Selected quad for the lemma: prince_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A97066
|
The peace-maker. Being a letter sent from J.W. in London to N.C. his friend and countrey-man in Holland, to be communicated unto others for publique good wherein is set forth the state of the last treatie: and what advantage it will be to the Netherlanders, to accept the offer which the Councell of England then made to their messengers. Being according to the Dutch copie.
|
J. W.; N. C.
|
1653
(1653)
|
Wing W61; Thomason E724_7; ESTC R204158
|
8,304
|
19
|
ours and much danger prevented So it is worth the observing that this will bring losse and damage to no man but every one will be the better none I say suffer or be the worse by it It is true the vain title of High and Mighty States may be laid aside as not fit indeed not proper for poor Creatures dust and ashes to assume but Attributes rather to be given to the High and Mighty God Besides it is probable that the common people would more sweetly enjoy their liberty and freedom and not be kept under by so Lordly and Arbitrary power as now they are For the great businesse of the English Councell is to remove all such things as are opptessive and destructive to the lives liberties persons and estates of the Nation and to establish such who som and good Lawes as may conduce to a full and perfect freedom Hence it is that the people here are much encouraged to bring in their just Complaints concerning any Grievance or Oppression which lies upon them and great care is taken for a speedy and effectuall removall thereof VVhereas amongst us no door is left open to have bad Laws and worse Customs abolished but what formerly hath been ostablished right or wrong that is still held up and no care taken for the satisfaction and ease of the people therein In this regard therefore it is greatly to be desired that the Lord would open the eyes of our Countreymen to see how extreamly they are abused by some in power among them who for no other cause or end endeavour to continue the VVarr and embrue our Nation in blood out only to keep up themselves in state pomp pride and to Lord it over their brethren This I say again and it is as cleer as the Sun at noon-day that there is not any other imaginable Reason why our Generall and Provinciall States accept not of Peace offered to them by the Councel of England but because they alone will domineer and will uot let fall that sole Rule and Domination which they have formerly exercised over the people As for any other inconvenience or losse I am sure there is none no losse or inconvenience to the people at all but good many wayes And here I heartily desire my Countrey-men to consider what sollie and madnesse it is for them to assist their Superiours in this VVarr against England VVhat my deare Friends and Brethren will ye shed your blood spend your treasures utterly undo your selves your VVives Children Posterity only to satisfie the lusts of some sew ambitious persons Is it not better that the title of High and Mighty States doth fall and these with it that esfect it then the whole Nation should be undone by espousing so dishonourable unjust and badd a Cause The fifth and last Consideration which I shall commend to you and by you to the Nation it is First That you would observe who the persons be which are Obstructers and Enemies to this good â—ender of the English 2. The deceitfull wayes and devices which they use to contirue the bleody Warre between the two Nations 3. What their drift end and designe is in all For the persons no doubt they are such as are not wel-affected to either Nation but desire the hurt of both Hence it is that Rome hath her Jesuits amongst you Spain and France their Boutesues or Fling-fires the Prince of Orange his Foction and the titular King of Scotland his Incendiaries all which like Sampsons Foxes with sire-brands at their tayls endeavouring to burn our Countrey desiring rather to see our Towns and Cities laid waste than England and the Netherlands happily united into one flourishing Common-wealth Neither are our Magistrates there without guilt and sinne in this particular but some of them prostrate the blood and treature of our Nation to satisfie the lusts of other States Some again either through a base feare lest they should be displaced or an ambitious desite to keep up their Hogen Mogen Title joyne with the rest in their evill doings Thus through the covetousnesse of the one and pride of the other the poor people are like sheep led to the slaughter 2. For the deceitfull and sinfull wayes used by these Incendiaries whereby to carry on their evill design I am asham'd and blush to think of them It is such a dishonour and scandall to our Nation 1. By falshood making lies their resuge Hence it is that in your Letters and printed Newes which wee have from thence we finde continually such abhominable untruths as if wee were a Nation which knew not God nor ever heard of his righteous Judgments thratned against Liers Is there no way to