name succeeded his Brother Thierry and his Neece Ada. He had War with the Bishop of Utrect and on both sides the Countrey was much ruin'd but by agreement at last he was to pay to the Bishop a thousand Talents Upon the news of the death of his Uncle the King of Scotland he immediately rigg'd out a great Fleet to put himself in possession of that Kingdome which he thought was his right and in pursuance of his design landed in Scotland and took divers Towns but hearing the Earl of Loen his Nephew was come into Holland with an Army he forsook the uncertain for the certain He had two Wives Alide of Gueldres by whom he had three Sons and two Daughters and Mary Daughter to the Duke of Lancaster who had no Children He died in the year 1223. having reign'd nineteen years Florent the Seventeenth Florent the fourth Son to William was married to Matthild Daughter of the Duke of Brabant who had two Sons William and Florent and two Daughters Alide Counâ—ess of Hainaut and Matthild Countess of Heneberg that had at one birth as many Children as there are days in the year This Prince was extream valiant which was the cause of his death for the Countess of Clermont having heard much of his valour was so desirous to see him that she entreated her Husband to publish a solemn Turnament Florent fail'd not to be there and by his noble carriage so charm'd the Countess that she could not hold praising of him before her Husband who thereupon conceiv'd so much jealousie that he caused him to be barbarously murder'd in the flower of his age His Body was transported into Holland and buried at Rinsburg William the Eighteenth William the second being yet under age succeeded to his Father under the Guardianship of his Uncle the Bishop his Wife was Elizabeth of Brunswick by whom he had Florent This Prince was of a very warlike temper and by reason of his valour was chosen King of the Romans at the age of twenty years He first held a Court at the Hague to hear the complaints of the Hollanders and Zelanders in the protection of whom he sent his Brother with an Army against the Flemmings who were entred the Island of Walkeren in Zeland There was so stout a â—encounter between the two Armies that the ground for a great space was all covered with the blood of the Flemmings The King upon the news â—astened into Zeland and sav'd the lives of the rest of the Flemmings but sent them away stark naked After this he went into Germany where he was receiv'd with great honour and joy coming back he overcame the Frizelanders in one Battell and a little before the second he was kill'd having govern'd twenty one years It was he that founded the Colledge of the Heemrades where a Diikgrave presides Florent the Nineteenth This Prince was two years under the Guardianship of his Uncle and his Aunt Alide Countess of Hainaâ—t To make up the difference between the Hollanders and Flemmings he married Beatâ—ix of Flanders by whom he had five Sons and three Daughters the youngest of which Margaret was Queen of England To revenge his Fathers death he fell upon the Frizelanders whom he worsted and recover'd the dead Body of his Father which he caused to be buried with royall obsequies In his old age he corrupted the Wife of one Gerard de Velsen a Gentleman of his Court whom he had much lovâ—â— and it was rather to affront him than out of a desire to satisfie his lusts but Gerard and Herman de Vourd his Father-in-law resolv'd to be reveng'd and by conspiracy seized the Earls person and carried him to the Castle of Mude where hearing of the Preparations made in Holland against them they made the Earl get on Horseback thinking to convey him into England but being too hotly pursued Gerard gave him twenty two wounds with his Sword and left him dead in a Ditch This murder remain'd not unrevenged for some Authors write that Gerard being taken was put into a Hogshead full of sharp nails and so rolled up and down the Streets at Leyden till he died John the Twentieth John the first of that name being in England at the time of his Fathers death there was some trouble in Holland which was soon appeased by his presence He married Elizabeth Daughter to Edward King of England by whom he had no Children In his time there was a Giant in Holland nam'd Nicolas to whom other men compared were but Dwarfs his Shooe was so wide that four men together could set all their feet in it The said Earl John died at Harlem having reigned three years and made room for the House of Hainaut CHAP. III. The House of Hainaut John of Hainaut the Twenty first JOhn the second of this name Son to Alide Countess of Hainaut Sister to King William succeeded his Cousin-german in 1299. and took in marriage Philippine Daughter to the Duke of Luxemburg by whom he had three Sons and four Daughters He was five years Earl of Holland and did defend with much vigour his Brother who was Bishop of Utrect against those who endeavoured to deprive him of his Bishoprick It is said that in those dayes there was seen in the Air an arm'd Knight who with a loud voice animated the people to War and that the Sea also was seen full of Ships which vanished before the eyes of them that curiosity had brought upon the shore These apparitions were taken as prognosticks of the War that a little after happened between the Hollanders and Flemmings in Zeland in which the Flemmings were defeated by the valour of William Son to the Earl John but he outliv'd his victory a very small time and lies buried at Valenciennes William sirnamed the Good the Twenty second William the third by reason of his good nature and vertuous disposition was call'd the Good He had divers Children by his Wife Jane of Valois viz. William Lewis John Margaret Dutchess of Bavaria and Empress Jane Countess of Juliers Philippine Queen of England and Elizabeth In his time Holland was much affâ—â—cted with plague and famine In the year 1328. Philip King of France gave a great overthrow to the Flemmings being assisted by the Forces of this Earl He reign'd thirty three years William the Twenty third This young Prince led an Army into Spain to assist that King against the Infidels and got much honour in that War Being come back into Holland he besieged Utrect and being ready to take and sack the Town he was prevail'd upon by the Gentry to give the Citizens their lives upon condition that five hundred of the best qualified should come bare-foot and bare-head and fall down upon their knees before him and crave his pardon for their faults After this he went against the Frizelanders where fighting too boldly he was kill'd near Staveron He left no Children by his Wife Jane of Brabant Margaret August Countess the Twenty fourth This Princess
