THE singular and sincere affecti­on which I beare to my Native Countrey, that our liberty, lives, lawes, and exercise of the Protestant Religion, (redeem­ed with a sea of blood and milli­ons of Treasure from the sword and tyranny of the Spanyard) may not at once be lost and swallowed up either through a crafty de­sign of some seeking themselves, and their own cor­rupt Interest, or through the ignorance and misun­derstanding of other men. I have of late made it purposely my worke seriously to search into the [Page 4]transactions and passages of things between the two S [...]tates, and so to inform my self of the most expe­dient and ready way and course to prevent all fur­ther VVarts and blood: and how instead of raysing more Forces one against the other, that a happy and blessed peace speedily may be made.

I know there are too many amongst you, who by mis-reporting things to the people, doe endeavour to highten the difference: But for my part, I shall deliver nothing but what is truth and certain; as well knowing there is seasonable and good counsell here tendred to you all, if the Lord move your hearts effectually to embrace it.

I shall not meddle with what hath passed between the States here and our former Ambassadors, but speak only to the present mttter of the last Treaty.

The Councell of the late Parliament insisted on­ly upon two things. 1 Satisfaction. 2 Security. The which by them was thought to be most proper, necessary, and convenient as a manuduction to a Treaty for Amitie between the two Republicks. The same particulars afterward did the present Councell desire to proceed upon: but this our Mes­sengers refused, & were unwilling to do, propoun­ding to have them come after the 36. Articles for Amitie, and so to be taken in and debated. The Lords of the Councell here manifested their un­willingnesse, to wave either the one or the other, as having in their understanding good reason & cause for it.

First, they were not willing to decline their Claim in point of satisfaction: alledging.

1 That it stood with the rules of Justice and E­quity [Page 5]contained in the Morall Law of God and na­ture, and sound naturall Reason, That wrongs ought to be repaired.

2 That the charge of the Wars ought to be born by the wrong doers: A thing undeniable, and no more then what is just, and all States will demand and expect in their own Cause.

3 To decline the claime of satisfaction, it was (they said) to wave the right of their Cause, and in a sort to make themselves transgressors, which they could not do.

Again, for the other particular, namely mattter of security: Here likewise the Councell gave their Reasons wherefore they desired it.

1 Because it would be no way for their safety & good to end the present difference by a Peace, if no­thing were done to secure it.

2 Because we brake first with them, or rather fell upon them, whilst the Amitie between us and them continued, yea whilst our Embassadors were treat­ing with them, of a strict League and Union, and had no thought of engaging us.

Another Reason why they desired Security, was, because formerly wee had made it our Interest to differ with them, and severall times took advantage thereby, both at home and in forreign parts to their losse and prejudice many ways very much.

These and such like were the Reasons which the Lords of the Councell gave our Messengers, why they were not willing (neither could according to the trust of the Common-wealth committed to them) wave their Claim either to the matter of satisfaction or security.

Our Agents perceiving that the States of England stood so fast and fixt, and would not decline the par­ticulars, desired then to know what security they would have of them, as in what way, and how to be given. To this their Answer was, that they knew not for their part any better way or course in order to a lasting and profitable Peace, for the good and safety of both Nations, then by a Coalition, that is, the two States to become one entire Republick. And if this would be accepted by the Netherland­ers, we should soon see how reall and sincere they were for Peace and Amitie, and how much they in­tended and sought the wel-fare and prosperity of our Nation, as no lesse every way then their own.

Moreover, that it should appeare, if this proffer would be accepted, they minded our happiness and good indeed, in not standing upon the quantum of satisfaction, but would use so much reason and mo­deration, as our selves should be willing to it, and be no way loosers, but gainers rather by it.

And that we might not startle, or take offence in their propounding this way for Peace, by a Coaliti­on, or making the two Republicks one sole and en­tire Common-wealth, they made it to appeare most plainly to our Messengers, that the gain and advan­tage following this Conjunction, would not be theirs, but ours abundantly, and that in many re­spects and Considerations.

And to say the truth, it cannot be otherwise, and therefore I most earnestly wish and desire, that my Countrymen every where were rightly and well in­formed concerning this particular, to wit, what cer­ [...] profit our Nation may expect, by a willing and [Page 7]thank full embracing of this large and loving tender of the English, and not suffer our selves to be any longer deluded, and become a prey to such men, who seek not the safety and publique good of our Co [...]ntrie, but to carrie on their own design, not re­garding what becomes of the Nation, if it perish, it perish.

And to the end we may not repent when it is too late, but know the things which belong unto our peace in this our day: there are five things which I desire by you, may be communicated to all my Countrey­men every where. First, how much it will be for our good, if England and the Netherlands be united and made one Common-wealth, this appears

1 It is well known what a numerous people we are, and how streightned and lockt up (as it were) by reason of that small portion of land wee have. VVhereas being one with England, and free Deni­sons, our Territories will be larger, and we in a ca­pacity to plant our selves either in England, Scot­land, or Ireland, where we shall live fart better, and more comfortably then now we do, there being land enough for us, and places most proper and fit for our condition, as to improve to our great ad­vantage, all which we know to be true by experience already.

2 VVe are not ignorant of the usefulness & com­modiousnesse of their ports and Havens; all which being ours as theirs, what infinite gaine and profit vve shall have by them in our trade continually, is not unknovvn to our Nation.

