Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	great_a	king_n	spain_n	6,646	5	8.2533	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A43043	Certaine choise and remarkable observations selected out of a discourse written long since by the late and ever famous Earle of Essex, very usefull for these times ; whereunto is annexed the advice of that worthy commander, Sir Edvvard Harvvood, Collonell, written by King Charles his command upon occasion of the French kings preparations and presented in his life-time by his owne hand unto His Sacred Majesty ; all tending to the securing and fortifying of the kingdome both by sea and land ...; also a relation of his life and death ...	Essex, Robert Devereux, Earl of, 1566-1601.; Harwood, Edward, Sir, 1586?-1632.; Peters, Hugh, 1598-1660.; Harwood, George, 17th cent.	1642 (1642)	Wing H1096A; ESTC R42071	18,047	38

Kingdomes for doe not at this present many hundreds I might say thousands of his Majesties Subjects serve other States at Sea as the Hollanders nay the Turkes without either leave or knowledge of his Majestie Now if the French King should come to bee as powerfull or more then his Majestie at Sea he will be a more dangerous and fearfull neighbour to England then Spaine whom hitherto this Kingdom have of latter yeares onely had cause to feare for that against Spaine the Low-Countries will ever bee a good Bulwarck who if the King of Spaine at any time make any great preparations at Sea will be ever jealous it is intended 'gainst them and so ever arme against him and be alwaies ready to joyne with and to assist his Majestie 'gainst Spaine which may bee doubted they will not so readily doe against France with whom they are in league and not jealous off Besides the King of Spaine hath not so populous a Countrey as hee can easily prepare either a great Fleet or Land Army and much lesse both without long time and so his Majestie may have the more warning thereof Then Spaine is further from England and so the journey is the longer and from thence cannot come many Horse which are the forces most to be feared in England Whereas France being so neere us and so full of Souldiers both Horse and Foot if it once come to be able to equall England at Sea by sudden and quicke preparations stealing opportunities he may oretop England at Sea and then transport such an Army of Horse and Foot as we might justly be afraid of For old Souldiers both Horse and Foot France abounds in and the French have a vertue proper to them that not a Gentleman thinkes himselfe any thing untill he have seene the Warres learned at least good and perfect use of his Armes and naturally they are all good Horsemen their Land affords Horses fit for service and every man almost knows to use Pistoll and Carabin wheras in England unlesse those which have beene Souldiers few or none can use their Armes and of those which have bin Souldiers it may be not all can well use their Armes especially the Musquet which is of most offence which our Nation are not naturally so prompt to learn the use of as the French are and for Horse this Kingdom is so deficient as it is a question whether or not the whole Kingdome could make 2000. good Horse that might equall 2000. French To redresse these deficiences In all humility I here present my poore and slender advice under correction and with submission to better judgments First and principally I would advise that his Majesty would arme at Sea for that is the surest defence for we can never be hurt by a forraigne enemy by land till we be first beaten at Sea and therein I cannot give better advise then to doe what the French King doth as to repaire and increase his own Royall Navie which is the greatest and best assured strength of England and to that end to set apart some certaine large proportion of his revenue that His Sea-men may have good pay and well paid and if there be good and strict courses taken that there be no abuses in the Musters victualling consumption of Ammunition which without good payment cannot well be executed His Majesty will be a Gainer thereby in matter of profit besides the reputation and advantage of his service and it is my opinion that no Prince nor State but had better give 40 in the hundred for monies to pay his Militia well then not to pay well Then to encourage his Merchants and other subjects to trade and in making new plantations For his land-forces that His Majestie would take order that the numbers of trayned men were increased or rather that the whole Kingdome from 18. or 20. to 35. or 40. as many men as were able of bodies were armed one third with pikes and armours another with muskets and the third with calivers that there were powder bullets and ma●ch through the whole Kingdome magazines thereof in sundry places of the Kingdome in such a quantity as if it were ●nvaded in one or divers parts there be no want of Ammunition in any place for it would be then too late to fetch it else-where and much worse then to make it or send over Seas for it That there were care taken that these men then armed might be well exercised and to that end that there be in every hundreth or wapentake some old souldier Sergeant or other inferiour Officer had out of the Low-countries well chosen t●at might teach men the use of their Armes and that there were certaine dayes set and appointed for the shewing their Armes and exercising them and if the Statutes which were formerly for sporting in the Long Bow were revived or converted with deliberation for the musket and Caliver to practise by shooting at markes on ordinary Holy-dayes and such like times and at some time some small prize for them that shoot nearest under correction I thinke it were much for the strength of the Kingdome Then that there were good choyse made of the Mustermasters none to be but