CAESAR endured without exclamation the Sena­tors Poniards, as whetted by interest or Revenge; but when that of his own Imp Brutus was presen­ted against him, he covered his face, leaving the world with no less shame then indignation against so much un­naturall ingratitude. The like might we do in relation to the Dutch. As to impute the fomenting of a War now against our Royal Soveraign: their base and barbarous dealings with us at both the Indyes against our Factories and Trade; and their many and horrible outrages com­mitted, as well on the Seas and other Ports in the World; as also at Amboyna, as at Guyny, to be onely the same hand that assisted the Enemy towards the loss of Rochel, in one word only to the sordidness of their East and West-Indy Companies, and other Merchants; who have not onely been known to sell Ammunition to the Turks and other Mahometans, the very blasphemers of their Reli­gion, (—if they own any by retail) but even to his Ca­tholick Majesty, when he was bound in Honour no lesse then Interest, to be their Enemy, In gross.

Neither had I ever wished the charming those Frogs, [Page 2] but that I see them so ready to become an Egyptian Plague, by croaking against us in our own Waters; yet though most of their Gentry were buried in the cruelty of such as formerly govern'd them, and all marks of Ho­nour almost blended amongst them, in those of Profit; they shall find so much civility in me, as to endeavour rather to bind up then inlarge the Rupture their indiscre­tion hath made with his Sacred Majesty; to whom I shall in modesty shew how far they stand obliged, and offer reasons to disswade them from those wilde courses, by which they do no less tickle the hearts of their Enemies with delight, then wound those with shame and fear who do affect them.

Here then let me crave leave to address my Speech to this ungrateful Neighbour, and thus expostulate with him.

After that France, tired with labour, the striving of her own Children had caused in the Bowels of her State, and child by the cold distrust conceived of Your success, Against his Ca­tholick Majesty. had deserted you in despair,

1. You may remember how England opened her ten­der Arms to receive your Fugitives, and her Purse to pay your Souldiers. So that a foot of ground cannot be called yours, that owes not a third part to the expence, Valour, or Counsel of the English; of whom such glorious spirits have expired in your defence, as have been thought at too too mean a rate to double the value of what they fought for. Brave Sidney falling upon such ground as his glorious Mistress thought too base and ignoble to bury him in; though you offered to purchase that Honour, at the price of the richest Monument you were then able to erect.

[Page 3]2. Did not the English dispute your Title at Ostend, till they had no earth to plead on, the very ground failing them, before their Valours? Yet whilst fighting there, not onely against the Flower of the Spanish Army, but the Plague, Hunger, and Cold dispaire; their fellowes put you in possession of Sluce beyond your hopes. So as it may be said without Hyperbole; The Nobility and Gentry Queen Elizabeth lost, doubled the number, the Cruelty of Spaines great Philip had left you?

3. Do not the Maritim Townes of Kent, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk, &c. abound with the Issue of those Swarms, the very sound of their fellowes Calamities, and miseries had driven out of their Hives?

4. Have you not had Liberty to Trade, and to become free Denizons, nay so Graciously have you been used by His Sacred Majesty, and his Royal Father, and by his now generous Parliament to admiration, witnessing but the Acts of Natuarallizing so many of your spawne in 12^o. 13^o. and 14^o. of His now Majesties Reign with Power to buy and purchase Land in Fee simple, Tale or otherwise in any of His Cities, or Countryes, no mark of distincti­on being imposed in relation either to Honour, profit, or Justice?

5. Has not His Sacred Majesty been alwayes so Tender of his Royal word that he made with you before he left the Hague, and the Preservation, whilst you needed it, and friendship, since God hath inabled you to subsist, as he scarce had set foot on his Royal Throne here, before the sence of your safety no lesse then His own Nature and Religion, Inspired him with an earnestness to renew or strengthen His Royal Alliance with you, not so observable in respect of any Neighbour beside, doubling I am sure, [Page 4] no lesse in their Retaliation, then acceptance, the poor and few marks of gratitude, have dropt from you; Ra­ther expunging them, with your more frequent Injuries, as being more willing to impute your failings to the lesse Courtly nature of the Soyle and People, then the want of gratitude and Civility in so prudent a State to such a Potent Neighbour as Britain, who next to God may just­ly be stiled her Maker, in dispensing with so many dangers and inconveniencies for your sake?

