of voices Provided that one of the ruling Burgomasters who at that time shall have been Burgomaster two full years together may not bee nominated or emploied for that time Item that any Burgomaster happening to die the Common Council shall proceed within three weeks to the chusing of another in his place That in like manner as before there shall bee chosen yearly twelv Counsellors with that proviso that such Counsellors as shall have been emploied at that time for three years together may likewise not bee nominated nor continued then God Almightie give his blessing to all these good and wholesom actions which I so far forth as they have appeared and been known to mee and all the world thought good to relate thus without any the least design of willingly or knowingly offending any If nevertheless som shall dislike it it will bee no great wonder Actions and Transactions of State relish not alike to all There are som which in former times have found and now or for the future think to finde their interest in a Principalitie or Monarchie and therefore Monarchie is that which they prais not regarding that a King and Prince hath the Name whenas two or three Favorites or Favorites of Favorites do really reign and rule at their own pleasure There are som here in the Land even of those that are engaged by oath and wages of the Land who nevertheless write Books in the behalf of Monarchie Such must not take it ill if somthing also bee don and writen in favor of a Common wealths Government though without all affectation and passion ayming at nothing but the naked Truth If here and there should occurr any aberration or mistake ascribe it to humane frailtie and want of better Information wee have don our utmost to give and impart nothing but things plain and real They are not Mysteries and hidden Secrets wee pretend to Most of what wee publish was either by Autoritie or connivance of the Government made publick before And the intention of the State as themselvs profess somwhere was to shew and manifest their actions before all the World and to recommend the zeal faithfulness and deserts of good Governors to Posteritis was never interdicted Every one is bound to improve his Talent that waie nor was the time ever stined or limited for any such endeavors To satisfie all men is impossible Tres mihi Convivae prope dissentire videntur There are scarce three but disagree And som there bee so over-running full of wisdom and conceitedness that they can like nothing but what they do themselvs and can discern through planks of Oak things never seen nor don Howbeit wee shall easily grant every one to enjoie his opinion provided they allow like like libertie to others END THE CHIEF HEADS AND MATTERS CONTAINED IN THIS TREATISE THe Union of Utrecht made in the year 1579. beeing That from which the Confederated Netherlands were called the United Provinces premised here for the better understanding of the late Transactions The Province of Holland seek's to reform and reduce the Armie and publick charges p. 1. 2. The States General endeavor to disswade it p. 4. The States of Holland having abated much from their first intents and obtained nothing they resolv to proceed of their own autoritie and actually casheir 12 Companies of hors and 31 Companies of foot p. 8 9. The Prince of Orange and Council of State oppose and countermand it p. 9. 10. The States General autorise the Prince to repress and quell the proceedings of the States of Holland p. 11. A Solemn Deputation decreed to all the Cities of Holland and the whole managing thereof as also the naming of the Commissioners referd to him who resolv's to go along in person 10 11 12. Som Ministers busâ—e meddling p. 13. The Deputies of Holland pray this Cours as a great Innovation and breach of Privilege may bee forborn but in vain p. 14. The Prince with the rest of the Commissioners begin their Progress p. 15. Their arrival and Proposition at Dort 15 16 c. Observation upon the same p. 25 26 c. The Answer of Dort p. 38. The Commissioners advanceing to Gorkum Goude Briel Rotterdam Shiedam Delft p. 38. 39. to Alckmar Horn Enckhuysen Medenblick Edam Amsterdam N. ibid to Harelem Leyden Schonhoven N. p. 40. The said Commissioners return to the Hague and report made p. 40. 