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A30355
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Considerations and proposals presented to his late Highnesse Oliver, Lord Protector of England touching the not warring with Spain, or the more advantagious prosecuting thereof, after it was begun / by F.B.
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F. B.
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1659
(1659)
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Wing B58; ESTC R28325
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11,989
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19
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being hindred from fetching away any Wines from Thenerife for Holland and England such a general calamity will possesse most of the Natives that our designes will still finde the better progresse and what honour and advantage it will be to this Nation to have Thenerife and any other of the Islands is left to consideration Severall other Papers have bin given in with pertinent and seasonable hints as to the securing our Comerce and offending the Spaniard who every way as is shewne hath done us so much mischeif the contents whereof beeing fitter for the States consideration then to bee communicated I forbare to insert but nothing was put in execution how usefull soever And lastly though publickly enough knowne how the Plate Fleete was to returne from the Indias this Spring it was particularly in time motioned that a power might be ordered against them which would have easily bin made up by sending a Squadron to joyne with Capt Stoakes that hath done little good where he lyes had this bin effected and our Ships taken and destroyed that Fleete as in probability they might with small charge to the Nation what advantage it would afforded us and losse with disappointment to the Spaniard may be judged but they are safely got home without disturbance which occasions not only the Spaniards but most other Nations to deride us for keeping such Fleetes as since the Warre wee have done abroade to so vast an expence only scouring the Seas when wee had not visible enemies to Incounter and to withdraw them as we have done at the very time when wee should watchfully attend such of the adversaries Fleetes as assuredly wee had advice were a coming insomuch that after this contest we have obtayned little of value from the Spaniard more then what taken by the Squadron left with Cap Stayner and that by meere accident when the great body of our Fleete was retired to Lisboa for water and provisions the which kinde of proceedings makes many good English-men suspect the Warre was undertaken rather to destroy the strength purse and trade of the Nation then to offend the enemie which with halfe the power sent out and charges wee have bin at wisely ordered might have bin ere this time reduced to a different condition then that hee is in but in this covetous age have not our Councils secrets bin opened by the Spanish Golden Key at leastwise contrary to the practice of the wisest Nations Among us hath not the management of the most weighty transactions of State and Navies bin committed to persons unexperienc't as if some of the present generation beyond all former were borne capable of such high emploiments without being educated and gradually instructed thereunto let the causes be what they were the instruments are known and this Nation is made too sensible of the Spanish Warre and other transactions by its continuall osses and sufferings God grant those now in Authority Abilities Intentions and Indeavours more prudentially to carry on affairs for future so as the general interest of the people of this Nation may precede all private respectâ— whatâ—â—ver and be restored to their rights Religious and Civil that have bin so long clouded FINIS The Commissioners of the Admiraltie Navie and Purse of this Nation know best with certainly what this Expedition and incident Charge hath cost but of other judicious men its generally judged to be about two Millions of li sterling What an opportunitie did this Nation lose in not humbling the Hollander so as that he might never have thwarted our interest again as ever since he bath done and now Grives for the Mastery in Power and Commerce And as we then stood we might have had our own termes with France Spain and all others and how different our condition now is may be discerned How was our Army beaten by a few despicable Mongrel-Spaniards Shepherds and Blacks that way-laid them in places of advantage through which they were to march Most of the Soldiery and many Seamen perisht for want of Provisions or eating such as was spoil't and not agreeing with the Climate Some of the Ships were lost and the rest came home in a decayed tottering condition whose repairs was sufficiently chargeable Beside our Army being so dishonourably repulft and dispirited at Sancto Domingo what supplies of men and other necessaries have to little purpose been since sent to Jamaica is rather felt then duely considered or rightly known The successe we had in the India's fully answers this particular By our traffick Manufactories and employment of our shipping were we furnish't with the India-silver The Merchants of this