though the three positions inserted by the Commissioned Council in the 52 53 and 54 Articles of their Considerations were granted Namely that the same Charter was granted by the said Prince as Stadtholder in the name of the King as Earl of Zeland And the same Charter is given directly not to the Marquis nor in reshect of him but onely for the common good of the foresaid Cities in their particular interest And thirdly for to serv them as a permanent path-way and constitution whereby thenceforward to rule and steer their Government and that they might bee made coequal with the old free Cities of the Earldom as in regard of divers freedoms and prerogatives so likewise in respect of their form of Government Nevertheless the Patrimonial Right cannot thereby bee taken away from the Lord Marquis Those of his Hih s counsel do willingly grant That as the Commissioned Council saie in their 60. Article the forenamed Prince William granted and settled divers other Privileges and Elections both in this and other Provinces wherein hee constantly used the Name and Title of Stadtholder and as exercising the Function of Supreme Autoritie As the same is likewise manifestly to bee seen in the business mentioned Artic. 68. of the said Considerations touching the Cession made at the Assemblie of the States to those of Flushing for to supplie the vacant place of the Abbot and Prelat of Middleburg About which there having arisen som difference and dispute in collecting of the Votes at the States Assemblie in the year 1579. and the Cities of Middleburg Zirk-zee Romers-Wale Goes and Tholen having addrest themselvs afterwards with a long Remonstrance unto the said Prince his Excellencie resolved and declared thereupon according as the Act thereof hold's forth of June 14. 1579. That during the Wars businesses should bee carried by pluralitie of voices beginning with the Premier Noble and so going or collecting the voices of all the Cities in Order And the War beeing ended the Land's affairs should bee again decided and concluded with 3 voices whereof the Nobles to have the first the five forenamed Cities the second and the Cities of Flushing and Veer the last by virtue of the foresaid Privileges granted unto them by his Excellencie According to which the Lord Marquis can well allow that the advantages and prerogatives comprehended in the same Charter are for a great part of them of such a Nature that they cannot derive directly from any els but the Earldom it self such are the prerogatives and privileges rehears'd in the Articles 64. and 65. of the foresaid Considerations That it cannot neither bee drawn to any prejudice of the Lord Marquis That the Cities of Flushing and Veer are by the said Privileges created integrating Members of the Soveraign Government of Zeland and like to others equally representing the States of the Land and that the same may have been granted without respect communication and interest of their Lord onely to them in particular and to further the same Cities good Government and Prosperitie and to reliev and consider them in regard of the heavie burrhens they bore and faithful service they performed in the Wars according as the same is deduced in the foresaid Considerations to Article 73. But if Rerum facies bee well considered so as the same stood at the time of granting the said Privileges and the conjecture may have place which is put down in the 74. Article of the Commissioned Council's Consideration That viz. the aim and intention of granting the said Privileges should have been to equalize the said Cities in manner of Government or Policie with the other Cities of the Earldom there is nothing at all can thence bee inferr'd to the prejudice of the Lord Marquis But rather to the contrarie asserted that there was no aim nor intention at all to deprive the Lord of the Election of the Burgomasters Whereunto may serv also That as in part is touched by Artic. 75 of the Consideration of the Council the Government of the Citie consisted of old and until the time of the Grant of the said great Charter in the Burgomasters and Schepens in regard b th of the administration of Justice and direction of Government And that according to the 6. Article of the Contract betwixt the Lord and the Governors of Flushing in the year 1530. the Officer of the Lord was to bee present and called in all matters and affairs concerning the Government and common welfare of the Citie and those of the Law also to clear and deduce their accounts and administrations before the Lord or his Commissioners Which Articles concerning the presence of the Officer are repeated again in the Contract of July ult 1582. between Prince William as Marquis and the Burgomasters Schepens and Council of the Citie of Flushing a good many years after the grant of the foresaid great Charter they the Governors promissing there that there shall bee no Assemblie or consultation about the Cities affairs but the Baylif shall have a timely call thereunto And that no Resolution or Decree shall bee past or executed against which the Baylif shall have protested either in behalf of his Lords interest or in regard of the common welfare of the Burghers and Inhabitants That likewise they shall deliver up into the hands of the Lord or those of his Council at any time when his Princely grace shall pleas an exact state of the Cities Revenues or Charges with a true information what new Imposts there are made without Licence that they may bee either confirmed by his Grace or otherwise disposed of as the same should bee held requisite for the eas and relief of his Subjects As also every year give timely advertisement of the daie of rendering the accounts of the Citie and to transmit Copies thereof to the end that som bodie of his Council instructed and impower'd as is requisite may com to audit the same according as was used of old in the Lord's behalf So as likewise is expressly conditioned by the contract made between the said Prince as Marquis and those of Veer Januarie 20. 1582. that alwaies notice must bee given by Letters for his Princely grace as those of his Council to audit the Cities accounts As for the further seeting down of the Commissioned Council in their Considerations Artic. 75. that by the foresaid Privilege of the year 1574. there should bee set up and instituted a formal Court of Common Council for direction of the Government The Council of his High s cannot finde the same verified by the contents of the said Privileges nor to have been the least part of the meaning aim and intention of the said Prince But thus much indeed That by reason of new and heavie burdens of War which must bee supplied by the Commons to make them the better rellisht and born with the less repining when as they should see that the necessitie therof was deliberated and resolved upon by the prime persons of their own
agreed to that a very solemn Deputation should bee dispatched to all the Cities and Members of the Province of Holland for to perswade them by all conceivable motives and arguments that they would refrain and desist from all separate or particular disbanding lessning or altering of the Forces in service and sworn to the Generalitie and not intermeddle with any thing that may bee undertaken or afoot to the contrarie and herewithal it was committed and referred to his Highness in what manner and by what persons and number the said Deputation should bee expedited His Highness beeing likewise desired and autorised to put all things in requisite order and to take care of preserving the common peace and tranquillitie especially that the Union may bee mainteined together with all the dependencies thereof and all contrarie practices and designs prevented and withstood But the Deputies of the Province of Gelderland declared that they reserved libertie to themselvs to set down what they should think fitting about the foresaid Resolution at the next meeting The Deputies present for the Province of Holland declared upon the said pretended Resolution and caused to bee registred that they took for repeated whatsoëver their Principals the States of Holland had from time to time caused to bee remonstrated at the Assembly of their High Might s touching the point and matter in hand and that they their Deputies referred themselvs herein to what they had caused to bee set down Octob. 26. 1649. and April 10 last respectively and therefore as also for other causes did not nor could in no wise consent to the present Resolution Dispatches and Deputation together with the dependance and sequel thereof but in express terms reserved the libertie to themselvs to oppose hereafter therein what their Superiors shall judg expedient insisting especially that the foresaid Resolution was undertaken against the accustomed order And this is that famous Resolution of the fift of June so much spoken of and attended with such remarkable effects and consequences in regard whereof it might well bee said then that our Lion was distempered The next day his Highness appearing again in the Assembly hee communicated to their High Might s that in consideration of the importance of the Business hee was intended and resolved to hâ—lp to sute this sending to the Cities and Members of the Government of the Province of Holland and West-Friesland yesterday agreed upon and determined by their High Might s with his own person and that by virtue of the Autoritie that same day by their High Might s referred and attributed to him hee designed to that purpose out of their own Assembly the Lords Van Aertsberghen Rinsewoude and Clant there beeing but one Deputie present for the Provinces of Friesland and Over-Yssel respectively and that his Highness by virtue and to the purpose aforesaid did assume out of the Council of the States the Lords of Asperen Lucas and the Treasurer-General Brasser desiring that in case it were to their High Might s content that the fitting Letters of Credence to the respective Cities and Members of the Government of Holland might forthwith bee dispatched Whereupon deliberation beeing had their High Might s most highly thanked his Highness about and for the sake that hee was pleased so much to incommodate his Princely person and so far to tender the service of the Land by attending the foresaid sending in this manner Desiring him that by all possible means and arguments hee would endeavour to convince and perswade the foresaid Cities and Members of the said Province of Holland in this sending that they may desist from all separate disbanding every one according to their respective rates and consequently join themselvs unanimously with the other six consenting Provinces Their High Might s were likewise well pleased with the choice and assumption his Highness had made in virtue aforesaid of the said Lords both of the bodie of their High Might s Assembly and of the Council of State unto the accomplishment of the foresaid grand affair To this end order was given for the dispatching and delivering of the Credentials in due form and manner together with the abovesaid solemn Resolution Hereupon the Deputies of Holland caused to bee entred that they found the present deliberation to bee a result of the hesternal Resolution taken in behalf of the foresaid sending and that in that regard they referred themselvs to what in behalf of their said Province they had entred alreadie upon the respective resolution taken that day The Deputies for the Province of Gelderland having yesterday reserved libertie to themselvs to enter next meeting what they should judg convenient about the Conclusion taken then they now declared that the nature of business was altered since through the representation communication and advertisement made this day by his Highness in the Assembly of their Hi. Mi. and that they would make report to their Superiors of the Resolution such as it was The Minister Morus in the French Church and Sterremont in the Cloister-Church preached in express terms upon these matters on Whitsunday saying That som aiming at the Hollanders had a design to break the Union that they began to grow careless and remembred nor considered not hoâ— inveterate and implacable the Spanish hatred was That they would reward the Armie with unthankfulness That they little regarded the great Deserts and Services of his Highness and Predecessors Father Unckle and Grand-sire The like Discourses and Reports were plentifully spread among the Vulgar with additions That som of the Lords of Holland entertain'd private communication with the Spanish Ambassador That the said Ambassador had lately coâ—veied great summes of monie into his hous by night and afterwards distributed the same among his creatures Item That in the last Truce som had under the cover of Religion sought and endeavoured to bring the Land in discord and disturbance and to reduce it thereby at length under Spain again That the same thing was practised now under color of regulating the Armie That the Ministers and all zealous Professors of the Reformed Religion ought to awaken and bestir themselvs considering that though all others might easily make their peace with Spain they of the Ministrie sure could never look for any reconciliation with them The Invectives and animosities grew daily greaâ—er and so enormous that one might well see som extremities must presently ensue But Holland could imagine no such thing They were deeply indebted and saw not how to discharge themselvs and therefore conceiving that as a Soveraign Province they could not by virtue of the Union bee charged against their will and above reason they adhered firmly and stedfastly to their former Resolution beeing they could not but remain yearly a whole Million in arrears though they kept all their Incoms entire and obtained their Charge-saving project to the full On the seventh of June the Deputies for the Province of Holland presented sundrie Propositions in the Assembly of their Hi. Mi. tending to
mainteined order XX. Their No. Mi. the States of Holland have at other times sitting President in the Assemblie of their high Mi. judged this themselvs expedient and necessarie whenas together with the other Provinces they helped to resolv Novemb. 1 0 1623. That no Province ought of their own autoritie put off any Companies without precedent communication with and resolution of their High Mi. and the Council of State and if there was any thing practised to the contrarie that it ought to bee lookt to by autoritie which indeed was propounded and urged thus by the Province of Holland it self XXI And in the year 1626. they effectually helped according to the resolution of Febr. 9. to obviate the like particular reduction of Companies undertaken by the Lords of Zealand grounding themselvs upon like complaints of disabilitie when to the end aforesaid the Lords Beveren and Schaffer were sent into Zealand and Prince Maurice himself of noble memorie desired in case it should bee requisite to repair thither likewise in person XXII And then it was withal expressly declared That the resolution taken by the Lords of Zealand in this matter was directly against the Union and could not bee taken by any Province apart beeing also of dangerous and ruinous consequence to the State of the Land and drawing with it nothing but confusion and such woful effects as cannot bee tolerated without subversion of all good Order and Government according to the verie words of the said Resolution XXIII The verie same hath likewise been practised with other Provinces where occasion was given and was never contradicted by any of the Provinces XXIV And forasmuch as these points do concern the preservation or dissolution of the Union the maintenance or destruction of this puissant and redoubted State and that protracted deliberations can beget and produce nothing but mischief and confusion therefore it is that his Highness and wee as Deputies of their high Mi. in the name and behalf of all your Confederates fellow-members of the Union do most seriously and friendly desire your Worships to abide undissolubly joined to the Union to hold fast the antient Unitie and Order so long and unanimously mainteined between the Confederates and to that end to continue the paiment of the discharged Companies as likewise to repair the contraventions against the Union committed by that separate disbanding and reduction ordered by your Deputies and those of som other Cities of this Province lately gathered at their Provincial States-Assemblie To which Reparation this Province and the members thereof stand bound by virtue of the 23 d Article of the Union saying that in case any thing bee don or attempted to the contrarie they do declare the same now as then altogether nul void and invalid whereunder they engage themselvs and all the Inhabitants of their respective Provinces Cities and Members thereof their persons and goods that the same may and shall in case of contravention and not observing this Treatie and what depend's thereon bee arrested sued and prosecuted Accordingly do wee also desire our Worships to join your selvs with the six other Provinces consenting to the State of war or els to let the Differences bee decided by the Governors or Lievtenants of the Provinces according to the ninth Article of the Union Upon all which your Worships are desired to make known to his Highness and Us here present your good meaning and intention that care may bee taken without delay lest the State and the good Inhabitants of the Land should fall into Divisions and consequently into a relaps in the same miseries and desolations which our fore-fathers endured which wee rest confident your Worships will endeavour to prevent praying God to inspire you thereunto with wisdom Here follow the Resolutions alleged in the fore-going Proposition Artic. 20. 21. and first that of Nov. 1 0 1623. His Excellencie and the Council of State appearing in the Assembly it was related by the Lord President that som Provinces made difficultie of paying their Companies and discharged them from their allotment or repartition the same tending to very evil consequence disreputation of the Land and confusion which must unavoidably ensue thereupon Wherefore after deliberation taken it is resolved with advice of his Excellencie and the Council of State that no Province shall of their own autoritie discharge any Companies without foregoing communication with and resolution of their Hi. Mi. and the Council of State and if any thing bee practised to the contrarie that cours ought to bee taken against it by autoritie it beeing withal resolved that earnest endeavours by Deputies and otherwise shall bee made by the Council of State in those Provinces which remain backward to furnish their paiments and that without remission until effectual paiment bee performed it beeing otherwise impossible to keep and preserv the Land and State without confusion The Resolution of Febr. 9. 1626. was as followeth Report beeing made that the States of Zealand should have resolved to reduce the Companies in their Repartition to 100 heads a piece and his Excellencie and the Council of State beeing thereupon sought to and sent for after deliberation upon the matter and their advice it is agreed and resolved that Letters shall bee written to the Commandâ—rs of places where the Zealandish Companies lie that they ought not to suffer any such Reduction to bee made within their Garrisons till further order from their Hi. Mi. and that besides the said States of Zealand shall bee sent to by Deputies out of their high Mi Assembly and by his Excellencie himself in case the matter should prove more difficult then is yet conceived to represent unto them that such Resolutions directly impugn the Union and cannot bee undertaken by any one Province alone beeing of dangerous and ruinous consequence to the whole state of the Land and training after it nothing but confusion and such mischievous effects as cannot bee tolerated without subversion of all good order and government And that for this end and purpose it bee desired that a States-Assembly bee held there in Zealand on the 16 of this month with full Commission and Autoritie of the Members there appearing for to re-assume the matter and restore it to the formâ—r condition with any further proceeding or endeavour in the foresaid Reduction and there are Commissioned for this sending the Lords Beveren and Schaffer who shall go before and if they finde things so conditioned that the coming of his Excellencie bee required give advertisement of it that his Excellencie may transport himself thither in like manner therewithal it was likewise found good that the Lord of Beaumont also bee desired to repair thither the more to convince the States of Zealand of the great wrong they were about to commit by this their enterprise and that the Lâ—rd Hautain Governor of Sluys bee sent for to the Assembly and thanks there bee given him for his information together with a special charge to suffer no such
