And you speak of it as if that refusal of their Forces had been very detrimental to the Kings Affairs and much retarded the Progress of his Conquests And yet it is certain in the mean time That all the best qualify'd Persons in the Councel of that Canton had promis'd to grant the Companies which the most Christian King required of it But One Factious person amongst them occasion'd the breaking of that Resolution upon this score that besides his being a man absolutely devoted to the Dutch ever since his reception of a Present from them when he sojourn'd in this Country he was out of hopes of getting the Command of a Company for one of his own Relations that he might make some advantage thereby But as to the Canton of Zurick I must acknowledg it to be powerful and that it might have rais'd several Companies of good Soldiers I know also That its Councel consists of Persons of very good worth such as have Wit and Honour Vigour and Constancy if the thing had depended upon them and they knew their own Interest much better than to have deny'd his Most Christian Majesty the Forces he had required of them But the mischief of it as you know is That they are not the absolute Masters The Sovereign Authority lies in the hands of the Councel of Two Hundred consisting for the most part of much Heat and little Prospect of much Obstinacy and little Reason It is no wonder then that the Ministers having enflam'd that multitude with the zealous Concern of Religion they could not be dispos'd to grant Forces to his most Christian Majesty though he should have no Design to employ them against the Dutch I must confess further Sir That I am very much astonish'd at your Undertaking to make a confident justification of those Two Cantons for their having deny'd Forces to the most Christian King as also that after you had blamed your own for their having granted a Regiment you should undertake to vindicate all it did afterwards either to have it recall'd or to prevent its being employ'd against the Dutch It will be no hard matter for me to make it appear to you That this Conduct of yours bâ—sides its being most unjust may also be very prejudicial even as to what relates to the interests of Religion You cannot forbear granting your selves to be absolutely unjust if you deny the demeaning of your selves towards his most Christian Majesty as you would have him demean himself towards you For instance If it should happen that you were attack'd by the King of Spain or the Emperour by the Duke of Savoy by the Catholick-Cantons or by some other Prince of the same Religion you would desire That his most Christian Majesty would assist you against them by vertue of the Alliance there is between you and him If the King should deny you the Forces you desired and alledge That he could not assist you being of the Reformed Religion against Catholick Princes you would complain of it and affirm That the Most Christian King does not observe the Alâ—iance he has made with you How then do you not see that the most Christian King has just cause of complaining That you are unwilling to supply him with Forces against the Dutch because they are of the Reformed Religion Do you not further observe That by your indiscreet Zeal you deprive your selves of all the Advantages which you might expect from the Alliance there is between You and the most Christian King by giving him just cause to deny you assistance if you should come to desire it of him If the Duke of Savoy should enter into a War against you upon the Pretensions he has to the Country of Vaud tell me Whether you would be so presumptuous as to desire assistance from the Most Christian King You would not have your Forces to serve his most Christian Majesty against the Dutch bâ—cause they are of our Reformed way of Religion though they are not your Allies By what Right can you pretend That the most Christian King should give you Forces to serve you who are not of his Religion against a Catholic Prince who besides his being in alliance with him has also the honour of being nearly related to him Besides you make but an ill acknowlâ—dgment of the Favour which the most Christian King did you not Two Years since when he openly undertook your protection against the Bishop of Basil who was going to give you some disturbance He had establish'd a Catholick Church upon some part of your Territories as he pretended that he had a right to do The Pope the Emperour and the King of Spain had openly taken his part by reason of the Concern of the Catholick Religion The most Christian King having been inform'd That he had not any Right to establish that Church upon your Territories sent a Message to him That if he did not restore things to the condition they were in before and forbear making any alteration he would openly grant you assistance against him You know Sir That the said Prelate standing more in awe of the most Christian King's Indignation than relying on the Succours of the Pope the Emperour and the King of Spain thought in his best course to renounce his Pretensions and to give over disturbing you If the most Christian King had done then what you have done at the present he would have been far enough from entertaining so much as a thought of protecting you being of the Reformed Religion against a Bishop especially in a Cause wherein the Interest of the Catholick Religion was concern'd You know also That the Emperour and the King of Spain who have a particular Alliance with the Catholick Cantons are oblig'd to assist them in case they should enter into a Warre against you or against the other Protestant Cantons Now it is manifest That upon such occasions you cannot hope for any assistance but from the most Christian King If therefore you would not have your Forces to serve his most Christian Majesty against the Dutch who are not your Allies meerly upon the score of their professing the same Religion as you do I do not see how you can desire the most Christian King to grant you Forces to serve you who are of the Reformed Religion against the Catholick Cantons who are of his Allies as well as you You know further That the City of Geneva is under the protection of France ever since the time of Henry the Third who granted it thereto against Philibert-Emanuel Duke of Savoy All the Successors of that King have continu'd their protection to the same City against the Successors of that ancient Duke who are the troublesome Neighbours and in a manner the only Enemies whom that Republick has any cause to fear You see then by this proceduce of Henry the Third of France and the Kings who succeeded him That though they were very zealous for their Religion yet they made no scruple of giving
of no long Standing in the World By this mâ—ans did he make account to gain the Affections of the People and at one time or other to make his advantage of those different Râ—ligions for the execution of his great Designs He knew that all those new Christians whom he protected in the Exercise of Religions were so many Creatures whom he made sure to his Party by an inviolable Bond and as many irreconcileable Enemies to Philip who was the cruel Persecutor of all those upstart Professors of Religion In the mean time Prince William who had all this while conconceal'd his Sentiments for Religion took a very convenient opportunity to lay by the Roman-Catholick persuasion which he had till then profess'd and to embrace that of the Protestants He was in Germany at his Brothers the Count of Nassaw and had been forc'd by the Intreaties of many of his Relations and some Friends banishâ—d out of the Low-Countries to try an expedition to endeavour the deliverance of their Country from the oppression wherein it was and to set it at liberty When therefore he saw that he stood in need of the assistance of the Protestants for the getting of an Army togâ—ther he thought it a fit time to cast off the Mask and to publish by his Mâ—nifesto That he had deserted the Roman Church to follow a better Religion He had also in his Eye this considerable advantage That by the Settlement of a Religion different from the Roman he rendred the reconciliation between the Provinces and the King of Spain more difficult or indeed impossible He had observ'd that some of the Catholick Provinces had deviaâ—ed from the Alliance of Gaunt and put themselves under the obedience of Philip and he saw that the Catholicks of the Confedâ—rated Provinces would rather have