her means repair the lustre of their decayed Nobility But the Germans do not only abhor Traffick but think it a greater baseness to mingle their blood with one meanly born The Hollanders seem to be in the middle between these extreams For first The Dutch Nobility does not trade They love War for the defence of their Countrey are not Duellists nor quarrelsome like the French love Learning particularly the Mathematicks live pleasantly in their Countrey-Houses and may without degenerating marry whom they please The Gentlemen in Holland have alwayes enjoyed great priviledges for the ancient Earls did never undertake any thing without their advice as it is now observ'd in Denmarke and Poland The three principall Families are the Brederodes the Wassenaers and the Egmonds of whom the Proverb is The Noble Brederodes The Ancient Wassenaers The Rich Egmonds The Brederodes are descended from the Earls of Holland and the Story is that Sitfrid the youngest Son of Arnold of Ghent and Grandson to Didier second Earl of Holland being fallen under his Fathers indignation and hatred was afterwards pardon'd and â—he Earl to shew his kindness and reconciliation caus'd Land to be measur'd out to him with larger Roods thence he was call'd Brederode and from him is descended this Family by his eldest Son Didier and from his younger Simon Lord of Teling are descended the Lords of Toll and Lecke The Wassenaers fetch their origine from a Village between Leyden and the Hague and their name is deriv'd from the right they had in former Ages to the Waters Ponds and Lakes in Holland They pretend to be descended from that famous Captain Claudius Civilis of whom Tacitus makes honourable mention They have been Burg-graves of Leyden and are yet highly esteem'd From them are descended the Duvenvords the Warmonts the Bouchorts the Polanes the Matenesses all the Flower of the Dutch Nobility They that represent the Nobility of Holland in the States Generall are these following whereof some are dead John Wolfard Lord of Brederode and Viane John de Wassenaer Lord of Duvenvord c. Vesele de Boteselaer Lord of Asperen c. James of Wingarde Lord of Benthuise Soctemeer c. Albert de Scagen Baron of Scagen Harengbuisen c. James of Wassenaer and Duvenvord Lord of Warmont Henry de Raphorst Lord of Raphorst c. James de Mateness Lord of Mateness Rivier Opmeer c. Francis Arsen Knight Lord of Sommersdiick Besides these there are divers other Families as those of Arquel Kenembourg Haserson Alquemade Opdam Gaudriaen Sevenhuysen Vanderlaen Benthuse Asmal c. who are all by Alphabeticall order in the Book entituled The Theatre of the Towns and County of Holland by the Learned Monsieur Boxhorne together with the noble actions of their Ancestors CHAP. XXVI Of Liberty THere is no Province in the World where the Inhabitants enjoy more liberty than in Holland Nay as soon as any Slave coming from a foreign Countrey sets his foot upon the Dutch shore he is free The Gentlemen are Princes and Fathers of their Families The Countrey people when they have payed their Rents are as free as the Citizens If a Gentleman abuse or kill any of them he is in great danger of losing his life if the crime deserve it Here is no partiality and let every one know that the Laws are here in their force The Magistrates are bound to maintain the Citizens Priviledges and preserve them from all Oppression The Masters may not beat their Servants nor the Mistresses their Maids But above all every one is Master at home and it is a capitall offence to offer violence to a man in his own House One may travell freely through all Holland by day and by night without fear of being rob'd High-way men are never pardon'd Theeves are sometimes but not those among them that break into Houses or steal Sheep in the Pasture-grounds No body is forced to stay here any longer than he thinks fit Here is liberty of Conscience and no body is forc'd to go to the Protestant Churches The liberty of speaking freely even of Magistrates themselves is too great and that which else-where would be a crime is here laughed at The German Students I remember were once about to set up a custome which is in use in most of the German Universities by which the new comers are very ill treated for the first year but the Magistrates oppos'd it and threatned all those that should go about to introduce such a slavery in a free Countrey Here are never made any Rules about what people onght to wear every one wears what he pleases Nay any body may transport as much Gold and Silver as he pleases and no body shall hinder him as they do in England and France In a word all that is reasonable is lawfull They that say that the Nobility are not respected in Holland are very much mistaken For those amongst them that do govern themselves with moderation and are familiar with their Inferiors are infinitely beloved but the proud and haughty are despised and hated Here is the greatest Equality in the World It is ordinary to hear a mean Fellow in a dispute with a Citizen say I am as much as you if you be richer than I 't is well for you But the