A Seasonable Expostulation WITH THE NETHERLANDS.  
Declaring their Ingratitude To, and the Necessity of their Agreement With the commonwealth of ENGLAND.  
OXFORD, Printed for Thomas Robinson, Anno Dom. 1652.   

To the Reader.  
IF in this Conjuncture of Affairs, you think I have said too little, as things now stand between us and the Dutch, I wish, all my faults were as capable of amendment; if too much, 'tis out of a partiality I was never found guilty of in relation unto them: it being my project, To vindicate my country's Interest as modestly, as such high provocations, multiplied by the weight of so many Obligations may justly bear. However, I shall be more ready to ask pardon, then offend by being too Censorious. And if inclined to the same humour, it is possible you may be pleased; if otherways, I am resolved not to be angry; intending only to persuade Peace, no way so advantageously obtained from others, as by keeping in unity amongst ourselves, under those God hath placed over us; Nothing increasing foreign Enemies so much as domestic feuds, amongst such as ought to be servants to the State, as I am, though never in their Pay.   

A Seasonable Expostulation with the NETHERLANDS.  
CAESAR endured without exclamation the Senators Poniards, as whetted by interest or revenge; but when that of his own Imp Brutus, was presented against him he covered his face, leaving the World, with no less shame than indignation, against so much unnatural ingratitude. The like might we do in relation to the Dutch; whose part I have been hitherto, so far ready to take, as to impute the assistance they contributed towards the loss of Rochel, And the fomenting the royal party against the Parliament of England, only to the sordidness of their Merchants; who have not only been known, to sell ammunition to the Mahometans, the blasphemers of their Religion (if they own any by retail) but even to his Catholic Majesty, bound in Honour no less than interest, to be their enemy in gross. Neither had I ever wished the charming of those frogs, but that I see them so ready to become an Egyptian plague unto us, by croaking against us in our own Waters. Yet though most of their Gentry were buried in the Cruelty of such as formerly governed them, And all marks of Honour almost blended amongst them, in those of Profit, they shall find so much civility in me, as to endeavour rather to Bind up, then enlarge the rupture, their indiscretion hath made with this State; to whom, I shall in modesty show, how far they stand obliged, And offer reasons to dissuade them from these wild courses, by which they do no less tickle, the hearts of their enemies with delight, than wound, those with shame and fear, who do affect them.  
Here then let me crave leave, to address my speech to this our Neighbour State, and thus expostulate with them.  
After that France, tired with the labour, the striving of her own, Children had caused in the bowels of her Estate, And child by the cold distrust conceived of your success, had deserted you in despair, you may remember how England opened her arms to receive your fugitives, And her purse to pay your soldiers; so that a foot of ground cannot be called yours, that owes not a third part to the expense, Valour, or counsel of the English; Of whom such spirits have expired in your defence, as have been thought, at a mean rate, to double the value of what they fought for: Brave Sidney falling upon such ground, as his glorious Mistress thought too base to bury him in; Though you offered to purchase that honour, at the price of the richest Monument, you were then able to erect.  
Did not the English dispute your title to Ostend, till they had no earth left to plead on, The Ground failing them before their valours? Yet whilst fighting there, not only against the flower of the Spanish Army, But the Plague, Hunger and cold despair; Their fellows put you in possession of sluice, beyond your hopes; So as it may be said without Hyperbole, the Nobility and Gentry, Q. Elizabeth lost, doubled the number, the cruelty of Philip had left you.  
Do not the maritime towns of Kent, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, &c. abound at this day, with the issue of those swarms, the sound of their fellow's misery, had driven out of their Hives? Have you not had liberty to trade, And to become free denizens, with power to buy Land, and inhabit upon the same terms with the Natives, both in City and Country; no mark of distinction being imposed in relation either to Honour, Profit, or justice?  
