THE LOW COVNTRY COMMON WEALth Contayninge An exact description of the Eight vnited Prouinces Now Made free Translated out of french ED. GRIMESTON Printed by G. Eld. 1609 TO THE WORTHIE Knight Sir Peter Manwood Sir AFter the Edition of the Netherland Historie I was intreated to peruse and translate this discourse being a description of the vnited Prouinces written by Iohn Francis Petit one of the cheefe Authors of that Historie who as he himselfe doth auerre hath made a particular suruay of all the Prouinces townes and forts which are now vnder the gouernment of the Confederate Estates And finding it likely to giue some contentment to the Reader and necessarie as well for his better vnderstanding of the Historie as for his knowledge of the strength and state of those Prouinces which haue maintained so long and difficult a warre against so potent a Monarke I haue spent such houres as I could well spare from my more necessarie imployments since my comming into France in the traduction thereof that it might bee printed as an Appendix to the History The which I cannot recommend to any Gentleman better deseruing of mee then your selse vnto whom I am much bound for many kind fauors and respects Accept it good Sir though not worthy of your view yet as a testymonie of his loue and thankefullnesse who will alwaies remaine Yours deuoted to doe you seruice Edward Grimeston Orleans Aprill 10. stilo nouo 1609. A table contayning all the names of Citties Townes Castles Burgs and Villages in these eight vnited Prouinces with the Townes and Forts out of the said Prouinces and yet included in their vnion and first of Geldres The Dutchy of Geldres in particular fol. 1 ARnham folio 6 Nymeghen 9 Ruremond 13 Venloo 14 Gelders 15 Stralen 16 Wachtendonck 17 Erchelens ibid. Echt. 18 Montfort ibid. Harderwick ibid. Elburg 19 Hattem ibid. Wageningen 20 Tyell ibid. Bommel 21 Saint Andrewes Fort. 23 Culembourge 25 Battenbourg ibid. Buren 26 The Earldomes of Holland and Westfreesland fol. 36 DOrdrecht 46 Harlem 52 Delf 60 Leyden folio 67 Amsterdam 73 Goude 78 Enchuysen 87 Horne 89 Alckmar 94 Medenblick 100 Edam 101 Munikendamme 103 Purmerende ibid. Muden 105 Naerden 106 Gorrichom 107 Worchom 109 Heusdin 111 Leerdam ibid. Henclom ibid. Aspren 112 Oudewater ibid. Rotterdam 113 Schiedam 115 Bryell 117 Schoonhouen 118 Iselstein 119 Woerden ibid. Viane 120 Ghâ—ertruydenberg 121 Hage 122 Vlaerdinghe 128 Seuenberghe ibid. Goere 129 Beuerwick ibid. Nieuport 131 Scage ibid. Nobility of Holland from 136. to 157 Discription of the Brittish Fort called L' Huis te Brittaine 157 Zealand with the Islands Townes Burroughs 159 VVAlachry or Walchren 161 Middlebourgh ibid. Vere or Camp-vere 165 Flâ—singhe 168 Arnemuyden 171 Dombourgh 174 West-cappelle ibid. Soetlandt 175 Rammeken ibid. Schowen 176 Ziriczee 177 Browershauen 178 Zuit-beuelandt 179 Rommerswall 180 Goes 181 Tolen the Island and towne 182 Saint Martins Dike 183 Noort-beuelandt ibid. Wolfers-dicke 184 The County of Zutphen in particular 189 DOes-burgh 192 Doetecum 193 Bronckhorst ibid. Lochem 194 Groll ibid. Sherenbergh 196 Bredefort ibid. Keppel 197 Bourg ibid. The Prouince and Signiory of Vtrecht in particular 198 VTrecht 199 Wickter-duyrsteede 206 Amersfort 208 Rhenen 209 Montfort 210 The state of Vtrecht in general 211 Freesland in generall 219 LEwarden 236 Dockum 242 Franiker 244 Bolsewaert 245 Staueren 247 Harlinghen 250 Sneck ibid. Sloten ibid. Ilst ibid. Worcum 252 Hindelopen ibid. The seauen Forests 253 Oueryssell in generall 254 DEuenter 259 Campen 260 Swoll 263 Steenwick 265 Hassel ibid. Oldenzeel 266 Otmarse ibid. Enschcede 267 Vollenhouen ibid. Geelmuyden 268 Meppell ibid. Hardenbergh 269 Coevoorden ibid. Rissen 270 Diepenhem ibid. Ghoer 271 Delden ibid. Almeloo ibid. Wilsen ibid. Graff-horst 272 Gronninghen and the Ommelandts in generall 273 DAm 287 Delfziell ibid. Townes and Forts out of the vnited Prouinces and yet comprised in their vnion 289 In the Dutchy of Brabant BErghen vpon Soom 289 Breda 290 Steenberghen 293 William-Stadt ibid. Cluyndert 294 Lilloo ibid. Ter-Heyden 295 Townes and Fortresses that the States hold in Flanders 296 SLuce ibid. Ardenbourgh 298 Ysendike ibid. Lyefkens-hoeck 299 Ter-neuse 300 Axell ibid. Fortresses held by the States beyond the Rhine 301 BOrentangâ— ibid. Bellinger-wolder-ziell 302 FINIS The Belgick Common-weale Or A particular description of the eight vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands The Duchie of Gelders THere is great contradiction of opinions betwixt both ancient and moderne writers touching the first beginning of the Geldrois the which they can hardly reconcile neither will I vnder-take the charge Marlian saith that in Iulius Caesars time the contrie which is now called Gelders was inhabited by the Menapiens Others hold that it was the aboad of the Sicambrians where-vnto I will yeeld and that vnder that name the Cleuois were comprehended through whose country as well as through Gelders the riuer of Rhine doth runne the which doth cast one of his branches betwixt the Duchies of Gelders and Cleues being called Wahal at the diuision of the Iland of Sgrauen-Weerdt where that mighty fort was first built by Collonell Martin Schenck and at this day in great esteeme For which Iland there hath bin long debate betwixt the Dukes of Gelders and Cleues the which is not yet decided was begun betwixt the Emperor Charles the fift and William duke of Cleues father to this last Duke The Battauians or Hollanders did also hold a part of that which is now called Gelders There is no doubt but in Caesars time the Sicambrians did inhabit on eitherside of the Rhine in the countries of Cleues and Geldres as Wezel on the one side with Burich Cleef and others of the other side are of the Duchy of Cleues And of Geldres Nymegen lies of the one side and Arnham on the other so as we may rightly say that the riuers of Rhine and Wahal do run through these two Prouinces for the Sicambrians hauing often bin defeated by the Romains Augustus who succeeded Caesar as Strabo Suctonius others do write to be the better assured of them and to keepe them in awe transported a good number of them with other people on this side the Rhine and there planted them I will not deny that the Menapians did not first inhabit all that country which lies along the riuer of Rhine to whom the Sicambrians did afterwards succeed who enioyed a great continent of ground on the one side as far as the Vbiens and on the other vnto the ocean sea The which Marlian confirmes by these words The Sicambrians planted wheras the two great riuers of Rhine and Meuse do meet and ioyne extend themselues vnto the ocean sea And in another place he saith The Sicambrians are people wholy Germains inhabiting beyond the riuer of Rhine nere vnto the Vbiens and Eburones which are the people of Cologne Liege So as wee cannot say that those which at this day are called Geldrois had the name of Sicambrians onely but that vnder that name were
also comprehended they of Cleues Monts Marck Iulliers all neighbors to the Rhine and on the other side a part of the riuer of Meuse which passing by the country of the Eburones and the moderne Geldrois comes ioynes with the riuer of Wahal which is a branche of the Rhine nere vnto Louestein and then retayning the sole name of Meuse washing the townes of Dordrecht Rotterdam Schiedam Vlaerdingen and the Brill it falls into the British sea and so into the great Ocean The which Sydonius Appolinaris an excelent Poet in his time doth witnesse by these verses Sic Ripa duplicis tumore fracta Detonsus Vahalim bibat Sycamber So when the double swelling breakes the brinke Wahal shal be the shorne Sicambrians drinke But no man can directly say when or how these Menapians Sicambrians were diuided in these Prouinces thus distinguished by which distinction they haue lost their ancient name This Prouince is at this day called Geldres and the others Cleues Iuilliers Monts Marck Lieg yea Westphalia the Etimology of which name of Geldres seems ridiculous vnto me as it is set downe in the chronicle of Holland I would rather hold with them which maintaine that the whole countrie hath taken his name of Gelduba a towne in old time seated vpon the Rhine wherof Tacitus makes honorable mention but at this day there remaines no memory thereof Munster holds it for most certaine that the first Lords of this country who long after carried no higher title then of Aduocates then of Earles and in the end of Dukes were two brethreÌ„ issued from the French Wyncard and Lâ—â—old du Pont who built a Castell called Pont-Gelder which castle hath long retained that name of Pont and is now ioyned to the towne of Geldre which hath giuen the name to the whole Prouince hauing at this day towards the North the countrie of Frisland to the Norwest the Zuyderzee vpon the South the riuer of Meuse ioynes vpon it and diuides it from the Duchie of Brabant to the South-east is the Duchie of Iuilllers Towards the East is a part of the riuer of Rhine and the duchie of Cleues the which diuides it into two very vnequall parts to the West is Holland and the siegneurie of Vtrecht This Prouince is plaine and of a goodly scituation hauing few mountaines but maine heaths great store of woods which are both pleasant and profitable among the which is that of Echterwald All their soile or ground for tillage is very fertile in corne and the pasture fat for cattle especially that which lies vpon the bankes of the riuer of Rhine Wahal Issel and Meuse Lewis Guichardin and other writers of our time confound the Earldome of Zutphen with the Duchie of Geldres as we will shew in the particular description and not confound it with that of Gelders The Duchie of Gelders and the Countie of Zutphen containe the townes of Arnhem Zutphen Nymegen and Ruremond which are the foure chiefe of the whole country making the foure quarters of these two Prouinces are scituated as we will shew vpon foure diuerse riuers and are subiect to foure seuerall Bishops Then are the townes of Venlo vpon the Meuse Geldres Stralen Wachkendonck and Erkelens in the champian country Then there is Hatten