Iudges kept in awe the iurisdiction maintained the pride of the ritch and mighty restrained and the Edicts belonging to the common-weale concerning their authoritie published For the which the Magistrate or Senate of the towne chuse fiue honorable persons fit for those charges to bee renewed euery yeare if for their sufficiencie and merittes they bee not continued two or three yeares these are called Hoft-mannem they are seldome chosen if they haue beene Bourgue-maisters Senators or of the councell These fiue Hoft-mannem tooke knowledge of all things were it by themselues alone or ioyntly with the Senate Their Court was called their iudiciall chamber their authoritie was great ouer all the champian country which by little and little did extend beyond the riuer of Lanâ—vers and then into Ostergoe and Westergoe two chiefe Cantons of Frisland wheerby there grewe great quarrells betwixt the Groningers and Frisons yea among the Frisons themselues diuided into those two cursed factions of the Schyeringers and Wetcoopers To pacefie the which the Emperor Frederick the 3. sent Otto van Langhen a Chanoine of Ments and his councellor into Frisland but hee returned without any effect by reason of the wilfulnesse of the Schieringers The Emperor Frederick dying soone after Maximilian the first his son succeeded in the Empire who sent the same Otto van Langhen again into Frisland with an ample commission giuing them authority as they had before time to choose a Potestate which is as much to say as a Prouinciall Gouernor and to settle the Frisons in their ancient liberties whereby the Groeningers had beene excluded from the confederation which they had with them of Ostergoe and Westergoe But although the Frisons were well inclined to this Election of a Potestate wherein they proceeded so farre as there was one chosen of the chiefe of their Nobilitie and well qualified yet one of the factions held him for suspect either partie desyring to haue one of his league where-vpon their hatred did so increase as Otto preuayled no more then at the first which made the Emperour Maximilian to giue the gouernment Hereditarie of Frisland and Groningue to Duke Albertus of Saxonie as wee shewed in the description of Frisland Duke Albertus hauing afterwards broken this confederation betwixt them of Groening and Frisland ouer whom hee held himselfe halfe Maister seeking to dispose of all things at his pleasure as well within the towne of Groening as in the Ommelands where hee pretended an absolute superioritie which they beeing vnwilling to yeeld vnto hee went to besiege the towne of Groening the which after a long siege hauing endured many Indignities from Duke Albertus and fearing in the end a badde issue of this warre they did call in and receiue for their Protector Hereditarie Edsard Earle of Embden or rather of East-Frisland Lieutenant at that siege to the Duke but discontented with Collonel Vyt vppon certaine conditions amongst others to build a fort or block-house the which was done The Duke seeing himselfe deceiued by the Earle and disapointed of so goodly a prey ment for the recouery thereof to imploy all his meanes holding the Frisons to bee halfe vanquished The Groeningers seeing the Emperour to imbrace the Dukes quarrell and that there was a proscription sent out by the Empire against Cont Edsard who could hardly free himselfe much lesse protect them rather then to fal vnder the proud gouernment of the Saxons they called in Charles Duke of Geldre a Prince that was stirring high minded to vndertake their protection vpon the same conditions that they had receiued Cont Edsard onely the fort which he had built should be razed the which the Geldrois to augment his Signeuries would not neglect sending the Seignior of Oyen to take possession and thus the towne and state of Groning fell into the hands of the Geldrois which was the cause of great warres betwixt the two Dukes of Saxony and Geldres The Geldrois being put in possession of the towne in the yeare 1518. and of the Ommelandes 1521. as such an actiue spirit cannot containe him-selfe within his bounds hee began soone after to attempt as well vp on the rights of the towne as the preuiledges of the Ommelandes The Groningers hauing discouered his practises with Captaine Meinard van Ham for the King of Denmarke vpon the towne of Dam which is of their iurisdiction the which hee pretended to fortefie to keepe Groening in subiection and then to doe all things at his pleasure They seeing them-selues thus circumuented and knowing the dukes intention grew cold in their affection which they did first beare him turning it to the house of Bourgongne where-vpon hauing resolued with the consent of the Ommelands they did write vnto George Schencke Baron of Tautenburg knight of the order of the Golden-fleece gouernor of Friseland for the Emperor Charles the fift according to the resignation which the Duke of Saxony had