had not Sr William Russel supplyed it with Provision when all the seven Provinces could not do it Being now intent upon the settlement of their State-General out of the Particular Deputies of the several Provinces the Earl of Leicester being called home and they hearing of a Spanish Armado knowing not what to do but to importune her Majesty of England that she should make no peace without them Now she was in treaty with the Prince of Parma which she waves though privately willing enough to reconcile their private differences which was the greatest Motive she had to abandon them It being not likely they should do any good themselves especially since there was such jealousies and mistrusts among their chief Officers who could never have been united but by the vast Armado of the common Enemy which awed both sides to so much moderation that they settle the Government in the States reduce all Parties into one Oath and submission reconcile Vtrech to Holland pay their Souldiers very punctually establish Prince Maurice in the Admiralty and Prince William in the Government of Friezland They defeat the Marquess of Varumbon with Sir Francis Vere's assistance take the Antwerp Convoy raise jealousies between the Inhabitants of Groening and their Governour maintain Liberty of Conscience nourish the French differences get 125 26l a month of the Queen of England They surprize Breda engage the Electors and get the Prince of Parma off to the siege of Paris Blackinbergh Collenbergh the Fort before Zuphten Holt Nymighen Grumbergh Geertrudenbergh Seenwye and other places are recovered by the Valour and Conduct of the English particularly Sir John Norris Sir Roger Williams and Sir Henry Vere An Edict is made concerning Printing a War is contrived between France and Spain the United Provinces and the Estates under the King of Spain treat for peace Philip William eldest son to William Prince of Orange is released from his 35 years Imprisonment whereto he was confined since he was taken in Leyden as we have formerly intimated Prince Maurice and Sir Francis Vere Sir Robert Sidney's overthrow Cardinal Albertus his Army Wan 1577 whereupon Embassadours are sent to the States from the Empire from Peland and from other parts whom they remitted to the Queen of England as being able to do nothing without her In the mean time they prevailing under her protection set up the India trade assisting their Merchants with Artillery and Ammunition so as four ships were set forth to destroy the Countrey and bring away some Inhabitants against another Voyage where 8 ships ventured that way from Amsterdam as did many more from other places in the East and West Indies to Guine besides others to Syria and Greece 1578. But the poor States being left out of the peace between France and Spain are at a loss till the Queen of England sends to them that if they resolved for a War they should inform her what provisions they had towards it and rest assured of her utmost assistance So they forbade Traffique with Spain and entertained some overture afresh in order to an offensive war towards which she sent 2000 souldiers more under Sr Th. Knowles besides 6000 men she procured from the Circles of the Empire several Forts are set up by her directiōs the Contributions are mitigated in Zealand now ready to mutiny by her Order the offensive War in Flanders began by her intimation 2800 sail of ships Rendesvouzed in the the Sea-towns of Holland Zealand and Friezland Grave Oastend and Newport are besieged and the Arch-Dukes Army is defeated Chimney-money and Excise is imposed the United States and the States-General Treat In the mean time the Arch Duke Albertus his Forces mutiny and are entertained by the United Provinces The Hollanders and the English engage the Spaniards at Sea the King of England that succeeded the Queen March 24. 1603. promising them fair in general termes whereupon Oastend and Sluce are taken and the States refuse all intercessions for peace especially since they defeated Spinola by Land and the Spanish Gallies by Sea After which the Arch-Duke Albert and his Wife Isabella in the name of the King of Spain declared them Free-states and in that capacity offered to Treat with them upon peace all the Princes of Christendom offering their Mediation onely the King of Spain's Aggreation as they call it was not clear and the 62 Articles containing their Priviledges were not moderate enough to be the ground either of a Treaty of peace or a Truce In fine These people being very intent upon the preservation of their Liberties and most prone to jealousie motion and surprizes being agitated by others passion and their own for those two great Dianaes Priviledges and Liberty of Conscience high-flown upon the Battel of Newport gotten by Sir Francis Vere refused Reason Notwithstanding the peace at Verven between the King of France and Spain which cut off half their assistance the difference between Embden and the Governour of Friezland that disturbed their Union the taking of Oastend Rhainbergh Grelen after three years siege and Sir Francis Vere's great endeavours to preserve it that weakned their Interest being grown great with the private Alliance of France and that more open of England their Trade to the Indies and their Piracies upon Spain until Spinola humbled John May the Provincial of the Franciscans perswaded and what is more then all this the King of Englands inclination to a good understanding with Spain frighted them into a twelve