6. Can you think so wise a Counsel as this Nation was steered by, did not apprehend; that though the making you free might fortifie the Queens out works;Queen E­lizabeths assistance against the Spaniard. yet it could not but as much dismantle the Royal Fort of Monarchy, by teaching Subjects the way to Depose their Princes, and be no loosers by the Bargain, which (by the way) would have rendred you unacceptable to all neigh­bour Monarchs, for thereby you'd furnish their Subjects with a pretence upon all occasions of advantage to do the like?

Was not the assisting you, an occasion of our Invasion in eightly eight, by a Navy held invincible in the Creed of Rome, till the more glorious valours of the English, (as­sisted by the Lord of Hosts) had clearly confuted the Popes Title,Dover. even to the amazement of the Clif [...]s, and wonder of the World. The onely reason then that kept King Philip from heading a Royal Army in his own Per­son, was fear he did apprehend of being cast in his passage out of Spain (as his Father Charles the fifth was) upon the British shore, knowing the English more cordial in your preservation, then ever to suffer him to come and go in peace, when he came on so bloody an errand?

7. And though he as a magnanimous Prince, and so [Page 5] great a Monarch as he was, yet he did often desire his Sister of England to hear his just defence for his so rigorous proceedings; She refusing to dispute the truth of your Complaints, presuming it more probable for a stranger to be a Tyrant, then that the natural Inhabitants should upon a slighter cause, cast themselves into the no lesse bloody, then scorching flames of a civil and uncertain War: She seeming rather to forget the Obligations She owed him, either as a private Person or Brother, when he was King of England, then her neighbours oppressions. I shall not here need draw blood in your Faces by Appli­cation, your own conscience does it.

8. Were not your Messengers received into England in the quality of Embassadors, they being then too modest to own higher Ti [...]les then of Poor Petitioners, casting themselves prostrate at the feet of no less Potent Tribunal, then what you were admitted to in the quality of Em­bassadors but the other day, and the which you now fight against? Ha! tell me, Was it not such an honour you could never have attained to, but through the clemency of a gracious Prince? Your own Messengers at the very time, in the same quality, but narrowly escaped the Gallows, when they went with their own Petition to his Catholick Majesty. And did not his late Sacred Majesty, out of his Princely goodness,One made a Lord, [...]he other a Knight, at Oxford. imbroider your Messengers with Titles unworthy such ingratitude, as you afterward shew­ed him and his against your alliance then made and pro­fessed?

9. Have not you opened your Arms to receive those into your Counsels and Pay, that even the whole world does blush at the reflection of so horrid an Act; such is it, that at its Relation Tears fall on my Pen, as if it should say, [Page 6] Thou art not able to express its blackness. Wherein Hol­land canst thou glory? Not with colouring it with a char­ritable Protection? O! no, for sure I am that will vaile it self at the Relation of so horrid a Villany; then what satisfaction can you give the world, or fancy to your selves, when you show a President how to protect the horridst Regicide that ever drew breath, such as are cul­pable of no less Crime then the Blood of Kings, Christian Kings; nay such a one as the world when living never could (nor though dead) be able to match; it was that glorious Prince, when living, that espoused you, as it were, into his Royal Family; it was he when your Em­bassadors were jeered, that out of the great Mass of Hol­land, could not afford them selves Cuffs, could answer, It was never good world when States men took notice of such trifles. It was He that could part with his Royalty and Prerogative, and give you the honour and profit then to fish in his Seas, when otherwise you might have starved for Fish; It was He that gave you those many Priviledges that your own Cronolo­gers have ingraved to posterity, yet have you been so far from managing this Partiality or Charity, within the or­dinary careere of Prudent Princes (who upon a less deser­tion of Fortune then was observed, withdraw their assi­stance from all parties, looked upon with an unbiassed A­spect) especially such who are not only Traytors to us, but also in State Policy to all Princes and States whatsoever.