unto his High â— Whereupon and a civil friendly leav taken of etither side the said Deputies returned to their Principals and his Excellencie retired further off to Oudekerk But within the Citie the Drums beat up and down and men were taken on in service at 10 stivers an English shilling a daie and som Vessels of War laid upon the Ye They write to the Cities of Holland desiâ—ing them to send their Commissioners and to remove the Assemblie to Aâ—sterdam This beeing that Saturdaies passage at and before Amsterdam in the Hagh the Proceedings were as strange that daie Early in the morning som Lords were sent for to his Highness which otherwise is usual enough These were the Lords de Wit of Dort de Wael and Reuyl of Haerlem Duyst Van Voorhout of Delâ—t Keyser of Horen and Aâ—llingwerf of Medenblick The same beeing let in one after the other through the Anti chamber into the Presence where his Highness usually gave Audience they found there the Lievtenant Colonel of the Guard Meteren who told them one after the other his Highness had charged him to seis and arrest their persons and so committed them each with three Souldiers in a chamber apart lockt upon them This feat beeing dispacht twixt 8 and 9 of the Clock his Highness sent for the Counsellor Pensionarie Cats who coming to Court found the Prince with a sword at his side telling him with som distemper My Lord Cats You will strange at what I did and now am about to tell you I was not able anie longer to endure that a few ill-affected members should to the disservice of the Land nourish and foment the discord and differences betwixt the Province of Holland and the rest I have got here pointing up towards the Chambers where they were kept six of the principal of them and I have sent Count William with hors and men to reduce Amsterdam Go and acquaint here below the Assemblie of Holland with it and that I am going now my self for Amsterdam The Lord Cats was not a little astonished at all this and enquired after the names of the persons seized and saying hee knew not whether by reason of his weak memorie hee should bee able to remember them the Prince bad him to write them down going himself into the Gallerie for to fetch pen and ink In which interim the Lord Cats making use of a looking-glass there recovered his color and countenance somwhat and after hee had written the names asked Upon what ground and with whose knowledg or communication â—ee had don this to whom hee gave no other answer but that hee refâ—rred himself to the Resolution of 5 o Junii and the Contents of the Union The Lord Cats thus withdrawing again communicated all the passages to the Assemblie of Holland who immediately thereupon not without great fear and amazement separating themselvs went every one to their respective Cities with resolution to return again on mundaie following Soon after the Lord Bronckhorst beeing President at their Hi. Mi. Assemblie repairing to his Highness according to custom hee desired him to make the like Communication or report these thus namely That his High â— by virtue of their H. M. Resolution Junii 5 o last upon several and weightie grounds had seized som few Lords of Holland and sent his Excellencie the Stadholder with a good number of hors and men toward the Citie of Amsterdam whereof his Highness intended to declare the circumstances and reasons more fully unto them in Writing for which end their Hi. Mi. were desired to assemble again to morrow after sermon at eleven of the clock In the mean time the whole Guard under pretext of going to shoot in the downs met in arms and beset all the gates of the Court very strongly Four Colonel's-Companies of the French English and Scottish Nation came about noon from Delft Schiedam and likewise into the Haghe together with two Troops of Hors This mightily revived the courage of all militarie Blades who for a while had gon drooping much like an Ox before the Ax on the contrary others mourned and muttered and most States-men except such as wish'd Holland ill were sorrie to see such exorbitancies Now it appear's said they to what end som flatterers ever sought to aggrandize the the Stadtholders so much from time to time still adding to theirs and detracting from the State 's Autoritie See how they have possess d this Prince with Tibi Roma subegerit Orbem all for Him what e're wee win It was not our Freedom and Libertie that wee fought for all this while but onely the Question Whether the King of Spain or the Prince though hee never had nor moov'd the least imaginable pretence or claim to the State or Sovereigntie thereof should bear sway and reign over us That under the Earls of Holland themselvs the States never suffered such indignities That all State 's Assemblies were now in vain and as good as dissolved beeing they can neither meet nor Vote freely any more On the other side it was said There was an everlasting Covenant between the seven provinces That the Act of separate Disbanding or Cashiering of Forces was against all antient custom and order of Government That it was not all Holland but som few Bell-weathers that had caused all this stir and variance That those few ones beeing once removed out of the way theâ— Province no question would soon return into it and minde their Devoir That to Extremities of Diseases there must bee applied Extremities of Remedies That this very State found no harm by the like application of such in like cases in the year eighteen but was rather extraordinarily blest since in might in means and all manner of prosperitie the like issue might now also well bee exspected upon the present application Next daie the Lord Bronckhurst President at the Assemblie acquainted the same in discharge of his yesterdaies promiss from the Prince that as yet hee had not received that writing of his Highness of further deducing the circumstances and reasons of his undertaking adding that his Highness intended that day to go in person towards the Forces at or about Amsterdam to puâ— all things in order that there may arise no Troubles nor Disturbance there which taken into Deliberation their Hi. Mi. resolved to accept of this for a Notification and to exspect the promised Reasons and Motives upon which his Highness grounded the arresting of the foresaid Members of the Assemblie of Holland and the sending of Forces Hors and Foot under the conduct of Count William the Stadtholder towards and about the Citie of Amsterdam as hee the Lord President had intimated yesterday upon his Highness desire at the Assemblie Hereupon the Extraordinarie and Ordinarie Deputies of Holland caused to bee Registred that in lieu of their assent they constantly adhered to their formerly entred respective Protestations and obtestations of Octob. 26. 1649. 9 and 10 of April 5 6 7 of June last His High s
her Royal High s her High s the Princess Dowager and the Q. of Bohemia and the news imparted to the forrain Ministers the Bells also were rung and the common people shewed themselvs very joiful thereby manifesting that they knew or apprehended not otherwise but that the Prince was their Soverain and the true Lord and Heir of the Countrie which the vulgar sort was vvell content it should bee so for the several benefits and advantages they had and made of the Court to themselvs by the utterance of their commodities and otherwise But the Lord Cats said very well to a friend upon an occasion touching the Princes death That in a Church or great Hall there were both Pillars and Crowns meaning the great hanging candlesticks and so it was in this State The Pillars were the Provinces and States thereof the Prince had been the Crown or great gilt Candlestick and given it much lustre and ornament The Candlestick might easily bee remoov'd The Pillars remain stedfast unaltered and they are such as onely can and must furnish both Candlestick and lights upon them And now the States of Holland sent away their Commissioners viz. to Gelderland and Over-Yssel the Lords Opdam and Polsbrouck with Pensionarie Riccen to Utrecht the Lords of Brederode Strevelshook and Beverning to Zealand the Lords Pensionarie Ruysh Zyl and Soneveld to Friesland Groninghen and the Omland the Lords Pensionarie Bernighen Pensionarie Nyport and Ripertse whose respective Propositions were all fitted and framed according to the former advice presented to the Generalitie in manner as followeth Noble Mightie Lords THe Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Holland and Westfriesland met in States Assemblie upon the unexspected sad departure of his High s the Prince of Orange of immortal memorie for to help resolv upon such a dismal occasion and in a time of such an intricate constitution of affairs about the Results and Emergencies thereof for the common service of the Land They have ere and before they would let their thoughts go further providently judged that for the maintenance of a sure foundation whereupon to ground common Consultations with confidence to rais up these Countries under God's blessing to the bighest top of wellfare and Greatness there is nothing more necessarie then that there bee holily and unalterably kept and entertain'd still a perfect Unitie and good correspondence among all the Members thereof And in that regard beeing excited and stirr'd up by a cordial Zeal for the common good to give your N. M. and the respective States of the other Provinces the more assurance and the firmer impression of this their wholsom and seasonable consideration Their N. Gr. M. have been pleased to appoint Us their Commissioners for to make the same particularly known unto your Honors and solemnly to assure you of their upright settled intention grounded upon an exuberant affection to the good of all to employ and contribute with all care and diligence whatsoëver lieth in the utmost of their Abilities to the end that all Jealousies Differences and Controversies the lets and all obstacles of all wholsom Resolutions and the pestiferous bain of the State may bee prevented eschewed and eradicated and on the contrarie all true and faithful friendship and such a solid Confidence begotten and more and more enlivened and chear'd up amongst all the Members of this State as that they may all and evermore conspire to a perfect Unitie and Concord in a sweet harmonious Consort of Hearts and Mindes Which the Lords our Principals do declare themselvs to bee resolved to help encourage and maintain and to observ and cultivate sincerely and inviolably for ever without ever offering to fail or recede from it in the least and that they shall alwaies bee readie to shew it forth not onely in Words but much rather in deeds and realities And like as alwaies it hath been held and esteem'd according to the old and good maximes and fundamentals of these Countries That the maintenance of the Reformed worship of God The Observance of the Covenant of the Union made in Anno 1579. and the Entertainment of needful and sufficient Forces for the common Safetie and Defence are the three main and principal means for to uphold and preserv this most desirable and blessed Unitie together with Rest and Tranquillitie at home Respect among friends and Terror to Enemies abroad So their N. G. M. our Principals were willing upon this occasion further to testifie unto your N. M. That their unchangeable Resolution still hath been and ever shall bee to maintain the said Reformed Religion according to the Synod of Dort and in such sort as the same now is taught in the publick Churches throughout this Countrie and therewithal holdy to continue observing the foresaid Covenant of the Union and to entertain such an Armie or Forces for the Service of tke State as is agreeable to the Solemn Declaration made in that behalf upon the preliminar points before the peace agreed upon by common consent of all the Members of this State and Government Moreover N. M. Lords it beeing seriously considered by our said Principals that by reason of the premature Departure of the person of his Highness in the present discomposure of affairs there will arise and bee occasioned abundance of most weightie and most important Deliberations most nearly and highly concerning your N. M. and all the United Netherlands in general and of that nature and consequence which cannot promiss any Resolution effectually Fruitful for the Lands welfare but by mutual full and pertinent Communication and well-united Consultation In regard whereof it beeing laid down as a fundamental Law of Government in the foresaid Covenant of the Union and having likewise in former several times of emergent troubles and difficulties been the wholsom and profitable practice of the Land in cases even of less concernment then the present for the more satisfactorie transaction and determination of things to the content of all parties interessed and to establish and settle the same with the more efficacie lustre and autoritie That the Lords the States of all the Provinces in general were sollemnly summoned and called together to make one States-assemblie General gathering and meeting all in one place Their N. G. M. have therefore thought good and necessarie in consideration of the present occasion and for the service of the common interest that there might bee such a General States Assemblie procured and held now in these Conjunctures sutable to the foresaid fundamental rules and former good examples And this wee are especially charged to represent unto your N. M. wise Judgment and most heartily and seriously to desire you that it would pleas your N. M. together with the other Provinces to approov hereof and by your accustomed Prudence to help to procure and accelerate that the said Assemblie General of all the Provincial States may speedily bee kept and solemnized to the end that with common and unanimous consent and with joined Hearts and Hands the old
friendship between so dear Confederates may renew the deeper impression and such resolutions bee taken with one and full consent as may serv most effectually to preserv the so dearly purchased Freedom Greatness and Welfare of these Countries and all the Members and Inhabitants thereof And that in the mean time no ground of prejudice may bee laid by separate resolutions in this or that Province nor any change or alteration projected or practised without communication and deliberation had before with the jointlie-interessed Confederates for the better and due providing for and disposing of all with the more maturitie knowledg and consent and the less disgust and offence of any Our foresaid Principals have held it as needful and reasonable so also void of danger to the Land-service That all matters concerning the State bee left to the usual Cours and fundamental Orders of this Government the several Courts or Councils as also the chief Militarie Officers remaining in their respective Commissions until the Government General shall otherwise dispose therein And this Noble Mightie Lords is that which their N. Gr. M. the States of Holland and Westfriesland not for any particular self respect but meerly out of the uprightness and abundance of their affection to the Common Weal and welfare have thought good not onely to propound in the Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. unto your N. M. and the other Provincial Deputies there but for their own and your fuâ—ther satisfaction more particularly to represent and most seriously and effectually to recommend by a commissionated Member of their own to all the Provinces apart and to your N. M. themselvs in particular by Us whose names are here under-written And forasmuch as all this hath no other aim nor respect but the Unitie Friendship and Concord without which there is no hope nor possibilitie to subsist wee dare and do promiss our selvs undoubtedly from the wisdom prudence and good affection of your N. M. that which wee most friendly and earnestly request at your hands a wholsom and desired Resolution beseeching Almightie God to speed and bless the same to the constant Tranquillitie Prosperitie and Glorie of these United Countries but especially to the magnifying of the prais of his most Holie Name The Resolutions and Answers returned hereupon by the Provinces were to this effect That they undertook to appoint a good Number of Extraordinarie Deputies for the said General Assemblie The Nobilitie of the Nimmeghen and Veluw quarter resolved to com in Bodie though at thâ—ir own charges They of Over-Yssell autorized onely their Ordinarie Commissioners though afterwards Extraordinarie ones were sent from the Towns and of the Nobilitie as many as would go upon their own expences Those of Groninghen and the Omlands immediately upon the departure of the Holland-Commissioners went to chuse themselvs a Stadtholder and that at the desire and motion of Friesland by their Deputies contrarie to the advice of those of Holland and unanimously nominated Count William Friesland had the like intent of sending and recommending the same to those of Ovâ—â—-Yssell but Count William himself dissuaded it to give no offence to the Princesses They of Dreut followed the Citie of Groninghen and the Omlands The Princess Dowager Grandmother to the young Prince had sent by express Gentlemen to all the Provinces this ensuing Letter having first caused the same to bee communicated to the States General with desire of seconding the Contents who nevertheless received it but simply for a Notification and that they would send Copies to the Provinces Noble Mightie Lords SInce it hath pleased Almightie God somwhat to allay our great grief and dejectedness for the sudden Departure of Prince William our dear son of blessed memorie by the birth of a young Prince whereof the Princess Royal was happily delivered on the 14 th of this instant Wee may not doubt but that your N. M. particularly participated together with Us and all the well affected Inhabitants of this State in that rejoicing and that of their own accord thoughts presented themselvs to your consideration of the importance of such a desired success at that instant whenas it was sadly appreâ—ended that the whole Male-line of the Illustrious Princes of Orange those that laid the grounds and foundations of this Government and successively assisted the rising thereof with such high and famous atchievments should com to fail in this sorrowful season Nevertheless to satisfie our minde wee could not rest there but judged it every way fit and behoovful to make this present address unto your No. Mâ— together with the rest of the United Provinces friendly and seriously shewing recommending and desiring that they would bee pleased according to their accustomed wisdom and fore-sight to take into mindeful consideration now that the supplying of the Captainship general by Sea and Land and the Stadtholder or Governor-ship of your Province shall bee put into deliberation what regard and reflexion ought to bee made and had then unto the person of the said young Prince in relation of what as said is his Ancestors of immortal memorie have adventured both in goods and blood and uncessantly sought and endeavored in the common caus even so long until by their successful direction this State hath been raised to this height of prosperitie and reputation that their most puissant Enemie hath been constrein'd to seek that Peace at their hands which the joâ—nt Provinces so long generally aimed at and do enjoy at present Wee do therefore once again desire and entreat your No. Mi. that for the now succeeding times you will help to frame and fit the publick Resolutions sutably to the good remembrance of those which are past and this granted we are confident it will easily bee believed and prognosticated that this young sprout of the Orange-tree will bear as good and comfortable fruit as the Tree and Branches hitherto have brought forth However wee persuade our selvs your No. Mi. will accept of this friendly address and commendation as proceeding on the one side from the considerations of natural dutie wee oâ— to this our Infant 's son 's son as grandmother and on the other from the inviolable inclination and affection which according to the Example of his High â— of blessed memorie our whilom most highly honored Lord and Husband wee even did bear to this State and ever shall do as long it shall pleas God to keep us in this life Beseeching him from the bottom of our heart to inspire your No. Mi. with what shall most tend to and advance the Honor of his Holie Name the Unitie and Safetie of this State and the prosperitie and welfare of the good Inhabitants thereof and to keep your N. M. in his holie protection Given at the Haghe this 20 of Novemb. 1650. Count William Count Maurice and the Lord of Brederode did likewise respectively recommend their persons to the States General by the Lord President though but in geueral terms and writ also each of them to the States
