honorablest justest and most acceptable but also the most advantagious and necessarie actions that can here bee treated of and is worthie the Deliberation of this Assemblie As whereby the whole Commonaltie shall bee freed from all manner of exactions oppressions and outrages Justice every where and alwaies administred fairly and uprightly the Government esteemed according to its worth and merit the Governors kept in their bounds and duties according to their Oaths and Instructions and every one in obedience to the Laws without contradiction and generally the State of the United Provinces maintained in its Autoritie and Reputation both at home and abroad And therefâ—re also wee read that the Emperor Justinian in his time having after serious Deliberation settled Orders and Directions for the suppressing of the foresaid Corruptions which had mightily infected and overspread his Dominions did not onely in most solemn manner and pregnant terms give thanks for it to Almightie God but streightly likewise charged all his subjects to do the like together with him as having thereby precured for them as â—ee judged three special things First That thereby every one henceforward could rest secure and quiet in his own Countrie Secondly safely enjoy the possession of their means and goods and lastly bee assured of faithful and upright administration of Justice And in the histories it is observed That divers other wise and pious Kings and Potentates having effectually considered the same they were perswaded they had thereby don acceptable service to God and procured for themselvs first the Testimonie of a chearful Conscience and after that the recompence of a better and unfading State of Glorie the foresaid evil beeing indeed a Concatenation or linking together of a world of scandalous abuses and enormities which supprest once doth lay a solid foundation of a happie Government Nor can wee see H. M. Lords how in default of necessarie Remedies against this Evil any Courts or Cours either of Justice and Government or Treasurie and Militia can subsist For if Unrighteousness and Iniquitie bear swaie in the High Courts of Justice who can look for any Justice from the subordinate ones or froâ— particular persons If those that sit at the helm or stern of the Supreme Autoritie bee not shie nor scruple to defile and contaminate themselvs with such baseness of taking bribes and presents who shall wonder at it in inferior Magistrates and Governors How I pray shall They make Orders and take Courses against Oppressions and Exactions of officers Civil or Militarie which are guiltie of the same crimes how shall they look to the fair managing and good improoving of the publick Treasurie which are the onely caus of wasting and exhausting it putting it into confusion and thereby seeking and raising their own profit how I say shall those bee able to take a right care of the common stock the Means and Revenues of the Land who make no Conscience thereby to enrich themselvs And lastly how is it possible that such as are every waie base and catching and griping should bee fit or able to tax rebuke and curb the malversation of others and then what place can bee secured what Bullwark can bee imagined strong enough against such corruptions when wee see how they invade and break through the Highest Courts from whence they cannot but distil downward and penetrate and spread through all even the least and meanest parts and members of the whole Bodie Now if ever it was useful and expedient H. M. Lords to take a vigorous cours against this scandalous Evil it must needs bee of special use and advantage in this Conjuncture of time and in the present constitution of Government which beeing for the greater part Aristocratick and Popular in som part the said diseas is of more dangerous Consequence under it then under a Monarchie for many reasons which might bee deduced by Polititians unless it were more experimentally discernable and known to them what sure and wholsom Orders for preventing thereof the Senat and Republick of Venice have settled of old among themselvs whereby they had the happiness to subsist a Common-wealth for these twelve-hundred years in a constantly flourishing and puissant Condition Which blessing wee longing for together with your H. M. to see imparted likewise to this our dear Father-land and famous Republick Wee do most humbly desire that this Point may speedily and vigorously bee look d too The rather for that otherwise it will bee impossible to turn away from these Countries the just wrath and indignation of God which wee have caus to fear may bee kindled alreadie against it by reason of the foresaid too too common base and foul practices and will undoubtedly burst out once into a fearful embrazement if it bee not atoned by a readie meeting and resolute redress of those whom hee hath entrusted with the power to remedie the same and of whom hee will likewise demand a strict account that having either well acquitted themselvs of their endeavors they may inherit bliss and glorie or beeing found faultie suffer not onely the lash of their own conscience and the opprobrious prejudice of all men against them here but hereafter also the terrible doom of the Just Judg of all the World to their everlasting confusion and destruction Let us but my Lords the better to consider of it View our selvs in other Republicks which whiles their Governors continued Virtuous and uncorruptible remained flourishing for many ages but afterwards corruption seizing on them weere soon brought to decaie and ruine and among them especially That of the Romans which in this point degenerated so far from their former integritie that their own Historie-writers balked not to saie All was exposed to sale there wanted but a Chapman Venalem fuisse si reperîsset emtorem And if your H. M. would make use of our Considerations upon this point and were desirous to know what remedies wee conceived most fit to bee applied against this Evil wee should bâ— your permission applie nothing of what hath been decreed against it in other Countries and Republicks but onely that which according to the written Laws in use and cours here among our selvs and upon like occasions in these Countries hath been enacted against it And in the first place wee should under Correction hold it needful that all such persons as shall bee called to any Office or Employ in any of the Courts of the Generalitie shall before their admittance bee bound besides the requisite and accustomed Oath to swear likewise that for the getting and obtaining of the said office they never offered promised or gave nor ever would promise or give any thing directly or indirectly Secondly That they shall neither directly nor indirectly themselvs their wives children familie or any having relation to them receiv enjoy or improve any gifts offers or presents of any thing what or how small soëver no not so much as any meat or drink from any bee they Cities Courts publick or private
and that as well before as after that the business shall bee dispatched in the Council and in case that any such shall have received gifts by any whom afterwards they perceived to have somwhat to do with the said Council which at the time of receiving the gifts they knew not or that such may get som business afterwards at the Council They shall bee bound to acquaint the Council with it and to convert the received gifts or the value thereof for the use of the poor in manner as the Council shall ordain them and besides that they shall not bee allowed to vote or sentence at the deliberation about the business touching him or them from whom they shall have received any such gifts without the Councils special leav all under pain That whosoever shall bee found to have don contrarie to these orders or any point thereof hee shall forthwith bee put out of his place and held infamous and uncapable of bearing any charge or office within the United Provinces the Associated Countries Cities and members thereof and bee bound besides to make restitution and laie down the fourfold proportion of whatsoever hee received or enjoied by any participation of the foresaid publick Works Provision Ammunition and other requisites buying undertaking granting of ordinances or from the participation thereof as also by the gifts and presents received made lyable above all this to such further pennances and arbitrarie correction as shall bee held fit and requisite according to the condition and exigence of the offence and the foresaid Council shall every year upon the first Tuesday in the month of Maie and such as may bee absent then on the first Tuesday they shall appear in the Council before they fall upon any business belonging to the Council clear themselvs the one to the other by solemn oath and make likewise the Treasurer-General Receivor-General Fiscal Secretarie and Clarks to purge themselvs by oath that in the foresaid matters they have acquitted themselvs uprightly and that they are not privie that their wives children families or any others of relation to them have either directly or indirectly don ought contrarie to what is aforesaid with promise for the future also to continue upright in this behalf And none at all shall bee admitted to any business or affairs of the Council before and until hee shall have solemnly cleared and engaged himself as is said before XXIX Also the foresaid Council shall over and above all this bee alwaies bound upon the least suspition to clear themselvs thereof one towards another by oath as before and to caus the Treasurer-General Receivor-General and Fiscal the Secretarie and Clarks of the Generalitie to clear themselvs of the same as those likewise which have any business with the Council and are under suspition shall declare by oath that neither directly nor indirectly they have promised or given any thing to any of the persons aforesaid nor will do XXX And such as shall bee found to have given or promised or caused to bee given or promised any gifts or presents to any of the foresaid persons their wives children families or any other in their behalf directly or indirectly whether before or after the business shall bee dispatched either for expeditions sake or otherwise under what pretext soëver they shall bee sentenced and condemned by the foresaid Council to a Fine proportioned or equal to the value of the business transacted or otherwise as the matter shall bee conditioned and require And all the foresaid Fines or Amercements shall bee disposed one third part to the informer and the two remaining thirds for the use of the poor although the committed exorbitancie should not bee found out till within som years after the fact XXXI And to the end That the foresaid things may the better bee observed and none pretend or plead ignorance thereof having any thing to do with the Council there shall bee hung up a Patent or Table in Netherlandish French English and Scotish to warn every one of offering giving or promising directly or indirectly any gifts or presents to any of the persons aforesaid their wives and children families or any other in their behalf upon pain and fine expressed in the next ensuing Article as also the Proctors Sollicitors and others which ordinarily present themselvs to bee emploied before the foresaid Council shall upon the abovesaid Tuesday or in case of absence then assoon as they shall bee returned to the Haghe again make promise by oath unto the Council that they will serve none nor give counsel to any Client or caus them to bee counsel'd to give or promise or caus to bee given or promised any gifts or presents directly or indirectly to any of the foresaid persons their wives children families or any other in their behalf but if so bee that they finde their Clients disposed or enclined to give or promise any thing to any of the persons aforesaid that they shall disswade them or coming to know that they may have given or promised somthing alreadie in that kinde that they shall make it known to the Council forthwith as also they shall bee bound from the beginning of their employ faithfully to warn their Clients of all such giving or promising ought directly or indirectly to the persons aforesaid and that they must acquaint the Council with what they know or shall discover of that nature all this under pain that the trespasser herein shall bee punished by the Council according to the qualitie and exigence of the matter XXXII And that the Council may the better bee able to attend the affairs concerning the common weal and protection of the Land and not bee hindred therein by the examinations of the processes which may arise against the exorbitances mentioned in the foresaid Articles and which might bee laid to the charge of any one of the Council the Treasurer-General Receiver-General Fiscal Secretarie or any of the Courts and for the preventing of all distaste contention and discord which might arise thereby among the Counsellors themselvs to the prejudice of the common good therefore the Lords of the Courts of Justice here in the Haghe shall bee desired and commissioned in form of Delegation to take jointly together as one Court cognizance of such like exorbitancies as are mentioned above and wherewith any of the foresaid Counsellors the Treasurer-General Receiver-General Secretarie or Clarks may com to bee charged and therein they shall do right according to the tenor of the foresaid Articles so as in their Consciences they shall finde just and fitting XXXIII And the Fiscal of the Generalitie and the Fiscal and Proctor-General of the Court of Holland Zealand and Friesland together or the Fiscal and Proctor-General of the foresaid Court alone in case the Fiscal of the Generalitie himself should stand impeached shall according to the Instructions given him in that regard by Order of the Courts of Justice aforesaid take exact informations of the foresaid Exorbitances and proceed against
Autorized Commissioners And besides in all things to conform our selvs to the Articles of War So truly help us God Almightie The Form of Oath to bee made by all Chief Commanders Collonels Ritmasters Captains Lievtenants under-Officers and all the Souldierie in Garrison within the Province of Holland and Westfriesland not beeing of their Repartition into the hands of the States of that Province or their Autorized Commissioners WEe do promiss and swear to bee true and faithful to the States General of the United Netherlands remaining constant to the Union and in the maintenance of the true Christian Religion and especially to the States of Holland and Westfriesland the Quarters Cities and Members thereof against all their Enemies and for the time wee shall remain in the said Province to bee obedient to the said Lords the States of Holland and Westfriesland or their Autorized Commissioners in what they shall command us for the furtherance of the service and defence of the foresaid Countries and particularly to help to protect and defend the open Countrie of the said Province from all inquaâ—tering and disorder of militarie forces * * Note the words as also unto autorised Commissioners inclusively to bee left out at the swearing of the common Souldier as also not to march within this Province but upon the Patent of the said Lords the States of Holland and Westfriesland or their Autorized Commissioners And beside in all things to conform my self to the Articles of War So truly God Almightie help us The Form of Oath to bee made by the Captains under-Officers and Souldiers into the hands of the Citie-Magistrates where with their Companies they lie in Garrison or are to bee laid respectively I Do promiss and swear * * Note The words with the Companie under mee to bee left out at the swearing of the Lievtenant under-Officers and Souldiers with the Companie under mee to bee true and faithful to this Citie and Magistrate faithfully to serv and obey them in what they shall command mee for the conservation service and tranquillitie of their Citie and particularly against all manner of uproar and sedition of the people saving alwaies the Command which the Lords the States of this Province or their Commissioned Council shall lay upon mee So truly God help mee On the 19 th of June it was found good to desire the Lord Roesveld and other their High M. Deputies that they would effectually once take in hand the business about Corruption formerly treated of and make report of it with all speed possible Jun. 21 o. it was agreed that the