A NEW HAVEN AT SANDWICH, FOR THE Honour, Advantage, and Safety OF ENGLAND: Faithfully Discovered in a Letter to the Right Honourable the Earl OF CLARENDEN Lord High CHANCELLOR OF ENGLAND. By J.S. Quid faciendum Princeps consulat cum multis, quid faciet, secum. London Printed for N. Brooks at the Angel in Cornhill. A NEW HAVEN AT SANDWICH, FOR THE Honour, advantage, and Safety OF ENGLAND etc. My Lord, IT is an eminent instance of God's Providence in the Conduct of sublunary States, so to order those whom the Divine pleasure maketh choice of as Instruments of his favour, sometimes for establishing and preservation, other while for regaining and augmentation of Empires; as that he causeth their ability amiably to shine in ' its full brightness of integrity and wisdom amidst the darkness of corrupted Ages, putting them into credit in the midst of disorder; raising them in the middle of ingratitude; supporting them in the throng of envies, * Degeneres animos invidia invenit aut facit; emulatio nobiles. illustrating them among clouds of calumnies; * Apud incautos semper aliquid fortis calumniae haeret, apud prudentes nubecula est, quae cito transibit. Anglia, tu Romam dnbita vel dona ferentem! conferring on them (yet) this virtue of honourable wisdom, not for their honour, though not without it; nor, as to others in an angry smile of overflowing success, suffering it to become rank ground of ambition and vanity; but through the gentle breathe of counselling inspiration, and the mellowing dews of Heaven upon them, making it fruitful for ever-growing occasion, and of grand Obligation, to employ and improve in transactions of importance both Virtue and Authority for public Utility: So they (ever holding it fitting, sometime to give that way in less important transactions, which they would never do, in the obtaining what is fitting in more principal occurrents,) keep the Sheat-Anchor for great Tempests, Credit and Authority for eminent occasions; small ones never detain it; to the end, great ones may meet it in its full vigour. And after they have thus demonstrated themselves worthy Co-operators with his providence in so great a work, He for ever conserveth the memorial of their Names sacred in the embalming and embalmed Monuments of Royal and Loyal breasts; (each Heroic and generous Heart proving their living Tomb; each Authorizating & grateful tongue their never dying Epitaph;) & all to this end, that their Virtue having been so greatly advantageous to the Age they lived in, their example might be no less beneficial unto Posterity. My Lord, long before and since you have appeared on the Theatre of this now flourishing Kingdom, your also adequate deserts have installed you among the wisest of those Ancient Worthies, your Praedecessours in time, no Antecedents in the riches from above; and from whom without a boast (so bounteous hath Heaven been unto you) your Loyalty and Wisdom writ you lineally descended; it being a Golden Record in the rolls of Truth, that Whose Virtues or Vices any one imitates, those be his Praedecessours. The Honourable virtues having gone before you as well as them, and still accompanying you in your gradations, undoubtedly are supernally decreed to follow you after death; for since they marched before you, like Heralds, opening the way for you to nobler designs, and the tutoured world beholds them your inseparable convoys in the wary administration of those higher trusts belonging to so great a Minister of State; how can it be, but that (in the reign too of a Second, and more divine, Augustus) Virtue and Honour, Honour and Virtue must needs prove your inter-wreathed Crown after your decease. My Lord, when His Majesty (whose Preservation England beholds a continued miracle of unmerited mercy, hopes and prays it to be perpetuated) in a filial condescension of transcendent duty, adventured his most royal Person in a Pleasure Boat to meet that living martyr The Meek Queen-Mother, and report came of a great danger past; All men (I treat not of Devils) were not more glad of the wished-true News, then amazedly frighted at the incertainty. The Storm shown itself, methoughts, a very excellently well bred and convenient Counsellor, so gravely (as it were) advising his most Sacred Majesty to make to Land-wards; And at landing, right faithfully whispering in his ear, how That dispute there, was not about The Dominion of the Narrow Seas, indubitably His, and unanimously against all Invaders; but only a sudden qualm from superfluity of waterish humours probably provoked through over-vexing: It troubled and fretted them, belike, for the time not a little, to see (not Him, but) Him there (where yet even Storms and in their greatest tumults, we find, to how many's shame on Land! to their Sovereign remained loyal) and not at Land; where (when ever arising) to dispel them by the Majesty of his eye, His Sacred self knew (better then any other) to be the interest of his presence. If Storm, my Lord, benot so proper (and in its remembrance, so toothsome) a Metaphor for a Counsellor, (yet wholesome, for Olim haec meminisse juvabit) will your Honour be pleased to allow Neptune a Petitioner to his Majesty in behalf of poor England (a very poor Land at that time without Him; and