The conclusion of this paragraph doth manifest the integrity of his majesty, in the penning of his declaration ; seeing that the Considerer acknowledgeth, That the States-General did offer to strike the flag and sail unto his ships of the navy royal, upon condition he would assist them in this juncture (for that they mean by his observing the Triple Alliance) and provided no construction be made to prejudice them in the free use of the seas, viz. in reference to fishing, as well as sailing. It is hence evident, that his majesty did not represent the arrogance of the Dutch in so heinous a manner, as he might have done, without injuring them. The Con. siderer hath done it; and I refer it to the consideration of all Englishmen.

Thus I have exactly replied unto all that the Considerer hath alledged against the declaration of his majesty, and what else he hath written in reference to the present quarrel; and I think I have made it evident to the meanest capacity, that the present war is authorised by all those circumstances which make it just, and honourable, and necessary.

I intend in a second part to address myself to my fellow-subjects, as the Considerer doth to his, and excite them to do no less to avert injuries, and defend their honour, and the rights of his majesty, than he exhorteth the Dutch, to do, contrary to all right, to our detriment and dishonour. I will therein shew those that were concerned for the war against the Dutch, under the pretended commonwealth, that the quarrel is fundamentally the same now, that it was then, and that they cannot have any tenderness for the Hollanders, at this time, who did so heinously complain of their oppressions and usurpations then. The Hollanders are the selfsame people still; as much Hollanders in Europe, as they are at Japan, or ever were at Amboyna. I know not why we should not demonstrate ourselves all to be as true Englishmen; and to convince such persons, I will print the speech of Mr. St. John, their ambassador to the States, at the Hague, during the pretended commonwealth.

A LETTER

WRITTEN BY AN UNKNOWN HAND, Whereof many Copies were dispersed among the Commanders

of the English Fleet.

This Letter was printed in the Year 1673, 4to. But it may be thought as proper to be sent into the Mediterranean in the

Year 1744. Dear COUSIN, G LOING yesterday to your father's house, partly to see him,

but chiefly to learn when he heard from you, and what news was lately from the fleet, he told me, you were in health, the fleet

near ready to sail, and then shewed me a letter, he was just ready to send you, wherein (among other things) I found these words:

Hare a care of yourself, be not fool-hardy, by venturing too far into the fight; there are ships enough to beat the Dutch, without yours; and captains enough in the fleet, who will prudently shezo you the wily to keep farthest off, when danger is nighesi; and then you neeil not fear the aspersion of a coward, as long as you have good company: Therefore I say again, be wisely cautious, for your death would certainly break the heart of my daughter, and bring my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave.

I had scarce patience to read out so much, without tearing the Jetter, in a thousand pieces, and I could not forbear such lan. guage, as did but ill agree with the friendship between us. If you are (said I) so mighty fond of your son, send for him home presently, and let him run no other danger, than what he may meet in a London tavern, or bawdy-house; when he has a mind to fight, let bowls he his bullets, and broad oaths and curses his gunpowder; at other times, let him have nothing else to do, but treat his wife, or, as the fashion is, his wench, at the Play-house, Hydepark, or Spring-Garden. As soon as I had vented my passion, and grew calm, I so far convinced your sather of his fault, that himself burnt his letter; and desired me to write one, more suit. able to my own inclination.

According to that little notice I have taken of sea-matters, I think our captains in general (and you among the rest) rather need a 'spur than a curb, when you are going to fight; and therefore, quite contrary to the former advice, I will set before your eyes the justice, and the danger, that attends a cowardly commander. 1. He robs the king and kingdom, not only of the money

him. self receives, but likewise of so much as the whole charge of the ship, with provisions and wages, amounts to, by rendering the same of no use, just when it should do the king service; he murders all those gallant men, which are slain by the enemy, and loses those ships, which fall into their hands, for want of being well seconded; he betrays his own party, to the enemy, by keeping back the expected assistance ; and the weakening of us, and the helping of them, is all one; nay, as if he had received a bribe, to do mischief, he fires both over, and into the ships of his friends ; so helping both ways, to bring them to ruin, he compleats in bimself the character of a traytor.

By these means it is, our battles are lost, or at best so balanced, when they might have been won, that after a fight, the enemy, sooner than we, are in a condition of disputing the victory. No common high-way robber is half so great a rogne, as that officer, who takes wages, and dares not, or does not fight bravely, when there is an occasion.

2. As he largely contributes to the loss of the battle, so he ha. zards doably his own loss: For it is observable (I am sure in land fights) that where one is killed standing stifly his ground, fire are destroyed in the running away; and I am

told, in your sea-ligbe

A

too, you lose most men, when you fight at greatest distance from the enemy. But then, besides the danger of the enemy, the coward has more reason to be afraid of his friends, they being likely to hate him the most, who before had the best esteem of him ; and a gallows may easily catch him at home, whom a bullet abroad could not reach. So that to him may be well applied our Saviour's saying, “ He that will save his life, shall lose it.'

3. His fear impeaches the Divine Providence, which chiefly gin. ries to exercise itself in times and places of most eminent bazard. I know some valiant men, who have come off unwounded from the heat of at least twenty battles ; God oftentimes makes those places safest, where we apprehend the most danger, and those most dan. gerous we think most secure. Thus, my dear Cousin! You see, a coward, with a commission, is neither a good subject, a good chris. tian, nor a good or wise man, in any sense; but must be, of ne. cessity, a traytor to the king, a thief to his country, a murderer of his own party, and consequently detested of God and man.Consult therefore your own heart, and if fear dwell at bottom, do not cozen any longer the king's expectation ; lest, by staying another battle, you let all the world be witness of that shame, which yet may be easily hid. You may find fair excuses, enough to lay down your commission, and the prince can find men enough to take it up, who better deserve it. But if you will stay and fight, resolve to fight bravely, so as you may do service to the king, and gain yourself lasting reputation.