The Parliament, have been always so tender of your preservation, whilst you needed it, and Friendship since God hath enabled you to subsist; As their Speaker could scarce make an impression upon his Cushion, before the sense of your safety, no less than their own Nature and Religion, Inspired them with an earnestness to renew or strengthen their Alliance with you; not so observable in respect of any Neighbour beside; Doubling, no less in their Retaliations, than acceptance, the few marks of gratitude, have dropped from you; Rather then expunging them, with your more frequent injuries; as being more willing to impute your failings to the less courtly nature of the soil and people, Then the want of gratitude and Civility in so prudent a State, to a Potent Neighbour; who next to God, may justly be styled her maker, in dispensing with so many dangers and inconveniences for your sake.  
Can you think so wise a council as this Nation was steered by, did not apprehend; That though the making you Free might fortify the Queen's outworks, it could not but as much dismantle the royal fort of Monarchy; By teaching Subjects, they might depose their Prince, and be no losers by the bargain? Which (by the way) will render you unacceptable to all Neighbour Monarchs; furnishing their Subjects with a pretence, upon all occasions of advantage; Therefore prudence might tempt you, rather to advance then depress, the like endeavours in others; observed by your elder (I dare not say, Wiser) Sister, Venice, In whose proceedings partialities on this side are rarely found. But to return to what is in this place more material.  
Was not the assisting you, an occasion of our Invasion in Eighty eight, by a Navy held Invincible in the Creed of Rome; Till the more canonical Valour of the English (assisted by the jowder arguments of Heaven) had clearly confuted the Pope's title? The Reason that kept King Philip from heading an Army in his own person, was a fear he did apprehend of being cast in his passage out of Spain; (as his father Charles the 5th was) upon the British shore; knowing the English more cordial to your preservation, then to suffer him to come and go on so bloody an errand.  
And though he did often desire his Sister of England to hear (as he pretended) his just defence for his so rigorous proceedings; She refused to dispute the truth of your Complaints; presuming it more probable for a stranger to be a Tyrant, then that the natural Inhabitants should, upon a slighter cause, cast themselves into the no less bloody, than scorching flames of a civil, and uncertain war: Seeming rather to forget the Obligations she owed him, as a private person, when he was King of England, than her Neighbours oppressions; I shall not here draw blood in your faces by application.  
Yet I do not find any tumults raised before the gates of your Messengers; who were then too modest to own higher titles, then of poor Petitioners; casting themselves prostrate at the feet of a no less potent tribunal, than you have been admitted to, in the quality of ambassadors; An honour you could never have attained, but through the mediation of those who have been so far from receiving a like Retaliation; as, to their grief, they perceived most of the storms and Thunders, fell upon this Nation, were first formed in your Region, by which houses and Churches were demolished, wherein your Ancestors had received shelter, and Contribution.  
And instead of opposing our Enemies, and screening us by the power you must own under God from England, You rendered yourselves Arbitraters of our cause; And to which side you did propend, appears by the titles of Honour your messenger's partiality was branded with by the other Party; 
One made a Lord, the other a Knight at Oxford.  Besides what a less respective. Relator might suppose they carried home in their portmantoes; Covering under the glorious habit of ambassadors; An ingratitude so ugly, as can not be represented to the world without shame.  
Were not the promises of neutrality (extorted from you by our Agents, at the expense of so much trouble, treasure and time) drawn up so ambiguously, as if they had come from juggling Delphos, not the deeply engaged Hague? whose repute, in relation to a just repayment of former debts, hath been, next her alliance with England, the greatest security for her future hopes.  
Did not the disaffection of some, transport them so far beyond all extent of prudence, (as to avoid the countenancing of so much Ingratitude in their own persons) by conniving at the liberty, the Prince of Orange took, The inestimable bank at Amsterdam was almost surprised; And Fetters ready to be formed for them out of the state's Silver; so as they were in a fair way of losing their own Liberty in seeking to impede ours?  