years Truce in a Treaty begun at Antwerp 1607. No sooner are they at peace without but having recovered the Cautionary Towns from the English by old Barnavel's cunning who as King Henry the 4th said was the ablest Statesman in Europe as far as his money went but their humours began to work among themselves Rebels are as troublesom to themselves when they have defeated their Soveraign as they were to him before their Predestination Points and the nicities of Priviledges engaging them to the great danger of the whole Government had not King James by his Embassadour Sir Ralph Wenwood very effectually interposed The King of Spain finding the observation of a great Lord upon the Truce true That assoon as the common Enemy was over they would fall by themselves set the Arch-Duke upon offering them the confirmation of the Truce into a Peace in case they would accept of his Soveraignty An overture they scorned so far that the Embassador in his way through Delph was almost stoned by the dregs of the people and assoon as the Truce was over utterly denying the prolongation of it they besieged Gulicke spoiled Brabant invited Mantsfield into East-Friezland and shrouded themselves in a League against the house of Austria with France England and Denmark c. making the Interest of Europe their security in defence of the lower Circle of the Empire took the Plate-fleet and what promised Wonders there being men in it that could dive under water and flie in the Air the Fleet of
Expound 5. Catechise 6. Baptize 7. Receive the Communion the first Sundayes in April July October and January after 18. dayes warning 8. To marry a Widow within six months a Maid at 14 with an Exhortation 9. To make a sick mans Will 10. To go before a dead body without either Prayer Sermon or so much as the tinkling of a Bell. 11. To admonish suspend excommunicate 1. By praying for the guilty person 1. On Sunday without naming either him or his fault The 2d Naming him The 3d. Naming him and his fault for which he is excluded till he confesseth it before the Congregation and the Pulpit And all these things with that indifferency that if men will they may use them and submit to them if not they may let them alone Insomuch as there is not a more ridiculous Meeting in the World than their Parochial Sunday meetings where they do what they please indeed for an hour or two and the people do what they please all the Week I think we may wave that Point and see what is Their present Condition in point of Land-Forces Trav. VVHâ—n 1. They are â—orced to maintain so many thousands in time of Peace on purpose that they may be ready against a War 2. When their Weesvaders for the Orphans of their souldiers when their Easthuysen for maimed souldiers when their Aelmoestiniers for old servants and Officers when their Die huyse sitten de Armen and other Wase-houses Guest-houses Du houses and most prudent provisions for those persons that fail in their service stand them in 364547l 16s 4d Amsterdam alone maintaining 113764. with weekly accommodations 3. When at their last year Estimates as the custom is of States and Persons they sunk almost half in half besides that so many served forreign Princes without leave against the fundamental constitution of their Government 4. When in the greatest danger of the Countrey they will stand upon this Punctillio of their Magna Charta that none should be forced to serve out of his own Province 5. When so many excellent persons especially almost all their Commanders must either quit their service or their own Allegiance 6. When the Coyn of each Nation is by strict Lawes kept there and the States must spend upon the common stock 7. When the Lord of the Sea in Right and Power forbids the Importation of any Bullets Match Powder Armes Ammunition or any other Contraband Goods from any part of the World into Holland upon pain of forfeiting the Goods and Vessels too 8. When the gross Inhabitants are so unweildy that they can do nothing but sit on their Breeches in a ship 9. When they are as much at a loss for Men to their Arms as they may be for Arms to their Men in a very short compass of time should a mighty Prince who is Lord of the Sea in Power as well as Right continue that severe Edict whereby all Nations are advertised That what Powder Ammunition or other Contraband Goods soever they shall Import to the Lands Territories Plantations or strong Holds belonging to the Estates of the Vnited Netherlands shall be judged Prize-goods and forseited accordingly And consequently the Dutch stores being likely to supply at least 40000 men by Sea and Land without any hoped recruit the Countrey must needs be lost as Amsterdam was once for want of Ammunition Besides that they will be as much to seek for Provision as for Men the Pestilence preceding their War not more fatally sweeping away â—the one a third part being missed in Holland than the Famine following it cuts off the other the Market is already improved a moyety and when the Baltick-sea is commanded by Sweden and Denmark the Mediterranian awed by the Turk and French and the Brittish-coasts over-ruled by their Soveraign Holland will not be said so properly to be overcome as to be starved it being not likely that the King of England should be guilty of the King of Spain's oversight Princes seldom erre twice which cost him those Provinces and as much money as would have bought as much Land thrice over and rendred them as considerable as it made him despicable that is ly pelting