3 For the great trade of fishing upon the Coast of Great Brittain, and vvhat vvealth and profit is [Page 8]gotten thereby, no nation knows better than ours, nor have had more profit thereby then wee. In­deed this very thing duly weighed, is enough to move us all to accept their proffer, and doth plain­ly demonstrate, that such as endeavour to obstruct the same are Enemies and Traytors to the welbeing of our Nation.

4. VVhereas there belongs to the Common-wealth of England many forreign Islands and Plan­tions which doe afford severall rich Commodities, for us to Trade freely to them, and no otherwise then the English do, our gaine vvill be great vvhich vve shall have continually thereby.

5. By this Coalition wee shall be the better strengthened against all Enemies, whether neerer or farther off: Manage our Trade abroad the bet­ter, and live at home (where ever our dwellings are) the safer, and without disturbance or mole­station.

6. Our Countrey will be much enriched by the Commodities which England affords, besides what we bring from other Nations, by carrying the same into England, Scotland, Ireland, &c. will be no small gain both to our Merchants and Mariners in point of Trade.

Secondly, if we consider of the present con­dition of the Common-wealth of England, there is no cause (no necessity at least) on their part to unite with us: for though there be a necessity (as we shewed before) for us to be one with them, yet they without us can do well enough, and they need us not; this we prove,

1. Because their Territories are so large and a­bounding [Page 9]vvith all necessaries as to food and ray­ment, for the preservation of mankind, & they can live prosperously and happily vvithout the supplies and Commodities of other Countries, (specially ours) the vvhich vve cannot do.

2. Such hath been the Lords povversul presence with them, both by Land and Sea, so clearly hath he owned hitherto, and born witnesse to the justnes of their Cause in many unparalleld and glorious Characters. as all Nations round about them, ta­king notice thereof, would willingly have Peace and Amity with them: Yea no doubt, even Spain, France, Denmark, &c. would gladly enter by copu­lation and Treaty, into strict League, both offensive and defensive, though it were to leave us to shift for our selves.

3. Such is their present strength and power both at Land and Sea, and the vast Treasure and VVealth of the Nation, both to maintaine and enlarge the same, as they see occasion, that they need no additi­on from us, either of men, money, shipping, am­munition, &c. but are herein sufficiently stored and furnished themselves, to carrie on the work which they have in hand both at home and abroad.

4. Howsoever our people for many reasons have encouragement to plant themselves in the Com­mon-wealth of England, yet there is no such encou­ragement for them (specially the Husband-man) to live amongst us, we having no land to spare wherby to better their outward condition.

5. Seeing the Lord hath made them every where successfull in their VVarrs, and given them peace round about, made their Dominion and Territo­ries [Page 10]so large, it would be much more for their ease, contentment, quietness, to sit still and peaceably possesse what they have, then by joyning with us, to contract more labours and care, there being no­thing else which they can expect, in reference unto us, but troubles and but thens by the Coalition.

Thirdly, as the gaine of this Union will be ours, and theirs: so not being accepted on our part, our sufferings thereby will be many and great.

For 1. Our trade every day by continuance of VVarre will be weakned and lessened, whereby our Merchants will be broken Labourers, and Trades­men impoverished, houses worth little or nothing, and so a common calamity suddenly spread the whole land over.

2. Divisions, Factions, and intestine Tumults (already broiling amongst us) will be heightned and increased every day: so that in a little while there will be no need of a forreign Enemie to invade us; for through the Commotions arising & grow­ing among our selves, we shall shortly devour and destroy each other.

3. Neither can we imagine, but besides the fear­sull sword of VVarr within and without, a sore de­stroying famine will be in all our Cities; for if tnis breach between us and England be not healed, our provisions will be stopt, and the Nation expos'd to such want and penurie, as we must be constrained to sell our selves for bread.

4. VVhereas our Countrey flourished by reason of many Forreigners living amongst us, as English, French, Germans, Danes, &c. by which means great profit and trade was brought to us. All those (if [Page 11]possible) will speedily return to their own Coun­treys, a prejudice and losse to our Nation beyond measure, as wee see already in part by sadd experi­ence.

5. It is well known with what difficulty and hard­ships our former Navie was raised; what a stir there was to get men, money, ships, provisions; how discontented the people were to have such taxes and heavy but thens laid upon them, now who sees not, but it will be more difficult hereafter, even im­possible, the people not being able to do as former­ly they did: For Trading ceasing, and Famine like an armed man coming upon us, what can be done, but mourn to behold such desolation.

6. For Spain or France, what may wee expect from them, but if brought low by the English, they will endeavour to enlarge their Territories upon us, and lay our necks under the yoke of their tyran­ny. VVhereas by joyning with England, we shall re­tain our freedom, and need not fear any such op­pression: Besides for the Dane, if he would, he can­not stead us, being no otherwise than an Aegyptian Reed, not to be trusted to, nor leaned on.

7. Not onely is our Navy weakned by a great number of ships, some sunk, others taken, but our chiefest and choifest Mariners either slain or priso­ners: Besides, such a feare and dread of the English is fallen upon our Nation, Souldiers, Saylers and all, as there is not among an hundred, one (almost) willing to engage again. And whereas there is so much complaint made against some of our Capt. for cowardliness; this I take to be, not so much a naturall feare or dastardness in them, as the just [Page 12]hand of God upon us and our Fleet, speaking to us as it were from heaven, that vve should not fight against England, and that good Cause for vvhich they have engaged, but accept of Peace in the terms propounded to us.

I come now to the fourth head or consideration: As by this Coalition, the gain would be onely 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 [Page 13]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 [...]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 [Page 16]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 Country­men 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 [Page 18]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.