YOU see at last , Sir , that we know how to make good use of the prudent counsels you gave us . notwithstanding the objections of those speculative Gentlemen , who could not believe the Hollanders were capable to make themselves absolute Masters , of a Nation , accustom'd to overcome , which treated them with contempt , and who were so proud and so jealous of their liberty , that th●y suppos'd they could never sufficiently limit and restrain the Regal power and Authority ; which they endeavour'd even in the Reigns of their most just and most moderate Kings , whatsoever care these coud take to please them , we have nevertheless found out the way to subject them intirely , and to oblige them to act blindfold whatever is most convenient for our interests . You see Sir , the advantage we have made , and how dextrously we have pursu'd your advice , to engage this Kingdom in a war very like to ruine their trade for ever , to consume their bravest men in the flower of their strength , and take from them all possibility of ever recovering that liberty they had so long abus'd to the prejudice of their Soveraigns ; and which , had they been wise , they might have longer preserv'd against that which is call'd our Usurpation . To maintain which , it was yet further necessary to fortify our selves pursuant to your advice , with an A●my wholly devoted to our Prince , and therefore we hav● not only the Troops of our own Nation , who know no other laws than what we give them , but also bring in , as fast as possible , Swedes , Germans , and Swisses ; besides , we invite and gather from all parts , all those French that are enemies alike to Englan● , and to their own Countrey ; and who have nothing to live upon , but the hopes to enrich themselves by the spoils of all such as shall dare to attempt the shaking off the yoak of our Government .

Nor do we forget to lay hold on all occasions , of sending out of the Realm , by little and little , all the English Army , yet imbued with the principles of hatred this Nation ever had , for Arbitrary Government , and the Dom nion of Strangers . And that which is most admirable in our conduct , is , that those very troops we expose in Flanders , and elsewhere , to all the dangers of the war , whose loss cannot but be advantagious to our Prince , do nevertheless serve , to keep in awe all the Republican party of the chief Cities of Holla●d , and prevent their daring to endeavour the setting up , in our absence , any other kind of Common-wealth , or the withdrawing themselves from under the absolute Empire of their Statholder .

You will , with me confess , more solid measures coud never have been taken to establish , at one and the same time , a despotick power both over England , and over the United Provinces . It is true , that notwithstanding all our care to perswade this people , and above all the Parliament , of the necessity of a forreign Army . We had much ado to make them swallow the pill , which they always look'd upon as a remedy more proper to encrease than cure their evils ; but , our reasons well back'd with French , Dutch , and German Troops , already in the heart of the Kingdom , and which will daily e●crease , could not but prevail at last , and convince the English that they must go abroad into other Countreys to learn to make War , and leave at home in their own Countrey the War even against themselves , to be manag'd by Schumberg , and the French , Dutch , and German Officers , who have long known the way of making good cheer at the cost of their Landlords .

Neither are we unmindful , to rid our selves , as you wisely advis'd , of all the troublesome Lovers and Assertors of liberty ; and of the clear sighted men , who d●scant but too rightly upon the design● of our Prince , the Tower of London , and all other prisons are already fill'd , and we have got a wonderful easy way to deal with any that shall have the confidence to oppose our desires , an immediate accusation of high treason ; whereof to convict them , we have always witnesses ready at hand .

In the mean while , we , the few friends and confidents of the Prince , are of opinion , we cannot do him , or our selves better service , than by rendring him inaccessible t● these , who by birth or merit might pretend to some ●hare in the Government , and administration of affairs : and , as we have truly observ'd , the fear of being accus'd of Treason , of Imprisonment , confiscation of goods , and ●f whatever our resentments , supported by forreign Troops intirely devoted to us , might prom●● us ●o ac● agains● them , will always keep them in more subjection , than the small favors they could hope from the Prince our Masters liberality ; to which vertue , you know how much he is a stranger ; we are very glad to keep them low and cringing , and to oblige them , as well as the rest of the English . to purchase the smallest graces and dispatches in business ; insomuch , that there is room to hope , that over and above the honors and dignities from which they are excluded , and we already possest , the meanest among us will soon find himself enrich'd by their further spoils , and by all that we may promise our selves from their debasement , and from the slavery of this Nation ; to which , like an unruly horse , it is so perfectly reduc'd , that we have no cause to fear it will ever hereafter prove refractory , or offer to kick against our spurs ; and we have the less reason to apprehend any such thing , in that we have resolv'd for the future not to suffer any of the English , who have the least talent for war or remainder of brave and generous thoughts , to enjoy any manner of charge or employment in ●his Kingdom : and if they refuse to go and serve us abroad , you s●a●l soon see them led to Newgate as criminals ; or else 〈◇〉 ●hall yet find a shorter way to free our selves from them . Nor shall we want expedients to put the Hollanders into the places of those that command in the Tower of London : it would be the greatest imprudence imaginable , to trust a Post of that consequence in the hands of any of a Nation , we resolve to govern by fear , rather than by love .