made vnto him to which effect the sayd Seignor Schencke hauing receiued commission from the Lady Mary Queene of Hungary sister to the Emperor marched with all the forces hee could thether where he entred in Iune in the yeare 1536. and there receiued their oth of fidelity in the Emperors name as Duke of Brabant Earle of Flanders Holland Zeeland c. Lord of Friseland and Ouerissel but vpon certaine conditions that the members and state of the Seigneury of Groning should hold their priuiledges right and statutes as they had receaued them from their ancestors that the towne should hold their ancient Preture and the foraine that they should build a pallace in the towne for the Emperor fit for a Prince but without any fortification the forts in the country should be razed noe new built if necessity did not require it for the defence of the country and of the towne out of whose reuenues there should be yearely payed vnto the Emperor to his successors 12000. crownes vpoÌ„ which conditioÌ„ Phillip K of Spaine was receiuedin Ianuary 1550. Among all the priuiledges of the said towne they haue one very notable which came from their ancestors with an inviolable contynuation which is That noe King Prince Estate nor common-weale can call any Bourger or Cittizen of that towne into iustice nor cause him to bee cited or adiorned before any court but onely before the Senat or his ordinary iudge more-ouer that noe man might appeale from any sentence that were giuen either in ciuill or cryminall causes neither from the court of Hoffmans or iudiciall chamber in that which concernes their iurisdiction from the which no man of what quality so euer may decline moreouer the towne is Lady and mistrisse of her owne lawes and statutes the which by a soueraigne power they may make and vndoe create and abrogate without the authority of any person The Estates of the Ommelands haue also the like authority in their regard The towne hath had a priuiledge to coyne siluer and copper for these foure hundred years and gold since
small profit finding this people so impatient of a strangers yoake in the end Duke George resigned all his interest vnto the Emperour Charles the fifth who enioyed it quietly as his sonne Philip King of Spaine also did till within these thirty yeares that they freed themselues by their adiunction vnto the generall vnion of the confederate Prouinces of the Netherlands Thus much we haue thought good to speake of the beginning and Estate of Frisland in generall Now wee will describe the townes in particular LEEWARDEN IS at this day as in old time Staueren was wont to bee the chiefe towne of Frisland situated almost in the center of the countrie called in ancient time during the Paganisine Aula Dei and in the vulgar tongue Godts hoff that it to say the court of God in the which was a colledge or schole for the Druides Philosophers and wise men of that time which were come out of France to plant their colleges there In witnesse whereof there are yet in this towne two Temples the one named the ancient court the other the new whereof the gentlemen of the country were in former times called Hovelingen that is to say courtiers for that they were constituted publike defenders of this house of God taught by the Druides And in truth this towne hath more gentlemen in it then any other in Frisland Of this schoole of the Druides Synard the wise a diuine and councellor to Radbod the last King of the Frisons was Rector whom hee councelled to persecute the Christians hee censured and caused Tullies bookes of the nature of the Gods to bee burnt condemning them as full of errors and contrarie to the doctrine which they taught of the false Gods of the gentills This towne in processe of time hauing taken the name of Leewarden and the country beeing conuerted to the christian Religion this schoole of the Druides was changed into a cloister of Nunnes by Vboalt in the yeare 1233. the which Dodo the fourth Abbot of Fleurencamp would haue also called Aulam Dei for that he would not haue the memory of that name lost But in the vulgar tongue it hatth beene called Nyen-clooster that is to say a New cloister They of Leewarden haue alwaies continued as it appeeres by all ancient and moderne writers and entertained their schoole in good learning which hath euer beene the chiefe of all Frisland Vntil that within these 20. yeares the Estates of the Prouince haue erected an vniuersity in the town of Franiker two leagues from thence for the entertainement of which schoole as at this present of the vniuersitie and of the learned professors which are there in all faculties the magistrates of Leuwarden haue neuer spared any charge In this towne is the court of Parliament for all Frisland which doth determine of all causes both criminall and ciuill whether all causes come and are to bee decided according to the sincerity of the Romaine lawes the which are obserued there with the like purity