wiser sort avoid such quarrels as it is easie to do by keeping a fit distance between them and the common people Certainly when I do reflect upon the miserable condition of some Christians in Europe as of the Peasants in Lytuania and almost all over Poland where the Lords have the power of hanging them when they run away from their tyranny in Bohemia and some other places of Germany in Denmarke and Sweden where the Gentlemen do â—ighly abuse the Commons I cannot choose but cry out O happy Holland that hast preserv'd that precious jewel of Liberty preserve it well for with its loss goes that of thy happiness CHAP. XXVII Of some Voyages undertaken under the Banner of Holland I Do not intend to speak here of the ordinary Trade that is driven by Shipping to the Northern parts of the World nor of that which is carried on in England France Spain Italy Germany c. My design is to speak of those Voyages undertaken within these threescore years to the Indies which were undertaken upon this occasion The King of Spain having seized upon and confiscated some Ships belonging to the Hollanders that did trade in his Ports which were then the Mart of Europe for the East-India Merchandizes made some Merchants resolve to set out a Fleet of eight Sayl for the Indies whereof four were to go the long way and four others to go by the North and endeavour to finde out a passage to China by the North-Sea it being the shorter way to the Indies by half in half These four last set sayl from the Texel the fifth of June 1594. and the eighteenth they came to Kildus in Lapland and some time after they discover'd the Island of Nova
was Daughter of William the Good and Wife to Lewis of Bavaria Emperour She came with a great retinue into Holland and having took possession gave the Government to her Son William reserving for her self a Pension every year She sold all the Estates the Frizelanders had in Holland to revenge her Brothers death She died in the year 1355. and in her ended the House of Hainant CHAP. IV. The House of Bavaria William of Bavaria the Twenty fifth VVIlliam the fifth Duke of Bavaria and Son to the Empress Margaret govern'd three years and had no Children by his Wife who was of the House of Lancaster He ran mad and kill'd a Gentleman of great quality whereupon his Subjects gave him a Guardian who was Albert the Twenty sixth Albert his Brother govern'd as Guardian for the space of thirty years after which time the right fell to him and he reign'd sixteen more He had by his first Wife William Albert and John afterwards Bishop of Leege Katherine Dutchess of Gueldres Mary of Burgundy Jane of Austria and Jane Queen of Bohemia In second marriage he took the Daughter of the Duke of Cleves The Frizelanders felt the effects of his just anger William the Twenty seventh William the sixth Son to Albert was twice married first to the Daughter of Charles King of France who died without issue secondly to the Daughter of Philip the bold Duke of Brabant by whom he had a Daughter call'd Jacqueline He made War with the Duke of Gueldres but after he made not only peace but friendship with him A little before he died he made an assembly of the States in which his Daughter was by common consent proclaim'd his Heiress He died in the same year which was the thirteenth of his Reign Jacqueline the Twenty eighth Jacqueline being sixteen years old was married to the Dolphin of France Son to Charles the sixth who died the first year of their marriage and left her at liberty to marry John Son to the Duke of Brabant but this marriage being void by reason of the proximity of blood they being Cousin-germans before the cause could be decided at Rome she went into England and there was married anew to Humphrey Duke of Gloucester Brother to King Henry but this marriage being likewise made void by the Pope she married Francis de Borsales who was taken prisoner by the Duke of Burgundy In her time there were many civil Wars and by her death her State fell to Philip of Burgundy and in her ended the House of Bavaria CHAP. V. The House of Burgundy Philip the Good the Twenty ninth PHilip of Burgundy Son to John of Burgundy and Margaret Daughter of Albert Duke of Bavaria added this noble accession to his Dutchy He had three Wives the first Michelle Daughter to Charles the sixth King of France who died without Children His second was Claudina Daughter to Robert Earl of Heu who was also barren His third was Isabelle of Portugal by whom he had three Sons who died young and the fourth nam'd Charles Earl of Charoloâ—â— lived He govern'd thirty four years he was a vertuous witty Prince One day some body telling him that the inhabitants of Gâ—â—nt did much court his Son Charles he answer'd that they were much given to love their Masters Son but that they would hate him when he should be their Master He receiv'd some injury from the King of England and in revenge besieged Calais with a prodigious Army but the inhabitants of Ghent and Bruges forsaking his Army because he did not act according to their hasty expectations were the ruine of his design This Prince was the first that instituted at the Hague the Order of the Golden Fleece and it has been since transferr'd to the House of Austria His ordinary stay was at Bruges in Flanders where he died Charles Earl of Charolois the Thirtieth Charles sirnamed the Warrier succeeded to his Father By his first Wife Katherine of France he had no Children but by his second Elizabeth of Bourbon he had the Princess Mary War was this Princes inclination which he begun against the King of France Lewis the eleventh He chastized the inhabitants of Liege and caused the Town to be laid waste He was still out-witted by Lewis though he were assisted by the Constable de St. Paul whom Lewis beheaded He drove the Duke of Larrain out of his Countrey who recover'd it again by the assistance of the Swissers against whom by