For surely, as said the valiant Duke of Brunswicke to my Royall Grandfather of famous memo­ry King Iames, though I cannot talke I can fight. Since then fighting is the businesse now in dis­course, I may by my education in the military art (having been nursed in the Low Countries, that Seminary of warlike discipline) claime the priviledge in my blunt souldiers phrase, briefly to deliver my opinion.

And though I cannot like an Oratour in excellent En­glish expresse my intentions I shall neverthelesse endeavour to speake sen [...]e, that the world and my maligners (who for the elegance of the stile, deny that Declaration to be mine, [Page 4]which was in my name printed at Oxford) may acknow­ledge that I can as be its a downe right honest martiall man, deliver my meaning, which as in this, so in all other my fol­lowing actions shall ever ayme at your Majesties service, as I am in the duty of a Nephew obliged. I have been by your Royall commands viewing the state of our garrison at Rea­ding and though the Governour Serjeant Major Ashton be a souldier of unquestionable experience and performance, and the men under his command valiant enough and well disci­plin'd, yet surely according to the models of the Netherlan­dish fortifications it could not long hold out, should a strict and hard siege be laid to it by the Parliaments forces, the out­workes being neither strong, their graffes or ditches being dry, and their vamures unpallisado'd, to that a resolute enemy without much difficulty or long assault might mount them: and it is with works of this manner, as it is with evill cu­stomes in men, which when they are once got in can hardly be driven out againe: And in my weake judgement, should these wars continue, nothing could be so much considerable as the strengthening of Cities and good Townes, especially those that have benefit of waters and Rivers, and in all pla­ces of advantages and passages, the erecting Sconces and Forts: For by this art have the States of the united Provinces not onely defended that little plat of ground they first pos­sessed, but also have tired out, and discouraged all those nume­rous Forces, which have yearely by the King of Spaines procurement been sent for the reducing of those parts to his obedience, these wars only by the strength of the Hollanders Townes, having more exhausted his Indian treasure, then ei­ther his wars against France or the Turke. nay against as the world, having expended, as it is credibly computed since Duke d'Alva's time in the Netherlandish wars, a hundred millions of duckats, a stupendious summe, and more then the whole Lands of the Hollanders Continent are worth to be sould at twenty yeares purchase.

[Page 5] Breda's siege, a Towne not much better scituated then Reading, scarse so well as this City of Oxford, having cost him daring Spinola's leaguer there in meere pay to his Army at least a million of Duckats, besides the losse of thirty thou­sand brave souldiers, Much more did the siege of Ostend cost the Archduke Albert, which Towne is but an arrant dog-hole compared with divers I have seen in England; yet it held out three yeares to the destruction of almost 80000. of the Spanyard, men. In which time the Hollander gained that from him which he could never since revan­quish, namely the strong Townes of Sluce, Isendicke, and other places of importance in Flanders, by which your Ma­jesty and these Lords may perceive the necessary benefits of strong Townes, should the wars (which with all my soule I pray may have a speedy end) continue in these your Maje­sties dominions, the want of these excellent fortifications having beene the principall cause of the so much lamen­ted losse of the Palatinate, to my deare father of sacred me­mory; and the reason why the Spanyard and Bavarian have so long held that rich and fruitfull Province, hath chiefly derived it selfe from their erection of new fortresses there, and strengthening the old; a policy which the now raign­ing Emperour, terrified with the Swedish conquests, at my being his prisoner, with all diligence began to put in pra­ctice, leaving no place that might impeach the enemy in his passage to his hereditary Austrian Countries unfortified,

But perhaps your Majestie and these Lords will alledge, that you believe the warres here will not be of so long continuance as shall require such fortifications; I pray to heaven they may not, in the meane time it can be no ill policie to raise such strengths, the suoduing which, shall more impaire the Parliaments forces, and consume them more money then they can possibly any wayes else be forced to expend, nay, render your Majesty divers con­siderable advantages over them. Your Majesty may while their forces are divided against such strong holds, se­curely [Page 6]curely set upon them with your horse-men, of which you have a brave and gallant number; and so by degrees out­come that strength, which united were dangerous is to incounter, forcing them to fight, as it were by par­ties or so some hopes: wherein by all conjecture being the great number, wee [...]t needs goe out victorious; but if this charte (as in all duty I submit me to your Ma­jesties censute) either seeme too full of cost to your refe, or terror to your people, who having been unaccustomed to such fortresses, will perhaps, be ready to imagine they are onely built to ensnare and inthrall their liberties, distaste, which perhaps, your royall goodnesse is loth to afford your Subjects, I would advise (in case these wars should continue) that your Majesty would thinke upon some speedy meane for the reinforcement of your Army against the next Spring, which way to provide a com­petent number of foot souldiers to joyne with your large proportion of horse: for unlesse that be done there is no hope of keeping the field against the Parliaments forces so numerously strong in infantry, which in all the ancient warres of this Nation hath alwayes done the best ser­vice; as those battells against the French at Crossie and Poyctiers under the conduct of Edward the third, and his sonne Edward the blacke Prince can testifie; but more especially that of Henry the fifth at Agincourt, where by the vertue and valour of the English foot, being but a very small number, but well resolved and ordered, hee overthrew the whole flowre of the French horse, and at­chieved as great a victory as is memorable in any histo­ry whatsoever. The readiest way for such leavies of foot, as to draw as many of the able Countrey-men as pos­sibly may be got [...]to your Majesties service, who may, while we lie still this Winter, be inured and trained up in the rudiments of warfare.

But if your Majesty could by your faithfull agents there pers [...]ade the Prince of Orange and the States, to trans­ferre [Page 7]to your assistance against the next Spring, the foure old Regiments of English souldiers there, with them Com­manders, no happier or more advantagious additions could be in reason imagined to your Majesties forces. Those bands of old experienced foot, continually acquainted with all the dangers and practises of Armes, would be as so many Masters in the Art of warfare to your young raw souldiers, and every one man worth ten of the enemies-Peare there is none to be had of their flinching in time of battell, could they once bee drawne into your service, they would stand to it to the last man, and either dye or conquer, seconding your brave horse stoopes with their dexterous and home charges; they being generally reputed in the Low Countries, to be as able firemen as any ure in the world; and so might your Majesty be Master of the field in despight of the Parliaments forces. And in my opinion, should the States refuse to send you over your owne Subjects, the Prince of Orange may doe it as hee is Generalissimo of the forces, without their con­sent, there being no doubt but hee who is by so many ties obliged, and so neere allyed will be ready to serve and assist your Majesty with all his ability and power. And this is all I have to say concerning this affaire, one­ly this (though some accuse me for a somenter of these civill dissentions) to beseech your Majesty for Gods and Religions sake, for your owne and your Royall issues sake, for your Kingdome and peoples sake, in your wisdome, to provide some speedy meanes for a reconcilement be­tweene your selfe and your high Court of Parliment, that so these warres may have a happy period in faire and honourable peace; for otherwise, how advantagiously soever they are mannaged, they must needs be disadvantagi­ous to your Majesty and distructive to your Kingdome and peace.