Militarie Officers should bee sworn by the Commissioners appointed for the mustering of the Forces under this State The Lords of Friesland caused to bee enter'd in their behalf that they consented no further to the conclusion then that their Militia and Militarie persons should bee sworn upon the form here agreed on by the Lords the Deputed states of their Province from whom they had likewise ever received their Commissions according to the old custom observed there ever since the beginning of this Republick wherein there had hapened no alteration at all by the death of the Prince of Orange Jun. 22 o. the Lords van Ghent Dort Roesveld Wimenum Loo Paets Sonck Aylva van der Beeck Cates Jacob Veet vâ—n der Hoolk Tiassens and Claâ—t took their oath before the the great Assemblie upon the Instruction of Jun. 16 o. for the Lords Deputies in the Ordinarie Assemblie of the Generalitie whereby they are to govern themselvs in giving of Patents to the Souldierie and taking care for the Frontiers of this State the same was likewise performed afterwards by the rest of the Ordinarie Deputies About the later end of June all the chief and subordinate Officers militarie to Captains Lievtenants and Ensignes inclusively beeing summoned and com to the Haghe they presented themselvs in the Ordinarie Assemblie and there took the oath according to the form established in the great Assemblie Jun. 16 o. all of them standing and barehead except onely his Excellencie Count William of Nassaw as beeing Stadtholder of Provinces for whom a chair was set nevertheless taking the oath hee stood and was uncovered The like was don by them all in the Assemblie of Holland For the stopping of the cours of Corruptions there was a Report made June 27 o. importing that a â—olemn Act or Proclamation ought to bee published against the same and an order settled by Resolution That no members of the Government sitting in any Assemblie Court Magistracie or Judicature depending on the Generalitie should suffer himself to bee corrupted or drawn about with receiving or enjoying any gifts bribes and presents from any persons that may have any thing to seek or sue for in any of the foresaid Governments Courts or Judicatures June the 30 th those of Holland Zealand and Utrecht conformed themselvs unto it and the rest of the Provinces were desired to declare themselvs in like manner Whereupon July 1. the Lord Jacob de Vett beeing President at the Great Assemblie it was disposed of and unanimously resolved agreed and consented to That None of the Lords Commissioners at the Assemblie of the States General noâ— Council of State nor Treasurâ—e or Exchequer nor Courts of the respective Admiralties nor the Lords Justices of Braband and Flanders nor their chief Ministers or Officers respectively nor any other resorting under the Generalitie none at all excepted nor their wives children or any in relation to them shall either themselvs or by any other take receiv or enjoy any thing not so much as by transaction sale exchange or otherwise either directly or indirectly beeing a gift or present whatever yea and how small soever the gift or gifts may bee even to eating and drinking wares and that from no person whatsoever whom they know to have any thing to do at the fore-mentioned Assemblie Courts Judicatures whereof they are members or may bee like to get any business there by reason that either for themselvs or other they may pretend sue or have obtained any Charges Offices Benefices or Emoluments Grants Judgments Decrees Resolution about any matter there depending or for expedition's sake under what pretext soever either before or after the Business shall bee transacted or dispatched and if so bee they should have received or enjoy'd any such gift or present from any one whom afterwards they came to understand that they had business in the Assemblie or any of the foresaid Courts or places of Judicature where they are Members chief Ministers or Officers which at the time of receiving of those gifts or presents they were ignorant of that then they ought to give notice thereof to the Assemblie or Courts before named respectively and refrain either directly or indirectly to recommend the business of such to the Assemblie or Courts or any members thereof in person or by others But if it should plainly and manifestly appear that They have wittingly and purposely received or
enjoy'd any gifts bribes or presents in mâ—nner aforesaid either in person or by others That then they shall forfeit their Charges and Offices wherewith they are invested and bee withal declared incapable of beeing employ'd again in any other besides other arbitrarie punishment to bee inflicted upon them And all the members at their first admittance in the respective Courts shall bee bound to swear into the hands of the chief Assessor or President a certain oath to bee framed and fitted for each Court according to its condition And to the end that their Hi. Mi. good intention may take the better effect every one that shall bee able to inform their Hi. Mi. that one or other of the foresaid Government shall have received any such bribes or presents hee shall bee rewarded at least with 600. flor or more according to the circumstance of the thing And of this their H. M. Resolution there were copies sent to all the foresaid Courts to govern themselvs precisely according to the tenor thereof Moreover it was found good by their H. M. to publish the ensuing Proclamation which was forthwith printed and according to the custom of the Countrie published and affixed in all such places where things concerning publick observance were used to bee published The Proclamation so as the same was printed published and affixed follow 's THe States General of the United Netherlands to all such as shall see or hear the reading of this greeting Bee it known That whereas it hath been discovered that som dangerous and pernicious people do so far presume to the great dishonor and vâ—lifying of the chief Government and other Courts of the Generalitie and to the no less grief of the members thereof that having any caus or business at or before the said chief Government or Courts they dare adventure to present or caus to bee presented to the members thereof any gifts bribes or presents wâ—enas on the contrarie they ought to have that opinion of their faithfulness sinceritie integritie and uprightness as the worthiness of their place and function is requiring Wee therefore for due redress hereof do hereby most expressly interdict and streightly prohibite every one of what qualitie or condition soever at any time to present give or promiss directly or indirectly whether by bargain sale exchange or any otherwise to any of the chief Government or other Courts of the Generalitie the Courts of Justice of Braband and Flanders or to their prime Ministers or Officers respectively as also to the Magistrates and places of Judicature resorting under the Generalitie none excepted or to their wives children or to any of their Houshold or to any other having relation to them any gifts or presents of any thing how small soever even of meat and drink-wares for the obtaining or having obtained for either themselvs or som bodie els directly or indirectly any Charges Offices Benefices Grants Judgments Results or Decrees in any kinde of business or for the expedition thereof under what pretext soever upon pain that the Transgressor shall bee condemned to paie a Fine proportioned to or equalizing the value of the matter which hee hath depending either in his own or any others behalf before the said Chief Government or other Courts of the Generalitie the Courts of Justice of Braband and Flanders their prime Ministers or Officers respectively or any Magistrates or place of Judicature resorting under the Generalitie besides other arbitrarie punishment infamie and uncapableness of ever beeing readmitted to any publick charge office or benefice whatsoever and that the same persons shall ipâ—o facto forthwith bee and stand deprived of all such charges offices and benefices as hee may have bear and enjoie and all this without any connivance mitigation or moderation to bee used to himwards the foresaid Fine to bee employ'd and bestowed among the Officers the Informers and the poor for each a third part thereof and the Informers person and name shall bee kept secret besides and if hee were guiltie himself in this kind hee shall have indemnitie And to the end that all this may well and in all parts effectually bee performed and practised the Lords the States of the respective Provinces have promised and assured one another promptly and fully to execute and caus to bee executed within their several Jurisdictions all the Resolutions Sentences and Judgments which by the respective Courts upon address made by Us the Council of State or other Courts of the Generalitie or of the Court also of Braband and Flanders and other Magistrates and Jurisdictions under the Generalitie shall have been pronounced against the Transgressors of this our Act and Proclamation or otherwise to proceed against them upon address as before according to the tenor of the said Act and that without any connivance refusal or delaie for thus wee finde it requisite for the service of the Land and therefore wee do signifie unto and desire the Lords the States the Commission'd Councils and deputed States of the Respective Provinces of Gelderland and the Countie of Zutphen Holland and West-Friesland Zealand Utrecht Friesland Over-Yssell Groninghen and the Omlands the Courts of Justice and Governors in Cities and the open Countrie to caus this our Act and Proclamation to bee published and affixed every where in the usual places Don at the Assemblie of the said States General at the Haghe in the great Hall of the Court of Holland this first daie of July 1651. Attested Jacob Vett vt underneath stood By Order from the same signed N. Ruysch and sealed with the Seal of the said Lords the States General in red Wax The Form of the Patents was agreed on in manner as followeth THe States General of the United Netherlands after advice taken with the Council of State do hereby charge and command Captain to transport himself readily with his Companies Colors and complete Arms upon sight hereof into garrison at within there to keep garrison for a short time and till further order And by the waiâ— hee shall take care that the Countrie people bee no waies molested or damnified Their H. M. enjoining the and Magistrate of the said Citie to furnish the said Companies with lodgings Don at the Hague the By Order of the said Lords the States General Don thus after advice taken with the Council of State By Order of the said Council of State THeir H. M. had desired the Council of State to advise upon the setting down of the Number of Companies which according to their H. M. Resolution of June last 16 Artic. 6 were to bee left in the respective Voicing Province as well for the garrisoning and garding thereof as for the executing of their civil Orders and Commands having first conferred about it with the Lord Field-Marshal and other Militarie chief Commanders In conformitie whereunto having conferred with his Excellencie the Field-Marshal and likewise heard the Lord of Beverweert Serjeant Major General of the Armie and his Excell cie the Stadholder c. and
appointed 13 daie of September after the like Thanksgiving and publick Testimonies of Rejoicing were more generally and largely performed throughout all the Land And after that the managing of all affairs returned again to the Ordinarie Assemblie of the States General The Lords of Holland and Westfriesland had for many years together found and judged the place of their Assemblie very incommodious and mean and observing that by the Deceas of the Prince as Stadtholder most of the upper rooms of the Court of Holland stood vacant they appointed a Committee Octob. 3 viz. the Lord van Schagen of the Nobilitie together with the Lords of Dort Amsterdam Schiedum Alcmaer and Horen to look out for a more convenient place there provided nevertheless that with the fitting of the place so much time might bee taken up as that before the meeting of the foresaid Assemblie there the mourning-year of the Hous of Orange might bee exspired The Lord Cats beeing now 74 years of age had already at several times solicited the Lords of Holland for dismissing of him from his charge of Counsellor-Pensionarie or Advocate of that Province His many acceptable long and faithful services were such as that in regard thereof they were hard to bee brought to grant his request But the great Assemblie beeing ended hee solicited more seriously yet for the obteinment which having gotten at length Septemb. 27 hee fell upon his knees in the Assemblie thanking first Almightie God for his manifold mercies in preserving him all along in so weightie toilsom and hazardous an Emploiment and afterwards the Lords the States of the Province for all their favors by many elegant expressions and wishing them all further happiness bliss and prosperitie Thus the Lord Cats beeing discharged of that place though continuing in his Office of keeping the Great Seal and beeing Deputie of the Fiefs of Holland the Assemblie proceeded instantly to the chusing of another Counsellor-Pensionarie the necessitie and importance of the said Charge beeing so great that a certain learned man called him that was invested with the same in his time the Atlas Belgicae Libertatis Therefore the business admitting no Delay there was that very day chose in his Room by unanimous Voices the Lord Adrian Pauw Lord of Hemstede c. First and presiding Counsellor and Controller in the Chamber of Accounts of Holland and Westfriesland who likewise before that time had served in this Charge and been emploied in divers solemn Embassies with greatest prais and to the special service of this State Next daie after this Election was signified unto him by Beaumont Secretarie to the said Assemblie with desire that his native Countrie standing now more in need then ever of his service hee would by no means seek to wave it and returning afterwards again brought the Instruction along for to examine the same and to lose as little time as may bee offering to amend what might bee found amiss in it In the mean time hee was visited and entreated both in the Nobilitie's and the Citie 's behalf from the Assemblie by the Lord Cats himself and by the brethren the Ministers at the Hagbe for to take the Charge upon him it beeing both their and all good Patriots opinion that such a person of honor integritie faithfulness knowledg experience discretion and autoritie as the Lord of Hemstede was was exceeding necessarie and behoof-ful for the supplying of this Charge to the good and service of this Common-wealth The Lord of Hemstede was very hardly drawn to declare and resolv hereupon and therefore the foresaid Secretarie pressing him further in their N. Gr. M. behalf hee discoursed long thereof and deduced likewise by word of mouth in the Assemblie it self whatsoever hee could to shew the weight thereof and especially in regard the said Charge and Emploiment was subject to great trouble and thankless issues and upon revolutions of times and affairs like to prove very dangerous Therefore hee desired that hee might not bee liable to give account of his doings actions and administrations to any but their No. Gr. Mi. full Assemblie and that likewise hee might bee allowed to have recours if need were to the Courts of Justice in the ordinarie cours thereof without being constreined under any pretext whatsoever to make any appearance plea or answer before any delegated or extraordinarie Judges or before any combined in-landish or out-landish Courts Civil or Militarie or any other Councils Courts or Benches of Judicature here or elswere erected or to bee erected in any place That upon all Events however things might fall out afterwards by either Revolution or mischance hee might keep and effectually enjoie still the rights and privileges of the Countrie of Holland and Westfriesland in general and particularly the privileges belonging to the Citie and Citizens of Amsterdam and that their N. G. M. would bee pleased to confirm the same ex abundanti unless they should think better without prejudice or imminution of the solemn Act hee had obtained formerly from the Burgomasters Governors of Amsterdam to grant him som other favorabl privilege for his farther security against any such sinistrous accident That their N. Gr. M. would bee pleased to vouchsafe him Letters Patents of Protection indemnitie against all violence Molestation Detraction other troubles vexations damages and inconveniencies which by reason of his function might bee put or com upon him in what manner or under what pretext soever with such clauses and proviso's and dispatched in the best form as his Predecessors in office had it and the like was granted heretofore to himself in his former emploiment during the Wars That in regard and consideration of the Commissions and travels laid upon him by the Instruction to perform onely within the United Provinces the better to attend and wait upon the service of their N. Gr. Mi. looking upon his years and forepast manifold Commissions performed forth the Land hee may bee and remain excused from all further Forrein Emploiments and Commissions and that hee shall not bee obliged to the accepting and performing thereof without his own inclination and conveniencie but bee spared in that particular as likewise the same was granted to som of his Predecessors in the same charge heretofore And whereas the Instruction made for the said charge of Counsellor Pensionarie and delivered into his hands by their N Gr M s Secretarie conteined a good number of Articles which partly were not to bee found in former Instructions and partly differed somwhat from the waie and order which their N. Gr. M. had formerly desired should bee observed and that in the execution of som of the Articles of the present Instruction there might likely som difficulties bee discovered That therefore hee might have leav and libertie upon the findeing or meeting with any of the said difficulties or inconveniencies to propound the same from time to time unto their N. Gr. M. as likewise the same was at other times found good and granted by
