The case of England, and the Protestant interest — Present case of England, and the Protestant interest

THE CASE OF ENGLAND, AND THE PROTESTANT INTEREST.

SInce the present condition of the Kingdom, and the whole Protestant Interest by the conjunction of France and Spain abroad, and a a more horrid combination of several at home, must needs affect with the most melancholy Reflections all true English Hearts, such as have any real love or zeal for their Religion, or their native Country. I cannot think it amiss to present a short and impartial View •o such as have not considered the same.

In the beginning of the last Age, the Protestant Interest in Europe was more than a Match for the Roman Catholick; the Kingdom of Bohemia was almost all Protestant; near half the Subjects of Hungary, of Austria and Moravia, were Protestant (and did many times defend themselves by 〈◊〉 against the Emperor himself, when oppress'd by him for the sake of their Religion.) That in Germany, the Houses of Newburgh were Protestant, the Palatinates for the most part of them Protestant, of the strictest sort; the Saxons entirely Protestant, and being hearty unanimous, and seated in the midst of Germany, were a Bulwark and Defence to the Protestants of many other lesser States as often as they were oppress'd for their Religion, by their own or their neighbouring Princes: That many of the Subjects of Bavaria, Bamburgh, Cologn, Wurtzburgh and Worms were Protestants. Besides these, that the Protestants of France were so powerful, as to maintain 8 or 9 Civil Wars in defence of their Religion, and always came off with advantage. The Vaudois in Italy were all of them Protestant, and great numbers of the Inhabitants of the Spanish Low Countries were of the Reform'd Religion. Besides, England and Holland, and the Northern Kingdoms of Denmark and Sweden, and Dutchy of Brandenburgh, were entirely Protestant. But now instead of this, is not the Protestant Power destroyed almost over Europe? The whole Kingdom of Bohemia entirely Popish? Are not the Protestants of Poland, Austria, Moravia utterly destroyed? Is not their destruction now carrying on, and almost finish'd in Hungary? In Germany, the Newburghers of Protestants are become fierce Enemies of the Protestant Religion. The Protestants of Bavaria, Bamburgh, Cologn, Wurtzburgh and Worms are all destroyed. In France, the Spanish Low Countries, Savoy and Vaudois, after long and mighty Struggles, the Religion is utterly extinguished. Against the poor Palatinates the Persecution is now carrying on with its usual barbarity, and their Neighbours the Saxons are so far from being able to help them, that they are under the fearful Apprehensions of suffering the like from their own Prince (lately turned Roman Catholick to obtain the Kingdom of Poland) so soon as his Wars with Sweden, and other troubles created him by his Polish and Lithuanian Subjects will give him leave. Besides this, two Northern Princes have given great cause to suspect their conversion to the Romish Religion: That Sweden by its separation from the rest of Europe by the Baltick, is unable to give assistance to the Protestants in any part of Europe, without the consent of the German Princes bordering on the Baltick, which will never be granted by Papists in favour of the Protestants.

Thus the Protestant Religion which had spread it self over almost all Europe, which had gain'd the entire possession of some Countrys, the greater part of others, and mighty Interest in most, has through the restless malice and endeavours of its Enemies, been subverted and destroyed in Country after County, till it is at last reduced to a little Corner of what it once possest (England and Holland) And do we think our Enemies will not accomplish (what they have thus prosperously carried on so far) our utter Destruction? Is it not high time then to think our selves in danger, to look about us to enquire what it is hath thus weakend us, brought us so near our ruin, what measures will certainly accomplish it, and what we must take for the prevention of it?

The Romish Methods of converting the Protestants have been in all Countries the same, viz. Confiscation of their Estates, Goals and Imprisonments, I•re, and Sword, dragooning and massacring, and inflicting the most inhuman torments that rage and fury cou'd invent upon such, whose resolution and zeal for their Religion cou'd not be moved by the former means.