such as had borne office in some actuall warre of reputation for better there were none and their allowances divided unto sundry inferiour men then for one to draw a great pay that either knowes not to doe or doth not any thing for it and because there is or may be such as have borne office in the warres and yet discontinue so long as they have forgotten their trade or that the fashion of the warres and exercising bee changed since hee was last a souldiour that every Mustermaster shall not onely at his first enterance bee approved by such as are able to judge him to bee fit for that charge but to the end hee may continue so hee bee injoyned once in 4 or 5. yeares to goe personally for the Sommer time into some actuall warre abroad if any bee to retaine and renew his knowledge That the Captaines of the Trained bands bee injoyned themselves to passe the Seas to learne the duties of their places or at least to keepe of his owne charge one that can discharge his place and if neither to quite their commands to such as will doe the one or other By this meanes his Majesty may have an Army of foot on a sodaine in any part of England to answer all occasions without drawing his forces much farre out of their proper Countries for an Enemy may make shew of landing in one place and having drawen the greatest strength of the Kingdome thither windes erving for it sodainly transport himselfe to another before that Army can by land come there Now for horse wherein this Kingdome is more defective then I thinke is any other it were a worke worthy of his Majesty seriously to take it into consideration how to amend it and though on a sodaine it is not to bee hoped to bring

written in a time when we had an open Enemie and now no such occasion yet we know not how soone we may Which though but short yet my Brothers judgement concurring with it which was that the safest and surest defence for this Kingdome was our Navy and that we could never be hurt by Land by a Forreigne enemy unlesse we were first beaten at Sea I thought it not amisse to annex it to this of my Brothers and by that occasion reading the whole Discourse from which I had it I found in it besides what concernes this point which was Directions for the securing of this Kingdome some such worthy expressions which as they did much affect me in the reading so I conceive they might be of some use also for these times as some for imitation others for other purposes I thought it not amisse to revive and bring them againe to light some things were spoken by that brave Lord of himselfe some others are related by him of those Ancient and renowned Romans where we may see a bravenesse of spirit even in those that were but Heathen Now if there were such brave spirits in them that had nothing but the light of nature to direct them What should be then in Christians that have a Sunne to their Candle Shal they come short of them in love and affection to their Countrey Will it not one day rise up in judgement against us as our Saviour saith of Tirus and Sidon that haue such principles and such encouragements of rewards above them They had but honour and reputation I may say a vaine and windy motive We have the Command of God and a heavenly reward promised even a Kingdome and that everlasting and shall we come so short of them as not to venture any thing for God his Gospel and our Religion Did a Roman say he cared not to leave to bury him so the Common-wealth might flourish What shall a Christian doe for his Countrey shall he not lay aside all private respects of his owne and only seeke Gods honour in his care of the Common good Now most noble Lords and Gentlemen God having called you unto it Let your Countrey see and all the World know that there is more power in Religion then in Heathenish Principles Ioyne all your forces together to promote his Gospell and your Countreyes good O that the reviving of these few sparks that I have by this occasion brought to light might adde fervour to your brave English Spirits What though there be some so degenerate as to raise their fortunes and keepe their honours cares not what becomes of the Common-wealth and Gospell of Christ Yet we have found there are many yea many that still retain that ancient vertue in them and doe even at this time practise it to such I will say goe one Noble Lords and Gentlemen doe worthily in Bethel●m and you shall be famous in Ephrata set aside all private respects and as you have begun with unwearied paines and patience which in all due thankefulnesse we doe humbly acknowledge Goe on still to continue your care of us and our Countries good and for all others contrarily minded the Lord either convert them or suddenly confound them In this ensuing relation I shall onely use that Honourable Lords owne words I leave their application to all true-hearted English-men The heads are these First His advice for Sea Preparations which are not as I conceive un-usefull for this present time Secondly his Protestation of his affection to his Country worthy the imitation of men of his quality Thirdly his extraordinary affection to Souldiers and men of Warre the favouring and cherishing of whom will be no small security to this Kingdom Fourthly his Iudgement concerning Pluralities of Religion tollerated in a State A thing worthy of due consideration Fiftly the sweet harmony betwixt a loving Prince and loyall subjects a desireable and imitable thing Lastly a sweet reprehension of the superfluous expence of these times which if some course were taken therein to limit them I see not but it would make much to the generall good of this Common-wealth First for his advise for Sea-preparations it was this that if Her Majestie would be pleased but to raise up a summe of a hundred and fifty thousand pounds a yeare and put it into the hands of an