general it cannot bee presumed the foresaid Prince beeing at that time so highly offended and persecuted by the King of Spain hee should have been disposed then to gratifie Him beeing the Lord of the places aforesaid with any particular advantages it cannot bee conceived in any case how the said King otherwise the First and representing the rest of the Nobilitie in the Assemblie of Zealand should besides that bee able to take Session there in the place of the Prela◠and having voted once in the Nobilities behalf among the States should afterward have power to vote again by means of those Cities in behalf of the Prelat which indeed without palpable contradiction and absurditie and the introducing of manifest confusion in matters of Government can bee mainteined by none Therefore and clearly do shew that the said prerogatives were granted without any regard had to the Lord and onely in the behalf and to the advantage of the foresaid Cities and their common inhabitants by reason of their particular and common interest it is said in express terms both in the Preface and conclusion of the same that they are granted upon the humble petition of the Burgo-masters and Governors and in the none and behalf of the said Cities and their Governors to com together with the common Porteers and inhabitants thereof And to what end namely for the furthering of good Government welfare and prosperitie among them and that they may bee relieved from under the great and heavie burthens which were fallen upon them partly by reason of the necessarie Sea-Works and great arrears of Rents and partly becaus of the warrs against Duke d' Alva and his adherents together with regard had to their good endeavors and faithful services performed by them in that War All which can have and yield no other reflection but to the commonalitie of the said Cities considered apart without admitting of any further extention and so that the same Cities as likewise was touched above cannot lawfully bee deprived of the same through any felonie neglect or delinquencie of their subaltern Lords Which ought to bee of so much the more validitie when reflection is made upon the direction intention and aim Prince William of happie memorie had in granting of the said Charters to the Cities aforesaid namely to compose and frame the Government and civil admin stration thereof as neer as might bee equal to the other Cities of the Earldom as among other appear's ungainsayably by the ensuing Arguments And First by this that there having been of old a Court in the foresaid Cities serving originally to the direction and administration of justice and the same in are likewise before the warr by contract made between the Lords and the said Cities for sake of their Government now by virtue of the express text of the foresaid privileges there is set up and instituted there respectively a formal Court of Common-Council or Citie-Council It beeing well known that as on the one side the Court of justice was formerly set up and emploied by order of the particular Lords according to their letters of investiture so on the other side the foresaid Erection of the Citie-Council there could not bee effected otherwise then with express consent and by the immediate Autoritie of the Earldom That same power beeing one of the most eminent and principal Roialties which belong's to the Princes or States of the land here As therefore wee see likewise that both in these Neighboring-Provinces not onely the Citie Councils themselvs could not bee erected without the special Grant from the Earldom but likewise not the Least amendment alteration or ampliation thereof could bee made without the like Grant and with Unanimous Consent of all the Members after the contents of them were first very ripely and seriously examined And that which is more the remonstrances to this end made by divers Cities are used to bee presented onely by the Burgo-Masters and Common-Council apart with preterition of the Counsellors Who in many places in this countrie have nothing to do with the Government but are onely employed about the exercise and administration of justice As in very truth also there hath ever time out of minde been a special difference in the Cities of this Province betwixt these two sorts of employments and the Common-Councils were originally introduced there distinguished from justice onely for the keeping of the rights and Privileges of the Cities whereunto likewise they are particularly sworn and as by the Lords the States it was very well said in the year 1587 to whom appertain's the power not onely to resolv but also to dispose of all things concerning the state of the Countrie and the Cities Which is the reason likewise Why the Burgo master of these Cities are wont and bound in all businesses of importance to understand the good opinion of the foresaid Common Councils as whereby the Cities and Commonalties for matter of civil Government are properly represented And for the same reasons also is the Election of the said Common-Council in most Cities both of this and Neighboring-Provinces left by Priveleges from the Earls or the State thereof unto the immediate disposition of the Cities themselvs even to the least inclusively Insomuch that it cannot bee shewed by any letters of Investiture or other Feodarie Acts that ever there was any thing of that nature transported or communicated to any vassals of the Earldom much less pretended to or practised by them in any of their Lordships Secondly the foresaid position viz. That it was the intention of Prince William of happie memorie by any means to equalize the two foresaid Lordships with the Cities of the Earldom is evidenced by this that although formerly the Courts of judicature and justice used to bee chosen simply without any Nomination ex arbitrio Dominorum at the pleasure of the Lords the same cannot bee don so now becaus of the foresaid privileges but upon a precedent presentation whether it bee that any Election shall bee needful for the yearly renewing of the Laws 〈◊〉 that the same must bee made by reason of the departure or Deceas of any of the Law-keepers for the supplying of the places which thereby is made vacant And thirdly that though the foresaid presentation and the ensued Election thereupon of the Counsellors may bee made there as well of persons which are of the Common Council of the said Cities as of any one from amid'st the Commonaltie nevertheless the Burgomasters thereof may not bee chosen but out of those which shall bee named of the said Common Councils they beeing the Head of the Government and therefore ought alwaies by known cours to bee of the number of the Common Council which in the Counsellors as was said even now it is not necessarie In regard that on the one side for the administration of good Justice in the general it sufficeth that there are chosen and appointed som understanding discreet and just men but on the other side for
NOTABLE REVOLUTIONS BEEING A TRUE RELATION Of what hap'ned in the United Provinces OF THE NETHERLANDS In the years MDCL and MDCLI Somwhat before and after the Death of the late Prince of ORANGE According to the Dutch Copie collected and published at the Haghe 1652. By LION AITZEMA Concordiâ Res Parvae Crescunt Discordiâ Magnae Dilabuntur Tunc Tua Res agitur Paries cùm Proximus ardet The Principal matters handled herein you shall have in a Table at the end of the Book LONDON Printed by William Du-gard by the Appointment of the Council of State Anno 1653. THE AUTHOR to his READER THe Aim and Drift of publishing this Book is no other then that which those of the present Government here of late professed themselvs see pag. 281. namely to shew and manifest before all the World how regularly and orderly certain principal Charges were supplied when as by their Vacancie hap'ned in the year 1650 the Lion with his bundle of Arrows that is to saie the United power of these Countries seemed heart-broken The ensued Recoverie thereof by an Vnanimous Resolution shewing plainly That Republicks die not The particulars treated here relate much to the Everlasting League and Confederacie made between the Provinces in the year 1â—79 commonly called The Union of Utrecht which therefore shall bee premised to the Work in lieu of a Preface There were sundry Explanations made lately in the Grand Assemblie upon the said Vnion and som Extensions also as will appear in the handling But there was no nearer or streighterVnion made between the Provinces as som abusively held forth in Print and would have made the world believ Farewel The Transaction of the UNION Everlasting League and Agreement between the Countries Provinces Cities and Members thereof hereafter specified decreed at Utrecht and published from the Town-hous there Januarie 29 in the year M. D. LXXIX IT beeing manifest that since the Pacification made at Ghent whereby all the Provinces of these Netherlands stood sufficiently engaged to assist one another with life and goods for the expelling of the Spaniards and other forrein Nations together with their adherents The said Spaniards have with Don John d' Austria and other their Chieftains and Commanders endeavored since by all means and dayly seek to subdue the said Provinces aswell in general as each one apart under their Tyrannical Government and slaverie and both by force of Arms and subtile practices to divide and disjoint the said Provinces and thereby to undo and subvert the Union made between them by the Pacification aforesaid to the utter ruine and destruction of the Foresaid Countries and Provinces in prosecution of which obstinate persisting in their foresaid pernicious design they lately again sollicited som towns and Quarters by soothing letters and others viz. in Gelderland they set upon and surprised by force of Arms. Therefore those of the Principalitie of Ghelders and Countie of Zutphen those of the Earldom's and Countries of Holland Zealand Vtrecht and Frizish Omlands betwixt the Em. and Lawers have found it expedient to enter into a nearer and streighter Vnion and alliance among themselvs not with any intent to separate themselvs from the above-mentioned general Union made by the Pacification of Ghent but rather for the further strenghtning of the same and the better securing of themselvs against all manner of inconveniences whereinto they might bee driven by the feveral practices designs or forcible attemts of their Enemies That the said Provinces might know how and in what manner to carry themselvs for to bee protected and secured against the prevalencie of their Enimie as also for the eschewing of further separations among the foresaid Provinces and particular members thereof the foresaid general Vnion and Pacification at Ghent remaining otherwise in its full vigor In pursuance of the Premisses the Deputies of the foresaid Provinces fully instructed and autorized by their respective principals have agreed and resolved upon the points and articles here ensuing without any purpose nevertheless of withdrawing themselvs hereby from or out of the holy Roman Empire And I. that the foresaid Provinces shall allie confederate and unite themselvs together as by these they do allie confederate and unite themselvs for ever remaining joined together in every regard and manner as if they were all of them but one Province without ever separating or suffering themselvs to bee separated one from another by any Testament-wills Codicils Donation Cession Permutation Sale treatie of peace Marriage or for any caus whatsoever without nevertheless infringing or impairing any of their particular Privileges Freedoms Exemtions Rights Statutes laudable antient customs and observances or any other immunities of any Provinces particular Cities members and inhabitants thereof wherein they shall not onely not hinder disturb or prejudice one another but every one shall by all convenient and possible means yea if need bee with both life and goods help to maintain support and strengthen defend and protect the other therein against all and every one whoever hee bee and however qualified that shall go actually about to prejudice or infringe any of them Provided that the Questions and Debates which any of the said Provinces the Members or Cities belonging to this Union either now hath or for the future may chance to have amongst themselvs touching their own peculiar privileges Freedoms Exemtions Rights Statutes laudable antient customs and observances or any other Immunities the same shall bee decided and determined by the ordinarie Court of Justice arbitration or friendly Agreement without the intermedling of any other Countrie or Province Cities or Members thereof as long as both the interessed disputing parties shall submit to their proper Judges unless it were by interceding for a good accord 2. That the foresaid Provinces shall bee bound in conformitie and for performance of the said League and Union to assist one another with Bodie Goods and Blood against any Force and violence that shall bee attemted against them by any in the name of the King of Spain or in his behalf or under pretence of either whether it bee by reason of the treatie of peace made at Ghent for taking up armes against Don John of Austria receiving of Arch-Duke Matthias for their Governor or any matter relating thereunto depending or ensuing upon it or like to ensue though it were under color onely of reestablishing restoring or introducing of the Roman Catholick Religion by force of arms or for any innovations or alterations hapned within any of the foresaid Provinces Cities or Members of the same since the year 1558 or also because of this present Union and Confederacie or upon any other such like ground and this as well in case the said force and violence shall bee used against any one of the said Provinces Cities or Members thereof apart or against them all in general 3. That the said Provinces shall bee bound likewise in the self same manner to assist and help to defend one another against all forrein and