41 c. The Approbation p. 44. The old and new rate among the Provinces for entertaining of forces p. 45. The States General further address to the States of Holland about complying p. 45. The particular Report of the Prince of Orange together with a smart Charge against the Citie of Amsterdam p. 46. Hollands Carriage and Resolutions thereupon p. 48 c. The Prince of Orange and Council of State present a Proposition for accommodation p. 54 c. The Prince fall's sick and recovereth p. 58. Hollands Advice for Reconciliation p. 59. Their large Letter to the 6 other Provinces in justification of their proceedings p. 60 c. The answer of Amsterdam to the Charge made against them p. 66. c. The seizing of six Members of the States of Holland p. 76. The Enterprise against Amsterdam and notable passages about the same p. 76 c. The Prince of Orange his Letter thereupon to all the Provinces p. 83. A great black Hors p. 84. The Prince in person before Amsterdam p. 85. Amsterdam begin's to Treat p. 88. The Treatie concluded p. 89. The six Members submit p. and are released resigning their charges p. 93. The Prince his Reasons and Motives for seizing the said Members c. sealed up p. 94. An agreement made about the State of War p. 96. The Disbanding of several Companies 20 French 32 English and 3 Scottish besides the newest hors and som old p. 100. The Prince of Orange goeth to Devren in Gelderland for to recreate himself p. 100. Several Letters of thanksgiving procured and sent to the Prince by reason of his late exploits in reducing Holland to conformitie first from Zeland p. 100. then from Friesland both to the Prince p. 101. and to Count William their Governor p. 102. from Gelderland p. 103. Over-Yssel ib. Utrecht 104 c. Great murmurings and discontents in Holland p. 107. A daie of publick Thanksgiving endeavored for by the States General upon the foresaid account and hindred by those of Holland ibid. Amsterdam stand's upon their guard 108. many invectives against the Prince ibid. The Prince his design of beeing declared premier Noble in Gelderland 108. His last sickning of the small pox with the whole Narration thereof unto his Death as it was set down and attested by his Physitions 109. 10. c. The Ministers warned not to visite him least their appearance should fright him into an apprehension of death 115. The Minister Sterremont his Relation 111. Notification given of his death to all the Provinces Courts Ambassadors Governors c. 115. 116. The Princess Royal
NOTABLE REVOLUTIONS BEEING A TRUE RELATION Of what hap'ned in the United Provinces OF THE NETHERLANDS In the years MDCL and MDCLI Somwhat before and after the Death of the late Prince of ORANGE According to the Dutch Copie collected and published at the Haghe 1652. By LION AITZEMA Concordiâ Res Parvae Crescunt Discordiâ Magnae Dilabuntur Tunc Tua Res agitur Paries cùm Proximus ardet The Principal matters handled herein you shall have in a Table at the end of the Book LONDON Printed by William Du-gard by the Appointment of the Council of State Anno 1653. THE AUTHOR to his READER THe Aim and Drift of publishing this Book is no other then that which those of the present Government here of late professed themselvs see pag. 281. namely to shew and manifest before all the World how regularly and orderly certain principal Charges were supplied when as by their Vacancie hap'ned in the year 1650 the Lion with his bundle of Arrows that is to saie the United power of these Countries seemed heart-broken The ensued Recoverie thereof by an Vnanimous Resolution shewing plainly That Republicks die not The particulars treated here relate much to the Everlasting League and Confederacie made between the Provinces in the year 1â—79 commonly called The Union of Utrecht which therefore shall bee premised to the Work in lieu of a Preface There were sundry Explanations made lately in the Grand Assemblie upon the said Vnion and som Extensions also as will appear in the handling But there was no nearer or streighterVnion made between the Provinces as som abusively held forth in Print and would have made the world believ Farewel The Transaction of the UNION Everlasting League and Agreement between the Countries Provinces Cities and Members thereof hereafter specified decreed at Utrecht and published from the Town-hous there Januarie 29 in the year M. D. LXXIX IT beeing manifest that since the Pacification made at Ghent whereby all the Provinces of these Netherlands stood sufficiently engaged to assist one another with life and goods for the expelling of the Spaniards and other forrein Nations together with their adherents The said Spaniards have with Don John d' Austria and other their Chieftains and Commanders endeavored since by all means and dayly seek to subdue the said Provinces aswell in general as each one apart under their Tyrannical Government and slaverie and both by force of Arms and subtile practices to divide and disjoint the said Provinces and thereby to undo and subvert the Union made between them by the Pacification aforesaid to the utter ruine and destruction of the Foresaid Countries and Provinces in prosecution of which obstinate persisting in their foresaid pernicious design they lately again sollicited som towns and Quarters by soothing letters and others viz. in Gelderland they set upon and surprised by force of Arms. Therefore those of the Principalitie of Ghelders and Countie of Zutphen those of the Earldom's and Countries of Holland Zealand Vtrecht and Frizish Omlands betwixt the Em. and Lawers have found it expedient to enter into a nearer and streighter Vnion and alliance among themselvs not with any intent to separate themselvs from the above-mentioned