as they were made by the Emperor Iustinian and as they are taught in vniuersities hauing not aboue twenty municipall lawes or customes derogating from the written law All proceedings and other publike acts are made in the Dutch tongue their stile of writing and the forme of their letters and caracters as wel printed as written are as pure and neate as in any other courts of Brabant Flanders Holland Vtrecht and other places of the Netherlands So as the naturall Frisons as also the Brabansons Hollanders Flemings and other Dutche may easilie execute all Offices of Magistrates Secretaries and Notaries as well in one countrie as in an other depending vpon writing bee it of Iustice Pollicy Account Treasure or otherwise This town of Leuwarden is seated in the quarter of Ostergoe being great and spacious and conteyning in circuit neere halfe a French league the streetes are faire large and straight in the which it is not lawfull to leaue any filthinesse euery house hauing a boate into the which they cast it the which beeing full they transport it by barkes into the fieldes the towne beeing so diuided by nauigable chanells whereon there are manie bridges to serue as well for the trafficke of marchandise as for other commodities so as most houses maie bring their prouisions vppe to their doores or not farre from them The which doe also serue greatly for the clensing of the streetes the raine washing awaie all the filth if any remaines in the streetes into the chanelles The ayre is cleere but some-what brackish by reason of the exhalations of the sea which is nere which is the cause that it doth not lightly ingender any putrifaction neither is it often infected with any contagious disease It standes in a verie pleasant countrie full of goodlie Medowes euen vnto the towne-ditches beeing a pleasant sight on Sundaies and Festiuall dayes to beholde the Bourgers walking and supping vppon the greene grasse by troupes It hath also many pleasant villages round about the towne which seeme as walkes for the Inhabitants The situation is as we haue said in the midest of Frisland so as on a sommers day they may goe either in wagon or horse-backe or on foote on which side they please either to Ostergoe Westergoe or the Seauen Forests out of the country where they haue good meanes to goe and transport their marchandise by shipping either great or small In regard of which commodities and the goodnesse of the seat Albertus Duke of Saxony and George his son hauing obtained the hereditary gouernment of Frisland from Maximilian the Emperor did there settle the Parliament for the whole Prouince which the Emperour Charles the fifth and his sonne King Philippe haue since allowed and confirmed moreouer Friseland hath good hauens on euery side by the which they may commodiously and speedely bring all sorts of marchandise and commodities vnto the town which makes it cheape lyuing there This towne hath vnder his Griteny that is to say Baylewicke or Iurisdiction which they call Leewarderadeel seauenteene good villages depending thereon for in all the quarter of Ostergoe whereof this towne is the chiefe there are ten Gritenies euery one of which hath his villages depending thereon some more some lesse conteyning alltogither one hundred thirty and two villages in the sayd ten Gritenies besides the towne of Dockum which is the second towne of that quarter of Ostergoe wherof we will presently speak In this towne doth commonly reside the colledge of deputies for the Estates of the whole Prouince consisting of the nobility and townes which gouerne the whole Estate as well for matters of policy and warre as for religion who with the voices of the Gritenies dispose of all Estates and Offices both of Iustice treasure and demains as also of captaines places and others concerning the war and the Ecclesiasticall Estate There is also the minte for money for the whole country both for gold and siluer according to the order which the deputies for the Estates shall fet downe
It is at this day vnder the vnited Estates better fortefied then euer and alwaies manned with a good garrison and furnished with all other necessarie prouisions THE HAGE BEsides Citties and walled townes which they account to eight and twenty in number there are in Holland manie great Bourroughs which their Princes haue inricht with goodly priuiledges being nothing inferior to some walled towns both in greatnesse buildings and beautie Among the which no man can deâ—ie but the Hage holds the first place which they doe commonly call the Earles Hage which place the old Earles and Princes did choose for their Court and for the seate of their great councell whereas all causes are ended as well vpon the first instance as by appeale to the Earles of Holland Zeeland and West-Frisland This place is as stately and pleasing as well in buildings and houses of Princes great personages and of the meaner sort as in gardins and