such undue and unseemly Conditions whenas they pretend notwithstanding to submit the matter to Cours of Law Hee desired therefore once again That this affair might bee taken in hand with all expedition and the Guardianship and Administration of the goods adjudged to his said Elect. High s and her High s his most honored Mother in Law in such sort as the same dâ—th appertain to them according to the Laws and Customs of these Countries for to prevent all further irritation Don Louis William as son to Princess Amalia full sister to Prince Maurice item the Prince of Landsbergh mainteined likewise as next of kin to have right and interest thereto The Prince Elector of Brandenburgh to second the prosecution of his own and her High s his Mother 's in Law pretence and claim sent likewise two of his Clerish Counsel of State to the Haghe It was now Ubi Cadaver ibi congregantur Aquilae Where the Carkass is you may bee sure of Eagles The intention and affection for the young Prince was good no doubt nevertheless it plainly appeared the pretenders or their Ministers aimed besides the pains and care at their own interest and advancement especially the Prince having the placeing of the Magistrate at ter Veer and Flushing and by possâ—ssion though but gratis the whole Membership of the Nobilitie in Zealand at his beck whereby hee had absolutely three of the seven voices among the States of Zealand besides the stately possessions and Towns also though without voice in Holland in Braband and elswhere the Administration whereof could not but procure great autoritie and respect to the Guardians and their Ministers and furnish them with notable opportunities and occasions The States of Holland for to bee rid of these troublesom sollicitations sent all the materials presented unto them unto the Court Provincial not by Commission but onely as a Caus belonging to a Court of Justice to bee decided there if it could not amicably bee composed between the parties which should bee endeavored and within a few daies after the States of Holland agreed and ordered expressly That no person belonging to the Government should bee capable of beeing emploied in the same Guardianship to prevent thereby the raising of one or other particular persons inhabitant to too great a domineering condition over others as by the Princes favors had often happened heretofore According to the Resolution of August 18 there were also at length disbanded and cashiered sour Troops of Hors more and a 1000 Foot and the ensuing List made of paying the Companies Hors and Foot according to their strength Lists of the Companies Hors and Foot and the Rates of their Entertainment according to the strength hereafter specified all by the Month at 42 daies A Troop of Hors Carabins of 60 hors Hors flor 4. The Captain by the Month for Entertainment 250 flor and 4 horses each allowed 25 flor they appearing mann'd arm'd at mustering in all 350 2. The Lievtenant for Entertainment 80 flor and 2 horses as before com's to 130 2. The Cornet's Entertainment 70 flor and 2 horses as before com's to 120 1. The Quartermaster with one hors 45 2. 2 Trumpeters each 35 flor 70 2. One Clerk and one Farrier each 28 flor 56 47. Carabins each at 28 flor with 12 flor for the Corporal 's advantage 1328 60 Hors Sum 2099 flor A Troop of Hors Carabins of 50 hors Men. Officers flor 4. The Captain with 4 horses in manner as before 350 2. The Lievtenant with 2 horses as before 130 2. The Cornet with 2 horses as before 120 1. The Quartermaster with one hors 45 2. 2 Trumpeters each 35 flor in all 70 2. One Farrier one Clerk each 28 flor 56 37. Carabins each at 28 flor and 12 flor for the advantage of 3 Corporals 1048 50 Hors Sum 1819. flor A Companie of 100 Foot-souldiers Men. Officers flor 1. The Captain for himself 150 1. The Lievtenant 45 1. The Ensign 40 2. Serjeants each 24 flor 48 3. Corporals each 16 flor 48 2. Drummers each 12 flor 24 3. One Clerk one Chirurgion one Marshal each 12 flor 36 13. 391 flor 36 Pikes thus flor 1. at 16 2. at 15 30 2. at 14 28 4. at 13 52 13. at 12 156 14 at 11. 154  436 flor 48 Musketiers thus flor 2. at 14 28 6 at 13 78 20 at 12 240 20 at 11 220  566 3. Youths each 8 flor 24 100. Men. Sum 1417 flor A Companie of 65 Foot-souldiers Men.  flor 12. Officers all as before except a Clerk  379  1. at 16 16  2. at 14 28 22 Pikes thus 3. at 13 39  8. at 12 96  8. at 11 81   267 flor 28 Musketiers thus  1. at 14 14 4. at 13 52 12. at 12 144 11. at 11 121  331 flor 3. Youths each 8 flor 24 flor 65. Men Sum. 1001 flor A Companie of 50 Foot-souldiers Men. Officers  1. The Captain at 150 1. Lievtenant 45 1. Ensign 40 2. Serjeants each at 24 flor 48 3. Corporals each at 16 48 2. Drummers each 12 flor 24 1. Clerk 12  367 flor 11.  14 Pikes thus  1. at 16 1. at 15 1. at 14 2. at 13 26 4. at 12 48 5. at 11 55  147 flor 22 Musketiers thus  1. at 14 3. at 13 39 9. at 12 108 9 at 11 99  260 flor 3. Youths each at 8 flor 24 flor 50 Men. Sum. 825 flor Don thus and concluded in the the Council of State Decemb. 5. 1650. J. Eeck vt By Order of the Council of State J. Eyckberg ABove it was said that they of Holland so ordered their Provincial Government as to bee without a Stadtholder or Governor that the Cities should enjoy the choosing of their own Magistrates and that whatsoeÌ„ver hitherto was don by the Stadt-holder should bee don by the States themselvs The Membership of the Nobilitie and the Citie of Leyden shewed themselvs somwhat enclined to the Prince Alcmaer Delft and Rotterdam were the first that sought and obtained a Charter for the free choice of their own Magistrates for it was declared alreadie beforehand that none should bee refused that came to desire it And having the Grant each Citie proceeded according to their own pleasure as it best agreed with every one most of them sorting their Election out of a double Number which the Stadt-holder was wont to do before with the advice of the Council or Court Provincial or in his absence that Court alone by reason whereof the same Court might well have pretended now that it belong'd to them alone and none other But they never did nor durst open their mouths about it The first that arrived in the Hagh of the Provincial States for the Grand-Assemblie were they of Zealand and were streightwaies most kindly welcom'd with som Coaches by the principal Members of Holland as likewise afterwards they were fetch'd again in their Bodie with Coaches to have
nevertheless that the said Commanders and Majors do not take upon them in the same Cities the keeping of the Keies opening and shutting of the Gates or the giving of the Watch-word but that the same shall remain wholly and solely in the power and hand of the Magistrate of the said respective Cities VII As likewise the Majors shall no further exercise or extend the Militarie Jurisdiction in the said voicing Cities then to neglects and trespasses of Marches and Watches running over to the Enemie deserting their Companie or running away from the one to the other without a Pass besides such other excesses and delinquencies which the Officers and souldiers may commit among themselvs one against another and no further so that in all other matters whether criminal or civil the militarie persons or any souldier shall bee apprehendable triable condemnable and executable by the Civil or Criminal Judg in Ordinarie whose sentence also in matter of Debts and such like upon default of goods moveable or unmoveable shall extend and bee executed upon the wages and paie of the partie condemned according to the cours and order of the Land VIII And as for the Governors in the Towns and places having no Voice in the State as at Sluys Berghen op Zoom Hulst Breda the Bosh Willemstadt Mastricht and Wesel the same shall bee disposed by the United Provinces by and according to the usual Commission IX The Commandries of such places shall bee conferred by the State General X. And the Major-ships by the Council of State provided they bee all fit and qualified persons and of the Reformed Religion who together with all other Officers of war shall regulate themselvs according to the Orders of the Land XI Touching the giving Pattents or Commissions and the placing of Garrisons gathering of Leaguers or sending forth any considerable parties to places and upon occasions where the service of the Countrie require's it the same shall bee and remain still in the disposal of the States General with the advice of the Council of State XII Provided that alwaies where any change of Garrison is to bee made the same bee made known to the Provinces Cities and places where the Companies are to bee sent to or taken forth and there bee timely notice given by Letters unto the Provinces where the same Companies are to march through or make their Randevous that order may bee taken accordingly for such marches or Câ—ups and Leaguerings XIII Provided likewise that the State or Government in the respective Provinces if need require shall have libertie each within their own Province to transfer som Companies with Pattents or Commissions from one place for the succor of another which the Officers of the same Companies shall likewise bee bound to obey provided there bee immediately given advertisement thereof to the Generalitie XIV Moreover that the Companies lying at present in Garrisons any where or beeing laid there hereafter they shall bee tied according to the 7 th Article of the Union to swear to the respective Magistrates of the Cities in terms either already used or to bee new framed and where any Companies shall com to lie forth the Cities in the open Countrie for guarding of the streams or the like Oath shall bee made by them to the chief Officers of the said open Countrie XV. Concerning Secret Correspondencie within and without the Land the same shall bee continued and managed by the States General and Council of State by such persons and in such order as may make most for the service of the Land and bee don most secretly and frugally the needful expences whereof shall bee furnished from the Treasurie by the Receiver General XVI As for the deciding and determining of incident questions differences and mis-understandings it would bee advised that the same arising at any time betwixt the Cities and Members of any Province shall bee composed or decided by the ordinarie Court of Justice there in case their Jurisdiction bee well grounded and Commissioners of the Countrie and in default of competent Jurisdiction by such like Commissioners with assumtion of impartial members of som other Court of Justice XVII If there arise any mis-understandings or Differences betwixt two or more Provinces That then the Province pretending to sustein the wrong shall address themselvs to the Assemblie of the States General who shall forthwith seek to dispose the Province complained against to forbearance or friendlie acommodation and that not succeeding to endeavor that from other disengaged Provinces in the matter Commissioners may bee appointed and sent to take off the Dispute or to pronunce sentence upon it XVIII And in Case Differences and Questions should arise among all the Provinces so that they could com to no agreement among themselvs that then there should bee Judges deputed out of the respective Provinces to bring the Questions aforesaid to an amicable Transaction or els to pass sentence upon and determine the same XIX Expressly provided that in the foresaid Case the whole business shall bee so compendified cleared and instructed from all sides that if it bee possible they may bee brought to an issue and dispatch within the space of one month and that withal the parties shall have libertie to refuse all suspected persons on condition that others bee presently supplied in their rooms XX. And the foresaid Commissioners or Judges shall make Oath respectively that they will have no regard or reflexion to any particular Province or Members but impartially judg and pronounce what in equitie shall bee found to conduce most to the tranquillitie and Unitie of the Provinces which Judgment or Sentence shall bee followed and yielded to without any further Exception or Appeal under whatsoëver pretext to bee offered much less allowed of XXI And if so bee that the Commissioners after 2 or 3 summons made by their Hi. Mi. shall fail of having their past sentence effected their Hi. Mi. shall take requisite care and cours that the said Sentence bee not eluded but really executed XXII And there shall neither before nor after bee used or practised any extremities and Acts of hostilitie or reprisals in or among the Provinces XXIII Concerning Religion That the Resolution of their Hi. Mi. agreed Novemb. 6 o. 1646. might still bee adhered to viz. That throughout all the United Provinces and all the Countries and Cities belonging to or associated with them The true reformed Christian Religion shall continue settled so as the same is preached and taught every where at this present in all the publick Churches of these Countries and as it was elucidated by the National Synod at Dort in the year 1619. That the said Religion moreover shall bee maintained in the respective Provinces apart by the power of the Land without suffering any to introduce any alteration in the same Religion That the Placats or Decrees against the Papists formerly published may remain in their Vigor and both those and such others as shall bee published for the future in that
the original foundations thereof And forasmuch as without all controversie there are necessarily required to this purpose three inseparable main-points to wit the Union Religion and Militia and that the Provinces of Gelderland and Holland have presented to your Hi. Mi. som considerations thereupon and chiefly upon the point of the Militia Wee shall likewise in behalf of the Lords the States of Zealand summarily deduce a few Considerations which their N. M. had upon the points of the Union and Religion in particular As for the former your Hi. M. know that as well this grand and Solemn Assemblie as the affairs of this Boards are properly grounded upon the Treatie of the Union made at Utrecht in Anno 1579. That likewise the same Union is originally contracted between the Provinces to the mutual and common protection of all against all both forreign and homebred force and violence Which alone is sufficient to make your Hi. Mi. apprehend of what importance it is that the same Union bee religiously and uprightly mainteined as known to bee the onely Foundation whereupon the glorious structure of this Government stand's settled the onely morter and morteises whereby the walls thereof are cemented and fastned on all sides the advantagious steps and degrees which have mounted it to the present Eminencie and the pillars whereon securely resting it present's it self with so much lustre and pleasantness to the eies of all the world Now as it is almost impossible Hi. and Mi. Lords that the same Unitie shall duly bee preserved if the Members of the Bodie should clash one against the other through inward Dissentions and misunderstandings and that likewise one cannot well conceiv that there should never no differences arise in a Government such as this is composed of seven several free and Sovereign Provinces and each one thereof consisting of sundrie Members and Cities as said is and they again represented by persons of various humors and interests and also governed by different and peculiar Laws Constitutions and Customs that it is scarce possible likewise that by reason of the difficulties of the matters in Deliberation and difference of apprehensions and understandings all things should bee dispatched with unanimous consent and that it happen's oft times that through the discrepancie of opinions especially about essential points there are caused notable Distractions and Contentions unless the same are by provident care and discretion timonsly obviated or prevented so the Lords the States of Zealand wish that in this General Convocation som promt and peremtorie expedient may be thought and resolved upon whereby the Differences at any time arising among the Provinces may either happily bee avoided or expeditely removed Which wee say not Hi. Mi. Lords as if wee feared this Assemblie should bee troubled by any such Disputes and misunderstandings or that if any should happen which God Almightie bee pleased to prevent wee should not bee confident the same might presently bee agreed again by means of persuasion or otherwise but onely that for time to com sufficient order may bee provided against the same and that your Hi. Mi. both in the general and particular having met together in unitie and parted in love the same unitie and loving friendship may for ever bee preserved and continued among you In reading over and examining the foresaid Treatie of the Union wee finde that provision is made in this behalf in distinct manner according to the diversitie of matters first by the IX Article what cours is to bee taken in Deliberations about Truce Peace War namely that therein the Provinces are to conclude with one consent or if that cannot be obtein'd that then the