at their impregnable Townes when he may swallow their whole Common-wealth and take that pedling Countrey quickly by the Wholesale that cost others so much by the Retail It s true their Towns are strong but Factious driving at their particular Interests to the prejudice of the general States and ready to submit to any new Masters rather than Truck under Amsterdam Antwerp chose rather trade under Spain than Liberty under the free States each Governour pursuing his own design as vigorously as the High and Mighty do theirs Neither is there a Garrison there wherein the Governour is not engaged against the Burgemasters and they inveterate against him wherein the Townsmen would not betray the Souldiers or the Souldiers sell away the Townsmen Besides as an Agent who doth there more service than an Army may order the affair such may the misunderstanding be between the respective Provinces that they had rather as the Duke De Alva observed be ruined by themselves than saved by one another though indeed as they are hardly attempted by reason of the narrowness of their ways and frequency of their Dikes so they are more hardly relieved a 1000 well-encamped men being not to be attempted there by 10000 to which may be added That as strong soever their Towns may be by Land they lye open by Sea and so no longer tenable against us then their Masters are Lords of the Brittish-coasts But suppose their Forces by Land most considerable yet you must suppose withall Commanders to those Forces who being of necessity Forreigners men of fortune and it may be persons of various apprehensions never likely to close in a common Quarrel or Action unanimously or honestly Yea let me tell you their very strong Holds are their weakness as to which they trust so much that they could never yet look an Enemy in the face in the Field nor perform any thing resolute or honourable Not to mention their pay which must as duly be paid as the Usurers Mortgage-money in the very time and place or else the Countrey may be over-run while they lay down their Arms and cry Ghelt ghelt as they did in the very first action of the Prince of Orange towards their freedom to the loss of 5000 men and three Counts of the Empire at Steinbocke Neither is it the least consideration That the Scene of a Land-war must be the very bowels of their own Countrey they not daring to look beyond their Cantons by Land for fear of their friends nor by Sea for fear of their enemies Not to aggravate the affair with this unhappy reflection That 2000 Horse eats up their Countrey in Summer and must be eat up themselves for want of Butter and Cheese in Winter Yet the worst is to come viz an untoward Oath was put upon so many expert valiant and deserving
leave upon pain of death 10. He that sleeps at a Watch or bewrayeth the watch-word must dye 11. Mutineers and unlawful Assemblers shall dye 12. None shall Quarrel with a Souldier or lift up a sword against an Officer on pain of death 13. He that leaves his Post and Breach dieth 14. He that deserts his Captain or serveth under two shall be imprisoned during pleasure 15. He that imbezleth his Armour Provision or Furniture is discharged 16. He that steals any Souldiers Furniture fore-stalls any Victuals Exacts on the people abusâ—th Tradesmen shall dye 17. He that resist a Proclamation assists any Mâ—lefactor disturbs any Quarters sets on fire any Building within the Camp or without makes any false Alarms knavishly shall dye 18. No man shall neglect an Alarm entertain a stranger converse with Trumpeters or Messengers of the other side loyter with the Carriages or Forrage abroad without leave upon pain of suffering what the Marshal or chief Commander pleaseth 19 No Captain shall undertake any Enterprize or be absent from the Watch without Order from the General 20. Neither Souldier nor Captain shall dismiss sell or ransom any Prisoner or Booty beâ—ore he hath presented him or it unto his immediate Officer 21. Every Souldier shall stand by his Ensign day and night till ordered to depart and observe and learn the sound of Drums Fifes and Trumpets 22. No Beast shall be garbaged no Easement made but at a distance appointed from the Camp 23. Whosoever delivereth any place left to his charge or keeping flieth to the Enemy or passeth any other way either in Town or Camp but at the ordinary Gates without Order shall dye 24. No man shall as they March make any cry at all at the putting up of any hair c. All other offences that may tend to disorders not comprimised in the foresaid Rules shall be punished as the chief Commander shall think fit These are the several Particulars whereby they rose to this Grandeur and opulency whereof some have failed and the rest are not able to bear up that Government which they altogether erected Gent It being so obvious from these reflexions to conclude their weaknesse it were necessary their present Case and Controversie should be favourably staâ—ed to their Neighbours for compassion or assistance Trav. They are more unhappy in the ground of this present Quarrel than in any of the fore-mentioned particulars Gent. As how Sir Trav. Why first In reference to trade and Fishing in the narrow Seas The present state and Controversie between us and the Dutch ALl the world know that we have Right to the Narrow-Seas for the Seas that surround our Island whither the Scottish the British the Irish or German were possessed and secured by the Brittains who fished so much upon them that they furnished the Hilts