The Interest of These United Provinces, Section 13
Sect. 13. The Concluſion of the whole Diſcourſe.
I Have now done, and it is high time, having been much larger then I intended at firſt; allthough not ſo large by far, as I found, being once entred upon the Argument, I might be. And yet, I hope, it will not be tedious to the Reader. Inregard of the novelty of the matter, which though daily diſcourſt of by many yet never writ of by any. And in regard of the uſefulnes thereof. For though old men are apt to dote upon the brats of their brain, as well as their body: Yet, if I be not deceived, this Diſcourſe, may through Gods bleſſing, prove inſtrumentall in begetting a better underſtanding between both Nations, (for which end I have publiſhed it in both Languages) by ſhewing them their concernments, it being the Chariot of Intreſt which all Princes and States Jehu-like furiouſly drive; and allſo ſerve to cleare up ſome State Controverſies, that are not eaſily diſcerned by vulgar eyes, to diſcover the former and preſent ſtate of affaires amongſt us, and moſt parts of Europe, and give a proſpect through this intricate, darke, and cloudy War, with what hopes we may have concerning its iſſue: And beſides theſe things, I thinke the clearnes of ſtile, which I have uſed to deliver my minde in, may make it bes nautious to ſome, who are apt to mind the ſwadling cloths more then the Child.
I know medation betwixt men in paſſion is a very thankles office; and that the freedome I have uſed, will both pleaſe and diſpleaſe many ſorts of men on all ſides; but yet when mens paſſions are allayed, I doe not doubt but they will thinke better of the honeſt deſignes of the Author. And yet I have endeavoured to give as little offence as I could poſſibly to any; but if any notwithſtanding count me their enimie, becauſe I tell them the truth, I cannot helpe it: for I never accounted them worthy to write, that are by aſt with feare, or favour and flattery. Yea, I perſwade my ſelfe, that there is not any ingenuous man, or brave Gentleman even of the French Nation, whoſe deſignes I cheifly oppoſe; but they will acknowledge it lawfull for an enimie, to fight them with a pen as well as a pike, and that I am a very civil Adverſary, having both fairely fought them, and with their owne weapons, having made uſe of their Authors, and not ours, throughout my diſcourſe.
I ſhall not now throw downe the gantlet and make a challenge, yet if any undertake to refute me concerning the intreſt of theſe Countries, which I thinke worthy anſwering, I ſhall not faile to doe it. As for my Conjectures, I both account and call them probable, and therfore being not poſitive and dogmaticall in them, I leave them with their Reaſons to the Reader to judge. But if ſome paſſionate perſon thinks with railing at the French, Engliſh, or the Author hereof, and carping at ſome particulars to refute me; I ſhall tell them before hand I was never bred, to give any one ill language, and ſhall onelyonly anſwer them with ſilence and contempt. Or if any well meaning ſcholler that hath read perhaps honeſt Keckermans, or ſome others learned Syſtema Politicum; I ſhall onelyonly ſmile in my ſleeve, having allwayes accounted Booke policy alone, mere pedantry; and allthough no man valew's learning more then my ſelfe, yet he muſt know men as well as bookes, and the world well, that will write of theſe things. Yet if any will bring Reaſons of State, and clearely delivered, as I thinke I have done, and fairely ventilate my opinion, I ſhall promiſe him as faire an Anſwer, for truth never feared a faire tryall.
POSTSCRIPT.
It is neceſſary that I tell you, this worke bath been long in the birth. I had drawne up my thoughts on this ſubject the laſt yeare, and ſent my Papers into Holland to print; but my honeſt friends unacquainted with the Artifice of Governement, to nouriſh hopes in the greateſt dangers (Hope being the miſerable mans God, as well as the preſumptuous mans Devil) ſent me word, of nothing but peace, yet kept my Papers through curioſity, till I was forced to ſend my ſervant for them. And baring got them, and contracted with a Printer here, He was called out for a Soldjer, and goe he muſt, and therefore the worke muſt ſtand. In the meane time two ſorts of Papers came to mine hands, The Appeale; which, though his deſigne, in reference to England, be different from mine, yet in reference to France, being much the ſame, I let pas for the preſent; and the Chancelor of Englands ſpeech, with his Defenda eſt Carthago, which whilſt my Printer after his returne home is printing off this, I examined, according to the Rules of Chriſtian Charity, Common Equity, and State Policy; but that being too large, I reſerve it for an Appendix. In the meane time, though it be late before this comes forth (the MonethMonth of April 73.) yet I hope better late then never; and though no Printer well undertake it, becauſe it is Paradoxical to the common opinion of Peace, yet I have put it into the publick Treaſury for good, at my owne charge in both Languages; and though it coſt me 100 l and none conſider me, or to uſe Solomons phraſe, Remember that poore man, in any kind, not ſo much as to enquire after him, or returne him thanks; yet it ſhall not repent me for the good of both Nations, for which I intend it, and to whom I wiſh a happy peace, and all proſperity.
FINIS.
End of the text · Joseph Hill, The Interest of These United Provinces (1673)