For this branch of the House of Nassau was so deeply rooted in this fourth descent, as he began to struggle for more room, and overshadow the power of the State; And apprehending this Nation too full of Gallantry, and Policy, to let a Servant enslave a people they had redeemed from his Master by their blood, he rendered himself, First our late King's son in Law, and so our enemy; till Providence had bound him up with the rest of our Opposers; By what mediation we are not inquisitive; our business being only to participate of our Neighbours felicities, without arraigning the cause by which they attained them.  
And here I desire leave to mingle my thoughts with some reports made by no strangers in the affairs of those times, to whom it appeared, that Queen Mary did not at first, Cordially intend the Match with Holland, unless the Prince of Orange was able to attain the Regality, which the Catholic King was so far from being likely to hinder, That a small acknowledgement would have persuaded him out of his part, long looked upon by that wise Nation, as a trouble to keep: And after she had by the contemplation of this Marriage, assured herself not only to receive no opposition in her design, from that corner, but all the assistance his money and power could afford; she had the young Ladies consent ready, either to break, or confirm it; who was then under years; And to show they feared foul play, in case K. Ch. had prospered, the Princess was bedded something sooner, than stood with ordinary custom, and the Lady Stanops protests, who married a Dutchman, and was assigned her guardianess.  
And if any consider how unsuitable this was to the high mind and Religion of the Queen of England; What plenty of freer and richer Princes resided in Germany; And that she never had been put in to their hands, but that those new breaches, called for new Counsels; He cannot blame the conjecture; though as things fell out, she could not have been sold to a greater advantage.  
Neither can it be rejected out of any great difficulty resides in raising a considerable party in the Netherlands, by one less powerful than the Prince of Orange; because every several Province, or chief Town, hath free Liberty of conceding or rejecting what propositions they please; that in a manner they are so many free States independent one of the other; Therefore not likely to combine against England; who yet is as well Able to spare their Alliance, as willing to embrace it.  
And that this Match sprung rather from the Sinister and clandestine ends, than any palpable affection, The Queen carried to the Dutch, is more than probable, by the faint reception she formerly gave them upon all occasions, suffering the Buffoons at Court to gibe their ambassadors, as if they were not able to afford themselves Cuffs, out of the mass of Holland they sold to others: And upon consideration of the severe justice they met with, in the Star-Chamber, for transporting of Gold, it might have obliged them rather to have assisted the Parliament (whose indulgence enabled them to commit the fault) than the crown, that had so severely punished it.  
Yet you were so far from managing this Partiality within the ordinary career of prudent Princes, (who upon a less desertion of Fortune than you observed, withdraw their assistance from all parties looked upon, but with an unbiass'd aspect; That you adhered to the King of Scots, after providence had measured out the Land in quiet before us; As if nothing were more indifferent to you, than who were happy, so England were miserable. Nay after our good God had broke their Swords, and knapped their spears in sunder, you let the ribald pen vomit out floods of reproaches, in hope to destroy this Nation, who was then in strong labour with peace, amongst a wilderness of distractions: forgetting that nothing could be said to their disparagement, that would not, in an indifferent light, delineate your own: No Indecency being observable, during our proceedings, that is not easily to be matched with an Enormity in Yours.  
So as the Pope proved by accident, more our friend, and made better use of reason of State; For finding his faction here was able to return him no more than a bare compliance in Church Ceremonies, without the welcome addition of profit; (The English mitre, no less than the crown, resolving to retain an absolute power to dispose of all dignities both ecclesiastical and temporal) wheeled about, and was never found by any I could be informed from, to foment the adversary with considerable supplies, though earnestly solicited both by Letters and Messengers.  
In which the wise Conclave, avoided both the horns of this dangerous Dilemma, Either to own so high a conceived impiety, as the rejecting the return of one of the mightiest Kingdoms in Christendom, for worldly respects, thought by few, of those who pay them, his due: or by leaving to this Sheep that was lost, a full fruition of his fleeces, to give the other Ninety and nine Catholic Potentates a just occasion to make the like demands: A fatling of more value in that Luxurious Court, than would be parted with, for the conversion of all the world.  
