the sending of Holland to the Six other Provinces they unanimously testified they had no other resolution and intention then to observ and maintein the foresaid Union holily and indissolubly The States of Braband were the first and chiefest Autors of the Union of Ghendt The nearer Union of Utrecht was signed originally by the Citie of Breda published within the Bosch and embraced by the other Cities of Braband in State's-manner Hereupon is principally grounded the desire of the Lords Gentâ—ie and Cities of Braband who beeing Members of the foresaid Common Union ought to enjoie the effâ—cts thereof and not to be treated contrarie to promisses and subscriptions by their own Confederates By the Tenor of the Union it appeareth that between the Netherlands there was concluded an everlasting firm Peace Covenant and Unitie for the expelling of the Spaniards and their Adherents and to restore the Inhabitants again to their antient Rights Privileges Customs and Liberties so that the aim of the Common Union was the delivering of the Countries and the restoring every one into his Privileges and Rights In all publick Writings those of Braband are termed no otherwise then Associates but by many in their discourses they are against all right and reason term'd Conquered Whereas the word of Conquest and conquering can have no place among Confederates and Associates who are reciprocally engaged one to another according to the Unions Therefore the States did rightly term the Deliverances and Restitutions of the Cities forced from the Union in their Capitulations and otherwise Reductions and not Conquests There must bee a distinction made betwixt Cities and Countries of the Enemies own won from him by War in which case the Laws allow that hee that wageth the war doth get the proprietie of the goods taken and such Cities and Countries as formerly belonged to our Friâ—nds and Associates and were delivered and recovered out of the Enemie's hands they in that case ought to beâ— restored to the first owners Thus in former times were Arras Dornick and other Cities of Arthois Flanders and Luxenbâ—rg recovered from the French and reduced to the State of the Netherlands And thus hath the King of Spain during these Civil Wars restored the Provinces and Cities maâ—tered by him iâ—to their former state and Government In conformitie hereof were likewise the Cities of Zutphen Haerlem Ziericksea Amerâ—ort Deventeâ— Campen and divers others beeing retaken from the Spaniards and their Adherents restored by their Confederates to the usâ— and exercise of their former Rights and Freedoms Nay divers Cities which were forced and compelled to forsake the Spanish partie as Nimmighen Amsterdam Schonhoven Middleburg Goes Tolen Utrecht Groninghen were not therefore held as conquered places in regard that in the foresaid Cities there was a good partie still well-affected to the State who were so long kept under by an ill-affected partie until they were delivered by the Confederates and reduced to the Union Now to shew what the present Braband-Cities of the Union have don for the common good during the Netherlandish troubles and wars both in acting and suffering it will appear by this short ensuing survay First of all the Cities of Berg op Zome and Willemstadt which remained still united to the State of the Union it is sufficiently known to every one how worthily they have ever acquitted themselvs upon all occasions and by all means defensive and offensive against the Common Enemies Those of the Bosch were the first which in the beginning of the troubles shewing their Zeal to the true Reformed Religion by open preaching vigorously opposed themselvs against the Spanish Council and arrested the Chancellor of Braband and Lord of Petersheim coming from the Governess to hinder the same and covertly to bring in som Companies of Souldiers for which caus also they were proscribed by the King by open Proclamation March 18 1567. and block'd up until the Prince of Orange his departure when as the good partie were fain to abandon the Citie and depart the Land as likewise happened generally then throughout all the Netherlands After which time the Citie beeing overmastered the same was continually kept under by force of arms and pittifully handled by the Spaniards Italians and other forrein Nations till in the year 1577. their Confederates rescued the Citie from the High Dutch In the year 1576. the foresaid Citie signed and sealed the Pacification of Ghendt In the year 1578. shee swore to the peace of Religion and in the year 1579. embraced and published the Union made at Utrecht For the maintenance whereof the good partie within that Citie adventured life and goods laboring continually how they might bee supported by the Confederates with men and ammunition according as they had offerd and promised them by the Deputies within a little while after the foresaid publication and the whole Government of that Citie had thankfully accepeted of it with protestation they were resolved never to separate from the Generalitie whereunto they were engaged and confederated by solemn Vow and Oath But when the Confederates afterwards contrarie to the foresaid presentation foreslowed the sending of succor and the Prince of Parma after the subduing of Mastricht drawing neer to the said Citie of the Bosch caused the same to bee summoned to surrender then the good partie unable to make resistance both to the ill-affected within with whom they had strugling enough before to bring them to som communitie and to the puissant Leaguer of the foresaid Prince of Parma without was constrained to abandon the Citie with all their families som thousands of them and to leav all their welfare behinde Which Citie beeing afterwards reduced again to the Union by the arms of the Confederates in the year 1629. it ought likewise to bee restored to their antient Rights and Privileges As for the faithful services of the Citie of Breda for the Common Libertie there is much of it upon publick Record in the Netherlandish Histories For a taste whereof wee shall onely touch here That the Companie of the withdrawing partie from Breda did many notable services against the Spaniards before Berghen in Heinout Harlem vvithin Zirick-Sen and elswhere The inland wars lighted more heavie and smart upon this Citie then any of the Netherlands besides For beeing taken into Confiscation by Duke D' Alva in the year 1568. it was thereafter most extremely overburthened with heavie Garrisons both hors and foot until the Citie was beleaguered and delivered again by the Earl of Hohenloe in the year 1577. Afterwards Jun. 28. 1581. the Citie beeing bare of Garrison was surprized again by the Spaniards through the Castle by force of arms and barbarously plundred notwithstanding the manful resistance made by the Citizens and especially by the young men of the Citie who were most of them slain in the Defens thereof In the year 1590. the 4 th of March the Castle was surprized again by Prince Maurice with a Turf-boat During the Spanish Siege before it from August 27.