enclin'd him to reassume the yoke of their ancient domination It was his Fear and with reason That when the dispute should be only about the Privileges the Lawes and the Customs and in a word things of a temporal Concern King Philip coming to satisfie his Subjects or the Subjects to recede from their Rights for the obtaining of a Peace it would be no hard matter to see those people reconcil'd to their Prince Whereas on the other side having dispos'd the confederated Provinces to embrace a new Religion he thereby put an insurmountable obstruction to their reunion with Philip. He knew that That Prince who with an implacable fury persecuted all those who had renounc'd the ancient Religion would resolve rather to lose the Low-Countries than to grant his Subjects the free Exercise of a new Religion There had been a Report spread about that presently upon his Return into Spain after he had order'd the Condemnation of some men eminent for their Learnâ—ng and women illustrious for their birth to be burnt he would himself be present at so cruel an execution and was a spectator of it as if it had been a delightful Show Many persons therefore amongst the Inhabitants of the Low-Countries having embrac'd the new Religions the Prince of Orange engag'd them by the Bond of Conscience and by the Despair or Pardon to maintain the Change he had made that so they might not relapse under the power of their ancient Master Happy was it for the prosecution of his design that he had made this advantage of that Liberty of Conscience which he had given to all sorts of persons but perceiving withal that that unbounded Liberty without the establishment and preference of some one Religion occasion'd a great confusion in the Government he thought it necessary to make choice of one which should be the pubâ—ick and predominant Religion and the Religion of State Yet had he not as yet absolutely pitch'd upon what he intended nor determin'd which Religion he ought to embrace whether that of the Lutherans that of the Calvinists or that of the Anabaptists all those three Religions not making any acknowledgment of the Popes Authority or the jurisdiction of the Roman Church But he had afterwards some reasons which oblig'd him to determine upon the choice of one as well for his own private Concern as for that of the State The Sect of the Anabaptists was the least considerable upon all accounts and was not much to be fear'd as well by reason of the divisions wherewith it was shaken as by reason of its Sectators who for the most part were persons of a very obscure condition and of their Sentiments by which they are not admitted to Magistracy or the Use of Arms. For which reason the Prince of Orange could not make any Use of them as being not proper for his Design He aspir'd to the principal charge of the State and that Religion permitted not its Disciples to exercise any kind of Magistracy He needed the assistance of Arms to maintain and make good the Change he had made in the State and the new form of Government which he had establish'd and the Anabaptists would not have Arms used upon any occasion The Lutheran Religion was very considerable by reason of the affection and Support of several Princes of Germany who had embrac'd it and highly protected those who made profession thereof Prince William had more inclination for that Religion in which he haâ— been instructed from his Infancy and he might very well hope for assistance and protection from the Electoral House of Saxony of which he had Married a Daughter to his Second Wife But on the other side he hoped for more considerable assistances from the Princes who made profession of our Reformed way of Religion That which Queen Elizabeth had Establish'd in England was wholly conformable to ours as to the Doctrine and differ'd from it only as to the Form of Government and the Use of Ceremonies The Elector-Palatine who was then the most powerful Prince of the Empire did absolutely profess the same Religion The King of Navarre the Prince of Condé and the Admiral Castillon and a considerable number of the Lords and Gentlemen and a numerous people of France made a publick profession of it The Prince of Orange therefore hoping to engage all those Princes by the interest of one and the same Religion to give him powerful assistances for the corroboration of the new Republick thought fit to make choice of that Religion for himself and the State Besides as that Religion was more contrary to that of the Romish Church than the Lutheran so he thought it more fit for the Common-wealth which he had founded out of an aversion to the Tyrannical Domination of Spain The Inhabitants of the Low-Countries having a strong aversion for the Spaniards the Prince of Orange endeavour'd to persuade them That there was no likelihood that a people so corrupted should have received directions from God to serve him purely by the Worship of the true Religion He afterwards endeavour'd to insinuate to them That our Reformed Religion which was more different from theirs was doubtless the best and most acceptable
they are interrogated not one amongst them confesses any thing and there could be no Discoveries made of their being guilty of it But it was for the interest of the Dutch-Company that they should be so That they might be â—ender'd such in appearance they are put to the Torture All â—he several Tortures of Fire and Water were us'd to make them acknowledg what the Dutch would have them to say After some resistance of such Cruel Torments they were at last or'e-press'd by their violence and confess'd whatever they desir'd them But after they had recover'd themselves again they disown'd all they had said in the midst of their Torments nay when they were just at the point of Execution they call'd God to attest their Innocence and besought him to make it appear after the death they were then going to suffer He who was the Commander of that place and the unjust Judg who had condemn'd them were nothing mov'd at though fully convin'd of the Innocence of those Prisoners But there beâ—ng a necessity of their Dying for the interest of the Dutch-Company Nine of the pretended Conspirators were Executed and some of them were set at Liberty who returning into England brought thither the News of that Cruel Massacre Now Sir I would fain know what you would say of so inhumane and so barbarous an Action Will you still allow those to be good Reformed Christians who make no scruple to cut the Throats of their Brethren professing the same Religion as they do for a little Worldly Goods and for their own private Interests This Tragical Story is so well known all over the World that there is not any Dutch man dares deny it Nay an Author of their own Nation one Aitzema in his Book entituled The Lyon-Combatant pag. 211 212 213 214 215. Printed in the Year 1661. gives a very large and particular description of it And he makes out withal how false and unlikely the Accusation brought in against the English was and confidently affirms that it was fram'd upon no other score than that they might have a pretence to put them to death seize into their own hands all the effects of the English Company and by that detestable imposture render themselves Masters of all the Trade of the Moluccoes Amboyna and Banda The same last-mention'd Author does in the same Book page 113. Relate another Story of a greater Cruelty which the Dutch exercis'd upon the English in the Island of Banda He says That the Dutch in order to their becoming Masters of that Island Massacred above Forty English-men and that after they had bound living Persons to dead Carkasses they cast them into the Sea and afterwards possess'd themselves of what they had which amounted to above Five and Twenty Thousand Pounds Sterling True it is that they are somewhat to blame who still reproach the Dutch with those two Actions and particularly with that of Amboyna since they have made a considerable satisfaction for it in the Treaty which was concluded between them and the Protectordome of England in the Year 1654. For the Parliament having enter'd into a War against them which amongst other pâ—etences had that of the Execution at Amboyna the Dutch gave the English several Millions of Guilders not simply to satisfie them for the damages they had caus'd them to suffer which could not have amounted to neer so great a Sum though they had taken away all the effects which they had in that Island and