XXX. Christian and Politic REASONS Wherefore ENGLAND AND THE LOW-COUNTRIES May not have Wars with each other.  
By HENRY MAY, of Amsterdam.  PROV. 27.12. 
A prudent man forseeth the evil and hideth himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.  
LONDON: Printed by M. S. and R I. in the Year 1652. June .15.   

Divers CHRISTIAN and POLITIC REASONS Against Wars betwixt ENGLAND, and the LOW-COUNTRIES.  
I Nprimis, Because the glory of God, and the Reformed Protestant Religion, will be by the said Wars, reproached and evil spoken of.  
II. Because we, to God and the World, bear forth one Religion.  
III. Because we both as a principal cause of our Wars, have been for one Religion and liberty of Conscience.  
FOUR Because we are Brethren and Neighbours, and so ought to be friends; therefore ought not to War with each other.  
V Because we both almost at one time, became free States, and that granted by our greatest Enemies.  
VI Old friends and kindnesses past, aught to be kept in everlasting memory.  
VII. Against the common Enemy, we ought to consider times past, present, and to come.  
VIII. We ought to offer up Christian prayers both public and private, in Church and Commonwealth, for the prosperity and welfare of each other, which cannot be, in case we have Wars with each other.  
IX. Two is better than one, and a threefold cord is not easily broken.  
X. This war will be destructive to both; as betwixt Abimeleck, and the men of Sichem, and Sichem against Abimelech; as Israel against Benjamin, and Benjamin against Israel; as Abner against Joab, and Joab against Abner; as Rehoboam against Jeroboam, and Jeroboam against Rehoboam; as Judah against Israel, and Israel against Judah: as appears in the Wars of Turkey, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and in England: the red Rose against the white; and in the Low-Countries, ten Provinces against seven, and seven against ten, weakening each other, and ruinous to both.  
XI. We shall by this War bring upon us the curse of posterity, and our Children may say, Had our forefathers no other cause to War against their friends and neighbours, as to bring us to a bloud-bath each with other? It will occasion laughter and derision, seeing nothing but pride and ambition, hath brought us to this condition.  
XII. There will be many in this cause troubled in conscience, and will be constrained to leave the Countries of their Nativities, for not to give or allow any thing for the maintenance of the bloodshed, and overthrow of each other, in such unwarrantable and unnatural Wars.  
XIII. Before these times we took up Arms for the maintenance of the true Protestant Religion. If we should now War against the same, how can God bless such endeavours; No, rather for our sins he will make us a just judgement, and a rod of his wrath to chastise each other.  
XIIII. Many, worthy and learned, have given forth the fall and destruction of Antichrist to be about this time, but so doing, if he were fallen, might easily rise again.  

The Spaniard.  
Los dos republicos sun buena para mi  
So ikse maer in groot oorloogh sid  
Ick sches asem, daer toe kryge ik lesat,  
Beyde rebellen hebben elk ander in't hayn gevat,  
‛ D als sy beyde haer asem sin quit,  
So hoop ikse te hebben tot mine profit.   
XV. Never any Wars so sad and bitter, as these, if they should fall betwixt us: for it will be most at Sea, where in former times there used to be no Wars; therefore amongst Christians there ought to be a free Trade, and Merchants and Merchandise unmolested, aught to peruse the Seas without molestation.  
XVI. God oftentimes visits mankind at Sea, with tempests, and storms, and other dangers, therefore we ought not to tempt God with needless Wars.  
XVII. The dangers at Sea will be sinking and burning, and a destroying of Ships, and Master and man will sink together, without respect to their qualities.  
XVIII. How sad and comfortless will it be for the brethren of one and the selfsame ship; Church and profession in England, and in Holland, and the News of unhappy and uncertain Wars and Victories, to the destruction and ruin of each other, or shall we both sing Te Deum Laudamus?  
XIX. Satan was the first inventor of wars, betwixt Cain and Abel, and in these Wars there is no better Commander.  
These two republics both sprung in a night.  
I gather strength whiles that they both do fight.  
I was King of England, by marriage of the Queen,  
And Earl of Holland my Predecessor hath been.  
I will assist the one, and beat th'other by th'ears,  
I will cry Ha', Ha', fight dogs fight bears.  
XX. The profit which shall proceed out of this unnatural wars, shall be buried in the bottomless Sea; where Malignants may quench their hellish and warlike design; there shall no bells be rung, nor any need of raising the Countrymen for burying of the dead.  
XXI. The damage will be the losing of your best men, Ships and Arms; likewise the welfare of the Country's strength, fishing and trading, and open the Country for a foreign enemy's invasion.  
XXII. What profiteth it England to bear the name of a free State and Commonwealth, and Holland a free fought Nation granted them, if by wars you enslave each other? and make yourselves slaves to the Commonwealth of each other, and your enemies? where remains then the glory of God, and the defence of true Protestant Religion? What profiteth that noble freedom that hath been bought and paid for at so dear a rate.  
XXIII. Under pretence of wars betwixt you, will the Seas be filled with Sea-Rovers and Pirates, under show hiding themselves not only to have you in Wars, but also to keep you in the same, to the utter undoing of trading and traffic.  
XXIIII. By reason of your strife about free Trading, other Seaports and Havens will have their eyes opened, and think, is there so much benefit to be had? we will likewise be doing, and have a Trade of ourselves, which without this question and strife betwixt you, would not be thought of.  
XXV. Let us be content, the world is great enough for us two Republics to trade to our content, so we be not like Esop's Dog, hoping at the shadow, lost both shadow and subhance. But we ought to understand each other by one Law, for both Nations, and one rule at Sea, seeing all a like are interressed therewith; and thereby to regulate Trading, that all question and dispute may be destroyed, by wholesome and good Laws, not ●o wrong each other.  
XXVI. When then by this war, which God keep us from, your best soldiers are lost, & your wealth perisheth at Sea, and your own hand wrought your own ruin, consider then whether it bade not been better never to have began this sport, than too late you may very very well cry, Shall the sword devour for ever? Know ye not that it will be worse in the latter end?  
XXVII. If then there be no other remedy, but we must consume by these unchristian Wars, then enlarge your Alms houses and hospitals, for doubtless you will increase in widows and fatherless children, which will bid their husbands & parents adieu, or farewell, but not welcome their return.  
XXVIII. Therefore sad not the heart of the distressed Natives and Inhabitants, with this dangerous and unnecessary war, who with signs do call and cry for peace, yea peace in God's name, but cannot attain to it. Heavy will the account be of those that are the first occasion of this ruin. Let Mars rather be transported to those that know not God, that speak you fair, and inwardly hate your welfare.  
XXIX. But being assured, and well knowing the great wisdom, diligence, and discretion, therefore hope that God will not turn the wisdom of the wise to foolishness, but bless the Peacemakers, and unite their hearts and affections each to other; not only to agree as Brethren, but also to make an everlasting peace to us and our posterity, and a good enlargement to traffic and trading, and so by God's Order to understand each other, and so to keep all Pirates out of Sea.  
XXX. And to escape this damage, not only Ships and Loading, but also life and posterity, and to avoid this dark cloud and tempest, then ought we to offer up strong prayer to God, hearty forsaking our sins, and forthwith to proclaim days of fasting and praying, and not to give sleep to our eyes, nor slumber to our eyelids, till we have received mercy and pardon from his most high majesty.  And let them be confounded and back-turned that hate Zion. 
Vale.  
FINIS.