Difference shall be refer'd submitted to the L ds Stadth who shall compose the same between the parties or decide the matter rather by themselvs alone or in case of discrepancie with assâ—â—mtion of som impartial Assistants and Assessors which Disposing is afterwards likewise applied in the 16 th Article for the voiding and taking away of all other Dissentions of what nature soëver they may bee True it is indeed Hi. Mi. Lords that the foresaid power and prerogative seem's to bee given by the contents of these Articles onely to the Lords Stadtholders then in beeing and therefore not to bee extended to the succeeding Stadtholders But as these and other such like clauses are oftentimes put into solemn Contracts and Transactions so they ceas not however but provisionally inserted to bee alwaies obligatorie as long as they are not expressly repealed the meaning of the foresaid clauses beeing onely that if afterwards there should som inconvenience or grievance com to bee discovered about the principal Expedient or Disposition of the Article which they are annexed to that in such a case the Contracting parties shall have libertie passing by or nulling the former expedient to think and resolv upon another as also accordingly the Members of the Union if heretofore they had remarked any difficultie whether about the foresaid submission to the Lords Stadtholders or in their decisions they had power enough to consider and agree together upon som fitter and safer disposition whereunto nevertheless they have not found themselvs necessitated forasmuch as the said Lords Stadtholders beeing of themselvs not much enclined or disposed to pronounce Sentence or make Decisions between the principal Members of such a Considerable Bodie and willing to avoid all occasions of giving offence they have for the most part endeavored to compose the Differences by waie of intercession and persuasion which also for the most part hath well succeeded not onely by reason of the great credit and autoritie the said Lords Stadtholders were invested with but also that the partie reflecting on each side which waie the ballance might happen to preponderate were loth to advenuture upon a Decision and alwaies eschew'd the same But since that same means of respect and intercession ar also of decision at last is com to fail now through the Deceas of his High s of immortal memorie as having been Stadtholder over several Provinces the Lords States of Zealand do wish som remedie may bee thought upon whereby the said Defect may most conveniently bee supplied and that indeed the rather for that by want hereof two of the most principal and necessarie Articles of the Union would bee useless and in vain Wee are not ignorant Hi. Mi. Lords what Expedients there are constituted against such Difficult Emergencies in other Countries and Common-wealths but know as well on the other side how little they would agree with the humor and disposition of this Nation and with the constitution of this Government therefore wee refer to your Hi. Mi. consideration whether in the cases alleged which God Almightie grant may never happen among us for the composing and voiding of Differences betwixt the Provinces it might not prove expedient to desire and make use of som Members of the Provincial Courts of Justice they beeing used and versed in all manner of Differences and
this daie in the Quarters resorting under their Command Wherein nevertheless if your Hi. Mi. should bee otherwise minded and willing to admit a larger sens and construction in that particular of the Treatie of peace The States of Zealand could wish then that it might bee don with such a tolerable Temper and Moderation as may bring least prejudice to the service of the Land and true Religion and take away all scandal as much as may bee As likewise their N. M. desire That the Resolution formerly taken by the Generalitie to the same end and for the same good considerations whereby the Ambassadors and publick Ministers of forain Princes and Potentates are prohibited to admit any exercise of religious worship in their Houses but in the proper language of their respective Lords and Master's may bee renewed seriously revived and roundly declared to the said publick Ministers And lastly That your Hi. Mi. will be pleased to take once som vigorous resolution for an effectual Introduction of Reformation both Ecclesiastick and Civil in the Meyerie of the Bosch and other known Quarters of like nature And to that end duely weigh and review how dear the Conquest of these Quarters bath stood this State what Disputes there have been agitated by the King of Spain about the Soveraigntie thereof and with how much difficultie they were at last asserted to Us what troubles and vexations the beginning of Ecclesiastical Reformation sustain'd there what countermining and opposition were practised against it both from without and from within the Provinces with how much enormitie and insolence the Ministers thereof were assaulted and what helpless remedies there were applied not onely to the contempt of the Government and grief of all the good Inhabitants of the Land but even to the dishonor of the Reformed Religion and provoking of Almightie God What couragious and wholsom Resolutions were there not taken by the Generalitie for the introduction of the Civil Reformation there without which the Ecclesiastick doubtless cannot subsist and how small an appearance is there of any Fruits or Effects thereof nay how have they been from time to time crost travers'd and utterly hindred Wherefore the Lords the States of Zealand desire that courses may bee taken for the surceasing at length of all further opposition against the foresaid Resolutions so solemnly taken and reiterated and tending so much to the maintenance of the Right and Service of the Land and that on the contrarie the same may bee executed and observed so as they are couched in all their points and Articles for the effecting whereof their N. M. in particular do hold themselvs obliged not onely to your Hi. Mi. as their Confederates but even to God himself to Reason and Equitie and to the Good and Benefit of the State in general And nothing doubting of the sincere intention in your Hi. Mi. wee shall praie to God Almightie so to inspire the same with the Spirit of Wisdom that in this great extraordinarie and solemn Assemblie no other Resolution may bee taken but such as shall tend to the honor and magnifying of his holy Name to the confirmation of the Everlasting Union to the establishing of Religion and to the weal and welfare of the Land in general and the joie and comfort of all the Inhabitants in particular Upon occasion of this grand Assemblie where Religion was one of the principal points to bee treated of the Synods of the respective Provinces sent likewise their Deputies who desired audience which was promised them with this proviso nevertheless to make this Proposition short and pertinent At the appointed time they were admitted into the Grand Assemblie five of them in number where standing before the Table all bare-headed Lotius one of the Ministers in the Haghe made an elegant and convenient address suitable to the present occasion and serving for an Introduction and further recommendation of the ensuing Remonstrance which they delivered there in writing subscribed by themselvs To the High Mightie Lords the States General of the United Netherlands THe Ministers of Jesus Christ and Overseers of the Church of God under your Hi. Mi. laudable Government reverently shew That having been informed of an appointed solemn and extraordinarie Assemblie of the United Provinces among other things to consult about settling of Religion They have judged it a dutie of their Charge to rowz up themselvs and therefore could not forbear by virtue of God's Command constreint of Conscience love to the Divine Truth enlarging of Christ's Kingdom and welfare of our Dear Fatherland but in all subjection to present unto your Hi. Mi. these ensuing things in the Name of our Great God Wee shall not need to demonstrate here knowing assuredly your Hi. Mi. themselvs do believ that God Almightie next unto himself esteemeth nothing more pretious and highly then his Church and People beeing the beloved of his Soul for whose sake God hath blessed or punished preserved or destroied whole Nations and Kingdoms according namely as the Governors thereof protected or oppressed His Inheritance and therefore also are all Higher Powers God's Vice-gerents here on earth bound to follow herein their Lord and Master's Example and to exalt Jerusalem above the highest relations in the Land to let their first and nearest care bee that the Relogion whereof your Hi. Mi. make profession and hope to bee saved in may bee settled before all other affairs so as the same was confirmed out of God's holie Word by the National Synod held at Dort in the year 1619 and by the Sovereign Autoritie approved and hitherto through God's grace taught and mainteined in all the publick Churches as the Religion of the Land and the Foundation of the State which therefore ought to bee constantly mainteined by the power of the Land without permitting that any member of the Union or whosoever els should dare to attempt ought directly or indirectly against it as wee do hope your Hi. Mi. will declare and establish the same by an express Act. Now for to mantein and settle the foresaid Religion aright both as to doctrine and practice wee do hold it needful above all things that all Popish Idolatrie Superstition and Hierarchie whereby they take upon them to bestow both Civil and Ecclesiastick Offices declaring all Collations Prebendships and Benefices disposed of by the Governors of the Land for null and conferring them upon others all in hope of som alteration ere long which the Papists have set up everie where in our Land in a sufficiently open manner under the very â—ies of the Governors and Court of Justice and practice in secret yea in som place having their Churches or Chappels trim'd and set with Images and Altars may bee forbidden and rooted out as a Doctrine with the dependance thereof so directly opposite to God's Word the places of the Land the safetie of Religion and the State and the Salvation of souls who by thousands as they boast of it have since the peace been drawn away
persons whatsoëver whom they know to have any business in the Courts or like to have ere long and that as well before as after the said business shall bee dispatched in the said Court and if so bee that any one should have received any such gift of any one who might happen afterwards to get som business in that Court the said receivor shall bee bound then to acquaint the Court with it and to convert the received gifts or the value thereof to the use of the poor in manner as they shall bee directed to do and besides this they shall not bee allowed to bee present at the hearing or debate of his caus and affairs from whom they shall have received the said gifts without special leav from the Court All this under pain that such as shall bee found to have don contrarie to the order aforesaid or any point thereof shall forthwith bee turned out of their places and declared infamous and uncapable ever to bear any charge or office more within the United Provinces the associated countries the Cities and Memberships thereof and stand moreover obliged to restore and bring in the foursould of what in regard of the received gifts and presents they shall have enjoied ard prosited besides their liableness to such other reparations and arbitrarie punishments as according to the Exigencie of things and circumstances shall bee found requisite And the Members of the Court shall on a certain day appointed and the others absent at their first appearance and sitting again in the Court bee obliged before the acting of any other thing to clear themselvs by solemn Oath in the said Court one to another that in and about the foresaid matter they have honestly acquitted themselvs and that they know not at all whether their Wives Children Houshould or any having relation to them have don ought contrarie to the foresaid Order promising that for the time to com they will continue this their uprightness constantly And suffering none to bee admitted to the affairs of the Court before and till such time as hee shall solemnly have made the foresaid promiss and protestation And furthermore they shall bee bound at any other time upon the least occasion thus to clear themselvs the one to the other by Oath as before as also to make such as shall have business at the Court and may bee somwhat suspected to declare by Oath that they neither did nor would give or promiss ought to any of the foresaid persons directly or indirectly And that such as shall bee found to have given or promised or caused to bee given or promised any bribes gifts or presents to anie of the foresaid persons their Wives Children Houshould or to any others in their behalf directly or indirectly either before or after the business shall bee despatched for expedition's sake of the business or otherwise under what pretext soever shall bee sentenced and condemned to 'a fine proportioned or countervailing the worth of the business transacted or otherwise according to the condition and exigencie of the matter And that all the foresaid Fines or Amercements shall bee disposed one third part to the informer's use and the two other thirds to the benefit of the poor although the same excess or corruption should not com to bee discovered till som years after they were committed And to the end that the foresaid grounds may the more effectually bee practised and prosecuted and none of those which have any business at the Courts plead ignorance there should bee hung up a Patent or Brief in a certain conspicuous place at or about the said Court in the Netherlandish French English and Scottish language whereby every one should bee warned from offering giving or promising or causing to bee offered given or promised any gifts or presents to any of the foresaid persons their wives children houshould or to any other in their behalf or regard directly or indirectly under the pains and amercements expressed in the foregoing article As also the Proctors Solicitors and others which are ordinarily attending to bee imployed at the said Courts shall at the day aforesaid or beeing absent then as soon as they shall return to the Court make promiss under Oath not to serv any in the Corrupted way aforesaid nor to their Council their Clients or caus them to bee counsell d to give or promiss or procure to bee given and promised any gifts or presents to any of the foresaid persons their Wives c. But if so bee their Clients should discover unto them any disposition of giving or promising in that kinde as aforesaid that they shall disswade them from it or understanding that alreadie they may have given or promised the like They shall immediately make it known to the Court as they shall bee obliged likewise from the very beginning of their emploiment to give faithful warning to their Clients not to give or promiss ought to the foresaid persons in manner abovesaid directly or indirectly and all under pain if they bee found guiltie of the contrarie to bee punished according to the nature and exigencie of the offence And both the Courts of Justice here in the Hague shall bee desired and formally deputed and Commissioned jointly and together as one Court to take cognizance of such Excesses as are mentioned formerly and shall do right therein according to the disposition of the foresaid articles and as they shall finde requisite in conscience And the Fiscal of the Generality and the Fiscal and Attorney General of the Court of Holland Zealand and West-Friesland jointly together or the Fiscal and Attorney General of the said Court alone in case the Fiscal of the Generalitie himself should happen to bee charged shall according to the instruction to bee given them in that behalf by order of the foresaid Courts of Justice exactly inform themselvs of the foresaid exorbitancies and accordingly proceed against such of the foresaid persons as shall bee held guiltie in this kinde and charge and prosecute the matter to a Definitive sentence which sentence shall punctually bee executed forthwith without any appeal to bee made from it to Us or any other Court sovereign in these Provinces Or if so bee the rest of the Provinces should scruple the foresaid Commission and conceiv that the Members of both the Courts aforesaid beeing daily over busied with weightie affairs so as that they would not bee able with that commodiousness and that exactness to expedite the Differences and Processes which may arise in this kinde as the nature of it requireth in that case the Lords of Zealand should not think it amiss or useless that som understanding learned and discreet persons might bee chosen a Committee for that purpose out of the respective Provinces to whom likewise might bee referred the cognizance and reports of such judicial matters as by Appeal devolv to the Court or Assemblie of the States General and all this by and under such a Commission Instruction and Entertainment as by