hearten and keep up the spirits of our people but by false relations as to boast of Victories when we are bearen to report the Enemies losses to be such when it is neither so nor so VVhat is this for but a design of some men to deceive and blind the people that they may not hearken to Peace but runne on into unavoydable mischief and misery 2. By Pasquils and Libels and setting forth base pictures and scurrilous forgs whereby some seeke to render this State contemptible to the world and to exasperate the Common people there against this Nation a practice most unseemly in any civill people and no where else I believe practiced in any Christian Common wealth 3. By mis reporting the loving tenders and proffers of this State for Peace as publishing what was never said and concealing in the mean time the truth of things Hence it is that our people there are made to believe that the Councell of England hath no inclination to Peace that their Demands are unreasonable and impossibilities VVhereas No Nation under heaven doth more desirously desire Amity then the English with us and what they doe propound is the onely course in the judgment of all judicious and unbyassed men for the security of both away to remove all emulation and to make our Nation really happy So that I am very consident if my Countreymen did truly understand how things have passed here what desire this Nation hath to Peace and how good for us all the thing is which is propounded they would not any longer follow their Superiours to Warre but rise up as one man and immediately become one Common wealth with England Lastly As the Incendiaries in your Councell there are diverse so they have several designs Some act to rayse up the House of Orange and under pretence of his greatnesse and Authority make account to reap no small advantage Others more in reference to Charls Stuart as thinking to rise by raysing him Others are secretly in pay and promise with France and others with Spain every one driving forward his own Interest as hoping by the continuance of this VVarr to profit their Masters and themselves too Thus is our poor Countrey rent and torn by the treacherous and crafty designs of these severall Factions every one seeking himselfe and his owne Interest not regarding in the meane time what ruine and desolation befals the Nation Is it not therefore high time that my Country-men would awake and lie no longer asleep and secure through the deceit and hypocrisie of such crafty men who like Vipers seeke to eate out the Bowels of their owne Mother and that they take care for their own peace and safety which is immediately to make peace with England upon the terms propounded Moreover that it may appare how heartily and really the English Nation hath desired peace with us and that there might be no more effusion of blood between the two Nations The Councell desired our last Messengers if they liked not this way of Security by Coalition they should then propound any better way unto them which they never did but lay still fishing at this state as to get out what they could so that it is most evident and clear that what they did was only to make some advantage upon what might be offered but had no mind neither they nor their Superiours who sent them to have a good and lasting peace with the Common-wealth of England unless it be such a one as cannot be condiscended to neither with the glory of God nor honour nor safety to the people of this Nation no nor really to the happinesse and prosperity of our owne Countrey Thus I have as with much brevity so in sincerity and singlenesse of heart laid before you the true state of things And I doe once more earnestly entreat that from your hands This Peace-maker may as from my hand be spread all our Countrey over to the end that my dear Friends and Brethren may see how the VVarr is neither desired nor continued by the English But so much is granted and offered to us as were our Countrey as flourishing as ever and had England no advantage at this time over yet would it have been a singular mercy and bleshng to us to enjoy what is now offered it tending wholly and altogether to our good as I have proved before Neither is the thing either dangerous or difficult to the effectuall accomplishment thereof For you there do but once stand up for your freedom and liberty and openly declare that you will accept of Peace be united to England and make one Common-wealth the Fire-brands and Incendiaries in your Councels or elsewhere will have no heart to oppose Besides the thing is so just and necessary as you may expect protection and assistance from the Lord. Now this I presse the more earnestly upon you as not to further or promote the VVars against England any longer either in your persons or Estates seeing it is but to fight your selves into slavery and bondage and to satisfie their ends and turn who seek not your good and prosperity but their owne and that to your ruine and downfall Now consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things FINIS