Licenſed according to Order.

AS England is Wall'd round with a Wall of Water, Her Defence of that Wall by Her Floating Caſtles, Her Naval Strength and Management, is her greateſt, if not almoſt Her only Bulwarks and Rampants. This is moſt certain, as the Britiſh Empire holds a two-fold Regale, Her Scepter, and Her Trident; Her Dominion at Land, and Her Soveraignty at Sea; ſo, that Maritine Principality being the Frontiers and Out-lines of Her whole Power and Territories, and conſequently Her chiefeſt Strength, as being Her only Inlet; that Deputed Hand, that under the Imperial Commiſſion, has the Charge of Her Admiralty, has the higheſt Poſt of Honour, and the moſt Important Truſt that a Crown'd Head can lodge in a Subject. For, as no Attaque can be made upon England, without firſt gaining Her Maſtery of the Sea, the Preſervation of that faireſt of Her Crown-Jewels is, and ought to be Her ableſt Care and Induſtry.

This is notoriouſly manifeſt from the never-dying Fame of our Great Elizabeth, where one intire Naval Triumph o're Spain, was of more Advantage to this Kingdom, and carried more Trophies along with it, than all the Battles and Succeſſes of a Third Edward, or a Fifth Henry, in the very Bowels of France. For, to ſumm the whole Grandeur of that Greateſt of Potentates, and beſt of Queens; Her Sword-work at Land, tho' encompaſſed with Enemies, was nothing to Her Thunder-work at Sea.

The Fortune of that ſingle Stroke, attended with ſo great a Blow upon Spain, and Her prudent Caution of ſuppreſſing the Maritine Growth of France, even againſt their great Fourth Henry himſelf, in threatning to burn his Navy in their Harbour for ſo much as attempting to build a Capital Ship of War, was of that high Import to the Engliſh Grandeur; that had Her Politicks been purſued, and Her Advantages from that onely Succeſs been rightly improved by Her Maſculine, tho' (Heavens knows) more Effeminate Succeſſors; England had held the Scale of Europe to End of the World, and the preſent Greatneſs of France, the now Terror of Chriſtendom, had been wholly an impracticable Attempt and Ambition.

But as the aforeſaid Eſteminacy of the ſucceeding Reigns, utterly neglected that fortunate Occaſion, and loſt the happy Forelock; which had we held, we had awed the whole World, and preſerved the Engliſh Greatneſs, as immortal, as that Princeſſes never-dying Memory, and has thereby ſo infinitely leſſened our Original Britiſh Luſtre: Nevertheleſs, 'tis not ſo late, even after all our Loſſes, and former Miſ-managements, to endeavour ſome part at leaſt of ſo neceſſary a Recovery. This Glory at leaſt we have to boaſt, for our Encouragement, That never more hardy Courage ſate on the Engliſh Throne than now. Nor a Prince, whoſe Endeavours and Zeal can be more ſtrenuous, or more indefatigable, for the Redemption of our too long falling Glory. Cou'd all Hands follow; but as this leads, both Fear and Deſpair would be far from our Doors, and a new Dawn of Hopes ſurronnd us.

But to return to our Admiral's Cauſe: As the Sea is a Diviſum Imperium, a ſeparate Soveraignty from that of the Land; and accordingly the Laws; by which all Maritine Affairs are tried, are different from the common Law of the Nation; So the Lord High Admiral of England's Commiſſion, as ſo much different from any other Command, conſtitutes him no leſs than a Viceroy; a Title above any other Dignity, or Preferment whatever.

If the Honour of the Command it ſelf be ſo Eminent and Illuſtrious, the Faithful and Zealous Execution of it muſt be truly more Honourable and Illuſtrious; for indeed 'tis only the Diſcharge of a Truſt, and the Exertion of Virtuous Actions, and Gallant Atchievements, are the true Foundation of Renown and Glory.

As the ever-memorable Drake has left a Name that will live as long Time it ſelf ſhall laſt; we may likewiſe add, That our latter Honourable Admiral Ruſſel has acquired as large a ſhare of Fame, as true Engliſh Courage, rewarded with Succeſs and Victory, can well reach. And 'tis highly to be wiſh'd, that our this preſent Years latter Expedition, in our Joynt Commiſſion of Admiralty, cou'd have met with as fair a Chapplet of Lawrels. But if either any unſmiling Providences above, or unhappier Conduct below, have deny'd us that Bleſſing; 'tis our Misfortune, that ſo fair a Chian ſhould ever be broken, and that ſuch Signal Happineſſes ſhould be other than the continued ſhow'ring Favours of our kind Stars.

But whether our this Years Unhappineſs at Sea was Misfortune, or Miſ-management, is a Province above me; 'tis ſafficient, that Sub Judice lis eſt. The Cauſe is depending before the Great Council of the Land, Our Patriots in Parliament Aſſembled, whoſe Vigilance and Wiſdom, as they have the Inſpection now before them; ſo their Hands have the Ballance, and Scales, to do Juſtice accordingly.