Selected quad for the lemma: england_n
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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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replied That for every one of those Balls he had so many Fiery Bullets to shoot at the proudest Terrets in France as he should shortly find And he was as good as his word for he presently got over and encountering the French Army at Agencourt he gave it an utter Overthrow and took more prisoners than his own Army had Souldiers And this King made so absolute a Conquest of France that Charles the seventh of France like a poor Roy de Juidot consined himself to Burges where having cashiered his Retinue he was found in a little Chamber at supper with a Napkin laid before him a Rump of Mutton and two Chickins There were many other Warlike Encounters betwixt England and France whereof the stories are full and it 's observed that the English at most were but half sometimes not the third or fourth part in number to the French in the Engagements And though the Scots did always confederate with the French against England and when the King of England was in France would for diversion invade England yet England bore up single and victoriously against them both I must beg your pardon if I cannot omit one story Edward the third being engaged in France with his Army David King of Scots with about 60000 men being a Confederate with the French King invaded England Queen Philippa with the Archbishop of York the Lords and the Knights of the North encountered the Kings Army and utterly defeated it The Scottish King was taken prisoner and reserved as a Present for Edward the third when he returned out of France to keep company with John the French King taken prisoner by the black Prince And there were but six weeks difference between both Victories Nor were such high Exploits performed by the English on Land onely but by Sea they have been as glorious Philip the French King not long before the Battle of Cressey to hinder Edward the third's return into France got a mighty Navy in equipage of 200 sail of Ships besides Gallies in the Haven of Sluce where of King Edward being advertised prepared such another Fleet and encounters the French with such resolution and success having the Wind and Sea for him that he thereby defeated the whole Navy slew about 30000 men and so returned with mighty Triumphs and the Admiration of all Europe In the year 1591. was that memorable Fight of an English Ship called the Revenge under the command of Sir Richard Greenfield memorable I say beyond credit and to the hight of some Heroical Fable This Ship for the space of 15 hours sate like a Stag amongst Hounds at the Bay and was seiged and fought with in turn by 15 great Ships of Spain part of a Navy of 55 Ships in all the rest like Abettors looking on a far off And amongst the 15 Ships that fought the great St. Philip was one a Ship of 1500 Tun Prince of the twelve Sea-Apostles which was glad when she was shifted off from the Revenge This brave Ship the Revenge was maned onely with 200 men whereof 80 laid sick yet nevertheless after a Fight maintained 15 hours and three Ships of the Enemies sunk by her side and 15 more of them so torn and battered that they perished in the Sea before they could recover the Tercera that gallant Ship never came to be entred but was taken by composition the Enemies themselves having in admiration the Vertue of the Commander and the whole Tragedy of that Ship Nor doth that Primitive innate Courage and Gallantry languish or decline in them as some think the World doth and as we find it doth in other Nations as the Jews and Greeks but it continueth in the same height The ancient Stourness and Gallantry of the English appeared in many Traverses of the late War here in England The French King confessed that the Brigade of English before Dunkirk though not the fifth part of the Army did contribute most to the taking of that Preditory Town And I doubt not but when his sacred Majesty of Great Britain shall be pleased to give his Royal Fiat we shall see the same valiant Bloud is now channelled in the English veins and that every Royal Subject will be ready to take Talbot's Motto upon his Sword Sum Talboti pro defendendo Rege contra inimicos So that if the King of Great Britain will take into his Royal Consideration the Galamities and miserable condition that all Europe is in by the Oppression of the French and their designes of an Universal Monarchy and potently act having such a Warlike People with the rest of the Confederates the Reduction of France to its ancient Boundaries would be no great work I doubt not but that the Parliament of England will give Aid cheerfully and Sir Money is the Primum Mobile that moves the Spheres which are the hearts and hands of men his Majesties Fame and Power will be admired his Subjects highly pleased the Nations under his Scepter feared and it will beget a perfect Union between his Majesty and all his People who in a grateful and humble acknowledgement of his Royal Care and Protection of them will bring to his service a Magazine of Hearts and to his Coffers a Treasury of Money which is the Soveraign Cordial that gives life to all Warlike Actions What the touring and ambitious thoughts of the French King signifie his great Preparations by Sea do manifest to all Europe for he hath raised a greater Naval strength in few years since he hath applied himself to it than ever yet was raised in the world for the time And if he shall yearly increase in power at Sea as he hath done for these twenty years last past the whole world will not be Elbow-room enough for his Ambition Having so prodigioully advanced in number of Ships after he hath gained more Harbours and Ports as it 's his designe and bred up experienced Commanders and Sea-men as no Prince can be more industrious he will then pull off the Vizard and declare that all Kings Princes and States must give Obedience to his Monarchy and become his Vassals Sir it 's certain that those States whose Renown are greatest in Story did establish their Supream Dominion upon the Power they attained at Sea The Romans did not impose upon the World their Laws till they had forced the Sea to receive and acknowledge them Had they not set out Warlike Fleets they had never accomplished their glorious designes they had never extended their Fronteers beyond Italy nor brought down the pride of Garthage nor triumphed over all the Crowns on Earth The Egyptians the Persians and the Grecians considered the Sea as the best Support of their Dominions And whether the designes of the French King be not as large and great by his Naval Preparations as those of the Romans Greeians or of the Egyptian or Persian Monarchs were it 's well suiting with the Wisdom of the Kings and Princes of Europe to consider Be assured Sir if this