vpon the Issell Elbruch and Harderwyck vpon the Zuyderzee Wageningen vpon the Rhine Tyel and Bomel vpon the Wahal There are many townes which in ancient time were walled in but through diuerse accidents and disasters they are now wholy or in part spoiled in theâ—e last warres some haue bin vtterly ruined yet as touching that little which remaines they doe still enioy their ancient priuiledges of townes as Keppel Burch Ghendt Batenburch Montfort Eche with others whereof we will make mention comming to their quarter with the which there are aboue three hundred villages hauing steeples the rights of parishes The Estates of this Duchie consists vpon three chiefe members of the Barons whom they call Vry Heren of the Nobles whom they call Redderschap and of the foure foresaid chiefe townes which Estates so farre as they are fallen from the Princes of Austria hold their Colledge in the towne of Arnham whereas in like manner the Chancerie and the Chamber of accoumpts remaines as well for the Duchie as the county of Zutphen Wherefore although it may displease Nymegen as the last member added to the Duchy of Gelders wee will begin with Arnham as the chiefe towne and describe all the other townes in particular according to their dignities Arnham THis towne was in old time called Arnacum it is a good towne and somewhat spacious seated vpon the right banke of the riuer of Rhine halfe a league from the which is Fossa Drusiana which is now called Issel Dort whereas Drusus to keepe his soldiers from idlenesse caused them to begin to dig a channell which drawing the water out of the Rhine it fell into a little riuer called Issell neere vnto Dousbourg in the countie of Zutphen the which hee did build and called it by his owne name that he might haue a shorter passage by water to go and make warre against the Frisons which channell or little riuer did so increase in a short time as at this day it is growne very great is called Issel passing before the townes of Dousbourg Bronchorst Zutphen Deuenter and Campen where it falls into the Zuyder sea This towne of Arnham is the chiefe of the Estate and siegneury of the Veluwe which is one of the foure quarters of the Duchie of Gelders vnder which towne are the townes of Hattem Harderwyck Elbruch Wageningen all walled with many villages burrowes and castels with their iurisdictions and particular officers subiect to the iustice of the Drossart or Lieutenant generall of that quarter compassed in by the Zuyderzee the Rhine and the riuer of Issel for which cause fish abounds there and is very good cheape besides there is great store of woods vnder-woods and bushes full of game for the pleasure of hunting Neere vnto the said towne of Arnham is an other member of the duchy called Velwe Zoom the which extends neer vnto Zutphin on the one side and on the other it reacheth neere to Wageningen in all which soile there are nothing but meades and very pleasant and fertile pastures which quarter hath a particular officer which is the Iudge of Arnham with foure assistants and as for the Veluwe the Drossart hath ten assistants or councellors whereas hee keepe his courts of pleas But touching the spiritualtie the towne of Arnham with the whole iurisdiction before the troubles was subiect to the Bishoprick of Vtrecht In this towne the Dukes of Geldres did in former times make their residence and there they were intombed in the great Church before the market place from whence they go vnto the Port which leads vnto the riuer of Rhine The Chancery the councel of Gelders were established there by the Emperor Charles the fift in
the middest from one corner to another a Tower all flanked with great broad stone to resist the flowing of the Rhyne vppon whose banke it was seated some fortie of these stones were digged vp in the yeare 1552. the which were foure foote long and three broad There was also peeces of bricke found a foote square on the which were these letters X. G. I. which seemes to signifie Ex Germania inferiori Moreouer an other stone broken at both the ends in which there did yet remaine these imperfect wordes euer Pius An. max. Trib. Pot. XIII ntonin Pius ec Milit. Leg. I. me Euidiorum There wore also Peeces of siluer with this inscription L. Septimius Seuerus Pertinax Aug. Imp. Besides there was an other stone all eaten with the waues of the sea and windes representing victory with wings and on the left hand an Eagle with these letters Imp. Caes Ant. ne Aug. Coh M. To. Ru. Pe. There were other stones one with a shippe such as the Saxons vsed in those times an other with a mans face hauing a beard and long hayre an other hauing the figure of Hercules with his mace Besides an other long stone brokeÌ„ at one end wheras these wordes were comprehended Brittanic Germanic Pius Faelix Augustus Pont. Max. Trib. Pot. XVIII IIII. P. P. Imp. III. Aram. a Diuo Claudio et postea a diuo Seuero Patre suo restitutam In the same yeare 1520. there was a Key found which they did suppose was that of the Arcenall There were also found many figures vessels pottes lampes and other square stones where there was grauen X. Ger. Inf. There haue bene also found peeces of gold siluer and Copper of Iulius Caesar and others In the yeare one thousand fiue hundred sixtie two the foundations of this Arcenall were descouered aboue twenty daies together from whence the people there-about drewe many thousands of stones It hath beene descouered againe of late yeares but the sand of the sea hath buried much Zeeland with the Islands Townes and Bourroughes NO man can denie but the Danes and Normans haue ouerrunne these Islands as well as Holland and other farther Regions who as it is the custome of conquerers to impose new names to places which they haue conquered especially the names of countries and townes from whence they are come some thinke haue giuen this name of Zeelandt of one of their chiefe Islands so called in the which is the royall towne of Coppenhagen But admit it were not so and let vs drawe their beginning from the signification of the worde it selfe Zee signifying the sea and Landt countrie which is a countrie of the sea as in truth it is There is no neede then to make anie further search for the Etimologie but wee will content our selues with it The countie of Zeelande which hath now more power and authoritie then it euer had is for the most part comprehended in seauen principall Islands the which are Walchren where Middlebourg stands Schoven and there is Ziricxee Zuytbeuelandt where Ter Goes is Tertolen where there is the towne of Tolen Noortbeuelandt recouered from the Sea within these ten yeares Duyuelandt and Wolfersdick there are other small ones whereof we make no mention Those of Walchren and Schouen lye most open to the sea on the West part on which side they be naturally defended with these sandie hils which they call Downes and where there are not any they haue made good and high bankes strengthned with thicke turffes and wads of straw which binde them firmely together the which they call dikes True it is that the ordinary charge to repaire and entertaine them is very great and the time and toyle they imploy greater But they obserue a good order with such proportion as such as haue the propriety of the land adioyning beare the charge for the entertaining of these dikes euery one according to his portion All the country of Zealand is fatte and fertile for all kind of Tillage but especially for faire white wheat and of a grain to die red which is a rich commodity and distributed through all Europe There is also a certen kinde of turffe for fyring which they call Dary the which they are forbidden to cutte neere vnto the dikes for that it is their foundation and defeÌ„ce Ther are none but the poorer sort that vse it for that it yeelds a stinking smoake There is generally as pleasant and fat pastures for cattel as in Holland But the better to know the whole country we must begin to describe the Ilands and the particular townes of euery of them Walachrie IS in the country language called Walchren the most famous and most rich of all the Ilands of Zeland not for the greatnesse for it hath not tenne leagues circuit but for the strength and safetie of the Seat and the quallitie of the soyle the infinite number of people that inhabit it their great comerce and the greaâ— riches which the Sea bringes vnto them by their nauigations This Iland hath foure walled townes Middelbourg which is the Metropolitaine of all Zealand where the Court remaines Flissing La Vere Teruere or Camp Vere which are all one and Arnemuyden Doubourg is the most ancient town of Zealand but now it is but a Bourg beeing couered with the sandes of the sea where it is situated yet it retaines still the municipall priuiledge of a towne we will then begin with Middelbourg Middelbourg SOme attribute the beginning of this towne to one Metellus a Romaine Captaine who first built the Bourg that is to say the Castle the which is in the middest of the towne whereas now the prisons are Of which Mettellus by this Castle it hath bin called Metelli Burgam and so Middelbourg in Ducth But let vs leaue this definition and say that it hath taken his name of these two wordes Middel which signifies the middest and Bourg a Castell as much to say as a Caâ—â—le in the middest as beeing situated before the Sea had gotten so much on that side in the very center of the Iland It stands in 50. degrees ¾ of Latitude It is but a quarter of a league from Arnemuyden vnto which it was wont to haue a narrow and crooked hauen which went vnto their salt pits But within these fiftie yeares they of Middelbourg haue made a new straight hauen from their port of Dam vnto the Sea the which is good and deepe able at a full sea to carry shippes of 4. or 500. tunnes Within these twelue yeares they haue augmented their Towne more then halfe round about wherin they haue done preiudice without any recompence to them that had gardens and possessions in the Suburbs yet all this great increase serues for no other vse but for houses of pleasure and gardens for Marchants although there were place to haue built aboue 3000. good houses for the coÌ„moditie whereof they might make many chanels to passe froÌ„ the one to the other but God knowes when al this voide place shall
