The danger wherein the kingdome now standeth, & the remedie

The danger wherein the kingdome now standeth, & the remedie

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AS ſoone as the Houſe of Auſtria had incorporated it ſelfe with Spaine, and by their new Diſcoveries gotten to themſelues the wealth of the Indies, they began to affect and haue ever ſince purſued a firſt Monarchy.

The Emperour CHARLES the fift would firſt lay the foundarion thereof in Italy, by ſurpriſing Rome: from this, hee was thruſt by the force and reſpect of Religion: HENRY 8. being made Caput foederis againſt him. He then attempted it in high Germany, practiſing by faction and force to reduce them firſt to Pettie States, & ſo to his abſolute power. Thus HEN: 8. againe preuented him, by tying the Lutheran Princes under his confederacie and aſſiſtance. His ſoone the ſecond PHILIP, purſued the ſame ambition in the Nether Germany, by [Page] reduction whereof hee intended to make his farther way into the other. This the late Queene of England interrupted, by ſiding with the afflicted people on the one part, and making her ſelfe the head of their Proteſtants league with the Princes on the other: drawing in as a ſecret of State the countenance of France, to giue the more reputation, and aſſiſtance to them, and ſecurity to it ſelfe.

Spaine ſeeing his hopes fruitleſſe by thoſe vnions ands ſtraights, began firſt to breake if hee may the amitie of France and England; but finding the common danger to bee a faſt tye, hee raiſeth vp in that Kingdome a faction of his owne, by which the French King was diſtreſſed, that had not the Engliſh Counſell and aſſiſtance relieved him, Spaine had there removed that next and greateſt obſtacle of his ambition: his Counſell [Page] now tels him from theſe Examples, that the way to this great worke is impaſſable, ſo long as England layes a net in his way; and the remoue of that muſt bee the firſt of his intents.

This drew on thoſe ſecret practiſes often againſt the Queene, and his open furie in 88. againſt the State; which ſhee ſeeing by following the advice of a free Counſell, would never after admit of Peace, winning thereby the hearts of a loving people, who ever found hands and money at home, and keeping ſacredly her Aliances abroad, ſecuring to her Confederates all her time, freedome from Spaniſh flattery, and ſo ended her old and happy dayes in glory.

Spaine then by the wiſedome and power of that great Lady diſpoiled of his meanes to hurt, though not of his deſires, makes vp with her peacefull [Page] Succeſſour of happie Memory, that golden League, that diſcerning vs at home by opinion of ſecuritie, and giving them a power in our Counſell by believing their friendſhips, & pretented mariages, gaue them a way to cheriſh amongſt vs a partie of their owne beliefe, of power abroad to leade in jealouſie, and ſow diviſion betweene vs and our confederates, by which we ſe they haue ſwallowed vp the fortune of our Maſters brother, with the reſt of the Imperiall States; diſtreſſed the K. of Denmarke, by that quarrell, diverted the Swedens aſſiſtance by the warres with the Pole, and maining him now with the ofex of the Daniſh Crowne. And now whether from the plot, or our fatalitie, it hath caſt ſuch a bone betweene France and vs, as hath made themſelues by our quarell of Religion a faſt Confederate, and vs a dangerous Enemy: [Page] ſo that now wee are left no other aſſurance againſt their malice and ambition, but the Netherlanders where the tie of mutuall ſafety is weakened, by daily diſcontents bred and fed betweene vs, from ſome ill affected to both our ſecurities; that by the doubtfulnes of friendſhip, as we now ſtand, wee may rather ſuſpect from our owne domeſticke faction: if they grow too furious, they will rather follow the example of Rome in her growing, that held it equall ſafetie, honorable & more eaſie dare Regem, then ſubiugare Proviciam, cōſidering the power they haue in their hands, then to giue any friends aſſiſtance to ſerue the preſent condition of our ſtate.