of their Swords with such fishes teeth as they took and traded so considerably that none came amongst them but Merchants Those Seas were by them transmittâ—d with their countreyes to the Romans upon the Conquest who as they managed the Government of the Land by Presidents so they did that at the Sea by an Archigubernacy or chief Governour and Admiral who seâ—ured Commerce took Prizes looked on the Coasts of Spain Italy and Affrica it self After the Romans the Saxons succeeded to this Right and Dominion and commâ—nded the Sea under a Count of the Saxon shore i. e. whatever Pava ollus saith to the contrary the Sea-shore Octa and Ebista under Vortigerne and Hergist commanding these Seas the Saxons and Danes keeping a numerous Navy to that purpose by such Tributes and Duties as they imposed upon their Vassals particularly Dane-ghelt for the Guard of the Sea Edgar and Canutus styling themselves Soveraigns of the Sea The Right and Dominion of the Seas passed with this Nation to the Normans as appears 1. From their Government the custody of the Seas being under an Admiral by Commissions from the several Kings maintained by Tributes paid in consideration of the said custody 2. From their Right in all the Islands lying on the Sea before the French shore 3. From leave asked alwaies and granted to Forreigners by the English to pass thâ—se â—eaâ— And those that asked leave were the Kings of Denmark and Sweden the Hans Towns in Quern Elizabeths time Hollanders and Zealaâ—â—ers themselves not daring to fish before they asked leave of Scarborough and Kâ—ng James proclaiming May 6. 1610. That none fish upon the English or the Irish Sea without leave obtained and every year at least renewed from the Commissioners appointed for this purpose at London But 4. Our Right to the Sea appears from the Limits we set to such Forreigners as Moderators of the Sea as 〈◊〉 at enmity with one another and at amity with the English 5. From the Publick Records wherein the Dominion of the Sea is ascribed to the Kings of England by the King himself and the Estates of Parliament with very great deliberation and in such express words as these Lords of the English Sea on every side all people accounted us Soveraigns of the Seas That our Soveraign Lord the King and his Illustrious Progenitors being Lords of the Seas would impose a Tribute upon all strangers the Kings of England have by right of their Dominions been Lords of the Sea these are the words of all Europeâ— by their Commissioners at Paris and made Laws Statutes and Restraints of Arms upon them together with Admirals that they should preserve their Superiority over the same 6. From the Laws and most received Customs of England that make the Seas the Patrimony of Eng. and the King by the old custom of Engl. Lord of the Narrow-â—eas and his Soveraignty there so ancient that they make the four Seas to be equivalent with those words within or without the Kingdom De mer Apourtenant au Râ—â—d ' Angleterre The Sea belonging to the King of England 7. From the Coyn called Rose-nobles of which its said four things our Nobles sheweth to our King Ship Sword power of the Sea 8. From the custom of striking sail on our Coast time out of mind 9. From the Licenses granted upon their humble supplications to the French and Flemings with limitted number of Boats to fish upon our Coastâ— 10. From the Prerogative whereby all wrecks and Royal fishes as Whales Sturgeons c taken in our Seas are due to the King of England onely or unto such to whom by special Charter he grants the same Stat. Edw 3. 17. The state of the Controversies in point of Injuries and Affronts with the Vnited Netherlands Trav HOw they forced us to trade at second hand 1. In Ternata under their Fort Tabuche 3 In Motir 3. In Tidore 4. In â—alvan Hillo Amboyn 5. At Bunda 6. Poleway 7. The Coast of Cormandel near their Arsenal at Jacatra 8. Their chief places Bantham Japan Jamby though we directed them to all these places How they represented us as Pyrates there and when they had done any mischief said they were Englishmen untill for our safety we were fain to distinguish our selves from them by the solemnity of Novemb. 17. and 5. How they contrived to blow up our Warehouses forbad us all Commerce upon Queen Eliz. her death made all Christians so odious that the first Question asked in those parts was Are you Flemmings How they seized our Yards Wharfs c. giving order to kill every Englishman that would not swear fealty to them upon the erecting of their Fort at Banna intending to put all English in an old ship and blow it up How they search and stop our ships give out that they are under a King Make us pay them Custom at Bantham How they seized our ships at Poâ—eway though the Island was given our King leading our men about streets with Halters about their necks and an Hour glass before them intimating that after that ran out they should be hanged How though the Mogul would not look on them till Sir Tho. Roe assured him they were our Friends they seized our Poleroon 1617 suborning the Slaves to burn our ships loading our men with Irons dismembring some setting others in their wounds in hard Grates wherein their Legs swelling so that they could go neither in nor out without a Carpenter pissing over their heads in Dungeons every morning and allowing them but a half-penny loaf and a pinte of water a day How it was proved at Jacatra that the States were seven years a plotting a War between the English and the Dutch at the