good Schoole there It hath not much tasted of the miseries of these last warres sometime it hath maintained a small garrison of horse and foote without any great charge vnto them Elburgh IT lyes vppon the Zuyderzee like vnto Harderwick from the which it is distant two good leagues and as much from the Towne of Campen in Oueryssell It is a little town of smal trafficke but yet good cheap to liue in and hath during these warres followed the same party that Harderwick did Hattem WAs in ancient time a good towne though none of the greatest seated vppon the left banke of the riuer of Yssell There is a goodly strong Castle which hath tasted of the miseries of these last warres for the Drossart or Lieutenant of the Country thinking to deliuer it into the Spaniards handes being discouered they thought to make it good in this Castle wheras the Estates beseeged them and the Castle was so battered and torne with the canon wherof the marks are yet to bee seene as they were forced and carryed prisoners to Arnham whereas they lost their heads Wagheninghen IS a small ancient strong towne and is the very same which Cornelius Tacitus called Vada as to speake the truth it ma◠properly be so called being in a manner compassed in of all sides with moores and bogs which makes it in-accessible on those parts it lies not far from the riuer of Rhyne beeing of an equall distance from the townes of Arnham and Nymeghen and foure leagues from Culenbourg Tyel THis Towne is the chiefe place of the Iurisdiction or Bayliwick which they call Tyelerweerd the which was wont to be a Peninsula But since these last warres Derick-vick Seignior of Soulen Bailiffe of the town and iurisdiction hath caused a chanell to be cutte through the Countrie to sayle from the riuer of Meuze into the Wahal vppon the right banke wherof the said towne is built ◠by which meanes the said Tyelweerd is now made an Iland for that there is no entrance into it but by water or through the towne It is strong by nature and by art through the dilligence of the said Amptman or Bailyffe who since the last troubles hath made sharp wars against the Spaniards by the meanes of that garrison In the yeare 1528. holding the party of Charles Duke of Gelders their Prince the Burguignons beseeged it in the Emperors name but it was so well defended as they were forced to raise their seege to the great honour of the Inhabitants and the few soldiers that were within it Bommel IT is a faire strong place the cheefe towne of all the Territory of Bommell-weerd which the Rhyne and Meuze doe compasse in making it an Iland the which they say was called by Caesar Insula Batauorum if it extend no farther the which wee may say is now the higher and lower Betuwe on the other banke of the riuer of Ryne as farre as Tyel and beyond to Haerwerden where at this present is the mighty fort of Saint Andrew whereof wee will presently make mention whereas the Wahal and the Meuze kissing as the passe ioyne together at Louestein at the end of the said Bomels-weerd in one body the which soone after from Gorrichom takes the name of Meruve vntill that hauing past Dordrecht it resumes his name of Meuze and beneath Bryell runnes into the Brittish Seas In this Iland there are many fayre Villages and Castles among others Rossem whereas Martin van Rossem Seign ior of Puydroyen was borne a famous Captaine in his time hauing beene Marshall of the field to the Duke Charles of Gelders and William of Cleues who in the yeare of our Lord 1534. did terrifie the Towne of Antwerp and thinking to doe the like to them of Lovuain was forced to retyre In the yeare of our Lord 1598. Arch-Duke Albert of Austria beeing gone into Spaine to fetch his spouse the Infanta Isabella daughter to King Philip the second and sister to King Philip the third now raigning left during his absence Cardinal Andrew of Austria to gouerne the Netherlands which were giuen in marriage to the sayd Isabella and Don Francisco de Mendoza Admirall of Arragon for generall of his armie the which hee sent vnto the frontiers of Germanie to make warre against the vnited Estates that way where hauing done what hee listed and taken from the Estates by seege the townes of Rhynberch and Deutecom and then the Fort of Creuecaeur hee past to the said Iland of Bommell with an intent to beseege the towne the which by reason of their workes at the fortification lay halfe open The which Prince Maurice vnderstanding he posted thether with all speed and assured it with his presence and forces causing a trench to bee cast without the towne from one side of the riuer vnto the other whereas hee lodged the greatest part of his Army where-vppon the Admirall seeing there was no way to force them hee retired farther into the Iland busiyng him-selfe about the building of Saint Andrewes Fort so as the towne of Bommel was freed In this towne was borne that learned man Elbert Leoninus Doctor of the Lawes who dyed in the yeare 1601. being Chancellor of Gelders and deputy for the general Estates of the vnited Prouinces being aboue 80. years old he was sōtimes Tutor to the Prince of Orange which now liueth S. Andrew THis Fort was so named by Andrew of Austria Cardinal of Constance being Gouernor of the Netherlands as wee haue said in the absence of the Arch-duke Albert. It is the mightiest fort that hath bin made in al the Netherlands for the building whereof the Admirall of Arragon disfurnished the whole Iland of trees It is comprehended in fiue Bulwarks after the forme of the Cittadel of Antwerp wherof three are vppon the bankes of Meuze and Wahal and the two others towards Haerwerden either of them hauing a caualier or plat-forme to defend it with broad and deepe ditches without the which is a counterscarpe the which hath also a ditch round about it and small forts to warrant it especially wheras these two riuers imbrace one an other towards Tyler-weerd whereas the Fort of Nassau is set opposite to that of Saint Andrew in a corner which is also made an Island by art beeing called Voorne and is held by the Estates which two Forts did daily salute one an other with their Ordinance The Admirall hauing fynished this Fort thinking thereby to keepe the riuers of Wahal and Meuse and the whole Island in subiection left a garrison of 1500. men in it with store of artillerie and munition and then retired with his army to refresh it in Brabant But Prince Maurice did not dissolue his armie but kept it togither all the winter as well in the towne of Bommel as in the trenches and ships which he had lying by The spring time beeing come hauing recouered the Fort of Creuecaeur he went to beseege that of Saint Andrew the which through want of victualls was
V ertutis decus ac munus spectabile Iussit M ateriem at linquo soribendi vatibus aâ—plaâ— A showre of gold fell once from Ioue men say M any commend Rhodes wealth Sicilia S ay diuers was the Store-house vnto Rome T rue once but Ceres now is hether come E uen she and all the Deities haue laid R itches on me Be euer ritch they said D rown'd is my seate thereof in fenny strand A nd on wood-piles doe all my buildings stand M y walls are washt with waues that ebbe and flow B ut from those waues doth mine aduancement grow E ach quarter of the world sends ships to me L aden with waues of worth for vse for eye G reat is my gaine by trades but greater yet I s that which by my vent of Corne I gette A ffrica Sicilia and the Idaean field S et paralels with me for that must yeeld S uch is my state recorded by fames hand T o be the Store house of all Netherland O f all things man doth need nay rathermore R itch needy here may all haue choyce and store E uen as the stomachs sole digestion H elps Mans whole forme with growth of flesh bone O ur worth thus tryde made Caesar set a Crowne V pon our sheeld as badge of due renowne S tay now no more but leaue against our will E ternâ—ll matter for a purer quill They of Amsterdam made a great present of money to the Emperor Maximillian the first of that name for the which hee graunted them leaue to beare an Imperiall Crowne vppon the Armes of their Citty a dignity neuer granted to any Towne before There is yet to bee seene in a glasse window of the old Church certaine purses painted with their mouths downeward scattering gold and siluer signifying this liberallity of the Amsterdammers All sorts of people of most nations haue recourse and free leaue to dwell in this towne as French GermaÌ„ Italian Spaniard Portugesse English Scottish Cymbrian Sarmatian Sueden Dane Norweghian Liflander and other of the Septentroniall parts At the same time or shortly after that the Anabaptists domineerd in Munster there was a commotion of the same kinde of people in this towne who one night after they had beene at their priuate assembly tooke armes and possest them-selues of the Market place and the Magistrates house killing some Burgesses and among the rest one Burguemaister but they were repulst and caused to flye some here and some there by Boates into Freezeland and other places Some of them both men and women as they ranne vppe and down the streetes all naked were taken and executed after diuers and sundry fashions An antient Cittizen of this towne hath also made these verses follow ing in honour of his country Haec illa est Battauae non vltima gloria gentis Amnis cui nomen cui cataracta dedit Dicta prius Dammum raris habitata colonis Cum contenta casis rustica vita fuit Hinc Amsterdamum iam facta celebrior atque Fortunae creuit tempore nomen item Vrbs bene nota prope atque procul dictant bus oris Dotibus innumeris suspicienda bonis Diues agri diues preciose vestis et auri Vt pleno cornu copia larga beet Quod Tagus atque Hermus vehit et Pactolus in vnum Verê huc congestum dixeris esse locum Belgiaes bright glory we this towne may call Which had the last name from the riuers fall VVhilom the name was Dam the people such As had they meat clothes thought they had much Hence hight it Amsterdam and with the name The Fortune hath