The Interest of These United Provinces, Title page – Table of contents
THE INTEREST Of theſe United Provinces. BEING A Defence of the Zeelanders Choice.
Wherein is ſhewne,
I. That we ought unanimouſly to defend our ſelves.
II. That if we cannot, it is better to be under England than France, in regard of Religion, Liberty, Eſtates, and Trade.
III. That we are not yet come to that extremity, but we may remaine a Republick. And that our Compliance with England is the onelyonly meanes for this.
TOGETHER WITH Severall Remarkes upon the preſent, and Conjectures on the future State of Affaires in Europe, eſpecially as relating to this Republick.
By a wellwiſher to the Reformed Religion, and the wellfare of theſe Countries.
MIDDELBURG,
Printed by Thomas Berry, according to the Dutch Copie Printed at Amſterdam. ANNO 1673.
A Summary of the enſuing Treatiſe.
THe PREFACE. Wherein, the occaſion and reaſon of this Worke. The Authors feares ballanced with others hopes. The neceſſity of unanimity for, and duty of ſelfe defence.
SECTION I. The riſe and State of that great Queſtion, (viz.) whether upon ſuppoſal of inability to defend our ſelves, it is our INTREST to be under England or France, and the Zeelanders choice of the former.
2. Arguments to prove this choice to be agreable to our true Intreſt. The firſt whereof is from our Religious concernements. Wherein is ſhewne how great a ſupport Religion is to a State, and how greatly it concernes us to ſecure our Religion.
3. The plea of France's granting us the liberty of our Religion, conſidered.
4. Objections from the danger of loſing our Religion under England; from the Kings being a Papiſt, deſigning to ſet up Popery; the increaſe, countenance, and tolleration of Papiſts, as allſo from his joyning with France againſt us, and Church Governement by Biſhops, all anſwered.
5. A 2d Argument taken from Liberty. Wherein the different Kinds and degrees of Liberty, under all ſorts of Governement, are declared; and the probability of enjoying greater freedome under England than France, argued.
6. The 3d Argument is the preſervation of our Eſtates; in regard of Soldjers violence, Governors impoſitions, Publique Debts by obligation, and Revenues of the Romiſh Church.
7. The 4th Argument from Trade. This (viz. Merchandiſe and Navigation) our cheife ſecular Intreſt. And friendſhip with England to ſecure the ſame. England and we Competitors herein, what implyed thereby in point of Intreſt, and Inference. The probability of getting more, as allſo enjoying the ſame with greater Peace under France, with other Arguments, largely debated; and the contrary evinced under England.
8. Severall other Arguments and enducements to incline us rather for England, briefly mentioned. With an inference from the whole preceding diſcourſe, that the friendſhip of England is to be preferd before that of France.
9. That we are not yet come to that extremity, but we may ſtill remaine a Republick; in regard of our owne ſtrength, and our Neighbors Intreſt, Englands eſpecially; that they had better loſe Scotland or Ireland, then let the French have theſe Provinces. This War a Game at Hazard. Being engaged will goe through, and Parliament probably aſſiſt therein.
10. Compliance with England, the onelyonly meanes of the Commonwealths continuation.
11. Conjectures of future affaires. The motions of the enſuing Summer likely to be quick and great. As to this Republick, probably England may get a bridle to curb us, France the ſadle to ride us, Colen a Supernumerary girth, Munſter a bos off the crupper. Our condition deplored and conſolated. A neceſſary caution for England, another for the Orange Family. The Authors feares of what will at laſt befall us. The Spaniſh Netherlands a dying. The friendſhip of England and France ſick at heart, and cannot live long. That of Spaine and England ſound at heart, and will recover, &c.
12. France's Ambition. Growing greatnes. The cauſes thereof. We and England in the fault. The Common Intreſt of Europe to oppoſe France particularly declared of the Empire, Spaine, England, Denmarke, and this Republick and Hans Townes. Yea of Sweden, Savoy, and Switzerland. The ballance of Europe to be held even, and by whom.
13. The Concluſion of the whole Diſcourſe.