OUr domestick affaires employing the best see­ing men of the Realme, I having no share in so great actions, conceive it my part to represent unto them, and the rest of my deare Countrey men, what evils are inva­ding us from abroad. I feare that whilest England laboureth in her best subjects for the restitution of our peace at home, dan­gers of no small consequence, arising from forraine practices, may grow past remedy.

Nature which hath separated England from the rest of the world by a broad and deep sea, serving in stead of ditch and wall, seemes to tell this Iland, that her true interest is to keep herselfe Mistresse of this Sea, and by all possible meanes to hinder her neighbours from over-much power in this her ditch and wall; the power at sea of each particular of them must be lesse than hers, if she will be safe, and in as much as she can procure, the power at sea of each particular neighbour must be equally ballanced with that of the other, one must not over-top the other, they must joyne together. This for many yeares she hath exactly observed, aiding [Page 2] sometime this, sometime that, never permitting any to command her seas, still keeping her neighbours divided and opposite among themselves, who had they joyned, might have given her just cause of feare. Queene Elizabeth alwayes held this course, judging the greatnesse and s [...]fetie of this Kingdome to depend thereon, to this she was induced by these, or the like reasons.

1 Englands chiefe prerogative and g [...]orie is to command her seas, this prerogative and glorie will be easily lost, if all neigh­bouring ports and coasts come into the rule of one Prince or State.

2 Whiles these havens and coasts remaine divided among the Spanyard, Hollander, and French, which nations are at enmitie among themselves, England is free from feare, no one of them be­ing powerfull enough to invade her; and if any one should at­tempt the invasion, selfe-interest would enforce the other to assist her. But if all come into the hands of one Master, his power will be dreadfull to England, if he invade, who shall assist this Island?

3 Neighbouring Countries remaining as they are, at conten­tion among themselves, and almost in perpetuall wars, England groweth rich, having free traffick with them all; but if the French possesse the coast of Dunkirk, the freedome of Englands trade must depend on them, they may hold this Island to unequal terms, because in arising strifes there will be none to take Englands part.

4 The Spanyards being Masters of Dunkirk, Ostend, and Graveling, it hath alwayes been in this Islands power to live at peace with them, and good cause why, the true interest of the Spanyard is to be at peace with us. Experience of many yeares yeelds good proofes, no act of hostilitie, no suspition of wrong hath come from thence; so that England by long triall being assu­red on that side, it behoves her to apprehend the danger of new neighbours in those townes: the certaintie of good neighbour­hood ought by her to be preferred unto the uncertaintie of others, as yet not by her experienced.

[Page 3] 5 The French have alwayes been held in jealousie by the En­glish pasted wars, actuall pretences of the one against the other; the memorie which the French retaine of succour sent from hence to Rochell, that opinion the English cannot chuse but have, that the French will powerfully maintaine our Queenes interests, when they have ended with Spaine, doing in the meane while what possibly they can to assist her, must needs perswade the Parlament, that Graveling once had by the French, this Kingdome must ex­pect them, specially if to the former motive wee adjoyue com­mon experience, that the French love to be alwayes in war, if not abroad, rather than faile at home.

6 The plot of the siege of Graveling was laid by treatie and agreement between the Hollanders and the French; in this agree­ment the French permit unto the Hollanders the conquest of the towne and haven of Dunkirk, which they presume will presently follow the taking of Graveling. Now I leave unto any wise mens judgement, what interest England, especially the Parlament, may have in hindring the Hollanders from the possession of this haven, considering that by this meanes it fals into the hands of the Prince of Orange, who is Admirall of Holland, and Master of all their Sea-forces, besides his power by land, who sees not the faire pre­tences he may have to intermeddle in the civill wars of England, and the titles he may bring forth for more than this?

7. The Parliament having the administration of this Realme, and possessing the Navie thereof, its honour and interest exacteth such a government, as may hinder while it lasteth, all detriment, from within and from abroad, which it shall do most securely by collecting such experienced maximes, by which this Kingdome hath subsisted hitherto, and by which it hath maintained unto it selfe strength, wealth and splendor. In so doing it will more freely possesse the Subjects love, who by this must see they seek the true interest of the Crown.