High s the Prince of Orange of immortal memorie so it is on the other no small ground of joy among the confederatâ—â— mutually to see and observ the extraordinarie Zeal of seeking and finding out extraordinarie and wholsom Remedie's upon this unexpected accident whereby our dear Fatherland may bee kept secure and safe as well within it self as from without The present Lords of the Province of Over-Yssell have judged it their dutie as Members of the common laboring Countrie to contribute their part also in serving this Illustrious Assembly with their inclinations and considerations for to further the consummation of the foresaid holy work with all mutuall concord and freindship to the uttermost And forasmuch as in this regard there are three inseperable main things without all controversie most requisite and necessarie to wit Religion the Union and the Militia it will bee very needful likewise to consider in what manner and condition the one as well as the other may bee upheld and maintained As for Religion your H M. hath lately January 27. in this present Assembly framed such order that there is no more to bee desired in that behalf onely wee referr to your H. M. consideration whether there could not bee som expedient setled in case the one or other Province should happen beyond expectation to refuse or neglect the executing of Orders formerly published in this behalf and the other points contained in the foresaid resolution and to wink manifestly at the transgressions thereof what means there might bee used then for to keep the failing partie to better performance beeing the said resolution doth make no mention of any and the second point thereof speak's onely of the maintenance of Religion it self without expression any penaltie otherwise then in regard thereof They therefore would advise pondering the sad experience of former times which taught us how much the licentiousness of the Papisls and of other sects and separates in these Countries is able to disturb the desired Union thereof That the Provinces ought mutually to engage themselvs not onely to the observance of all the Articles of the forementioned resolutions but also to use and apply the foresaid penaltie uuto that Member or Province which shall go about to infringe any of the foresaid points or connive at the doing thereof Concerning the Union Their opinion is That the same ought to bee kept holily and unviolahly as it was concluded at Utrecht in the year 1579. But if it should fall out which God prevent that som Questions or mis-understandings should arise betwixt the members in any one Province which formerly by virtue of the Union were decided and taken away and in part yet are by the Stadholders if so bee the Provinces destitute now of Stadholders have no minde to chuse new ones it will bee very requisite in this Case That means bee thought upon and propounded whereby the said defect may most conveniently bee supplied and in this regard wee hold the Propositions made by the Province of Gelder-Land to bee especially serviceable and could rest well satisfied with them Nevertheless under Correction judging it a no less convenient remedie That the parties should bee bound within a certain peremtorie time to choos and submit their questions to a certain number of impartial Arbitrators who not beeing able to agree among themselvs for want of a casting voice they should likewise bee obliged to chuse within a prefixt time a Super-arbitrator for to compose the questions if it bee possible within the term of one month at furthest and sooner in case of urgent and pressing necesitie or in case of deficiencie to decide them upon Instruction And if so bee that the one partie shall not have named their Arbitrators within the term aforesaid then the other which is readie if they bee members of one Province may desire and have granted them others But if they bee members those that should caus the voices to fail or Province against Province then both to bee don by the States General within time limited and if the same should happen among the Provinces together then such Arbitrators to bee chosen out of the one or the other Court of Justice in these United Provinces It would likewise bee very expedient to bethink our selvs how to make these and the like Orders when setled once to bee readily and really obeyed The execution of what by sentence should bee determined in manner aforesaid wee should think fit to bee remitted to the Generalitie after the third summons gon before The tranquillitie of the confederates requireth likewise that neither before nor after there should bee any extremities reprisals or acts of hostilitie used by in or among the Provinces Touching the point of the Militia wee should conceiv that the disposition thereof ought to bee recommended to the Assembly of the States General with advice of the Council of State upon such Instructions as by common consent of the Confederates shall bee agreed on Holding it needful likewise to frame an instruction for a Chieftain over the Militia nor to bee concluded but with common consent of all the Provinces and the time of election to bee ripely weighed and nothing determined therein but at the least with the consent of five Provinces The persons Wee judg should bee elected then by plurality of voices That all Chief Offices in the Armie which heretofore were at the disposal of the States General or his High s unto the charge of Colonels exclusively should hence forward bee left to the disposition of the Provinces who should send in their advices about it to the Assemblie of the States General All other Militarie offices of Colonels Lievten t Collon ls Serjeant Majors Rit-Masters Captains aud inferior charges formerly disposed of by the absolute pleasure of his High s without any nomination to him presented shall hereafter without difference of In or Out-Landish ones bee disposed of by the United Provinces and equally distributed among them The Commanders and Majors in the Cities and Forts of the Provinces having voice in the Stae where the same are vacant and requisite their places to bee disposed absolutely by the same Provinces upon Commission of the States General or Council of State with that proviso nevertheless that the same Commanders or Majors shall in no wise pretend to the keeping of the keyes opening or shutting of the Gates but that the same shall wholy and soly remain in the disposing of the Magistrates of the said Cities and places Among the foresaid Major-ships there are not to bee comprehended heer any such as hitherto have been by the appointing of the Cities themselvs which ought to bee left to what hitherto they enjoied The Commanders aforesaid in the voicing Cities shall no otherwise exercise or extend the Militarie discipline then for neglects and trespasses in marches and watches running over to the Enemie deserting their Companies or shifting from one Companie to another without pass together with such other Exorbitancies and delinquencies
desired the High Court formerly to autorize the Princes Counsel for satisfying of them Her High s commended it to the care of the Princess Royal to finde the monies for satisfying of the Creditors and would bee very glad those honest people might receiv content once But there beeing no End of those Deputies and the prejudice and dammage on all hands thereby but increasing there were very great endeavors made to bring the parties to an Accommodation One of the special Difficulties was That the Prince of Landsberg was likewise declared Partner in the Guardian-ship Nevertheless August 13. an Agreement was procured wherein the Prince was silently past by it beeing presupposed that it would bee but troublesom to him to attend the administration here at his own Charges though it had been offered The said Agreement beeing signed the Princess Dowager went that evening yet beeing Sunday forth the Highe towards Aken for her health's sake without seeing the Princess Royal. After her Departure there arose new disputes like to undoe all afresh which yet was allaâ—'d again so that the Agreement stood the sum whereof was That the Princess Roial and the Pr. Elect. of Brandenburg together with the Princess Dowager of Orange had friendly agreed about the Guardian-ship of the Person and Goods of his High s the young Prince of Orange on condition 1. That the Princess Royal as Mother should have as much Autoritie alone as the other two partner-Guardians together 2. That all shall bee administred with common advice jointly for the conservation of all his Rights Goods Domeyns 3. That employing all his Revenues to his advantage they shall agree together how much to allow for yearly expences 4. That the Questions about the Principalitie of Orange shall bee left to Decision of both the Courts of Justice jointly together with som other codicillarie dispositions and things to remain in the interim in statu as they are and nothing altered but with common advice and consent 5. That neither partie shall refuse or act contrarie to the Determinations of the foresaid Courts of Justice in no wise nor by no pretence whatsoëver 6. That the Election of Magistrates Collation of Offices and Benefices belonging to his said High s shall bee divided in two parts and by lot adjudged to the parties 7. Except that the Election of the Magistracie and Collation of Offices and Benefices at Flushing and resort thereof shall bee left wholly to the disposing of the Princess Roial and that of ter Vere to the Elector and Dowager 8. That the former five Counsellors shall bee continued by new Commissions and two new ones added one by the Princess Roial and the other by the two other Guardians 9. That the Counsellors and other Council-Officers shall bee supplied and chosen by turns the Princess Roial beginning for the Office of Secretarie and Treasure and the two other Guardians beginning for the rest of the Offices of the said Council 10. That all Collations of Charges Offices and Benefices shall bee dispatched and issued in the name of the young Prince and by Commission of the joint-Guardians 11. That all Offices Magistracies and places shall bee on all sides bestowed upon honest and qualified persons according to the Rights Privileges and Customs of the Countries and without any Nundination whereof the said persons are to purge themselvs by Oath 12. All emergent Differences to bee referr'd to 4 persons to bee chosen by the Princess Royal and two by the two other Guardians and those 4 to choos a fist if need bee for the casting Voice 13. That all former Questions and Differences shall hereby bee void dead and null 14. That all these points and Articles shall bee subscribed by the parties interessed passing their princely word for the inviolable keeping and performing thereof Hereof there were drawn two authentick Copies at large and the one signed Maria the other Amidia Princess of Orange However there beeing no mention made in this Agreement of the Cabinet the same gave occasion of a new dispute The Princess Roial pretended that according to this Agreement shee was not bound to produce the Cabinet that in it there were likewise som Secrets which it was not fit for her to reveal or divulge The others said that by the Agreement there could not bee taken away that whereof the Agreement made no mention at all and that according to the Laws all Guardians are necessarily bound to produce and deliver up the Inventaries At length the Princess Roial was perswaded to restore the Cabinet as shee did upon their princely word And thus the business of the Guardianship being once concluded and adjusted a farther address was made thereupon to the Spanish Ambassador le Brun for the completing of the draught of the Treatie made with the late Prince of Orange And although the said Draught was made at that time more advantagious for the Prince the Spanish beeing somwhat jealous still the Prince might otherwise encline too much to the French and now hee was dead they might have taken the opportunitie of protracting the work or at leastwise new-molding it yet the Spanish shewed themselvs generous in keeping the former draught unaltered and bringing it to perfection the same consisting in these three points 1. That the Prince of Orange shall bee put and remain in full possession and proprietie of all his Goods Domains and Lordships situated under the Sovereigntie of his Majestie of Spain and specified in the Treaties made at Munster howbeit and notwithstanding that they were destinated as appear's by the said Treaties to serv and take place for the Exchange and permutation of the Marquisate of the Bergh op Zome with the dependances thereof in regard of the difficulties and contestation about the same 2. For the further satisfying of the surplusage of the value and making amends for the importance of the said Marquisate there shall bee furnished to the said Prince's profit and really delivered by Ambassador Le Brun in the behalf of the King his Master the sum of five hundred thousand florens at 20 fouls each flor to bee paiable either here at the Hague or at Amsterdam at the choice of the said Ambassador in two paiments viz. the 200000 flor immediately after the signature of the present agreement by the parties contracting and the other 300000 flor within five months after 3. That besides the paiment of the said 500000 flor there shall bee assigned to the profit of the said Prince a yearly Rent of fourscore thousand flor likewise at 20 souls each flor paiable every year either here at the Hague or at Amsterdam at the choice of his Majestie and according to the common cours of the Coin then at the said places when successively year by year the said paiments shall bee made The interests of which rent for the profit of the said Prince beeing to begin their cours from the same time of signing or dating the present Agreement aud contract the Capital and Principal thereof may