depriv'd them of the advantages they might have made by the Commerce of Thirty Years but also by way of Reparation for the Blood which they had Unjustly spilt and to blot out the remembrance of so barbarous an Action There would be a necessity of compiling a great Volume if it were my design to make a collection of all the Cruel Actions which the Dutch have committed in the Indies and elsewhere upon the pure interest of Commerce But I am apt to think that you will gladly spare me that Trouble and will think no doubt that I have said enough and haply too much upon a subâ—ect which is not divertive to you If then after a serious reflection upon what I have entertain'd you withal you find no abatement of the affection which you had for the Dutch I must acknowledg That your friendship does in steadiness and strength exceed that of any other person in the World And this gives some hopes that you will continue that part of it which you have promis'd me as I assure you of my ever remaining Reverend Sir Your c The Sixth LETTER Reverend Sir IT is no small affliction to me that I have given you an account of some things concerning the Dutch which certainly must have rais'd in you some disgust against me I am therefore out of a pure fear of feeding or augmenting it resolv'd to be very careful in waving to tell you any â—hing henceforward which may give you any perplexity in reference to them Nay I am willing to make you satisfaction for all I have already said to you I acknowledg therefore to humour you that the Dutch are as good Christians and as much of the true way of Reformation as you imagine them to be that is to say the best in the World Though it were so yet I do not think you have any reason to cry out Arms Arms as you do to excite and encourage all that are of the Reformed Persuasion in Europe to come in to their relief You know weâ—l enough that his most Christian Majesty is not engag'd in a War against them upon the matter of Religion but that the reason of his engaging in it was to chastize their ingratitutde to mortifie their violence and to teach them a new Lesson of paying him the respects they owe him and to keep within the bounds of modesty and reason Were it a War upon the score of Religion do you think that the one or the other Branch of the House of Austria that of Germany and that of Spain which are the natural Enemies of our Religion and which ever have been the cruel Persecutors of those who profess it would have openly undertaken the defence of the Dutch in this cause against the interests of the Catholick Religion of which they make it their oftentation That they are the Proâ—â—ctors and especially the King of Spain whom for that reason the Pope has honour'd with the Title of Catholick King But to shew you again how desirous I am to please you I will acknowledg also That this is a War of Religion Let us see whether it will turn to our advantage to raise an Army consisting only of men professing the true Reformed Religion and to bring it into the Servâ—ce of the Dutch Let us make a computation of all those who may be for us and of all those who in this case might be against us But I think it were better we never meddled with that troublesome discrimination which would only convince
us of the weakness of our little Flock and discover the great number of Enemies whom we should have to do withal I am satisfy'd That a great number of good Soldiers might be got out of your Canton and the other Protestant Cantons But I humbly conceive you will not be offended if I tell you That if Jesus Christ himself were upon Earth and had occasion for the assistance of your Forces you would not let him have any unless he would be sure to see you well paid for them and that he should not prevail so far with you as that for his sake you would abolish the Proverb which you have brâ—ught into Vogue Point dâ—argent point de Suisse Mo Money no Swisse or as the English Saying has it 'T is Money makes the Mare to go And that it thus happen'd is well known when the Chimerical Ambassador of the Dutch had under-hand sollicited your Cantons and had afterwards been admitted into your Assembly Conjuring and beseeching you by the love you ought to have for your dear Brethren not to abandon them in their Necessities and to maintain their Cause which was that of Jesus Christ You know very well that all he could get of you in your Diet was That you had resolved one should be assembled for their sakes that you would spare some few repâ—sts observe a Fast and pray for their Preservation and Prosperity That if it were a Warre upon the score of Religion whatever Zeal you might have for ours the Catholick Cantons having no less â—or theirs we should find more Soldiers running out of the Catholick Cantons to maintain the Party of their Religion than there wâ—uld be Protestants ready to defend the Interests of ours And as to the quality of the Soldiers of Swisserland if a computation may bâ— made of it by the Success of two Wars one wherâ—oâ— you had about 140 years ago and the other about 18 yâ—â—rs since I am conâ—ident you cannot deny but that the Catholick Soldiers are much better than all those of your Protestant Cantons Nay the Catholicks would have this advantage that their Pay would easily come out of the Exchequers of Kings and Princes if the Dispute were about the defence of their Religion Whereas yours not finding any Protestant-Prince who were able to bear the charge of them should be forc'd to keep in your own Country and content themselves with the making of Vows for the preservation of our Religion Nay I do not think that all the Princes or States of the Reformed Religion in Europe would be able all together and do their utmost to keep up an Army of Ten Thousand men when the safety of our Religion lay at stake I do not speak of the Lutherans because the greatest part amongst them have such an animosity against us as loudly to affirm That they would rather enter into the Communion of the Catholicks than into Ours If again on the other side you consider how many Kings Sovereign Princes Republicks and States there are in Europe who all profess the Romish Religion you may all imagine That as we are but a small handful in comparison of them so there is not any likelihood that we should be able to resist them if they were once engag'd in a War against us Nay if it were an open and declar'd War upon the account of Religion you would soon find the Emperour and the King of Spain deserting the party of the Dutch and siding with that of their own Religion The Catholicks have yet another most considerable advantage which would extreamly corroboratâ— their Party against ours They have the Pope whom they all acknowledg to be the visible Head of the Church upon Earth who reunites them all for their Common Interest and would with much more Zeal publish a Croisado against us then ever he did any against the Turks And indeed he has reason to have a greater animosity against us than against all the unbelieving people in the World As he pretends to be the Spiritual Head of all Christians so he considers those who do not acknowledg him as revolted Subjects and Rebels to his Empire whereas he looks on the Turks and Heathens as Strangers who are out of his Jurisdiction and not within the extent of his Superintendency And as a King is more incens'd against his Subjects who have revolted from the obedience they owe him then against forreign Enemies who are not within the Verge of his Dominions So the Pope suffers the Jews in his Territories and would never permit any of the Reformed Persuasion to harbour in them His Pontifical Dignity will not suffer him ever to be reconcil'd to those who directly shock the authority which he pretends to have over all Christians You may see by this the great danger into which those of our Religion would be reduc'd if your Zeal could enflame them so far as to make a Party in favour of the Dutch Nay I leave it to your own Judgment whether it is any fault of yours if your inconsiderate Zeal has not excited the Catholicks to fall upon those of our Reformed Religion in those places where they lye expos'd to their mercy and that they have not made it their business to exterminate them But if your Zeal without Knowledg be injurious to all those of the Reformed Religion in general it is also very prejudicial to all your own Protestant-Cantons and to your Allies in particular Assoon as ever you saw the first