undone, had not Heaven had pity on that Merchant, whose whole Treasure here and there floated in one bottom:) 'Twas a Petition and a very lamentable one, pretty well penned, nothing amiss, freely (without any seeing) and with very good dispatch presented unto His Majesty by an ingenious noble Mr. of Requests The Storm (that Metaphor, I hope, your Lordship may admit:) And, as Petitions use, most humbly showing in brief how the case stood, and in plain terms beseeching His Majesty to Land; importuning withal (as other Petitions, especially at Court) all possible expedition; concluding too, as all Petitionary custom is (very handsomely) for His Majesty's long Life and most happy Reign, and soforth. The wary Mariners (God reward them) approved themselves expert Philosophers in refusing to adventure into Sandwich Creek, which choked by the Sands, they knew (experimentally, by a Nil dat quod non habet) could not give harbour to others, since its own deficiency and our dishonour it hath a long time been, not to be made one herself. A work so suitable to the royalty of the Crown, to the dignity of unconquered Kent, to the splendour of the King's Chamber The Downs, to the honour, advantage, and safety of the whole Nation, that it had proved too hard a riddle for so poor an Oedipus as I to resolve, how it possibly could be moved to King Edward the sixth, Queen Eliz. King James, King Charles the first, of blessed memory; and yet in none of the Times of those unparallelled Princes be performed; but that 'tis conjecturable, there might be then, and so now as well as then, men, that (rather I hope out of inconsideration; then, as may be feared, out of mischievous intention) cared not (to use the expression of an ancient Beau-clerk) though the Kingdom publicly suffered in the main, so they could but maintain their own PRIVATE Fishponds. England, my Lord, hath ever been reputed the most famous Island of the whole world, both for situation, fertility, and riches: which riches have been principally achieved by Navigation, whereof the Royal Navy is the maintainer, whose Court of Guard (as well in times of peace as War) was always kept in the Downs. The Downs is the Lock and Key of the narrow Seas, and the Dominion of the narrow Seas is the indubitable right of the Crown, which honour cannot be maintained but by the Navy; and the Navy, time out of mind hath been ever kept (except occasionally some few at Portsmouth) at Chatham in the river Medway: (Wolwich and Deepford, both in the river of Thames, I look on as places for building ships:) from which place (I mean Chatham) no ship, the wind being Easternly, can be speedily sent forth for defence of the Land in times of Invasion; which is an unspeakable dis-advantage to the Kingdom, and therefore no less dishonour to the Nation, in regard it may be remedied, by making a new Haven betwixt Sandwich Town and the Downs, so capacious as 40 of the King's ships (or a greater number) may lie there in a readiness; And (I am very credibly informed) may be remedied without any cost to his Majesty, if graciously pleased (in his indubitate great judgement) to grant a Commission out of his high Court of Admiralty, according to a Petition long since presented to his Majesty by Sam. Garthwait and W. Fathers Gent. Concerning prize-good and wrecks taken since the year, 1642, neither accounted for, nor satisfied, nor pardoned, but remaining due to the Crown, concealed in divers able persons hands, to a greater value then sufficient to defray this royal work for an Haven near Sandwich; and, being without any illegal prejudice to any person whatsoever, it cannot (and not otherwise) but be looked upon by the whole Nation as a most just and very honourable employment in His Majesties (most meritorious) Service for the public good. So far reach the certain Inconveniencies, arising from th'incertainty of the wind, which though not numerous, yet very weighty, because in future times of necessity may prove most mischievous to the public in its chief concernment, Safety * Primò consulendum de salute, postea de dignitate. Cice. ; (& no less in its honour) and hazardous expense to become fruitless; as plainly appeared in the year 1639. * In the beginning of September 1639. there came 66. Spanish ships into the Downs treble man'd, for they had ten thousand Land Soldiers in them. At which time Sir John Pennington road Admiral in the Downs, with five of his Majesty's ships, four of his Majesty's Pinnaces, and two or three inconsiderable Merchant ships. When the King heard that there was such a Fleet arrived there, He presently commanded that twelve great ships should be prepared at London and Chatham, to be sent unto Sir John Pennington with all possible speed, to strengthen his Forces. But notwithstanding the King's command, and much posting, (the like whereof was never known) the Wind being Easternly, the fight betwixt the Spaniards and the Dutch was ended three days before they could get those twelve ships into the Downs. Whites Journal, p. 9 The conveniencies both probable and present, I shall, my Lord, most humbly and faithfully to the utmost extent of my narrow apprehension (next) present to your Lordships more fully discerning reflections, and best determinating