other delights as any other in Christendome The Pallace is great and dicht about where as all the councellors both for iustice gouernment warre and treasure assemble It was built by William King of Romaines and Earle of Holland who caused the councellors to bee transported from Grauesandt which is neere vnto the sea to the Hage The great hall of the Pallace is built with wonderfull art beeing not strengthened with any great beames a crosse but onely with a roofe in forme of an Arch which binds the whole building the timber was brought out of Ireland which hath a propertie not to endure any poison and therefore you shall not at any time see a cobweb there On the North side it hath a great poole and aboue it a little hill planted with great trees where as there are pleasant shadie walkes for Summer and feats to rest themselues on Along these walkes are many houses of Noblemen Presidents Gentlemen Councellors and other men of quality Going out of the Court-gate on the North-side also you come vnto an other goodly place which is appointed for the execution of Iustice all so neatly paued as the more it raynes the cleaner it is the streetes clensing themselues with the rayne Passing on they come to an other great walke full of trees one ioyning to an other the which in the spring time yeeld a sweete and pleasant smell this walke comming behind the houses and a street betwixt both it goes to the gardins of the Harguebuziers and Crosbow-men whereby they enter into the court on the backe-side This Pallace is the ordynarie residence of the Gouernors of Holland Zeeland and West-frisland who at this day is that great captaine Prince Maurice of Nassau Marquis of Campverâ— Flussing c. High Admirall for the vntâ—ed Prouinces second sonne to that valiant and wise Prince of Orange William Earle of Nassau It is halfe an houres passage to goe from the South which comes from Delfe vnto the end of the North which goes to Scheueling vpon the sea-shoare it is not muchlesse from the East to the West which are the two bredthes compassing in the Bourrogh going out on the East-side towards Leyden you enter into a pleasant little wood some 1500. paceâ—â—ong but not so broade well planted with oakes and all other sorts of trees and full of Deere and Conies a very pleasant place the which in the Somer time is much frequented whether the Aduocats and Proctors goe often to walke when as they come from pleading before they goe to dinner The Prouinciall councell consists of a President and foureteene councelors among the which is numbred the Aduocate Fiscall an Attorney generall a Register and other Officers There also doth the Receiuor generall of the sayd country and of West-frisland remaine The Chamber of accounts which was wont to be there for Holland Frisland Groning Oueryssel Vtrecht and Zeeland is now restrained to Holland and West-Frisland alone the other Prouinces hauing withdrawne themselues euery one hauing his Receiuor and chamber of accounts apart True it is they haue subiected themselues to bring the money which riseth of contributions and taxations thether and to deliuer it vnto the Receiuor generall and to be accountable vnto the Treasorer generall of the vnited Prouinces and to the Exchequer of the generall Estates In this Pallace is yet remayning that great and royall Library which was gathered together by that famous Chanoine Iohn Harrie aboue mentioned About three score and â—en yeares since Martin van Rossen came with his Geldrois of the garrison of Vtrecht at noone day to spoile this goodly Bourg all the councellors and Aduocates flying away and abandoning their houses to these insolent souldiars who carryed away their spoile in boates to Vtrecht without any opposition They said that if this goodly Bourg had beene walled in they had not beene subiect to calamitie Within these six and thirty yeares they had attempted it but by reason of the furie of the Spaniards it was not held fit for such as were opposite vnto it sayed that comming to bee besieged it should bee quite spoiled and ruined whereas finding it open and the people fled they did but lodge there sometimes as they past and sometimes they stayed there whilest they did ouer-runne the villages of West-holland In this place was borne that learned Prelat Iohn Iugenhage being of a Noble family of whom the Abbot Tritemius and William Vuytenhage make mention beeing the first comicall Poet of the Lower Germaine Of the same place was Gerard Signior of Assendelf who was President of Holland of an honorable house very learned in Greeke and Latin and an excellent Poet and his sonne Nicholas of Assendelf very learned also In like sort Hippolitus of Persin President of the Prouince of Vtrecht was borne there with Splinter Hargene Siegnior of Oosterwyck and Arnold Knebel who was treasurer for the Estates of Holland and his brother Philip councellor of the priuy councell at Bresselles all men of great