for that purpose are of a clean different nature and particularly That som Provinces either contrarie to their consent given or without fore-going notification to the Confederates of their discontinuing consent may have sought to eas themselvs by clandestine Reduction of the Forces or som other under-hand waie of disburthening charges the same might not without reason bee said to have been against the Union as whereby the securitie or safetie of the State is empaired against former given or at leastwise not professedly discontinued Consent without any notification to the Confederates But if so bee that a Province have made known to the Confederates her disabilitie of undergoing their Burthen any longer and have shewed their reasons why they cannot continue their consent of entertaining the charges they were not able to bear then certainly it is far enough from the Province of Holland ever to have maintained this to bee contrarie to the Union Holland having in this Case not onely been content to pass by such with-holdings but the Lands exigencie requiring it hath readily put her own shoulders under the burthens thus excused or rejected by others by which zeal and proneness of hers her back beeing overburthened and born down readie to break Wee cannot bee so mistrustful to our caus that putting off now what wee are not longer able to bear and doing but therein what the Freedom preserved by the Union doth enable us and following in the same the Examples of other Confederates wee should yet bee held bound to your Nob. Mi. to perform impossibilities and that you will suffer that after so long maintenance of our Freedom against those that were our Enemies any Confederate should dare now wee enjoy peace to dispute our and your Freedom never controverted in War and ever acknowledged by the Princes of the Land themselvs before the Wars especially considering further that our aim tend's to the repute honor and safetie of the State and the missing thereof must needs weaken the esteem abate the credit and endanger all again the Credit and reputation of affairs consisting in this that in time of peace care and heed bee taken how by fit and wise managing and husbanding that may recover and get strength again which by War was brought low and weakened and the Honor that thereby may bee recovered the luster and splendor aâ— a well-ordred Treasurie and the Safetie that by exact and readie paie there may bee kept a convenient and well-disciplin'd Armie whereas on the contrarie the neglect of such a managing of peace will caus our verie friends to slight and vilipend us and the further decaie of our Treasurie bee the Joy and Exsultation of our Enemies whereon to ground an assured hope that wee continuing in this reklessness it will shortly bring to pass that which all the power from without for so many years whilest the good caus was stood for by the upright courage of heroîck Generals and the prudence and Wisdom of Zealous Governors both assisted by the blessing of God was never able to effect As likewise the entertaining of Forces and such like Burthens in greater proportion then the incoms are able to discharge must needs draw along an uncertain doubtful paie which will soon lessen the number and strength and that which is wors breed thoughts of disobedience malcontentedness and the like to the apparent danger of the State which hazard is very needless in regard that these Countries are so situated that if the Treasurie bee but furnished with abilitie to make good paie there will bee no want of men in time of need but to entertain more then can bee paid must of necessitie caus want and decaie of Treasure And since by what hath been deduced here Your No Mi. are easily able to understand that wee have proceeded in all this with all requisite Communication with our Confederates and don nothing but what our Disabilitie caused by our indefatigable Zeal for the preservation of the State hath necessitated us unto and that which by Right and in Wisdom wee might and ought to do and other Confederates in times of greater danger have don before us for the maintenance and preservation of which Right and Freedom all the Confederates themselvs are bound according to the Union to aid and assist us all tending but to our own Preservation wherein how much all the rest of the Confederates are concerned they themselvs have oft-times tasted during all the War and are able at present to discern by their Wisdom and that the aim of the Union is none other but the preservation of the State in general and of every particular member thereof Therefore wee will not doubt but our sincere intention shall sufficiently guard us in your Nob. Mi. apprehension from all â—inister impression of our beeing otherwise disposed then to remain inviolably faithful to the Union which wee do holily protest wee are resolved and ready firmly to keep and maintein with life and goods for ever with utmost seriousness for the Love of our Dear Father-land and the memorie of those that have seal'd the Confirmation of this Union with their heart'sblood for the preservation of our selvs and all that are near and dear to us and for the Honor of God and his Son whom here wee have libertie to profess and worship according to his Will Beseeching your Nob. Mi. that by your joint putting off together with us of such insupportable burthens as may bee dispenced with without evident danger to the State You will help to further the disburthening of the overcharged Estate thereof and weighing well your No. Mi. own preservation you will not further importune us with what wee are not able to perform or if wee should undertake it would unavoidably hasten our Destruction and consequently the â—uine of the whole State In confidence of your Nob. Mi. Wisdom and Zeal for remedying the same Wee rest c. Written in the Haghe July 27 o 1650. Superscription To the Nobles To all the Provinces The States In the mean time they of Amsterdam had likewise got ready and presented unto the Provincial Assemblie of Holland their Answer to the abovesaid Proposition of his High s made at the same Assemblie June 30 in terms and manner as followeth Noble Mightie Lords THe Burgomasters and 36 in Council of the Citie of Amsterdam having seen a Copie of the Proposition presented to the Assemblie of your No. Gr. Mi. June 30 last past by his High s the Prince of Orange and that therein Complaint is made and Reparation desired of and for certain offences to have been committed against his said High s by and in behalf of the Government of this State They are very sorrie to understand that the good and upright intention which their WW had in all the passages that Proposition reflect's upon should bee so mistaken as to bee made the subject of Complaints and Dissatisfaction And though they would have been glad that what happened in that kinde might have