Indiâ—s threatning likewise to land 60000 men in 24000 Flat-boats in England How they carried us in Cages from Port to Port boasting that our King was their Vassall How though between 1577 when we assisted them first in their Indian trade and 1625 they got 1500 Tuns of Gold in Private hands besides 400 in Common they used us in Amboyna They disputed our Right to the Sea stopped our entrance to and Trade at Bantham Scanderooâ— Guinee Angola c. burned â—â—ur Factories at Jambee How they surprized us at Guinee abused us in the restoring of the Island Polaroon which they have promised from time to time since 1622. How they gave us Law in the New Netherlands a spot of ground they held of us by curtesie How they put our men in nasty Dungeons at Castledelmina to lye in their own Excrements having not bread and water enough to sustain Nature leaving the living and the dead after exquisite tortures to lye together Injuries these with Infinite more of the like nature to the value of 600000l in goods being aggravated with their preparations for War to maintain them even when His Maâ—esty for three years together solicited them to justice and peace that make it evident to the World that War which is defined The state of two Parties contending by publick force about right and wrong is become necessary to us since equity is denyed and that we must put our affairs to the order of force when they dare not come to the Test of the Law Insomuch that I conclude That as few will pity this ill-natured and unhappy People at the end of the War as incourage them in the beginning of it FINIS
Antwerp on the one side of the Suburb called Kiel along the River compassed in with five mighty Bulwarks and every one defended by a Cavalier or Mount and all things were setled so well that there was a Monument set up for the Duke with this Inscription Ferdinando Alvarez de Toledo Albae Duci Philippi â—di Hispan regis apud Belgas Praefecto quod extinctâ seditione rebellibus pulsis Religione procuratâ justitiâ cultâ Provincias pace firmavit Regis optimi fidelissimo ministro politum Iongelingi opus ex aere Captivo That the Duke spared half his Forces under the Earl of Aremberge for the Guises assistance against the Reformers that â—e seized the Prince of Orange his eldest son the Earl of Herren at LoLovain whence he was sent to Spain till 1575. He cited the Prince himself who answered his Citation at large He sentenced the Netherlands in the Inquisition for seditious Heresies 1568 and had his Sentence confirmed in Spain the same year he razed the place of Culenberge where the Council of State used to meet setting up a Pillar in the middest of the Ruine with this Inscription Regnante Philippo 2do Cath. Hisp Rege in his suis inferioribus Germaniae regionibus Gubernanti Vero Ferdinando Alvar. de Toledo Albae Duce c. Florenti de Palant quondam domum solo aequaris sancitum est ob execrandam memoriam repetitae in eâ conjurationis adversus Religionem Eccl Cath. Rom. regiam Majestatem ipsas regiones Anno 1568. 5. Cal. Junii He proceeded in the Process against the Prince of Orange in the midst of which great actions some fugitive Gentlemen that had taken refuge in Cloysters designed with some Horse and Foot they corresponded with to surprize the Duke at his devotion between Brussels and the Cloyster of Groenendale in Somen wood The Prince of Orange Prints his Justification against Slanderers The Earl of Hoochstraten produced Five Articles drawn out of the Priviledges of Brabant either belonging to the Golden-fleece or contained in the Joyous entry to impeach the proceedings against him and the Prince of Orange The Elector Palatine of the Rhine stops the Duke of Alvarez's money under pretence that the Merchants that conveyed it payed not the accustomed duties The Emperour and the Princes interpose in the behalf of Orange a Prince of the Empire That Prince and his Brother Lodowick of Nassau arm with this Motto Recuperari aut mori resolving to distract the Duke de Alva with several attempts upon many places at once but unsuccesfully the Lord of Villers with his 3000 French Protestants being defeated in their design upon Ruremond in Gelderland upon the Mase as Seigneour Coquevil with his 1100 Fugitives was at St Valiers in the mouth of the River Some onely Count Lodowick vanquished Count Aremberge with the overthrow of 3000 men May 24 1568 whom the Governour revenged on the best Gentlemen of the Revolt that came to his hands not sparing the Earls of Horn and Egmont who after a due Process against them were beheaded June 5th 1568. The Barons Montigni and Berghen who died in Spain attainted for their lives and goods in the Netherlands a severity imparallel'd yet not able to repress the Insolencies of the Factious Dutch who now pretend themselves desparate and cry No man was safe and so madly joyn with Count Lodowick of Nassau's Germans till they were becalmed with the Imperial Interdict to besiege Groningen whence De Alva quickly forced them with their shattered Colours in some of whom they carried Pelicanes in others the Roses of England from whose Queen they looked for all their succour In others this device Pro Lege Rege Grege along the Mase about which they took in some small Garisons and might have taken more yea and overthrown Don Fred. the Dukes sons 4000 Harquebuâ—iers had not the Landtskneghts as before when they should fight cried Ghelt Ghelt till the Duke himself who was strongly intrenched every night pursued them by day into