honest and sufficient Treasurer for the warres and to bee issued by a Councell well chosen would fully and sufficiently maintaine the warre with Spaine yea such a force should be maintained thereby as Her Maiesty having a convenient number of her owne ships and repairing and furnishing them as yearely she doth the enemy should bring no Fleet into the Seas for England or Ireland or Low-countries but should be beaten nor seeke to gather one into Spain but the parts of it should be defeated before the whole could be assembled yea those services should bee done upon the enemy that the poorest Prince or State in Christendome should have little cause to feare his malice 2. For his Protestation of his affection to his Country it was that the reputation of a most faithful subject and zealous Patriot with the hazard of his life and decay of his estate he had sought to purchase and when he was offered by the King of Spaine what Tittle summe of money or pension he would desire so as hee might be won to take their part hee did professe that if God had not put him back and arrested him by contrary winds and tempests that summer he would have taught that proud King what effects his proffer had wrought in him and the longer the will of God and his Soveraigne did restraine him with the greater interest to hope to pay him in the end that had sought him out as a fit man to betray his Queene and Countrey Thirdly for his respect to Souldiers and men of warre hee profest he did intirely love them First for his owne sake for hee found sweetnesse in their conversations strong assistance in their imploiments with him and happinesse in their friend-ship that he loved them for their vertues sake and for their greatnesse of mind for little minds though never so full of vertue can be but little vertuous and for their great understanding for to understand little things or things not of use is little better then to understand nothing at all That he loved them for their effections for selfe-loving men love ease pleasure and profit but they that love paines danger and paine shew that they love publick profit more then themselves That he loved them for his countries sake for they are Englands best Armour of defence and weapons of offence if we have peace they have purchased it if we should have warre they must mannage it Yea while weare doubtfull and in treaties wee must value our selves by what may be done and the enemy will value us by that which hath beene done by our chiefe men of action Before action providence made him cherrish them

for the service they can doe and after action expeperience and thankfulnesse made him love them for the service they had done Fourthly concerning Plurality of Religion profest in one Estate that it was against the policy of all States because where there is no unity or order in the State it is the manifest ruine of that State for as the mingling of poyson with wholesome liquor in one vessell doth not correct that which is Lethal but corrupts that which is wholesome so the poysoned doctrine of those Hispanioliz'd Iesuites once brought in that state will not indure any profession save their owne Fiftly for the sweet harmony betwixt a loving Prince and loyall subjects Thus doth he say wee thankes be to God have a Queene who hath never beene wastfull in her private expence yet will shee sell her plate and jewels in the Tower ere her people shall be undefended We are a people that will turne our silken coasts into iron Iacks and our silver plate into coats of plate rather then our Soveraign shall be unserved Sixtly and lastly his pleasing reprehension of the superfluous expences of those times it is by way of objection that was made in those times that they could neither have a good peace or jnst warre and of two evils it were better to have a patched peace then an unsupportable warre To which he answers that those that did so thinke were injurious First to our men of warre that fight for them and defend them in thinking their armes which have ever done honour to our nation and stricken terrour into the hearts of our enemies lesse able to defend our countrey then their treaties which have never beene free from scorne and disadvantage Injurious they are to the Countrey that bred them which being one of the bravest strongest and happiest States in Christendome is judged by these men to be as weak as their owne weake hearts Injurious they are to her Majestie who being so great so glorious and so victorious a Queene shall be judged unable to maintaine warre when she cannot have peace but at the pleasure of her enemie Yea injurious and most unthankfull they are to God himselfe who hath hitherto fought for them in that for an unsafe peace with an idolatrous and irrelegious nation they would leave an honourable and just warre But when some objections might bee made that Her Majesties Treasure was drawne deepe into and if there were any weaknesse in our meanes to make warre it was in our Treasure To this he answers that though Her Majesties treasure be drawne deep into and the poore Hus-bandman by the late hard yeares past hath now left scarce any meanes to live yet if our sumptuous buildings our surfetting diet our Prodigality in Garments our infinite Plate and costly Furniture of our houses be well considered England cannot be thought poore can we exceed all nations in Christendome in wastfull vanities and can we not arme our selves against one nation whom wee have ever beaten for our necessary defence Was Rome so brave a State that the very Ladies to supply the common Treasure and to maintaine the warres spoyled themselves of their Iewels and rich ornaments and is England so base a State as that the people therein will not bestow some part of their superfluous expences to keepe themselves from conquest and slavery Did