A DISCOURSE OF A true Englishman, Free from Self-interest, concerning the interest ENGLAND hath in the Siege OF Gravelling.   printer's or publisher's device 
Printed at London for Thomas Walkley. 1644.   

A Discourse of a true Englishman, free from Self-interest, concerning the interest ENGLAND hath in the siege of Gravelling.  
OUr domestic affairs employing the best seeing men of the Realm, I having no share in so great actions, conceive it my part to represent unto them, and the rest of my dear Country men, what evils are invading us from abroad. I fear that whilst England laboureth in her best subjects for the restitution of our peace at home, dangers of no small consequence, arising from foreign practices, may grow past remedy.  
Nature which hath separated England from the rest of the world by a broad and deep sea, serving in stead of ditch and wall, seems to tell this Island, that her true interest is to keep herself Mistress of this Sea, and by all possible means to hinder her neighbours from overmuch power in this her ditch and wall; the power at sea of each particular of them must be less than hers, if she will be safe, and in as much as she can procure, the power at sea of each particular neighbour must be equally balanced with that of the other, one must not over-top the other, they must join together. This for many years she hath exactly observed, aiding sometime this, sometime that, never permitting any to command her seas, still keeping her neighbours divided and opposite among themselves, who had they joined, might have given her just cause of fear. Queen Elizabeth always held this course, judging the greatness and safety of this Kingdom to depend thereon, to this she was induced by these, or the like reasons.  
1 England's chief prerogative and goorie is to command her seas, this prerogative and glory will be easily lost, if all neighbouring ports and coasts come into the rule of one Prince or State.  
2 Whiles these havens and coasts remain divided among the Spaniard, Hollander, and French, which nations are at enmity among themselves, England is free from fear, no one of them being powerful enough to invade her; and if any one should attempt the invasion, self-interest would enforce the other to assist her. But if all come into the hands of one Master, his power will be dreadful to England, if he invade, who shall assist this Island?  
3 Neighbouring Countries remaining as they are, at contention among themselves, and almost in perpetual wars, England groweth rich, having free traffic with them all; but if the French possess the coast of Dunkirk, the freedom of England's trade must depend on them, they may hold this Island to unequal terms, because in arising strifes there will be none to take England's part.  
4 The Spaniards being Masters of Dunkirk, Ostend, and Gravelling, it hath always been in this Islands power to live at peace with them, and good cause why, the true interest of the Spaniard is to be at peace with us. Experience of many years yields good proofs, no act of hostility, no suspicion of wrong hath come from thence; so that England by long trial being assured on that side, it behoves her to apprehend the danger of new neighbours in those towns: the certainty of good neighbourhood ought by her to be preferred unto the uncertainty of others, as yet not by her experienced.  
5 The French have always been held in jealousy by the English pasted wars, actual pretences of the one against the other; the memory which the French retain of succour sent from hence to Rochel, that opinion the English cannot choose but have, that the French will powerfully maintain our Queen's interests, when they have ended with Spain, doing in the mean while what possibly they can to assist her, must needs persuade the Parliament, that Gravelling once had by the French, this Kingdom must expect them, specially if to the former motive we adjoyve common experience, that the French love to be always in war, if not abroad, rather than fail at home.  
6 The plot of the siege of Gravelling was laid by treaty and agreement between the Hollanders and the French; in this agreement the French permit unto the Hollanders the conquest of the town and haven of Dunkirk, which they presume will presently follow the taking of Gravelling. Now I leave unto any wise men's judgement, what interest England, especially the Parliament, may have in hindering the Hollanders from the possession of this haven, considering that by this means it falls into the hands of the Prince of Orange, who is Admiral of Holland, and Master of all their Sea-forces, besides his power by land, who sees not the fair pretences he may have to intermeddle in the civil wars of England, and the titles he may bring forth for more than this?  
