Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A40459
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The French intrigues discovered with the methods and arts to retrench the potency of France by land and sea and to confine that monarch within his antient dominions and territories : humbly submitted to the consideration of the princes and states of Europe, especially of England / written in a letter from a person of quality abroad to his corrsepondent here.
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Person of quality abroad.
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1681
(1681)
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Wing F2185; ESTC R9404
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35,025
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34
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The former may be allowed Golden while the latter are to be manacled with Iron Chains And be assured he that makes War for his Glory hath more ambition to put his Chains on Princes and States than on their People His thoughts are as large as any of the Roman Emperours and they esteemed it a greater glory to lead one King in Triumph than a thousand Subjects of several Kingdoms He doth purpose to make all Princes and States of Europe Vassals and Tributaries to his Universal Empire and rather than fail he hath designed to bring in the Turks with whom they will tell you they have contracted an entire Friendship in whose Court he hath found help to make his Coin currant Nor is that infallible man at Rome to escape at least to the Temporal part of his power which he hath not as he ought employed for the French Interest but will abrogate that great Authority in which his Predecessors Pipin and Charlemain's Charity have vested him and without doubt will pull down his Spiritual Grandeur by fixing it in a Gallican Patriarch and so his Holiness instead of being Christs Vicar will be made a French Curate And some of the Princes of Germany and Italy which now seem unconcerned will when it 's too late repent the oversight Sir it 's storied when Beasts had Kings the Lions had the Soveraignty every one of them within his peculiar Forest Whiles their strengths were equal they lived neighbourly none insulted over the other At last time produced a Lion stronger than the rest who disdaining to be kept within the Precincts left by his Progenitors preyed upon the Forest adjoyning The other Lions fearing their particular Estates or Walks consulted for remedy the way resolved upon was to pare his Nails Your Prudence Sir will easily make the Moral Certainly it 's the true Interest of Europe for all Kings Princes and States to unite for their common safety and to act in concert and not onely to chase that ambitious and aspiring Prince out of his new Conquests but to confine him to his ancient Empire and his own Dominions A devouring Lion which is never satiated with Prey must be chained up The Conquest of Naples by Charles the Eighth occasioned a Consederacy of all the Neighbouring Princes against him whereby he soon lost that he had gotten Look into Asia did not the Grand Seignior pick up one Common-wealth after another the one giving no Aid or Assistance to the other but looking on with their hands in their pockets till at last he reduced them all under his Empire and what was the fatal consequence thereof is well known How much more then are the Arms of France to be dreaded whose power is mightier than that was of the Turks And every new acquest and accession of Territories enlarges his desires and makes that Prince think that which before seemed not onely difficult but impossible to be easie and feasable Ambition is never so high but it still thinks to mount and that Station which lately seemed the top is but a step to her now and what before was great in desiring seems little being once in power The Successes of the French have already made them think no Enterprize too hard and still prompts them to push on their good fortune which nothing can withstand but a general opposition of all the Princes and States of Europe Dum singuli pugnant universi vincuntur Sir I must confess you are obliged in all duty to acknowledge his Majesty of Great Britain's incomparable Wisdom great Vigilancy and dextrous Conduct of Affairs that you have been hitherto preserved in Peace and Prosperity when the whole Neighbourhood hath been infested with Fire and Sword and had no other Prospect but Bloud and Confusion But by sad experience you will finde that if you do not vigorously contribute your Assistance to put a stop to the progress of the French Arms that the natural strength and scituation of England can be no sufficient defence against the power of France when to that he hath already is added all the rest of Europe unless you can dream that your Fleets by Sea and Armies at Land are able to contrast and secure you against that power which hath subdued all Europe I have observed that the neglect of beginnings many times makes the Disease mortal and incurable The vivacity and boldness of brisk Resolutions always bring forth fortunate proceedings and glorious conclusions The way down hill is easie and ordinary but to ascend unto the top of Glory requireth Wisdom to frame the steps and Courage to give the attempt As sudden Resolutions are always dangerous so no less peril ensueth of slow and doubtful Delays In times of Danger it 's more safe to be found in Action than Counsel Cunctatio servilis statim exequi regium est I am in my Constellation under Mercury not Mars and desire Peace but I am of that Princes minde not to take up Peace at the interest of Danger to ensue A wise State ought to desire Peace but it 's necessary to be prepared for War In Puglia in Naples if any be bitten by a Tarantula it 's not to be cured but by Musick onely You are bitten in your Trade and wounded in your Traffick there is nothing will cure you but the noise of Cannon and sound of Drum and Trumpet But you are pleased to say that you are in League with France and a Rupture on your part would be unjust it 's not honourable to break Leagues which are the Tye and Cement of Nations The French King will grant us any terms I do not deny but he will grant you any terms but the more advantagious terms you have if you consider the Genius of the French Nation the more ought it to be your fear and jealousie of their breaking of them But when France shall be brought to more Equality better and more advantageous Conditions will be drawn from him and he will be well advised before he break them Sir I must tell you there is no Faith or Trust in France but in its puissance to do hurt France hath ever preferr'd interest of State before the faith of Treaties and Leagues and that made the Duke of Rohan observe that Princes command over the People and Interest commands over Princes Leagues and Alliances as they are made for Interest so Interest will dissolve them and foreign Friendship lasts no longer than it 's advanced with mutual Interest All Leagues and Alliances made with France are but as the Rod of Mercury to charm them asleep with whom they are made It was truely observed by Lysander the Greek that Children are to be deceived with Toys but Princes with Oaths and Leagues And you know it 's a prime Maxime in the Cabal of France That Leagues and Alliances are to be made for Interest and not on designe to keep them For a Prince ought not to be a Slave to his Faith or Word What Leagues Alliances or