judgement. My Lord, all men know, Dunkirk is lately made stronger than ever; and though it be yet at least a fair Neuter, yet in case in change of Times it should prove a rash Opponent; Sandwich thus fortified would prove a ready Respondent for England's both honour and safeguard, and perhaps prove an happy Medium to confute it to the Crown again: And then, who might not easily turn Prophet? that to furnish more orderly our Lent-Messes (provided still, English stomaches may have more relishing appetite to Fish then of late; otherwise my Lord, no talk against stomach) the Fishing Trade itself, 'twixt two such strong Nets, would one time or other be caught swimming in to the bargain. But (for the Proverbs sake) I leave all these brain-swimming Probabilities; because till reduced into act, they so near resemble the rambling Aquatilia, which are never valued till caught. But these following Commodities are not probabilities (which yet ought never to be despised) but certainties; and therefore these Certainties, since commodious to the public and in so high degree, will be (unless I am mistaken in those I call (under the Rose) Certainties; for I am not in those I acknowledge under the Throne Judges) surely embraced. 1. There will be many thousand pounds saved to the King, by mooring a great part of the Navy there, where they will be in a readiness within two day's warning to be sent to Sea, whereas being at Chatham, it oftentimes proves the work of many weeks. 2. Another Commodity is, they may be victualled there, the transportation whereof from London is no small charge to the King. 3. The King may also have in readiness there a Magazine of Anchors, Cables, Masts of several Sizes, with all other necessaries for service. Give me leave my Lord, upon this third Commodity or Convenience to make a short Debate; since (which I heard many years ago in the University from a wise man, Doctrinally on a Text of solomon's, Eccles. 1.14.) It is a wise man's part to consider: However it behoveth me, out of the great reverence I bear to the Eagle-sighted, to be as advisedly wary as possibly I can in my presentments to your eye. I ingenuously confess, some have held, that in a great Estate there might mischiefs happen by any great provision of Arms in one place; for that he, who hath a Traitorous mind to mutinic, to arm those of his Faction, and to deprive his Sovereign of the means to make use of such Warlike provision, may make a design to seize upon the place, where it is kept: But by the same reason, we must not draw together any Treasure to supply us in any emergent unexpected necessity, neither fortify any places, lest that coming to lose our money and our places, our Enemy should grow stronger, and we the weaker. But wisdom prevents all suchlike inconveniencies; the which we must employ to keep our advantages, and to make use of them, before that the Enemy seize on them: Yet, if he doth seize on them, we may not thereupon conclude, that the provision ought not to have been made; but, that it is our fault, who made it, not to be able or rather careful to keep it. It is certain, that a Sword or a Knife would cut him that knows not how to handle it; but we may not therefore say, that we must neither make Sword nor Knife: So in all particulars there may be inconveniencies; But, those, which by foresight may be prevented, should not hinder us from doing that, which may otherwise very beneficially serve us both for our advantage and safety: And therefore, my Lord, 4. The place, where the Ships and Stores shall be kept, may be contrived and made into a strong Garrison, by building so many Forts, as seem requisite according to the several circumspect and Grave Advisoes of his Majesty's Council, and of each of which particulars Himself is sole Judge. And 5. As this would be a very high heartening to the Common Guard there in all times of War; So it will be as deep a discouragement to any Enemy, for daring with so apparent hazard to arrive there; lest over-eagerly transported into a ridiculous self-flattering fit of invasion, they find it easier to out-sail their supposed wits, than their assured overthrow. My Lord, Forts make a chief part of the Forces of a Kingdom; and they, which have been of opinion, that they should not build any, have been confuted by Reason and Use; So as there have been few found, unless they were some petty popular Estates, that will follow their counsel. The Grecians and Romans (who had less need during their Empires, than any other Estate, for that all submitted themselves under their yoke) entertained Citadels at Corinth, Tarentum, and Rhegium: And if the Capitol had not been strong, the Empire of Rome had been smothered in the very Cradle of its own Infantine growth by the Gauls. (There be three words very frequent in the World's fancy; Observation, Consideration, Moderation. But, Experience (the Guide of Man's understanding, Ruler of his Will, Over-ruler of his Opinion; and which renders him real, of deeper insight then to be carried away with appearances (though double guilt) but able through the varnished Vizards of disguised Interests to discern betwixt truth and truths-likeness) discovereth those three so frequent Mottoes not hitherto so flowing in most men's tongues