If this be the true case of England, and the Protestant Religion, then what is wanting to give the finishing stroke to our destruction, but only an ability in the King of France to break the Powers of England and Holland. And when we consider how in the year 1672. the King of France marched his Army through the midst of Flanders, fell directly upon Holland, then unprovided, enter'd their strongest Towns like open Villages; some without defence, or almost denial, most of them without any blows at all, and all of them with very few, and made himself Master, of three parts of Holland in 2 months time; for which Sir W. T. K. C. II's Ambassador (then in Holland) tells us the reason was, That the Dutch then not suspecting such a thing, had no Field-Army sufficient to encounter their Enemies, or succour any Town: That walled Towns will not defend the men within, unless the hearts of the Men will defend their Walls: That no Garison will make any resolute defence, without the prospect or hopes at least of relief. 'Tis true, that the French King having then all Flanders on his back, garison'd with Spanish Troops (then his implacable Enemies) a powerful Army of the German Princes matching upon him down the Rhine; Spain and England (alarm'd by his successes) preparing to attack him on all quarters, was glad to vomit up all again, and return home with as much precipitancy, as he had invaded them, least the Provisions and retreat of his Army through Flanders should be cut off. But now the case is otherwise, he has possess'd himself of Flanders, extended his Dominion to the very Frontiers of Holland; Spain is all united to him, some German Princes (then his Enemies) are now become his Friends; others enter'd into conditions of Neutrality with him: And should he now by a fatal Battle (which God of his infinite mer•• 〈◊〉) break the Dutch Army, which they have with infinite Charge and matchless Vigour, gather'd up from Denmark, Brandenburgh, and other remote Countries of Germany, might he not enter the heart of their Country? And whence then can their strong Cities and Towns depend upon relief? May he not as formerly enter 'em like open Villages? May he not as formerly possess himself of their whole Country in less than one Campaign? It was the opinion of that great Statesman, Sir W.T. That Polland wou'd make a stout resistance in any quarrel remote from their own doors; but that which enables them (their Wealth) to carry on a foreign War with Vigour, wou'd in a War at home render 'em defenceless Rich and populous Towns are not fit for Sieges, or were ever known to make any long and resolute defence. If this be our case, if the whole power of the Protestant Religion rests now in a manner in England and Holland; if the destruction of England, as well as of our holy Religion must inevitably follow the loss of Holland. If Holland by one unfortunate Battle might happen to be lost in one Campaign or less, Are we not in a most sad and deplorable Condition? and if some Men are without their Fears, Have we not the greater reason to fear for our selves, our Religion, and our Country. What shou'd we judg of those who tell us, 'tis too early yet for England to declare? The Enemy has raised his Armies, furnish'd his Magazines; and 'tis too early for us to think of raising a Man. The Enemy is before our Outworks, and 'tis too soon for us to prepare our selves to be on our guard: Will not those Men tell us, when Holland is lost, 'twill then be too late? To what purpose (will they say) now do you think of raising Forces? Is not the French King Master of Holland? Possess'd of all their Ports? Where will you land 'em? To what use will you put 'em? Does not such Language as this plainly shew the intention of the Authors? Is it not plainly to deliver us blindfold, bound hand and foot into the Enemies hand? Is not their design now so visible as not to be disguised? Do not some of the Party begin to throw off the Mask, and tell us, 'Twill not be well with us till our old Master returns, till the Government returns to its natural Channel. And are not those that were the very Tools and Instruments of Popery and Arbitrary Power in former Reigns, and that owe their Lives to Acts of Indempnity in this, industriously represented by some as the Patriots of their Country; and by a strange kind of Paradox those that have been always hearty for the Church, and were for defending of it when others were for pulling it down; that were hearty for the King's Accession to the Throne, and to his Person and Government ever since, are represented as betrayers of us, as having sold us to France: Would it not be a piece of rare refin'd Policy, if France could hang up her greatest Enemies, under the Nation of her dearest Friends, and give Encouragement to her antient Frien•• under the Notion of being her Enemies.

Let us therefore while it is yet in our power (as we tender our Religion and our Country) use our utmost Endeavours by all legal ways to assu• his Majesty and his Government, against all his and our Enemies both at home and abroad; and in the words of our Liturgy, let us offer up our most servent Prayers to God Amighty, Give peace in our time, O Lord, because there is none other that figureth for us but only thou, O God!

FINIS.

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The case of England, and the Protestant interest

Present case of England, and the Protestant interest

Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731.

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http://ota.ox.ac.uk/id/3503

ID [isbn10]

1106005023

ID [isbn13]

9781106005021

ID [TCP]

K014996.000

ID [BIBNO]

CW3306035634

ID [ECSS]

1128500200

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— The case of England, and the Protestant interest, Present case of England, and the Protestant interest, Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731.. 4p. ; 4⁰. [London,. 1702?]. [Anonymous. By Daniel Defoe.] [First issued as 'The present case of England, and the Protestant interest'.] [Drop-head title.] [The second line of text ends: "and a"; the fourth ends: "Hearts,".] [Publication place and date from InU-Li.] [Reproduction of original from the Bodleian Library (Oxford).] [English Short Title Catalog, ESTCN26811.] [Electronic data. Farmington Hills, Mich. : Thomson Gale, 2003. Page image (PNG). Digitized image of the microfilm version produced in Woodbridge, CT by Research Publications, 1982-2002 (later known as Primary Source Microfilm, an imprint of the Gale Group).]

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