High s shall alwaies have Audience granted him in that Qualitie That the Lords of Amsterdam shall moreover emploie all good and possible Devoirs at the Assemblie of the States of Holland that all Disgusts may wholly bee taken away and things bee reduced to a firm and assured friendship and confidence and all what hath past bee put in oblivion as if it had never happened To which end they shall further debate and communicate with his High s about the prosecution As soon as this Contract shall bee completed and signed on both sides his High s undertake's to dismiss the present Forces into their old Garrisons and the Citie in like manner to cashier their levied men and to resettle every thing in their Citie into the old posture Promiss beeing made on either side faithfully and without any guile or fraud to perform and keep this Contract or Treatie in all parts thereof Don at Amsterveen this 3 d of August 1650. and hereof there were two several Acts made of like tenour signed by both parties and one delivered to each Signed G. P. d' Orange and his Highness Signet affixed in red Wax And besides C. de Graef Simon Vander Doos Niclaes Tulp Petrus Cloeck TsTs The Burgomasters and XXXVI of the Council of Amstetredam do approve and ratifie the above-written Contract or Treatie betwixt his Highness on the one side and their specially thereto enabled Commissioners on the other concluded at Amsterveen August 30 1650. In Witness whereof this is subscribed by one of the Secretaries and the Seal of our Citie affixed underneath August 3. 1650. Signed Gerard Hulst the said Seal beeing expressed in green Wax A separate Article of the Accommodation Aug. 3. 1650. betwixt his Highness and the Citie of Amsterdam THat his High s doth judg it expedient for the Service of the Land according to the present constitution of Affairs that the Lord Andrew and Cornelius Bickers the one old the other present Burgomaster without any prejudice to the honor and good name of either of them and without any trouble or molestation of their persons and goods whereof his High s doth assure them do withdraw themselvs from all further Government of the Citie without being to bee called again unto it His High s remaining ready nevertheless to hear them in person and having heard them if his Highn s should not alter his former apprehension and judgment they shall freely resign their foresaid Government as before and from this present abstein from all publick functions In witness whereof this is signed and confirmed on both sides in pursuance of the Contract or Transaction made betwixt his High s and the Commissioners of the Citie this day at Amsterveen August 3. 1650. Signed G. P. d'Orange with the Seal of his High s Signet in red Wax and further C. de Graef Simon van der Doos Niclaes Tulp Petrus Cloeck Ts. Ts. The Burgomasters and XXXVI of the Council of the Citie of Amsterdam do approve and ratifie the above-written separat Article of Agreement betwixt his High s on the one side and their specially enabled Commissioners on the other side concluded at Amsterveen In witness whereof this is subscribed c. as before Amsterdam beeing the richest the mightiest and most considerable Member of Holland failing and yielding thus it became a powerful example and inducement to all the rest and many blamed them exceedingly saying They should have timely considered before whether they had the power or the courage to stand to what they principally had so long and eagerly professed and pressed Now it appeared that they wanted either or both that they had don very ill to shew so much aversness to so little purpose There beeing now by this Extremitie a new pattern given to his High s and the Generalitie which will serv them hereafter for a Rule to proceed by when Holland shall fall again into a fit of Reluctancie that now there will bee little caus left to glorie of the freedom of the Land or the States But they of Amsterdam thought they did best as they did and like a ship upon Ancre in a tempest were glad to strike and give rope till they might recover a better time and opportunitie for they continued in affection the very same they were before The Commissioners of their Hi. Mi. arriving at Amsterveen on Wednesdaie-Eve found all transacted and were all of them together with those of Amsterdam entertained by his Highness at Supper where among other Discourses those of Amsterdam saying they should have had the Element of water for their advantage the Prince replied And I should have made use of the Element of fire against it they of Delft having upon order from the Council of State furnished store of Ammunition Ordnance Granadoes Morter-pieces c. which past away thus with smiles and laughing but the earnest surpassed the jest in the reflection Next morning early his Highness parted from thence and arrived in the Haghe about noon and the Forces were all reconducted to their Quarters The six apprehended Lords were carried away from the Court Sunday the 31 of Julie in two Coaches three and three in a Coach and in each three souldiers besides 25 horsmen before so many in the midst and as many after together with 50 musketiers They past along by the Veenen Woerden and Ysselstein to avoid the Cities and next evening were brought unto the Hous of Loeuvestein They good men thought to have stood it out stoutly persuading themselvs the States and Cities would have stuck to their Resolutions But perceiving they accommodated themselvs all one after another to the Proposition of Julie 15 o and abandoned all their own caus they saw well enough none of them would take up the Buckler in their behalf and that the Case of the Bickers must bee their Rule The Lord Duyst van Voorhout a man of 69 who according to the Custom in Delft was within one year to quit all Emploiment in cours and beeing of a crazie constitution and rich withall having but one childe hee was the first that sought and offered to get free upon that account Above it was said that his Highness had made promiss to present the points of the Charge and Reasons of apprehending the six Gentlemen The same hee caused to bee delivered under his hand and Seal to the Assemblie Provincial of Holland The substance was general That they had don against the Union and therefore were liable to punishment according to the 23 d Article That his High s thought good to cull out these few and to put them out of the Government for the perservation of the whole State as in a case of a great fire som houses next the Embrasement are pull'd down to save the whole street or Citie and at last hee said hee had besides som particular matters of Charge against every one which hee reserved for another opportunitie Those that knew the contents of this so general and weak a Charge did