increased and the fame T' is known vnto far Coastes and Continents And may be well so for the good it vents T is ritch in Corne in Coyne in Flesh in Fish And all aboundance that the world can wish Breefely it is so ritch it seemes to hold All Tagus Hermus and Pactolus gold Goude ALthough the Historiographers do dispute much about the name of this town some saying that it came froÌ„ a Lady so called heretofore inheritrix of it others from the golden leaues where-with the Steeple of their church was couered to shew their ritches and magnificence for Goude in the dutch tongue signifies gold yet it seemes to me most probable that it is deriued froÌ„ a certain water called Goude beginning from the sluce of Goude neere vnto Alphen where heretofore the Romains had their abode calling it Castra Albiniana running euen to the riuers of Yssule vppon the which at the entry of that water is the said town built It is a strong town populous and pleasant enuironed with goodly feelds farmes strong wals and deep ditches and within beautifully furnished with faire houses but especially vppon both sides of the hauen and the Market place Abounding in all sorts of victuals by reasoÌ„ of their commodious situation and the continual passing of such infinite number of shippes whereby they haue this aduantage by reason of their riuers and chanels that they may victual theÌ„-selues and serue the Prouinces of Holland Zealand Brabant others the greatest part of their wealth coÌ„ming in by that meanes The aire by reason it is far from the Sea is more healthsome then any other part of the Prouince there runs a chanell of fresh-water through euery streete of the towne by reason whereof here-tofore there hath beene in this towne 305. Brewers who serued all the rest of the Prouinces their beere being called for the goodnesse of it the renenew of Goude but the neighbour townes notwithstanding the goodnesse of it haue taken that commodity from them It hath a faire and spatious Market place in an Ouall forme and in the middest thereof a great and magnificent State-house which the Lady Iaquelin Countesse of Holland caused to be built when at the pursuit of Phillip Duke of Burgondy being abandoned by almost all the townes of Holland shee was forced to retyre to the Castle of this towne yet notwithstanding it seemes this State house was finished after her death in the yeare of our Lord 1440. I haue seene at the Hage a chaire of wood vpon the backe whereof their were two A. A. in gold and these words Trou aen din. These two A. A. signifie Gouda which is in Dutch A. of gold Trou aen din. faithful to thee which was the deuise of the said Countesse confessing that they of Gouda had beene alwayes faithfull and true vnto her vnder the State-house is the Shambles of the towne curiously seated vppon pillars not wrought by the hands of a simple Architect and on the backe part is a high place built vppon the like pillars which is the place of execution be it either beheading by the sword or otherwise The parish-Church of this towne is very magnificent esteemed to be greater then any one in the Netherlands exceeding both in length and greatnes the Archiepiscopal Church of Cologne passing al beleefe in the beauty of glasse windoes made
seeking to giue them all the contentment they could deuise the Spaniards contrary to their faith and promise fell vpon them and murthered a great number whom they had caused to retire into a church in colde bloud forced and deflowred the wiues and virgins spoiled the towne and hauing carried away their bootie they set it on fire the which was a good president for the other townes of Holland by the which the townes of Harlem and Alcmar tooke example the first being as cruelly intreated after their yeelding and the other so incouraged to defend themselues as after a siege of sixe weekes and diuerse assaults the Spaniards were forced to retire to their dishonor and losse This towne of Naerden is the chiefe of the Bayliwicke of Goeland which the Bishops of Vtrecht haue often pretended to belong vnto them but since it is annexed to the reuenewes of Holland GORRICHOM THis towne of Gorchum or Gorrichom from a small beginning is growne to the greatnesse and state wherein you see it at this day for it takes his name from poore Fisherman who had their lodgings or cabins along the riuer of Lingen vntill it ioynes with the Meuse and Wahal who by reason of their poâ—uertie were in contempt called Gorrikens whom Iohn of Arckel the seuenth Baron of that race Lord of the countrie of Arckel caused to come and dwell behinde and about his castle where by degrees hee built a good towne the which he walled in about the yeare 1230. And to the end they should retaine their name of Gorrikens hee called this towne Gorrichom as much to say hom or hâ—ym in old time signifying a house or aboade as the dwelling of these Gorrikens There is in this towne a great market of fish fowle and all other prouision needfull for the life of man whereof they make a great trade as well into Brabant as other places which doth much inriche the towne for the Bourgers themselues are both marchants marriners and factors one man alone supplying the place of three from the top of the highest steeple you may see in a cleere day two and twenty walled townes besides bourroughs and villages which are very many being a pleasant sight to behold Neere vnto it is the Champian countrie where as they say Hercules Alemanicus did campe Wherevpon they call all that quarter the country of Hercules the which the common people did afterwards terme Herkel and from that to Arkel when the said towne was obscured by the house of Arkel by reason of the continuall warres which their Lords made against the Earles of Holland Charlesâ—uke â—uke of Bourgongne caused a goodly castle to be built there vpon the riuer nee â— vnto the Port of Doâ—dâ—ect the which since these last troubles hath beene razed and fortified after an other manner so as there remaines nothing but a place for the paiment of the custome it is so fortified with twelue bulwarkes besides halfe moones and counterscarps without it together with that aboundance of water as one would say it were impregnable It is made halfe bigger then it was twenty yeares since the riuer of Linghen runnes through the middest of it being alwayes full of ships it falls into the Meruve and mingles it selfe with the riuers of Wahal and Meuse all which together passe before Dordrecht Rotterdam Delfs-hauen Schiedam and the Briele where it falles into the Brittish sea Maister Ihon Harie Chanoine of the Chapell at the Hage in Holland was borne in this towne hee was so great a louer of piâ—tie vertue and learning as during his life he sought out with great care diligence and cost all bookes in all languages and faculties When he came to reside at the Hage hee brought so great a number of bookes with him as the people thought there were not so many to be found in all Holland wherwith he made a goodly Library the which he did augment with great care euen to his dying day which was in the yeare 1â—32 where of he made the Emperor Charles the firt his heire WORCOM ALthough this towne bee out of the limitâ—s of the Countie of Holland beyond the riuer of Wahal on Brabant side right against the strong castle of Louestein hauing a little lower on the other banke the towne of Gorchom the which in ancient time did belong vnto the Earles of Horne which the King of Spaine did confiscate and since it was quite burnt but the Estates of Holland hauing seazed thereon and fortified it with good rampars bulwarkes and ditches it hath beene new built and is made a faire towne where the Estates doe entertaine an ordinary garrison with a Captaine superintendent Of late yeares the Estates to cut of all controuersie touching the iurisdiction of the sayde Towne agreed with the Lady Walburge Countesse of Moeurs and Nyeuwenaert widdow to Philip of Montmorency the last Earle of Horne who sold them the proprietie of the said Towne with the castle and territorie of Altena not farre from thence beeing in ancient time all drowned but now it is a countrie full of good pastures So these two peeces of Worcom and Altena are anneâ—ed to the reuenewes of the Countie of Holland where-with it is so much augmented There is an other Worcum in Frisland vpon the sea not farre from Hindelopen the which hath the title and priuiledge of a towne although it bee but a Boroughe without any walles but it is great and almost three thousand paces long HEVSDEN IS a reasonable faire towne and well built situated on Brabant side vpon the riuer of Wahall with a goodly castle where the Gouernors do reside the last of which was Floris of Brederode Siegnior of Cloetinge brother to the Lord of Brederode last deceased who left one sonne the only heire of all the house of Brederode The Siegnior of Locren commands there now for the Estates It was long vnder a priuate Lord. They of Brabant pretended it to be of their iurisdiction but Holland hath held it vnto this day It hath a large command LEERDAM THis towne is small yet walled in standing vpon the bankes of the riuer of Lingen it hath beene so often ruined in the old warres as they haue had no great care to repaire it so as it is of small moment it belongs to Philip of Nassaw now Prince of Orange Earle of Buren and hath a castle which is still maintained HENCLOM HEnclom is a towne seated also vpon the riuer of Lingen opposite to Leerdam it is a little towne and very ancient but goes to decaye It hath an olde Castle which they saye was built by Hercules Alemanicus but GOD best knowes how true it is The Lordes of this little towne are descended from Otto the yonger sonne to Iohn the eight Lord of Arkel who gaue him this Siegneurie in his life time ASPEREN IS situated vpon the banke of the same riuer of Lingen which the Inhabitants call Lyeuen that is as much to say as Loue for that the streame runs so gently In