I make no doubt but you have taken notice , that we have not neglected your advice concerning the great body of this Common-weal , the Merchants ; of whom it is certain we should have been afraid , had they continued in that state of opulency wherein we found them . We could not have given them a more uneasy shock than that of the Embargo ; whereby , under pretence of the necessity of having Vessels and Seamen for the War against Franc , we made the English Merchants lose , according to their own computation , above three mill o●s sterling ; and we hope to ruine for ever their con merce ; for you may well conclude that that being once got into other hands , into those of Spain , I●aly , Turky , and other Nations , it will be impossible , in one whole age , to retrieve it , at least to resettle it upon the same bottom it was in three or four months ago .

It must indeed be acknowledged , that the most clear fighted Merchants of London murmur extremely against this proceeding , and believe that not only their navigation and traffick , but also Men of War for Convoys might have been allowed them : and some of them are so bold as to say , that they were full as happy under the Reigns of their lawful Kings , as now they are really miserable under the arbitrary power of the Usurper . But we know well enough how to silence these mischievous tongues ; and believe me , there is nothing more ●●sy than to enslave this Nation , and mold it into any kind of fashion ; especially for us , who are so well arm'd with power ; and we often laugh among our selves at the simplicity of the late Kings of England , as well as at the mistake of their neighbours , who ever bel●ev'd it was to be govern'd by gentleness , and that great care ought to be taken to act nothing contrary to their laws , their priviledges , and their liberties : but I affirm to you , a man may easily , and without danger , overturn and confound all these , provided he does but know how to conceal a little his method of proceeding ; and I ●a●e e●gage , that within a year there will not be one man le●●●o dispute ▪ ●he laws we shall think fit to g●●e them . Nay , we shall without difficulty , dest●●y even the Religion of the Church of England , and a●l other Sects that shall be found contrary to our designs ; and that only by making them continually apprehensive of a handful of Papists , and by amusing the whole Nation with an imaginary conspiracy ; of wh●ch , from time to time , we will accuse any we suspect , against whom , and all others , who make the least resistance , we will act under that pre●ence , all the violences proper to b●ing about our projects . You have already observ'd after what manner we made the Scottish Convention pull down Episcopacy . You may take it upon my word , that we have laid as good measures to have the same th ng done in England , and that the Rel g●on of this State w●ll hereafter be that which will most favour our enterprize , and best serve us to destroy all those who yet conserve the spir●t of liberty , incompatible w●th that absolute power we intend to establish . In a word , our affairs go according to our wishes , and I advise you Si● , to make what hast you can h ther , together with all our best friends , to reap the profits and riches our own industry , and the little sense of those that call'd us in are ready to heap upon us ; and , to take from you any trouble you may possibly have for quitting your Countre● ; I may in confidence venture to tell you , that it is necessary to come and serve here , if you expect to command at home ? and that our Prince is fully determined not to suffer any even but suspected , not to execute heartily whatever he shall command for the intire destruction of the Republick , and ancient power of the States-General , to come hereafter ●nto any charge in Council , or any office or employ tho never so ●nconsiderable ; no , not to enjoy any share in the benefits me●it might make them hope for ; which henceforward , ●ccording to our m●xims , must consist only in a blind obedience to his will . Make , I pray your own advan●ge of this advice , as we have done of yours , and believe ●e always , &c.