from the Divine Truth to their Superstition and Errors by goodlie promisses of Inheritances and other advantages or threatnings by encreasing or withdrawing means and opportunities of trade and livelihoods by railing at and slandering the Reformed Religion abusing nick-naming affronting beating yea and wounding som even to death that are against their Idolatrie daring to put their consecrated wafers into the mouths of som dying Protestants to shrive and annoint them c. no otherwise then if they lived under the Cross and themselvs had all the Government in Church and Policie in their own hands Whereunto they are mightily set on by an infinite number of Jesuits Priests Monks and Friers who like grashoppers out of the bottomless pit over-spread the Land by thousands and under the color and pretence of Religious Worship do by their fals doctrine withdraw the Inhabitants from the Obedience they owe to their lawful Magistrate debauch infect and poison the younger sort in the Popish Schools which they have here all the land over or causing them to bee brought up without the Land in Popish Universities Schools and Colleges of Jesuits or other pretended Ecclesiastical persons and many both young and old are seduced by Jesuitesses or shee Jesuits and such like femal pretended orders condemned in the Court of Rome it self by Pope John 22 Clements and but lately by Urban 8 Maie 21 1631 as pernitious Sects and therefore prohibited and excommunicated who nevertheless are reported to dwell amongst us to the Number of about 20 thousand doing nothing night and daie but entice and draw away all manner of persons especially such as are sick and lying on their death-bed from the love and profession of the Reformed Religion to the fals and comfortless doctrine of Poperie By all which means they encreas daily in such an extraordinarie manner that they boast of many thousands like-minded with them both in Cities and Countries throughout all the Land and who hath not reason then to stand in fear Hi. Mi. Lords that they may once rise and join together and after the example of Ireland first break the necks of all honest Governors and then fall a murdering and massacring of all the Reformed Protestants according as the manner and genius well known to every one and but too abundantly taught by experience of all Idolaters such as your Hi. Mi. hold these to bee is cruel and their unfaithfulness great they not holding themselvs bound to keep faith with Hereticks and therefore not to bee obliged by any oath of Fidelitie beeing besides daily more and more animated and incensed to all manner of crueltie against the reformed Protestants by promises and perswasions of great merit as appear's by their daily Discourses and that they live where round about they have Neighbors that will bee readiâ— enough to assist them suddenly upon any occasion Do not all these enormities then High M. Lords hold forth just and great reason that the higher Powers should watch against such Violences and provide accordingly for to keep themselvs guiltless of the innocent Blood of such who may easily and on a sudden bee surprised by them according to all those foresaid Considerations Hence it is that in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ â—ee do here praie and beseech your Hi. Mi. that in obedience to God's Command and following the Example of all Godly Kings and Governors you will bee pleased effectually to remoov whatsoëver doth promote and strengthen Poperie amongst us according to the adjoined means set down by us in that behalf and for the most part extracted out of the publick Acts and Ordinances of the Land Let once wee beseech your Hi. Mi. let those manifold complaints and grievances crying to heaven and those many Remonstrances of the Churches presented in that behalf bee heard and regarded once by your H. M speedie Resolutions and Executions bee issued forth and set a work against all the remonstranced excesses and high banded insolencies which wee do likewise particularly entreat in behalf of the Mayerie the Baronie the Marquisat of Berghen the Countries of Cuyck Ravestein Overmaes c. that together with the Ecclesiastick there may also a Civil Reformation bee instituted to the end that the Churches of God and the well affected ones to the Reformed Religion in these Quarters may thereby bee protected As for other Sectaries and â—rroneous spirits whereof there are but too many in the Land wee humblie praie your Hi. Mi. that they may bee kept within their bounds and no where allowed any further or new privilege of publick Exercise But touching the Jews â— that to them as abominable Blasphemers of our Dear Saviour all publick worship bee interdicted And that likewise all sorts bee restrained from slandering the reformed Religion and from translating and putting forth in Print any kinde of old or new heretical Treatises whereby many of the simpler sort are seduced especially the writings of the Socinians and Arrians which were alwaies wholesomly suppressed by the Government till now of late since the Peace a great many began to bee printed and published without controle Wee could wish likewise from our hearts Hi. Mi. Lords that the States of the respective Provinces here gathered together at present would encourage one another for to take like order and coâ—â—ses every one in their Province against the great â—ins and Lanâ—destroying abominations which through cours of time the witness of Satan bad examples contemt of God's Holie Word Unbelief and want of censure and punishment are broken in and have taken root among us such as are the observing still of the Feast or Holy-daies the horrible cursing and blaspheming of God's Holiâ— Namâ— by old and young even to the children the unspeakable perjuries committed by all sorts of men there beeing so little heed taken both to the administring or keeping of Oatâ—s the general profanation of the holie Sabbath the many murders and easie procuâ—ing of pardons for them the filthie Resorts and Brothel-houses Dancing-schools Gaming places Play-houses Rope dauncings the very baits and lures to all manner of corruption and vanities the prohibited scandalous and incestuous marriages the excess of pride and haughtiness and the sumtuositie in Apparel and Entertainments to the undoing and râ—ine of many Families and such like other crying sins more for which God's Wrath is kindling against our dear Fatherland and which are the causes of so many hot diseases decay and want of Trade great inundations dearth and scarcitie the taking away of the righteous and pretious of the land wherewith God hath begun to visit us the year past and his hand is not taken off yet Not to detain your Hi. Mi. any longer wee do in conclusion once again in all humilitie pray entreat and beâ—â—ech you in the Name of the King of Kings by whom Princes reign that yoâ—â— H. M. will bee pleased in the beginning of thiâ— great and Iâ—â—ustrious Assemblie to take aâ— eâ—â—ectual stedfast Resolution for the settling of the Reformed Religion
most freely and frequently resort and convers in the countries but likewise by their subtilties and envenom'd insinuations seduce the younger sort from the true worship to follow them nevertheless that the same bee don in such manner as the treatie of peace will permit and besides this that the other sects or separates however they bee called be indulged no more libertie of exercise then the very same they had from the beginning and no other though none shall bee troubled in his Conscience about private opinions That the Ambassadors publick Ministers of Forrein Princes and Potentates shall suffer likewise no sermons or other Church-Service in their houses but in the language of their own Lords and Masters and admit none to them but those of their own train and familie And that the civill reformation in the Mayerie of the Bosch and such like other places bee most seriously taken to heart Now concerning the second Point beeing the Union and everlasting Alliance of this State becaus your H. M. do with one consent and upright zeal accord that the same shall be kept and cultivated bolily and inviolably so as it was concluded on and published at Utrecht Jan. 29. in the year 1579. Therefore the Lords of the Citie and Lands would desire your Hi. Mi. seriously to ponder whether all the consultations in these high and weightie affairs as well Civil as Militarie ought not to bee regulated according to the sens and contents of the Union aforesaid it beeing an everlasting alliance and a confederacie which cannot bee receded from Wherewithall their N. M. should take it for granted that the least yea no alteration thereof at all is doubtless the best if so bee your Hi. Mi. shall judg that the present constitusion of this state can permit it which their N. M. conside they may in this behalf Hereupon passing by the Civil administration of every Province apart who are to bee left respectively to their own Sovereinty with restriction nevertheless of the said soveraigns in behalf of the United Bond as joint interest The Lords of the Citie and Land should conciev under correction of your Hi. Mi. further advice and consideration That all and the whole Civil Administration of this State is most exactly and curiously settled therein according to that time For the 1. and 16. Article thereof doth say in plain terms how and in what manner the differences and questions arising amongst the Provinces the Cities and Members thereof about their privileges rights c. as the text run's shall bee determined or taken away Insomuch that for to shun and prevent most pernicious innovations in our State all unexspectedly arising questions and differences in matters there specified ought to bee left there where and according as the same Article dictate's But in case there arise Discrepancie and jarring among the Provinces about the conduct and managing of this United State and matters depending and consectarie the 9 th Article saith In that case all is to bee regulated by the conclusion of the most-voting Provinces And whereas the making of Peace or Truce waging of War and raising of contributions in the behalf of the Generalitie and the State united are matters of very great weight and consequence Our forefathers agreed that therein the pluralitie of Votes should have no place but things should bee don by the common and unanimous Consent of all the Confederacie Our Forefathers considered well enough that the diversitie of persons whereof the Government of this State consisted and yet doth would bring with it diversitie of humors and consequently caus at last discrepancie of opinion even in weightiest matters And herein also they have thought upon wholsom means against the evil thence to bee feared agreeing that the difference risen in that behalf should bee referr'd to the Lords Stadtholders of the United Provinces in the last named Article It is true indeed that the said Article add's these terms by provision or provisionally and now are at this time beeing But the Lords of the Citie and Lands desire your H. M. seriously to consider whether notwithstanding such clauses all differences arising from the grounds aforesaid ought not still bee left at the submission there set down First becaus the same provision was never cancell'd or alter'd yet by any other order of the joint Consederates In the second place becaus the 24 Article of the said everlasting League and Union saith in plain and down-right terms that the Lords Stadtholders which now are or shall com hereafter c. shall make promiss by Oath to follow and observ all and every Article in particular To which end besides this there ought to bee likewise applied the unanimous Resolution taken after mature Deliberation August 8 18 1650 together with the Instruction of the Council of State Furthermore the Lords of the Citie and Land are desirous to propound to your H. M. herewithal beeing the Articles of the Union ordinarily speak of ordering or settling things by the Generalitie and the United Provinces and more then manifest that the said Confederated State that is to say the United Provinces cannot alwaies bee assembled in Bodie Whether it bee not therefore very necessarie that exact and pertinent Orders may bee framed and established for the Government of the Generalitie in absence of the respective voting Provinces And that the Deputies or Commissioners to bee appointed thereunto bee autorized not by Provincial but by a General and unanimous Instruction of all the Provinces together That the same shall have an eie to whatsoever the joint Provinces have referred unto them that is to say to the Generalitie and dispose therein as according to the extent of their instruction shall bee fit and requisite for the Common welfare Coming now in order to the third point viz. that of the Militia That the foresaid Deputies or Commissioners of the respective Provinces shall with the advice of the Lords Stadholders or Council of State have the direction of the Militia and matters depending such as are the removing or sending forth of Garrisons in great or small bodies out of one Province into another for the securing of Fortifications and Frontiers c. as the Union hold's forth throughout Safe notwithstanding the Lords the States and the Stadtholders of the respective Provinces each their own peculiar power dignitie and autoritie within themselvs in matters of Militia and dependant thereon and the disposing of the forces within their respective Provinces placed there for the securing thereof They having the libertie in cases of necessitie and conveniencie to place and displace encreas or diminish them by their own Commissioners for the service of the Province And to take and frame such orders and courses about the Militarie Discipline and Jurisdiction as either they have already or shall finde good and sutable to the constitution of their Provinces That the respective Provinces shall likewise retein to themselvs the absolute bestowing of all higher and lower Offices of War in
State apart and separated from all other Item that they shall bee in service to no bodie els nor receiv or enjoie any pensions from any That they shall have nor take no part nor share at all directly nor indirectly in any publick works now or hereafter to bee put out for the common Wealth nor in any Convoys Imposts or other common means nor in any furnishing of powder shot artillerie arms corn rie butter chees oats or other provision ammunition and requisites for the Wars whatsoëver beeing to bee imploied for the use and service of the Common-wealth That they shall neither buy nor under any other title undertake or let out any ordinances which are granted at the charge of the Land in general or of any Province in particular neither by themselvs nor by their wives children families or any other whosoëver in their behalf nor participate of any others sale or undertaking or letting directly or indirectly neither themselvs nor their wives children families or any other in their behalf receiv enjoy make profit of any offers gifts or presents in any kinde how small soever they may bee even to eating aud drinking wares from any bodie whosoever whether they bee Cities Courts Persons publick or private whom they know to have any thing to do with the Council or in likelyhood of it and that as well before as after the matter shall bee transacted and if so bee they should chance to receiv any such gifts from any whom they shall afterwards perceiv to have som business in the Council whereof they were ignorant at the time of the receiving such presents or that the givers shall afterwards get any thing to to do at the Council the receiver shall acquaint the Council with it and that they shall in all things regulate themselvs precisely according to the tenor of this Instruction and every Article thereof and do further whatsoever good and faithful Counsellors of State are bound to do and all this provisionally XLV In case this Instruction shall bee found to have any obscuritie in it or to require any alteration contracting or amplification it shall bee taken into consideration accordingly at the first Assemblie of the States General with the knowledg and advice of the Council Don thus in the Assemblie of the foresaid Lords the States-General and decreed this 12 th of April in the year 1588. The Table or Patent mentioned Article XXXI was to this effect WHereas it appear's that som Dangerous and Pernicious men to the no small disreputation of the Council of State and grief of the Lords in Commission therein and their ministers do so embolden themselvs that having any thing to do at the said Council of State they dare presume to present and offer gifts or bribes to the said Lords of the Council the Tresurer-General Receiver-General the Fiscal and Secretarie and the Clarks or their respective Wives Children Families or others having relation to them shewing thereby that they have not that opinion of the faithfulness sinceritie and uprightness of the said Lords of the Council and the foresaid Ministers which the worthiness of their charge and office and the honor of their Persons should caus them to entertain of them and this beeing a matter of very evil consequences and not to bee endured by men of honor nor by the State Hence it is That thereby the Counsellors of State do streightly forbid and prohibit all and every one of what Qualitie and Condition soever they are or may bee that neither for Expedition's sake nor under any pretext whatsoëver they presume to present give or promiss or caus by others to bee presented given or promised to any of the Lords of the Council the Treasurer-Ceneral the Receiver-General the Secretarie or Clark their Wives Children Families or any one having relation to them any gifts or presents of any thing how small soëver even of meat and drink-wares upon pain that those which shall bee found to have presented given or promised any such gifts to any of the said Lords and Ministers their wives children families or any other relating to them shall by the Council bee condemned to a fine proportioned to or equallizing the worth or value of the Caus they have or had in agitation before the Council or otherwise according to the condition and exigence of the fact Those of Holland presented further this following Declaration touching certain points of the Vnion Considerations presented by the Lords of Holland and West-Friesland about certain points of the Union THe Lords the States of Holland and Westfriesland considering that this great Assemblie is called together for reasons and causes of weightie concernment and that in a season of the year very incommodious and perceiving plainly by the frequent meeting of your Hi. Mi. that their zeal and affection for the common good doth lay aside their particular inconveniences they judged it expedient and are still of the same minde that the affairs of this Assemblie ought to bee so ordered and disposed that with Unitie and Concord they may bee brought to a wholsom and speedie conclusion for the transaction whereof indeed your Hi. Mi. peculiarly met here that so the particular Members of the Provinces may bee eased in their grievances the Common-wealth secured within it self by an orderly supplie of the defect happened in a principal part of the Government and the stabilitie of the State made known to all the world by good and readie Resolutions the true effects of Wisdom and Unitie the most assured grounds wherein a Common wealth of a hopeful State and condition can subsist and therefore the Lords of Holland so framed their Proposition that though they shewed the Concours of the 3 points of Religion Union and Militia yet they enlarged themselvs but little upon the two former in their said proposition not as holding the same to bee of less importance then the last but onely becaus that therein there happened no alteration in the present conjuncture and condition of affairs presupposing that in the first point concerning the Honor of God the Provinces would ever out-strive one another in a holy and fervent Zeal and in the second wherein consist's the preservation of the State they would bee as readie to continue their upright mutual affection each to other Nevertheless since som of the Provinces were pleased to insist that the States of Holland would declare themselvs in special manner about the ninth and other Articles of the Union and about the Expedients whereby the Differences arising among the Provinces in matters expressed in the said Article might bee removed others som as the Lords of Friesland and the Citie of Groninghen and the Omlands were pleased to inferr out of the said Articles and from a pretended Necessitie as if the Provinces were bound each one in particular to proceed to the choosing of a Stadtholder The Lords of Holland are necessitated to declare with all due respect to your Hi. Mi. that They are not able to
comprehend how either by the Text of the Union or any Arguments thence deduced or by any other pretended necessities it is or ever can bee proved That the Provinces should bee bound to choos Stadtholders or the interest and service of the Common League should require the same for it is a thing past all dispute and asserted by the presented Considerations of the Provinces themselvs That the States of the respective United Provinces every one apart are Soveraign States That the Union made between them expressly condition'd it that every Province notwithstanding the same should not onely remain unprejudiced in their freedoms and prerogatives so as that none should trouble or molest the other about it but on the contrarie by all means due and possible yea with body and goods to help assist maintain strengthen and protect one another therein to the utmost against any whomsoëver and whereas among all the foresaid privileges the greatest and most considerable point is the Free and Soveraign Government therefore the Provinces had no intent nor desire to bound and over-rule one another therein in their Respective Jurisdictions but have left one another as to that in their perfect freedom for to administer all the parts of Soveraigntie in policie Justice and otherwise by themselvs or som of them in their name by others And verily the Confederates could have no such particular intent at the time of making the Union as to oblige or engage one another to the appointing of Stadtholders forasmuch as at that time they had not yet renounced the Dominion of the King of Spain and consequently were not qualified to appoint any Stadtholders and therefore it will follow so much the less that by the 10 Article of the Union the States should have obliged themselvs to the continuance of appointing Stadtholders they having then made no beginning yet and the Stadtholders which then were having the King's Commission besides that by the foresaid Article such questions as might arise about the matters there mentioned are not absolutely referred to the Stadholders but onely provisionally neither at all to the office of Stadtholdership but onely to the persons in office and place then insomuch that the foresaid provisional Order not beeing discontinued or altered in the life time of the Stadt-holders then in beeing the foresaid submission must needs bee ended with the deceas of the said Stadt-holders as beeing fastned by the said Confederates to the Elected persons of those Stadt-holders And by adding of the words now beeing clearly shewed that they meant not their Successors should pretend to the same right unless it were that the same by a later Resolution should bee referred unto them which the Lords of Holland do not finde was ever don since beeing the words of the foresaid Article cannot possibly bear any such interpretation as the Lords of Friesland do hold forth namely That the submission should not bee provisional but that the sentence or doom of the Stadt-holders should have provisional Execution so much the less beeing this is directly opposite to the 16 Article of the Union expressly importing That the sentence of the Stadt-holders ought to bee followed and yielded unto without any further demur or other proviso of right by way of appeal relief review nullitie or any other exception whatsoëver which doth not agree with a provisional Execution presupposing a further demur or appeal whereby the sentence may com to bee altered as also the words now beeing cannot bee referred to the United Provinces becaus that thereby the Stadtholders of the Provinces which thereafter might have joined themselvs to the Union would have remained excluded from the foresaid Umpirage or arbitrarie Decision and those Provinces should have been fain to submit themselvs to the judgment and decision of the Stadtholders of the other Provinces which would have made an inequalitie amongst the Members of the Union and in no wise advantaged the Union or encouraged other Provinces to enter into such an one Much less yet can it bee inferred from Artic. 24 of the said Union That the Provinces should bee bound to the appointing of Stadtholders for that it is said there That the Stadholders then in beeing or afterwards coming in should bee sworn to the observance of the Union and the Articles thereof for although these words shew what the Stadtholders which may happen to bee chosen are bound to do they do in no wise prove that the Provinces shall ever bee bound to chuse Stadtholders and the Lords of Holland do not think neither that the office of Stadtholdership should bee absolutely necessarie for the voiding of differences and that the same should serv as the uttermost remedie of removing controversies for besides that on the one hand it would bee unreasonable that the Provinces onely for deciding of Differences should bee necessitated to chuse Stadtholders though otherwise full sore against their wills who afterwards besides the foresaid Decision should do whatsoëver otherwise ordinarily belong d to the conduct of Stadtholders and on the other side it would bee as ill-beseeming that the Stadt-holder's Commission should bee altogether impaled with the foresaid Decision And the ninth Article it self shew's that our forefathers foresaw the Stadholders might not prove such of whom the said Decisions could bee exspected forasmuch as they beeing engaged every one to stand for his own Province and thereby bound to the interests thereof will hardly bee perfectly neuter and impartial wherefore it is said that when they shall not bee able to agree among themselvs they shall assume to themselvs som unpartial assessors or adjuncts which make's the Lords of Holland to think and conceiv that the Union remaining together with the Obligation of the Provinces thereby one to another in terms and manner as it is laid down if som difference should happen which might must be determined by decision som such expedients might then be taken follow'd as are propounded by the Lords of Zealand Gelderland and Utrecht respectively those of them which shall bee judged the best and most convenient according to the condition and exigence of times and affairs hoping nevertheless that God Almightie shall bless the State with so much prudence wisdom and Unitis that it shall bee needless to have ever recours to any Decision of Differences whereunto the Lords of Holland and West-Friesland shall evermore bee readie to contribute not onely all good will and readiness but likewise the real and upright effects desiring that this their Declaration as proceeding from upright hearts may bee received accordingly my Lords of Holland and West-Friesland reserving to themselvs the Libertie to make such further Declaration upon the said and other Articles of the Union as it shall pleas them to agree upon At last there came in likewise the inclinations of Over-Yssell touching the 3 important points of the great Assemblie High and Mightie Lords AS on the one side the State hath great reason of beeing greived at the last departure of his