If there have happened any disgust, between you, and any other commander in the ficet, either for wrongs really received, or sapposed, or because he being a man of less desert, is preferred, and advanced before you: Consider that a fraction of the parts tends fairly to the ruin of the whole; and that your safety, and success, does chiefly depend on your unity, and a right understanding. If therefore you would be thought faithful to the king, if you would not be found false to your country, let all private quarrels die; or at least go to sleep, till the publick ones are decided.

In the mean time, assist one another, by all manner of kind of. fices, as often as it lies in your power; let the enemy only feel the effects of your indignation, and make it appear, by the greatness of your actions that you are the man of most merit.

Where duty bids go, never stay, for the example of any others; but rather strive, all you can, to make yourself their example.-In a good cause, God prospers best the hold adventurer; let gallant resolution lead the van, and glorious victory shall bring up

the rear.

Sheerness, July 16, 1673.

1

HONOUR'S INVITATION,

OR,

A CALL TO THE CAMP. Wherein the Triumphant Genius of Great-Britain, by a Poetical Alarm, awakens the Yound of the three Nations, to generous Attempts, for the

Glory of their Country.
Written by a loung Gentleman of Quality now in the Service.

Dignos laude viros musa vetabit mori.
[From a Folio Edition, printed at London, by H. B. 1673.)

PRED by fond mother's too indulgent care,

Charm’d with the pois'nous sweets of barren ease,
And all the luxuries of wanton peace;
To duel rampant Miss on a soft bed,
Hector the watch, or break a drawer's head,
To drown a younger brother in a look,
Kick a poor lacquey, or berogue a cook,
Top a small crew of tenants that dare stir
In no larguage, but, please your Worship, Sir,
To chace the stag, and now and then pursue
The tim'rous hare, were all the wars I knew;
When drunk o'er night with gen'rous Burgundy,
I thought (as gallants used to sleep all Sunday:
But scarce could Morpheus' leaden plummets close
My eye, and lock my senses in repose,
When, lo! a rev’rend spectrum did appear,
Surprising me with equal joy and fear;
It seem'd a personage of noblest race,
A manly presence and majestick face,
An azure mantle flowing round his waist,
And his strong hands with Neptune's trident grac'd;
Three crowns he* bore, and under them his brow
Circled with laurels fresh, pluck'd from the bough.
I gaz'd a while, till it approach'd more near,
And thus (with voice like thunder) pierc'd my ear:
“ Wilt thou, degen'rous youth! ignobly blot
" The trophies, which thy ancestors have got?
“ Prove them the sires of a spurious race?
“ O’erturn their statues, and their tombs desace?
“ Forfeit those honours, which they left to thee,
" By slceping in a senseless lethargy

?
" Now, when each noble soul, greedy of same,
- Feels his breast glowing with a gen’rous flame
" When scenes of blood on neighb’ring shores appcar,
** And furious Mars sways all our hemisphere;

The king of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

}

“ Wilt thou alone, stupidly drown'd, prefer
« Sordid delights to th' glory of the war?
" Decline that road of honour which displays

? “ To ev'ry daring hand a wreath of bays, " And in a wretched sloth consume thy days? " Can the poor yelpings of a deep-mouth'd hound

Tic musick with the warlike trumpet's sound ! “ Or faint applauses of a horse-race woń

(When sprightly Sorrel out-flew nimble Dun) “ Equal those acclamations that are sent “ In vollies to the echoing firmament? " Which ev'ry vietor jostly calls his own ? “For kingdoms conquer'd, and proud States o'er-thrown?

Shall troops of heroes from all parts resort, " That quit the softer pleasures of the court. "Charge Death in th' face, and forward still aspire 6. Through midst of dangers swift as Heaven's fire : • Shall the drum's rattling summons nimbly bring 56 Crouds of the vulgar in, to serve their king ? “That laugh at hardships, and dare bravely die, 66 If fate require't, to purchase victory? 66 And their example never move thy spirit, 5 Nor emulat’on of the others' merit? " What drowsy opium has possess’d thy brain, 56 Dull Soul! that all these joggings are in vain? « For shame, at last awake, lest it be said, " Your courage does not slumber, but is dead; " Froin before paltry beauties raise your siege, or Who think by faint resistance to oblige: 66 Nor let the kinder ladies tempting charms 66 Confine you still to their enfeeblirg arins : " When fate, turn'd prodigal, freely afford " The destinies of nations to your swords ; “ Let mighty cities be your mistresses; " Whose dowry brings the spoils of provinces. “ Level their pronder walls, and let it be “ A doubt hereafter to posterity, “ When only shatter'd monuments they view, " Whether Jore's thunder hath been there, or you;

“ These are atchievements fitting to be done,
“ By each dares call himself stout England's son.
“ As a brave courser, standing ou the sand
“Of some swelling sea-channel, vicws a land

Smiling with sweets upon the distant siile, « Garnish'd in nature's best e:nbroider'd pride, " Larded with springs, and fring'd with curled woods, “ Impatient bounces into th' cap’ring floods; “ Big with a nobler sury than that stream “ Of shallow violence hc muets in them;