You may therefore ſee in what tearmes wee ſtand abroad, and I feare me at home for reſiſtance in no better ſtate: There muſt be to withſtand [Page] a forraine invaſion, a proportion both of Sea and Land forces for to giue an Enemy an eaſie paſſage, and a Port to relieve him in, is no leſſe then to hazard all at one ſtake; and it is to be conſidered, that no march of land can be of that ſpeed to make head againſt the landing of an Enemy, nor no ſuch prevention as to bee maſter of the Sea: To this point of neceſſarie defence, there can be no leſſe thē 24000. for the Land forces: if it were for an offenſiue warre, the men of leſſe liuelihood were the beſt ſpared, and were vſed formerly to make ſuch warre Purgamento Repub: if wee made no farther purchaſe by it: and for a ſafetie of a Common-wealth, the wiſedome of all times did neuer intereſſe the publique cauſe to any other, then ſuch as haue a portion in the publique aduenture, and that we ſaw in 88. when the care of the Queene [Page] and Counſell did make the body of that large Army no other then the trayned band with which the auxiliaries of the whole Realme amounted to no leſſe then 24000. men; neither was any of theſe drawne from forth their Countries and proper habitations before the end of May, that there muſt bee no long agrievance to the publique: ſuch diſcontentments being euen to vs a more fatall Enemy then any forraine Force: the carefull diſtribution and direction of their ſea and land Forces, being more fitting for a Counſell of warre, then a private man to adviſe of. I paſſe it over, yet willing when I ſhall bee called humbly to offer vppe ſuch obſervations as I haue formerly gathered by the former like occaſions in this Realme.

To make vp this preparation, there is requiſite two things; Money, and Affections, [Page] for they cannot be properly ſeuered.

It was well and wiſely ſaid of the great Counſellor the L. BVRLEIGH in the like caſe to the Queene, win hearts and you haue their hands and purſes. And I finde that of late, diffidence hauing bin a defect in the one, it hath unhappily produced the other.

In gathering then of money for this preſent need, there is requiſite three things, Speed, aſſurance, and ſatisfaction, and the way to gather as others in the like caſe haue done, muſt be by that paith-way that is called, Via Regia; being more ſecure and ſpeedy, for by vnknowne and vntrodden wayes it is both rougher and tedious, and ſeldome ſucceedeth: this laſt way although it tooke place as it were by a ſupply at firſt, and received no generall deniall; yet ſince, it hath drawne many to conſult with themſelues [Page] and others in the conſequence, and is now conceived as a preſſure on their Liberties and againſt Law; I much feare, if now againe it bee offered eyther in the ſame face, or by privie Seale, it will bee refuſed wholly; neyther finde I it, that the reſtraint of thoſe Recuſants haue produced any other effect then a ſtiffe reſolution in them and others to forbeare: beſides, although it went at firſt with ſome aſſurance, yet when wee conſider your Commiſſions and other formes incident to ſuch like ſervices; that how long it hangs in hand, the many delayes that wee may eaſily ſee, that ſuch a ſumme by Parliament granted is farre ſooner and more eaſily gathered.

If any make the ſucceſſions of time, to produce an inevitable neceſſicitie to inforce it; if denied, whether in generall, or by exciſe, or by impoſition, or [Page] particular in ſome ſelect perſons, which is the cuſtome of ſome Countries, and ſo conclude it as therefore the publique ſtate Suprema Sege, hee muſt looke for this to bee tolde them; that ſeeing neceſſitie muſt conclude alwayes to gather money as leſſe ſpeedy or aſſured, then that ſo practiſed, which cannot bee fitter then by Parliament, the ſucceſſe attendeth the humour of the heedleſſe multitude, that are full of jealouſie and diſtruſt; and ſo vnlike to comply to any vſuall courſe of leavie but by force, which if vſed the effect is fearefull, and hath beene fatall to this ſtate: where as that by Parliament reſteth principally on the Regall perſon, who may with eaſe and ſafety mould them to his fit deſires, by a gracious yeilding to their juſt Petitions.