his fault he lost a great Battle and in the hopes of revenge having engaged them with a new Army he lost above sixteen thousand men And at last his ill fortune still pursuing him he went to besiege Nancy and was there betrayed by an Italian whom he loved and trusted too much his Army defeated and himself kill'd upon the place It is thought that his design was to have extended his Dominions as far as Italy by Lorrain and the Swissers and that he had often desir'd the Emperour to erect his States into a Kingdome Never Prince was more courted by forreign Powers than he for he had one only Daughter extream handsome and who was to inherit all his Dominions he promis'd her to none but gave fair words to all His death was much resented by his Subjects and hardly beleev'd by the Hollanders Lewis King of France was very glad of his death for he stood much in awe of his power and 't is thought that he prevailed with money upon this Italian to betray him Mary Countess of Charolois Dutchess of Burgundy and Countess of Holland the Thirty first The loss of this great Warriour brought a great consternation amongst his people and made them assemble the generall States at Louvain to take care for the safety of those Provinces and their Mistress This young Lady was then about fourteen years old when the tragick news of her Fathers death reach'd her ears The Emperour Ferdinand did desire her for his Son Maximilian and Lewis of France for his Dolphin Charles and it seem'd that the Ladies inclinations were more inclin'd o the French but they too hasty to seize the prey having entred Artois with an Army the States gave her to Maximilian the Emperours Son the Countess of Meguen her Governant having boldly said that the Princess was of age to bear a man and therefore they should not give her a childe such as the Dolphin of France was The French upon this marriage were so incensed that they laid wast all the Countrey of Artois and from thence fell upon Hainaut They tryed also to annoy these Provinces by Sea but were beaten by the Hollanders This excellent Lady having liv'd some years in admirable union with her Husband fell one day as she was a hunting and broke two ribbs whereupon a Feaver citing her she died in the year 1482. She left a Son call'd Philip and Margaret her Daughter CHAP. VI. The House of Austria Maximilian the Thirty second THis Imperiall Prince having married the Princess Mary at
Religion John Calvin likewise writ against the Church of Rome and his books met with as favourable a reception in Holland as Lutheâ—s did in Germany The Emperour endeavoured by strict Edicts to stop the course of this change and recommended to his Son Philip to do so likewise Philip the second King of Spain and Earl of Holland the Thirty fifth In the year 1556. Philip took in hand the reins of Government in the Low-Countreys and made Philibert Duke of Savoy a great and stout Prince his Lieutenant and Governour in all the Low-Countreys The truce that was between France and Spain being broken by reason of the succour which the French sent the Pope Queen Mary of England declar'd War likewise against the French at the instigation of her Husband King Philip. The Duke of Savoy comes into Picardy and defeats entirely the French Army upon St. Laurence day with so great a slaughter of Nobility and Gentry that it astonish'd the whole Kingdome Paris it self being forsaken by its inhabitants was in danger of being lost had the conquerour followed his victory But the Duke of Guise coming out of Italy soon recruited and set a new Army on foot took Caâ—ais in seven dayes time which had been so many hundred years in the power of the English Fortune continuing still averse to the French they received another overthrow in Flanders where the Earl of Egmont behav'd himself as nobly as he had done in the first battell of St. Laurence and was the cause of the winning of the day 'T is true that ten English men of War which happened by chance to be near the shore play'd with their great Guns upon the French Army and much disorder'd it After this Queen Mary of England dying left Philip a widower and he took to his second Wife Isabelle of France Philip before he embarqued for Spain being desirous to provide for the peace and tranquillity of the Low-Countreys made Margaret of Austria Dutchess of Parma and bastard Daughter to Charles the Emperour his Regent and Governess over all the Low-Countreys The Earl of Egmont was made Governour of Flanders and Artois the Duke Mansfield of Luxemburg the Earl William of Nassaw Prince of Orange was made Governour of Holland and Zeland CHAP. VII Containing the memorable Passages under the Government of Margaret of Parma KIng Philip having install'd and setled this Princess in the Government of the Low-Countreys left her at Brussels with an ample power and embarqued at Flushing for Spain After his departure that peace and tranquillity which he left things in lasted not long for what with the discontent of great ones who thought themselves neglected and the jealousies of the people who were afraid of being oppress'd by the Inquisition all men were ready and dispos'd for tumults Adde to this the non-performance of that promise which the King had made at his going away which was to recall all Spanish and forreign Forces out of the Low Countreys The first appearance of sedition was a Petition presented to the Princess by five hundred Gentlemen dress'd like beggars To content them the Spanish Forces were with-drawn and not long after Cardinal Granvell whom they much envied was recall'd But still in every place there was execution done upon those whom they call'd hereticks who by their constant sufferings so animated the people that at last they would no longer endure they should be put to death but rescued them out of the hands of the hang-men by force The King having notice of all order'd that the Councell