id	author	title	date	pages	extension	mime	words	sentence	flesch	summary	cache	txt
A51057	McWard, Robert, 1633?-1687.	The English ballance weighing the reasons of Englands present conjunction with France against the Dutch vvith some observes upon His Majesties declaration of liberty to tender consciences.	1672.0		.xml	application/xml	41131	396	-12	yet , it hath not to this day , been further recognosced , even in the Channel , ( it 's principal seat and subject , and where it hath alwayes affected it's maine Parad : for as to the other brittish seas , which are onely , the neerest circumambient parts of the wide Ocean , the Law of nations doth onely attribut to England its common priviledge ) then by the bare ceremony of the first salute ; neither in the last Treaty , wherein the King of England was greatly concerned , and no lesse solicitous to cleare this title , was there any thing else agreed unto , as I have already marked ; and without all peradventure , if his Majesty in the conceit of his dominion , should once offer to exert it , though but in very ordinary effects , such as the assuming of jurisdiction , or imposing of tribute , whereof the Sound and Adriatick do exhibit cleare precedents ; he would soone be made to understand his error , not onely by the reclaming dissent , but also , by the vigourous opposition of all his neighbours : I might insist to disprove this pretense of an indefinit dominion , from the far more rational judgement , of the ancient Romans , who not only reckoned the sea with the air , Inter ea quae sunt nullius ; but , though by reason of the encircling of their vast Empire , they might have acclaimed , even the whole Mediterranean Sea , jure diverticuli , & in many parts thereof , had indeed several powers , and priviledges ; yet , were they so far from captating this vaine and groundlesse title , that one of the greatest Emperours , begins a rescript , with relation to this same subject , in these words , Ego quidem munai dominus , lex vero maris : thereby manifestly holding forth , that , as he judged it incapable of dominion , so it 's unstable nature , and common destination , could only be regulat , as to humane concernes , in so far , as Law , and consequently , condition or consent , did determine : from all which , I conclude , that as the Dutch , doe fully satisfie , all that in justice , the King of England can demand , by their offering to strike , conforme to the last Treatie , and have good reason to repugne , either to his indefinit soveraignity , or any further preheminence , for which nothing anterior to the said last Treaty , can in reason be obtruded ; so , his pressing them further , in this affair , is , both captious , and unjust , and he might upon as good grounds , refuse them the liberty , of a free passage in the channel , as exspect of them a consent , to adominion , which if not cautioned , by a particular explication , might assuredly be thereto extended . And here lyes the great discovery , the right of the Flage is all , that is drectly pretended ; but , dominion of the narrow seas , under the colour of a sophistical equipollency , is the thing mainely intended : I shall not repeat what I have above adduced , for distinguishing , this prerogative , from the dominion aimed at , and explicating this whole matter ; but as his Majesties covert insinuation , doth aboundantly verify , even his own diffidence , of his absurd and insupportable claime ; so , if we go about , thus to renverse nature , and subvert humane liberty , the Dutch are the first ; but neither the greatest , nor the last enemy , which we are to apprehend : As to the license to fish , here instanced ; since I cannot set down what is truth , in matter of fact , considering the confidence , wherewith it is asserted , without a reflexion , which I by choice forbeare , I leave that to the Stats their vindication : But , suppose it had been sought , and graunted , within that space of distance , from our coast , which the positive law of nations , and consent of mankinde , hath in a manner every where appropriat , to the countreyes respectively adjacent , it signifieth nothing to his Majestie 's purpose : What is then the Dutch their ingratitude , and insolence , that provoks his Majesty , to an exclamation ? let all men judge : It 's said , they owe their being and wealth to our protection and valour :	cache/A51057.xml	txt/A51057.txt