[Page]If a Parliament then be moſt ſpeedy, aſſured and ſafe way, it is fit to conceiue what is the faireſt way to act and worke it to the preſent neede: firſt, for the time of the vſuall ſummons, reputed to bee 40. dayes, to bee too large for this preſent neceſſity; it may bee by the dating of the writs leſſened, ſince it is no poſitiue Law, ſo that care be had that there bee but one County day; if then, the ſame to bee leavied bee once agteed of for the time: in the body of our graunt there may be aſſignement made to the Knights of every Shire and County reſpectiuely, who vnder ſuch aſſurance may ſafely giue ſecurity proportionable to the receipts, to ſuch as ſhall advance in preſent for the publique ſeruice any ſummes of money,

[Page]The laſt and weightieſt conſideration if a Parliament be thought fit, is how to remoue or comply the differences betweene the King and the Subiects in their mutuall demaunds, and what I haue learned amongſt the better ſort of the multitude, I will freely declare, that your Lordſhips may be more enabled to remoue and anſwere thoſe diſtruſts, that either concerne Religion, Publique ſafety of the King and ſtate, or the iuſt liberties of the Common-wealth: for Religion is a matter that they lay neereſt to their conſcience, and they are led by this ground of jealouſie, to doubt ſome practiſe againſt it: Firſt, for that the Spaniſh match was broken by the gratefull induſtrie of my Lord of Buck: out of his religious care; as there hee declared, that the Articles there demanded, in ſome ſuch ſufferance as may endanger [Page] the quiet if not the ſtate of the reformed Religion heere. Yet there haue (when hee was a principall actor in the conditions of France) as hard, if not worſe to the preſeruation of our Religion paſſed, then thoſe with Spaine; and the ſuſpect is ſtrenghthened, by the cloſe keeping of his agreements; In the point there concluded.

It is no leſſe argument of a doubt to them of his affectios, in that his Mother and others, many of his Miniſters in neere imployment about him are ſo affected, they talke much of his aduancing, men papiſtically deuoted ſo placed in the Campe of neereſt ſervice and chiefe command; and that the Recuſants haue got theſe late yeares by his power, more of courage then aſſurance) then before. If to cleere theſe doubts (which perhaps are worſe in fancy then in truth) [Page] hee take a courſe, it might much advance the publique ſervice againſt the ſqueamiſh humours, that haue more a violent paſſion then ſetled judgement, and are not the leaſt of the oppoſite number in the common-wealth.

The next, is the late loſſes, misfortunes, and loſſes both of men and munition, and how in our late vndertakings abroad, which the more temperate ſpirits impute to want of counſell, and the more ſublime wits to practiſe.

They began with the Palatinate and lay the fault of the loſſe there, on the improved credite of GONDAMOR diſtruſting him for the ſtaying of ſupplies to Sir HORACE VEERE, when Collonell CECILL was caſt on that imployment: by which the King of Spaine became the Mr. of the Kings Childrens inheritance; And [Page] when Count MANSFIELD had a royall ſupply of forces to aſſiſt the Princes of our part for the recovery thereof, eyther plot or errour defeated the enterpriſe for vs to Spaines advantage; That Sir ROBERT MANSFIELDS expedition to Argiers, ſhould purchaſe only the ſecurity and guard of the Spaniſh coaſts; To ſpend ſo many 100000. l. in the Cales voyage againſt the aduiſe of the Parliament, onely to warne the King of Spaine to bee in a readineſſe and ſo weaken our ſelues, is taken for ſuch a ſigne of ill affection to him amongſt the multitude; The ſpending of ſo much munition and victuals, and money, in my Lord WILLOVHBIES journey, is conceived an vnthriftie error in the director of it, to diſarme our ſelues in fruitleſſe voyages, may (to ſeeme over curious) ſeeme a plot of danger, to turne the quarrell of Spaine our [Page] auncient enemy; that the Parliament peticioned and gaue ſupply to ſupport vpon our Allies of France, and ſo ſome after (a new and happily) gaue much talke that wee were not ſo doubtfull of Spayne as many wiſh ſince? it was held not long agoe a fundamentall rule of theirs and our ſecurity, by the old Lord BVRLEIGH, that nothing can prevent the Spaniſh Monarchie, but a faſtneſſe of the two Princes whole amitie, gaue countenance and courage to the Netherlanders and German Princes to make head againſt his ambition, and we ſee by this diſunion a fearefull defeat hath happened to Denmarke, and that party to the aduantage of the Auſtrian family, and thus farre of the waſte of publique treaſure in fruitleſſe expeditions, and an important cauſe to hinder any new ſupply in Parliament: another feare that [Page] may diſturbe the ſmooth and ſpeedie paſſing of the Kings deſire in Parliament, is the late waſte of the Kings liuelyhood whereby is like and in former times to ariſe this jealouſie and feare that when he hath not of his owne to ſupport his ordinarie, for which the lands of the Crowne were ſettled vnalterable and called ſacra Patrimonium Principes, that then hee muſt of neceſſitie reſt to thoſe aſſiſtances of the people, which ever were collected and Conſigned for the Common-wealth: from hence it is like there will be no great labour and ſtiffeneſſe to enduce his Majeſtie to an act of reſumption, ſince ſuch deſires of the ſtate haue found an eaſie way in the will of all Princes from the 3. HEN. to the laſt, but that which is like to paſſe the deeper to their diſputes and care, is the late preſſures they ſuppoſe [Page] to haue beene done vpon publique liberties and freedome of the ſubiect, in commanding their goods without aſſent by Parliament, confining their perſons without eſpeciall cauſe declared, and that made good by the Iudges lately, and pretending a writ to commaund their attendance in a forreine warre; all which they are like to enforce as repugnant to many poſitiue lawes and cuſtomary immunities of this Common-wealth; and theſe dangerous diſtruſts to the people are not a little improved by his vnexampled courſe, as they conceiue an Inland armie in winter ſeaſon, when formes times of greateſt feare produced no ſuch,Anno. 88. and makes therein their diſtracted feare, to coniecture idly, it was rayſed wholly to ſubiect their fortunes to that will of power, then of law, and ſo make good ſome farther breach vpon their liberties and [Page] freedome at home, then defend from any force abroad: how farre at home ſuch jealouſies (if they met with any vnuſuall diſorder of lawleſſe Souldiers) or vnapt diſtemper of the looſe and needy multitude, which will eaſily turne away vpon any occaſion, in the State they can ſide with a glorious pretence of Religion & publique ſafetie, when their true end will bee onely rapine of the rich (and ruine of all) is worthy a provident and preventing care.