10. Nay see further your ingratitude, that no sooner providence had measured out the Kingdom into Peace, by restoring of us our Dread Sovereign unto his un­doubted Right, and the▪ very words of a firm Alliance and Amity (concluded betwixt you and him) scarce [Page 7] cold in his mouth; but what wonderful outrages you committed in our Ships and Merchants in almost all places and Ports where you could either find or meet them, but especially there, where you found your selves able to tre­ble the English power and strength, who if equally but Man'd or Ship't, would have reduced your Brandy cou­rages into that combustion, which they say that Wine bears, and that onely by its flames to behold your own Ruines. Nay such was your Ingratitude, as if nothing were more indifferent to you, Then who were happy, so England were miserable. Nay after our good God had given their Royal Highnesses that Triumphant Conquest over you, and dispersed that Invincible Fleet (as you thought) of yours; and contrary to all expectation, broke your Swords, and knapt your Spears in sunder, yet you then let your Ribald Pen vomit out floods of Re­proaches, in hope to involve us in a Civil War again, who was then in a strong labour with a peace to An Angry and justly displeased God; yet blessed be his Name, it was such a punishment as the Man after his own heart chose. Nor did you in all your horrid Libels, Pamphlets and Pictures forget any one thing that could be said to his Sacred Ma­jesties Court, Parliament and Kingdome disparagement, the which with an impartial eye, would onely delineate your own.

No Indecency I am sure in any of them observable during their proceedings, that is not easily to be matc'd with an Enormity of yours.

So as the Phanaticks Ring-leaders, or your Pilates in our Vessel by accident then, proved more His Majesties Friends and made better use of reason of Sta [...]e. [Page 8] For finding their Faction here was able to return them no more then a bare compliance of mock-God-Prayers, and also finding that Prince of Wonder the Duke of Albemar­le was ready to give them the Reward of Traytors and Rebels they did (as I hope you will) dissolve, and it may be returned to their first Principal, the Devil: yet such was your ingratitude, that there was nothing want­ing towards the fomenting and stirring up the same.

Now I have in part drawn, to the knowledge of all, your In­gratitudes, yet not one hundred part of what they are, and for their hainousness deserve onely a Pen of Steel, to Record them in the wrinkled brow of time, there to remain to posterity.

Give me leave to expostulate with you, for I in Con­science, and as an English man, cannot but pay that duty which I in honour owe to this famous Nation, but ask who made you so far our Surveyors, as to limit out the extent of their conveniencies, that are found to have laid out themselves to purchase yours?

Was ever so high an intrusion offered, as for a Neigh­to prescribe how another should be regulated in matter of Trade, and what Bottoms are fittest to be imployed? Would you not scorn the like Usurpation, though made by your — France, or new sworn Ally Denmark, who for so many years hath ground your faces with a Tole, never yet imposed upon you by our Kings in our Seas? For the proof of whose Propriety, I leave you to Learn­ed Selden, in his MARE CLAVSVM, and another ex­cellent Piece Entituled DOMINIVM MARIS, &c. Translated out of Italian by a Person of Honour.

[Page 9]And if you were not unwilling for those many years to come stealing, and bribing the Usurpers so long, for your Fishing, why should you be so touchy now, with such as inquire whether it was worth your Cost? And though I was pleased to hear so rich a Town as Amster­dam could be founded on Herring-bones, The Lord of Hosts is my faithfull witness how afflicted I should be to see it hazard the reducing into its first Principle by a war with England.

And thus much I understand of your Trade, that the late Usurpers did not onely give you the Fish but baits to catch them,Lamprics loaden by boats full out of the Thames, which they would never have done, had they been as full of circumspection as that creature is reported to be of eyes.