the points aforesaid were again most friendly desired to hasten and speed likewise their conforming Those of Utrecht propounded at the same time that they were charged by their Principals to represent their Right at the Assemblie which by virtue of the Union did belong unto them of deputing the like Number of persons into the Council of State which any other Province had there and accordingly desired that the rest of the Provinces would bee pleased not to scruple the deputing of the like Number by the said Province of Utrecht especially in this present conjunctures when as more direction and autoritie in militarie affairs is committed to the said Council of State then in former times Next daie the Lords of Over-Yssell propounded the like for themselvs also as the Lords of Utrecht had don before May 27 o. the Lords of Utrecht acquainted the Assemblie that they were charged now by their Principals wholly and fully to conform themselvs to the Advice Conciliatorie touching the direction and disposition of the affairs and forces militarie and that they likewise approoved and accepted of the Form of the Oath for the Souldierie of this State together with the Instruction for the Lords Commissioners at the Ordinarie Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. about the giving of Patents and things belonging thereunto so as the same was framed upon further conference and presented to the Generalitie on the 20 th of this instant by the Lord of Ghent and other their H. M. Commissioners at the Assemblie the said Lords of Utrecht resting confident in the mean time that their H. M. will speed and facilitate their satisfaction about the encreasing of their Deputies in the Council of State which beeing taken into Deliberation Those of Friesland Over-Yssell Groninghen and Omlands were desired thereupon that withal possible speed and without any longer delaie they would likewise bee pleased to conform themselvs to the foresaid Advice Conciliatorie Form of Oath and Instruction for the Commissioners of the Generalitie with the agreeing Provinces of Gelderland Holland Zealand and Utrecht Upon the 18. it was Whitsunday during which feast and for som daies following most of the Lords without dissolving of the Assemblie took som respit or went home once till Saturday the 10 th of June the Lord Tiassens of Groninghen beeing President they met again the first time in the great Hall where the foresaid Advice Conciliatorie being taken again into Deliberation the Lords of Over-Yssell declared their conformitie in the whole and all the particulars thereof with the four first agreeing Provinces of Gelderland Holland Zealand and Utrecht and had thanks return'd them from their Hi. Mi. and upon this occasion those of Friesland and Groninghen with the Omlands were again desired to conform herein with the said five consenting Provinces and to bring in their Declaration with the first which they likewise undertook to perform about the beginning of the week following On the 12 13 and 14 of June the Lords of Friesland and Groninghen were reiteratedly and seriously desired and exhorted to conform with the five Provinces till upon Jun. 16 the Lord of Ghent presiding the points of the Direction and Disposition of Militarie affairs and the Souldierie and especially by whom on what grounds and in what manner the Patents were to bee given to the said Souldierie by land c. beeing reassumed their Hi. Mi. were pleased to approve and ratifie all according to the advice Conciliatorie brought in Maie 20 by the Lord van Ghent and others their Hi. Mi. Commissioners into the Assemblie in manner as followeth I. THat provisionally and till further order of the joint Confederates the disposing and granting of Patents should belong to the Ordinarie Assemblie of the Lords Commissioners at the Generalitie with precedent Advice of the Council of State who beeing demanded it shall bee obliged promtly to impart the same that their Hi. Mi. may further and finally dispose and the Patents dispatched there accordingly under the Paraphure of the Lord President at the Generalitie signed by two Deputies of the next succeeding Provinces subscribed by the Secretarie and sealed with the Seal of their H. M. shall bee sent thence to the Council of State there likewise to bee Paraphured by the President signed by the Secretarie and sealed with the Seal of the said Council and by them to bee speeded away thus without any delaâ—e II. Provided that the said Council of State shall bee bound likewise to advertise the Ordinarie Assemblie of the Generalitâ—e from time to time of the true condition of the Frontiers and Forts of this State and the necessitie of som enterchange of the Companies as often as their N. shall judg it requisite that upon the advice received as before there may bee courses taken by their H. M. about the transplacing of the Companies and exchange of Garrisons III. For which end their H. M. have likewise conformed themselvs agreed upon and decreed in this very behalf a peculiar Instruction conteining the manner and order which the said Commissioners at the Generalitie are precisely to follow which said Instruction doth ensue immediately after these Resolutions of their Hi. Mi. IV. Which Instructions the said Commissioners shall swear to for to observ the same without any regard of the particular Interests of the Provinces Cities or Places from which they are sent or where they are born they beeing dispenced for as much as concern's this particular of the particular Oath which lie's upon them by virtue of their respective Commissions or which otherwise they may have made or â—om to make yet unto their Principals V. And consequently the said Commissioners at the Generalitie should as above first and above all things take care with the advice of the Council of State that the Frontiers of this State in general may bee provided with sufficient garrison of several Nations and furnished with necessarie ammunition by the Council of State and that the rest of the Souldierie as much as may bee and occasions do permit bee distributed and placed in the nearest and most commodious places about the said Frontiers for to bee readie at hand at all times in case of any sudden need whether from within or from without VI. And in case it should bee found requisite to take forth any Companies out of a Voicing Province that then the States of that Province or such as are autorized by them shall bee desired to part with so many Companies as shall bee held necessarie transmitting withall the occasion and reasons thereof together with Patents or Commissions with open names to bee fill'd up by the said States or those autorized by them who are to join thereunto their particular Patents and that thereupon the said Companies shall follow provided that it shall bee determined by common advice among the Confederates how many Companies there are to bee left in every one of the United Provinces for the garrisoning of the Cities and Forts thereof and for the asserting of the Magistrates
and consent yea and Patent too of the States of that Province or their autorised Commissioners VI. They shall caus no forces to pass through any Voicing Province without giving timely notice thereof to the States of that Province or their autorised Commissioners That order may bee taken for those marchings VII They shall alter and change the Garrisons of the Frontier Towns and Forts from time to time with the advice of the Council of State and with Patents in manner before so as it shall bee found to make most for the seruice and welfare of the Land according to the occasions and occurences of affairs VIII They shall likewise caus an exact list to bee kept of the Garrisoning of all Cities Forts and places so as the same shall bee conditioned from time to time and caus coppies thereof to bee imparted to the Provinces desiring the â—ame IX The foresaid Commissioners at present beeing or succeeding afterwards in the foresaid Assemblie of the States General shall promise by Oath and swear they will precisely regulate themselvs according to the contents of this Instruction and every Article thereof without transgressing or contrarieing the same in any Article directly or indirectly nor â—uffer ought to bee don to the contrarie and in this behalf they shall by Oath renounce all particular correspondence with either Province Cities or Members thereof or any private and particular persons in any matter or waie that might prove prejudicial to the publick interest and that without any regard of the Provinces or Cities where they were born or chosen or of the particular profit of themselvs or any others and promiss to have nothing before their eies but the welfare and conservation of those Countries and the publick interest and doing besides in this behalf what good and faithful Commissioners are bound and ought to do Upon which Instruction the present Lords Deputies at the Ordinarie Assemblie of the Generalitie are obliged forthwith to take their oath before the present Great Assemblie as likewise the rest now absent are to do from time to time as they shall present themselvs or such as may bee further deputed by the respective Provinces during the Session of this present Assemblie or the same beeing ended before the foresaid Ordinarie Assemblie of their H. M. insomuch that none of the Extraordinarie Deputies of the respective Provinces at the said Assemblie shall bee permitted to participate of the Deliberation about the giving of the said Patents but having first taken the oath in behalf of the foresaid Instruction Now follow 's the form of the Oath for the Souldierie mentioned and established by the tenth Article of the above standing Resolution The Oath to bee made by Souldierie to the States General I A. B. do promiss and swear to be true and faithful to the States General of the United Netherlands abiding constant in the Union and maintenance of the Reformed Religion and especially to the N. M. Lords the States of N. my pay-masters together with the States of the other Provinces where I shall bee emploied as also to the Governors or Magistrates of the Cities as well within the said Provinces as without them where I shall bee put in Garrison to serv them resolutely and faithfully under the conduct of the Chieftains and Commanders set or to bee set over mee to honor respect and obey the foresaid Lords the States General and the particular my pay masters together with the States of the other United Provinces wherein I shall bee employ'd and put in Garrison and the Governors thereof at present beeing or succeeding afterwards and such as have or may have in time autoritie there given them over the Souldierie and the foresâ—id Chieftains and Commanders set or to bee set over mee in their respective commands for such time as I shall continue to bee employ'd in the respective Provinces and Cities and and moreover to govern and regulate my self in all things according to the Articles and Orders made for the service and especially to obey and respect no Patents but such as shall bee conditioned in manner as followeth To wit Under the Attestation of the Lord President besides the signing of two other Lords of the Deputies at the Generalitie the subscribing of the Secretarie the Seal of their Hâ— Mi. the attesting of the President at the Council of State the signing of the Secretarie and the Seal of the Court of the Council of State beeing accompaâ—ied likewise with the Patents of the States out of or into whose Province I shall bee commanded to march provided withâ—l that lying within any of the United Provinces I shall upon the special Patent of the States of the Province or their autorised Commissioners transport my self into any Citie or place of the said Province and likewise into the Cities and Forts immediately resorting under the Generalitie and back again out of the said Cities and Forts into the Province whence I was sent forth at any time and as often as their N. M. shall finde it requisite for either their own or the Generalities service and that in marches also or thorow-faires through any Voiceing Province I shall practise no manner of hostilitie or disorder nâ—r any other trouble or molesâ—ation whatsoever upon the Inhabitants of the foresaid Provinces nor suffer any trespass of this kinde in the Souldiers under my command nor attempt any thing my self nor suffer those under mee to attempt the least to prejudice distress or endammage the same Provinces Members or Cities thereof and if so bee that any shall bee sent to meet mee lawfully impower'd by the States of such a Provinâ—e or their autorised Commissioners for to conduct mee in the said march that I shall punctually follow the orders made in that behalf So also coming towards any walled Towns of the foresaid voicing Provinces that I shall not enter into the same withâ—ut first giving notice of it to the Magistrates thereof but that I shall remain without waiting for their order and pleasure whether it bee to let mee pass through their Citie or along the same without it So help mee God The Lords of Friesland of Groninghen and the Omlands declared that they were readie to conform to all aforesaid with the 5 other Provinces and accordingly to consent to the foregoing Resolution under their respective Declaration to wit The Lords Commissioners of Friesland That they approved the Articles of the Conference Conciliatorie of Maii 20 o. 1651. since Jun. 16 o. established under this express restriction and reservation That this Provisionally determined Order touching the Direction and disposition of Militarie affairs should not bee prejudicial to the method form and order alreadie concluded on for the conservation and mutual entertainment of the Union or to bee concluded hereafter in case the one or the other Province would not accommodate themselvs to reason and the observation of the Union in som point or other As also their N. M. understood it so That the Right of a
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
respective Provinces and Councils of War together with them as likewise to the Deputie-Councils of the States of the respective Provinces all by waie of prevention And that none may pretend ignorance of this our present Act wee do hereby intima e unto and desire the Lords the States or their Commission'd Councils and Stadtholders of the Provinces where they are respectively and enjoin all other Judges Officers and publick Ministers they beeing required it That they caus this Act and Ordinance to bee every where declared proclaimed and published where publication and proclamation is usually made and besides the Governors of the Provinces Governors and Commanders of Cities and Forts to caus the publication hereof to bee frequently renewed in the Frontier-Towns and places of strength before the Souldierie hors and foot by Drum and Trumpet providing nevertheless that all the foresaid points shall bee kept inviolable and the transgression punished according to the respective penalties above mentioned though the same publication were not renewed for a whole year and that without any favor connivance or dissimulation to the contrarie For thus wee have found it requisite for the advancement of the service of the Land Given at the Haghe This same daie the Lords of Friesland gave in the ensuing Proposition or Advice High Mightie Lords THe Lords Commissioners of Friesland having taken into further Consideration the conclusion made yesterday touching the Thanksgiving to bee returned to Almightie God on Saturday next they finde the same prais-worthie But since there is nothing more worthie the name of God and nothing more necessarie by reason of his incomprehensible Power of searching the hearts of those that call upon him then that they which draw near unto him see they do the same with pure hearts and present their desires in terms of truth and uprightness Therefore it is that the Commissioners of Friesland calling to minde that the points of Secret Correspondence and Determining of arising Differences among the Provinces beeing som of the most principal Bonds and Foundations of the Union are not perfectly transacted yet to the content and satisfaction of the joint Provinces Their desire in behalf of Friesland is that the same may first bee perfectly adjusted with love and unitie of all the Confederates And whereas likewise this Illustrious Assemblie was held good and commended to the respective Provinces by the States of Holland for no other end according to the propositions made by their Deputies in the several Provinces but to establish and maintein Concord Peace Love and Friendship among the joint Provinces and to remove and extinguish all diffidence jealousies and suspicious The Deputies of the Province of Friesland held it needful to recommend unto your H. M. serious consideration whether it were not very fit and requisite that these weightie and long-deliberated affairs should bee concluded with a Solemn Resolution of Amnestie forgiving and forgetting whatsoever by the one or the other Province or any Particular persons and members thereof may have been don or transacted in the year 1650 touching the Questions Differences and Dependencies thereof which were arisen then among them The Province of Friesland for their part conceived it most necessarie to the end that the blessing of God over this State and the resolutions taken by them may so much the more abundantly and confidently bee exspected and nothing attemted in the one or other Province after the ending of this Assemblie by either fact or writing in derogation or prejudice to his late Highness the Prince of Orange of praised memorie or any other whereby the mindes of the Inhabitants might bee disturbed and the pretext of peace becom as Oil in the fire and set the whole State into an unquenchable combustion of discord and contention desiring that all the Provinces would bee pleased particularly to advise and resolv upon this Proposition as without which Resolution the Lords of Friesland are firmly persuaded that the foresaid Thanksgiving to Almightie God cannot bee sincerely performed here nor any good effect thence bee brought to perfection in the respective Provinces The Caus and Occasion of this Motion must bee repreesnted with som reflexion to things past The Lord Cats Counsellor and and Pensionarie of Holland had som months ago made known to his Lords principals his great age of 74 years humbly desiring thereupon that hee might bee released and end the rest of his daies in quiet and enjoiment of himself This having been reiterated by him several times and yet not hearkned unto hee did at last to shew hee was in good earnest declare hee must of necessitie discharge himself of several papers and secret resolutions wherewith hee had been intrusted and to this end hee likewise delivered up a certain writing entituled The Reasons and Motives which induced his High s to undertake both the arresting of the Lords and the enterprise upon at and about the Citie of Amsterdam Which Prince William of high memorie had given in last year and which then for peace sake was found good not to open This Writing beeing exhibited to the Assemblie it was put to the question whether it should bee opened or burnt Most voices especially those that held themselvs offended were of opinion that it ought to bee read to make it appear how little ground the Prince had of proceeding as hee did It beeing opened acordingly and read there were copies taken the Tenor whereof followeth THe High Mightie Lords the States General of the United Netherlands taking to heart the long-continued tedious and dangerous disturbances and irritations which daily are encreasing more in the States of these Countries by reason of the Discrepancie arisen betwixt the hx Provinces on the one side and the Province of Holland and Westfriesland on the other about the Reducing and cashiering of a part of the Militia and the establishing of a state of War and according to their great wisdom and knowledg of affairs foreseeing the inconveniences like to ensue thereupon the rather for that by the Province of Holland and Westfriesland there was already a separate Cashiering resolved upon by pluralitie of voices and orders issued by them for the effecting thereof they found good and necessarie to decree a solemn Sending or Commission whereunto wee join'd our self to all the Cities and Members of the foresaid Province of Holland and Westfriesland for to persuade the same by all conceivable motives that they would refrain from all separate cashiering diminishing or altering of the forces engaged in service by oath to the Generalitie and to withdraw themselvs from what might have been undertaken to the contrarie conforming themselvs with the six other Provinces or submitting the points in difference according to the provision of the Union in that behalf And the said Lords the States General desired and autorized Us to see all requisite order taken and to provide that all might bee kept in peace and quiet and specially the Union preserved and mainteined together with all the consequences