But to return; I cannot in zeal to the conscience, and duty I owe to the honour of this Nation, but ask who made you so far our surveyors, as to limit out the extent of Their conveniences, that are found to have laid out themselves to purchase Yours?  
Was ever so high an Intrusion offered, as for a Neighbour to prescribe how another should be regulated in matter of Trade; And what Bottoms are fittest to be employed? would you not scorn the like Usurpation, though made by your— France, or new sworn ally, Denmark, who for so many years, hath ground your faces with a Tole, never yet imposed upon you in our Seas?  
For the proof of whose Propriety, I leave you to learned Selden in his Mare Clausum, & a book entitled Dominium Maris &c. lately translated out of Italian by an honourable Person. And if you were not unwilling to bribe Our Kings and their Minions so long for your Fishing, why should you be so tetchy now, with such as inquire whether it was worth your cost? and though I was pleased to hear so rich a town as Amsterdam could be Founded on Herring-Bones, the Lord of Hosts is my faithful witness, how afflicted I should be, to see it hazard the reducing into its first principle by a war with England.  
And thus much I understand of your Trade, that the late Kings did not only give you the Fish, but baits to catch them, loaden by Boats full out of the Thames, 
lampreys.  which they would never have done, had they been as full of Circumspection, as that creature is reported to be of eyes.  
Now this considered, I pray why may not we assume to ourselves the Rights of Disposure, and Regulating that which undoubtedly is our own? and why may not we take the humble stile of a Parliament, and council of State, as well as you, That strive with your Maker, who shall be most High and Mighty?  
If only the time of the Change of Government be made umpire of Precedency, Geneva must take the right hand of You; And many poor small towns in Germany, That freely sent their demands to King Philip; When your Messengers scaped hanging hardly, if at all, for only delivering your most humble Petitions.  
There are three things principally insisted upon, by which the united Provinces, pretend to have fixed an Obligation upon England, & expunged their former score; which nevertheless upon an impartial debate, will rather prove wholly chargeable, upon their own account, than Ours; so far are they from having given a full satisfaction for all the Love; Cost & blood expended by us in their Preservation.  
The first is, the assistance lent us in 88 which was no more, than the professed Antagonists to the quiet of Italy, did freely contribute against the common enemy, in the battle at Lepanto, who did there oppose the Grand Signior, in relation to their respective safeties: Besides it was a true received Maxim in the wise counsel of Spain, and holds so still; that he that desires to subdue the united Provinces, must first Conquer England, or draw her from their succour: And finding the latter unpossible, they fell upon the other, as more feacible.  
The Second is, your Entertainment given to the distressed King and Queen of Bohemia: which according to the rest of your pretended courtesies unto England, you have strained far higher than the string is able to bear, in its natural extent; Therefore I shall take leave to tune it right in the ears of all impartial judgements; and after setting open the Cabinet, give men free leave to value the jewel, which in truth amounts to no more than giving houseroom to a virtuous Princess, undone by your counsels, and the rest of the union, that had most unsuccessefully chosen James of England for their Head; who proving totty, They thought to ballast him by embarking his Son in Law in this desperate design; especially the Netherlands, finding the twelve years' Truce spent little to their advantage, and knowing the whole weight of Spain, would fall upon them, unless they could waken us, whose King was clogged with too much phlegm, to hearken to the voice of any thing but ease and pleasure. And I cannot but take notice here of the Spaniards ingratitude, that hath so long deferred erecting his Statue in Gold; since upon a strict account it may appear, that the wise council of the Catholic King, did not contribute so much to his greatness, as the Folly and Corruption of Ours.  
For the 3d which is a naval Victory obtained in our Sleeve, Aᵒ 1639. (the depth of which design, remains yet in the pocket of the King of Spain, and some few confidents in England:) I can say but this, that if their errand was Hither, Our King betrayed us; if to Holland, You; for which you were tied in reason, rather to have assisted the people that exclaimed against the partiality they observed, than the King that owned it; Therefore this cannot be put up on the Parliaments account.  
