The Interest of England in the Preservation of Ireland, Part 3 – Conclusion
3. The danger of falling into the hands of the French.
Let us now reflect upon what has been ſaid, and Re capitulate the skatter'd Arguments hinted in this abrupt and immethodical Diſcourſe. If neither the ſenſe of Shame, the Purſuit of Fame and Glory, the Influence of Brotherly Charity, the Sympathy with Blood and Kindred, the Reſpect to Religion, the Acquiſition of Wealth, the Support of Trade, the Increaſe of the Publick Revenue, nor the irreſiſtible motive of Self-Preſervation, can prove Inducements ſufficient to diſpoſe the People of England to a hearty, affectionate, and vigorous eſpouſing of the Protestant Cauſe in Ireland, by a timely Proſecution of a War there, and rooting out the last Remains of Popery; let us change the Scene, and ſuppoſe Ireland ſubdued by the preſent Invaders, and become a Province to France, (which God of his infinite Mercy avert) then without all peradventure theſe miſchiefs will inevitably enſue.
1. The French King having an inſatiable Thirſt after the univerſal Monarchy of Europe, and retaining an implacable Reſolution to deſtroy all ſorts of Protestants, and utterly to root out that Pestilent Northern Hereſie; abounding in Wealth and Treaſure, follow'd by mighty Armies, ſtrengthned by a numerous Fleet of Ships; as nothing in humane Probability can defeat his execrable Deſigns of Aggrandiſing himſelf by the Ruin of his Neighbours, but the ſcarcity of convenient Ports and Havens in any of his Dominions; ſo it muſt be his Principal Aim and endeavour to be Master of Ireland; whereby he will be ſufficiently accommodated with excellent good Harbours, in which he may ſecurely place his Fleet, to extend his Soveraignty over the Seas, and opportunely annoy his Enemies.
2. This being accompliſh'd, not only the Revenue and Trade of Ireland will be utterly loſt, the Auxiliary Aid of two hundred thouſand Protestants diverted and taken away, and many thouſands of them forced to depend upon the Charity of England: the Trade to America, and all the Weſtern Iſlands will not only be intercepted, but in a ſhort time thoſe Countries be wholly conquered and reduced to the Poſſeſſion of the French, and annexed to his Dominion, and made a Prey to glut his reſtleſs Ambition.
3. The French King will make Ireland a Magazine and Store-houſe for the victualling His Ships, and the Harbours as ſo many Docks to ſhelter them, where his Fleet riding in ſafety, an Opportunity will be given him, not only to ingroſs all manner of Trade, but that of England will be intirely interrupted, if not infallibly deſtroyed; ſince no Ships can peep out from thence in their Navigation toward the Streights, or to the Indies, but they muſt paſs within view of ſome Ports of Ireland, or very near them, and conſequently muſt be expoſed to the Attacks of that rapacious Leviathan, or be neceſſitated to ſail in great Fleets, and very ſtrong Convoys under Frigats and Men of VVar, to the ineſtimable charge of the State, and detriment to the Merchants of England.
4. Let it be conſider'd, that ſince VVooll and VVoollen Manufactures are the ancient Staple of England, and a main ſupport to their trading into all Foreign Countries, if it ſhould ſo come to paſs, that Ireland be alienated from it, which abounds with that Commodity, and from whence it may be exported at far cheaper Rates than can be afforded in England; how unſpeakable a Prejudice will it be to the Trade? How will it impoveriſh the People, and bring an unavoidable ruin on many Towns and Families?
5. Tho it is to be hoped that the Power of France, with the Addition of Ireland, ſhall never be able to make a Conquest of England; nevertheleſs by ſuch an unwelcom Neighbourhood, it is more than probable the French King may diſcompoſe the Peace and Quiet of Great Britain, when at any time of the year he can tranſport an Army from Ireland, or land ſmall Forces in North VVales in ſix hours time, in South-VVales in twelve, or in the ſpace of four Hours in the VVeſt of Scotland: And this not to be prevented by the Engliſh Fleet, or by all the Art and Contrivance of Mankind.
The CONCLƲSION.
I wiſh the People of England may ſee now in this their Day, what belongs to their Peace, before it be hid from their Eyes; That they may not be deluded by falſe Gloſſes, and ſiniſter Interpretations of Publick Acts, nor be cajol'd by jealous Miſpriſions and groundleſs Cenſures on private Councils: That they may underſtand, and conſider how much their ſafety and the Intereſt of the Proteſtant Religion is concerned and involved in the Fate of Ireland; and that if the Enemy chance to poſſeſs the Out-works, the City will be in great danger: That they may not be abuſed by Chimerical Notions of Obeying without Reſerve, or being deſtroyed without Reſiſtance: That they would reſt contented with obtaining their Deſires, in being happy under the Eſtabliſhment of a Proteſtant King and Queen, and not hanker after a Change, or be bewitched to make a wanton Experiment of Indulgence and Protection under a Popiſh Government.
FINIS.
End of the text · George Philips, The Interest of England in the Preservation of Ireland (1689)