accompanied with a Secretarie came to meet us at Edam desiring us that wee vvould not trouble the said Citie of Amsterdam but pass it by left the Magistrate of that Citie should bee compell'd to somthing that might prove distasteful Notwithstanding all this wee went on and came to the said Citie of Amsterdam together with all the Lords of the said Commission Where the Burgo-masters indeed welcomed us for our person declaring they received us as Stadtholder or Governor and consequently shewed som demonstration of outward honour But beeing desired they should grant us Audience in the full Council of the said Citie they refused it Whereupon pressing them that at least wise they would give Audience to our person in their full Council in qualitie of your No. Mi. Stadtholder or Lievtenant And that in a matter whereof for their further satisfaction wee had given them information before-hand This our desire they referred to the deliberation of the full Council And next day the Burgo-masters accompanied with som other of the Magistrates of that Citie came to us and declared that they could not admit the audience in qualitie of Stadtholder Which proceedings were verie different from those of the other Cities of your Nob. Mi. Province all of them both within and without their districts respectively friendly presenting and affording us audience as Stadtholder By reason whereof wee cannot but so much the more most highly resent and complain of the foresaid denunciations and refusals made unto us in the name of the Citie of Amsterdam as beeing directly against our Dignitie and Respect and no less against the State and Eminencie of this Province who qualified us with the charge of their Lievtenant or Governor and notoriously tending to the undervaluing and vilifying of our person it beeing also a matter altogether unheard of and never used towards any of Our Predecessor's in Charge in regard whereof wee have judged it necessarie your No. Mi. beeing gathered now in a Provincial Assembly to acquaint you with all these passages and to request and desire you to dispose order and oblige the foresaid Magistracie of the Citie of Amsterdam to make due Reparation unto us in that behalf resting confident your No. Mi. will take it into speedie deliberation and resolv accordingly Don in the Hague June 30. 1650. and was signed G. P. d' Orange It was observed that as his Highness named the Citie of Amsterdam hee did it with a certain commotion and elevation of the Voice yet afterwards moderated his speech again Those of Amsterdam desired the Copie thereof and brought in their Answer which shall follow in due place The States of Holland appointed a Committee one of the Nobilitie and the five foremost Cities of South Holland Dort Haërlem Delft Leyden Amsterdam and of the North-Quarter Alcmaër Horn Enckhuyse for to examine the whole Business of the foresaid Sending and dependance thereof who found the same to consist in three heads as 1. What was fitting to bee don in regard of Formalities about the said Sending 2. What was to bee judged of the Substance of the foresaid Proposition made in the Cities of Holland 3. What might bee most expedient for the weal of the Land to bee don about the discontinuance of paying the Souldierie cashiered by their Nob. great Mo. Touching the first point viz. the foresaid Formalities it was the opinion of the Committee That their No Great Mo. ought by Resolution to disapprove of the said Sending and dependance thereof it beeing past example and against the order and form of Government And that in like manner it bee confirmed by Resolution that the Cities of this Province shall for time to com neither afford nor admit of any such Sending And As for the second point the Substance namely contained in the foresaid Proposition That there are found in the same in several respects divers abusive positions as 1. In regard that in the beginning thereof it is said That the Separate Disbanding and Reduction of the Land's Forces was undertaken by their Nob. gr Mi. without fore-going communication with their Confederates whenas it is more then notorious that not onely for a long time nay divers months one after another all endeavors have been used to make known the intention of their No. gr Mi. touching this subject unto the Provinces but also all possible means used to dispose them to consent with their No. gr Mi. whereof the Registers of the Generalitie can render sufficient testimonie at all times especially in Januarie March April May and even the third of June last Besides the Letters writen to all the Provinces in December before the particulars of all which may if need bee bee produced forthwith As likewise said they it could never bee proved what the Proposition laie's down for a ground-work viz. That thē Supreme command or power of raising cashiering or reducing of Forces is solely committed to the Council of State there beeing no such thing to bee found neither in the Instruction of the said Council nor in the Union nor in any Resolution of the State that ever the like should bee transported to the said Council but that on the contrarie it doth plainly appear by the first Article of the Union and the 32 d Art of the said Councils Instruction that the same is resolved to belong to the Provinces As little ground hath that which the said Proposition aver's saying That the lessning of the Forces made by their No. gr Mi. should bee a breach or dissolution of the Union there beeing no such Conclusion can bee made from the Articles of the Union and the allegations out of the said Articles made use of in the Proposition they being besides the point and no way applicable to this case Moreover besides that the business of Religion is most odiously produced there which nevertheless their No. gr Mi. as highly affect and minde as ever any of the other Provinces did or doth that it was ill said there the lessning of the charges made by their No. gr Mi. was an unheard of and new accident Whenas it is well known to all the State what the other Provinces formerly have undertaken and don in that kinde and in particular what Utrecht did in the hottest time of war withdrawing themselvs and refusing their Contributions for the whole affair of the Sea Coast-Navie which in effect is the Leaguer for the State at Sea and the most principal pillar of the Citie 's welfare as Friesland and others also likewise have proved notably defective in that regard from time to time besides what is known Friesland did in regard of the West-Indie-Companie altogether abandoning these affairs even to this day notwithstanding that the maintenance thereof is the caus and firm assurance of our so long exspected dear bought peace and the means whereby the power of the King of Spain can best bee bridled As also in particular the lessning of the Forces hath heretofore been undertaken by several Provinces It was