I haue thus farre deliuered that (that which freedome you pleaſed to admit ſuch difficulties as I haue taken vp amongſt the multitude) which may avert if not remoue impediments to any ſpeedy ſupply in Parliament at this time, which how to facilitate may better become the care of your Lordſhips judgements then my ignorance, only wiſh, that to remoue away [Page] a perſonall diſtaſt of my Lord of Buck: amongſt the people, hee might be pleaſed if there bee a neceſſitie of Parliament, to appeare a firſt adviſer thereunto, and what ſatisfaction it ſhall pleaſe his Maieſtie of grace to giue at ſuch time to his people, which I would wiſh to be grounded with preſent of his beſt and fortunate progenitors, and which I conceiue will largely ſatiſfie the deſires and hopes of all, if it may appeare in ſome ſort to be drawn downe from him to the people, by the zealous care and induſtry that my Lord of Buck: hath of the publique vnitie and content by which there is no doubt, but hee may remaine not only ſecure from any farther quarrell with them, but merit happy memory amongſt them of a zealous Patriot, for to expiate the paſſion of the people at ſuch time with ſacrifice of any [Page] of his Maieſties ſeruants, I haue ever found (as in Edw. 2. Rich. 2. Hen. 6.) no leſſe fatall to the maſter then the miniſter in the end.

FINIS.

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THE DANGER wherein the Kingdome now ſtandeth, & the Remedie.

Printed, 1628.

Information about this book

Title statement

The danger wherein the kingdome now standeth, & the remedie

Cotton, Robert, Sir, 1571-1631.

Edition statement

1628

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Text Creation Partnership,

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Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2006-02 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A69151

ID [STC]

STC 5863.2

ID [STC]

ESTC S108851

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99844504

ID [PROQUEST]

99844504

ID [VID]

9321

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A69151)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 9321)

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— The danger wherein the kingdome now standeth, & the remedie, Cotton, Robert, Sir, 1571-1631..

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[2], 21, [1] p.

Printed,. [London] :: 1628.. (By Sir Robert Cotton.) (Place of publication from STC.) (In this edition, A2r line 2 ends: selfe.) (Central Library (Bristol, Eng.) copy identified as STC 5863 on UMI microfilm.) (Reproductions of the originals in Central Library (Bristol, Eng.) and the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.) (Appears at reel 1375 (Central Library (Bristol, Eng.)) copy and at reel 1658 (Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery copy).)

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