France where the French King promises failing and the Rebels mutyning among themselves now they were already weary of the war they resolve for Germany now out of order too the discontented French Nobility joyning with them and the Prince of Orange declaring That such undutiful persons as set on any Designs save the Liberty of the Countrey and their Consciences of what perswasion soever they were should be enrolled among his mortal Enemies In Germany they lodge themselves till the Queen of England being disobliged by the Duke of Alva about money she had taken of some Merchants though the Duke pretended it his for her private use upon Interest interdicted all trade with Holland making Hamburgh the Staple for Cloth when the Prince of Orange with his unquiet followers assisted the French Protestants as De Alva with his well disciplined Regiments did the French King both Parties so translating the Wars out of their own Countrey The Garison at Valencianes mutiny against the Earl of Lodron an Italian but being drawn out by fair words and pay are cut off by two Regiments of Spanish Horse that surrounded them at their Muster in Bourgethout near Antwerp Such as could not escape out of the Netherlands drew together in the Woods by Land and those that did took to Pyracies at Sea Both these took Briel a convenient Harbour on the Hollanders side and agreed for Dover as fit a place on the English and improved themselves incredibly upon the discontents in the Countrey at the New-floud on All Saints day 1570 that swept away their Towns And the new Taxes the 10th 20th and 100th peny levyed by Soldiers upon the very Clergy themselves that carried away their Estates especially at Vtrecht where many Orders Answers Replies Duplies and Writings passed but all decided by a Garison of Veteranes sent thither that made a shift to perswade the troublesome Town that they had forfeited all their Estates by their connivance at the Image-breakers with other Incendiaries and their Adherents and at Brussels where neither Bakers nor Brewers would either bake or brew upon the new Impost insomuch that all Hollanders turning Pyrates under Will Earl vander Alarch and forbidden Harbour on the English Coast with 40 Sail most Fly-boats sailed from Dover towards North-Holland In their way whither they took 2 rich Ships the one of Antwerp the other of Biscay and spoiled other men of War before Amsterd Enchuesen and in the Mase drowning Boslules Forces before the Briel who came to encouÌ„ter them they deal underhand with the Flushingers inhabiting the next Sea Town to Briel notwithstanding the Dukes Agents cunning who made a Breach in their Wall under pretence of fortifying it cloyed their Cannon opened their Sluices and counterfeited their Keys to keep out the Spaniards as they did with the Villages of Coukirke the Inhabitants of Daventer and that not unsuccesfully since Zealand prospered in its Pyracies so well that their Captain Worst with seven ships had beaten the Spaniards
at him A while after General Blake discovered the Dutch Fleet on the backside of Godwyn-sands being about 60 men of War under Vice Admiral Witti Wittison against whom Captain Young Reynolds and Chapman having humbled the Legorn Merchants and their Convoy he bore up and notwithstanding he was on a dangerous Sand called Kentish Knocke where the water was not three fathoms deep assuring his Souldiers vast encouragements he staid by the Dutch Fleet till night parted them And next day though the wind was low bore North and by West up to them being then two â—eagues North-east of the English who coming with much adoe within shot of them made them so afraid they should get within them that they run for it 10 Frigats chasing them till 6 a clock at night June 18 excusing themselves to Captain Bourn that cross Winds had blown them upon our Coasts against their wills Yet having with fair words collogued with our Dons so farr that they laid up half their Fleet in Harbour upon the loss of their Plate-Fleet which they pretended was the King of Spains but really was theirs they appear before Dover with 70 men of War and 10 Fire-ships forcing Blake with but 42 men of War and them ill manned and worse commanded to engage to an unavoidable loss Which yet was quickly recompensed when withdrawing to the Harbour and in spight of the Hollanders industry to hinder all Nations from bringing any Tar Pitch or Masts into England equipping 80 sail against the 18th day of Feb. 1653 upon which day the Dutch Fleet in number about 80 sail with an 150 Merchant ships from Rovan Nants and Bourdeaux were discovered between the Isle of Wight and Portland and about 8 in the morning the Headmost of the Enlish Fleet came up and engaged them I mean the Triumph wherein Blake and Dean were with 3 or 4 more the rest not being able to get up holding 30 Dutch ships in play till two a clock in the afternoon when half the Fleet came up and fought the Hollanders till night And next morning Feb. 17 chased them to the Leeward having 60 Merchants and 9 men of War in our hands and 2000 men dead on the shore insomuch that the Hogens intreat a Peace by a new Embassador the Lord Paw and their Merchants are forced the long and perillous Voyage round the North by Ireland and Scotland and before Norway as did the Rochel and East-India Fleet that belonged to the Baltick Sea not daring else to stir out of the Flye For though the Spanish the Italian the Levant and Indian Merchants 145 sail in number attended by 90 