knowledge Halfe a league from the Hage in our time was a goodly Abbay of Relligious Noblewomen of the order of Saint Bernard called Losdune whereas is yet to bee seene in the Church of the sayd Abbay which hath beene quite ruined by these last furious warres the tombe of the Lady Marguerite of Holland Countesse of Hausberge with her Epitaph both in Latin Dutch set there by reason of her strange miraculous deliuerie of three hundred sixtie and foure children at one birth whereof Erasmus Roterodamus Iohannes Lodouicus Viues and many other famous Authors make mention in their writings the which I forbeare to relate being set downe at large in the History of the Netherlands An example of the like child-birth is to bee found in the Annales of Brunswyck with whom Albertus Crantzius Historiographer to Ernestus Prince of Anhaâ—t doth accord in his Comentaries of Vandalia who writes that seauen and thirtie yeares after the sayd child-birth the like happened to the Lady Marguerite daughter to the Earle of Holstein the which were all baptized Martin
which are the six principall townes the rest hauing no voyce nor accesse vnto the sayd Estates with their Recorder and Secretary Behold wherin the Estates of Zeland consist In that Court there doth also remaine the Councel or College of the Admiraltie of the saide Contie consisting for the most part of the Deputies of the sayd Estates with an Aduocate â—scall and a Secretarie in which Counsell all sea-Sea-causes are determined The County of Zealand hath drawne vnto it selfe as wee haue said before the chamber of Accoumptes touching the demaines and of all the reuenewes proceeding as well from customes Imposts rents collections and contributions as other dependances of the receits concerning the whole Estate which was wont to be intreated of and decided ioyntly with the Contie of Holland and VVestfreezland for which three there was but one chamber of Accoumptes at the Hage This Chamber of Zealand hath a President Maisters Auditors Registers Vshers and other Officers The said Conty of Zealand hath now a particular coyne established in the Court of Middelbourg which they were not accustomed to haue no more then West-freezeland hauing but one Mynt thirty years since for al three in Dordrecht the capitoll towne of Holland where it remained long and was much priuiledged during the raigne of the Emperor Charles the fift As for their gouernment and religion it is al one with the vnited Prouinces their Confederats Ecclesiastical causes as wel for their discipline as otherwise are referred to their Synodes whereas some Deputies of the Estates do assist All Appellations in ciuill causes be the sentences prouitionall or definitiue of all the Townes Bailywiks and Iurisdictions in the Conty of Zealand Notwithstanding the Estates of this Prouince haue sought to sequester them-selues resort to the Prouincial Councell at the Hage in Holland Except they of Middelbourg who by a special priuiledge haue choyce to appeale to the said Prouinciall Councell or to the great Councell which is also at the Hage like vnto that at Macklyn whereof there is but a reuision before the Councellors deputed out of the vnited Prouinces The sentences of which reuisors are held for holy and inuiolable decrees But criminall sentences are executed without Appeale by euery officer in his Iurisdiction They haue also in Zealand their Dickgraues as in Holland which are Iudges hauing their Iurisdictions apart with certaine assistants or Sheriffes whome they call Geswooren that is to say Iurats to heare determine of all controuersies concerning the entertainment of dikes Sluses large ditches waies fludgates which Dickgraues Iurats are in the Iland of Walchren in manner of a Colledge the which consists of the Marquis of La Vere or his Deputie of the townes and of the Deputies of the best proprietaries in the Iland of Walchren The like is obserued in the other Ilands of the Conty of Zealand euery one according to his priuiledges The Contie of Zutphen THis Conty hath taken his name of the Capitol Towne of the countrie which is Zutphen standing vpon the right banke of the riuer of Issel by the which the riuer of Berckel doth passe which falles into Issell This towne before the first troubles and that the Duke of Alua did exercise his cruelties was rich well traded faire and great with a goodly Bridge to passe towardes the towne of Arnhem in Geldres the which was broken by the Spaniards part of the towne burnt and the Inhabitants miserably intreated which were the first fruites of the Spaniards gouernment Since it hath been twise or thrise taken and re-taken by the one and the other partie hauing continued since the yeare one thousand fiue hundred ninety one vnder the vnited Estates Although that this towne and the Iurisdiction therof be numbred for the third member or quarter of the Dutchy of Geldres it hath yet a long time beene a Conty of it