of Trent should be publish'd in the Low-Countreys the execution of which caus'd more troubles and gave occasion to the Count Egmont to take a journey into Spain there he was very well receiv'd by the King soon dispatch'd and in his return home he brought with him Alexander Prince of Parma Son to the Princess Regent Prince Maurice of Nassaw was born in this year 1565. in which was fram'd the league or confederation of the Nobility which was followed by the revolt and rising of the meaner sort who broke down Images and Altars invaded Monasteries and Nunneries and at last attak'd Towns But their fury was stop'd by the Countrey people called Wallons who fell upon them and routed them The Confederates made a new Assembly at Leege and there the Regent sent to them the Prince of Orange and the Count Egmont to desire them to forbear all new designs They sent her another Petition which she defer'd to answer till the generall Assembly of the Knights of the Golden Fleâ—câ— should be holden In this very year the Prince of Orange the Count Egmond Count Lewis of Nassaw and Horne met at Dondermond to consider whether it were safe for them to let the King who did threaten to appear with an Army come peaceably in or oppose his passage by main force Upon this Consultation the Gentry and the Merchants joyn'd with them and all resolv'd to maintain by force that which they had obtain'd by Petition from the Princess The Prince of Orange his Brother and Hogestract met at Breda and writ to Fgmont to know whether he would joyn with them but he refus'd it In 1567. was struck the first stroke of War between Beauvor for the Princess and the Lord of Tholoze for the Confederates who were routed and their leader kill'd in the sight of the inhabitants of Antwerp who stood upon their Walls and looked on for a while till at last seeing their party worsted they ran to their Arms but were appâ—ased by the Prince of Orange The Princess taking heart at this propos'd a new Oath of Allegiance but it was first refus'd by Brederode and Horn and then by the Prince of Orange himself who forsook all his employments and charges and retir'd with his Brother into Germany Before he went he had a meeting with the Count Egmont and he told him in the presence of Count Mansfield I foresee said he that thou wilt be the Bridge over which the Spaniards will march into the Low-Countreys This departure of the Prince of Orange and his friends did for a time so â—â—artle most of the Towns that they began to ask pardon and submit The small Army which Brederode had gather'd together was routed and dispersed and he forced to fly with his Family into Friezeland This made Holland and Zeland receive Garrisons and drive away the Protestant Ministers insomuch that all was setled again and obedience restor'd to the Prince Hereupon the Princess writ to the King to come in person and by his presence heal up a wound which else might open afresh but Philip glad it may be of this occasion of diminishing the priviledges of his Low-Countrey Subjects sent the Duke of Alva with an Army to execute his commands The Princess soon perceiv'd that the severe proud nature of the Duke would undoe all that her milde temper had made up In effect as soon as he came he clap'd up the Earls of Horn and Egmont
Utrect that as often as the Confederates should have occasion to deliberate about any thing in a set place they should send thither their Deputies and these Deputies were call'd the States General of the United Provinces But the States being not alwayes in a capacity to meet by reason of divers obstacles and there being a great necessity of a perpetual Senate or Council it was found requisite to establish a Council of State den Raed van Staten which was made up of one President of the Deputies of the Provinces of one Treasurer and three Secretaries There was in those dayes no set place for the meeting of this Council because that then the settlement was not compleated and things were uncertain but here are the Articles which this Council was bound to observe and which were to guide them in their administration First That in the exercise of their charge they should not so much endeavour the benefit and advantage of those Provinces which they were Deputies for as the good of the whole Commonwealth 2. That they should observe the Laws prescribed them by the Authority of the States General 3. That they shall take care of the publick Treasure and pay the wages to all those to whom wages are due 4. That they shall take care that the affaires of the Confederates do not receive any disadvantage or trouble 5. That they shall send every three moneths to the States of each particular Province a Compendium of all their Consultations and the accounts of their expences and receipts 6. That the States General shall consult and deliberate with them in affairs of importance and that they shall call them together according to the 19th Article of the Union This last Article was to be understood of such affairs as could not be delayed For their importance By succession of time the Common-wealth continuing to prosper and advance and the Earl of Leicester being expected in these parts from England to govern as Lieutenant to Queen Elizabeth there was reason to fear that which had already happened viz. that he or others sitting for him in the States should endeavour to dive into the secret of deliberations whereupon it was resolv'd to settle besides this Council of State the Soveraign Council of the States General who should alwayes sit at the Hague leaving to this Council of State the care of smaller and less important business CHAP. IV. In what consists the Superiority of the States General and what sort of affairs are determin'd by them which cannot be determin'd by the States of the particular Provinces SInce that time that is ever since the Year 1587. the Soveraign administration