If Storm, my Lord, benot ſo proper (and in its remembrance, ſo toothſome) a Metaphor for a Counſellour, (yet wholeſome, for Olim haec meminiſſe juvabit) will your Honour be pleaſed to allow Neptune a Petitioner to his Majeſty in behalf of poor England (a very poor Land at that time without Him; and undone, had not Heaven had pitty on that Merchant, whoſe whole Treaſure here and there floated in one bottom:) 'Twas a Petition and a very lamentable one, pretty well pen'd, nothing amiſſe, freely (without any Feeing) and with very good diſpatch preſented unto His Majeſty by an ingenious noble Mr. of Requeſts The Storm (that Metaphor, I hope, your Lordſhip may admit:) And, as Petitions uſe, moſt humbly ſhewing in brief how the caſe ſtood, and in plain terms beſeeching His Majeſty to Land; importuning with-all (as other Petitions, eſpecially at Court) all poſſible expedition; concluding too, as all Petitionary cuſtome is (very handſomely) for His Majeſties long Life and moſt happy Raign, and ſoforth.

The wary Mariners (God reward them) approved themſelves expert Philoſophers in refuſing to adventure into Sandwich Creek, which choaked by the Sands, they knew (experimentally, by a Nil dat quod non habet) could not give harbour to others, ſince its own deficiencie and our diſhonour it hath a long time been, not to be made one her ſelf. A work ſo ſuitable to the royalty of the Crown, to the dignity of unconquered Kent, to the ſplendour of the Kings Chamber The Downs, to the honour, advantage, and ſafety of the whole Nation, that it had proved too hard a riddle for ſo poor an Oedipus as I to reſolve, how it poſſibly could be moved to King Edward the ſixth, Queen Eliz. King James, King Charles the firſt, of bleſſed memory; and yet in none of the Times of thoſe unparalleld Princes be performed; but that 'tis conjecturable, there might be then, and ſo now as well as then, men, that (rather I hope out of inconſideration; then, as may be feared, out of miſcheivous intention) cared not (to uſe the expreſſion of an antient Beau-clerk) though the Kingdome publickly ſuffered in the main, ſo they could but maintain their own PRIVATE Fiſh-ponds.

England, my Lord, hath ever been reputed the moſt famous Iſland of the whole world, both for ſcituation, fertility, and riches: which riches have been principally atchieved by Navigation, whereof the Royal Navy is the maintainer, whoſe Court of Guard (as well in times of peace as War) was alwaies kept in the Downs.

The Downs is the Lock and Key of the narrow Seas, and the Dominion of the narrow Seas is the indubitable right of the Crown, which honour cannot be maintained but by the Navy; and the Navy, time out of mind hath been ever kept (except occaſionally ſome few at Portſmouth) at Chatham in the river Medway: (Wolwich and Deepford, both in the river of Thames, I look on as places for building ſhips:) from which place (I mean Chatham) no ſhip, the wind being Eaſternly, can be ſpeedily ſent forth for defence of the Land in times of Invaſion; which is an unſpeakable dis-advantage to the Kingdome, and therefore no leſs diſhonour to the Nation, in regard it may be remedied, by making a new Haven betwixt Sandwich Town and the Downs, ſo capacious as 40 of the Kings ſhips (or a greater number) may lye there in a readineſs; And (I am very credibly informed) may be remedied without any coſt to his Majeſty, if graciouſly pleaſed (in his indubitate great judgment) to grant a Commiſſion out of his high Court of Admiralty, according to a Petition long ſince preſented to his Majeſty by Sam. Garthwait and W. Fathers Gent. Concerning prize-goods and wrecks taken ſince the year, 1642, neither accompted for, nor ſatisfied, nor pardoned, but remaining due to the Crown, concealed in divers able perſons hands, to a greater value then ſufficient to defray this royal work for an Haven near Sandwich; and, being without any illegal prejudice to any perſon whatſoever, it cannot (and not otherwiſe) but be lookt upon by the whole Nation as a moſt juſt and very honourable imployment in His Majeſties (moſt meritorious) Service for the publick good.

So far reach the certain Inconveniencies, ariſing from th'incertainty of the wind, which though not numerous, yet very weighty, becauſe in future times of neceſſity may prove moſt miſchievous to the publick in its chief concernment, Safety Primò conſulendum de ſalute, postea de dignitate. Cice.; (& no leſs in its honour) and hazardous expence to become fruitleſs; as plainly appear'd in the year 1639.