places committed to their trust against any stirs or attemts that might arise by occasion hereof whether from without or from within carrying and discharging themselvs faithfully according to the Oath made by them to this State at the undertaking of their respective Commissions of which Oath there were sent Copies to them to refresh it in their memories And then the Council of State was desired to inform their Hi. Mi. with all speed of the true state and condition of the Garrisons in all the Frontier-Towns and places of this State that accordingly such order might bee taken and provision made as should bee found expedient and requisite for most safetie of the State Advertisement was likewise given to the reduced Cities of Brabant and Flanders apart To the Forrein Ambassadors and Residents residing at the Haghe intimation was given of this Accident by som Deputies of their Hi. Mi. and by the Agent Verburgh The Corps was not shewed in publick as his Fathers Uncles and Grandfathers had been partly for that the face was much altered and disfigured by the small Pox and partly to avoid further disturbance of the Princess Roiall by too much stir and nois there shee beeing great with childe which was the caus likewise that shee never saw the Prince in all his sickness as also they would have kept his departure from her knowledg the first night but that shee perceived it well enough by the much running out and in and hearing the whole Court alarm'd with it The King of Spain his Ambassador sent immediately to impart unto her his condoling and for leav that hee might com to perform it in Person which was don next morning as likewise that of the States General and inferior Courts or Assemblies both to her and to the Princess Dowager and the Q. of Bohemia The Princess Dowager sent that daie by Seig r de Willem and Secretarie Busero to get the Lord van Wimmenum to represent unto the Assemblie that there was a certain Treatie agreed upon between the Spanish Ambassador and the late Prince about an Equivalence for the not surrendring of the Marquisate there wanting nothing to it but the Subscription and fearing the winde might get in between beeing the Ambassador was upon his departure for Brussels and therefore her High s desired their Hi. Mi. would bee pleased to induce the Ambassador to the accomplishment They sent and pressed it but the Ambassador said Hee was charged to get the Treatie sign'd by the Princes own hand The same now beeing dead hee must and would write for further instruction and somtime after returning again to the Haghe hee declared himself ready for to conclude that Treatie as soon as the Wardship of the young Prince should bee settled The Death of the Prince did much perplex and afflict all those that together with and by him had agitated the proceedings against Holland Som Ministers also both in the Pulpit and otherwise in companies and meetings exclaimed and lamented that now the State was Headless that there was no King now in Israël that the State must needs fall into Discord Confusion and Ruine But among those of the Government of Holland and every where among such whose hearts stood more for Libertie then Court dependance you might have seen immediately a very great Alteration and Reviving The news ran nimbly by 3 in the morning it was alreadie at Amsterdam The Alms box fared well by it the people really glad would bee really thankful and liberal for their libertie One among the rest putting in a good quantitie of Gold in the Deacons purs at Sermon had featly wrap'd it up and added a Note to it with words to this purpose in Ryme The Prince his death Make 's my gift great No gladder nâ—ws these hundred years Upon the Letters from the Holland Deputies at the Generalitie the States of Holland met presently and after som preparatorie business with their Commission'd Members they caused to bee presented in writing to the Generalitie That their N. G. M. do judg the Unitie of the Provinces to bee the onely Foundation for to make the State subsist and that therefore Declaration was hereby made unto the Provinces that the sincere intention of their N. G. M. is constantly to improve maintain and evermore holily and inviolably to keep and cultivate the Unitie Love Friendship and good Correspondence with and among the Provinces without ever to recede therefrom and that they are readie to shew forth the same not in words onely but by real effects also upon all occasions Furthermore that their N. G. M. are firmly resolved to uphold and maintain Religion according to to the Synod of Dort and as the same is taught at this present in the publick Churches of these Countries That the Union shall bee kept faithfully so as it was concluded on in the year 1579 at Utrecht and that the Souldierie for the service of the State shall bee entertained according to the Resolutions formerly taken upon the preliminar points for the Treatie of Peace That the Provinces may bee desired to appoint a General Assemblie of all the States in the Hagh and to take care that they may com every one duely and sufficiently instructed for a work of so great importance and general concernment That they had found good to send unto all the several Provinces for this end and purpose That the Deputies of the other Provinces are earnestly desired to second the good intention of Holland by serious Letters to their Principals That in the mean time all States-affairs may bee left and proceeded in according to the accustomed Cours and fundamental Order of this Government The Courts or several Councils as also the chief Militarie Officers remaining in their respective Commissions and Instructions until such time as further Order shall bee taken upon the whole frame of the said affair by the Provinces In the first draught the words of this Claus â—un thus Until such time as her Royal High s shall bee delivered of the Fruit shee yet doth go with But least that might have caused a Construction of som Engagement it was alter'd as above Holland studied and endeavored much how they might draw Zealand in at least to side with them hoping that thereby they should bee able so to shut their Fence and to bee in that posture as that they should not need to fear to have a Captain General or a Stadtholder forced upon them And yet they ever shewed themselvs very Civil in their expressions of thankfulness to the Hous of Orange and Nassaw declaring they would gladly forget and laie aside all what was past and live and die with the Provinces in all Love Unitie and Concord Before their intended sending to the Provinces could bee dispatched the Princess Royal was delivered of a Son upon Mundaie Novemb. 14. betwixt 8 and 9 of the clock at night Whereupon the Assemblie presently met and notice was given of it to the Provinces and congratulations made to