For the business of Amboyna cast into the balance (by such as bear you less respect) against all things urged in your favour; I am so charitable, as to look upon it as the cruel, and inconsiderate act of a private person, rather than a true Scheme of the state's Motion.  
Not doubting, but upon a serious reflection of your Wisdoms, on your own Interest, you will easily return to a more straight Alliance with this Nation, unless God in his anger, hath suffered you, to mingle Lethe with the rest of your liquour.  
And since it may seem impossible for you, to subsist without contracting a straight Alliance, with England, France, or Spain; give me leave humbly to propose, which in reason is likeliest to disturb your counsels with the least jealousy, from whence may be the easier deduced the fittest choice, not only for conveniency, but safety; it being very hard to be securely protected, by those you cannot cordially trust: which cannot be Spain or France; one laying claim to what you possess, the other to what you are ambitious to obtain; whereas England stands free from all such pretences; Queen Elizabeth refusing to hold you in gross, only accepting of Flushing and the Brill, which King James was so weary of, as he returned them for a far less sum than they were pawned: Neither as a free State, are we likely to embrace contrary counsels, because we have more Marish grounds already of our own, than we well knew how to dispose of, till some of your countrymen came and inhabited them. Besides it were madness for those who may live quietly in Ireland, to venture fighting for an estate in Holland.  
Neither is our alliance likely to change, if once firmly established, Whereas there is no longer hold with France, then whilst the two potent factions of Protestant and Papist shall subsist; by the clashing of which, you are, no less than the Spaniard, able to kindle the fire of a civil war: so as when you have throughly scanned your alliance with France, you shall find it signify more danger than Protection: It having been always the humour of that People, to swagger with their Neighbours for room, upon the least enjoyment of quiet; being seldom or never willing to serve their Allies, but when they are in the worst case to help themselves.  
If this afflicted people were sensible of their own condition, that the most scorching Slavery in all Christendom, lies under the Line of their Kings, And animated by our example and yours, should procure their freedom, Yet you would be worsted on that hand too; for after their Liberty attained, the conquest of you or your Neighbours, were likeliest to be their next employment: there being no Peace with them at home, unless they be at war with other States; Which makes it none of England's smallest blessings, that they are not able to come hither on horseback.  
The French are not so suitable to your Nature as the English, who look upon Merchants as Gentlemen, they as pedlars.  
I know you are too wise to expect real friendship from Spain, or a continuance of the agreement made with Him, if you break with us; It not being likely he should oversee the advantage will be offered him of catching Gudgeons in your inland Waters, whilst we are out at Sea scuffling for sprats.  
If you be prohibited trading hither; I pray what will you do with French Wines, the most staple commodity they have to barter for? The East countries, being as unable to take them off, by reason of cold, as you to consume them in Brent Wine.  
Monarchs neither do, nor can look upon you, under a milder aspect than traitors, without a tacit consent, of the like power resident in their People to explode them, as conscious of giving the same cause; Whereas England cannot but esteem you in a more honourable Relation: For though you, like the dial of Ahaz, recoiled so many degrees back in the Sphere of Policy, It is naturally more proper for the hand of power in a Free State, to be touched with an inclination towards a commonwealth, than a Monarchy.  
Though the advantage that may accrue to you from an English confederacy, is made apparent from by-gon experience, yet if you consider how honourable it would be to Spain, who hath long endeavoured it; And convenient to France, in regard of her claim to Artoys and Hannault, to convert you into a Colony, you would not be so intent upon Profit, esteemed by all prudent Nations inferior to safety: Therefore let your pretences be what you will, The encroachments you made through the remissness of our Kings, and corruption of their council, are the Silver Shiloh's, that do really raise all these clamours; it being otherways unpossible, that Monarchy should be such a Diana in your eyes.  