In the beginning of September 1639. there came 66. Spaniſh ſhips into the Downs trebble man'd, for they had ten thouſand Land Souldiers in them. At which time Sir John Pennington roade Admiral in the Downs, with five of his Majeſties ſhips, four of his Majeſties Pinnaſes, and two or three inconſiderable Merchant ſhips. When the King heard that there was ſuch a Fleet arrived there, He preſently commanded that twelve great ſhips ſhould be prepared at London and Chatham, to be ſent unto Sir John Pennington with all poſſible ſpeed, to ſtrengthen his Forces. But notwithſtanding the Kings command, and much poſting, (the like whereof was never known) the Wind being Eaſternly, the fight betwixt the Spaniards and the Dutch was ended three dayes before they could get thoſe twelve ſhips into the Downs. Whites Journal, p. 9. The conveniencies both probable and preſent, I ſhall, my Lord, moſt humbly and faithfully to the utmoſt extent of my narrow apprehenſion (next) preſent to your Lordſhips more fully diſcerning reflections, and beſt determinating judgement.

My Lord, all men know, Dunkirk is lately made ſtronger then ever; and though it be yet at leaſt a fair Newter, yet in caſe in change of Times it ſhould prove a raſh Opponent; Sandwich thus fortified would prove a ready Reſpondent for Englands both honour and ſafegard, and perhaps prove an happy Medium to confute it to the Crown again: And then, who might not eaſily turn Prophet? that to furniſh more orderly our Lent-Meſſes (provided ſtill, Engliſh ſtomacks may have more reliſhing appetite to Fiſh then of late; otherwiſe my Lord, no talk againſt ſtomack) the Fiſhing Trade itſelf, 'twixt two ſuch ſtrong Nets, would one time or other be caught ſwimming in to the bargain.

But (for the Proverbs ſake) I leave all theſe brain-ſwimming Probabilities; becauſe 'till reduced into act, they ſo near reſemble the rambling Aquatilia, which are never valued 'till caught. But theſe following Commodities are not probabilities (which yet ought never to be deſpiſed) but certainties; and therefore theſe Certainties, ſince commodious to the publique and in ſo high degree, will be (unleſs I am miſtaken in thoſe I call (under the Roſe) Certainties; for I am not in thoſe I acknowledge under the Throne Judges) ſurely embraced.

1. There will be many thouſand pounds ſaved to the King, by mooring a great part of the Navy there, where they will be in a readineſs within two dayes warning to be ſent to Sea, whereas being at Chatham, it oftentimes proves the work of many weeks.

2. Another Commoditie is, they may be victualled there, the tranſportation whereof from London is no ſmall charge to the King.

3. The King may alſo have in readineſs there a Magazine of Anchors, Cables, Maſts of ſeveral Sizes, with all other neceſſaries for ſervice.

Give me leave my Lord, upon this third Commoditie or Convenience to make a ſhort Debate; ſince (which I heard many years ago in the Univerſitie from a wiſe man, Doctrinally on a Text of Solomons, Eccleſ. 1.14.) It is a wiſe mans part to conſider: However it behoveth me, out of the great reverence I bear to the Eagle-ſighted, to be as adviſedly wary as poſſibly I can in my preſentments to your eye.

I ingenuouſly confeſs, ſome have held, that in a great Eſtate there might miſchiefs happen by any great proviſion of Armes in one place; for that he, who hath a Trayterous mind to mutinic, to arm thoſe of his Faction, and to deprive his Soveraign of the means to make uſe of ſuch Warlike proviſion, may make a deſign to ſeaze upon the place, where it is kept: But by the ſame reaſon, we muſt not draw together any Treaſure to ſupply us in any emergent unexpected neceſſity, neither fortifie any places, leſt that coming to loſe our money and our places, our Enemy ſhould grow ſtronger, and we the weaker.

But wiſdom prevents all ſuch-like inconveniencies; the which we muſt imploy to keep our advantages, and to make uſe of them, before that the Enemie ſeaze on them: Yet, if he doth ſeaze on them, we may not thereupon conclude, that the proviſion ought not to have been made; but, that it is our fault, who made it, not to be able or rather careful to keep it.

It is certain, that a Sword or a Knife would cut him that knows not how to handle it; but we may not therefore ſay, that we muſt neither make Sword nor Knife: So in all particulars there may be inconveniencies; But, thoſe, which by fore-ſight may be prevented, ſhould not hinder us from doing that, which may otherwiſe very beneficially ſerve us both for our advantage and ſafety:

And therefore, my Lord,

4. The place, where the Ships and Stores ſhall be kept, may be contrived and made into a ſtrong Garriſon, by building ſo many Forts, as ſeem requiſite according to the ſeveral circumſpect and Grave Adviſo's of his Majeſties Council, and of each of which particulars Himſelf is ſole Judge. And

5. As this would be a very high heartning to the Common Guard there in all times of War; So it will be as deep a diſcouragement to any Enemy, for daring with ſo apparent hazard to arrive there; leſt over-eagerly tranſported into a ridiculous ſelf-flattering fit of invaſion, they find it eaſier to out-ſail their ſuppoſed wits, then their aſſured overthrow.

My Lord, Forts make a chief part of the Forces of a Kingdom; and they, which have been of opinion, that they ſhould not build any, have been confuted by Reaſon and Uſe; So as there have been few found, unleſs they were ſome petty popular Eſtates, that will follow their counſel. The Graecians and Romans (who had leſs need during their Empires, then any other Eſtate, for that all ſubmitted themſelves under their yoak) entertained Cittadels at Corinth, Tarentum, and Rhegium: And if the Capitol had not been ſtrong, the Empire of Rome had been ſmothered in the very Cradle of its own Infantine growth by the Gauls.