selfe hauing a particular Earle the last whereof was the Earle Gerlache who left no other heires but one Daughter the which was marryed to Otto Earle of Nassau and of Geldres who brought him the said Earldom of Zutphen for her Doury by meanes whereof he augmented his Demaines Since which time the said Towne with the Iurisdiction hath been incorporate to the Dutchy of Geldres subiect to one Chancerie Gouernment Chamber of Accoumptes and making one member at the generall Estates of both Countries which as we haue said before are held in the towne of Arnhem whereas they of the said Towne and Contie haue their Assistants and ordinary Deputies who assist in the Assemblie of the general Estates of the Vnited Prouinces that is to say of euery one of the said quarters and of the Nobility of Geldres who change as the Estates of the Prouince shall thinke it fit The Townes and Iurisdictions of the said Contie are these which follow after the cheefe Towne Doesbourg a league and a halfe from thence Dotecome Bronckhorst Lochom Groll Bredeuoerd Keppel Bourg Sherenbourg which are or haue beene heretofore walled Townes besides many good Villages So as this Conty hath larger limmittes and is richer then that of Namure Wherefore it merites to bee held as it hath alwaies beene and as the Emperour and King Philip haue carryed it in their Titles for one of the seauenteene Prouinces of the Netherlandes And at this present one of the eight vnited and confederate There is in this Contie a generall Officer called Drossart which depends vpon the Chancery of Arnhem Whose Iurisdiction extendes cheefly to the champian country who is bound to bring all Offenders to Arnhem or to the other townes that haue right to take knowledge thereof The townes are gouerned by their Gouernors Councell and other ordinary Officers DOESBOVRG IS an ancient Town which some call Drusiburgum other moderne writers will haue it the same towne which Tacitus names Asciburgum It is seathe at the mouth of Fossa Drusiana or Drusus ditch the which is a chanell which Drusus to keepe his soldiers from idlenesse made them to digge at Isseloort drawing it out of the Rhyne and carrying it into the Riuer of Issell at Doesbourg the which hee made to haue a shorter passage to make warre against the Frisons then if he should haue beene forced to haue gone downe the riuer of Rhyne and so entring into the Brittish sea to haue compassed about all the country of the Battauians and so to haue entred into Frisland by the riuer of Flye It is a good towne and well peopled the which during these wars hath not felt so many alterations as many other townes In the yeare one thousand fiue hundred ninetie eight the Admirall of Arragon Lieutenant of the Arch-duke Albert hauing taken the Towne of Berck vppon the Rhyne and past his armie there he resolued to besiege this towne But Prince Maurice raizing his camp out of the I le of Geldre which they call Gelderscheweert he went and put himselfe into the said towne lodging part of his troopes in a little Iland right against it in the
to the exigence of the fact which Regents and Administrators receiue their authorite and commission yearely from the Gouernor and councel of the Prouince There was in old time three Monasteries in the town The pore haue good entertainmeÌ„t the Orphins founded by Rheine Bourguemaster of the towne the which was indowed with more lyuing by Hyde the daughter of Hero being a widow Then the ritch Hospitall whereas many poore people are fed all at one table with their lodging Then the poore Hospitall whereas many poore old people haue euerie one a chamber a part and are entertained there with bread beere butter and firing from whence the poore people of the towne haue once a weeke releefe This towne is since the yeare of our Lord 1572. much increased and well fortefied as well in portes rampars bulwarkes as otherwise The Burgers haue endured much as well in their trafficke at sea as in lodgging of souldiars This towne hold a market euery Saterday whether the inhabitants of all the nerest townes and villages Greteines or Baylewycks come and bring their marchandise and victualls with greatstore of wild-foule venison they want no fish also both from the fresh water and sea The Bayliff of Wouseradeel comes thither euery market-day to hold his seat of iustice and to do right to all men of his iurisdiction where the Gâ—ieteman or Bailife doth preside with his Assessors Iurats hauing vnder them 29. villages and two monasteries that is the Abbay of Fleurecampe of men and one of women called Oogecloester now ruined in these last wars their reuenue applied to the coÌ„mon cause Nere vnto this town is a village named Womels famous for the birth of that learned man Cyprianus Womelius a doctor of the law and a great Poet councellor in the Imperiall chamber at Spyer These of this towne of Bolswart did many years since ioyne theÌ„selues to the Hans towns oâ— Germany