most freely and frequently resort and convers in the countries but likewise by their subtilties and envenom'd insinuations seduce the younger sort from the true worship to follow them nevertheless that the same bee don in such manner as the treatie of peace will permit and besides this that the other sects or separates however they bee called be indulged no more libertie of exercise then the very same they had from the beginning and no other though none shall bee troubled in his Conscience about private opinions That the Ambassadors publick Ministers of Forrein Princes and Potentates shall suffer likewise no sermons or other Church-Service in their houses but in the language of their own Lords and Masters and admit none to them but those of their own train and familie And that the civill reformation in the Mayerie of the Bosch and such like other places bee most seriously taken to heart Now concerning the second Point beeing the Union and everlasting Alliance of this State becaus your H. M. do with one consent and upright zeal accord that the same shall be kept and cultivated bolily and inviolably so as it was concluded on and published at Utrecht Jan. 29. in the year 1579. Therefore the Lords of the Citie and Lands would desire your Hi. Mi. seriously to ponder whether all the consultations in these high and weightie affairs as well Civil as Militarie ought not to bee regulated according to the sens and contents of the Union aforesaid it beeing an everlasting alliance and a confederacie which cannot bee receded from Wherewithall their N. M. should take it for granted that the least yea no alteration thereof at all is doubtless the best if so bee your Hi. Mi. shall judg that the present constitusion of this state can permit it which their N. M. conside they may in this behalf Hereupon passing by the Civil administration of every Province apart who are to bee left respectively to their own Sovereinty with restriction nevertheless of the said soveraigns in behalf of the United Bond as joint interest The Lords of the Citie and Land should conciev under correction of your Hi. Mi. further advice and consideration That all and the whole Civil Administration of this State is most exactly and curiously settled therein according to that time For the 1. and 16. Article thereof doth say in plain terms how and in what manner the differences and questions arising amongst the Provinces the Cities and Members thereof about their privileges rights c. as the text run's shall bee determined or taken away Insomuch that for to shun and prevent most pernicious innovations in our State all unexspectedly arising questions and differences in matters there specified ought to bee left there where and according as the same Article dictate's But in case there arise Discrepancie and jarring among the Provinces about the conduct and managing of this United State and matters depending and consectarie the 9 th Article saith In that case all is to bee regulated by the conclusion of the most-voting Provinces And whereas the making of Peace or Truce waging of War and raising of contributions in the behalf of the Generalitie and the State united are matters of very great weight and consequence Our forefathers agreed that therein the pluralitie of Votes should have no place but things should bee don by the common and unanimous Consent of all the Confederacie Our Forefathers considered well enough that the diversitie of persons whereof the Government of this State consisted and yet doth would bring with it diversitie of humors and consequently caus at last discrepancie of opinion even in weightiest matters And herein also they have thought upon wholsom means against the evil thence to bee feared agreeing that the difference risen in that behalf should bee referr'd to the Lords Stadtholders of the United Provinces in the last named Article It is true indeed that the said Article add's these terms by provision or provisionally and now are at this time beeing But the Lords of the Citie and Lands desire your H. M. seriously to consider whether notwithstanding such clauses all differences arising from the grounds aforesaid ought not still bee left at the submission there set down First becaus the same provision was never cancell'd or alter'd yet by any other order of the joint Consederates In the second place becaus the 24 Article of the said everlasting League and Union saith in plain and down-right terms that the Lords Stadtholders which now are or shall com hereafter c. shall make promiss by Oath to follow and observ all and every Article in particular To which end besides this there ought to bee likewise applied the unanimous Resolution taken after mature Deliberation August 8 18 1650 together with the Instruction of the Council of State Furthermore the Lords of the Citie and Land are desirous to propound to your H. M. herewithal beeing the Articles of the Union ordinarily speak of ordering or settling things by the Generalitie and the United Provinces and more then manifest that the said Confederated State that is to say the United Provinces cannot alwaies bee assembled in Bodie Whether it bee not therefore very necessarie that exact and pertinent Orders may bee framed and established for the Government of the Generalitie in absence of the respective voting Provinces And that the Deputies or Commissioners to bee appointed thereunto bee autorized not by Provincial but by a General and unanimous Instruction of all the Provinces together That the same shall have an eie to whatsoever the joint Provinces have referred unto them that is to say to the Generalitie and dispose therein as according to the extent of their instruction shall bee fit and requisite for the Common welfare Coming now in order to the third point viz. that of the Militia That the foresaid Deputies or Commissioners of the respective Provinces shall with the advice of the Lords Stadholders or Council of State have the direction of the Militia and matters depending such as are the removing or sending forth of Garrisons in great or small bodies out of one Province into another for the securing of Fortifications and Frontiers c. as the Union hold's forth throughout Safe notwithstanding the Lords the States and the Stadtholders of the respective Provinces each their own peculiar power dignitie and autoritie within themselvs in matters of Militia and dependant thereon and the disposing of the forces within their respective Provinces placed there for the securing thereof They having the libertie in cases of necessitie and conveniencie to place and displace encreas or diminish them by their own Commissioners for the service of the Province And to take and frame such orders and courses about the Militarie Discipline and Jurisdiction as either they have already or shall finde good and sutable to the constitution of their Provinces That the respective Provinces shall likewise retein to themselvs the absolute bestowing of all higher and lower Offices of War in
