in lieu of due acknowledgment of these his said mercies matter is afforded to the Enemies of God and of both Nations of rejoycing by their present confusions and to hope for at length those will effect for them that which they themselves have not been able to bring to pass And that which adds to the reciprocal misfortune is that by the alternate and uncertain successes and daily effects of Arms seen by the great effusion of blood of the Houshold of Faith on the one and on the other side both waies apprehended by the Enemies of Gods glory and his Church so precious He that overcomes considering the thing in true Christianity ought to lament the victory equally with the other who seemeth to be defeated Wherefore the abovesaid States carried on by a pious zeal and being through the Grace of God in no wise constrained by any other consideration have not in the least scrupled to represent the abovesaid to the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England to the end that They having the same apprehensions with the said States concerning this affair Consideration may be had what ought to be done for maintaining the Honour and Glory of God and for the good of each other State whereupon without doubt the Good God for His Name 's sake by the inspiration of proper and fit expedients will give his blessing Or in case the said Parliament be of another mind the said States having abundantly discharged themselves may with much more peace of Conscience attend the issue which it shall please God to give to the present Confusion and Disorders Done at the Hague March 18. 1653. By order of the States of Holland and Westfriesland Herbert van Beaumont Secretary to the abovesaid States The Speaker received this Letter by a special Messenger the Secretary of the Lord Adrian Paaw whereupon it was referred to the Council of State to answer it as They thought fit These considered that this Letter was the act of a Cabal and not of the States General and that They had to do with Hollanders whose integrity they much suspected They determined to write one Answer to the Authours and another to the States General acquainting them with the private overtures of Holland intending thereby either to make the States General own the same recognition or to create jealousies and animosities betwixt the other Provinces and Holland which had acted separately and clandestinely in a matter of that nature contrary to the Union These Letters were dispatched April 1. 1653. wherein they told the Hollanders in a dialect not less specious and pious that the inconveniencies to Religion in general and to the Trade and Liberties of each Nation were such as any man might have foreseen and that none could be ignorant how requisite it was for both Nations to preserve a good correspondence and amity together That the English had not omitted any thing on their parts But the Dutch had assaulted them in the midst of a Treaty for a strict Union and their Embassadour had used such tergiversation as made them justly imagin that their sense of things was different from what They now professed That the good endeavours of the Parliament were answered with unusual Preparations Acts of hostility and other extraordinary proceedings thereupon That they had this comfort and satisfaction in their own minds amidst the troubles and calamities of War that they had with all sincerity done what lay in their power to obivate all the evils specified That they did look upon the overtures of Holland if approved of by the States General to be an effectual means for composing this unwelcome war That they should insist upon nothing but what was reasonable and just However the Parliament having discharged their duty would in all Events with patience acquiesce in the Issues of providence whereof they had so gracious Experience This was the import of the Letter to the States of Holland and Westfriesland that to the States General was more brief though to the same purpose Viz. That there could be no doubt of the sincere affection and good will which the English did bear unto the United Provinces so that it might be well imagined