retaine vnto this day the trade of many great shippes which arriue there daily laiden with diuers sorts of marchandise and from thence is transported into the other Prouinces of the Netherlands except salt comming from Spaine France and other places the which remaines there to bee refined for the which there are many salt-pannes ' built along and vpon the toppe of the Dyke where it is boyled and made white and then they lade it and transport it to other places And although that new Arnemuyden was not walled in vntill the yeare 1572. yet hath it beene held of all forraine nations for a towne of good esteeme by reason of the nauigation and trafficke for which respect the Earles of Holland and Zeeland did in old time establish their towles and customes due vnto the county of Zeeland This towne hath alwaies enioyed the like priuiledges with the towne of Middlebourg as Bourgeses and subiects thereof vntill the yeare 1572. that they followed the Prince of Oranges partie Soone after the Spaniards surprized it spoiled it slue some and the rest fled wandring vp and downe vntill that in the yeare 1574. the towne of Middelbourg being forced to yeeld vnto the Prince of Orange Arnemuyden was also comprehended in the Accord so as the I le of Walchren beeing then freed euery man returned to his house so as by little and little the towne was fortefied as you see it at this day For the reedefying whereof the Prince gaue it goodly priuiledges and freedomes beeing exempt from the subiection of Vasselage being subiect to Middelbourg by vertue of their contract and causing it to bee walled and ditcht hee gaue them the rights and prerogatiues that belong to a good towne gouerned by their owne Magistrats Baylife Bourguemasters Aldermen and other Officers which they of Middelbourg were accustomed to chose but now they dispose of all matters concerning Iustice and gouernment themselues The towne of Arnemuyden had for many yeares a particular Lord carrying the title of Siegnior of Arnemuyden the last was called Gyles of Arnemuyden who in the yeare 1418. was made Knight and married the daughter of Wolphart van Borsselle by whom hee had two daughters the one Mary the other Marguerite of Arnemuyden Mary married with Nichâ—las of Borssele Siegnior of Brigdame Coudekerke Soeteland and Saint Laurence from whom is issued the house of La Vere Marguerite married William of Vriese Siegnior of Oosteinde from whence is descended the house of Trasigny And as the sayd Giles was the last Lord which carried that name his house fell to the distaffe Those of this towne for the loue of him carry his armes in their seales and armories which they vse to beare and they are at this day two Eagles Or in a field Geules armed and encompassed with Azure and in the midst a sand-hill rising out of the waues of the sea DOMBOVRG ALthough this bee but an open place which is dayly more and more couered with sand notwithstanding all remedies by reason that the winde driues the sand of the sea and downes which couers their gardins and pastures yet beeing esteemed the most ancient towne of the Isle of Walchren whereof there are yet to be seene some old ruines of walles it retaines still the ancient priuiledges municipall rights as the best town of the sayd Island WEST CAPPELLE THis place Bourg or village howsoeuer you will call it doth enioy the like priuiledges of other townes for that the ancient West Cappelle which stood in the same place was wont to bee a good towne and had the best port in al the Island of Walchren which about 150. yeares since was carried away by the inundations of the sea so as there remaines nothing but what wee see of the old buildings hauing notwithstanding bin inlarged with new houses within these thirty yeares the which makes it more commendable SOETELAND IS yet at this day a good place so termed as a sweete country and so it is the sweetest soyle and the best seat in all the Island which makes the Marchants of Middelbourg and Flissinghe to walke thether whereas after they haue recreated themselues they returne at night to their houses There are also in this Island many goodly villages as Oost and West Suybourg a quarter of a league one from the other betwixt Flissinghe and Middelbourg At West Suybourg there is a good castle the which with the village doth now belong vnto the heires of Phillippe de Marnix Siegnior of Saint Aldegonde the light of learned men of our age in which castle the Emperour Charles the fift remained vntill the winde prooned faire to imbarke to make his last returne into Spaine but wee may not forget the important castle of RAMMEKEN OTherwise called Zeebourg which about 60. years since the Lady Mary Queene of Hungary sister to the Emperor Charles the 5. gouernesse of the NetherlaÌ„ds caused to be built vpon the Dyke betwixt Middelbourg Flissing seruing as a bulwark for all shippes that are forced for want of a good winde to come and anchor in the Roade This castle is alwaies well manned with a good garrison and with all things necessary for a place of so great importance being as necessary to be entertained and well kept as any other in all the vnited Prouinces By reason whereof the Queene of England desired to haue it with the townes of Flissinghe and Bryele for caution of the money which shee did lend vnto the vnited Estates some twenty yeares since SCHOWEN IN Latin called Schaldia a Flvuio Schaldi of the riuer of Escault in old time a great Island but the tempests and breaches of the sea haue wonderfully dyminished it It hath yet at this day aboue eight leagues in circuit and it was in those daies so nere vnto the Island of North-beuelandt as the Inhabitants did talke together from one banke vnto the other whereas since there hath beene a great distance But within these twelue years that the sayd Island of North-beuelandt hath beene recouered they are neeâ—er This Island is as fertill and plentifull of all things as any other in Zeeland and therefore it holds the second ranke at the Estates of the sayd Prouince in the which the soueraigne Iudges of the East of Zeeland do commonly reside whom they call the Receiuer of Beâ—osterghelt who hath all power of cryminall causes in that quarter the cheefe towne whereof is ZIRICZEE THis towne is held for the first and most ancient of the countie of Zeeland and as some say it is found in the Annales of the Netherlands that it was built in the yeare of our Lord 849. by one called Zyringus whose name it carries in ancient time very famous for the trade of Marchandise wherevnto it was verie commodious by reason of their goodly port which the marchants did vsually frequent But the sands hauing in tract of time stopt vp the hauen it is now lesse frequented within these twelue or fourteene yeares the townesmen haue made a newe
house declyning as wee haue shewed in the chapter of the Nobility of Holland AMERSFORT THis towne was in olde time built at twise for there is a little towne al walled about in the very midest of an other greater the which at this present is verie strong with rampars and bulwarks flanking one an other and large ditches It is three leagues from Vtrecht standing vpon a little riuer which they cal Do. It hath beene often taken and retaken by the Geldrois the last was in the yeare 1543. when as Martin van Rossen Marshall of the Duke of Geldres army tooke it by force but he sodenly yeelded it againe according to the accord made in the towne of Venlo betwixt the Emperor and the sayd Duke To speake the truth it is a faire and a good towne well peopled for a land towne the inhabitants are courteous and of good conuersation among the which there are many learned men and louers of musicke who in certaine daies of the weeke meet togither in honest company to make musicke for the which they haue certaine gardins and faire chambers of the sworne companies as pleasant in sommer as can bee seene in any place whersoeuer and in winter they make choise of some of their houses Maister Iohn Fouck Prouost of our Ladies church in Vtrecht was borne in this towne he was honored with other degrees and Ecclesiastical dignities a learned and vertuous man and therefore he was called by the King into Spaine and there made President of the councell of the Netherlands for the affaires of Flanders In this towne was also borne that great personage Iohn of Oldenbarneuelt Knight Siegnior of Tempel and Groeneuclt first councellor and aduocate for the county of Holland and West-Frisland a man of great Iudgement and experience vpon whom the affaires of Estate do chiefely depend not only for the said coūty but also of the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces which remaine not at the Hage in Hollād RHENEN SO called for that it is situated vpon the banke of Rhine fiue good leagues from Vtrecht as much from Arnhem in Geldres whereas they doe most commonly dine going or comming from one of these two townes vnto the other which is a great passage towards Deuenter Zutphen Doesbourg and other places as well in Geldres as Cleues or to Cologne or any place where they please in Germany This towne hath towardes Vtrecht a large country the soile whereof is fit to make turfes to burne but not so good and durable neither make they so good a cole as those of Holland And a league frō thence there hath beene within these 60. yeares a village built more for the making of these turfes then for any other reason There remaines yet some forme of a castle in this towne the which is little and of small importance if this great passage were not which makes it to be frequented It consists most of Innes and Tauerns It hath also suffred much during the warres against the Geldrois MONTFORT THis towne hath a particular Lord at this day who writs himself Vicont of Montfort it stands vpon the riuer of Yssel a league in equal distance frō the townes of Woorden Oudewater Iselsteyn The place is little but strong founded by Godfry of Rhenē bishop of Vtrecht to serue as a bar fronter against Holland who did also build against the Geldrois the castle of Horst against the Traiectins the towne of Woerden and against the Frisons Vollenhouen in the contry of Oueryssel the which appeeres sufficiently by his Epitaph Godefride tui Rhenanam prouidus arcem donasti iuris aereque mox proprio Quatuor en patriae largus munimina nostrae Horst Woerd et Monfort