bee redeemed at 20 years purchase within the space of twelv years to bee paid at several terms and by several parcels provided no parcel to bee paid bee less then three hundred thousand florins each time And all this under the pledges conteined in the foresaid Treaties and the speciall obligation of all the Goods Domains Subsidies and other Revenues of his said Majestie in the Dukedom of Braband and Earldom of Flanders This advantage onely the Spaniard got by the death of the Prince and the dispute about the Guardianship That in lieu of paying the Rents and Interests of the Equivalent agreed upon for the Marquisate of Bergues from the time of Signing intended by the Prince the paiment began but now so that they got or saved all the rest viz. not onely from the time of signing the Peace but also from the death of the Prince hitherto which was one of the fruits of those Domestick jars and misunderstandings among friends The Gardians pressed likewise for a new Act of Caution or performance of the Prelates in manner as the former Transactions Jan. 8 and Decemb. 27 1647 were signed and confirmed thereby But the Ambassador advised it were safer they should let that alone for that the Prelates might easily chance to refuse it and becaus of their autoritie one might bee loath and could not easily neither compel them and by reason of their interstice they might pretend their former Agreement was held invalid and could not therefore binde them and so it was waved The Treatie beeing Signed the Spanish Ambassador feasted and Regalized the Commissioners together with his Excellencie the Lord Stadholder Count William in place of the Princesses Having thus far treated of the Defect and Detriment susteined by the death of the late Prince wee shall novv go on to prosecute that vvhich vvas taken in hand for the orderlie supplie and redress or resettling of the Government About the latter end of March and beginning of April as also before and after the great Assemblie was more busied with the affairs of France Spain Portugal and others then with domestick and such as properly were the caus of their meeting and therefore wee shall but barely point at the forrein affairs as not conducing to the scope and matter in hand The French King's Ambassador Bellievee was arrived in the beginning of March and becaus they could not agree together about the Ceremonies there was no conference at all held with him insomuch that Hee seeing hee could do nothing here went his waie home again in the beginning of May. The Ambassadors S â— John and Strickland both Counsellors of State to the Republick of England arriving here about the latter end of March with a Train of neer 300 persons had Audience upon the 30 th in the great Assemblie but withal so many affronts put upon them from the Courts and Courtiers there however the Lords of Holland labored to suppress them that towards the end of April they were charged by the Parlament to return declaring they could tarrie there no longer with safetie to themselvs and Reputation of the Republick The State sought indeed to give them all possible satisfaction propounding the Treatie of the year 1495. Those of Holland caused the same to bee insinuated to the Parlament by their Commissioner Schaep desiring som longer staie of the Ambassadors which was granted for a certain space longer but that beeing elapsed they were again summoned back towards the end of June and though there were all possible endeavors used to protract their Departure a little longer they could not bee prevailed with and so the Treatie remaining uneffected it was resolved that by an Extraordinarie Ambassie from hence into England the same should bee consummated They took their leaves Junii 30 th and parted from the Hagh the first of July The long and ever since the year 1649. delaied Ratification of the Treatie made that year with Denmarck by the High Steward Ulefeld was at last compleated and settled in the great Assemblie March 21. 1651. notwithstanding the Swedish Ministers Canterestein and Appleboom their respective and reiterated offices and endeavors against it The King of Portugal his Ambassador Sousa de Macedo having after long Delaie obtained Audience at last Martii 6 o. and made his proposition in Latin in the great Assemblie gave more hopes then effects so that it was resolved Martii 25 o. to cut off all further conference with him and thenceforward not to acknowledg him any longer in the qualitie of Ambassador notwithstanding that the Queen of Sweden offered by her Commissarie Appleboom to mediate between the State and the said Ambassador who thereupon within a little time after departed thence for Hamborow Between the Spanish Ambassador le Brun and the French Resident Brasset there happened both before and during the â—taie of the Ambassador Bellievre several bickerings presented in the great Assemblie both by publick audiences and by transmitted papers which were divulged still in print as is conceived by their own consent but the State did entertain it with nothing but the hearing and seeing thereof Now then to return again to our domestick affairs There was much pains taken since March 28. for to conciliate the discrepant inclinations that were com in and presented by the several Provinces which at length produced a full Report made in the Assemblie April 26. and afterwards Jun. 16 o. compleatly past and determined as shall bee seen in due place At this time Things stood not in Zealand according to the minde of the Lords of Holland understanding what endeavors there were on foot to proceed to a new choice of a Stadtholder Captain General c. And though the same did not necessitate the Lords of Holland to do the like yet they feared it might occasion som alteration in the Provinces of Gelderland Utrecht Over-Yssell and in divers Cities of Holland it self Therefore to keep the Province of Zealand in a good intelligence with Holland they sent as was said likewise before the Lords van Opdam de Witt Newport and Picca in Commission thither who made there this ensuing Proposition Noble Mightie Lords WEe hold our selvs obliged in discharge of our Commission and according to the intent of our Principals successively to communicate and represent unto you the considerations and sollicitous Trutinations of their N. Gr. M. touching the Captainship General All the other points of Religion the Union and Militia are by mutual conferences betwixt the â—wo Provinces God bee praised unanimously agreed on so that wee were not able to observ any discrepancie concerning any other subject Your N. M. well know that the Supreme Autoritie over the Militia or Armie together with the Direction of militarie affairs doth appertain to every one of the United Provinces within their own Sovereign Provincial Sphere and that accordingly there was ever given by them even to the particular Stadholders the qualitie of Captain General within their respective Provinces and especially in those