Against these reasons two Objections may be opposed. 1. That [Page 4] England is too much imployed in her own affaires, hindering her from attending to forraigne businesse. 2. That the Parliament cannot succour Graveling, without danger of provoking France, and drawing the French Force upon England.

To the first of these Objections I easily answere; First, that Englands Civill Wars should rather incite than hinder the Par­liament from succouring Graveling: This Kingdomes divisions causing it's weakness, should also cause an apprehension of France her growing Great and strong, by adjoynig Graveling to her do­minions. This apprehension should produce an effectuall de­sire to hinder this growth and strength as I have already made ma­nifest.

Secondly, to succor Graveling no forces of ours are needfull to the Spaniard but those of Sea, such of these as are in the Parlia, possession, are not so much imploied for the present, as a suffici­ent part of them may not for some few dayes, be assigned for this expedition. It seems a thing most certaine to me, that this town being of so great consequence to the Spaniard, he will most readily free us from all charges in this action, and not onely this, but also afford us no small present gaine in case we give him this assistance.

To the other Objection of provoking France, and drawing her Forces upon England, for my part I see no pretext France can take against the Parliament, in regard of this helpe, seeing that it will be afforded by the Parliament for the indempnity, and secu­rity of this Kingdome, and according to those maximes England hath alwaies used without violation of her amity with France. Secondly, England wrongeth none in using her right. Now this Kingdom possessing the Dominion of her seas, may with just cause hinder the invasions and usurpations of those, who with her preju­dice seek to spoil her neighbour. 3. According to the ordina­ry use and course of W [...]r, such succours as these induce no breach of peace. The Hollanders who have neutrality with the Empire, [Page 5] sent notwithstanding ayde to the Castle of Hermetsteyn, and the towne of Dorsten, besieged by the Imperiallists, and contributed the value of great sums to the Sweden, and to the Widow of the H [...]ssian, without giving cause of War against them, unto the Em­perour: At this present they supply the Sweden with Ships and men against the Dane, continuing amity notwithstanding with this King. The French themselves have done the like, for the Hollan­ders against the Spaniard, even at that time they were in peace with Spaine, they gave aid of men an [...] money to the King of Sweden, against the Empire, not having any open War with the Empe­rour, whence it plain ensues, that such succours cannot be esteem­ed acts of Hostility according to the examples and maximes of the French and Hollanders themselves.

4. In case such aides would provoke the French, it is certain that after the raising of this siege, the Spaniards and the Empire will give them worke enough, so to hinder them from any enter­prize against England. Farther, if the French shall actually enter into War against this Realme, in regard of the frustrating their hopes of Graveling, Spaine no doubt will oblige her selfe to de­fend it, and keep it free from harme, ensuing from the said In­struction.

5. The suffering France to get means to do hurt unto England is much more to be feard, than the giving to the French a pretence for doing her harme, France cannot hurt unlesse shee hath power and meanes, but if the French get power, and meanes to hurt, this will bee executed by them here, although pretences fail, as they have done, not onely once elsewhere, and not onely in one place, where they have broken solemne Treaties without any cause, yea, without colour of Iustice.

6 When France shall be in case to invade England, pretences will never want, old quarrels, aid given to Rochell, the interest of the Queene of England, and other like will suffice. So that Eng­land's [Page 6] securitie consisteth not in avoyding to provoke France, which is sufficiently stirred up by her owne ambition, and her de­sire to devoure this Kingdome, but England must procure securi­tie to her selfe, by taking away from France meanes and power to hurt her. The will to hurt England can never faile in the French.

Lastly, if a more particular treatie with the Spanyard about this businesse please the Parlament, other meanes and wayes que­stionlesse will be found out, by which a satisfying securitie for England against France will appeare. So that the aid which England shall give to Spaine in this present occasion, shall appeare no way prejudiciall to this Kingdome.