construis et Volenhoe Wise Godfrey first with Rhenen did enlarge our state and then at his owne cost and charge He Montfort Venlo Horst and Woerdt did reare the foure chiefe forts that keepe our foes in feare Lambertus Hortensius a learned man who hath composed many good bookes was borne in this twon Of the Estate of Vtrecht in generall THe Bishoprike and Estate of Vtrecht was in former times very great and powerfull the which Charles the Bald King of France did with the temporalty make an Earledome wherevpon there grew great and long warres betwixt the bishops of Vtrecht the Earles of Holland for that the bishops sought to recouer by fauour of the Emperors all their ancient demeins granted vnto them by Dagobert and Charles the Bald And the Earles of Holland seeking to maintaine yea to augment that which had bin newly giuen them were supported by the Kings of France I say that this Estate was in old time so great and their territories so large as Aeneas Siluius otherwise called Pope Pius the 2. doth write as the bishop or prince therof might at need put 40000. armed men of his owne naturall subiects to field And although they had continuall warres against their neighbors wherof they themselues were euer the first motiues as the Hollanders Frisons and Geldrois yet they made head against thē all as well as they could as appeered by Godfrie of Rhenen But in the latter age Charles of Egmond duke of Geldres a proud Prince warlike and fierce made such sharpe warres against the Bishops of Vtrecht as he reduced them to great extremitie especially Henry of Bauaria brother the the Cont Palatin of Rhine from whom hee tooke a great part of his Siegneury as well of the higher as the lower diocese Moreouer the cittizens of Vtrecht were grown so proud by reason of their freedomes and preuiledges and so insolent by reason of their welth as they grew into factions among themselues causing many disorders in their towne and attempting against their bishops they did often reuolt against them if they were not chosen according to their humors they would not accept them but did them a thousand indignities yea killing their Officers taking some prisoners before their faces not without danger to the bishoppes owne person who was forced to escape their fury to fly to his castles of Wyok or Horst The last reuolt and affront which they did vnto their Prince and bishop was vnto the aboue name Henry of Bauaria who had enioyed this dignitie foure yeares beeing incensed against him hauing beene one day abroad in the country and returning home at night they shut the gates against him and would not suffer him to enter into the towne and which was worse soone after they receiued Martin van Rossen Marshall of the campe to the Duke of Geldres into the towne with a garrison of Geldrois who from thence did wonderfully annoy the Hollanders and at one time made an incursion as farre as the Hage the which they spoyled and retired safely with their bootie to Vtrecht Bishop Henry seeing himselfe thus braued by the Geldrois and by his owne subiects resolued to cast himselfe into the armes of the Emperor Charles the fifth and to transport vnto him all that
succeeded him named VVilliam the first who had Dibauldi Dibauld had VVilliam the second who had Elim hee dyed without heires male and in him fayled the lyne of this Thierry Hauing before his death adopted Beroald beeing but seauen yeares old the son of Richold the second of that name the third King of Frisland so as al these Dukes of West-Frisland successiuely raigned two hundred thirty three yeares fiue and twentie yeares after the death of Elim in the yeare of Christ fiue hundred thirty three Beroald after the death of Richold his father did inherit the Realme of East Frisland Thus were the two Frislands vnited together the which Beroald inioyed sixtie yeares whereof he was afterwards depriued and of his life also by Clotaire the second of that name King of France father to Dagobert Notwithstanding Adgill the second succeeded him and after him Gombauld then Radbod the second whome Charlemaigne vanquished and freed the Frisons from the yoake of Kinges restoring them to their liberty to whome hee gaue goodly priuiledges the which they haue long maintained with the prise of their bloods Since the Frisons were long vnder an Aristocraticall Gouernment sometimes vnder Potestates whom they did chose them-selues and not able to agree vppon the election by reason of dangerous factions the Earles of Holland hauing in succession of time and long warres seazed vpon that part which they now call West-Frisland and Waterlandt the which the Hollanders will haue but the Inhabitants of the country cannot indure it called Northolland On the other side the dukes of Brunswicke the Hans townes of Breme and Hambourg the Earle of Oldenbourg Schowenbourg and Embden haue vsurped much of East Frislād euen vnto the Territory of Groning the which although it be an Estate territory apart is cōprehended notwithstanding vnder the territory of that which hereafter we will simply call Frisland inclosed betwixt the Flye and Ems to distinguish it from East-Frisland held by the Earles of Embden and West-Frisland anexed to the county of Holland That then which we will simply call Frisland and the Inhabitants Frisons as Tolomcy and Tacitus tearme them saying that they are Germaines and people from beyond the Rhine whom Pliny calls Cauches the great and the lesse are Aborigines or originally come from that place who aboue all the people of Germanie retaine their ancient appellation keeping in their ancient and first seat hauing the same language they haue alwaies had True it is that in the chiefe townes they vse the Dutch-tongue but in the champian country they keepe their Frison language which the gentlemen take pleasure to entertaine in regard of the antiquitie Although I bee well acquainted with the high and low Dutch tongue yet I must confesse that in this ancient Frison language I vnderstand nothing Wee haue sayd before that the Frisons did for a time entertaine themselues vnder factions wee must therefore relate succinctly the beginning thereof which was that in the yeare of our redemption 1390. there did rise two factions in the country of Frisland the one Vetcoopers which signifies in their vulgar tongue marchants of grease that is to say marchants of fat oxen which they hold for an honest kinde of marchandise and of Schyeringers which are butchers and sellers of tripes which is a base kinde of trade which factions they say came from East and West Frisland The first spring and beginning thereof was that all these marchants of cattell and the butchers beeing togither at a publick banket according to their custome there was a guest to choose a Prouost a Deane or a King amongst them whose charge should bee to looke that no disorder should bee committed which might trouble the companie There was amongst them of either of these two companies one that exceeded the rest and both equall in wealth in respect and loue towards all the guests Whom both the one and the other partie contended to chose their Deane Prouost or King the one and the other maintayning that this dignity authority at the table was most befitting him that had the honestest trade Wherevpon a question grew among them which of those two marchandise was the honestest the one preferring the marchants of cattell the other the butchers Vpon which dispute their braines being het with wine in the end they fell from words to blowes one against an other party against party euery one with his Allies and Kinsmen meaning to maintaine the one quarrell or the other so as in the end there was a great fight in the which many were either hurt or slaine In reuenge whereof either party holding it selfe wronged they began to make factions and to bandie one against an other so as this canker eating more and more strangers who had no interest nor were any way wronged ingaged themselues vpon hope of bootie of the one or the other partie euerie one wresting what hee could from his Aduersarie without either lawe or iustice so confused were things then and full of disorder but such as they made by the sworde where as the strongest carried it The fruits of these factions were such as they not onely rained amongst priuate persons but amongst whole fam lies villages bourrougs and townes yea among whole Prouinces so as the whole country was ful of thefts and murthers and no man was free from their insolencies In like maner about that time Hollād was afflicted with the factions of Hoecks and Cabillaux that is to say the Hamesons and the Merlus wherof we haue made mentiō heretofore which was that the one party as the Merlus or Coddes bee fishes which prey did threaten to deuower the other and they of the Hamesons did threaten to take the others by the throat which to speake truth were quarrels scarce fit for children And at that time were the factions of Gelphes Gibelins in Italy Of the diuersity of colloured caps in Flanders of those of the starre in France al which were factions raised from the diuill This mischiefe proceeded so farre in Frisland as from the lesse it came to the greater and from Marchants and Bourgers to the Nobility and Clergie The gentlemen ruining the houses castles one of an other and the Abbots and Monks doing al the mischief they could one vnto an other So as to appease these factions and to reconcile the Noblemen the Emperor Maximilian the first sent Otto van Langen to perswade them to choose a Potestat amongst them which should gouerne the country according to their preuiledges vnder the authority of the Empire But their splene was so great as euery one seeking to choose one of their faction the sayd commissioner preuailed nothing but returned as hee came So as the Emperour to force them to an accord tooke occasion to giue the gouernment hereditary of all Frisland and Groning to the house of Saxony to hold it in fee of the Empire For the attayning whereof the Dukes of Saxony hauing spent a great part of their means with
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
