Licensed according to Order.

AS England is Wall'd round with a Wall of Water, Her De­fence of that Wall by Her Floating Castles, Her Naval Strength and Management, is her greatest, if not almost Her only Bulwarks and Rampants. This is most certain, as the British Empire holds a two-fold Regale, Her Scepter, and Her Trident; Her Dominion at Land, and Her Soveraignty at Sea; so, that Maritine Principality being the Frontiers and Out-lines of Her whole Power and Territories, and consequently Her chiefest Strength, as being Her only Inlet; that Deputed Hand, that under the Imperial Commission, has the Charge of Her Admiralty, has the highest Post of Honour, and the most Impor­tant Trust that a Crown'd Head can lodge in a Subject. For, as no At­taque can be made upon England, without first gaining Her Mastery of the Sea, the Preservation of that fairest of Her Crown-Jewels is, and ought to be Her ablest Care and Industry.

This is notoriously manifest from the never-dying Fame of our Great Elizabeth, where one intire Naval Triumph o're Spain, was of more Advantage to this Kingdom, and carried more Trophies along with it, than all the Battles and Successes of a Third Edward, or a Fifth Henry, in the very Bowels of France. For, to summ the whole Grandeur of that Greatest of Potentates, and best of Queens; Her Sword-work at Land, tho' encompassed with Enemies, was nothing to Her Thunder-work at Sea.

The Fortune of that single Stroke, attended with so great a Blow upon Spain, and Her prudent Caution of suppressing the Maritine Growth of France, even against their great Fourth Henry himself, in threatning to burn his Navy in their Harbour for so much as attempting to build a Capital Ship of War, was of that high Import to the English Grandeur; that had Her Politicks been pursued, and Her Advantages from that onely Success been rightly improved by Her Masculine, tho' (Heavens knows) more Effeminate Successors; England had held the Scale of Europe to [Page]End of the World, and the present Greatness of France, the now Terror of Christendom, had been wholly an impracticable Attempt and Ambition.

But as the aforesaid Esteminacy of the succeeding Reigns, utterly ne­glected that fortunate Occasion, and lost the happy Forelock; which had we held, we had awed the whole World, and preserved the English Greatness, as immortal, as that Princesses never-dying Memory, and has thereby so infinitely lessened our Original British Lustre: Nevertheless, 'tis not so late, even after all our Losses, and former Mis-managements, to en­deavour some part at least of so necessary a Recovery. This Glory at least we have to boast, for our Encouragement, That never more hardy Cou­rage sate on the English Throne than now. Nor a Prince, whose Endea­vours and Zeal can be more strenuous, or more indefatigable, for the Redemption of our too long falling Glory. Cou'd all Hands follow; but as this leads, both Fear and Despair would be far from our Doors, and a new Dawn of Hopes surronnd us.

But to return to our Admiral's Cause: As the Sea is a Divisum Im­perium, a separate Soveraignty from that of the Land; and accordingly the Laws; by which all Maritine Affairs are tried, are different from the common Law of the Nation; So the Lord High Admiral of England's Commission, as so much different from any other Command, constitutes him no less than a Viceroy; a Title above any other Dignity, or Prefer­ment whatever.

If the Honour of the Command it self be so Eminent and Illustrious, the Faithful and Zealous Execution of it must be truly more Honourable and Illustrious; for indeed 'tis only the Discharge of a Trust, and the Exertion of Virtuous Actions, and Gallant Atchievements, are the true Foundati­on of Renown and Glory.

As the ever-memorable Drake has left a Name that will live as long Time it self shall last; we may likewise add, That our latter Honourable Admiral Russel has acquired as large a share of Fame, as true English Courage, rewarded with Success and Victory, can well reach. And 'tis highly to be wish'd, that our this present Years latter Expedition, in our Joynt Commission of Admiralty, cou'd have met with as fair a Chapplet of Lawrels. But if either any unsmiling Providences above, or unhappier Conduct below, have deny'd us that Blessing; 'tis our Misfortune, that so fair a Chian should ever be broken, and that such Signal Happinesses should be other than the continued show'ring Favours of our kind Stars.

But whether our this Years Unhappiness at Sea was Misfortune, or Mis-management, is a Province above me; 'tis safficient, that Sub Judice lis est. The Cause is depending before the Great Council of the Land, Our Patriots in Parliament Assembled, whose Vigilance and Wisdom, as they have the Inspection now before them; so their Hands have the Bal­lance, and Scales, to do Justice accordingly.