of business has been in the power of the States General and their Soveraign Council and in it is not only all Majesty and Soveraignty by vertue of the Union but they have also the power of deciding some business which the particular Provinces cannot 1. For in the first 〈…〉 lone that give Audience to the Ambassadors of Princes and Foreign States and do also send in their own Name Ambassadors abroad for the good of all 2. This Assembly alone proclaims War and has the management of it both by Sea and Land 3. It is to them that the Officers and Souldiers are first sworn and then to the General that commands the Army 4. Some Deputies of this Assembly are alwayes appointed to accompany the General in time of War without whose advice he cannot lawfully begin any enterprize of importance 5. This Assembly has also its Envoys in the Meetings of the East and West India Companies because there are often deliberations of War and Peace 6. It is this Assembly that has the power of chosing a General both by Sea and Land and of obliging him to take the Oath of allegiance to them 7. They give Safe-conduct and Passes to all Strangers that desire to passe through their Countrey 8. They can pardon and forgive Fugitives and those that have turn'd to the Enemies 9. They make Orders about the transport and entries of Merchandises 10. They alone exercise the power of Soveraignty over the conquer'd Cities and Towns of Brabant Flanders and other places reduced by force 11. They ought to take care that all the Provinces remain in friendship and amity one with another but they ought to comport themselves rather as Remonstrancers than as Commanders And in short they are to take care of all that is directed and addressed to them by Commissions and whosoever shall well weigh these things will not wonder if they are honoured with the title of Illustrious High and Mighty though the States of Holland enjoy only the quality of Noble and Powerfull CHAP. V. How far the power of the States Generall does extend THe States Generall are alwayes upon the Guard for the rest of the Provinces safety and for all publick advantages If therefore the Governour Generall or the Embassadours and Envoys of other Princes do make any Propositions that are of concern and importance to the Commonwealth it is order'd that the Deputies do give account of it by Letters to their respective Provinces and according as their answer is it is determin'd by the plurality of Votes except in cases of contribution for then there is requir'd an unanimous consent of all the Provinces From whence it appears that the States Generall being the representatives of those that send them have no power beyond the extent of their Commission and in such things only as are mention'd by it but do stand in need of new Orders when new business happens and without them they cannot deliberate nor give their Vote in the Assembly So that it appears that they have but a fiduciary and delegated power their Decrees are of no force if they are not agreed to by the particular Provinces and to them these Decrees are directed to be published rather in a precary and submissive way the stile running We pray and require our dear and beloved the States Governours Deputies c. of the respective Provinces c. Besides this every Province makes Laws at home as they please CHAP. VI. Who are those that are ordinarily chosen for Deputies to the States Generall and of the order which is observ'd amongst the Deputies THis high Councell alwayes sitting at the Hague is composed of the Deputies of the seven Provinces in the order above-mentioned They are sent in uncertain number for some Provinces send two some three or one or a greater number but all the Deputies of one Province though never so many make but one Vote or Suâ—â—rage The Provinces that send them furnish them for their expences and give them a considerable allowance The time of their deputation is not limited neither for some Provinces send them for two years some for four six or more some for all their life Now all these Provinces are of equall Authority in the States though Holland which is the strongest of all have the custome of drawing some others to its party and
is bound to send to the Nobles and to the Deputies of Towns the deliberations and resolves made in the Assembly Zeeland being also govern'd by States there are two sorts of Members viz. the Nobles and the Deputies of Towns the Prince of Orange as Marquess of Treveer and Flessingue represents the Nobles by his Deputy in the Assemblies at Middlebourg and has the first place The Towns that send their Deputies are Middlebourg Ziriczee Tergoes Tertole Flessingue and Treveer these States meet as often as they think fit and in the intervals seven Deputies supply their room one in the Name of the Prince who represents the Nobility and in the Name of each Town one to whom are added the Pensioner and the Secretary Besides Walachria which is the principal Island of Zeeland has the right of holding a particular Assembly at Middlebourg which is ordinarily call'd the Assembly of the States of the Isle of Walachria and is composed of one Deputy in the Name of the Prince of Orange and of six others three for Middlebourg Flessingue and Treveer two for the rich Landowners of the Island call'd de breed geerfde to whom is adjoyn'd a Secretary CHAP. XII Of the Governors of the United Provinces untill the Year 1650. WIlliam Prince of Orange was the first Governor General of the United Provinces and since by the desert of this Family this so great a charge has been continued in it it will not be amiss to set down their Titles and Lordships here They are Princes of Orange Counts of Nassaw Catinilibogue Viande Diest Lingue Meurs Bure and Leerdam c. Marquess of Treveer and Flessingue Lords Barons of Breda Grave Cuych Diest Grimbergue Harental Branendock Warneston Arlac Noseroy Saint Vite