vnto the Port and not farre from it whereas a great number of Shippes may lye safely The rest of the Towne that is inlarged is fortified with good rampars and Bulwarks There are two chanells which comming from the sea to the olde hauen passe through the towne whereof the one goes to Franiker a league from thence from whence at all houres of the day Boates doe go with passengers at an easie rate This towne being thus situated vppon the Sea hath the best hauen and neerest vnto the sea of any other in all Frisland where they are rich Marchants who besides their ordinary trade in the country aduenter much in long voyages for the which they make goodly shippes SNECK IS a good little country Towne seated in a plaine three leagues from Leuwarden and one from Ilst the which hath Deputies also at the Estates of Frisland Heretofore it had goodly Cloysters both within and without the town the which at this day are all ruined and applyed to other vses and their reuenues imployed to the common cause or to some workes of Hospitality Piety or Schooles It is honoured for that it is the place where Doctor Hopperus was borne who hath written many goodly workes with great credit and hath ioyned practise wisdom to his knowledge for which respect he was first of the Priue Counsell for the King of Spaine at Brussels and from thence was called into Spaine to supply the place of Tiseuach President of the Counsell of Estate for the Netherlands SLOTEN A Little towne neere vnto the gulph of the Zuyderzee lying on the South part vppon the sea a league and a halfe from Staueren it hath no other trade then Nauigation and that which depends on the sea ILST STandes vppon the VVest halfe a league from Sneeke and vppon the Nortwest a League from Bolswaert on the South side as farre from Sloten It is an open towne yet hath it municipal lawes it is inuironed with a large ditch which may defend it from the incursions of the enemies or of any other insolent persons It consists of two long rankes of faire houses from the East vnto the West through the which doth passe a chanell the which on either banke is planted with high trees which do beautifie the towne There is but one Parish Church which was wont to be a Couent of Carmelites being ruined in these last troubles but the Temple stands stil It appeares by the Antiquities of Frisland that in the yeare one thousand two hundred sixty three this town was one of the most ancient of the country famous for their Nauigation and trafficke Now it is the Store-house for ship-timber for such vessels as passe from one place vnto an other within the country more then to any other towne in Frisland Albert Duke of Saxony according to the Donation made vnto him by the Emperour Maximillian the first of the Hereditary gouernment of Frisland tooke possession of that towne as the whole Iurisdiction of VVestergoe and moreouer being neere vnto that of the seauen Forests after that hee had raized the siege and freed his son at Franiker hee became in a manner Maister of all Frisland WORCVM TO speake truly is but a good Bourough yet hath it the priuiledges of a Towne ioyning vppon the sea entering into it by a great Scluse which pierceth the banke a League fom Bolswaert from whence I haue gone thether both by water and by land It hath also a Chanell from one end vnto an other which goes vnto the sayd Scluse According to the situation it is a place which hath good meanes to liue in and good cheape It is gouerned by Bourguemaisters and Aldermen but for all matters of Iustice it resorts to the Prouinciall Councell at Leuwaerden HINDELOPEN SO called by reason of the retreate of the wilde beastes at such time as Frisland was halfe Forest which they doe call Hinden in their countrie language and Loopen which is to runne which is as much to say as the course and recourse of Stagges and Hindes it was first a place for hunting then by a little and a little made a Village and the Sea eating vp to it which gaue it a good roade it became a Bourough well knowne at this daie for their Nauigation which is the peoples cheefe practise Hauing described the two principal quarters of Frisland that is Ostergoe and Westergoe with their townes we must now speake of THE SEAVEN FORESTS THis quarter so called by reason of the seauen Forests which were wont to bee there but now turned for the most part into pasture and land for tillage which make the third quarter of Frisland consisting of eight Gretenies or Baylywicks all which together haue seauenty fiue villages among the which there are good Borroughs the which ioyntly haue their Deputies bee they Gryetmen or others at the ordinary Assemblie of the Estates of the said Prouince in the towne of Leuwaerden These names should bee troublesome to the Reader by reason of the strangenesse therof to set downe in writing the appellations of all the Gretenies of the three quarters of Frisland beeing in number 28. the which I cannot terme more properly then Bailywicks their Grietmen Bailiffs There are some Ilandes depending vppon Frisand among the wich Amelandt Schellinck are the chiefe the first belonging to a particular Lord who during the troubles hath held it free and neural paying some contribution vnto the Admiralty of Dunkerke so as the ships of the said Iland might saile freely to al places as also the Dunkerkers might go and refresh them-selues in the sayd Iland there are three good Villages in the said Iland besides Amelandt whereas the Seignior hath his lodging recouered from the sea The Estates of the said country haue also within these thirty yeares a good portion of ground which they call the Bildt which is now wel defended with Dikes and is made the fertilest quarter in al Frisland where they haue appointed a Bayliffe or Receiuer for it is of great proffit and reuenue There are in diuers parts of Frisland turfes some hard and firme others more light which make not so good coale as the first and wheras they haue no turfes the Peasants vse the dung of their cattel with which they cutte reedes very small and mingle it together and then they dry it for the Winter they say that bacon dryed with this fire is more firme then any other This Country yeeldes many good and strong Horses which are transported through all Europe as also great Oxen and very fatte Their Kine are very fertill the which do often bring forth two calues at once the ewes two or three lambs and sometimes foure together where the Sheepe are very bigge of bodie but not so sweete and sauory as those of Berry Arthois Cempenie in Brabant which haue a dry feed and are lesse OVERYSSELL THis Conty of Oueryssell in former times vnder the Principallitie of the Bishops of Vtrecht was then called
the high diocese But sence that the Emperor Charles the fifth obtained from the bishop the temporality of both dioceses the higher and the lower hee made two Prouinces one of Vtrecht and the other of Ouerysel the which are numbred among the 17. Prouinces and now vnder the vnion of the Generall estates of the confederate Prouinces who by armes haue shak't of the Spanish yoake and haue purchased their liberty which they enioy at this day This country is so called for that it lies beyond the riue of Yssel this Duch word Ouer signifying beyond and in Latin Trans so as it was called Transissalana On the north side it hath Friseland and a part of the country of Groning on the South the Conty of Zutphen to East the country of West-phalia and vpon the West the Zuyderzee It is watred by many riuers the Yssel Vidre Regge Dan-noire and Wahal besids the chanels which are kept in by the Sluce A good and fertill soyle and fat pastures where they doe yearely feed many fatte cattell There is abundance of good butter and cheese and all other sorts of victuall The whole Prouince is diuided into three great Baylywicks that is of Salandt of the old Saliens of Tuent so called of the ancient Tubantins and of Vollenhouen which is in the midest of the other two whereof the one bends to the North and the other to the South The quarter of Salandt comprehends vnder it many good townes among the which are these three Imperiall Hans townes Deuenter Campen and Swolle the lesser are Hasselt Couoerden Genemuiden Ommen Hardenbourg Wilson and Graff-horst That of Tuent hath the townes of Oldenzeel Otmarson Enschede Ghoor Diyepenham Delden Rissen and Almeloo The quarter of Vollenhouen hath a towne of that name with a Castle which was wont to be the Bishop of Vtrechts Pallace when they came into the high diocese then the towne of Stâ—enwicke to which the Cuyndert did belong which was wont to be famous for the strength of the Castle the which was ruined in these last warres Among the fortefied townes besides the three Imperiall Hans townes of Deuenter Campen and Swolle are those of Hasselt vpon Vidre to distinguish it from Hasselt a good towne in the country of Liege Oldenzeel Steenwick Otmarsom and Enscheede There are also a great number of castles and aboue 120. Borroughs and villages The souerainty of this Prouince before the troubles in the Netherlands did belong vnto Phillip the second King of Spaine who succeded the Emperor Charles the fift his father who had the interest confirmed by the Pope from Henry of Bauaria Bishoppe of Vtrecht vpon certaine conditions the cheefe whereof was that hee should maintaine their priuiledges for want whereof and to free them from the oppression of the Spaniards they haue as all the other vnited Prouinces freed them-selues and recouered their liberty whereof the people as well as the Frisons are wonderfully desirous and impatient to beare the yoake The sayd Prouince hath neuer acknowledged but two members in their gouernment that is the Nobility of the which are chosen the particular gouernors and high officers and they three Imperiall townes Deuenter Campen and Swoll and no others By the voices suffrages of which two members all difficulties in the Estate are decided And whatsoeuer hath bin decreed by them according to the constitutions of the country shall remaine firme and stable And as the nobility in precedence yeeld not to any no more do the towns but in their order and degree whereof Deuenter is the