Provinces whose Stadholders were not invested with the qualitie of Captain General over the whole Union wherefore also the Province of Groninghen and the Omlands were not content as all the rest of the Provinces in making their Stadholders Captains General by Commission but expressed besides in plain terms in the IX Article of their Instruction That the Stadholder shall likewise bee Captain General and the Chief-head note of the forces of Hors and Foot which at present are or hereafter may com into the said Province As also by your N. M. themselvs and the Lords of Holland and Westfriesland it hath been several times solemnly declared especially by the resolution of Febr. 6 1587 That his Excellencie Prince Maurice of immortal memorie who was then particular Governor and Captain General over Holland and Zealand and had no Commission yet from the Generalitie should have the direction and managing of the Militarie affairs by land in Holland and Zealand and particularly of besetting or garrisoning all the Cities and Forts of the said Countries with the advice of the States thereof or their Comissioned Council whence it follow 's that since the Voicing Provinces have neither by the Commissions to the Captains General of the Union granted nor by any other Act resigned or given up the foresaid Autoritie over the Militia and the direction of Militarie affairs That the successive Captains General of the Union could claim in that qualitie no power or autoritie in the world within the territorie of the Voicing Provinces Insomuch that the function of the Captainship General could bee exercised no where but in the Field or general Expeditions and without the resort or jurisdiction of the Voicing Provinces It is true indeed that our Forefathers in the beginning of the War found good following the example of the King of Spain and former Lords of the Countrie to appoint a Governor General over these Countries whose Autoritie withal extended within the limits of the Voicing Provinces even in matters of policie and justice it self in the highest Degree But having perceived afterwards by the sensible example of the Excesses committed by the Earl of Leiceâ—ter how easily so great a power may com to bee abused to the great prejudice of the Countrie and with extreme danger of the libertie and freedom of the people therefore our Forefathers bethought themselvs and resolved to mortifie the said charge of Governor General as also from that time ever since to this day the same remained thus mortified they having chosen into his place not a Governor General again but onely a Captain General whose power having in no kinde of way as is proved before extended within the limits of the Voicing Provinces as that of the Governor General had don and consequently onely over the Armie or Leaguers without the respective resorts or jurisdiction of the Voicing Provinces and beeing drawn forth into the Field All which appear's more fully by conferring the Contents of the Commission given by the Joint Provinces to the Earl of Leicester as Governor General with that which was given by them to the Princes of Orange as Captains General and you may bee sure that our prudent Forefathers would never have resolved for the choosing of a Captain General if their grievous War had not required an Armie in the field and the same beeing abroad compelled them by evident necessitie to provide a Chieftain for it However things beeing brought now thus far through God's gracious Assistance that the bloodie Wars are changed into a long-desired peace and consequently the forementioned moving caus is com to ceas thereby wee cannot otherwise judg but that the Charge which was grounded upon that caus is in effect by the cessation thereof to bee held exspired and mortified of it self wee beeing not able to see how where no leaguers are gathered a Captain General could bee made there over the Leaguers which are not or a Chief field-Commander where there is no field-Expedition Nor have wee ever heard of or met with any example that ever any Republick in the world reteined much less chose a Captain General in time of peace But on the contrarie it is well known that many well-governed Countries are wont to give Commission to their Captains General or Chief field-Commander onely for such a March or Expedition the same General in that case no sooner returning with the forces into their Garrisons or Winter-quarters but laying down again that Qualitie of his notwithstanding that the same Wars continue still in those parts and the Armie beeing to take the field again soon after must bee provided with another Chieftain The Duke of Alva was the first of all whom the King of Spain did constitute specifical Captain General over these Netherlands under the Government of the Duchess of Parma in the year 1567 in whose Commission bearing date ultimo Januarii of the said year the King of Spain expressly allegeth the motives and reasons thereof to bee the troubles and disturbances arisen in the Netherlands together with the necessitie of using the way of Arms as hee pretended whence it appear's and hee sufficiently shewed it thereby himself that in quieter times or peace the same should never have happened Upon all which arguments wee grow very confident that your N. M. apprehending together with us in these present conjunctures That a Captain General can bee of no use nor benefit at all to the United Provinces assuredly you will not now contrarie to the example of all other Republicks and even of the Netherlands themselvs and contrarie to the practice of all well-governed Nations press and urge the choosing of a Captain General to the dissatisfaction of your Confederates and those especially who in all times of trouble have been one Republick as one Bodie yea as one Citie together with your N. M. As after wee chearfully took it for a pledg and token thereof that your N. M. Deputies at the particular conferences with a Committee of our Lords lately met at the Haghe declared then That during the minoritie of the young Prince of Orange the choosing of a Captain General could well bee waved without any prejudice to the Countrie Nevertheless wee finde our selvs necessitated to declare that wee cannot finde it agreeing with reason nor consistent with the service of the Countrie that your N. M. Deputies seem to infer and urge withal viz. That a resolution should bee settled out of hand for the not choosing of any Captain General during the minoranitie of the said young Prince of Orange Nor that it should bee decreed the same Prince beeing com to age and judged fit by the most Voicing Provinces hee should then bee preferred to the Captainship general before all others Considering on the one hand that it could so fall out at one time or other by Wars or otherwise which God in mercie avert and protect these Countries from as that the condition of the Land should require it to proceed to the choice of a
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