The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 06 (of 11) — Thomas Hobbes — John Shaqi
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 06 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
_A._ But he guessed well: for within a month after the battle at
Worcester, an act passed forbidding the importing of merchandize in
other than English ships. The English also molested their fishing upon
our coast. They also many times searched their ships (upon occasion of
our war with France), and made some of them prize. And then the Dutch
sent their ambassadors hither to desire what they before refused; but
partly also to inform themselves what naval forces the English had
ready, and how the people here were contented with the government.
_B._ How sped they?
_A._ The Rump showed now as little desire of agreement as the Dutch did
then; standing upon terms never likely to be granted. First, for the
fishing on the English coast, that they should not have it without
paying for it. Secondly, that the English should have free trade from
Middleburgh to Antwerp, as they had before their rebellion against the
King of Spain. Thirdly, they demanded amends for the old, but never to
be forgotten business of Amboyna. So that the war was already certain,
though the season kept them from action till the spring following. The
true quarrel, on the English part, was that their proffered friendship
was scorned, and their ambassadors affronted; on the Dutch part, was
their greediness to engross all traffic, and a false estimate of our and
their own strength.
Whilst these things were doing, the relics of the war, both in Ireland
and Scotland, were not neglected, though those nations were not fully
pacified till two years after. The persecution also of royalists still
continued, amongst whom was beheaded one Mr. Love, for holding
correspondence with the King.
_B._ I had thought a Presbyterian minister, whilst he was such, could
not be a royalist, because they think their assembly have the supreme
power in the things of Christ; and by consequence they are in England,
by a statute, traitors.
_A._ You may think so still: for though I called Mr. Love a royalist, I
meant it only for that one act for which he was condemned. It was he who
during the treaty at Uxbridge, preaching before the commissioners there,
said, it was as possible for heaven and hell, as for the King and
Parliament, to agree. Both he and the rest of the Presbyterians are and
were enemies to the King’s enemies, Cromwell and his fanatics, for their
own and not for the King’s sake. Their loyalty was like that of Sir John
Hotham’s, that kept the King out of Hull, and afterwards would have
betrayed the same to the Marquis of Newcastle. These Presbyterians
therefore cannot be rightly called loyal, but rather doubly perfidious,
unless you think that as two negatives make an affirmative, so two
treasons make loyalty.