first then Campen and last Swoll euery one of which townes iudge by decree as well in ciuill as criminal causes and either of them hath priuiledge to coine money Let this suffice for a breefe description of the Estate of the country of Oueryssell Let vs now come to a particular description of the townes DEVENTER THE first of the three Imperiall Hans townes is seated vppon the right banke of the riuer of Yssell three leagues from Zutphen and foure from Swoll It was a goodly great town and of great traffick before the last troubles But the two sieges which they haue beene forced to endure with in these thirty yeares by the vnited Estates hath much decayed it The first time in the yeare 1578. when it was yeelded to the Earle of Reneberg Lieutenant for the said Estates and the country since the earle of Lecester gouernor for the Queene of England Protectresse of the vnited Prouinces gaue the Gouermnent thereof to Sir William Stanley an English Collonel who sold it to the Spaniard So as it remained subiect to the Spanish insolencies from the yeare 1587 vnto the yeare 1591. when as Prince Maurice went to beseege it with the said Estates in the which Cont Harman Vanden Bergh Cousin german to the Prince commanded whome hee forced to yeelde by composition after a great battery the ruines whereof will not be easily repaired in many yeares especially towards the kaye But whereas the cannon could not anoy them it is well built with faire high houses the streets broad and cleane with a faire market place in the midest whereof is the house of the sworne companies whereas a gard is kept day and night before the great Collegiall Church is the towne-house which they call Raed huys that is to say the councell house whereas the Bourguemasters and Senators doe assemble dayly to doe iustice to euery man The Magistrats there shew them-selues modestly graue and the Burgers ciuill among whome there are rich Marchants by the trafficke which they haue of all sorts of Marchandise as of marchandise as well by Land into Westphalia and other places of Germany as by the riuer of Yssel which on one side mounts vp the Rhin vnto Cologne and descends downe before Campen to the Zuyderzee vnto Amsterdam Horne Enchuysen and other Towns of Holland and Friseland Since it was last yeelded it is wunderfully fortified with rampars and good Bullwarkes besides that it hath alwaies had a double wal of Bricke round about it In ould time when a matters succeeded not well in the diocese of Vtrecht the Bishops retired themselues to Deuenter as we reade of Bishop Baldric who to fly the fury of the Normans and Danes which ruined the towne of Vtrecht retired with all his clergy to this towne then the Danes being chased away he returned and repared the Cathedrall Church which they had made a stable for their horses In this towne doth vsually reside the Drossart or great Bayliffe for the quarter of Salandt whereof this is the chiefe towne and in the which there is great store of gentlemen CAMPEN THis is the second of three Hans townes in the Prouince of Ouerysell although it be not like to all the rest on the other side of the riuer of yssel but on Gelders side it is a faire great towne of more length then breadth the which after that it had beene yeelded vnto the Earle of Reneberg in the name
any force for to besiege them ENSCHEDE THis towne is of reasonable good traffick situated in the open country in the quarter of Tuent a league from Oldenzeel and two from Otmarsum it felt in the yeare 1597. the waight of Prince Maurices forces to whom it was forced to yeeld by composition at the same time when as Grolle Brefort Lingen and others were taken VOLLENHOVEN VVAs not 30. years since a good town lying vpon the gulphe of the Zuyderzee two leagues from Steenwyck It was wont to haue a faire great and pleasant castle which was the court of the Princes Bishoppes of Vtrecht when as they came into the high dioceses and therefore it was a town renowned where there was good commoditie of victualls brought thether both by water and by land And moreouer after that the temporall Estate of Vtrecht came vnto the Emperor the Gouernor of the Prouince and the councell made their residence there But the last troubles haue greatly impayred it and the castle is ruined GHEELMVYDEN HAth runne the same fortune that Vollenhouen from whence it is a league distant and as much from Hassel that stands vpon the Gulphe of Vidre towards the Zuyderzee hauing towards the land the pleasant pastures of Maesterbrouck in like manner a league from Campen The castle wherein the King of Spaine was wont to keepe a garrison hath beene also ruined MEPPEL THis towne is seated vpon a little brooke which neere vnto Gheelmuyden falls into the Vidre It was neuer of any great importance and now it is in a manner all ruined HARDENBERG WAs in ancient time a good towne vpon the same riuer of Beecht where there was wont to bee a good castle whereas the Bishops of Vtrecht tooke great delight for that it stood in an open country It is mid-way betwixt Coeworden and Ommen both the towne and castle are to this day almost ruined by these last warres COEWARDEN BEfore the last siege which Prince Maurice of Nassau laied before it the which hee tooke by composition it was but a little base towne commanded by a great and strong castle The Drossart hearing of the Princes approach caused the sayd towne to be burnt and ruined to the end the enemy should haue no commodity to lodge there yet hee did so presse this towne both by battry and myne as the Drossart was forced to yeeld it some two moneths after the taking of Steenwyck by the sayd Prince lying in the same countrie of Oueryssel in the yeare 1593. Cont Herman vanden Berghe and Verdugo went to besiege it but when as they saw they could not preuaile any thing neither by battery nor myne hauing changed their first resolution and thinking to famish it in time they stopt vp all the passages with forts so as nothing could enter into it yet the Princes men that were in garrison within the castle maintained themselues with great constancy and resolution a whole winter vntill the Spring when as the Prince came with a good army to victuall it in despight of all these forts which Cont Herman and Verdugo seeing abandoning all their forts or burning them they retired wherefore the Prince hauing victualed it at ease and supplied it with fresh men the same Sommer being in the yeare 1597. hee went to besiege the towne of Groning the which hee tooke as wee wil shew hereafter Since the Estates haue giuen order for the repayring of the towne for that it is a good passage to goe by land into Frisland the countries of Groning Westphalia Breme and other places RYSSEN IS seated vpon the riuer Regge the which runnes into Vidre at Hessel and passing from thence before Gheelmuyden it falls into the Zuyderzee It is so little and at this day so deformed as it merits not the name of a good towne DIEPENHEM VPon the same riuer of Regge it is a league or little more from Ryssen and two leagues from Enschede At this present it is but a Bourrough although with all the small townes it hath the priuiledges of a towne GHOER IS a Borrough standing vpon a brooke which runnes into Regge at Diepenhem from whence it is a league distant It hath during these warres had a great fort which was alwaies taken when as eitheir party was maister of the field DELDEN THis was wont to bee a good towne and of trafficke but now is much decaied by reason of the last warres hauing beene subiect to the passing and lodging of souldiars of either party for as I haue sayd hee that was maister of the field was alwaies maister of those petty places AMELOO IS built vpon a brooke comming from Oldenzeel the which two leagues from thence falls into the Vidre it is at this present but a Bourg WILSEN IS at this daie but a village seated vppon the waie as you goe from Campen to Swolle yet hath it the priuiledges of a towne and is numbred among the lesser townes GRAFFHORST IS situated vpon the gulfe of the riuer of Yessl entring into Zuyderzee halfe way betwixt Campen and Gheelmuyden It is but a small village not so good as Wilsen yet hath it the title and rights of a towne All this is comprehended in the country of Oueryssel which is the seauenth in ranke of the eight vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands which haue recouered their liberty by armes and acknowledge at this day no Soueraigne Prince but the generall Estates of the sayd vnion which eight Prouinces are the Dutchie of Geldres the Earledomes of Holland Zeeland and Zutphen the Siegneuries of Vtrecht Frisland Oueryssel and Groning West-Frisland whereof they might make a Prouince by it selfe is comprehended vnder the county of Holland who giue it the name of Noort-holland which the West-Frisōs wil not willingly heare of for they haue their particular Estates Admiralty Officers and Mynte Prince Maurice of Nassau hath this Prouince of Oueryssel vnder his gouernment with Geldre Holland Zeeland Zutphen and Vtrecht The assembly of the Estates of the said Prounice both generall and particular is diuersly made according to the ancient customes preheminences of euery quarter not tied in that regard to any townes but according their order and ranke the deputies changing often I haue seene them held in a country house Wherefore wee cannot specefie any certaine place of their assembly by reason of their often change Yet there remaines a certaine forme of a colledge of Estate in the towne of Deuenter But it cannot resolue of any affaires of importance which must bee referred to the assemblie of the Estates for the whole Prouince wheresoeuer it shal be held Yet when as the affaires shall tend to the good or preiudice of the generality of the vnion they must referre them to the assemblie of the generall Estates of all the vnited Prouinces the which is commonly kept at the Hage in Holland Groningue with the Ommelands THe Estate of the towne of Groningue and the Ommelands which are country iurisdictions consisting of many good Borroughs Villages Abbaies and
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