Now this considered pray why may not his Majesty assume to himself the rights of disposure, and Regulating that which undoubtedly is his own, and why may not he take that undoubted Style of Lord of the British Ocean? as well as you at Guiney, and the Indies, that strive with your Maker who shall be most High and Mighty.

There are three things principally insisted upon, by which the Vnited Provinces pretend to have fixed an Obligation upon England and expunged their former Score, which nevertheless upon an impartiall debate will rather prove wholly chargeable upon their own account then ours; so far are they from having given a full satis­faction for all the Love, Cost, and Bloud, expended by us in their preservation.

1. The first is the assistance lent us in Eighty Eight [Page 10] which was no more then the profest Antagonists to the quiet of Italy, did freely contribute against the common Enemy in the battle of Lepanto, who did there oppose the Grand Signior in relation to their Respective safeties. Besides it was a true received maxime in the wise Coun­sell of Spain and holds so still;

That he that desires to subdue the Vnited Provinces, must first Conquer England, or draw her from their succour;

And finding the latter impossible, they fell upon the the other as more feazible.

2. The second is your Entertainment given to those paterns of wonder in suffering, the distressed King and Queen of Bohemia, which according to the rest of your pretended Curtesies unto England, you have strained far higher then the string is able to bear in its natural extent, therefore I shall take leave to tune it right in the ears of all impartiall Judgements, and after setting open the Ca­binet give men free leave to value the Jewell, which in truth amounts to no more then giving house room to a vertuous Prince undone by your Councell and the rest of the union

3. For the third is your entertainment likewise which you gave his Sacred Majesty in his exile and those of his Loyal Nobility & followers, that run the same hazard with their dear Master in his afflictions, during the Usurpers, the which truly was no more but house room. It is true, you did it, but wherein could you be endangered by it, for by that Act you had only showed some part of your acknow­ledgements to the living branches, nay the very Images and children of those famous men that had formerly ex­pired in your preservation, but also purchased that, from the Princes in the world, which you could never have [Page 11] done otherwise, An eternal love; such, that had not Al­mighty God made his Sacred Majesty a second Cause in the same, your own Interests could never have purchas­ed the like; in one word, his Majesty, his Counsel, and those of his Royal Trayn, were the best Arrow in the Belgick Lyons Paw. I need not give the Reasons for what I say, I say I need not, for I am sure that there is scarce a Man amongst you all but were the better by it, and you know it too too well ever to demand the same, therefore I shall wave all that touches that matter.

As for the business of Amboyna cast into the Ballance, whose very Name, whilst Son and Moon shall keep their course, or an English Spirit breath, can never be forgot or (I fear) forgiven; yet Heaven knows my Soul, I shall be so far from opening the horrour of its Act to the world, that I will close it with these few Lines, the which I wish you may truly follow.

[Page 12]For my part really I doubt not, but that upon a more serious reflection of your Wisdoms on your own Interest, you will return to a more streight Alliance with his Ma­jesty, by making just satisfaction for what you and yours have most ungratefully done to this Nation, unless that God in his anger hath suffered you, to mingle Lethe with the rest of your Liquor.

Nay further, give me leave to tell you, that it is im­possible for you to subsist without contracting a streight Alliance with us, and complying with his Majesties just requests, the which if not done, you'l find a Britans Courage within few months give Laws, and Command, that which you denyed Sir George Downing, upon so many of his Majesties Gracious Messages by him to you, the which you then as it were scorn'd, but I believe since have paid soundly for that Ingratitude; but to return, I say it is impossible for you to subsist without his Alliance.

1. For first you cannot trust Spain, or your new sworn Ally France, The one laying cla [...] to what you possess, the other to what you are ambitions to obtain.

Whereas England stands free from all such pretences, Queen Elizabeth refusing to hold you in gross, and onely accepted of Flushing and the Brill, the which King Iames was so weary of, as he returned them for a far less sum then they were pawned.

