PREFACE.

and shipping maritime trade) will very quickly and hastily be deprived of all prosperity and must reach ruin. This I will also, as a first beginning, according to my utmost ability, as before, attempt to ward off: for in my insight, the Dutch people are now fully placed in that state, to be brought either entirely above or entirely below, and those who seek a middle ground in Holland, these will be notorious hinderers of all necessary vigoreuxze resolutien vigorous resolutions for success, and consequently will provide certain instruments for the ruin and downfall of the Dutch people. Indeed, everything in Holland will depend only on a good, manly resolution, and missing that, everything will miss [its mark]. Warning you, my Reader, even with this, if you should find something here offensive to you, that you are not to refrain or occupy yourself with refuting it or otherwise railing against it for so long, until the time that you have seen and read the following two Parts: for these will be able to give you a singular light and closer opening into all the difficulties and doubts occurring here. If, dear Reader, this Ingangh of Poort van Voor-reden Entrance or Gate of the Preface seems, as it does to me, sufficiently large enough in view of the following building, then please excuse me [for asking you to] also take into account your reflection on the following Parts, the content of which I have here also touched upon to some extent. Thus ended this ninth of May, the year 1665, on which day I hope and wish most powerfully that the Country's mighty War-fleet, with such a favorable North-East wind, will have happily chosen to go to Sea and may return to Holland with the most fortunate success: so that, through this, full opportunity may be granted and given by Heaven for the execution of all further good and wise counsel in Holland. And with this, I remain all yours, whether you know him or not, it is the one who, for the common good, MOST FAVORS AFFAIRS.