breaking out of this War You your self Reverend Sir in the City of Berne and all your Ministers within the Extent of your Government were continually cajoling the people by their Seditious Sermons to make an Insurrection against those of your Magistrates who had given their judgment That there should be a Regiment of men granted to the most Christian King out of your Canton If men would have believ'd you and all the Ministers of your Country-Villages it must have been accounted a very horrid Crime in you to suffer your Soldiers to be employ'd in a War against your beloved Brethren in Jesus Christ the Dutch 'T was this gave occasion to your Magistrate distracted by your Pulpit-bawling and by the clamours of the multitude whom you had inflam'd into an Insurrection to write unseasonable Letters upon Letters to the Officers of your Regiment fraught with terrible menaces if they sâ—rv'd in this War against the Vnited Provinces Nay you thought it not enough to put in a Charge against your own Canton upon the account of its having granted Forces to his most Christian Majesty and his not preventing their being employ'd against the Dutch but you must also Panegyrically celebrate the Cantons of Zurick and Schaffouse for their refusal to give him any I cannot comprehend any reason you should have to name Schaffouse which being a poor little Canton has but one half-Company in the Service but a hands-breadth of ground within its Jurisdiction and can raise but Two Companies at the most
THE RELIGION OF THE DUTCH Represented in Several LETTERS FROM A Protestant Officer IN The FRENCH ARMY to A Pastor and Prâ—â—â—â—â—â— of Divinity at BERNE in Swisâ—erland Out of the French LONDON Printed for Samuel Heyrick at Grayes-Inn Gate in Holbourn 1680. The Contents of the LETTERS THE First Letter discovers by what means and upon what motives the Reformed Religion according to the Calvinistical way was establish'd in the United Provinces The Second and Third give an account of all the different Religions that are in those Provinces and their principal Opinions The Fourth and Fifth prove That the United Provinces cannot be said to be an Estate of the Reformed Religion The Sixth makes it appear That though the Dutch were the most Reformed Christians in the World yet were it an act of temerarious Imprudence in those of the Reformed Religion to Confederate together for their Relief in the War between Them and the most Christian King And that of the Protestant-Cantons of Swisserland those were highly to be blam'd which refus'd to raise Forces for his most Christian Majesty as was also that of Berne which having granted his most Christian Majesty a Regiment kept so much stir to hinder its Serving against the Dutch THE RELIGION OF THE DUTCH The First LETTER Reverend Sir THough I have alwaies known and look'd upon you as a most zealous man in the Calvinistical persuasion yet I should never have imagin'd that your zeal would have transported you so far as to induce you to pronounce an Anathema against all those of the Reformed Religion who now serve the most Christian King in the War wherein he is engag'd against the Dutch Mean time you know that you have run into this strange Extremity in the Letter you were pleas'd to write from Borne of the 15 th of the last Moneth which yet came not to my hands till within these two daies You at the first dash tell me it is a matter you cannot be sufficiently astonished at That any Officer who makes Profession of our Religion whether he be Swisse or French or of what other Countrey soever should presume to fight against our dear Brethren in Christ the Dutch and make it their Business to destroy that Sanctifi'd Republick which has alwaies been the Refuge and Sanctuary of those of the Reformed Religion and to which all Protestants are in the highest manner oblig'd You afterwards make it your most earnest entreaty to us That out of the tenderness we ought to have of our Salvation we should quit our Employments and enter our Selves into the Service of the Dutch so to expiate the Sin we have committed in serving against them You solemnly declare to us in Fine That if we do not upon sight follow this advice of yours we are a sort of damn'd Wretches never to be retriev'd out of the deplorablâ— Condition we are in and that we ought not to expect any Forgivâ—ness for our Crime either in this World or that to come no more or less than if we had sinn'd against the Holy Ghost As for your Protestant-Cantons you highly celebrate the Prudence of those among'st them who havâ— deny'd his Majesty of France any Forces in his unjust War as you are pleas'd to call that wherein he is now involv'd against the Dutch Besides you highly condemn those who having supply'd him with such Forces have not been importunate in the recalling of them and have not been dissatisfi'd to see them employ'd in attacking and maintaining the Cities which have been taken from the States-General I should not have been much startled if I had receiv'd such a Letter from the Minister of some Country Village or from some person whose abilities rais'd him not above the ordinary Rate of men But I must acknowledge my self surpriz'd as much as man can be so to see that you Reverend Sir who are a Professor of Divinity and have the reputation of being one of the most experiensed men of Swisserland especially upon the score of Politicks should write me a Letter fraught with things very strange and extravagant and Maximâ—s absolutely inconsistent with sound Sence and Reason and contrary even to the end you have propos'd to your self which is doubtless the preservation and propagation of our Reform'd Religion and of the Churches which profess it I undertake to make a clear justification of the truth of the things which I advance and to let you see the Mistake you lye under and with what injustice you have so slightly pronounc'd the Sentence of Condemnation against all those of the Reform'd Religion who serve the most Christian King in the War which he is now concern'd in against the Dutch To that end it is my design to shew you somewhat at large of what nature the Religion of the Dutch is and what sanctity is to be attributed to their Republick and thence it will appear how highly the Protestants are concern'd to wish the preservation of it And when that is done I shall afterwards prove That though the Hollanders were the most reform'd of all People in their Religion as well as in their morality yet you would not have any reason to condemn either those private Persons of their Persuasion who serve against them or yet those of your Cantons who have supply'd the most Christian King with Forces upon this occasion I must acknowledge That if we consider the Dutch Confession of Faith and the Cathechism they use it cannot be denyed but that they profess the same Religion with that which is received at Geneva and in your Protestant-Cantons But in the mean time this is to be noted That though they make an external Profession of the same Religion with yours yet their Conduct and Deportment do evidently demonstrate that they make not any account of it or that they believe it not at all To that end it is requisite that I make a higher enquiry into things and go to the very source and give you a discovery by what Degrees and by what Means this Religion was established in the State and the different Conduct which the States-General have observ'd in reference thereto I am of opinion in the first place That there is not any necessity of my telling you that Religion was neither the cause nor the pretence of the disturbances revolutions and seditions of the Low-Countries and that it was not upon that score that the People of several Provinces after they had carried on the War against their Prince for many years resolv'd at last to degrade him and to shake off the yoke of his Dominion over them The great Lords of the Country as the Prince of Orange the Count of Egmont and Count Horne were extreamly exasperated to see that Cardinal de Granvelle a Forreigner and a person of very obscure Parentage had the management of all things and was the supreme Arbitrator of all Affairs and to think that they themselves had not any authority in the Government They maintained in the mean