2. Neither is his Majesty ambitious of any of your Dutch Lands, because he has more Marsh Lands already within his Dominions, then is well known how to be dis­posed of; besides it were a madness for any true English man who may live quietly in Ireland (which for Ports [Page 13] Soyl and Plenty is inferior to no Island in the whole world, to venture fighting for an Estate in Holland

3. Is our Alliance likely to change if once firmly esta­blished? whereas there is no longer hold with France, then whilst the two Potent Factions of Protestant & Papist shal subsist within her in peace; by the clashing of which, or any other inland or forreign matter, they immediately will flag off, and so leave you to be your own Guardians. Nay if you but go a little further, and thoroughly Scan your Alliance with France, you will find Poyson at the bottom of their friendship, more danger then protection, it having been alwayes the humour of that people to swag­ger with their Neighbours for room, upon the least enjoy­ment of quiet, being seldom or never able to serve their Allies, but when they are in worse case to help themselves.

Nay if you were but sensible of the happiness of that condition you are in, and of the most scorching slavery in the World that that famous Nation now lies under by their Kings there — me thinks should terrifie you, who by so many brave Conquests joyntly with the English, to the worlds amazement freed and redeemed you from the Spanish Yoak, should now forsake them and clea [...]e to a French Mushroome, who was ever accounted to say one thing, write another, and mean another; nay admit them into your very Bowels, the which I fear will be too too late repented, when like a brood of Vipers you shall behold them gnawing their way through the body of their Succourer, whose life inevitably perishes thereby.

For pray what can you build by his admittance in­to your Countrey of advantage? O, he is to assist [Page 14] you against the Prince of Munster; is that it, well ve­ry good: but pray if so, why must there be no less then fourscore or a hundred thousand men in Arms in and about you: Thanks be to God, it is none of Englands smallest blessings that they are not able to come hither on Horse-back, and you very well know the French Pro­verb, Never Peace at home, unless they be at War with o­ther States: Holland is rich and good plunder, therefore look to it; in one word, you have good store of Ships, and they have good store of Men, which I believe you want; and you had best do with them as the English Nobility did William the Conqueror, invite him for suc­cour, and he proved their Murderer, and then Crown'd himself; which was but the French Proverd verified, Baston porte paix quand & soy. The Sword or Club where ere it comes it brings Laws with it.

Lastly, The French are not so sutable to your [...]um [...]urs as the English, who look upon Merchants as Gentlemen, they as Pedlers; in one word, you have only a friend at a Sneeze, the which, in plain English, is onely God help you.

I know you are too wise to expect real friendship from Spain, or a continuance of your never to be broken a­greement made with his Catholick Majesty, if you con­ti [...]ue as you have begun with Vs.

It not being likely he should oversee, the advantage will be offered him, of catching of Gudgeons in your Inland Waters, whilst we are out at Sea scuffling for Sprats.

If you be prohibited Trading hither but one year lon­g [...]r, I wonder what the Devil will become with the French Wines, the most staple Comodity they have to bar­ter [Page 15] for? The East Countries being as unable to take them off, by reason of Cold, as you to consume them in burnt Wines.

Monarchs neither do, nor can look upon you under a milder aspect then Traytors, without a Tacit consent of the like Power resident in their People explode them, as consciant of giving the same cause; whereas England does and ever did esteem you in a more Honourable Relation and Interest; For though you like the Dial of Ahaz re­coyled so many Degrees back in the Sphear of Policy, it is naturally more proper for that hand, and that Power which first made you a Free State to be touched with an Inclination ever to maintain that Honour and Interest, which the blood of so many of their Brave Country-men, has expired in the setting of it up.