the godly Kings and religious people which wee read of in the old Testament to maintaine warre against the enemies of God sell the ornaments of the Temple and the things consecrated to holy uses and shall not wee that have as holy a warre spare those things we have dedicated to our owne idle and sensuall pleasures Could our owne nation in those gallant former ages when our countrey was farre poorer then now it is levy armies maintaine warres atchieve great conquests in France and make our powerfull Armies knowne as farre as the Holy-Land And is this such a degenerate age as wee shall not be able to defend England no no there is yet left some seed of that ancient vertue I remember with what spirit and alacrity the Gentlemen of England have put themselves voluntarily into our late actions there wil ever be found some valorous which so the State may stand and flourish care not though they leave not w●erewith to bury themselves though others bury their money not caring in what case they leave the state The Conclusion THus farre are his owne words and here I intended to have finished this discourse but my thoughts prest me to a new taske and what shall I say most Noble Lords and worthy Gentlemen I will say to you even as Abraham did to God Seeing saith hee I have begunne to speake unto my Lord that am but dust and ashes Let not my Lord bee angry I will speake but this once Seeing I have taken upon mee to publish something that I hope may tend to the good of our bodies give mee leave now to adde something which I hope may bee no lesse for the good of soules and that is this most Humbly to crave that you will bee pleased to take to your most wise and grave considerations that noble and pious worke happily begunne and successefully proceeded in of the Feoffees for redeeming in impropriations of which body before it was supprest I was though unworthy a member and therefore can say the more of which I dare bee bould to say it was one of the most glorious workes that ever was undertaken in this Kingdome of late yeares and did more conduce to the spreading abroad of the glorious Gospell of IESVS CHRIST then any I ever understood of or heard of Of which I may truly say as Solomon of the vertuous Huswife to those that did contribute to it Many Daughters have done vertuously but thou surmounts them all I deny not but it is good to give to Hospitals to repairing of Churches setting up of Free-Schooles building of Almes-houses and the like But I have ever thought such as concerne soules to bee as farre above them as the soule is above the body This Pious Worke it was well approved by his Majesty as we were informed at our first taking of it And I am sure of all the best Subjects onely the Diotrephes that Saint Iohn speakes of That love Preheminence and thrust their Brethren out of the Church the Prelates of our time that never did further but ever hinder any good Worke that tended to the advancement of the Gospell of Christ if it did not Comply with their ambitions But of them I will say no more you have said so much and so wel But for this Pious worke I dare be bound to say if it had continued and not beene supprest by their meanes That by this time most of the Impropriations of this Kingdome had beene brought in and laid unto the Church againe A worke fit for such an Age as this that hath enjoyed the Gospell so long to have propagated it to the darke corners of this Kingdome and this to be effected and done not by a forced and strained exaction but by a free and willing contribution of such as understand the nature of it and saw the present good fruits and effect of it which adde much to the glory of it The Contributions at first were very incouraging and some underwrit yearely good summes others to every impropriation we brought certaine summes but towards the time of our unhappy dissolution the contribution grew much greater for not a weeke before we were supprest a Lady yet living sent us word shee would give a thousand pounds presently to the furtherance of the Worke and many wills have since beene altered that we heard off that gave brave proportions to it I never heard of nor can yet see any such way to spread the Gospell to the remote and blind corners of this Kingdome neither can we for ought I know ever hope to see Popery quelled till a godly painfull Ministry be established and that will never be till competent meanes bee provided both these had been effected and the effects in time would have manifested what I have said and the benefit thereof would not onely have extended to the Church but also to the Common-wealth for where a good Ministery is placed in a Towne there idlenesse will be abolished the poore and impotent children and vagrant set on worke and His Majesty have gained true and loyall Subjects such as he may repose himselfe in their loves and fidelities It s the glory of our Religion it was never stained with those hellish Plots Massacres and Treacheries against their Soveraigne and if ever Poperty bee put downe to purpose it must be by the meanes of establishment of a powerfull Ministry then shall we see Satan fall downe like Lightning It must be the breath of the Lord that must abolish the man of Sinne I deny not but good Lawes doe well but what through favour conniving and want of ●xecution we dayly see they have not such good effect as were to be wished that I am confident it must be the powerfull conscionable Preaching Ministery of the Gospell that must especially effect it and to procure that nothing wil more conduce then a full free and plentifull provision for the Dispencers of it and not for such as doe least to have most The Lord in mercy direct you blesse and prosper your proceedings and in his good time give us to enjoy the happy fruits and effects of your great long and unwearied Paines FINIS