PREFACE.

lxx'ii

able force for service, (as hath always been used) especially if the Hollandersshould be an enemy, which I suppose cannot be avoided unless they moremutually joyned with us in the warr. For it is observable, whilst duringthe w r arr his late Majesty had with France and Spaine both at once, (thoughthe great expedition had but ill success) this nation hath rather been en-riched than impoverished by that warr; and during the time of the lateusurped powers, tho’ the nation w r as grown more martiall, and tho’ theywere in firme league with France, Portugal, and Sweedland, and the kingof Spaine, whose navall force was much more inconsiderable than formerly,by the loss of Pcrtugall and Dunkirke, the nation was by that warr im-poverished above 1000 sail of ships taken and destroyed, and the trade ofthis kingdome almost ruined. The reasons were obvious : during theformer warr, severall noblemen and gentlemen made use of merchant shipsupon their own private advantage, in such considerable manner and equi- >page, as that the earl of Warwick, with one fleete, did make an honourabledefence and retrcate against the whole force of Spanish gallions upon theirown coasts. Sir Keneine Digby balled the Venetians, pretending to pro-tect the French in the Mediterranean sea. Sir David Kirke and his bro-ther tooke not only some of the kings of France’s best ships from him,but his best plantation, Canada ; whilst many other smaller adventurersdid, as it were, besiege all the ports of the dominions of both these kings.Soe as I believe it may be truly affirmed, that the lord high admirall’stenths of prizes taken by this nation, did exceed the full value of the prizestaken from it. Soe numerous then were the merchants ships fitt to makemen of warr, besides the continuance of a trade, with little less confidenceand security than in t he time of peace, that they proved the reason whythese two great kings, being then att peace between themselves, werewilling to make so honourable and advantagious a peace with his lateMajesty, tho’ att the time he was reduced to such streights for money bythe malignant humours then prevailing in severall parliaments by himcalled, that it was thought impossible for him to continue the warr longer.

Whereas