Experience the true Polititian has made it apparrent how advantageous an English Confederacy and Alliance hath been alwayes to you: For if you consider how Honourable it would be to Spain, who hath long en­deavoured it. And convenient to France in regard of her claim to Artoys & Hannault, to convert you into a Colony, you would not be so intent upon Profit as to encroach the very whole Trade in the world out of your (under God) Makers mouths as you now do, for I know your Wisdoms do know it is esteemed by all prudent Nations far inferiour to Safety. As for your Alliance with Den­mark truely that is likelier to ad number then weight to friendship, being lyable to bewhistled off, or on, according to the Inclination of His Imperial Majesty so twisted in [Page 16] marriages with the Catholike King, with whom His Majesty has made a firm Alliance, that the difficulty is as great to distinguish between their Interest [...] as Consangui­nity: and it may be, he may find his Country too hot t [...] hold him, if his Neighbour the Swede does but think they have got any thing Rich since 1657. Besides those Eastern Countries have been ever looked upon, not onely as a Store-house, wherein God hoards up the miseries of the Winter, but also the Cruel Plagues of Incursions; appa­rent in the Goths and Vandals, whose barbarous hands assisted Time, in the destruction of such Monuments in Italy, as she alone amongst her Heroes, Pompey and Cae­sar, and all her other Intestine Civilians had not been able to demolish.

[Page 33]To conclude with a few Queries, let me Humbly desire you to consider,

1. Whether such as do now Foment this Divi­sion, do not Act the Ingenious Policy of the Wolf in the Fable, that perswaded the Sheep to give over their Mastives?

2. What other Alliance can afford you so safe Harbourage, in case of foul weather at Sea, as England, Scotland, and Ireland? if none; whether Contingencies driven in by storm under our shel­ter, your East and West-India, and Straits-men, may not exceed all the Coals and Tobacco-Prizes De Rutyer, or young Van-Trump, shall scrape up upon the Sea?

3. If the raising a flying Army in the Netherlands, may not one time or other be reduced to such a Faction, especially when headed by one that can­not keep the same consort with you; be a great cause of Resolving you into your first Principle of both Poor, Distressed, and Oppressed. Nay, it may be, further reduce you to be Vassals to some of your right or left-hand Neighbours, whose Aim is wholly to Root up that Vine, which they per­ceive is likely to Eclipse their Glories in Traffick and Trade?

4. If Venice may not unproperly be called the Signet on Neptunes Right-hand; Whether England and the Netherlands, being in a straight Confederacy, may not be stiled his two Arms? By which, in relation to their Shipping, he em­braceth the Universe.

[Page 34]5. Whether your Maiden-Towns, as you call them, may not longer enjoy that Title under the Alliance of England, who hath many more rich and beautiful Harbours and Havens then the French King, that cannot brag of the like Plenty, or Con­veniency for Scituation, by the half?

6. Whether your admitting those Taterdema­lion Mushrooms of Fortune, (the French) into your Country, may not conjure up the Old Devil, which they were ever possest of, to be no mans friend, but for their own end? Your Wisdomes may understand what manner of Title they can broach, &c. when once they are i'th' Sadle: they have got the Bridle in their hands already, (I do not tell you it's a Dunkirk-one) but I believe the Stirrup likewise. Which if so, I can but smile to think how your High and Mighty Cedars will so Artificially be turn'd into poor and low Shrubs.

7. Whether the sixth Querie does not come too late?

8. Whether the making an honourable Peace with England, by complying to her Demands, may not be said putting of mony to Interest?

9. In case it so happens, whether their Wis­domes do not cease two dangerous and chargeable Wars, the which if not done, may not (if there be any such thing as a British spirit) be the sole cause of having it said, Their bloud was upon their own heads?

10. If a Candle being extinguisht, whether the snuff is pleasing to any of the senses?

11. Whether in case Zealand, or any other of [Page 35] your Provinces, irritated by the Inconveniencies that must inevitably follow, may not be tempted to divide, and adhere to the Stronger and Honester side? and which that is, your VVisdomes may easily resolve, from the Dispute his Royal High­ness, and the brave Rupert, gave you Min-here Opdam?

12. Whether the Dutch are not convinced of an heresie that they broacht, that their Highnesses died, and rose again the thirtieth day after?

13. Lastly, Whether the World may not af­ford Us, and You, sufficient Trade, without In­truding on each others Interests? And if in case there be any Wolves in Sheeps-skins amongst us, that seek to destroy us; have we not that blessed saying ready, Is there not a David for a Shepherd to smite?