to declare that his intention was no other then hee professed before and doth herewithall humbly desire and beseech their N. Gr. M. not to construe his actings and sayings any otherwise and that accordingly they will bee pleased to comprehend him together with all other Militarie Officers and inhabitants of this Land which were imploied in that Expedition in the General Amnestia or Act of Oblivion which hee understood was in agitation among the Provinces And afterwards hee presented the ensuing Petition To the Noble Great Mightie Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland THe Lord van Sommersdyck sheweth with all reverence his beeing so unhappie that notwithstanding his uttmost endeavor of giving satisfaction to their N. gr M. by an upright and respectful Information touching his Employ in the Amsterdam Expedition hee understands their N. gr M. do still remain unsatisfied in that behalf Hee doth therefore once again most humbly beseech your N. gr M. seriously to consider the strict obligation and forcible tie of his Militarie Employment most submissively praying that in regard thereof they will bee pleased to comprehend him in the Amnestia now in agitation promising that in acknowledgment thereof hee shall evermore bee and remain Their No. gr M. most humble and most obedient Servant and Subject signed van Aerssen van Sommersdyck Whiles thus on the one side inquisition was made about such as had lent their helping hand to the Princes Designs last year it was found good on the other side to justifie the Actions and Resolutions of the Lords of Holland and accordingly there came in from the respective Cities of Dort Haerlem Delâ—t Amsterdam Horen and Medenblick as also by the N. gr M. Lords the States of Holland themselvs these ensuing Acts of Justification Act of Justification of the Citie of Dort WEe Burgomasters Senators Counsellors old-council and commons of the Citie of Dort make known by these our open Letters to all and every one to whom they shall bee presented That the Lord Jacob de Witte old Burgomaster of this Citie at present Commission'd Counsellor and Deputie from this Citie at the Assemblie of Holland hath advised nothing touching the new State of War and the Cashiering and reducing of the Militia but that which our Deputies there were charged to do and this beeing anew examined in our full Assemblie and all the Acts and Resolutions concerning that matter renewed Junii 10. last the same is found in truth to bee so and that for all this thanks were and yet are returned to him by these wherewithal is comprehended the report of a certain Letter from their Hi. M. to the Commissioned Counsellors bearing date April 16. last past That the same Lord old Burgomaster de Witte hath been of the same advice together with the other Lords concerning what last time was conferr'd of here with his High s in particular and yielded to and promised by word of mouth with our Consent to the content of his High â— according to the written advice presented in our behalf to the foresaid Assemblie of Holland That besides the Lord de Witte hath endeavored to the utmost together with other Deputies that the conciliatorie advice of 16. July last might first among the Deputie-Members of their great Might and afterwards here in our Assemblie by their Nob. gr M. bee settled and for that and other continued services had together with his fellow-Commissioners thanks given him by us and wee thank him to this daie by these and whereas all the foresaid affairs and advices were don and performed by his Honor with our full knowledg order and autorisation therefore wee declare by these that wee do commend approve and ratifie the same together with the advices grounded thereupon promising to his Honor and to his Children also that whatsoever in regard and by reason hereof shall further com or is alreadie com upon or don to him to hold the same as if it were com upon or don to Us in general and to every one of Us in particular and personally and to help the same to bee repaired with all vigor aad to keep his Honor harmless and indamnified under the obligation of our Citie and all the goods thereof recoverable by any Lords Courts Laws Judges and Judicatures Actum August 2. 1651. and the foresaid Act beeing read over again in our Assemblie Aug. 5. next ensuing the extent thereof hath been approved and wee Burgomasters Senators Counsellors Old-Council and Commons abovesaid do caus this to bee sealed with the Citie Seal in behalf thereof Underneath stood In absence of the Secretarie signed by H. Roosboom where under stood the Seal exprest in green Wax covered over with white paper Register-Notes taken by occasion of his High s the Prince of Orange his arrival at Dort together with Lords van de Capelle van Aersberghen Marignault Rhynswoude Claut of the Assemblie of the Lords the States General and the Lords van Asperen Lucas and Treasurer General Brasser of the Council of State all in qualitie of Deputies from the Generalitie about the point of Reducing and Casheiring of the Militia by the Lords the States of Holland aud West-Friesland resolved in June 1650. Thursday June 9. 1650. ADvertisement beeing given the daie before by the Commission'd Counsellors of the arriving of his High s and the foresaid Deputies of the Generalitie after that the Lords Burgomasters of this Citie accompanied with divers Lords of the Government had waited till ten a clock at night for the said arrival of his High s for to receiv the same according to the accustomed order by causing a considerable number of Citizens to attend in arms and that the said Burgomaster seeing it grow so late and doubting of his High s arrival that night had dismissed the foresaid Lords of the Government together with the Citizens this morning earlie the said Burgomasters were desired in his High s behalf who was com to town yet last night about eleven that the Assemblie of the Senators Counsellors Old-Council and Commons might bee gathered that forenoon yet for to have Audience there together with the foresaid deputed Lords from the Generalitie whereupon the foresaid Burgomasters accompanied as before beeing gon to his High s lodging for to bid him welcom and desired by him to assemble the Old-Council apart returned answer to his High s that they the said Burgomasters would at the desire and for the respect to his High s onely gather the foresaid Old-Council and admit of the said Audience under protestation nevertheless this beeing an innovation and beside the Order of Government to laie no ground of prejudice thereby to the Eminence Prerogative and Soveraigntie of the Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland nor to the freedom of their Deliberations in their State-Assemblie about it Where after his High s beeing conducted to the foresaid Audience attended by the forenamed Deputies of the Generalitie there were read by the Lord vand der Cappelle som Propositions and papers in
the Assemblie as they maintained But they of Friesland maintained the contrarie in that sort that August 18 o. they declared They saw well enough that amidst the affairs of that Illustrious Assemblie som passions began to plaie their part which caused them to fear the great aim of that solemn meeting which had been to reduce Discord into Concord and Jealousies into a more firm and confident Correspondence would fail them or at leastwise not hit the main point and therefore out of zeal to the publick and common interest they had found good July 20 last past to move their Hi. Mi. that this Illustrious Assemblie the principal business beeing transacted might bee crowned at parting with an Amnestia and oblivion of all that had past to and fro in the year 1650. betwixt the Provinces the Members and Subjects thereof which although it was acceptable in that kinde to all the Provinces that by the Conciliatorie Conferrence an Act should bee drawn to that effect the same beeing don and afterward consented to by the six other Provinces nevertheless the Lords of Holland in their memorandum upon the said Act but yesterday had not yet declared themselvs so as the Province of Friesland and others after so long a Recess had confidently hoped they would have don beeing the Act yesterday presented by Holland and West-Friesland perhaps not without over-voting and against the good intention of som of the chief Members of Holland it self in effect is all one and the same by reason of the words against the other as above with that they brought in three weeks ago containing fair words but little in operation to that which an Amnestia or oblivion ought to comprehend the reather becaus that none can bee excluded in particular but the reflexion will light upon the Provinces themselvs which decreed and ratified the Resolutions pretended to have been the caus of all the Troubles though in truth they had an other Rise as is well known to this Assemblie And as then the Comissioners for the Province of Friesland could not remember and the like they were perswaded of all the other Provinces to have don or committed any thing which could give waie to such a Relation as the Act of the Lords of Holland yesterday presented did contain The Lords of Friesland having had no other meaning but that all even imagined and supposed faults how or by whomsoever committed might bee obliterated and buried in oblivion for to encreas the reputations of the United Provinces jointly so much the more with their Friends and make their Consideration so much the more formidable among their Enemies Therefore they the Commssioners of Friesland desired the Lords of Holland that at length now they would bee pleased to complie with the drawn Resolution of the Amnestia as it was presented July 22 last beeing the same would not onely agree well with the Proposition the Deputies of Holland made before the Assemblie in the respective Provinces but most consonant likewise to the gratulation and welcom reception they found at their arrival here In case of default the Comissioners of Friesland instanced They were constrained to declare That many points otherwise transacted at this Board could not bee acceptable nor grateful to their Principals and therefore they desired That in regard of the affairs of this Assemblie it should bee entred in their behalf That they would bee guiltless of all the inconveniences which through the neglect of such a Christian Request might in time ensue beeing resolved to assist this Assemblie no longer then the end of that week Som would have had this protestation served in with harder and sharper terms as that the Province held all the Transactions here for null c. but the greater part found it not good to appear â—o eager in this particular Provincial business but advised the Lord of Sommersdyck by som good means or other to endeavor giving Content to the Assemblie of Holland as was don likewise in manner following whenas Augusti 19. the Lord Counsellor Pensionarie Cats declared in the name of the Nobilitie to the Lords the States of Holland that for the preventing of further disturbance in the Province of their N. Gr. M. and least the great Assemblie should part with discord They the said Nobilitie had caused the Lord van Sommersdyck to finde good to absent himself from the Assemblie of the Lords the States without appearing there again till such time as their N. Gr. M. should bee disposed by the foresaid Nobilitie to approve of his readmittance and that consequently the said Lord van Sommersdyck should bee comprehended in the Amnestia with annullation and expunction out of the Registers of their N. gr M. of all such Acts and Resolutions as shall bee found to have been taken about impeaching of the said Lord van Sommersdyck Whereupon report presently after beeing made by the Lord Pensionarie de Witte of the conference held by the Committee of their N. gr M. about the subject aforesaid in manner as followeth Noble Great Mightie Lords THe Members by your N. gr M. commissioned for to consider how the business of the Amnestia may with most and best convenience and satisfaction of the Provinces bee terminated and the great Assemblie concluded and dismist with general content have judged unanimously That the Lord van Sommersdyck shall absent himself from the affairs of the Assemblie of your N. gr M. either by a Voluntarie withdrawing or by the Disposition of a politick Resolution until such time as by full consent of the Members it may bee otherwise ordered and that moreover the Provincial Act of Holland shall bee also published and affixed in all places fitting and the Lord van Sommersdyck comprehended therein obliterating the things past last year and consequently the project of the Amnestia framed by the Commissioners of the Conference Conciliatorie and July 22 1651. reported by them in the great Assemblie shall bee embraced by their N. gr M. referring themselvs herein to your N. gr M. wise disposing Don August 19. 1651. After several Discourses falling to work it was found good that the foresaid Declaration of the Nobilitie should bee received and that accordingly the Lord van Sommersdyck should absent himself out of their N. gr M. Assemblie and that all Acts and Resolutions taken for charging or empeaching the said Lord should bee taken forth out of their N. gr M. Registers and held abolished That moreover the Act of the general Amnestia agreed upon at the Conciliatorie Conference July 22. brought in at the great Assemblie should bee accepted and was acepted of by their N. gr M. and that the Lord van Sommersdyck should bee understood as comprehended in it At last Saturday Aug. 19. the Provinces of Gelderland Zeland Utrecht and Over-Yssell accepted of the Act of Deciding Differences in manner as followeth I. IF it com to pass which God forbid that there do arise any dispute misunderstanding contention or discord among the United Provinces
out of the adjoined Bills whether the works were put out publickly and that the said Bills and particulars bee annexed to the Orders as likewise look to it that no continuation of undertaken works bee yielded unto and that no Orders of what kinde soêver shall bee otherwise issued but to the Receiver General who shall accommodate the owners of the said Orders at their desire with assignations upon the subordinate Receivers at the places of their Residence or where it may bee most convenient for them IX Turn to Artic. 49. THere shall likewise account bee rendred of the Rights of the Seal according to the Tax ordained or to bee ordained by the States General whereof good and exact Registers and Counter-rolls are to bee kept Nevertheless the same may bee converted to the paying of the Officers and other necessarie expences of the Council of State And so likewise was the Instruction of the Receiver General enlarged with these two Articles I. IN the first place the Receiver General shall hold no Orders valid nor make any paiment thereupon unless they bee given by the Council of State and signed by the Lord President and two other Lords of the said Council together with the Treasurer and Secretarie of the same upon precedent registring thereof folio tali and having annexed to it all the bills and requisites about the particulars for which the respective Orders were granted and having been likewise viewed examined and cleared that they were given according to the Land's Order with the inscription of Registrata folio tali made by the said Chamber without all which the Receiver is to make no paiment upon pain of disallowance II. Nor shall any Orders of what name or kinde soëver bee issued or charged but upon the Receiver General who shall accommodate the owners of the said Orders at their desire with Assignations upon the subordinate Receivers at the places of their aboad or where it shall bee most convenient for them There was likewise consultation held several times about dressing of the List of the Companies as well for besetting the Frontiers as for better Execution of the civil commands in every Province which continued yet in December as likewise the deliberations and considerations about the settling of the State of War The Council of State was also summoned again and again for to com and take their Oath upon the new Instruction past Julie 18. But by reason that through the absence of many the Council was very thin and uncomplete they excused and declined it still until Decemb. 1. they brought in their Considerations upon the said Instructions shewing that som points thereof were not practicable according to the letter as also that thence would follow much remissness or slow proceeding in the affairs and therefore no small disservice to the Land Wherefore they desired that before the passing of their Oath they might enter into conference with Commissioners of their Hi. Mi. about those difficulties But receiving no answer hereupon and beeing pressed anew with the soonest to com and take the Oath they judged it necessarie to draw up in writing the Considerations which in presence of his Excell cie Count William of Nassaw Stadtholder they had observed upon several Articles of the said Instructions wherein they found it too difficult for them to yield performance accordiâ—g to the letter without knowing the true sence of them by further interpretation protesting beforehand that they were sorrie they must represent it in this manner beeing constreined to it for the quiet and satisfaction of their mindes which indeed might well have been prevented if so bee that according to the 24 Article of the Old Instruction the alteration or change thereof had been made with the knowledg and advice of the Council of State according to the plain words of the said Article but now the Council beeing past by contrarie to the plain text of the foresaid old â—worn Instruction they found that without scruple they could not safely swear nor duly execute the said New Instructions They said the Second Article required That the Lords of the Council should have their firm Residence at the place of their Assemblie this the Council held serviceable indeed for the State if it could bee put in practice by the Lords but som declared they had taken the Commission upon them on other terms and those which were sent hither from the Provinces but for the space of one or two years beeing absent now they would finde themselvs put to a great deal of inconvenience to quit therefore their habitation in the Provinces and to transport their whole families hither for so small a time To the Third Article of gathering in the fore and afternoon and that the Counsellors should still bee ready at hand where the Council is emploi'd they said they held it sufficient to keep to the old practice and such as their Hi. Mi. themselvs do gathering namely in the forenoon in ordinarie and besides that at any time when the Lord President shall finde it requisite for the service of the Countrie To Article 15 That is was known the Council had no disposing of the common means within the respective Provinces but onely in the places without the Provinces resorting under the Generalitie where the equalitie would bee observed well enough but that it was requisite there should first som resolution bee taken about the difference which was in the common means of the Bosch with other places of Braband for which advice was given a good while ago and that the Lists of Braband and Flanders may likewise bee looked into as not well agreeing yet They declared they could not perform the 19 Article according to the letter beeing the paiment of the Souldierie was not made by them but the same and the charges of War beeing charged by Repartition upon the respective Provinces they had the disposition over the paiment and the managing of their means themselvs The Generalities means were emploied by the Council upon the undivided Interests running upon the account of the Receiver General and all other emergent occasions necessities and charges incident and incumbent to and with the Assemblies of the Generalitie As for the necessarie Mustering and Discipline over the Souldierie the Council would take care for well enough but the paying them by Pole or by the head was never practised yet and beyond the Council's abilitie To the 20 Article the Council said it was not in their power to provide for that beeing every Province did therein every one as they found good and som did practice the contrarie causing the Companies to bee charged som also not paying precisely so that without redressing first the one and other exorbitancie in the Provinces and reducing all to an Uniformitie it was in vain precisely and duly to effect the rest upon or against the Souldierie To the 21 where is said how the Orders ought to bee signed they observed there was omitted that the Secretarie of the Council