Doesbourg Polan Wilemstad Nieuward Ysselstein of the Fort Saint Martin Guertrudeâ—bergue Chasteanrenart of the two Swalâ—es of Naddwick Vicounts hereditary of Antwerp and Besanson Governors of Gueldres Holland Zeeland West-Friezeland Zutphen Overyssel and Generals by Sea and by Land This first noble Prince having been wickedly assassinated in the year 1584. brought such a consternation upon the United Provinces that many Towns nay some Provinces fell back under the Spanish domination The Earl of Meurs was Governor of Gueldres and Utrect The Hollanders and Zeelanders chose by provision the Prince Maurice younger son to the deceased Prince William William Lewis Earl of Nassaw had been receiv'd General in Friezeland not long before the Earl of Hohenlo had the conduct of the Army and the Council of State the management of affairs But things were in so great a confusion that the States mâ—strusting their own strength offer'd themselves to the French who having used them ill they address'd themselves to ' Queen Elizabeth of England with whom they prevailed at last to send them Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester He came into Holland in 1585. with so absolute a power that no Governor before him ever had the like for he had power to name one half of the Council of State and because he was a credulous easie man he suffer'd himself to be led by the Nose by some Strangers about him who little intended the advantage of the Low-Countries and himself being a particular Enemy to Prince Maurice and the Earl of Hohenlo at last the hatred against him became great and all the affections of the people and Souldiers turn'd to Maurice the treacherous actions of Stanly and York English Commanders who had deliver'd Deventer and Zutphen to the Spaniard had much exasperated the States and now a general fear began to possess the Lovers of their Countrey least they should either be sold or oppress'd whereupon the States of Five Provinces gave all the charge of governing to Prince Maurice who being setled did soon quash all jealousies and suspicions which did already make people apt to sedition and tumults But since our design is not to write Annals we need not here recite all the glorious actions of Prince Maurice it is only fit to observe that William Lewis Earl of Nassaw then Governor of Friezeland and since 1550. Governor of Groningue and Omlande was alwayes in perfect intelligence with his Cousin Maurice and so this famous couple of the Nassavian Family advanc'd the affairs of the United Provinces conjoyntly Maurice died the 23. of April in the Year 1625. he was a very great Captain and of incomparable conduct in War and politick affairs Maurice being dead and Spinola the Spanish General having then besieged Breda a Town of great importance for the States they presently chose Henry Frederick of Nassaw his Brother for General in his room and not long after Gueldres Holland Zeeland Utrect and Overyssel accepted of him for their Governor Groningue Omlande and Drent submitted to Ernest Lasimir of Nassaw Brother to William Lewis of Nassaw who was also Governor of Friezeland Prince Henry was a worthy successor to his Brothers deserts as well as Honours and carried himself with singular valour and prudence his Cousin Ernest was no small help to him and the Provinces being a most excellent Field Officer and in that imployment he died at the siege of Ruremonde in the Year 1632. His successor to his Governments of Friezeland c. was his son Prince Henry the Aâ—hilles of the Hollander he was young and by his beginnings did promise so much as might make all men wish him a longer life but he was kill'd in the Year 1640. his very Enemies bearing witness of his noble valour and the Friezelanders much afflicted chose his Brother William Frederick of Nassaw who worthily supplyed his Brothers loss Groningue Omlande and Drent coming back to Henry Frederick Prince of Orange who died likewise at the Hague in 1647. the 14th of March having first forced the Spaniards to make Peace His only son William took the Oath of Allegiance to the States the same day as General of all their Forces both by Sea and Land A little after six of the Provi 〈…〉 s chose him for their Governor as they had promised his Father but Friezeland alone being already provided of Prince William Frederick made no change but engaged that in case he should die they would then choose the Prince of Orange But O unexpected misfortune just as all the Provinces were in hopes of living in a flourishing condition under the protection of this William the second he died at the Hague in the Year 1650. and that in so short a time that the noise of his disease did scarce fore-run the news of his death he left the Princess his Lady with Child of a son of whom she was brought abed eight dayes after the Princes death who is the now Prince of Orange whom God keep and preserve and give him his Ancestors spirit CHAP. XIII Of the charge of Governour IT is a hard matter to reduce the charge of Governour under certain Heads because hitherto the Provinces have given them such different instructions that they have had a hand in every thing The States General have