men of War for their Convoy yet the English Fleet consisting only of 65 men of War being at Anchor on the South side of the Gober discovering them about two Leagues to Leeward being about 100 sail together weighed and bore sail to them with so furious a charge that night and next morning that they tore quite away as fast as they could only the wind freshing Westward The English bore in so hard among them that 12 of our men of War sunk 6 of theirs and had done the whole Fleet had not night surprized them so near the Godwyn-sands where the Dutch decoyed them that they were forced to weigh Anchor while the shattered Dutch got into the Texel the Wieling and the Flye the English resolving to pursue them to their own Coast as near as they durst where they took Prizes in a manner every day and as it were blocked them up Till beating up Drums first in their own name and when the people fell to a Tumult at Enchuysen because it was not in the Princes name in the young Prince of Orange his name they reinforced another Fleet pro aris for is to relieve their Coasts and themselves both imprisoned by an English Power quartering a great Body of Horse in the mean time for fear they should land and sending four Commissioners to England with most humble Propositions of Peace During which Treaty July 27 the English Scouts discovered a Dutch Fleet from the Wiâ—lings of about 75 men of War Upon notice whereof the English Fleet made what sail they could after them which the Dutch discerning stood away yet by five a clock that evening were Engaged by 30 English Frigats so resolutely that they sent away some torn ships in the night and stole themselves too undiscerned by the English into a designed conjunction with 25 sail of stout men they expected out of the Texel with whom they fell furiously on the English next morning When after some success against the Garland the Triumph and the Andrew by their Fire ships they observing the declining of their fortune bore away towards the Texel whither the English durst not follow them for fear a cross wind should meet with them at that shore where they saw the Dutch led to Harbour having lost their Admiral Vaâ— Tromp thirty men of War and 6000 men A defeat that set the Hague Alchmuer and many other places in Holland in an up roar and being added to their loss of seven Braziel ships on Calice Road taken by Captain Reynolds Moullon and Cranâ—ley and of Braziel it self recovered during this War by the Portugez The taking of 9 ships upon the coast of France by Captain Pack Wright and Jordan in spight of the French Protection The jealousies between Van Tromp and De Witt since the first knock on the Godwyn-sands after their ranting in one Pamphlet of their Lyon and his Prey in another of Englands being possessed with a Devil and in a third That Hollanders are Angels a Dutch man in his double Jugg proportion with a box of Butter in the one hand and a pickled Herring in the other is a Pretty Cherubim and English men Devils Notwithstanding their Threats of combining with the World against us that brought them on their knees in reiterated Messages of Peace not scrupling the perliminary Points of satisfaction formerly so much boggled at in former Treaties And shall these unhappy people that were baffled by a poor Remnant of a Rebellion undertake the Generous Honestâ— and full Power of a Monarchy That they who withstood not the distracted ambition of a few Out-lawes that were almost lost in the pursuit of other mens Estates and Powers presume against the settled authority of a Prince whose onely business is to preserve his own who frights none and is afraid of none having no Enemies because owning no undoing thought against any but such for whose ruine a true and satisfactory Reason may be given to the World In vain do they vapour against a Nation whose Government is fixed since they fell before it when it was loose alteration of Interests was their Hope then the sixedness of it must be their Fear now Then they had to do with many Factions now with one Interest Then with a Power that mistrusted it self whence they knew how to â—â—jole the Council of State against a Parliament as
both sorts than any people besides the French and English and no Timber yet spending more than any Nation Trav. 1. A Power that confines them at home starves them and one years stop on their Trade overthrows them Gent. I look upon the Dutch in this Quarrel with England like the Belly in its Controversie with the Members which fed them or like the Rebellion of Paris which saith the Historian was starved rather than Conquered But Sir the next Province Trav. 2. Zealand consisting of 7 Islands the remainder of 18 hath no more to secure it from Flanders than the left Branch of the River Scheld or Hont or from Brabant East-ward but the right Branch of the said River nor on the West from England but the Sea whereof the whole World knows who is Master A Province that is so ill provided with Wood that without a supply of Coals from New-Castle and Scotland hath no other remedy now but to digg Turffs out of the Banks too much weakned already thereby in the late English War and that is to be drowned for fear of being starved whose Fate depends upon â—lushing another cautionary Town formerly a poor one since the very Key of the Netherlands without whose License no ship could pass formerly either to or from Antwerp and the most capacious Haven Ramme or Armynygden Gent. 3. West Friezland Sir Trav. West-Friezland That