7. The Parliament having the administration of this Realm, and possessing the Navy thereof, its honour and interest exacteth such a government, as may hinder while it lasteth, all detriment, from within and from abroad, which it shall do most securely by collecting such experienced maxims, by which this Kingdom hath subsisted hitherto, and by which it hath maintained unto itself strength, wealth and splendour. In so doing it will more freely possess the Subjects love, who by this must see they seek the true interest of the Crown.  
Against these reasons two Objections may be opposed. 1. That England is too much employed in her own affairs, hindering her from attending to foreign business. 2. That the Parliament cannot secure Gravelling, without danger of provoking France, and drawing the French Force upon England.  
To the first of these Objections I easily answer; First, that England's Civil Wars should rather incite than hinder the Parliament from succouring Gravelling: This Kingdom's divisions causing its weakness, should also cause an apprehension of France her growing Great and strong, by adjoynig Gravelling to her dominions. This apprehension should produce an effectual desire to hinder this growth and strength as I have already made manifest.  
Secondly, to succour Gravelling no forces of ours are needful to the Spaniard but those of Sea, such of these as are in the Parlia, possession, are not so much employed for the present, as a sufficient part of them may not for some few days, be assigned for this expedition. It seems a thing most certain to me, that this town being of so great consequence to the Spaniard, he will most readily free us from all charges in this action, and not only this, but also afford us no small present gain in case we give him this assistance.  
To the other Objection of provoking France, and drawing her Forces upon England, for my part I see no pretext France can take against the Parliament, in regard of this help, seeing that it will be afforded by the Parliament for the indemnity, and security of this Kingdom, and according to those maxims England hath always used without violation of her amity with France. Secondly, England wrongeth none in using her right. Now this Kingdom possessing the Dominion of her seas, may with just cause hinder the invasions and usurpations of those, who with her prejudice seek to spoil her neighbour. 3. According to the ordinary use and course of W●r, such succours as these induce no breach of peace. The Hollanders who have neutrality with the Empire, sent notwithstanding aid to the Castle of Hermetsteyn, and the town of Dorsten, besieged by the imperialists, and contributed the value of great sums to the Sweden, and to the Widow of the H●ssian, without giving cause of War against them, unto the Emperor: At this present they supply the Sweden with Ships and men against the Dane, continuing amity notwithstanding with this King. The French themselves have done the like, for the Hollanders against the Spaniard, even at that time they were in peace with Spain, they gave aid of men an● money to the King of Sweden, against the Empire, not having any open War with the Emperor, whence it plain ensues, that such succours cannot be esteemed acts of Hostility according to the examples and maxims of the French and Hollanders themselves.  
4. In case such aides would provoke the French, it is certain that after the raising of this siege, the Spaniards and the Empire will give them work enough, so to hinder them from any enterprise against England. Farther, if the French shall actually enter into War against this Realm, in regard of the frustrating their hopes of Gravelling, Spain no doubt will oblige herself to defend it, and keep it free from harm, ensuing from the said Instruction.  
5. The suffering France to get means to do hurt unto England is much more to be feared, than the giving to the French a pretence for doing her harm, France cannot hurt unless she hath power and means, but if the French get power, and means to hurt, this will be executed by them here, although pretences fail, as they have done, not only once elsewhere, and not only in one place, where they have broken solemn Treaties without any cause, yea, without colour of justice.  
6 When France shall be in case to invade England, pretences will never want, old quarrels, aid given to Rochel, the interest of the Queen of England, and other like will suffice. So that England's security consisteth not in avoiding to provoke France, which is sufficiently stirred up by her own ambition, and her desire to devour this Kingdom, but England must procure security to herself, by taking away from France means and power to hurt her. The will to hurt England can never fail in the French.  
Lastly, if a more particular treaty with the Spaniard about this business please the Parliament, other means and ways questionless will be found out, by which a satisfying security for England against France will appear. So that the aid which England shall give to Spain in this present occasion, shall appear no way prejudicial to this Kingdom.  
FINIS.