serv's likewise that in the Conditions whereupon the Prince of Orange bought the Citie of Flushing in the year 1581 it is expressly set down That all other Domains and Lordly consequences whereof the the Letters make not mention and which the Lord nevertheless or his forefathers had or enjoied and might have had and enjoied by Right the same shall ensue the Buyer without any reservation Whereby there is not acquired to the Lord Marquiss any particular right in and over the said Cities in respect whereof onely those Cities should tanquam mixtum statum obtinentes bee owned by and subject to the Marquiss and have remained without his Jurisdiction immediately under the Earl so as divers Cities in Germanie as Hamburg in respect of the Duke of Holstein Magdeburg in respect of Saxonie Brunswick and Cullen in respect of their Princes and divers others which onely in certain respects acknowledg their Lords and for the rest are immediately subject to the Empire But the Citie of Veer hath alwaies been subject to their particular Lords and the Citie of Flushing was reduced to the same nature and condition by the Earl of Zeland in his foresaid Letters of Transport and Sale in the year 1477. Whereunto serveth ungainsaiably that the same Letters do expressly contein a special charge and command from the Earl to the subjects portiers and Inhabitants of the said Citie for to obey and swear unto the Buyer their Lord his Heirs and Posteritie as to their just Inheritor and Lord proprietarie To which Letters and those of Renuntiation hath relation the Decree of the year 1581 whereby the Cities aforesaid are sold to the Prince of Orange Those which are vers'd and skill'd in the Laws and Matters of this nature ever understanding it thus That the Cities which are bound to call their Lord Inheritor or Lord Hereditarie and must swear hereditarie Allegiance to him are to bee held subjected Cities absolutely The like Oaths of Hereditarie Allegiance beeing made to the Prince of Orange in the years 1581 and 1588 there were silver coins thrown abroad in remembrance thereof upon which there was the Arms of Nassaw with this circumscription Nodus indissolubilis To this serv's further that by the Grant or Charter of the year 1574 given to the said Cities by Prince William the said Prince take's the said Cities into the Earl's immediate protection and subjection with promiss never to alienate the same which execution had been needless if those Cities were not subject to their particular Lord. From whence may well bee considered that the Lord Marquiss hath not onely ex praesumtâ mente but also by express surrender of the Earl by virtue of the foresaid Letters of the year 1477 and all succeeding feodarie Letters intentionem fundatam to all Rights and Dues which the Earl had in and over the said Cities And that therefore it is a groundless inference for the Commissioned Council to aver as they do Artic. 13. of their Considerations touched above That whatsoever belong'd not to the Act of Sovereigntie the same should bee left and reserved to the Cities Whence followeth likewise that all the Rights and Prerogatives which the Cities and Magistrates do enjoie and which are rehearsed at length by the Lords of the said Council begining from the 13 Artic. to the 15 touching any Jurisdictional interests they are deriving from the gracious Concessions both of the Earls and the particular Lords unto the said Cities and granted from time to time unto them as likewise the same is alleged by the foresaid Consideration in sundrie Articles and may bee seen too in the old Statute-book of the Citie of Flushing that of all antient times the Election and Ordinances in the behalf of Justice the Orphant's-chamber the Companies and other matters serving for the Government and ordering of the said Citie were made and caused to bee promulgated by the Lords of Flushing So that all those Privileges are belonging to the said Cities not of themselvs ex Jure ullo Universitatis without the exercise whereof no Universitie or Civil Societie could bee instituted Although otherwise also it is conceived that the Jus illud publicum Universitatis is screwed up somwhat too high by the Council in their Considerations for the deriving thence such conclusions as would exceedingly prejudice the Lord Marquiss in his Lordlie Prerogatives It is a known business in the Laws that not onely Cities but Castra Villa Vicus and even Courts or Bodies Collegiate which are comprehended under the name of Universitie may have and possess goods and revenues like unto particular persons and may appoint men for to manage protect and defend the same and also dispose of the said goods at pleasure of their own accord Which nevertheless they of Flushing may not do without the consent of the Bailiff in the Name of the Lord or at least without his privitie or notice given That the Universities may both sue and bee sued in Law and also contract without it And furthermore according to the diversitie of the Universities whether they bee Counties Cities Villages or bodies Collegiate expedite the affairs and negotiations concerning themselvs But from this Right to attribute so great a Right unto those Cities as by the Considerations seem's to bee don wee hope that shall not bee found to have ground in any Laws What kinde of autoritie and power is belonging to the Magistrates of these Cities considered in their own nature as Vassal-Cities the same would soon bee determined by the Laws if there were any question about that between the Lord and the Cities As also it is an easie matter to know by the Laws what the Magistrate eo ipso quòd Magistratus factus sit may do according to the nature of his Office and that the greater and populous the Cities bee the more is their autoritie for to keep their Citizens in order But yet that the said Autoritie is different from the Jurisdiction and the rights deriving thence aud belonging onely to the Lord. And that the privileges depending thereon cannot com or bee acquired to those Cities but by gracious Concessions Purchase Grants and other singular titles past unto them from the Lord. As the same also appear's in what concern's the Cities of Flushing and Veer by the Contracts and privileges alleged by the Commission'd Council in the foresaid considerations and otherwise well known And that consequently those Cities and Magistrates have such acquired Jurisdictional privileges not Jure Magistratûs proprio or from the autoritie of beeing Magistrates there exercising the same but ex accidenti Coming herewith to Artic. 51 conteining the ninth Argument brought in by the Commissioned Council in their Considerations as the main and principal foundation of their Pretence Namely the great Grant or Charter of Privileges given by Prince William of happie Memorie to those of Flushing and Veer respectively in the year 1574. In which regard your N. M. are desired to consider in his High s behalf that
all other Benefits or Indults of Courts which might in any wise serâ— or favor them to the contrarie and especially that Exception in the Laws which saith That a general Renunciation hath no binding force unless a special one bee gon before 24. And for a further confirmation it is agreed That the Lords Lievtenants or Governors of the foresaid Provinces both present and to com together with all the Magistrates and chief Officers of every Province Citie or Member of the same shall promiss and engage by Oath to observ and keep and caus to bee observed and kept this Union and Confederacie and every Article thereof in particular 25. The like Oath for observing the same shall bee made by all the train-bands fraternities and companies or societies in any Towns or Corporations within this Union 26. And hereof there shall bee drawn up Letters in due form to bee signed and sealed by the Lords Stadt-holders and the principal Members and Cities of the Provinces as also subscribed by their respective Secretaries special address and application having been made to them in this behalf by the rest These foresaid Points and Articles are signed by the Deputies of Gelderland and Countie of Zutphen viz. by my Lord Count John of Nassaw Lievtenant of the said Countries for himself and with the other Commissioners in the name of the common Nobilitie of the said Principalitie of Gelders and Countie of Zutphen together with the Deputies of Holland Zeland Vtrecht and Omlands aforesaid assembled and autorised as above formally decreed and concluded whereupon the said Deputies of Gelderland and the Countie of Zutphen adjourned to 9. of Febr. ensuing for the further declaring of the banner-Banner-Lords the great and lesser Cities of the foresaid Principalitie and Countie and that to bee made within the Citie of Vtrecht to the States Commissioners there present Thus don at Vtrecht Januar. 23. 1579. under the hands of my Lords the Lord Lievtenant aforesaid and the foresaid Deputies set down underneath here for further assurance and was signed John Count of Nassaw Catzenellebogeus in the behalf of the Nobilitie of the Principalitie of Gelders and Countie of Zutphen Alexander van Tellich Gelis Pick Joachim van Liere Alexander Bentinck in the behalf of those of Holland G. Poelgeest P. Buys Reynier Cant in the behalf of the States of Zeland Willem Roelsius Nicolaes Blauex Peter de Rycke Caspar van Vosbergen in behalf of the States of Vtrecht Ansonius van Galama de mandato Capituli sui Schore Jacobus Verhaer Vicedecanus sancti Petri de mandato capituli Adrian van Zuphen Lambertus van der Buegh Capitulo jubente F. de Wen Eng Raynhard van Azwyne Bartholomues van der Wael Nicolaes van Zuphen A. D. Leyden Lubbert van Cleef in the behalf of the States of the Omlands Egbert Clandt E. Jarges This Copie collation'd with the original signed Union is found to agree therewith by mee Lam Zwede Declaration of the XIII th Article WHereas som do seem to make som difficultie about the 13 th Article of the Union concluded on the 23. of last month between the Deputies of Gelderland and Zutphen Holland Zeland Vtrecht and the Omlands Ems and Lawers as if the meaning and intention had been to receiv none into the said Union but such as according to the pacification of Religion framed by the Arch-Duke of Austria and Council of States by advice of the States General shall at leastwise suffer both Religions viz. the Roman Catholick and the Reformed The foresaid Deputies which were present at and concluded the said Union for the taking away all mistakes and diffidence are pleased to declare that their meaning and intention neither then was nor now is to exclude from the foresaid Union and Alliance any Towns or Provinces which shall bee willing to keep themselvs onely to the said Roman-Catholick Religion and where the Number of their Inhabitants professing the Reformed Religion is not so great or considerable as may enable them to enjoy the exercise of the Reformed Religion according to the pacification above said But that notwithstanding any former expression they shall and will bee readie to receiv into this Union all such Towns and Provinces as shall bee desirous to keep themselvs onely to the Romish Religion provided they will engage themselvs to the observing of the rest of the Points and Articles of this Union and carrie themselvs as good Patriots there beeing no such meaning that the one Province or Citie shall take cognizance of others in matter of Religion and thus for the clear maintenance of peace and concord among the Provinces and to avoid and take away the chiefest occasion of difference and discord Don thus in Vtrecht Febr. 1. 1â—79 Amplification of the 15 th Article THere beeing provision made in the 15 th Article for the alimentation and maintenance of Clergie-people such as had formerly been in any Convents or Colleges and withdrawn themselvs thence becaus of Religion or upon other reasonable grounds or may hereafter forsake and leav the same and it beeing found very considerable that by reason thereof there may arise many suites and controversies as is given to understand that divers are raised alreadie when as such persons do or shall pretend to have a right of succession in the goods of their parents brothers sisters and other friends and kindred deceased or coming to deceas and such also as in their life-time they may have convay'd and alienated the same unto by waie of gift transport or otherwise or also made sure to them after their death therefore the foresaid Confederates to prevent such Processes and Troubles as may arise from hence have found good to suspend all such suites and processes as either alreadie are or may bee commenced upon the causes aforesaid for to rest in statu quo from any further prosecution until such time as the said Confederates together with such others as shall likewise enter into the same Union and Alliance shall generally and if it bee needful by Autoritie of the Magistrate have taken order therein and published their Declaration Don thus by the foresaid Deputies Febr. 1. 1579. signed Lamsweerde This daie Febr. 4. 1579. there appeared in the Assemblie of the foresaid Deputies sitting at Vtrecht the underwritten Deputies of Ghent and declared that having perused the points and Articles of the foresaid Vnion and what by virtue thereof hath further been transacted They found it good and thereupon by virtue of their Letters of Credence and special procuration and instruction dated Januar. 27. 1579. have solemnly allow'd approved and ratified the same promising like the other Confederates to keep observ and follow the same and every point thereof in particular In witness whereof the foresaid Deputies set their hands to it the daie month and year as above and was signed In the behalf of those of Ghent Aclolf de Grutere Levin Tayart Christoph de la Becqre Lucas Mayart This daie Martii 5. there appeared in the Assemblie of
conform themselvs to the rest of the Provinces These matters went so high and avant that the Ministers took the boldness to broach and preach in their Pulpits there was but a straw's breadth betwixt them and the breach of the Union Which was to flatter the Court. Towards the end of April the States-General writ a remonstrating Letter to the Commissioned Council of Holland Noble mightie Lords WEE have hertofore transmitted unto the Noble Mightie Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland and to the other six Provinces respectively the newliest projected state of War so as it was fit the same should bee observed during the present peace whereunto som of the Provinces shewed themselvs well inclined But in regard that the Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland pretended and presented unto us several points of saving charges wee have likewise at the request of the said Lords transmitted the foresaid points to the six other Provinces Who for continuations sake of mutual unitie and common tranquillitie have so far by the return of their respective Provincial advices advanced to meet the foresaid Province of Holland that they have respectively yielded up a great part of the foresaid projected state of war and consequently given their assent to the disbanding of 55 Foot-Companies of Foreiners for the reducing of those Outlandish Regiments as also twelv Companies of Hors and that the rest of the Hors-Companies may bee reduced from 60 to 50 a piece gratifying withal the Officers to bee disbanded with such a pension as the joint Provinces shall bee disposed to settle upon them And the other six Provinces doubted not but the States of Holland would have conformed themselvs to this expedient But wee are very sorrie to understand that their Noble Mighties should bee persisting still in their foresaid points of saving obarges with intention and purpose to pass and act the same apart without the General Autoritie which wee seriously regarding and weighing the evil consequences thereof that in this and like matters one Province alone should in opposition to all the rest of the confederates undertake such discrepant resolutions and the effectual prosecution of them the rather forasmuch as before the determining and concluding of the Treatie of peace with Spain it was solemnly agreed to with the advice of his Highness and the Council of State That a sufficient number of forces should bee retained Therefore wee judged it necessarie to make this address unto your Honor that you will bee pleased to give notice hereof unto the Members which are to meet either by writing or sending to them and thereby endeavour to perswade the said Lords the States that for to prevent confusion and disorder they would beware how they tread into any separate or particular reduction or disbanding of Forces sworn and committed to the Generalitie for if this should bee attempted it would bee directly against the Union the everlasting alliance and laudable observance hitherto besides that so soon after the peace made there would bee discovered thereby a very greet feebleness in the Government of these Countries and the reputation thereof mightily weakned round about Whereas on the contrarie this State in the times of hottest war hath no less by the mutual unitie then by the prosperous success of arms been of great esteem and repute both far and near it being most plain and assured that the entertainment of a competent quantitie of Forces is both formidable to the covered and close enemie and as considerable pleasing and grateful to the friends and confederates Your Honors may pleas herewithal to consider that his Highness and the Council of State in framing the late new project and state of war aimed as on the one side at the conservation of the State of the Land the present doubtful constitution and occurrences of things the neighbors round about us beeing in arms still so on the other side at the great charges that lie upon the respective Provinces onely that the weightiest part beeing the preservation of the whole must needs preponderate or out-weigh the lesser yet notwithstanding the six other Provinces out-went the former project as hath been alreadie mentioned and met those of Holland a great part of their way Which affair beeing narrowly looked into it will bee found that following the advice of the six Provinces there will bee one hundred Hors and 270 Foot more entertained now then were kept in service during the last Truce when as since the expiration thereof it hath pleased Almightie God to augment strengthen and crown the state of these Countries with the Reduction of many Cities and a great number of Forts which Forts and Cities must needs bee beset and kept with requisite Garrisons unless wee hold such dear-bought Conquests scarce worth the keeping And it is farther worth noting that the whole Difference betwixt the Provincial Advices of the six said Provinces and that of the said Province of Holland doth charge these Provinces yearly with no more then about 25000 flor which for such a Province which God Almightie hath so abundantly blessed with Trade Wealth and Prosperitie in our apprehension ought to bee esteemed far less then the dis-repute and mis understandings which are like to arise most unexspectedly out of the fore-named discrepancie it beeing no unusual accident that a small spark easily kindleth into a great embracement Over and above all which considerations wee conceiv likewise that the foresaid Lords the States of Holland ought to ponder the love affection and kinde disposition they owe to those provinces their Confederates who continually endured the heat and brunt of war and whose inhabitants sat daily so sensibly in the flames thereof to eas reliev them now as much as may bee in regard of the burthen which not without caus remain's hanging upon their shoulders none knowing how soon or which way the like mischiefs may light upon them again peradventure when it may least bee thought on from afar off by such forces of whose raising there was or could bee had but little notice or notice beeing had the reasons and grounds thereof may have been disguised and palliated against which there is otherwise no fence but by providing and keeping sufficient Garrisons in the utmost Frontiers of this State wherein consist's the preservation and maintenance of that which through God's gracious blessing upon the Armies of these Countries hath been purchased for us with so much expence of wealth and blood For these and other causes wee shall relie upon the good Devoirs and Offices which your Honors shall bee pleased to shew and apply towards the Lords the Members of the instant States-Assembly of the foresaid Province of Holland and West-Friesland Whereunto wee pray God Almightie to vouchsafe his blessing to whose protection wee commend your Honors c. Actum April 16 1650. In May those of Leyden propounded That the Provincial advices of the rest should bee followed provisionally for the space of four months and then