general Union made by the Pacification of Ghent but rather for the further strenghtning of the same and the better securing of themselvs against all manner of inconveniences whereinto they might bee driven by the feveral practices designs or forcible attemts of their Enemies That the said Provinces might know how and in what manner to carry themselvs for to bee protected and secured against the prevalencie of their Enimie as also for the eschewing of further separations among the foresaid Provinces and particular members thereof the foresaid general Vnion and Pacification at Ghent remaining otherwise in its full vigor In pursuance of the Premisses the Deputies of the foresaid Provinces fully instructed and autorized by their respective principals have agreed and resolved upon the points and articles here ensuing without any purpose nevertheless of withdrawing themselvs hereby from or out of the holy Roman Empire And I. that the foresaid Provinces shall allie confederate and unite themselvs together as by these they do allie confederate and unite themselvs for ever remaining joined together in every regard and manner as if they were all of them but one Province without ever separating or suffering themselvs to bee separated one from another by any Testament-wills Codicils Donation Cession Permutation Sale treatie of peace Marriage or for any caus whatsoever without nevertheless infringing or impairing any of their particular Privileges Freedoms Exemtions Rights Statutes laudable antient customs and observances or any other immunities of any Provinces particular Cities members and inhabitants thereof wherein they shall not onely not hinder disturb or prejudice one another but every one shall by all convenient and possible means yea if need bee with both life and goods help to maintain support and strengthen defend and protect the other therein against all and every one whoever hee bee and however qualified that shall go actually about to prejudice or infringe any of them Provided that the Questions and Debates which any of the said Provinces the Members or Cities belonging to this Union either now hath or for the future may chance to have amongst themselvs touching their own peculiar privileges Freedoms Exemtions Rights Statutes laudable antient customs and observances or any other Immunities the same shall bee decided and determined by the ordinarie Court of Justice arbitration or friendly Agreement without the intermedling of any other Countrie or Province Cities or Members thereof as long as both the interessed disputing parties shall submit to their proper Judges unless it were by interceding for a good accord 2. That the foresaid Provinces shall bee bound in conformitie and for performance of the said League and Union to assist one another with Bodie Goods and Blood against any Force and violence that shall bee attemted against them by any in the name of the King of Spain or in his behalf or under pretence of either whether it bee by reason of the treatie of peace made at Ghent for taking up armes against Don John of Austria receiving of Arch-Duke Matthias for their Governor or any matter relating thereunto depending or ensuing upon it or like to ensue though it were under color onely of reestablishing restoring or introducing of the Roman Catholick Religion by force of arms or for any innovations or alterations hapned within any of the foresaid Provinces Cities or Members of the same since the year 1558 or also because of this present Union and Confederacie or upon any other such like ground and this as well in case the said force and violence shall bee used against any one of the said Provinces Cities or Members thereof apart or against them all in general 3. That the said Provinces shall bee bound likewise in the self same manner to assist and help to defend one another against all forrein and
abating of Poperiâ— c. before the Land do spue us out for it and â—od râ—â—engâ— iâ— upon us Thus shall your Hi. Mi. shew your selvs truly thankful to God for the great Mercies and Benefits vouchsafed to your State whom God hath raised from small to great from poor to rich and even miraculously brought and preserved hitherto Then shall your H. M. not have received the Sword in vain but acquit your Conscience do God acceptable service preserv many souls from destruction terrifie wicked-doers cherish the good and doubtless receiv a blessing from Heaven upon your further Consultations and Government and upon all your persons and Inhabitants and at last as faithful Servants and Stewards of God bee made partakers in Heaven of the gracious reward readie prepared there for all good Governors which God Almightie grant to your Hi. Mi. Amen Signed in the Name of all Bernard Craso Eleazar Lotius Maximilian Feeling Cornelius Lamanus Johannes Heystius Means exhibited for the hindring of the Popes Hierarchie and the Superstitions of the Papists in the United Provinces for the most part taken out of the