(There be three words very frequent in the Worlds fancie; Obſervation, Conſideration, Moderation. But, Experience (the Guide of Mans underſtanding, Ruler of his Will, Over-ruler of his Opinion; and which renders him real, of deeper inſight then to be carried away with appearances (though double guilt) but able through the varniſhed Vizards of diſguiſed Intereſts to diſcern betwixt truth and truths-likeneſs) diſcovereth thoſe three ſo frequent Motto's not hitherto ſo flowing in moſt mens tongues and Pens, as ebbing in their practiſe. I have not altogether omitted ſome uſe of the firſt in this caſe of Forts; and ſtill retaining it, ſhall thereupon eſſay a little further by the ſecond; aiming (as ſteadily as I can) at Moderata juvant in the beneficial reſult of the third.)

The Eſtates, in which are no ſtrong places, are conquered by one Battaile, England formerly hath teſtified it. And an Antient Counſellour to Henry the 4th. and Lewis the 13th. of France ſaid then, that the Perſian relying onely on the number of his men, had loſt in one Battle a great extent of his Country, the which the Turk afterwards preſerved by Forts. For although Forts alone cannot much aſſiſt an Eſtate, yet being ſeconded by Armies, they make it invincible; and there being no Armies on foot, they give the Soveraign leaſure to raiſe them; and after a rout, to rally his men together to renew the War. Yet by this it is not inferred, that that Eſtate which hath moſt Forts is ſtrongeſt; For it is impoſſible to guard many well; and ſome being ill-guarded, they prove more prejudicial to the Eſtate, then proſitable for the defence. A Kingdom ought therefore to have few, but well-furniſhed with Men, Victuals and Amunition.

My Lord, Whether this near Sandwich ought, or ought not, be one of thoſe few, may be, if allowed, the Queſtion.

And if your Lordſhip's command ſhould authorize me freely to ſpeak what I think; and I ſhould be ſo lucky in my (though improbably yet poſſibly croſs-declared) opinion, ſubmittingly to agree with your reſerved judgement, which poſſibly alſo may be (for any thing I know) it ought not: as it would be (then) in me, even becauſe a private perſon, but the opinion of one Dunce; ſo it could be in your Honour but the judgement of one Doctor, though the moſt excellent known.

I can aſſure to your honour thoſe words contain no humorous criticiſmes of any Miſtical preſumptuous ſenſe, but diſcover onely that modeſt ſobriety that ought to confine all private mens opinions in their raſh publick cenſures; which, when by hap-hazard (though that rarely) true, rove but at random; as having not obedient humility enough to attend the more ſafe and judicious conduct of their better acquainted Guides.

But if (which is more then probable, becauſe of my preſent writing) I think this near Sandwich ought to be one of thoſe few; my opinion herein can amount no higher then to be ſtill opinion; of one, who ought, and doth, humbly preſent it, not by way of anticipation, but ſubmiſſion.

But if your Lordſhip alſo (or rather, onely) think it ought, (for then it matters not, whether a private capacity thought ſo or not,) that very thought in you (though it made not opinion in me to be judgement, yet it) makes the Deſign a juſtice due to the Nation; eſpeyially ſince all impediments (therein) of charge to His Majeſty be removed: Grant me thereupon, my Lord, ſo much gracious allowance, as to remember unto your Honour, that even as thoſe ſtars meeting in Conjunction with the Sun, do much availe toward the cauſing of his influences to become good and favourable unto us; as the Pleiades, which cauſe the light to appear pleaſing and gracious unto us at the Springs return, whereas the Canicular Star makes it ſcorching in ſummer: So the Earle of Clarenden, moving (in this, and like noble Deſigns) the Royal will and Authority of ſo Divine a Prince as our Soveraign Lord the King, concurreth in the numerous influences of his grace with the Light of our eyes, becomming thereby (like the harmonious Pleiades) a favourable Organ and Heroick Inſtrument of a moſt fortunate and eſtabliſhed Age.

My Lord, Juſtice tending to the good of others, is as it were an eſſential quality to publick perſons, obliging them both to love and procure the publick good; which not only Laws and Reaſon teach us, but even Nature it ſelf dictates unto us; For is it not apparent in all ſublunary things, yea in the very Heavens and in the Angels alſo, that whatſoever is deſtinated for the Common good, operateth not for it ſelf, but imployeth it ſelf for all? Do not thoſe mighty Courtiers, thoſe confirmed Privado's of the Deity in the Cabinet of the Beatifick Viſion, kept white by the ſame bounty that created them ſo; in an

Motus Angelorum fit in tempore imperceptibili, non indiviſibili.

Suarez. Non in inſtanti, quia ſunt duo nunc, & eſt prius & poſterius. Aquinas.