was a new express consent to bee obteined every year for the continuation of the Armie XXIV Whatsoëver therefore is don now to the prejudice of the Soveraigntie the Rights and Privileges of Holland or practised by any ill-affected Hollanders that same Holland justly reputeth null and invalid according to Art 23. of the Union desiring still as hath been desired for the space almost of two years now that the Reduction may bee made according to the Union with common advice that is to say the Province of Holland beeing necessitated to discharge her self of such unnecessarie Forces and Entertainments that the other Provinces would bee pleased to do the like and so with common consent disband the 55 Companies wherein all the Provinces are agreed Thus the Lords of Holland likewise brought in and after the like long opposition effectually procured their resolved Reduction April 12 1642. to the solace and relief as well of the rest as their own Province XXV The Caution brought in at last that this far-reflecting Commission shall bee without prejudice to the Soveraigntie Privileges c. which nevertheless was forgotten in the first Cities is of that nature which the Lawyers call Protestatio actui contraria others a catch and come's just to as much as if they had given Holland and the Cities a stab into the Bowels saying it shall do you no hurt The Lords of Holland do not at all take upon them to prescribe a Law to their Hi. Mi. or the other Provinces if they pleas to re-entertain the 31 and 12 Companies which Holland cashiered as Gelderland and Over-Yssel did in the year 1623 Holland will not cannot hinder it But there is much reason to doubt whether the Deputies of the other Provinces are instructed by their Principals to charge them with it Nay it is well known that not one of the discharged Captains not one of their Solicitors will advance one pennie to their Companies upon the Countermand Nevertheless if the other Provinces will provisionally take on these cashiered Companies by somwhat raising their own rate and easing that of Holland which lay so heavie and insupportable upon their shoulders it shall bee very pleasing and acceptable to them and in the mean time they will not withhold their hand effectually to procure that the former Souldierie may bee faithfully mustered readily paid and kept so compleat that there shall bee found more men in number upon the Frontiers in Garrison then were before this Reduction For it is a thing well known that the most French English and Scots Companies are not 25 men a piece There is no question but the rest of the Provinces love disorder and waste of monie the contributed sweat and bloud of the poor Commons and unnecessarie charges as little as they of Holland and will in stead of breaking with their friends soon apply themselvs to put in effect their resolution of cashiering the 55 Companies c. as the like hath often happened c. this and but last Winter yet about the reduction of som twentie men in several Companies The 32 Article of the Instruction for the Council of State alleged in the foregoing Animadversions And the meaning of the fore-named States-General is that in regard of the preservation of the Right of the United Provinces both in the general and particular they do not now by this instruction or constitution of the Government and Council of State in their behalf abdicate or abrogate the Right and Power from the States-General and the States of the Provinces in particular that each of them in particular as much as concern's themselvs may in time of need or when the affairs of the Countrie shall require it dispose of and order things committed to the said Council themselvs and to execute by their direction matters of Sea and Land with all their dependance as particularly also the mustering keeping of Discipline Militarie punishments for all kinde of excess and exorbitancie and any other matter Understanding likewise that all businesses of State-Policie and Justice concerning the said Countries Cities and Members thereof in general and particular and not expressly committed to the said Council shall remain at the disposition of the States-General of the States of the particular Provinces of the Magistrates of the Cities and other lawful Autoritie to each according to the peculiar regard and interest There past at Dort som notable reflecting words between the Lord of Aërts-berghen and Burgo-master de Witte whereof there will bee made mention hereafter in the Deduction of those of Amsterdam upon his Highness Proposition July 30. Howêver the Resolution and Answer there was but general and by word of mouth That against the instant next Assembly they would bring in their advice sutable to the Union and Order of the Land and contribute their utmost for procuring the peace and welfare of the State From thence the progress went to Gorcum where as also at Schoonhoven the Resolution was suted ansvverably to the Proposition At Goude they were first resolved to give no audience in their Hall but his Highness arriving and sending for one and the other hee got most voices and prevailed though hee got likewise but a general declaration from them by word of mouth There there came to his Highness in behalf of Amsterdam the Lords of Waveren and Hasselaër That which past betwixt them may bee seen in the foresaid Proposition of his Highness at Amsterdam 30 July and the Answer of the Lordâ— there upon it In the Briel and at Rotterdam whither there were sent som before-hand to awe or draw the chiefest to compliance they were admitted according to desire and were answered accordingly howbeit but by word of mouth and relatively to what they intended to bring in at the States-Assembly But at Schiedam they were simply told their Towns advice should bee brought in at the Provincial meeting So that his Highness receiving so small satisfaction there refused their entertainment and would not so much as take a meal there And so likewise at Delft where they shew'd themselvs readie to give audience to the Prince but to the rest of the Commissioners they would not nor billet the Train which made both his Highness and the rest presently to pass through and return to the Hague Saturday the 18 they went to Alâ—maer where the Communion beeing to bee celebrated next day and his Highness invited hee received it together with Count Henrie and beeing admitted afterwards to audience received a good answer though likewise but by word of mouth and in general terms as also afterwards at Horn Enckâ—uyse and in the smaller Towns was otherwise everywhere received by the Train-Bands in arms and with all respect But they of Medenblick came of their own accord to bring their Resolution dilatorie and general praying his Highness not to take the pains to com to their Citie becaus of the bad waies and that they were but slenderly accommodated to entertain his Highness as was fitting according
made by the said Counsellor Pensionarie that his Highness upon the hearing of the foresaid Resolution read had declared hee would bee readie to morrow to enter into Conference with the Committee of their No. gr Mi. upon the intimated subject vid. in qualitie as Stadtholder of this Province according to former Declaration Whereupon deliberation had there were desired and appointed â—or that Committee the Nobles together with the Lords of Dort Haerlem Delft Leyden Amsterdam Gruda Alemaer Horn Enckhuyse and Medenblick viz one person for each of those members and the Counselle Pensionarie But they beeing not able to bring things to a Consent at that Conferrence his Highness in the interim was very busie for som daies together with the Council of State having together found out and drawn up a project of further accommodation the same was July 15. next ensuing presented to the Assembly of their Hi. Mi. in tenour as followeth High Mightie Lords After what manner his Highness and his Excellencie Stadtholder and the Council of State have during the War uncessantly watched and taken care for the preservation of the State by timely and seasonable presenting unto your Hi. Mi. with what power the Land was fit to bee protected so immediately upon the Conclusion of the Peace they have held it their Devoir to continue their care and watchfullness for the protection of the State according to the Constitution of affairs then and to this end and effect they have drawn and presented unto your Hi. Mi. the state of war containing such a proportion of Forces and like necessarie requisites as they judged needful for the preservation of the State as well without as within But hitherto your Hi. Mi. have not yet accepted of the said State of war with full Consent to the great grief of his Highness his Excellencie and the Council of State who cannot but fear thereby as waste of Treasure on the one hand so confusion in the State on the other the rather for that the discrepancies of opinion have already produced such evil effects and been followed with a pretended seperat Disbanding of Forces who remaining unpaid there cannot but ensue and arise thence many both apprehended and unapprehended troubles By reason whereof his Highness his Excellencie Stadholder and the Council of State have judged it needful to appear now in your Hi. Mi. Assembly and to see whether your Hi. Mi. may be equal Propositious yet bee brought to an agreement of mindes Nevertheless before they com to that his Highness his Excellencie Stadholder and the Council of State declare herewith That they are still of opinion and conceiv The securitie of this State requireth as yet no less Forces then were comprehended in the formerly delivered State of War and they will likewise bee held blameless if through want of entertaining a sufficient Number of Souldierie the state of the Land should bee surprised by any mischief declaring further that they are moved to present this new draught or project onely upon the apprehension of the imminent dangers in case the Provinces continue longer at odds about the receiving of a State of War and especially if during the Deliberations to bee taken thereabout a considerable partie of the Souldierie remain the whiles unpaid Therefore it is that his Highness his Excellencie Stadholder and the Council of State do in the first place desire that the paie may bee continued to the Souldierie separately and pretendedly discharged And thereupon to bring the Provinces to an Unanimous Resolution as for the discharging of som Forces so for the other points of Charges and the settling of a State of War his Highness his Excellencie and the Council of State would present the ensuing propositions nevertheless under express Declaration as before In the first place That 16 Troops of hors should bee disbanded there remaining then in the service yet 52 besides 50 Carabins belonging to his Excellencie Stadholder whereof 10 Troops of Collonels consisting of 60 som and others of 38 bors a piece those of 60 should bee reduced to 50. The 4 first Troops should remain as now they are viz. three of his High s one of 150 and two of 200 hors and that of Count Maurice Lievtenant General 100 hors Thus there should bee discharged 1340 hors and 3000 remain in service That the Cuirassiers should bee turned into Carabins excepted onely the Guards of his Highness one Troop of 150 and the other of 100 hors and the 50 of his Excellencies That of the Infantrie there should bee discharged 55 companies of 50 men apiece and of the 201 Companies of 70 men remaining five men a peice reduced besides so that in all there should bee disbanded 3755 foot and remain in service 450 companies consisting of 26350 men Which forces are less then were kept in time of the Truce besides the 2 troops of hors 30 Companies of foot entertain'd by France at which time there were not so many Frontiers to bee Garrison'd as now there are there beeing a good many more gotten recover'd since besides other Relations requiring it now which were not before That the lodging-monies where the same were paid hitherto should bee lessened by a Moïtie provided the Companies bee well and readily paid and likewise disburd'ned from all extraordinarie Charges That the Officers of such Companies as are to go off by disbanding they beeing reduced to a great deal of inconvenience by this time of peace many of them having served the State for many years in several qualities and not well knowing on a sudden what cours of living to applie themselvs unto it seemeth very equal that a certain pension bee allowed them as namely to a Captain of hors 1200 flor p. an hee entertaining alwaies one hors to bee in readiness upon occasions at his Highness's call for service To a Captain of Foot 800 flor to a Lievtenant of hors 350 fl to a Lievtenant of Foot and Cornet of hors each 250 fl to an Ensigne 200 fl p. anâ— respectively so nevertheless as that all such participants shall remain engaged for service as Reformado's if need bee under the Collonel-Companies of the Regiments or otherwise as his Highness shall finde meet and that the said pensions shall bee enjoied by them either during life or until they shall bee preferr'd again in the Lands Service whereunto they shall stand recommended before others also that the pensions of such as shall leav the Land for to dwell or serv elswhere shall surceas and return to the equal benefit of all the Provinces That beeing the Governors of som of the chiefest and most important Frontiers besides the great trust put in them of such places must honorably keep hous there as having great resort to them of passengers and withal wanting those advantages of booties and prises which they enjoy'd during the War besides their Entertainments Those therefore of the Bosch Mastricht Breda and Sluys should each of them have an allowance of 250 flor p. month
their W W solemnly declared for elucidation of their good intention that the same was altogether far removed from their least thoughts as the East is from the West but that his Highness as Stadtholder of the Province might bee assured of the greatest honor and respect that could bee desired and that the sens of the Council was onely That his High s could not bee admitted in regard of the foresaid Commission And when afterwards the said Burgomasters were advertised that his Highness continued in his Resolution to repair nevertheless to the said Citie conceiving hee might prevail for all that to get admission upon the foresaid Commission and Lett es Credential from their Hi. Mi Their W W and the Council persisted again it was not in their libertie nor power to grant the foresaid Audience and found good to send the second time to his High s to acquaint him with their Resolutions and for the foresaid reasons most seriously again to desire him to pass the Citie by in this Commission testifying nevertheless all due readiness to receiv him this qualitie laid aside as Stadtholder with all respect and honor To this end there were sent unto his High s the Lord Gelvinck old Burgomaster and Sig r Spiegel of the Council with a Secretarie who meeting his High s at Edam they there in decent manner made known unto him the foresaid Resolution and desire intimating therewithall unto him in the Name of their Superiors that if his High s were pleased to com into the Citie as Stadholder that their W W should longingly take the opportunitie of shewing to his High s all the proofs of their respect and obsequiousness And becaus it pleased his High s to replie thereupon that hee meant to com together with the rest of the Commissioners in all the Qualities hee now was invested with The Citie-Commissioners returned that his High s coming to the Citie hee should bee looked upon and received as Stadholder of the Province and hee was desired then to let them know the time when his High s was to bee there exspected Next daie beeing 23 of June his High s together with the foresaid Commissioners arrived within the said Citie and was received for his person with the train-bands in arms and with further exhibition of all due respects by the Burgomasters But when notwithstanding all the former Devoirs and Deprecations it pleased his High s to declare to the said Burgomasters that hee was com there together with other Commissioners from their Hi. Mi. to propound to the Common Council according to their Letters of credence such matters as they had in Commission desiring Audience for that purpose the same was upon the fore-cited reasons answered with an Excuse Which they made use of the rather in consideration of the offence committed in this Commission against the Dignitie and Reputation of your No. Gr. M. Province when as the Lord Alexander vande Capelle Sig r of Aertsberghen beeing the mouth of the Commissioners from their Hi. Mi. did according to the report of the Deputies of the Citie of Dort in the Common Council there in most exasperate bitter and unsufferable language declare That they the Commissioners could take no satisfaction in the dilatorie answer made the daie before unto his High s and that they would not depart from Dort ere and before the Old Council had roundly declared unto them whether they would return to the Union again which they had deserted and until they had received a clean short positive Categorical and peremtorie answer to their Proposition in writing and that besides this they looked for to have a ready and effectual Reparation made by the said Lords of Dort for the Breach of the Union whereof they had made themselvs guiltie together with other members of Holland and were liable therefore in bodie and goods according to the 23 d Article of the Union and the Examples alleged to bee arrested and proceeded against before any Magistrates and Judicatures the said Lord of Aertsberghen declaring further that in case of failing in or delaying the said Reparation they the Commissioners must talk with them in another strain whereof they should hear more ere long Upon the foresaid Excuse his High s was pleased to let it rest there and began to desire that hee might bee admitted then himself onely in person to Audience as Stadtholder of Holland without nevertheless laying down the foreâ—aid Qualitie of Commissioner declaring that hee intended to speak there onely about that which was propounded to his High s at Gorcum by the Lord Waveren in the name of the Government of this Citie without any further specification And when his High s would not bee pleased to recede from this desire nor make any further overture of what hee intended to propound the Burgomasters for to give as much content as might bee and to consider whether it were necessarie and requisite to call the Common Council about it they received the desire of his High s to communicate the same with the Lord Valekenier their Collegue President at that time but not present becaus of som bodily indisposition And although their WW had Autoritie enough themselvs to dispose of this Audience nevertheless for their better Discharge they had it debated in the Council and it beeing found unfitting by their advice his High s beeing com into the Citie in the foresaid Commission and having matters to propound depending on that Commission to grant any Audience to him in full Council it was found good therefore that the Burgomasters together with 5 more of the Council should bee deputed to him and fairly excuse the Admission Which Lords having made the foresaid Excuse to his High s they offered unto him for further satisfaction that if his High s had any thing to propound either about that same or som other matter hee would bee pleased to make the overture to them assuring him they would make faithful Report unto the Council which no doubâ— would bee ready thereupon to give him all feasible satisfaction But it beeing perceived that his Highness was not pleased to make any further overture but in full Council and Burgomaster van Waveren offering there upon the place that forasmuch as him concerned hee was ready to answer what past at Gorcum and to give satisfaction in that behalf therewith and a repeated desire and presentation to his High s unsatisfied they parted Now that this last Excuse of Audience in manner as said is should bee interpreted and complained of in the foresaid Propositition as if thereby those of Amsterdam had failed in their respect due unto the Stadtholder the said Burgomâ—sters and Council canot but rejoin for their discharge That upon review of the Commission given by your N G. M to his High s as Stadholder it dotb plainly indeed appear that the Stadtholder is bound to stand for further and defend the Dignitie Rights Privileges and welfâ—re of the Countrie the Members Cities and Inhabitants
on his cours arrived early in the morn at Amsterdam and brought the first news to the Post-master by the Exchange and after that to the Lord Van Swieten one of the Burgomasters that hee had been riding the night before among som thousands of Hors supposing them Lorrainers and that they were marching for Amsterdam The Burgomaster immediately send 's for the Major of the Citie causeth the Draw-bridges to bee taken up and strengthen's the guards and getting himself to the Town-hous gave order hee beeing alone of all the Burgomasters at hand the rest either from home or sick or dead for the Ordnance to bee put upon the walls of the Citie in posture of Arms. In the mean time the Hors all met and after a Council of War Count William march'd and arrived prettie late about noon along the Amstel even close up to the Citie His Design and Charge was fairly to ride in at Saint Antonie's gate it beeing no custom at Amsterdam to keep any special Guard much less to ask or examine any whence hee came supposing there would bee as little scruple or let now made by any as ever before especially if it were early yet and few people stirring which was the time intended A certain French Captain Major by name Jentilot on Friday evening before accompanied with 50 choice men souldiers all pickt of several Nations the Prince would have had him taken onely French but Jentilot deprecating the Odium to fall all upon his Nation hee obteined to cull them out of all Nations amongst whom there were many Officers all armed with Swords and Pocket-pistols took boat at Utrecht with intent to bee next morning very early before Amsterdam and civilly entring the Gate suddenly to make himself master of the same Hee told mee himself that hee had express charge to commit no act of hostilitie nor to shoot even though they were shot at themselvs And so the Hors likewise that were to enter were charged not to shew the least hostile carriage nor to shoot again beeing shot at unless the Citizens made it too gross for then of right they might defend themselvs and the Prince gave them leav but to tell the people they came onely as friends for the good of the Citie and State to preserv peace and unitie between the Provinces in general and among the Members of Holland in particular And so riding on fair and softly in good order they should have beset and taken possession of the Town hous until his High s who was to follow them should have com and have removed som ill-affected Members of the Magistracie and Council and reduced the rest to an happie agreement with the rest of the Provinces about the present Differences There was never a Captain of these but had two or three hundred Duckats in gold about him to supplie their mens necessarie occasions most if not all of them beeing ill provided by reason of this sudden unexspected service though som also said it was for to quiet and allure to their side divers of the Common people that might have stood in opposition to them at the entrie Jentilot indeed was timely enough at the Randevouz but missed Count William for the reason aforesaid who coming at last and finding the Gate shut against him and the Citie all in arms attempted nothing sending onely a Letter from his High s to the Magistrate by one of his Gentlemen in these ensuing terms Worshipful Prudent very discreet singular good friends BEeing lately in your Citie for the service of the Land wee were so strangely encounter'd by you that for not beeing subjected any more to the like wee resolved to send Count William of Nassaw with the Troops under him unto your Town with Order to keep all things there in rest and quiet to the end that wee may not bee let again by som ill affected in what wee have yet to propound unto you concerning the service of the Land whereunto wee desire your good Cooperation and relying upon it commend you to the protection of the most High resting Your good friend G. P. d'Orange Dated Hagh July 29 1650. Whereupon the Magistrate having advised there went forth the Citie in the afternoon in an armed Pinnace the Lords Huydekooper Marseveen and Counsel Verdoos and beeing landed on the Amstel road right against the Garden-hous of Sig r Dirck Williers called Wellna they found his Excellencie Count William standing accompanied with all his Officers in a Ring under the Skies blew Canopie where after som obeisance rhe Lord Hydekooper spake in this manner High-born Lord Wee are sorrie that wee must com to congratulate your Honor in such a Disjuncture The Lords Burgomasters have well received the Letter of his High s of July 29 sent by your Excellencie into the Citie bnt could have wished the same had not been accompanied with so great an Attendance which caused them to â—udg it needful immediately to call a Council to communicate the same with their W W for to resolv together upon an answer such as the matters required whereupon it was beld fittng to depute of the companie Sig r Vanderdoos and my self to let your Excellencie know for answer â—hat their W W having understood before that such â— number of boâ—smen waâ— marching towaâ—ds their Citie foâ—thwith dispatcâ—t 〈◊〉 Exprâ—sâ— to their Deputies and their N. G. M. the Provincial States presently assembled at the Hagh to desire and know thâ—ir Advice and Order in this behalf their W W judging themselvs without the said weightie Advice altogether unfit as yet to â—â—tiâ—n an answer to his High s Letter most friendly and earnestly desiring your Excellencie in the interim to spare their Citie and to make no neerâ—r approach thereunto least their W W bee constrained to dâ—fend and protect their Citie with all such possible meâ—â—s and Arms aâ— God and Nature hath furnish'd them withal His Excellencie beeing somwhat moved at this unexspected Answer paused a good while upon it whereof the Lord Huydekooper thought good to proceed in his Discours saying further My Lord That which wee have told your Excellencie is absolutely the Charge our Principals have laid upon us and for my particular I make bold friendly and submissively to advise your Excellencie to withdraw your self with all conveniencie your Excellencie beeing not without great danger in this place and juncture the rather for that our Citie is full of all kinde of Nations and strange humors who coming once to break out might attempt things ruinous to your self and unpleasing to us The talk goe's so high alreadie that it will not bee much longer in our choice but of necessitie and constraint wee must make use of the means and Arms God and Nature granted to their W W to keep off harm at further distance After som paus again his Excellencie answered That which is undertaken by mee is nothing but what his High â— hath been pleased to order will and charge mee I shall make report of all
