The Seas magazine opened: or, the Hollander dispossest of his usurped trade of fishing upon the English seas. Also his intended universality of ingrossment of trade: with solid directions for prevention of both, to the increase of free trade, and the generall inrichment of this Commonwealth of England. And lastly, to the reducement of that stubborn people to obedience. Written by a person of hononr [sic], and published by an unfeigned lover of his countrey.

The Epistle to the Reader.

True-hearted Countrymen,

THe Poland Ambassador in the yeare of our Lord 1619. delivering his Speech at White-hall before K. Iames, and the Lords of his Privy Councel, cra∣ving aid against the barbarous invasion of the Turks into Poland, began his message with these words, Erupit tan∣dem Othomanorum virus, i. e. The poyson of the Othoman Family is at length burst out against the famous Kingdom of Poland; the same may be said of the Hollander, Erupit tandem Belgarum virus in Angliam, the Dutch poyson is at last burst out against England; this Cocatrice egg 'tis ho∣ped will quickly be crushed, and their Spiders web, which subtilly and finely they have been weaving to enthral this Nation, will as suddainly be broken: They gave (as 'tis said of Nepthali) fair and goodly words, but war was in their hearts, they spake by their Ambassadors peace, but as the Prophet David saith, they then made them ready to battell.

Oh my loving Countrymen! should I but in part relate to you what we have done for them, and now, notwith∣standing all their fa r and plausible pretences of love to us, how basely, unjustly, and perfidiously have they re∣quired us, Gods just proceedings against them, and their own guilty consciences and spirits now struck with a∣mazement and horror, with faintnesse and divisions, doe sufficiently evidence.

To speak a little to this point, (not too much to boast of our good acts done for this people) as to vindicate our in∣nocency

and love towards them) though if any have just cause to glory, much more we; for what have they, which either our valour, bloud, and charity have not kept for them, or bestowed on them? have they a rich country, but was not the Duke of Alua Master of it, till our English re∣giments beat him out? have they fine Townes? but had not their enemies the gates, and walls, and canon, and all, till forc'd to surrender and yeeld up to our English swords? have they wives and children? but were they not preser∣ved by our true-hearted affection? have they the Prote∣stant Religion, and the preaching of Gods Word amongst them, and may they freely hear it? but was it not the Eng∣lish that drove the Popish Faction out of their Confines? on all this may be said to and against these insolent, though by their own confession formerly, the poore di∣stressed estates, yea and much too, and yet but truly, with∣out our Seas how could they fish? without our Harbours how would they subsist? without our cloth how could they be warm? without our coals how could they work or form any instrument of war? without our grain of all sorts (though too much unjustly transported) how could they eat or drink without our gold and silver (though basely carried over) how could they florish? what sums of mo∣neys, and those vast ones too, have they drained out of England, by pretending to drain our Fens, though indeed their main plot was to have setled themselves along the Sea Coasts, to have given way for an invasion to their own friends and countrymen, and all this might have been done with case, under the colour of fishing, as things and times went then, had they been prepared for it, 'twas not for want of will, but of power, they were then packing their cards to play their game as fast as they could, had not their craftinesse been in due time discovered.

Upon these and many other weighty inducements have I set this book out for my Countrymen to read and judge; 'tis true, and but necessary and convenient for our times, the Dutch now being executing to their utmost against this Commonwealth, what they for many years have been contriving; and to the speedier effecting their bloudy and inhumane intendments against us, have woven with some, interwoven with others, and counterwove with divers States and Princes, by all ways and means possible to ru∣ine us, that they may rule alone, whom God (his glorious name be praised) hath as yet hindred, and overthrown.

Accept therefore I desire you of my true and just la∣bours in discovering this subtill and bloudy peoples in∣tendments, and let us all joyn in one to strike while the i∣ron is hot, with our prayers, persons, and purses, freely and liberally to endeavour to conquer them, who would conquer us, and to reduce the Dutch, and force them to obedience, who would, if they could, ruine England, and force it to slavery or slaughter by their Belgick Lions Paw, or the Orange Van Trump.

Valete.