to God There comes into my mind upon this occasion what I have Read in the History of the Indies That they could not by any means dispose a great number of persons of that Country to be converted to the Christian Religion because the Spaniards made a profession of it For as those poor people had seen them commit such Cruelties as they had never seen any example of before so they had a horror for their Religion upon a supposition that it inspir'd them with such barbarous Sentiments They could not be mov'd with the hope of Celestial Felicity after they had been told that the Spaniards together with all good Christians would have their abode in that happy place They saw no charms in the Glories of Paradice since they were to be partakers of â—hem with a Nation so barbarous and they could not believe that the Felicity which they put them in hopes of could secure them from the persecution of so inhumane a people In a word they could not be induc'd to embrace a Religion which was to conduct them after their death to live eternally in the company of a people which according to their Sentiment was the most wicked of any upon Earth The Duke of Alva having exercis'd in the Low-Countries as strange Cruelties as those of his Country had done in the Indies the Inhabitants of Flanders and no less an aversion for the Spaniards then the Indians And as all the rigorous punishments which had been inflicted upon the people of the Low-Countries were imputed to the Roman-Catholick Religion so the Prince of Orange did cunningly make use of that prejudgment to induce them to embrace a Religion contrary to that of the Spaniards which had made them endure so many Calamities It was in the Year 1572. that that Religion which was receiv'd in your Protestant-Cantons at Geneva in the Palatinate of Germany and in the Churches of France was established in the Confederated Provinces for the only publick Religion And yet they put a difference in it which you will think very considerable if you consult the Sentiments of your first Reformers those of the Doctors who were their Successors and the constant practice of your Protestant-Cantons and of all the Estates of the Reform'd Religion For you know that in all the Countries where those of our Religion are the Masters they do not suffer the exercise of any other Religion nor allow in all their Territories a place of habitation to those who profess a different one whereas the Vnited Provinces did not only permit the exercise of all sorts of Religions but did also reject as Tyrannical all the Laws whereby there was any prescription made for Uniformity of Sentiments upon that occasion attributing to them the name of Inquisition so odious amongst them And this Liberty of Conscience was as I have already observ'd Establish'd not only by the Writings of the Prince of Orange by the Peace of Gaunt by the publick and particular agreement which was made for Religion under the Regency of the Arch-Duke Matthias by the Union of Vtretcht and by several Treaties which have been made with the Cities of the Country If I mistake not methinks it may be affirmed that the Confederated Provinces were of our Reformed Religion in particular while the Liberty of Conscience was Establish'd for all sorts of Persons and the exercise of all Religions was publickly permitted and it was so till the Year 1583. All the Regulations which the States-General have made afterwards for Religion and the Conduct they have been guided by in reference to that are so far from proving them to be of our Religion that they make it evidently appear that they never were nor are not at all of it And this Sir is what I design to justifie to you in the first Letter which I shall write to you upon this Subject This is long enough and if I am weary of Writing you possibly may be more weary of Reading what I have Written Let us then repose a while It will not be long e're you hear from me again mean time be assur'd that I am Reverend Sir Your most humble c. Vtretcht May 4 th 1673. The Second LETTER Reverend Sir IF you have seriously reflected on what I have written in my first Letter I conceive you will readily make this acknowledgment That the Vnited Provinces were not of the Reformed Religion as long as there was not any such Establish'd by any publick Decree and that all the Sectaries had as much liberty there as those of the Reformed Persuasion I know well enough that that Liberty of Conscience which had been Establish'd by so many Treaties and by so many publick Acts was absolutely forbidden by the Regulation which the States-General made in the Year 1583. Take here in express terms what it contains Since there has been a permission granted by the Vnion of Utrecht to amplifie to abridge and change some Articles when ever the welfare and security of the Provinces should seem to require it the States attentively considering the XIII Article have unanimously ordain'd and appointed That the exercise of any Religion shall not be henceforward receiv'd other then that which is publickly taught in the United Provinces which is the Reformed Religion With this proviso however That if any Provinces Members or Cities of the Popish Religion shall be willing to enter into this Alliance they shall be continu'd in the freedome of their Religion conditionally that they sign and subscribe the other Articles of this Alliance To render this Ordinance of no effect I might tell you what was alledg'd as soon as ever it was past by the Catholicks and all those who were not of our Reformed Religion Their complaint was That it had been made contrary to all manner of Justice and Reason contrary to the Stipulated Faith of all the Treaties which the Inhabitants of the same Provinces had made and of those which the Provinces had made mutually one with an other They maintain'd That having united themselves together for the preservation of the Laws and Privileges of the Country it was a great injustice to make an Establishment of one single Religion to be the publick Religion and to deprive the others of the exercise of theirs and not to allow them any part in the Government of the State But above all others the Catholicks thought it very strange that they having taken up Arms against the Spaniards only for the defence of their Liberty should not be allow'd the free exercise of their ancient Religion as if they had spent all their labour only to deprive themselves thereof and to acquire Liberty of Conscience for others and to make the Reformed Religion the most predominant and to raise that only into the Throne Nor did the followers of the other Religions think they had less cause then the Catholicks to be dissatisfy'd and disgusted at that Ordinance which took away the exercise and absolute freedom of their Religion They
of the Satisfaction of Jesus Christ Episcopius in the mean time affirms That Jesus Christ has by his Passion and Death so far satisfy'd God as to render him Propitious to all Mankind and ready henceforwards to receive all men into his Communion provided they by Faith embrace that Propitiation of Jesus Christ So that God being no longer displeas'd there is no Enmity remaining but what proceeds from Men refusing to entertain the grace of Jesus Christ They very earnestly press the Toleration of all the Opinions of those who profess Christian Religion maintaining That all Christians agree in the most Important and such as they call the most Essential and Fundamental Points of Religion That it has not been hitherto decided by an Infallible Judgment who they are amongst the Christians who have embrac'd the Truest and Purest Religion and such as is most conformable to the Word of God That to the effect all may be mutually united to make up one and the same Body or Church and that they ought to love one another as Brethren and not to have any enmity or animosity one against another upon the score of their dissenting in some Points of Religion especially such as are not of the most considerable That men ought not to force any one to condemn and renounce his own Sentiments or to approve and follow those of another They say That heretofore amongst the Jews the Pharisees the Sadduces and the Esseni of whom the Sects were very different and had most dangerous Opinions were however tolerated by the Jews and all receiv'd into the Temple to present theiâ— Sacrifices and Prayers to God and to perform all the other Functions of Religion If Arminius were to come into the World again certainly he would not own most of those who bear his Name to be his Disciples And yet there are some amongst them who have not added any thing to his Sentiments But they