with whom they are confederate and are registred among the members thereof inioying the like priuileges freedomes and exemptions of imposts and customes as the other townes of Denmarke Sueden Norwaie Liuonia Prussia East country and other Principalities and common-weales Hauing also their chamber or lodging of Esterlings in Antwerp and at the Stylliard in London the which is now out of vse which priuiledges the inhabitants of the said towne inioye bringing onely a certificate of their Bourgesie vnder the seale of the towne of Bolswaert The which was wont to yeeld them great profit in nauigation and traffick It was practised generallie throughout all the Hans townes the better to entertaine their commerce and mutuall correspondencie and to traine vppe their youth in the trade of marchandise from one Prouince to an other no married men beeing admitted in those places of London and Antwerp onelie young men doing their owne businesse or their Maisters so as they bee members of this companie As for the foundation of this towne of Bolswaert wee finde that it was built by the Ladie Bolswine daughter to Radbod King of Frisland in the yeare 713. which Ladie was married to the Siegnior of Teekenbourg issued from the Noble house of Dockenburg the which of a castle was made a towne and is now called Dockum This Ladie being a widowe retired her selfe from Teekenburg into this quarter of Frisland whereas King Radbod her father gaue her a house of pleasure and there shee built a small towne which shee called by her owne name Bolswaert for that it was seated in a halfe Island the which the Danes and Normans did often ruine yet in the end it became a good towne of trafficke Beeing in that towne it was told mee that at that time of the foundation the sea came vp vnto it but since the land hath wonne much of the sea so as it staies at the village of Mackum STAVEREN IT is the most ancient and was in former times the cheefe towne of all Frisland wherof we haue sufficiently discoursed of the same society and company but more ancient then that of Bolswaert whose priuiledges especially their precedence at the Sond in Denmarke before all other shippes wee haue made mention of before being needlesse now to make any further repetitioÌ„ it stands vpon the sea on the South side on the entry of the gulph of Zuyderzee at the point which lookes towards Holland almost opposite to the passage of Enchuysen halfe a league from Hinderlopen vppon the same shoare It seemes that this is the place whereas time the people kept whome Plinie cals Sturi of which name all Frisland was sometimes called Regnum Stauriae Which Kingdome did extend to Nymegen where was wont to be ingrauen on the East Port hic limes Imperii Heere is the bounds of the Empire and on the West gate Hic finis Regni Stauriae Heere is the end of the Stauriens Kingdome so as there is no doubt but heretofore it hath been a rich and mighty Towne but the tempests and Inondations of the sea haue often annoyed it and driuen it farther into the country beeing told mee when I went to view it that the old towne was a League nerer to the Sea and now in the bottome of the Sea Besides certaine barres of Sand haue stopt the Hauen and taken away their nauigation as wee haue formerly obserued There was wont to bee a strong Castle at the end of the towne looking towardes the Sea and the Hauen But during these last troubles the Captaine which was put in gard there with a garrison beeing beseeged by the Estates growing wilful and resolute to keepe it his soldiers hauing smal hope of any succors yeelded vp the place and deliuered their Captaine to the Estates who caused it to bee presently raized as wee may see by a great part of the ruines The towne is long and narrow inlarged and fortified with rampars and bulwarks but of small importance and ill intertained as beeing held at this present time not greatly necessarie The houses in the great streete are resonable faire and well built the Inhabitants liue by their handy-workes and by the Sea but not of such nauigation and trafficke as they were wont to haue HARLINGEN IT is now a good and spatious towne and of good trafficke since that Gasper Robles Lord of Billy Gouernor of the country of Frisland and Groning for the King of Spaine caused the bankes behinde the Castle to bee repayred and inlarged with great labour and cost which doth now defend it from the tempests and waues of the sea which beate against it which worke the Inhabitants notwithstanding the hard gouernment of the sayd Robles cannot sufficiently commend The Estates of Frisland hauing since these last troubles resumed their liberty haue caused the said Castle to bee ruined so farre as it did ouerlooke the Towne retaining the fortification which lookes towards the Sea and the Bankes hauing in the same place where the ditch was drawne a goodly new Hauen into the Towne which passeth vnder a great draw-bridge to go