and Pens, as ebbing in their practice. I have not altogether omitted some use of the first in this case of Forts; and still retaining it, shall thereupon essay a little further by the second; aiming (as steadily as I can) at Moderata juvant in the beneficial result of the third.) The Estates, in which are no strong places, are conquered by one Battle, England formerly hath testified it. And an Ancient Counsellor to Henry the 4th. and Lewis the 13th. of France said then, that the Persian relying only on the number of his men, had lost in one Battle a great extent of his Country, the which the Turk afterwards preserved by Forts. For although Forts alone cannot much assist an Estate, yet being seconded by Armies, they make it invincible; and there being no Armies on foot, they give the Sovereign leisure to raise them; and after a rout, to rally his men together to renew the War. Yet by this it is not inferred, that that Estate which hath most Forts is strongest; For it is impossible to guard many well; and some being ill-guarded, they prove more prejudicial to the Estate, then profitable for the defence. A Kingdom ought therefore to have few, but well-furnished with Men, Victuals and Ammunition. My Lord, Whether this near Sandwich ought, or ought not, be one of those few, may be, if allowed, the Question. And if your Lordship's command should authorise me freely to speak what I think; and I should be so lucky in my (though improbably yet possibly cross-declared) opinion, submittingly to agree with your reserved judgement, which possibly also may be (for any thing I know) it ought not: as it would be (then) in me, even because a private person, but the opinion of one Dunce; so it could be in your Honour but the judgement of one Doctor, though the most excellent known. I can assure to your honour those words contain no humorous criticisms of any Mystical presumptuous sense, but discover only that modest sobriety that ought to confine all private men's opinions in their rash public censures; which, when by haphazard (though that rarely) true, rove but at random; as having not obedient humility enough to attend the more safe and judicious conduct of their better acquainted Guides. But if (which is more than probable, because of my present writing) I think this near Sandwich ought to be one of those few; my opinion herein can amount no higher than to be still opinion; of one, who ought, and doth, humbly present it, not by way of anticipation, but submission. But if your Lordship also (or rather, only) think it aught, (for then it matters not, whether a private capacity thought so or not,) that very thought in you (though it made not opinion in me to be judgement, yet it) makes the Design a justice due to the Nation; espeyially since all impediments (therein) of charge to His Majesty be removed: Grant me thereupon, my Lord, so much gracious allowance, as to remember unto your Honour, that even as those stars meeting in Conjunction with the Sun, do much avail toward the causing of his influences to become good and favourable unto us; as the Pleyades, which cause the light to appear pleasing and gracious unto us at the Springs return, whereas the Canicular Star makes it scorching in summer: So the Earl of Clarenden, moving (in this, and like noble Designs) the Royal will and Authority of so Divine a Prince as our Sovereign Lord the King, concurreth in the numerous influences of his grace with the Light of our eyes, becoming thereby (like the harmonious Pleyades) a favourable Organ and Heroick Instrument of a most fortunate and established Age. My Lord, Justice tending to the good of others, is as it were an essential quality to public persons, obliging them both to love and procure the public good; which not only Laws and Reason teach us, but even Nature itself dictates unto us; For is it not apparent in all sublunary things, yea in the very Heavens and in the Angels also, that whatsoever is destinated for the Common good, operateth not for itself, but employeth itself for all? Do not those mighty Courtiers, those confirmed Privadoes of the Deity in the Cabinet of the Beatific Vision, kept white by the same bounty that created them so; in an * Motus Angelorum fit in tempore imperceptibili, non indivisibili. Suarez. Non in instanti, quia sunt duo nunc, & est prius & posterius. Aquinas. imperceptible (though not indivisible) motion of Time, from their brighter Mansions make swift-winged Progresses to our dusty Cottages of clay, promptingly to communicate their illuminative and reductive ministrations of advisements and assistances to diminutive us the busy Aunts of this lower Orb? Yea, do not the very Heavens send forth their influences, the Sun his beams, the Earth its faecundity, the Trees their fruits, Fountains their waters, Bees their honey, Silkworms their delicate webs for all? Doth not the Liver distribute blood to all the veins, the Head motion to all the nerves, the Heart vigour to all the members? Is there any thing in nature which converteth to its own use what it hath received for the common good? See we not in reasonable creatures a desire, in unreasonable a motion, in insensible things a kind of inclination toward the general good of the Universe, whereby their