all agree in this point That all Christians ought to be Tolerated either that all-together they might make up but one and the same Church or that every one may be allow'd the liberty of his Religion The Brownists have many great Assemblies in the Low-Countries They are a sort of people separated from the English Church and from all the other Reformed Churches which they think to be corrupted not as to the Doctrinal Points of Faith concurring in that respect with those of the Reformed Religion of Holland Germany and other places but as to the Form of Government They equally condemn Episcopal Government and that of the Presbyterians by Consistories Classes and Synods They will not joyn with our Churches for this reason as they say that they are not assur'd of the Conversion and Probity of the Members whereof they consist because they therein suffer Sinners with whom men ought not to communicate and that in the participation of the Sacraments the good contract impurity in the Communion of the wicked They condemn the benediction of the Marriages which are celebrated in Churches by the Ministers maintaining That being a Political Contract the confirmation of it depends on the Civil Magistrate They would not have their Children to be baptiz'd who are not Members of the Church or are not as careful as they ought to be of the Children that have been baptiz'd They reject all Forms of Prayers nay they affirm That the Prayer which our Lord has taught us ought not to be recited as a Prayer but that it was given us to be the Rule and Model by which we ought to frame all those which we present to God They reject the Use of Bells and Churches especially such as they say had been Consecrated to Idolatry The Independents are a brood of the Brownists John Robinson an English man is the Father of all those who are in this Country They believe That every Church or as they call it every particular Congregation has in it self radically and essentially whatever is for its conduct and government and all Ecclesiastical Power and Jurisdiction That such a Church or Congregation is not subject either to one or more Churches or to their Deputies or Assemblies or Synods or to any Bishop Or that any one Church or Assembly has any power over any other Church whatsoever That every particular Church ought to manage its own affairs without any dependence on any other and hence it comes that such as follow these Sâ—ntiments have the denomination of Independents And though they do not think there is any necessity of assembling Synods yet they affirm That if any be assembled there ought to be a consideration of their resolutions as of the counsels of wise and prudent men whereto a certain submission is due and not as definitions and establishments requiring conformity and obedience They are willing to acknowledge that one or more Churches may be assistant to another Church as to advice and admonition nay that they may reprove it if there be any offence yet not upon the account of any superiour authority which has any power of Excommunication but as a Sister-Church declaring That she cannot have any communion with such a Church as hath offended and does not demean her self according to the Rules and Commandements of Jesus Christ And these are the Particular Sentiments of the Independents in reference to the Government of the Church Their very Name had render'd them very odious even to the Protestants but the Confession of Faith which their Brethren of England publish'd when they assembled at London in the Year 1651. has made it appear That they have not otherwise any particular sentiment as to matter of Doctrine but that in reference to that they concurre in all things with those of the Reformed Religion I have hitherto given you an account of but Three or Four different Religions or rather Persuasions but this Letter being come to a considerable Length I will adjourn what I have to say of the other Sects of this Countrey to the next opportunity I shall have to write to you remaining in the mean time Reverend Sâ—r Your most humble c. The Third LETTER Reverend Sir I Am now according to my promise to give you an account of all the different Sects or Religions which are in this Country They who in other places are called Anabaptists are known in these Provinces by the denomination of Mennonites and have deriv'd that Name from Menno a Man born at a Village of Friezland in the Year 1496. Not that the said Menno was the first Father of the Anabaptists in this Country but that he having rejected the Enthusiasmes and Revelations of the Primitive Anabaptists and their Opinions concerning the new Reign of Jesus Christ which they pretended to establish upon Earth by force of Arms has broach'd certain new doctrines which his Followers have embrac'd and persisted in to this day Their Tenets are these That the New Testament only and not the Old ought to be the Rule of our Faith That in speaking of
you Reverend Sir What Sâ—ntâ—ment you have of those Magistrates who are of Opinion That no Man ought to be troubled or molested upon the score of Religion and That all Christians ought to be tolerated whatever disagreeing Sentiments they may have upon that Account If â—here were some of them amongst you I do not beliâ—ve you would receive them into your Communion at least thus far I am assur'd Thâ—t according to your own Principles you ought not to receive them Hâ—w then can you be of a Persuasion That the Magistrates of the Vnited Netherlands are of the Reformed Religion properly so called when as if they were at Geneva or in Cantons you cannot admit them to communicate with you You know that Monsieur d' Huisseaâ— Pastor of the Church of Saumar was some years since depos'd and excommunicated by the Synod of the Province for the Book which he had publâ—sh'd for the Toleration and Re-Union of Christians Though I have read it yet cannot I call to mind all the Maxims whâ—ch he advances and maintains Mean time this I â—m assured of That he does not advise a greater Toleration of Christians than what the States-General do effectually grant Which is as much as to say That the Magistrates of these Countries have time out of mind practis'd that which that Minister has taught by the Book which he writ some years since If it be so I cannot imagine the Minister should be more in Fault than they are since he has offended only by his Writings and the Magistrates are effectual Offenders They have been the Doers of the Mischief and he has been but the Teacher of it and possibly induc'd thereto by their Example If you are of Opinion That the said Minister was justly and legally excommunicated you must certainly be guilty of a strange Partiality if you allow the Name of your good Brethren in Jesus Christ to the Magistrates of the Low-Countries who â—or those hundred years past have committed the Evil fâ—r which that Minister hath been excommunicated though he had not done it and but only approv'd the Doing of it If therefore you cannot own them for Brethren nor admit them to the participation of the Communion with you according to the Maxiâ—s of your own Religion and Discipâ—ines can it enter into your Belâ—â—f That the external Profession which they make of your Religion is sufficient to give him the denomination of being of it as well as you But if the Magistrates did acquit themselves of the Devoir whereto the Reformed Religion does particularly oblige Magistrates I should make no difficulty to grant them the Privilege of Attributing to the State which they govern the Name of the Religion which they profess I believe you will grant me That the Reformed Magistrates are after the Example of your Cantons oblig'd to obstruct the Establishment and publick Exercise of false Religions and the Magistrates themselves of the Low-Countries cannot be ignorant of what their own Confession of Faith review'd and approv'd by the Synod of Dort prescribes to them upon this occasion The xxxvi Article in which mention is made of Magistrates saies expressly That it is their Duty to remove Idolatry and the false service of God to endeavour the destruction of Antichrist and to advance the Kingdom of Jesus Christ I cannot imagine therefore that you should endeavour to maintain That the States-General do conscientiously acquit themselves of what they are olig'd to by their charge of Magistracy after what I have said to you of the Liberty and Indulgence they grant to so many different