Acts and Ordnances of the Land I. THat all popish Clergie persons Jesuits Priests Friars c. bee kept out of the Land they beeing no Subjects of any Secular Princes or Magistrates but onely of the Court of Rome according to their own Tenents as likewise the United Provinces have determined in the preliminar points before the concluding of the Peace that the Ordinances against the Papists formerly published should remain in their vigour and executed according to their plain form and â—ontents II. That all Acts and Liberties granted to popish Clergie-men Priests c. may bee repealed and an Order made that no Governors nor Commanders nor any whatsoëver shall for time to com grant any more such III. That all Assemblies or Cohabitatioâ—s in Houses Cloysters Nunneries of unmarried persons Nuns Beguins Jesuitesses Queâ—els Cloppens may bee dissolved and in particular all Cloppens and Quesels may bee banished the Land or reduced from that pernicious Order IV. That no Papists bee admitted to the Government or any publick Employment of the Land but that all popish Justices town-Senators Secretaries Forresters publick messengers bee cashired and able persons making open profession of the Reformed Religion put in their places V. That all Popish Conventicles may bee prohibited disturbed their Altars Images Crucifixes and Ecclesiâ—stical Ornaments and things belonging thereunto broken in pieces and taken away and strict orders made against all that frequent such meetings or let out yield or grant their Houses Court-yards Ships c. to any such purpose VI. That likewise the Inhabitants running after Popish Câ—urches processions festivals may bee let and prevented VII That no Ambassadors or Agents beeing of a Contrarie Religion bee permitted to exercise their worship in any other but every one his own language and none admitted but their Domesticks VIII That likewise all particular Lords dwelling in this State or having any Lordships Mannors Houses in the same bee prohibited to permit any Popish worship to bee celebrated in any of them IX That all private entries and close passages which the Papists make use of for the conveighing of themselvs from one hous to another in the exercise of their worship may bee stopt up and forbidden X. That all publick pilgrimages processions visiting of pretended holy places the setting up of Images and Crucifixes in Church-yards the crossing and marking of Papists houses for to bee the better known and found out by their Clergie and kneeling at the graves the setting up at or about the dead bodies any crosses candles and other such like Popish superstitions in use here among them as the shutting of their shops upon the foresaid festivals or holy-daies may bee prevented and hindred XI That it bee expressly forbidden to make directly or indirectly any Collection or gathering of Monies Wares Commodities c. in the behalf of any the foresaid Ecclesiastical Popish persons Churches Colleges Convents within or without the Land or to send away or remit any such monies wares c. XII That all Popish parents or families bee interdicted to disinherit their children or lawful heirs for or by reason of the reformed Religion and that the Papists of this Countrie bee forbidden likewise to make over their goods to the Jesuits Priests Nuns or any other pretended Ecclesiasticks whether within or without the Land to the prejudice of their heirs XIII That no Marriages of the Papists bee acknowledged lawful but such as are made before the Magistrates or in the publick Churches and that they bee prohibited to marrie any other waie XIV That all Popish Schools in this Land together with the Catechizing or teaching of children by Nuns in their Nunneries or by the Cloppens in particular houses may bee hindred and restrained XV. That the Papists dwelling in these Countries may bee forbidden to let their children bee brought up forth the Land in any Popish Schools Universities Colleges of Jesuits Cloysters of Frieries XVI That the children of the Reformed whether by father or mother bee brought up by reformed Guardians in the Reformed Religion without suffering them to bee put under popish Guardians XVII That no popish Landlord bee suffered more henceforward but strictly forbidden to let out his Lands with stipulation and condition that the Tenants shall go to Mass and let their children bee baptized by popish Priests XVIII That all useless Colleges and Popish Societies bee put down and the revenue emploied to pious uses and likewise all superstitious customs as the running about with Drums and Burgundian Banners which are used at the meetings of the Childs or Companies may bee restrained and all the old Charters full of Idolatries and superstitions renewed XIX That strict Orders bee made against all Officers that are negligent in the Execution of the Ordinances and that the same bee enjoined not onely to them but also to the Militarie Officers XX. For conclusion of these means besides what other the wisdom