The True-Born Englishman, A Satire (Annotated)

Book excerpt: Differentiated book- It has a historical context with research of the time-The True-Born Englishman is a satirical poem published in 1701 by Daniel Defoe in defense of the then King of England William, born in Holland, against the xenophobic attacks of his political enemies and ridiculing the notion of English racial purity. It quickly became popular. According to a preface that Defoe supplied to a 1703 edition, the poem's stated purpose is not English as such, but English cultural xenophobia against the cultural unrest caused by the new immigrants. Defoe's argument was that the English nation as it existed in its day was the product of various incoming European ethnic groups, from the ancient British to the Anglo-Saxons, the Normans and beyond. Therefore, there was no point in abusing newcomers, as English law and customs would guarantee their inevitable assimilationI only infer that an English man, of all men, should not despise foreigners as such, and I believe that the inference is fair, since what they are for the day, we went yesterday, and tomorrow they will be like us. If foreigners misbehave at their various stations and jobs, I have nothing to do with it; The Laws are open to punish them equally with the Natives, and let them have no Favor.