Sects which by their erroneous opinions subvert the principal Mystery of our own Religion If you consult your own Sentiments and those of your Collegues and of all your Ministers and if you follow the Practice of all your own Churches you are oblig'd to exclude out of your Communion all those Magistrates who give that Liberty to all sorts of Sects and Persuasions How then can you think that those Magistrates whom the Ordinances of your own Churches permit not to communicate with you can give the Name of your Religion to the State which they govern Nay there are some Magistrates at Amsterdam and Rotterdam two of the principal and most wealthy Cities of Holland who make a publick and open Profession of their being Arminians The Sieur Adrian Patius who is one of the Magistracy of Rotterdam is also an Arminian and his Religion hinders not his exercising the Charge of Ambassadour from the States-General at the Spanish Court where he at present is I know not whether he be of those of the Sect who do absolutely follow the Sentiments of the Socinians But if that person be a Socinian and in his Return from Spain should be in Humour to take his way through your Cantons I know not whether the worst that might happen to him would be a Denyal of Reception into your Communion Upon the Summing up therefore of all I have said to you I am apt to think that you cannot still have the same Opinion of the States-General and continue your calling them a Holy and sanctify'd Republick Could you represent to your self that strange party-colour'd Chequer-work of Religion which is to be seen in those Countries I should hardly believe that you could persist any longer in the good Sentiments you have for this State I am ready to acknowledg That the Protestants are oblig'd to it for the liberty they have to live there without any fear in the exercise of Religion But are not all sorts of Hereticks equally oblig'd to it for the liberty they have to live there quietly in the exercise of their Religions If this State has been a Sanctuary to those of the Reformation all Hereticks have also found refuge there as well as the others In the General Diet held in Poland in the Year 1658. it was Order'd by a Publick Decree That all the Socinians who were very numerous in that Country and had their Principal Seat there should be sent away thence and that after some time allow'd them for the disposal of their Estates they were to be for ever banish'd thence The States-General did charitably receive all those amongst them who took refuge in this Country and it is particularly since that time that they have notoriously increas'd and multiply'd If this State be the School of the Reformed Party it is in like manner the School the Damme and the Nursery of all Hereticks Nay I am in some suspense whether it may not be justly maintain'd That Christian Religion has receiv'd more detriment than advantage by the establishment of this State And possibly for the same interest of Christian Religion there will be a greater obligation to wish its ruine then its wellfare It will be a very hard matter to persuade you to this since you are of Opinion That the Republick of the Vnited Provinces is a most-Christian State and one of the most Reform'd even amongst Christians I know not whether
Power superior to his might upon the reception of such a Command from it rebell against him That Prince having by this malicious information conceived a very great Distrust of all the Christians in general resolv'd upon an absolute extermination of them and that not any one should ever be suffer'd to live in his Territories All the Cruelties which the ancient Tyrants ever inflicted upon Christians are no great mattter in compâ—rison of whâ—t that Prince exercisâ—â— upon the Catholicks who were found in his Dominions He put all to death with grievous yet long-lasting Torments nay there were many cut off who were not Christians upon a suspicion of their lying conceal'd amongst them that so not one might escape his fury After so Bloody and Cruâ—l an Execution he put fâ—â—â—h most severe Edâ—cts by which he Order'd That there should never any Christian bâ— permitted to enter into his Territories The Dutch having crept in there as I told you before by a flat denial of their being Christians acknowledg'd afterwards that they were indeed some of those people to whom that name was given but that for their parts they minded only their Trade and never troubled themselves with any thoughts of their Religion They voluntarily made this Profer that they would never speak to the Inhabitants of the Country either of God or of Jesus Christ or his Religion nor perform any Exâ—rcise of it themselves and that they would so live as that it should not be known that they ever were Christians The Emperor of Japan finding the Dutch so well inclin'd was of Opinion That he had no cause to be afraid of them though they were Chris\tians since they promis'd to live at such a Rate as if in effect they were not such He thereupon permitted them to live iâ— his Territories upon the conditions which they had propos'd themsâ—lves The Dutch who never executed any Treaty when it was more for their advantage to violate it did very Sincerely and Religiously observe this with the Emperor of Japan because it is destructive to the Interests of Religion and highly beneficial to them upon the scâ—re of Trade They have ever since Liv'd and still do Live in the Dominions of that Prince without the performance of any Function of God's Service without having the Bible or any other Godly Book or Treatise of Piety for the doing of their Devotions in private But I am withal to â—â—ll you Reverend Sir That what you read of these Transactions of the Dutch in those remote parts of the World you are not so to look upon as if that so detestable an Agreement made with the Emperour was the private determination of a certain number of Dutch Merchants resident in those Parts but you are to consider what they did as done by the express Order of the Directors of the Company establish'd in that Country who have ratify'd it and promoted the execution of it All the Dutch who are return'd into this Country since that Treaty was made having publish'd it all that have any concern for Vertue and Christianity in these Provinces have express'd themselves much astonish'd thereat The Ministry made some stirr about it and there have been several Acts made in their Synods in order to the making of Remonstrances and Complaints thereof to the States-General I cannot precisely tell what Resolution tha States-General have yet taken thereupon but I know that they have not taken any for the breaking off of so Impious and so Scandalous a Treaty Their deportment in this very case may justly create a belief That they are of the Sentiment of that Renegado Jew Spinosa of whom I have already given you an account though he has not any thing of Christianity It is that Author's design in his Treatise called Tractatus Theologo-Politicus pag. 62. of the Latine Edition to prove That Baptisme the Sacrament of the Eucharist Prayers and all the external Functions of Gods Service which are and ever have been common to all Christians in case they were appointed by Jesus Christ or his Apostles of which he saies that he is not assur'd were appointed as he maintains but only as external signs of the Universal Church and not as things any way conducive to Beatitude or having any sanctity in themselves and that they who live in Solitude are not oblig'd to the performance of them And that they who have their Habitations in remote Countries where the Exercise of the Christian Religion is prohibited are oblig'd to abstain from those Ceremonies and may yet do well enough in order to a happy life To prove the Proposition which he advances he alledges the example of what the Dutâ—h do in Japan In which Country the Christian Religion being prohibited he affirms That the Dutch are oblig'd by the command of the Directors of the East-India Company to forbear performing the exercise thereof From whence it may be deduc'd That that Action of the Dutch in Japan done and maintain'd by a publick Authority must needs be impious and detestable since this Author who makes an open profession of Atheisme makes Use of it as an irrefragable Reason to prove That all the external Services of the Christian Religion are not at all contributory to or advancive of satisfaction and that men may be