of your Hi. Mi. shall judg fit and ordain wee do wish som convenient ones could bee thought upon by your Hi. Mi. whereby the Papists in this Land might bee brought to the hearing of Gods holy Word and by it the true faith in Jesus Christ and an upright obedience to their lawful Magistrates In the Name of all it was signed as before Bernard Craso Eleazar M. F. Lotius Maximilian Feeling Cornelius Lamanus Johannes Hestius Som Provinces could have been contented the Ministers had staid at home especially for that there was one among these Representers who in a certain Dedication of a Book to the late Prince had highly praised and flatter'd him in regard of his proceedings last year against those of Holland and Amsterdam misapplying and wresting several Scripture-places to that purpose which most Ministers themselvs held to savor too too much of profanation Those of Holland remembred likewise what endeavors were used last Summer to charge them with defaults
rest In regard whereof the said Countrie was held for so essential a Member of the Assemblie That the same was not onely summoned by Writ in the year 1579. for the sending of their Deputies together with the other Provinces to contribute their advices and resolutions as well towards the Pacification intended at Cullen as about the good directions of the War Nay even the Lords the States General themselvs and the Archduke Matthias Governor of these Countries have roundly declared it again and again by their Letters that they might nor could not bring things to a Resolution without the advice of the Countrie of Drent and that therefore in default of sending their Deputies or their Advice at least they should bee necessitated to leav the foâ—esaid affairs undon In pursuance of this the Gentrie and Freeholders representing the State of the Countrie or Countie of Drent were solemnly and aequo Jure as Confederates taken and received into the Union of Utrecht April 11 o. 1580. And thereupon they likewise had and enjoied Session and Voice at the Assemblie of the States General negotiating in the several Courts or Colleges of the Generalitie and continued thus until the Countrie to their great grief and without any fault of theirs was rent from the Union for som time through the loss of Groninghen Cororden and Steenwick and subdued by the Enemie The like case happened also to other their neighboring Provinces either totally or in part who notwithstanding the same beeing afterwards reduced again recovered all their former places and privileges Jure postliminil So that in every regard it is more then fitting and reasonable that the Countrie of Drent after their Deliverance and Reduction bee likewise wholly restored unto and repossessed of their former state and condition Which your Hi. Mi. themselvs also have understood thus and clearly manifested in the year 1584. whenas your Hi. Mi. stood in Treatie with the King of France after the death of the Duke of Alencon where not onely in the 3 d Article all the Countrie 's privileges in general and in particular were reserved but likewise by Article 22. the condition made That all the rest of the United Provinces as OverYssell Omlands and Drent which at that time were for the most part oppressed under the power of the Enemie should enjoy the same conditions with the rest as Reidanus doth rehears the same in the fourth book of the Netherlandish histories Which foresaid restitution or restoration ought to have so much the more place here in regard of the offers and promisses which your Hi. Mi. were pleased to make in the years 1602. and 1632. by publick Ordinances in most ample terms even unto such Provinces as are yet under the Spanish Dominion and som whereof had abandoned the Union formerly of their own voluntarie accord Whereas on the Contrarie the Countrie of Drent entered into the said Union of their own free accord and alwaies carried themselvs like faithful Confederates and contributed to the common charges according to nay sufficiently beyond their abilities and hath not deserved in the least to bee frustrated or deprived of their Right Nor can or ought the smalness of the said Countrie or their mean abilities prejudice them ought beeing that notwithstanding the said Considerations they were received into the Union and into the general Assemblie aequo jure so long ago by reason whereof they cannot now in that regard bee rejected It beeing moreover well known that it doth happen but seldom that all Confederated members are alwaies alike able and powerful enjoying nevertheless alike Right of Session and suffrages as wee finde it practised of old in the confederacie between the mightie King of Persia and those of Thebes and by that of the Athaeans and at this very daie in the Covenant and Cantons of Switzerland yea not to go far in these very United Provinces of the Netherlands and their Members and Cities in particular Besides that the said Countrie of Drent is not so small neither or of so little