particular good subsisteth? Is it not true that by natural instinct the Hand casts itself before the body, to recevie the strokes coming upon it, and how every part is inclinable to preserve the whole, though to its own ruin? Shall not then knowledge, reason, and justice cause that in Man, which a mere natural inclination effecteth in all other things? But is there any thing either more glorious, or which attracteth the creature nearer to the imitation of God, then to seek and procure public good? Is there any thing so noble in the world, as God? in man, as the Soul? in the body, as the Heart? in the tree, as the Root? All the tree is nourished by the Root, the Heart causeth life in the whole body, the Soul guideth the whole man, God governeth the whole World. A Fort near Sandwich, my Lord, were a Public good, if only for the safety of Sandwich; much more when of Kent also; but how noble a design were both a Fort and Haven there * At the King's landing in the Down's, the Mayor and Jurates of Sandwich Petitioned his Majesty for A New Haven; to whom His Majesty (in his accustomary ready apprehension) very judiciously balancing the great present charge, with the future far greater advantages to the Nation) most graciously declared a cheerful readiness of his royal inclination to so magnificent a work; provided moneys sufficient for so great a work, might (without grievance to any of his good Subjects) be found to effect it. Sometime after, both the Mayor and Aldermen of Canterbury, and also the Mayor and Jurates of Sandwich, together with many eminent Gentlemen of East- Kont, joined all in a grand Petition to His Majesty, for A New Haven at Sandwich. when for so great a good, as the safety, honour and advantage of all England? Since my Argument's quite spent, and I know not how far I myself also may (ere-aware) have over-gone myself; if we both must sink, we'll be smothered in roses: For, the Scene's changed to the Asylum of your Honour's Bosom. My Lord, your practising of virtue in your own particular, is a custom in you, but yet due ever to yourself, and is (as the world always goes) made a great matter; but whenever (like yourself) you nobly extend it to another's good, that Act, as carrying on it the winning face of Bounty (a greater Conqueror than beauty) in becoming (and therein claiming honours character) the kindly Fosterer of desert, is certainly much more glorious; to be so munificent then as to diffuse it abroad towards many, in the man of Honour must needs be right excellent; but to impart it to all, and in such royal designs as This, (and whose benefit redounds as well to After Ages) what? what can it be other in the most Noble Earl of Clarenden, then supereminent? I am in all my propensities ever (under the Thrones of God and the King) peculiarly, My Lord, Your Lordship's most humble and most Obedient Servant JOHN SLATER. July 23. 1663. POSTSCRIPT. THat Dunkirk was honourably parted with, I have heard to be the judgement of peaceable & wise men; and whosoever (among the too talkative rabble, ignorant ever of Reason of State) seem other wise in their opinions, their venting of them, though never so unseasonably, concerns not me, who quiet under Government, am nothing moved to credulity by what common Embroylers think. But I think it concerns every man (as to Salvation) to think & think again, what they say indirectly against Government; And (as to safety) what Government directly may say to them. These tongue-bravadoes (possibly) may in their minorities one time or other have received a smart secret lick, if not open bang, at the vulgar weapon. Why then, 'tis mere trifling away of any man's time, others and his own quiet, after a sound knock on the pate at cudgels, to venture at sharp, and so wilfully revive disreputation. It needs no second thoughts to consider, Shortest errors to be the best. And among the Fathers 'tis spoke of St. Austin (formerly a Manichee) Though He came the latest, He went the farthest in Christianity; which I am inclinable to attribute to the royal mercy of divine grace, in so signally honouring the humility of his Retractations. I am sure, what is of the God of peace will stand, what is from passion, will come to naught, but repentance; and then (but perhaps) pardon: And after— Moniti meliora— is a seasonable dish, if stomach will fall too; if not, Obstinacy laying the Cloth, Confusion will bring in the Voider: Officij & gratitudinis ergo precemur omnes. Vivat Rex Fidei Defensor (& corroboretur cor in manu Domini) paenâ incorrigibilium, praemio bonorum gloriosus, clementiâ dignis misericors, indignis severus, omnibus justus: salvae Reginae: Dux fortis Genti exemplar integritatis: floreat pacificâ vigilantiâ faelix Parliamentum: pace & veritate beata sit Anglia: convertantur inimici: dissipentur oculo Regis (tanquam Angelo Domini) invidiae, subtilitates malitiosè indignae, factiones, calumniae, tum murmurationes Particulares, tum Catholicae perfidiae. Annihiletur recens praxis antiqui Serpentis. Schismaticis & Haereticis dogmatibus mixta; cujus Amasios omnes velim memores, ut subtilior reliquis animalibus, ita execrabilior. Sit gloria Deo in altissimis, pax (& preces Ecclesiae) super Britanniam & Hiberniam, hominibus bona voluntas. FINIS.