never the less happy though they never mind them But if without any regard to the Sentiment of that Atheist you consider that Action in it self what could you imagine in the World of greater horror than that some Christians who wâ—uld pass for such as are of the Calvinistical way of Reformation could ever be induc'd to make an express prohibition and â—n absolute retrenchment of all exercise of Religion to their people in a â—ountry that they may there have a quiet exercise of their Trade And therefore I hope Reverend Sir that however you may have an over passionate kindness for the Dutch yet you will not have the confidence to deny their being guilty of the highest impiety in Sacrificing the interests of Christian Religion to their Commerce and Trade and making no Conscience or being any way concerâ—'d to see so many Persons live and Die without the exercise of any Religion as if they were without God and without hope only to make an unhappy profit by the loss of their Souls If you have had any account of the dreadful Execution which was committed by the same Dutch in the Island of Amboyna in the Year 1622 it is impossible but you must acknowledg that there is not any consideration of Religion able to divert them from the exercising of all sorts of Cruelties when the Dispute is about their interest and profit There were not Twenty English-men in that place and the Dutch had there a very grâ—aâ— Colony and a well fortifi'd Castle with a good Garrison in it They accus'd the English of having a design to take that Câ—stle though they had neither Arms nor Forces They are taken into custody upon that pretended Conspiracy
their Protection to a Protestant-State against a Catholick Prince Had your Politicks been known in the World those Princes would not have become guilty of what you think a great crime That a King should defend a State professing a Religion different from his own against a Prince who is of the same Religion with him If this Maxim comes once to establish'd you may very well fear that the most Christian King having his Eves open'd by your illuminations and following your example may withdraw his Protection from Geneva that so he may avoid the Reproach which may be made to him of having succour'd a City of the Huguâ—not-Persuasion against a Prince of his own Religion From this you may also take this further measure That the implicite affection which you have for the Dutch does expose you as also the Protestant-Cantons and your Allies to an evident danger of not receiving any more assistance from his most Christian Majesty against a Catholick Prince or State If it should ever happen that you were concern'd in such a War the plausible pretence of Zeal for Religion would prove very prejudicial to you in depriving you of the Assistance of the most Christian King who certainly is the greatest or to say better the only Support and Refuge that you can have Your Injustice therefore and your Ingratitude are so much the greater in as much as you cannot deny but that France has many times openly given its Protection to the Protestants in opposition to the Catholicks You know That for a long time it assisted the Dutch against the King of Spain even before there was any open War between the Two Crowns You know also That France gave an Overt Protection to the Protestant-Princes of Germany against the Emperour who had already devested several of them of their Dominions and would under the pretence of Religion become Master of all Germany The late King Lewis XIII made an Alliance with the King of Swedâ—n against the House of Austria and got that Prince to come out of the remoter Parts of the North to oppose the Ambitious Designs of that House to raise up the oppressed Princes â—nd to defend the Liberty of the Empire After the Death of Gustavus Adolphus France did again joyn its Arms with those of his Successors and the Generals of that Great King in a continuance of its Protection to the Protestants and for the re establishing of those Princâ—s in their Territories who had been dispossess'd of them But on the contrary the House of Austria had the greatest part of its Alliancâ—s with the Catholicks against the Protestants 'T was upon this that the Adherents of the Emperour and the King of Spain took occasion to publish Libels against the most Christian King whom they accus'd of being a Protector of Hereticks and fighting for them against the Interests of the Catholick Religion And yet all those Accusations which were put up against France upon that score obstructed not its persisting in the stipulations it had made to its Allies and continuing its Protection to the Protestants against the Violence of the Emperour who endeavour'd to oppress them Nay the King of France is in a manner the only Catholick Prince who allows the Protestants the Exercise of their Religion in his Dominions whereas the King of Spain would never Tolerate in his the Exercise of any other Religion than the Catholick And the Emperour has forc'd all the Protestants out of his Hereditary Countries And both the Emperour and the King of Spain think it highly meritorious in the sight of God to be the irreconcileable Enemies and implacable Persecutors of those whom they call Hereticks In the mean Reverend Sir it appears by your deportment That lâ—t the Protestants be never so transcedently oblig'd to his most Christian Majesty they should so little mind it as that the only resentment they have should have no other object than the Calamities which the Dutch endure by the War wherein he is now engag'd against them Your Compassion is so great for their Misery that you think you have a dispensation to forget all the Kindnesses which the most Christian King hath done to those of the Reformed Religion and not so much as to reflect on those he may yet do you in giving you assistance against your Enemies In a word your Bowels do so yearn for those poor Brethren of yours the Dutch that provided their preservation be secur'd you do not much concern your self what may become of you and all those of the Reformed Religion You are so blindly infatuated upon this subject that provided you demonstrate your good Inclinations for the Dutch you seem to be indifferent that you are thought a bad Huguenot and most wretched Politician The Dutch certainly are the best Politicians in the World for things relating to Religion which they never made any other Use of then that of accommodating it to the Interests of State Nay they have alwaies been so little concern'd at the danger of those who profess'd the same Reformed Religion that they made no scruple at all of entring into a War for their destruction upon the pure score of Money Of which take this instance I think you need not be inform'd Reverend Sir how that the Dutch sent a certain number of Ships to the most Christian King for the reinforcing of his Fleet by which Rochell was then block'd up That was indeed a War upon the pure score of Religion in which the most Christian King was engag'd against his Subjects to get out of their hands the fortify'd places which they were possess'd of and would keep to secure the observance of the Edicts and the Exercise of their Religion All the whole party of the Reformed-Religion in France were afraid That as soon as the King should have taken Rochell he would abrogate the Edict of Nantes and absolutely take away the Exercise of the Calvinisticall Religion All the other Reformed Princes and States had the same apprehension insomuch that publick prayers were made in all parts for the preservation of Rochell as a City on which depended the safety of all those of the Reformed Religion in France They had the same thoughts in the Vnited Provinces and prayers were made to God in all Churches that he would be graciously pleaâ—d to preserve Rochell as the impregnable Fort of those of the Reformed Religion And yet the Dutch made no scruple of hiring out Ships for money to the then most Christian King to promote the Destruction of a City which according to the apprehensions of all the World was certainly to have consequent thereto that of our Reformed Religion and of all those who profess'd it in the Dominions of France Was there ever seen any example of so detestable an impiety That a State which makes a boast of being of the Reformation should have made no Conscience for money of contributing to the Ruine of a great People who make profession of the same Religion and that at