hath no Fire but Cow-dung no Ayr but foggy no water but Marshy lyeth Eastward obnoxious to Westphalen in High-Germany N. and W. to the main Ocean Gent. Where lyeth the strength of that place Trav. 1. In the strong Castles that over-looks Harlingen-Haven and Staveren in that part of it called Westergoe 2. Leuwarden in that called Oastergoe The rest of the Countrey being the seven Forrests called Seven-Wolden In an Isle whereof called Schelink to divert you you may observe the taking of Dog-fish in this manner The men of the Island attire themselves with Beasts-skins and then fall to dancing with which sport the fish being much delighted makes out of the waters towards them Nets being pitched presently between them and the water which done the men put off their disguises and the frighted fish hastning towards the Sea are caught in their Toyles Gent. But if it please you the Scituation of Vtrecht Trav. 4. Vtrecht lyeth safe enough being surrounded by Holland and Gelderland East West North and South as doth 5. Overyssel onely West phalen casts a scurvey Aspect towards it Eastward Gent. Where lyeth the advantage against this Countrey Trav. In several parts of the Isle which is secured onely by Daventer and Campen as they are onely by the adjoyning Marshes which yet are rendred utterly unserviceable in one month of Frost as appears An. 1527 when the Imperialists were let into both these Provinces Gent. Please you Sir to go on Trav. 6. Gelderland which bred a Bull 1570 that weighed 3200 pound must watch the Elector of Bradenburgh Eastward whereon it s bounded with Cleveland whereof the States have got half into their hands and the Brabanters who shut it up South-ward Gent. Where lye the passages into this Countrey Trav. At the confluence of the Mase and the Wael where Duke Albert erected and the States maintain the Fort St. Andrews to command that Passage and Gelders the onely place in the Province that would never submit to the States Gent. Zuphten Sir Trav. 6. Zuphten lyeth at the mercy of Westphalen on the East and Cleveland on the South Gent. Where is this place usually attached Trav. Over the old Yssel from Westphalen onely Zuphten Groll and Doesburgh secure it which yet every year of the last War shifered their Masters so lyable they were both to surprize and Corruption 7. To which I may add Groning inclosed by the Friezlands on all sides save the North that lyeth open to the main Ocean succoured onely by Old Haven and Groning Gent. But have the States no holding in Flanders or Prabant Trav Yes they have the Sluyes the Isle of Castandt in Flanders with such plaees of Importance in Braâ—ant as may tempt their watchful Neighbours to improve this juncture of their breach with England to recover all the World knowing that when they are so mightily ingaged by Sea they will have but a very poor defence by Land and it being obvious to themselves but that Fate infatuates them it would punish that a breach with England may lose what amity with it hath gotten them Gent. I pray how bigg may this United State be Trav. It s Circuit is some 300 miles its walled Towns 71 whereof 23 belong to Holland 8 to Zealand 11 to West-Friezland 5 to Vtrecht 11 to Overyssel 16 to Geldâ—rland 8 to Zuphten And its Villages 1560 whereof 400 are in Holland and 300 in Zealand â—45 in West-Friezland 70 in Vtrecht an 100 in Overâ—sseâ— 300 in Gelderland 145 in Groning besides the Towns in Brabant â—landers and Cleveland Gent. I pray how stand all these Neighbours affected towards their United Province Trav. Westphaliae and the Bishop of Munster is disobliged about the Eyler-Sconce the Elector of Bradenburgh is not well pleased with some Passages in Cleveland the Emperour and Spain strenthen themselves in Flanders neither is the King of France without preparations in Picarty and Artois and all this while the King of Great Brittain hath made the most dreadful preparations against them that any Age can remember Gent. This is so sad that it must needs sink any other people but the Dutch who are so much given to hope that like St Clemens though drowned they have an Anchor about their necks Trav. Yet this is not all for the Hollanders under pretence of Liberty of Trade which the Duke of Rhoan saith is their Interest having engrossed a Monopoly of it which all the World decrees as their Usurpation The industrious Portugeze whom they have wormed almost out of all their discoveries in Asia and Africa upon the least Truce with Spain would set up Reprizâ—ls as well for their Trade as their Goods on either side of the Line The incensed Swede is ready to revenge Modern affronts and former unkindnesses besides his design for free Trade in the Balticc-sea The concerned Dane must secure his Sound or quit his Kingdom The generous French meditate a free Trade and an Universal Commerce equally suitable to the inclinations and necessities of Man-kind in order whereunto as Sir George Downing observes he hath permitted his Subjects the recovery of some places in the Dutch hands with Honour the loss whereof his Predecessors connived at not without some disgrace What the Duke of Muscovy may do when disabused is obvious to discerning men who know that those Northern and indeed all rude people are never more implacable than when imposed upon never knowing upon what ground to trust when once deceived Neither is Christendom onely offended by this unhappy people who when put on by an Heathen Prince that forbad Christians Trade to the sad choiâ—e to