consideration but that in regard of the situation shee is the Keie of 2 or 3 of her neighboring allied Provinces in which the Countries in general are not a little concerned No more can it prejudice the said Countrie that divers and som particular Cities also were admitted into the Union which nevertheless had no Session nor Voice in the general Assemblie There beeing a vast difference betwixt one or more particular Cities of a Province which which were meerly received into the Union without allowing them Session among the States of the Provinces and betwixt an entire formed Countrie or Province such as the Countrie of Drent is which as it was abovementioned had both Session and Voice in the said Assemblie suo jure even before the constituting of the said Union and was afterwards by the rest of the Provinces and Confederates solemnly called and admitted not onely to the Union simply but likewise to the Session and Right of voicing nay and held and acknowledged too for so necessarie a member of the said Assemblie That without them and their Resolutions no final Resolution could bee taken in any point concerning Peace or War or other weightie affairs of the Land by the States General according to their own Declaration Nor are there any considerable Reasons of State which can prejudice the just Right they have what ever was pretended formerly it beeing plain That no better Maximes or Foundations of State can possibly bee found or laid then that vvhich God the onely Autor and Founder of all vvell constituted Governments hath laid himself saying In Justitiâ stabilietur Thronus Regis And that there is nothing more just nor more conformable to the Divine Natural and National Right throughout the Univers then that solemnly contracted Covenants and sworn Confederacies bee Religiously observed and kept And on the contrarie that it is repugnant against all Jura Societatis Foederum that the one shall go about to usur pover the other Even as your Hi. Mi. themselvs do understand it declaring in one of your Resolutions that of Sept. 1. 1592. most worthily That the welfare of the Land in general and of every Province in particular is especially concerned and conversant therein That every one bee mainteined in his proper Rights and Privileges the Arms having been taken up and continued hitherto for that very purpose and that so doing according to the General Union sworn unto by all the Provinces without the least attemt of usurping over or supplanting the one the other God Almightie would doubtless bless the Common Caus and grant it an happie issue and doing contrarie it would certainly multiplie mischiefs and hale on Judgments for the future upon them And least som should pretend and saie that the Countrie of Drent hath been careless and negligent about their Right in this behalf and if not expressly at least tacitly given up the same it is manifest enough that for the recovering of their former state
afterwards of his High s to all the Cities of this Province and lastly of the approbation of the conciliatorie project of July 16. 1650. and other businesses ensued thereupon hath carried himself so honorably honestly sincerely and uprightly according to the orders given him by Us made Us such faithful and true reports from time to time of the advices and considerations of all the Members at the Assemblie of the Province of Holland and West Friesland as also at the Generalitie touching the foresaid subjects both pro and contra according to his ordinarie curious and laborious custom as well by writing as word of mouth as ever could bee don by any wherefore also both himself and his respective fellow-Deputies after reports made of their vigilancie zeal and good endeavors had every time most heartie thanks given them which is now reiterated by these in special manner approving the Zeal and Courage which they have shewed in these matters for the service of the Land declaring withal the contents of the foresaid papers in this regard for untrue injurious and calumnious and that the rest can bee reputed no better promising also therefore to him and his descent and posteritie not onely to hold them guilt-and harm-less of whatsoever might at any time betide them by reason hereof but likewise to repute of any such accident as happening unto our selvs in General and to every one of us in particular and to see the same repaired with all vigor to our utmost and to save and keep him and his free of all charge charges and damages in that behalf under the obligation of our Citie and goods thereof impetrable by any Court or Judicatories Laws and Judges Underneath stood Extracted out of the foresaid Register of the Resolution book and found to agree therewith word for word the daie and year as before Signed by mee M. Ryckaert Secretarie at Medenblyck Declaration of the No. Gr. Mi. Lords the States of Holland and Westfriesland touching the Charge against the six arrested Lords and the Government of Amsterdam THe Knighthood