Your Alliance with Denmark, is likelier to add number then weight to your friendship; being liable to be whisled off or on, according to the inclination of his imperial Majesty, so twisted in Marriages with the Catholic King, That the difficulty is as great to distinguish between their Interests, as Consanguinity: Besides those Eastern Countries have ever been looked upon, not only as a store-house wherein God hoards up the miseries of Winter, But also the cruel Plagues of Incursions; apparent in the Goths and Vandals, whose barbarous hands, assisted Time, in the destruction of such Monuments in Italy, as she alone had not been able to demolish.  
To conclude with a few Queries.  
Let me humbly desire you to consider; 

First, whether such as may or shall foment this division, do not act the policy of the wolf in the Fable, that persuaded the sheep to give over their mastiffs?  
2ly What other Alliance can afford you so safe Harborage in case of foul weather at Sea, as England, Scotland, and Ireland? if none; whether Contingencies driven in by storms, under our shelter, may not exceed all the English prizes, you shall make by Van Trump?  
3ly In case the match with the Infanta, had proceeded, or Prince Charles miscarried in Spain, through detention; whether your old patrons our Kings, might not easier have been persuaded to have renounced your friendship, or delivered up the Cautionary Towns, had they been then in their power; then &c.  
4ly If Venice may not unproperly be called the Signet on Neptune's right hand, whether England and the Netherlands being in a straight Confederacy, may not be styled his two arms, by which in relation to their Shipping, he imbraceeth the universe?  
5ly Whether your Maiden towns, as you call them, May not longer enjoy that title under the Alliance of England, who hath many as rich and beautiful, Harbours; as of France, that cannot justly brag of the like plenty, or conveniency for situation?  
6ly Whether a breach between us, may not conjure up a third party of pirates, formidable to us both, Dunkirk being in so wavering a condition and fit to make an Algiers of, &c.  
7ly Whether in case a difference should happen; some of your Provinces irritated by the inconveniences must in Reason follow, may not be tempted to divide, and adhere to the stronger part; and which that is, may be easily resolved from the great assistance, England hath given you, and the small damage she hath (through the mercy of God) received from yours, through out the whole Series of our war?  
8ly Whether, during our Monarchs, They, or the English Parliaments, were aptest to put a more favourable construction upon your worse or better actions, in relation to-us? if the Kings; what signified the bleating of such of your Countrymen as they daily fleeced? if the Parliaments, (who ever rendered themselves, rather partial than severe on your side) Are they not well requited?  
Lastly, Whether the World may not afford Us and You sufficient Trade without intrusion; or in case our herdsmen should foolishly differ, is not Abraham's answer ready, are we not Brethren, in Language, Nature, and Religion?    
If you add to this the Parallel of the causes, of your and our taking arms; you shall find your King a stranger by Birth, wilful by nature, and apt to be led away by the seldom Auspicious counsel of churchmen. The people's advice neglected; Petitioners Imprisoned. All dear-sold to the Natives by Courtiers, so as Injustice itself, could scarce be afforded without money.  
There a Woman made an ingredient in the Court; Here the Regent of our counsels. Yours the wisest King in his time, in all things but thinking himself so; Ours no less prudent, had he but known it. Yours happy in all, but the loss of you; Ours successful in nothing, but his return from Spain. Yours inscrutable to all, but tried friends; Ours patent to none, but such as deserved the name of Enemies. Yours spent immense treasure, in such buildings as may strive with Time for continuance; Ours in plays and masks, more transitory than a winter's night. Tours a better King than a Man; Ours a better Man than a King. You won freedom, by mingling patience with the valour of Strangers in long Sieges, which spun out the War to a chargeable length; Our liberty the Natives obtained in the Field, with a miraculous celerity, by trusting providence with their endeavours.  
Our wants were, So true a friend as you found of England, and at first such trusty Commanders as your Prince: Borne to those titles, which our present general hath more abundantly deserved, having been followed with so uninterrupted success, as you are nowhere able to sing of thousands, but may be matched by us with ten thousands. But for this, as all good things else, let glory, praise, and honour, be first given to God, next all thankful obedience, to those who have or shall be instrumental in reforming what is amiss in both.  
FINIS.