Nation lost in the yeare 1655. by the Spanish Imbargo which was made by reason of this Fleets Proceeding to the India's above 500000 livre. sterling to the ruining of many able men and their families Much of our Manufactory hath ceased for want of vent to our Commodities in Spain and the scarcity of coine in the Nation in part bespeaks this truth Was not the Jesuites hand in this designe aiming at the ruine of our Fleets and men with the disrepute of the Nation and indeed it s to be admired that such a Conduct should be committed to a person that had never been out of England and scarce heard of much lesse experimented what People and Countrey he was to deal with in America They have enjoyed as free a Trade as when we had peace with Spain putting their Commodities at what rates they pleased and prohibited the bringing in of ours What damages the Pirates of Sansebastians and Pasage have since done this Nation all Traders too well know which might have been prevented of such a Squadron if our Frigats had been allotted and the subjects of Spain would have been made sensible of a Warre as well as the English No ships being ordered from hence the men of Warre sailing out of Galicia have surprized many of our vessels trading for Portugal Barbary the Canary-Islands c. There was never a Frigat sent for the Canaries since the Warres except General Blakes Fleet rather the Spanish Pirates have there surprized our Merchant men and Natives sold the Wines of the Countrey at double the value of what it was formerly worth in time of Peace For want of such ships in the Streights mouth have we lost many a rich vessel trading in the Levant c. and the enemie there was never interrupted by any that went for the purpose This Nation hath lost by the Pirates of Sansebastians Pasage Galicia Majork c. near 1000. Saile of Ships which beside disappointment and weakening the Commonwealth are reputed to be worth above two Millions of pounds sterling occasioned meerly for want of having men of Warre in the parts desired the charge of which would have been borne by the Custom and Excise due to the State of our lost Goods All Hollanders French and others have been tolerated though our Fleets lay there to carry in Provisions and Ammunition without disturbance Such have very much strengthned the Adversaries in furnishing their ships and putting them upon such matters as of themselves they could never have accomplisht to our great prejudice We had above twenty Sail of good men of Warre ready at Portsmouth in Decemb. 1655. and had they been sent away for Cales would have taken and spoilt their Plate-Fleet that arriv'd there about March following On the contrary instead of oppressing the Spaniard the English have in so high a manner suffered by our ill managing the War that most of the Stock and Trade of the Nation is lost They could not have subsisted six moneths without supplies from abroad They were all destroyed by General Blake in Sancta Cruz road General Blake then lay before Cales Holland Merchant-men by degrees brought all the silver and other India-Commodities from the Ilands of which they might have bin hindred by five or six men of War and justly made prize of as carrying none but Spaniards Goods They were possest with such fear after the fight in Sancta Cruz that the Iland and Treasure might have been surprized by a small Army of well disciplin'd Soldiers and Seamen The Fleets was worth near foure millions of pounds sterling and the Iland for its bignesse one of the best in the world Never a ship went nor any other diligence used as to this thing Two dayes after General Blake burnt the Calions in Sancta Cruz came thither from the Indies a Spanish Ship worth above 300000 li. which might have bin taken had any of our Frigats layn thereabout and so might many others that arriv'd
which are so chargeable Doubtlesse his Highnesse will have deeply weighed what businesse may be undertaken especially of such importance yet forasmuch as this is a matter that falls not into the reach of all men and that heed must be given to such as pretend to know most in it 't is to be hoped that those private persons will not eye more any particular end of interest or revenge of wrongs received before the good of their Countrey which his Highness is beseeched to examine as also that their Drifts be not to scatter the Nations forces that are now terrible to its enemies into many places for their destruction which otherwise cannot be so easily wrought Some Considerations humbly remitted to his Highnesse the Lord Protector in order to the better Prosecution of a Warre with Spaine delivered about Novemb. 