in the Netherlandish French English and Scot's language whereby every one shall bee warned to beware of presenting giving or promising directly or indirectly any gifts or presents to any of the foresaid persons their Wives Children Families or any one in their behalf on pain of the fines and punishments exprest in the foregoing article as likewise the proctors attorneys sollicitors and others usually emploied before the foresaid Council shall upon the tuesday abovesaid or then absent at their first return to the Haghe make promiss to the Council by oath that they will not suffer themselvs to bee employ'd nor give nor caus to bee given advice to their Clients of presenting or promising ought in the manner abovesaid to any of the foresaid persons their Wives Children Families or any other in their behalf directly or indirectly but in case they should perceiv their Clients disposed to make or promiss any such presents to any of the said persons that they will dissuade them from it or in case they came to know they had already given or promissed the like that they will forthwith acquaint the Council with it as also they shall bee bound at the beginning of their emploiment by any faithfully to warn them that they give nor promiss nothing in that kinde to none of the persons aforesaid directly or indirectly and in case they had don it already to acquaint the Council with it themselvs on pain of incurring the censure and correction of the Council if they shall bee found to have don contrarie to the Orders aforesaid XXXIX And that the foresaid exorbitancies may duly bee found out and the guiltie punished according to desert the Fiscal of the Generalitie shall narrowly observ the action of the foresaid persons and if so bee that hee suspect any of the Substitutes Clerks Controllers of fortifications or inferior attendants of the Council hee shall by order of the Council inform himself against them summon them before the Council proceed against them and prosecute the business to definitive sentence and further afterwards to the execution thereof XL. And if so bee that suspicion fall's upon any of the Council the Treasurer General Receiver General or Secretarie of the Council then the Fiscal of the Generalitie and the Fiscal and Proctor General of the Province where the Council shall reside both together or suspicion falling upon the Fiscal of the Generalitie himself the Fiscal of the foresaid Province alone shall by Order of the highest Court of Justice there inform him or themselvs against the same summon them before the said Court of Justice make them Process state and order the same and if it concern the Treasurer General or Receiver General or Fiscal or Secretarie of the Council prosecute them before the said highest Court of Justice to the Definitive sentence and if the matter concern any of the Counsellors themselvs the Process beeing rightly stated and formed shall bee sent to the States of the Province to which hee belong's they having taken upon them themselvs there by ordinarie cours of Justice to determine the business according to the tenor of the foresaid Articles within six weeks after the receit and the sentences pronounced in the foresaid cases shall have their full cours and effect without allowance of appeal thence to our selvs XLI All Commissions Orders Discharges Instructions Letters and Dispatches shall bee attested with the full name of the Counsellor President and beeing attested thus shall bee signed by one of the Provinces or som other of the Council and all this on condition the said expeditions bee found of necessarie importance by the Council and afterwards subsigned likewise by the Secretarie of the Council without suffering the same to com into other hands or communicating them to others then those of the said Council and the Secretarie shall keep good and exact Registers or books of Remembrance of all Resolutions and Conclusions about matters and causes agitated and concluded in the said Council at least such as are of any importance and notable consideration with setting down the names of the Lords present and the matters and causes beeing once determin'd and resolv'd upon by common consent or most voices all those of the said Council indifferently whether they were present or absent of the same or a contrarie opinion they shall without any gainsaying apply themselvs to the well-managing effecting and mainteining of the foresaid conclusions and resolutions XLII The foresaid Council finding it needful at any time to summon or call the respective Confederates they shall communicate the same to the Assemblie of the Ordinarie Deputies at the Generalitie and desire such a call or summons to bee made inserting the points serving to that end and in case the said Deputies should happen to make difficultie thereof the said Council is autorized hereby to present their justification to the respective Provinces themselvs with the like insertion of the reasons and motives of their desire and in case of appearance it shall not extend to any prejudice of their privileges not to bee called or summoned forth of their Provinces XLIII The Residence of the foresaid Council shall with the good liking of the Ordinarie Assembly of the States General bee kept in a convenient and secure place of the United Provinces without beeing obliged to remain in a certain place precisely but still assemble there where the service and common interest of the Land and the special direction of the Militarie affairs require it and of the foresaid Council there shall at all times whiles divers may bee absent in Commission or otherwise remain in the place at the least five Counsellors of several respective Provinces that so the service of the Land may still bee duly attended XLIV The Entertainment of the Counsellors is left to the disposition of the respective Provinces whence they are sent wherewith they are to content themselvs without bringing any extraordinarie charge upon the Countrie besides Freights and Convoyes and such appointments as shall bee made and ordeined in that behalf And if any of the Council com to die or leav his place another able person and acceptable to the States General shall bee named by the Province whence hee was sent and taken in by Commission from the States General XLV Besides the Council there shall likewise bee enterteined a Treasurer and a Receiver General with certain wages for them XLVI And a Secretarie at 800 pounds Flem. per an and with such instructions as the States General by advice of the Council of State already made or shall make hereafter XLVII The Dispatches of matters belonging to the Disposition of the foresaid Council of State beeing of that importance and consideration that before the wars they were usually expedited in the Name of the former Princes of these Countries they shall bee made and issued in the Name under the Seal counter-Seal and signet of the States General of the United Netherlands by advice of the Council of State with this
judg by what hath been deduced with what right and to what end our foresaid righteous proceedings were opposed and affronted still in such a violent and detestable manner holding and reputing the same for an high attemt against the dear-bought Freedom and free-sought Eminencie and Sovereigntie of this Province The same Freedom consisting chiefly and principally therein that wee as the Protectors of our good Commons and beeing set over them as Fathers or Guardians over their Children or Orphans shall not bee surcharged against our wills with unsufferable burthening of our Subjects especially when wee do know that without any disservice of the Land they may bee eased thereof as likewise the grievance of the tenth and twentieth penie endeavored by the King of Spain to bee introduced malgree our forefathers the lawful Governors of the Land gave just caus of and was a great ingredient in the taking up arms against him and afterwards abjuring his Dominion over us whenas wee formerly shewed at large that the foresaid whole business was taken in hand by Us upon this sole occasion that wee would not charge our selvs and poor Commons with such burthens as wee judged according to the foresaid constitution of times not to bee very necessarie And another thing wherein this Freedom doth likewise especially consist beeing this that the Respective Commons or Commonalties of the Cities each within themselvs and their Deputies and Commissioners at our State's-Assemblie should hold their Deliberations and utter their advices freely without beeing awed hindred or molested therein in which regard on the one side by the foresaid Sending and especially the Comminatorie Propositions made in divers Cities and by name at Dort and on the other side by the seizure of the Lords this Freedom hath been infringed and prejudiced in the highest degree Besides that by the foresaid acts the Eminencie and Sovereigntie of this Province was violated to the utmost and especially thereby that the highest and chiefest Government and consequently the Sovereigntie it self was directly and immediately set upon by the arrest and and detention of the six Lords and that the State 's forces were in hostile manner led against integrating members of our Sovereign Assemblie and even against the mightiest weightiest and considerablest of all this Province All the said proceedings beeing likewise directly against all the Laws Rights and Privileges of the Land both in regard that the foresaid Arrest and detention was don by them who though all the charges of the foresaid Paper against the Persons had been as true as they are not were not in any degree warranted or qualified to do such a thing and besides without any shew of process or form of Justice and without any foregoing information and more especially yet that the carrying away and incarceration of them in the hous of Loevenstein was don without any precedent sentence or judgment given in that regard without cognisance of the matter without hearing without plea without Law onely by bare force and meer violence Whereunto is to bee join'd that both the foresaid six Lords and som others within the Citie of Amsterdam were forced to abstein from all Government and to abandon their respective charges which is likewise directly contrarie to all the known Privileges of the said respective Cities and especially in regard of those persons which had the honor to bee Members of their Senates who according to the privileges thereof could not bee put out thence all their life time but must remain and continue therein to their dying daie unless they forsook the Land or were put out by court of Law And further also both the Imperial written Laws and even the Common Right of all Nations beeing grossly transgressed in this that on the one hand the foresaid six Lords had in all the affair above-mentioned and deduced in the foresaid Paper of his High s the Prince of Orange of immortal memorie don nothing of their own head but all by Order and Commifsion from the respective Senates their Principals as som of those Senates instantly and the rest have fully declared and manifested unto us and on the other that the said Lords cannot bee otherwise considered then Deputies or Ambassadors and in that qualitie were not in capacitie to bee arrested for executing their Orders even by the Law of Nations All which might bee deduced and asserted more at large yet with an infinite number of reasons examples and other arguments but that wee hold it needless to enlarge our selvs further in regard of the undoubted and palpable veritie before our eies Lauding and praising onely Almightie God in the inwardst of our souls That most unexspectedly without any helping hand of our own hee hath through his wonderful operation so mercifully delivered us out of all these troublesom perplexities and difficulties and withal restored again such an Harmonie Concord Love and mutual confidence and Affection between the General Confederates and thereby recovered the state of the Land from utter confusion and imminent ruine to such a settledness as wee could hardly have dared to exspect from his Almightie hand without presumtion Beseeching him from the bottom of our hearts that it may bee his favorable pleasure to continue the gracious blessing of his upon these Countries for all times to com and to grant unto us such wisdom guidance and discretion and withal to inspire us with that zeal and courage that duly acknowledging the foresaid mercies wee may henceforward so minde and improve the publick affairs of the Land and in all troublesom occurrences so tender and attend the weal thereof that wee may leav the state of the Land and the Government to our Posteritie in the same assurance libertie and freedom as God hath put the same at present into our hands Don and determined thus in our Assemblie 1651. They of Friesland then as was said having propounded and likewise presented a Draught of an Amnestia or Oblivion Julie 20 the same was next daie after committed to the Lord van Omeren and others of their H. M. Commissioners for the Conciliatorie Conferences to draw up a Project or Form of an Amnestia The same Lord van Omeren and the rest brought in then also the ensuing Advice for the deciding of Differences if any should com to arise among the Provinces wherewith these of Gelderland Zealand and Over-Yssell conformed themselvs upon liking of their Principals as those of Holland did absolutely Friesland and Groninghen with the Omlands were desired to do the like The tenor of the said Advice was as followeth I. IF so bee that any Disputes or Differences arise among the joint Provinces in matters where the major Votes have no place according to the Articles of the Union that then there shall bee chosen an unpartial able peaceable and expert man in affairs of State out of every Province to the number of seaven to assay the way of friendship betwixt the parties and the same not succeeding the differing Provinces shall
of Orange of famous memorie and held in the General Assemblie of the respective States of the United Provinces extraordinarily gathered here in the Haghe are with unanimous consent and full content of all the United Provinces happily ended Therefore the respective States of the Provinces of Gelderland Holland Zealand Utrecht Friesland Over-Yssel and Groninghen with the Omlands for to eradicate the thoughts of the foresaid distempers out of the remembrance of both the present and future Ages and to make the foresaid Bond of Concord Love Confidence and Affection the faster and indissoluble and therewith to conclude this Illustrious and Great Assemblie of the joint Confederates have declared and do declare by these that neither now nor ever they shall or will remember any thing happened in the foresaid year 1650 nor shew any resentment of the matters aforesaid against any Provinces Persons or Houses in general or particular however qualified but on the contrarie forget all as if the same had never happened holding to that end the foresaid Resolutions of June 5 and 6 aforesaid as not taken and withall for null and invalid as likewise whatsoëver by virtue and pursuance thereof was don And for further confirmation of whatsoëver is said before there shall bee put out razed and taken forth out of the publick Registers as well of the Generalitie as of the respective Provinces all the Resolutions Acts and Agitations taken in behalf of the matters aforesaid and inserted there Don thus and declared by the foresaid Lords the States of the respective United Provinces in the great Hall of the Court of Holland this nineteenth daie of August 1651. Attested J. Young van Oosterland v t Underneath stood It agreeth with the Register N. Ruysch And thus this Great and Extraordinarie Assemblie of the Confederates was unanimously and with full content concluded and ended All other affairs beeing remitted to the Ordinarie Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. and heartie thanks were returned to the respective Provinces for the good care seriousness and zeal which during these important Deliberations they had contributed and testified for the good of the Common States interest as likewise God Almightie the source and fountain of all good prai'd and besought from the inwardst bowels of all their hearts and reins that hee would bee pleased according to his fatherly goodness and undeserved mercie to keep them knit together and bless the state of these Countries with all Benediction prosperitie and welfare and the Governors thereof especially with upwright love Unitie mutual friendship and Confidence indissolubly and ever more Furthermore their Hi. Mi. agreed that the said Assemblie should bee concluded as also it was on Munday August 21 with a Sermon of thanksgiving performed by M r Streto one of the Ministers at the Haghe whereunto were invited all the Courts of Government Justice Treasuries besides the Ecclesiastical Senate residing here At last there was appointed a general Thanksgiving-Fast and Bid-day to bee kept throughout all the Provinces associated Countries Members and Cities thereof against Wednesday September 13. next ensuing And this same day there was likewise all the Cannon discharged all the bells rung and Bonefires made in token of the publick joie and satisfaction The Lord Counsellor Pensionarie Cats who at the entrance of this great Assemblie Januarie 18 had made the first speech in Holland's behalf made likewise this at conclusion High Mightie Lords THat every thing hath its time was advertised long before our times unto all men by the wisest King of any time In regard whereof it may bee observed that in all worldly or humane affairs there is a time of meeting and a time of parting again There never meet 's so loving and sweet a societie but at length it is determined by parting again This beeing the condition of all assembling according to the ever variable condition of mankinde here below there can bee no better cours taken in our judgment at meetings then to consider of and endeavor for a fair parting or good farewell after Experience hath shewed in all ages That the greater Assemblies were alwaies subject to the greater dangers of heavie and grievous Accidents and very frequently the causes of them This inconvenience common almost every where ariseth doubtless especially from the inbred varietie of