there has been War between the Bishops of Utrect and the Earls of Holland for it the place standing in a fruitfull pleasant Soyl. It is rather long than square and adorn'd with fine Gardens the Prince of Orange is Lord of it Now let us follow the Frontier of Brabant to the West As soon as you come out of the Lordship of Altena you meet with the strong Town of Gertrudenbergue divided from Holland by a great Lake that the Rhene and the Meuse make before Dort It is almost a half Moon of which two thirds are bath'd with the Water of the Lake and has excellent Bastions Besides there are Forts with Sluces which can drown the rest of the ground which lies low In the year 1321. the Castle was built and a 100. year after both the Town and the Cathedrall Church were both burnt down by those of Dort who took it after a long siege It belongs now to the Prince of Orange having often chang'd Masters by the chance of War There is taken before it great quantities of Salmon but I have heard a Citizen relate that in the time of the War their Fishing fail'd because of the great noise of the Canonadoes that frighted all the Fish away To go from Gertrudenbergue by land to Clundert you must leave Breda on the left hand and pass by Sevenberg a Lordship which depends on Brabant Clundert has eight Bastions and some Ravelins and was first wall'd by Prince William the first whose it was and since fortified It has a fine Church and good Bells Willemstradt is hard by a Town which bears the name of its founder It has seven Bastions a double Ditch and a fair Harbour It has Brabant on the South and Zeeland on the North which seems to communicate to it something of the courseness of its Air for here are bred Feavers very hard to be cur'd insomuch as those that have them seem as if they were bewitched The Citizens of Leyden can testifie it to their cost for many of them were in Garrison there in the War time and when they came home some died some lingred a great while and in all I know not above three that scap'd being very sick I have spoke of these little Towns only for their Fortifications let us now see the Islands that are over against Zeeland The first is Overslac you must land at Olâ—rens Plact a Village where the Fleet of Shallops was to have landed 1631. In the said Island which is very fertile in Corn is a fair Village call'd Sommerdiâ—ke the Lord of which was Governor of Nimmegue At the end of this Island is another in which is the Town of Gouree the Harbour of which is now stop'd up with Sand. Between Gouree and Helwetsluys there is a great depth of Water where the greatest Ships may ride Now we are come to the Island of Vorne the chiefest place of which is the Briel then Geervliet where there was a Colledge of Canons and Huervliet a fine place belonging to Mr. de Kerchove high Huntsman of Holland The rest of this Island which ends at Dort is call'd Beyerland and the other part Stryac where there are many rich Villages the best of which is Isselmond CHAP. XVIII Of the Towns that are in Goylant near the South-Sea WE have seen the borders of this Province towards Gueldres Utrect Brabant and Zeland we have now a journey to take South-East before we go directly North to see three small Towns From Amsterdam you go by Sea to Naerden the chief Town of Goylant It has been destroyed and then built up again the old foundations are yet to be seen in the South-Sea when a certain Winde blows and drives out the Sea The Citizens of this place acquir'd great reputation by taking that Traytor Gerrard de Velsen who was carrying the Earl Florent prisoner into England In the year 1355. the second Town was built and adorn'd with priviledges by the Duke William of Bavaria In 1481. they of Utrect having given the Hollanders a great overthrow surprized the Town of Naerden by an ingenious stratagem for they dress'd a good number of young Souldiers like Countreywomen going to Market who being let in seized a Gate of the Town and gave entrance to the enemies the Citizens redeem'd themselves from fire and sword by a great summe of money But a little after they were reveng'd for falling upon the Bishoprick they kill'd 1500. of their enemies upon the spot and in memory of that advantage built a high Tower with this Inscription Utrect hold thy peace In 1486. the said Town was almost all burnt down and this misfortune seem'd to be a fore-runner of that which befell them about a 100. years after for Frederick Son to the Duke of Alva having taken Zutpheen fell upon Naerden The Citizens not expecting so sudden an alarm were not so provident as to send Embassadors to mediate for them but seeing the Army at their Gates surrender'd their Town into the victors hands and trusted to his discretion and mercy but he participating much of the cruell humor of his Father commanded all the Inhabitants to be assembled in the publick Market-place and there sent them Monks to confess them and pronounce to them their sentence of death The poor creatures who thought to have heard their pardon proclaim'd were immediately set upon by some Regiments and cruelly slaughter'd This barbarous execution brought so great an odium upon the Spaniards that it made the people of Leyden rather resolve to starve than yeeld to the mercy of so cruell a Nation That which is most remarkable too is that they were most of them Catholicks and I think it is from thence that comes that deriding Proverb in Holland Art thou a Catholick that is good for thy soul. Mude is hard by Naerden upon the River Veckt and at the mouth of the South-Sea It is a little Town which has a very ancient Castle in which was kept prisoner the Count Florent Hard by is Wesop upon the same River famous for its good Beer whereof much is brought to Leyden where it is call'd for its excellency the Flemmings Physick All the Countrey from Amsterdam taking by Voerden to Leyden shut in by the Sea of Harlem is very low it is all Meadow or Turf-ground as also between Leyden Goude and Rotterdam there are digg'd great quantities of Turfs nay the Earth is so cut in many places that it is inaccessible otherwise than by Boat which is a Subject of great admiration to Strangers The Boats that go in the night-time from Leyderdorp to Amsterdam pass through the Lake of Brassmermeere and stay about two hours at a Village call'd Bilderdam then in the morning they arrive at another call'd Ouderkerk which is a league from Amsterdam There are Waggons that go by land and it is particularly the Earth of this Countrey that is observ'd to tremble and quake When it has rain'd the wayes are all drown'd and become like a Marsh.