A LETTER FROM A Gentleman in Flanders TO A LORD in the PARLIAMENT.  
NO Motives less forceable than the love of my Country, and your Service, could have prevailed upon me to have given you this Trouble. And first I shall acquaint you what News we have in this part of the World. The King of France has resolved to send with all Expedition Ten thousand Men into Ireland, and an Agreement made with the Turkish Privateers to have Breast and the Ports of Ireland for their Harbours; but what is most considerable, the new Pope has declared himself in Favour of the King of England, and a general Peace: The whole of this is probable, the first part certain.  
Now all I beg from your Lordship is to lay aside all Passon, Dissatisfaction and Revenge, and give but Time to your ready Wit to think, What England was in No‑ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What it is now: and What it is like to be.  
In November last, we had a King who had an indubitable Right to the Crown, and Malice cannot deny him these Qualities; He is a Prince Frugal, Brave, and Merciful even to a Fault; A Kingdom wealthy, (for I heard it affirmed by knowing Bankers, That there was more Money in London than in Amsterdam, Paris and Constantinople) a Trade the greatest that ever our Kingdom had; a Revenue great, and raised only upon our Superfluities; with an Universal Peace with the whole World.  
Now see what we are at present; we have an Usurper upon the Throne, engaged in a War with France, Ireland, and Scotland; our Trade ruined; our Revenue changed from Customs to Poll-Bills, and Land-Taxes; with the Addition of Freequarter, and that in Private Houses.  
Now let us see what hopes we have of seeing England free from this Misery.  
I remember a most excellent and true Maxim I learned from your Lordship, That to alter the Succession of the Crown was to entail a War upon the Kingdom. And the Truth of this we saw verified in the Wars betwixt York and Lancaster, and in our late Usurpations; and until the indubitable Heir of the Crown was restored, England still continued in a state of War, though the Usurper had then France to his Friend.  
Is this the present state of England? Let every Landed and Trading Man consider then, that we are engaged in War; and War must be maintained, or Soldiers will maintain themselves, which is worse. But the great Query 〈◊〉, How all these Wars must be maintained? The Resolution is easy; they must be maintained by Land, or Trade: for Trade, that is already gone, and once lost is hardly retrieved; and the Customs which afforded a Million of Money the last Year, will the next hardly defray the Officers Salaries. For Land, it is already charged with Seventy thousand Pound per Mensem, which by a tolerable Calculate is a Twentieth part of the clear yearly Revenue of the Kingdom; concurring to this I s per l upon all Land, there is another Twentieth part; and the like upon personal Estates: So that he who hath 600 l a Year must allow a Hundred for mere Taxes. Were this all, it were supportable; but the Countryman must pay his Rent out of Wool, Corn, and Cattle; Wool which gave 8 l a Stone, will not now give 4 Corn and Cattle fell at the same Rate proportionably; then the Farmer can pay but half Rent: So here 600 l is reduced to 250. And I believe many would be glad to have well paid them 250 l neat Money, for 600 l a Year Land.  
Another Consideration no less melancholy than this is, our Trade gone; this needs no Proof, every Man doth both see and feel it; and no Trade no Seamen, no Seamen no Navy, no Navy no Wooden Walls; and then our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Conquered than if it were upon the Continent. And sure it is worth a Thought to think, What must become of all those Seamen, Dray-men, Porters, and Forty other sort of Mechanic Trades, whose Livelihood and Subsistance depended upon Trade: They must and will live, and Masianello like will take it without distinction from those that have it.  
Nor can any reasonable Man imagine, that a King turned out of Three Kingdoms will leave any Stone unturned for his Restauration, but will rather come with Force as a Conqueror than not at all. And the thing will not look difficult to him that doth but consider how the Discontents increase in England; and as their Necessities grow, so will their Hatred to the Government, and accelerate their despair of ever seeing either Peace, or Plenty, without seeing their lawful King seated upon his Throne. Fresh and great Supplies are now pressed for, and that speedily; which though granted, can never be raised; for no Revenue can stand long when Money does not circulate: And it's now obvious to Men of the meanest capacity, that the Kingdom of great Britain can never be happy, until they see his Majesty in Whitehall.  
Now, my Lord, I beg for your own sake, the sake of your Country, and all that can be called Good, Pious and Just, to Consider these weak Notions I have offered to you, and improve them by that excellent Wit, eloquent Tongue, and discerning Judgement, Gifts given you from Heaven; and if not employed to this good End, expect a Judgement for misapplying such Faculties. But boldly communicate your Thoughts both to Lords and Commons, that as they tender the happiness of Themselves, or Posterity, they restore his Majesty, who will deny nothing for their Good, and consistent with his own Security.  
The Author, I think, you cannot guests at; but if you should, conceal him: For it's one that desires to live to serve you, and question not his Power of doing it.  
FINIS.