1655. IN the Bay of Biscay among others are the chief Ports of Sansebastian and Bilhao being the inlets of Commodities that furnish the Northern parts of Castile and other Provinces of Spain especially with Fish of which that Countrey vents great quantities and will be supplied by the French and Dutch with whatsoever they have occasion for except this State prevent the same by keeping men of Warre upon that Coast but foure or five Frigats will hinder all their trade and deprive the places aforesaid of other conveniences to the losse of the Kings Customes and Livelihood of the inhabitants which will make them clamorous more particularly when they cannot sell their Countrey goods as Wools Iron c. nor receive grain from forreign parts of which many times they stand in great want and the said Frigats will hinder the attempts of the men of Warre of Sansebastians that otherwise may be very offensive to our English Merchants ships and these Frigats may be sheltered in the Coast of France or in St. Antonio an open Port of the Spaniards near Bilhao upon occasions of bad weather and may happily meet the Hollanders that are now lading the Spanish Wools there appertaining to the Asentistas which are to go for Flanders to help pay the souldiery In the Provinces of Galicia and Asturias seated between Biscaya and Portugal the said King of Spain hath a vast revenue out of the salt that is brought into those parts from South Spain by Hollanders and others of which they may be totally deprived by keeping five or six Frigats about those parts which is a good Coast and they may harbour themselves in stormy weather in the Islands of Bayona and Donis and there refresh themselves with water at pleasure against all the power that Countrey can make and the taking of the said salt will not be only the Kings losse but the whole Countrey must be driven to great extremities and not be able to follow their Fishing trade which is the greatest maintenance the common people have and said Frigats will lie opportunely to secure our Traders against the Sally-men of Warre that usually frequent those Coasts and Dunquerquers that are already there and will every day increase to prey upon our Merchants ships that go for Portugal and other places The Canary-Islands have great dependencies one upon the other which are in all seven for Corne Cattel c. especially great part of their subsistence consists in a Fishing trade which they drive in small vessels for the Coast of Barbary but two or three nimble small Frigats will take most of their Boats in a short time and reduce them to much necessity and the trade of this Nation failing which is the chief support they have those parts will in a manner be ruined and the said Frigats may refresh themselves at all times in the Madera Island belonging to the King of Portugal about seventy Leagues distant from the Canaries Malaga-Alicants and Valentia within the Streights are places abounding with Wine Oile and Fruit the greater part whereof was brought for England and that trade failing the generality of people will be brought to hardship the rather if we have men of Warre upon their Ports to examine all strangers and deprive them from carrying Provisions without which they cannot well subsist and Commodities lying in the inhabitants hands as they must if strangers bring them not hither will be for the most part lost But the grand businesse of all will be to have a Fleet near the Bay of Cales to hinder that place Sevilla and Saintlucar from Commerce and to beat the Armada they have now out which being done in long time will not that King be able to make a power sufficient to encounter our Fleet nor bring home his treasure from the Indiaes and it were to be wished that said Fleets might consist of a competent number of the old Navie ships the better to handle their Galions which are strongly built and have great Ordnance and into this Fleet may upon any urgent Occasion be drawn the other Frigats from the Coast of Galicia and Biscaya being so near at hand the putting off which in the aforesaid stations is reasonably to be judged will be of more prejudice to Spain in a short time then the loss of the Plate Fleet and the charge of this State will be small in the doing therof and by this meanes likewise will the King of Spain be deprived of having his Galions that are now providing in Biscaya Naples and other places to joyne with his great Fleet or Ammunition and other necessaries for the same that in great part is furnish't from Sansebastians and Pasage A strict charge were needful to be given all Sea Commanders for the examining of Ships bound into the Spanish Dominions concerning Provisions Cordage Sail-Clothes Masts Tarre Armes c. in that therein will depend their being able to set forth a Fleet of Ships or not And forasmuch as many English and Scotch Seamen do in too great numbers frequent Biscaya Dunkirk and other Pirating places to the encouragement of Rovers it were a matter worth consideration whether it may not be convenient to set out a Proclamation inviting home all such as appertain to this Common-wealth and if after a set time they continue in the service of any Prince or State in enmity with this Nation to be proceeded against according to their contempt if taken the sooner a good Squadron of Ships were sent to the Coast of Spain is conceived would be the bettet considering how many Merchants vessels we have abroad that are subject to be surprized and taken by the Spaniard as many have lately been which will be a great encouragement and strength to them and losse to this Nation These and such like courses being taken will deprive the King of Spain of the greater part of his Incomes and render his people incapable to pay taxes which are heavy upon them and consequently his Armies and Garrisons will be neglected in pay and Provisions some of his remotest territories will revolt or be taken from him