Nobles and Cities of Holland and Westfriesland representing the States of the said Countrie To all those that shall see or hear the reading of these greeting Bee it known That whereas last year 1650 a Deliberation beeing on foot about the receiving a new state of War a Retrenchment of the Land-Charges and other dependences thereof som of the Lords Members of our Assemblie of State by name Jacob de Witte Old-Burgomaster of the Citie of Dort Jan de Wael Burgomaster and Aelbert Ruyl Counsellor Pensionarie of the Citie Haerlem John Duyst van Voorhout old Burgomaster of the Citie of Delft Nunning Keysar Counsellor and Pensionarie of the Citie of Horem and Nicolas Stellingwerf Counsellor and Pensionarie of the Citie of Medenblyck were seized and for a time deteined prisoners in our hous of Loevestein and that all the foresaid Lords as also together with them the Lords Andreas Bicker Lord of Engelenburg and Cornelius Bicker Lord of Swieten the former Old and the latter governing Burgomaster of the Citie of Amsterdam were fain through the practice used then about the foresaid matters to resign and bee discharged of their respective Citie 's emploiments That likewise our good Citie of Amsterdam hath for som daies been kept shut up and besieged by forces of the State all which might caus such as have not a right and full knowledg of the true condition and circumstances of affairs happened and transacted then to take it for granted and currant as if the said respective Lords had been brought to this seizure and resignation of their emploiments through or by reason of any misdeed or misdemeanour of theirs in either their respective Cities or the State 's affairs and consequently through their own fault as also that by the Governors of the Citie of Amsterdam there had been any just caus given of the trouble they susteined by the Siege aforesaid And that nevertheless on the contrarie it hath plainly been evidenced unto Us by the lawful and solemn Declarations of the Unanimous Commons of the above-named Cities that the foresaid Lords respectively have with all sinceritie and faithfulness followed and performed what they had given them in charge by their respective Principals and in particular about those points of retrenching the charges of the State and in regard of the State of War and things dependent thereon together with all the results of the Deliberations held in behalf thereof as well touching the with-holding of the consents of paying of a part of the Militia petitioned for by the Council of State in the fore-mentioned State of War as about the Execution of the Resolutions taken by us in those matters and other consectaries thereof have discharged their trust and followed the intentions and orders of the foresaid respective Commons their Principals and likewise served and supplied the same from time to time with pertinent true and faithful reports of all the advices and considerations both of the other members in our own State's-Assemblie and those of the Deputies of the rest of the Provinces at the Assemblie of the Lords the States-General deduced pro and con to those Commons their Principals perfect instruction good content and abâ—olute satisfaction Moreover that in the managing of the foresaid matters and deliberations in the reâ—pective Commonalties the said Lords or any of them never shewed themselvs to bee acted by passions or possessed with prejudice or ill-affectedness but on the contrarie ever directed the affairs uprightly sincerely and unpassionately however as much as in them laie they laboâ—ed by all good and sutable means to direct all to the â—ecuring of the dear-bought Libertie of the United Provinces in General and of our Couâ—trie of Holland and Westfriâ—slâ—nd in particular and all that for the quiet welfare and common good of our dear Father land Therefore wee our selvs having likewise good and perfect knowledg of all the proceedings about the foresaid affairs transacted in our Assemblie beeing fully satisfied with and giving perfect credit to the respective Testimonies in that regaâ—d of the foresaid Commonalties of the Cities of Dort Haerlem Delf Amsterdam Horem and Medenblick finding alâ—o our selvs fully satisfied in the innocence and uprightness of the proceedings which by the Government of the foresaid Citie of Amsterdam was used about that business and judging not otherwise thereof but the same were directed to the good of the State in general and of our Province in particular Wee have declared and do declare by these for the taking off all mis-interpretions abusive informations evil and groundless opinions that all and every one of the above-named Lords and those of the Government of the said Citie of Amsterdam have don or managed nothing about all the foresaid matters deliberations resolutions and executions thereof but what good and just Governors faithful Patriots and lovers of the freedom and welfare of these Countries and the good inhabitants thereof were bound to