men's inward Disposition and som other outward accidents joining with it Nay experience hath often taught that in the very purest Assemblies even where things divine and heavenly were treated of they could seldom hit upon an unanimous Consent of any Conclusion whereof there are innumerable Examples obvious every where so that it may bee easily proved The caus hereof is the great Difference of the humors of those which meet at the foresaid great Assemblies who as they differ in their outward feature garb and manner of acting the one from the other so they are found to bee altogether as discrepant and unlike one another in their inward Dispositions Judgments and Conceptions Wee see this Illustrious Assemblie here consist's of a very great number of persons but that among them all there are not two to bee found which perfectly resemble one another in the Lineaments of the Face the posture of the outward members or the habitual kinde of mooving them The Diversitie is as great within So that such a great Number of Men meeting together and there beeing oftimes besides these Natural Diversities many different aims and several particular interests playing under covert thereof it must bee counted a very great wonder when ever so great an assemblie come's to bee ended with an unanimous Conclusion There never was so good a feast That some sat not at eas at least As the proverb goe's Men have usually the disposition of Sea-water put that into a small vessel and it stand's still there and unmoveable as it were But in the open sea the assemblie of waters the least winde doth rear and stir and swell the waves past measure Men in the precinct of their own houses State Province may peradventure remain or bee kept in quiet but the greater the assemblie is the more mutual stir and striving there is found of one against the other Where I pray is that Kingdom Countrie Province Citie village neighborhood hous Cottage nay in a hous but man and wife to bee found all or alwaies of one and the same minde yea where is the man that finde's not another man within himself of contrarie bent and disposition Nunquam bella piis nunquam certamina desunt E◠quocum certet mens pia semper habet i. e. Good men want never war nor strife Whiles they are wandring in this life So that it is no wonder that men coming together out of several Provinces countries and places there should bee a great diversitie in their thoughts and judgments one from the other Distance of place usually causing discrepancie of humors and dispositions Tales sunt hominum mores qualis pater ipse Jupiter auratâ perlustrat Lampade terras
i. e. Men's manners humors and condition Do follow their Sun's disposition And if any such great assemblie do happen to end peaceably and with one consent the same must bee ascribed onely to the goodness and blessing of Almightie God There have been transacted here according to the constitution of aflairs manie difficult and different matters consisting especially in three Capital points viz. the Religion the Union and the Militia and things depending thereon as likewise an Amnestia or Act of oblivion of several very troublesom accidents happened heretofore and such an intricate business as that was and all the toilsomness and tediousness of it was wrapt in hath nevertheless been overcom in friendship and loving affection and all is terminated and concluded now with concord and content and therefore your Hi. Mi. justly found good that not onely here in this place there should bee a thanksgiving celebrated to God Almightie whereunto should bee called likewise all the Courts of Government residing here but likewise that throughout all the United Provinces and associated Countries a certain day should bee set apart for a general Thanksgiving-Sermon and Prayers fitted to the occasion for to give God the honor of this High and unestimable mercie For who els should have the prais returned to him but that good God who hath so bountifully poured forth his spirit of concord over this Illustrious Assemblie and conducted all to this happie Issue Especially in the point of the Amnestia Hee that reflect's upon the business as it stood a twelvmonth ago would hardly see any grounds but such as were laid for an everlasting quarrel nay even at the beginning of this very Assemblie there fell things out and continued during the same which might have turned all upside down and produced a clean contrarie disposition to what now wee see To forgive forget and never to remember wrongs is no common practice or easie work it is a thing above Nature and the finger of God Honored and praised bee all those which contributed their good thoughts and endeavors this way Now for us to keep in fresh memorie all the memorable things transacted here in this Illustrious Assemblie the verge Localitie a means of antient observation of this place that is the Situation and structure thereof may bee of singular use unto us Those which are conversant about the Art of Memorie or Remembrance for to strenghthen the same that many things may firmly bee retained by it they use to make impressions into their scholars by a representation of imaginarie pictures placing the same upon the walls windows or doors where the scholars are practising as divers L ds here in the assemblie may know and remember by their own former experience If therefore wee will carry home with Us what good our Good God hath in this place bestowed upon this State let us but imprint in our memories the structure and Situation of this Building and carrie that along with us For comming to it from without and drawing near the entrance of this great Hall You have on the one hand a Hous devoted to God's Worship viz. a Church where the word of God is dayly taught the impression of which sight will present to your minde beeing never so far off what hath been treated and concluded here for the good of the true Reformed Religion by their H. M. in this place Beeing entred into the Hall You meet there on the one side an ascent to the place where the Assemblie of the Lords the States General is wont to bee kept and by that every one shall bee able to refresh his thoughts with what was transacted here for the good of the Union and concerning the State-affairs of the United Provinces On the other side there are the steps and passage to the place where usually the Court Provincial is seen to exercise it's function in matters of justice whereby wee may bee put in minde what was resolved and found good by this Assemblie for the furtherance and maintenance of justice On the other end there is the way or entrance into the chamber of accompts and chamber of feudarie matters which will prompt to your memorie what was wrought here at the Assembly in the behalf of the Treasurie and the dutie of vassals and other subjects of this State The Colors Standards Flags and Cornets waving over our heads here are so many Bliss-tokens of the victories vouchsafed unto this State by God Almightie minding every one of us at any distance with what heedfulness things concerning Militarie matters and functions together with their dependencies were here debated and concluded on by the Assemblie for common securitie which may likewise rouz up every one to true thankfulness due to Almightie God for the manifold mercies by him bestowed upon us Casting our eys up to the very arched roof of this Stately fabrick wee cannot spie upon any of the beams rafters laths and other Carpenters-work all along there the least webb of any Spider the nature of the pure materials enduring no such vermin The spider is an insect having a vast bellie and long rakers using to spread their net abroad at large to catch all they can Your Hi. Mi. have taken very notable resolutions against all Baseness and corruptions used heretofore about the Administration of Government and justice The remembrance whereof will bee renewed as often as wee think upon the cleanness of this fabrick All this then beeing past thus through God's gratious blessing and so great a work brought to an unanimous conclusion Their N. G. Mi. my Lords the States of Holland and West Friesland return most serious and serviceable thanks to this whole Illustrious Assemblie and to every member thereof that upon their desire and friendly invitation their N. M. were pleased to repair to this place for the good of our common Fatherland and this day to assist so manie weightie consultations about it Their N. G. Mi. most earnestly desiring all and every Member of this present Assemblie to part hence and return home with as good and sincere an intention as their N. G. M. had before their eyes and in their hearts at the undertaking of the Work Giving thanks at last to the onely good and merciful God for his gracious blessing abundantly powred forth upon the whole emploiment of this great Assemblie which Thanksgiving they exspect will bee performed more at large anon by M r Streto one of the Ministers of the Word of God here in the Haghe this forenoon yet in this very place as will likewise bee don throughout all the Provinces at the daie appointed The same Thanksgiving Sermon and a devout praier thereupon performed in the place aforesaid by M r Streto and in their Hi. Mi. behalf one thousand Rixdollers brought by Secretarie Ruysch to the Deacons of the Haghe for the poor thereupon the great Assemblie parted and in the evening all the Bells were rung and all the Canons discharged in token of rejoicing as also on the
other matters politick by special Title devolved or granted to them from the Lord or such affairs as do concern the Province and the state of the Countrie committed unto them by the Soveraign Government as integrating Members thereof All these respective Functions Employments and Deliberations beeing quite different and severed from the Right of electing the Magistrates persons belonging to the Marquis By all which it having been unanswerably demonstrated that the Right enjoi'd hitherto by the Princes of Orange of happie memorie over the Cities of Flushing and Veer in respect of their Magistracie and Civil Government hath been exercised by them Not as Stadtholders of the Earldom but as Marquises and Lords over the said Cities By virtue of their own and domainial Right by lawful Title acquired to themselvs from the Earls of Zeland And confirmed by a peaceable and uninterrupted possession of the Predecessors Lords of Veer and Flushing for about two hundred years And that therefore by the Death of his late High s of happie memorie the same Right is no waie and in no part devolved or relapsed into the Bosom of the Earldom By reason whereof all the Provision com's to surceas and fall to ground of it self which the Lords of the Commissioned Council in the forementioned seventh point of intimations desired of and commended to your N. M. As also doth the Project of the Reiglement transmitted to your Nob. Migh after the foresaid Considerations And in case your N. M. should have conceived any further scruple yet from the foresaid considerations about the Domainial Right of his High s yet Their High ss the Guardians of the Prince-Pupil are confident your N. M. will forbear to dispose or determine ought in that behalf But it beeing no affair of State to remit the whole business to the Court of Justice thence to receiv its determination and accomplishment This Counter-Remonstrance beeing presented at the Assemblie of the States of Zeland Novemb. 9. The Counsellor Pensionarie of the Countrie propounded next daie after whether it would not bee fitting and expedient to proceed therein with all due Circumspection and equitie that the Lords of the Council should ripely examin the same and send their Considerations to the Members as a point of intimation Hereupon it was said by the Lords of Middleburgh that having heard the said Counter-Remonstrance both by word of mouth and lecture made before them they had not observed the least therein that overthrew any thing of the former advice given but on the contrarie were much more confirmed thereby fully to embrace the same without any further scrupling and that the Lords of Flushing and Veer ought to draw up and bring in their respective Reiglements in conformitie thereof nevertheless to shew how readie they are to proceed therein with leisurable prudence they found good that the said Counter-Remonstrance should bee put into the hands of the Lords of the Commissioned Council who should ripely examin the same and within a few daies make their Report and communicate their advice to the Lords the States by word of mouth considering especially the great Privilege granted to the Lords of Flushing in the year 1574. by Prince William together with the copies of the Letters of Investiture and Sale relating to the said Cities That thereupon a final Resolution may bee taken in this matter such as should bee found requisite in reason and equitie to which advice Zirick-zee Goes and Tholen conformed themselvs Flushing and Veer desired a copie of the said Counter-Remonstrance to bring in their Advice with the soonest Wednesday Novemb. 15. report beeing made by the Counsellor Pensionarie of the Land That the respective Members having heard the daie before the further Considerations of the Lords of the Council serving to answer the reasons of the Counter-Remonstrance made in the behalf of the Prince of Orange touching the Right of the Earldom and the Lord of Flushing and Veer respectively deduced They were desired this daie to advise further upon it The four fore-sitting Members unanimously declared that in the Counter-Remonstrance there were no reasons alleged which could any waies move them to change the former advice but on the contrarie they were rather more encouraged therein by the lecture thereof and that so much the rather now since they daie before the heard the further deduction of the Council by word of mouth more clearly yet justifying the grounds and positions of their advice and confuting the allegations of the Counter-Remonstrance That therefore the business beeing now sufficiently and fully verified the same was readily fitted for to bee determined and that the Pensionarie of the Land ought to put it in form without any longer delaie The Lords of Flushing judging this to bee a point of great weight and Consideration and which should not bee entered into without due search and ripe deliberation so as neither on the one nor the other side any might bee prejudiced they desired that what the daie before was declared by word of mouth might bee brought to paper and coppies given thereof unto the Members that so the Common Councils might bee made acquainted with and examine the same and orderly with all circumspection take further advice about it to which Vote the Lords of Veer conformed themselvs relating therewithal that the Counsellor Beaumont having presented himself to their Assemblie in the behalf of the Princess of Orange had desired them to direct their advice accordingly as also the Pensionarie of the land declared that the said Beaumont had in the same Name desired that a Copie of the foresaid Verbal Advice might bee brought to the hands of the Ladies aforesaid before any further proceeding in and concluding of so weightie a point which advices beeing heard and the respectiue Members a second time desired to consider the the Desire of Flushing and Veer yet further the four fore-sitting Members persisted That the business beeing fully discussed now prooved and justified there ought to bee used no further delaie and that the Pensionarie was bound to conclude though otherwise they could bee content that Copie of the foresaid Verbal Advice should bee given to the respective Members to serv them sooner or later for the clearer information of all the passages and transactions in this business The Lords of Flushing and Veer judging it strange that Copie of the Verbal Advice should bee yielded and yet the conclusion not delai'd they insisted again on their former desire and withal that beside the said copie of the Verbal advice they might have a view of the Letters of Sale and Investiture that so much the better and with full knowledg of the caus they might frame their advice upon which desires no further conclusions beeing taken the Pensionarie of the land desired the Lords of Flushing and Veer to make report to their Principals of the advices and Considerations advanced by the other Members that next daie they might declare themselvs in the principal matter Two daies after the Lords