likewise dispatch'd this ensuing Letter to all the Provinces but Holland Noble Mightie Lords singular good Friends WHereas the Hi. Mi. Lords the States General of the United Netherlands have desired and autorized Us 5 o Junii last past to take all necessarie Order and care for the preserving of every thing in peace and tranquillitie and especially for the mainteining and establishing of the Union together with the dependances and consequences of it and on the contrarie for the preventing and withstanding of any contrarie endeavors and practices and that wee notwithstanding all good and friendly means of inducement used both by the General Government and by our own person respectively with the Lords States of the Province of Holland and Westfrieâ—land and with the Lords and Members thereof in particular have daily more and more clearly seen and observed before our eies the apparent disorders confusions rents and dissolution of the foresaid Union practised by the slights and continual instillations and instigations of som Ill affected Members of the Assemblie of the foresaid province of Holland and others likewise within the said Province encouraged and supported by and from the Citie of Amsterdam their Deputies Wee therefore to stop and quell such evil practises and subtil courses have held it most necessarie for the said Union and behoofful for the service of the Land to seize as yesterday sornoon wee did the Lords de Wit of Dort de Wael and Reuyl of Haerlem Jan Duyst van Vorhout of Delft Reyser van Horen and Stellingwerf of Medenblick and moreover to send the wellborn-Lord Count William of Nassaw Stadtholder of Friezland o Our loving Cosen with a good number of Hors and Foot-forces towards Amsterdam for the keeping of the same Citie firm to the Union beeing the onely yet remaining means over and above all the former friendly waies and essaies to preserv and maintain the Land in Concord Peace and Unitie and resting Confident the Advertisment hereof will not onely bee pleasing unto you but that you will contribute your best endeavors for the maintenance thereof and bringing all to a safe and happie issue whereby your No. Mi. shall testifie the Continuation of their affection and their unchangeable disposition for the preservation of the common Fatherland Wee declaring before God and your No. Mi. that in all this wee have no other aym nor intention but the foresaid preservation together with the maintenance of the true Christian reformed Religion for the which wee are and ever shall bee readie to hazard Life and Goods and consequently with all faithfulness to serv the State of the Land in General and your No. Mi. in particular This God Almightie judg off into whose Holie protection wee commend your No. Mi. In the Hagh this underneath stood 15 of July 1650. Your Nob. Might friend to serv you and was signed G. Prince d'Orange In the afternoon his Highness mounted a great black Hors with a great train of Gentlemen and Officers all on horsback and so went away from the Hagh and passing through Leyden and the Vecneu arrived towards night at Amsterveen Those of Amsterdam perceiving the fire laid so neer them left nothing undon of what was necessarie for their defence although there was nothing attemted in any hostile waie by either side It was propounded in the Citie-Council there would bee no such present remedie for the raising of the Siege as the cutting of the Sea-dyke or dam and opening of the Sluces The former mist but by two voices and it was found best to open but som Sluces at the first and to cut here and there a Polder which was in part performed And forasmuch as his Highness presently sent into the Citie and offered a fair Treatie those of the Citie likewise forbore all further extremities as whereby a great part of Holland must have been set under water to the irreparable dammage of the Province and did send forth unto the Prince according to his desire the Lords de Graef Vanderdoos Tulp and Clouck The Prince desired to put a Garrison into the Citie They that his Highness would withdraw the Forces promising that at the Provincial Assemblie they would bring in all possible contentment and dispose the rest of the members to the like Neither sides offer beeing accepted there were afterwards other Overtures made At the Hagh the whilest som both Extraordinarie and Ordinarie Deputies of the Province of Holland at the Generalitie representing to the rest of the Provinces the present Condition of affairs desired them to propound som Expedients whereby these Commotions might bee asswaged after som Deliberation the other Provinces declared that they were very sorrie to see things grown to such a pass and height desiring that the said Deputies of Holland themselvs as best acquainted with the affairs of their own Province would point out and propound what they thought fittest and most applyable to the present constitution of things for the calming of these Troubles the said Provinces declaring that they would bee readie to contribute all good offices thereunto on their side They of Holland replied they had hoped the Provinces would have thought good to propound som waies and means of Expedients in this Exigencie but since they did not They would refer what was past unto their Principals whom they were exspecting that Eve in the Hagh Next morning the Provincial States of Holland beeing met in full Bodie it was represented there by their Counsellor Pensionarie Cats what Troubles and dangers were like to ensue by the prosecution of the enterprise about Amsterdam if it were not prevented by a speedie application of fit and effectual Expedients whereupon since the other six Provinces and the Generalitie had thought good yesterdaie the Deputies of Holland as best acquainted with their own Province should propound som such Expedients as might best serv to bee applied in the present Juncture of times and affairs their No. Mi. after mature Deliberation found good most seriously to desire the said Provinces that without anie further delay a solemn Commission might bee deputed by them to his Highness for to dispose him by all the weightiest arguments to desist from the Enterprise begun how sooner how better dismissing the Forces into their respective Garisons and returning personally hither into the Hagh again there to deliberate and resolv with the Government ripely and without force of arms how all things ought most conveniently and effectually bee reduced and determined for the good service of the State nothing doubting but if the said Commission or Sending were dispatched seriously and without delaie the wished happie effects would soon follow Which desire of the province of Holland beeing taken into Deliberation after resumed debate it was found good agreed and resolved Commissioners should bee sent from their Hi. Mi. unto his High s and that of every Province there should bee appointed one member in the said Commission and that the Commission it self should bee to this effect To dispose his
High s for to repair into the Hagh and there to deliberate and resolv with the Government about and upon such means and waies whereby the present distempers may bee allay'd and that his High s besides bee most seriously desired to avoid all acts of hostilitie and to let the Commerce of the Citie of Amsterdam have its free Cours still without molestation And the Lords of Holland likewise took upon them and declared that they would also send peculiar Commissionerâ— from their Bodie to dispoâ—e his Highness to the end aforesaid and most seriously desire the Lords of Amsterdam to send their Deputies hither without delaie to help together with the rest of the Members of Holland to deliberate and resolv about the present perplexities of affairs so as might make most for the service of the Countrie and that they would forbear all attempts of letting in the water and â—he like and the Lords of Holland were desired in the mean time so to prepare and fit matters that the instant Deliberations might not bee frustrated of a happie issue From the Generalitie there were appointed Commissioners the Lords van Aertsberghen Paets Reinswoude Ofinga Mulert The Ordinarie Deputies of the province of Zealand declared upon the Conclusion that having formerly their turn made known that they were not instructed to advise about the point of Cashiering and reducing as neither their Hi. Mi. known Resolution of Jun. 5. last past without the Counsel and Assistance of the Extraordinarie Deputies of their said Province whom they understood to bee alreadie particularly autorized and impowred thereunto by a Provincial Resolution That nevertheless considering the present perplexities of affairs and the joint agreement of the Advice of the other Provinces they were not minded to hinder the progress of the foresaid Commission in any kinde desiring onely that in this case the present Members of Holland would bee pleased in the interim so to dispose matters that at the arrival of his High s there may bee taken and settled such a good and wholsom Resolution as may bee to the satisfaction and content of all the Members of the Union in this behalf The Lord of Beverweert was com expressly from the Leaguer on Munday to observ and manage what might bee resolved at the Generalitie and it appeared that this their Hi. Mi. Resolution would bee acceptable enough to his Highness as whereby in case the Accord with Amsterdam should not succeed hee might nevertheless return with Reputation and therefore immediately after the foresaid Resolution the Lord of Beverweert return'd per post towards Amsterdam to make report thereof unto the Prince In the mean time the Treatie betwixt his Highness and the Citie advanced those of Amsterdam considered that for all their former desire none of the other Cities appear'd that those of Haerlem the next and mightiest left her Gates open for the Princes men supplied the Leaguer with all manner of provisions and took no partie That those of Leyden furnished the Leaguer with all sorts of Shovels Spades and such like materials That the cutting of the Dykes and opening of the â—luces would bring an irreparable damage unto Holland and that by protraction of the Siege besides the blood that might bee spilt their Trade and Commerce would bee exceedingly disadvantaged by reason of all which they held it best to wink a little The Prince to shew that hee intended no harm to Amsterdam but onely against som ill-affected ones excepted onely the two Bickers Burgomasters as knowing well that by reason of their great autoritie and respect they were as it commonly happen's in popular Governments much hated and envied by many So it stood onely at last upon this point that these two should bee removed from the Government All the rest judged this might prove of very evil consequence by Hodie mihi cras tibi To daie the case is mine to morrow it may bee thine Notwithstanding becaus the said Bickers themselvs shewed themselvs willing and readie for it having no desire that the Bodie of the Citie should suffer any thing for their particular interests sake that point was likewise yielded unto And as touching the consent of accepting the Proposition of July 15. the same was in like manner for peace sake condescended unto and as for admitting his Highness into the Council they would shew no further refusal Thus August 3. about noon all things were accommodated and in the evening ratified and signed as followeth Agreement made betwixt his Highness on the one side and the Lords Burgomasters and XXXVI of the Council of the Citie of Amsterdam by their respective plenarie Commissioners according to the Procuration annext here WEe Burgomasters and XXXVI of the Council of the Citie of Amsterdam do declare that by these wee have commissionated authorized and with full power enabled the Lords Cornelis de Graef Baron of Zuyd-Pol-brock old Burgomaster Symon vander-Doos and D r Nicolas Tulp Counsellors and old Scabins together with M r Peter Cloeck Counsellor of this Citie in Our name and behalf to enter into Treatie with his Highness the Prince of Orange touching the Differences arisen betwixt his said Highness and this Citie to debate that matter with his Highness and to agree and conclude so as our said Commissioners shall finde good and expedient promising to hold for acceptable and to ratifie whatsoever our foresaid Commissioners shall act treat and conclude in this behalf under all Obligations of Right In witness whereof wee have here underneath affixed the Seal of the foresaid Citie August 2. 1650. signed Gerard Hulst with the Seal of green Wax That the Lords of Amsterdam shall resolv to conform themselvs with the six other Provinces touching the State of War That his Highness will bee pleased to endeavor to procure that the State of War may bee adjusted to the platform and project of his Highness and the Council of State made for the accommodation of the United Provinces and that nevertheless and in the mean time the present State of War shall bee followed jointly by all the Provinces until the foresaid State bee accomplished and settled by the Consent of the Provinces and in case of delaie thereof so long as the War shall last betwixt France and Spain and that at the longest for 3 or 4 years in hope that by that time the said War shall bee composed and in case it bee not that then things shall bee disposed according to the constitution of the times and to most advantage of the State following the Order of Government And that there shall bee likewise Resolution brought in that the Companies discharged by the States of Holland may bee paid for their arrears and good Order taken for good paiment of the Souldierie in time to com That his High s disposed to com into the Citie shall bee received there like his Predecessors Stadtholders of Holland with all honor respect and obsequiousness and if hee think good to appear in the Citie Council that his
High s shall alwaies have Audience granted him in that Qualitie That the Lords of Amsterdam shall moreover emploie all good and possible Devoirs at the Assemblie of the States of Holland that all Disgusts may wholly bee taken away and things bee reduced to a firm and assured friendship and confidence and all what hath past bee put in oblivion as if it had never happened To which end they shall further debate and communicate with his High s about the prosecution As soon as this Contract shall bee completed and signed on both sides his High s undertake's to dismiss the present Forces into their old Garrisons and the Citie in like manner to cashier their levied men and to resettle every thing in their Citie into the old posture Promiss beeing made on either side faithfully and without any guile or fraud to perform and keep this Contract or Treatie in all parts thereof Don at Amsterveen this 3 d of August 1650. and hereof there were two several Acts made of like tenour signed by both parties and one delivered to each Signed G. P. d' Orange and his Highness Signet affixed in red Wax And besides C. de Graef Simon Vander Doos Niclaes Tulp Petrus Cloeck TsTs The Burgomasters and XXXVI of the Council of Amstetredam do approve and ratifie the above-written Contract or Treatie betwixt his Highness on the one side and their specially thereto enabled Commissioners on the other concluded at Amsterveen August 30 1650. In Witness whereof this is subscribed by one of the Secretaries and the Seal of our Citie affixed underneath August 3. 1650. Signed Gerard Hulst the said Seal beeing expressed in green Wax A separate Article of the Accommodation Aug. 3. 1650. betwixt his Highness and the Citie of Amsterdam THat his High s doth judg it expedient for the Service of the Land according to the present constitution of Affairs that the Lord Andrew and Cornelius Bickers the one old the other present Burgomaster without any prejudice to the honor and good name of either of them and without any trouble or molestation of their persons and goods whereof his High s doth assure them do withdraw themselvs from all further Government of the Citie without being to bee called again unto it His High s remaining ready nevertheless to hear them in person and having heard them if his Highn s should not alter his former apprehension and judgment they shall freely resign their foresaid Government as before and from this present abstein from all publick functions In witness whereof this is signed and confirmed on both sides in pursuance of the Contract or Transaction made betwixt his High s and the Commissioners of the Citie this day at Amsterveen August 3. 1650. Signed G. P. d'Orange with the Seal of his High s Signet in red Wax and further C. de Graef Simon van der Doos Niclaes Tulp Petrus Cloeck Ts. Ts. The Burgomasters and XXXVI of the Council of the Citie of Amsterdam do approve and ratifie the above-written separat Article of Agreement betwixt his High s on the one side and their specially enabled Commissioners on the other side concluded at Amsterveen In witness whereof this is subscribed c. as before Amsterdam beeing the richest the mightiest and most considerable Member of Holland failing and yielding thus it became a powerful example and inducement to all the rest and many blamed them exceedingly saying They should have timely considered before whether they had the power or the courage to stand to what they principally had so long and eagerly professed and pressed Now it appeared that they wanted either or both that they had don very ill to shew so much aversness to so little purpose There beeing now by this Extremitie a new pattern given to his High s and the Generalitie which will serv them hereafter for a Rule to proceed by when Holland shall fall again into a fit of Reluctancie that now there will bee little caus left to glorie of the freedom of the Land or the States But they of Amsterdam thought they did best as they did and like a ship upon Ancre in a tempest were glad to strike and give rope till they might recover a better time and opportunitie for they continued in affection the very same they were before The Commissioners of their Hi. Mi. arriving at Amsterveen on Wednesdaie-Eve found all transacted and were all of them together with those of Amsterdam entertained by his Highness at Supper where among other Discourses those of Amsterdam saying they should have had the Element of water for their advantage the Prince replied And I should have made use of the Element of fire against it they of Delft having upon order from the Council of State furnished store of Ammunition Ordnance Granadoes Morter-pieces c. which past away thus with smiles and laughing but the earnest surpassed the jest in the reflection Next morning early his Highness parted from thence and arrived in the Haghe about noon and the Forces were all reconducted to their Quarters The six apprehended Lords were carried away from the Court Sunday the 31 of Julie in two Coaches three and three in a Coach and in each three souldiers besides 25 horsmen before so many in the midst and as many after together with 50 musketiers They past along by the Veenen Woerden and Ysselstein to avoid the Cities and next evening were brought unto the Hous of Loeuvestein They good men thought to have stood it out stoutly persuading themselvs the States and Cities would have stuck to their Resolutions But perceiving they accommodated themselvs all one after another to the Proposition of Julie 15 o and abandoned all their own caus they saw well enough none of them would take up the Buckler in their behalf and that the Case of the Bickers must bee their Rule The Lord Duyst van Voorhout a man of 69 who according to the Custom in Delft was within one year to quit all Emploiment in cours and beeing of a crazie constitution and rich withall having but one childe hee was the first that sought and offered to get free upon that account Above it was said that his Highness had made promiss to present the points of the Charge and Reasons of apprehending the six Gentlemen The same hee caused to bee delivered under his hand and Seal to the Assemblie Provincial of Holland The substance was general That they had don against the Union and therefore were liable to punishment according to the 23 d Article That his High s thought good to cull out these few and to put them out of the Government for the perservation of the whole State as in a case of a great fire som houses next the Embrasement are pull'd down to save the whole street or Citie and at last hee said hee had besides som particular matters of Charge against every one which hee reserved for another opportunitie Those that knew the contents of this so general and weak a Charge did
standing at the right hand of God to give your Bodie new strength or favorably to receiv your Soul into his glorie Whereupon with good liking of his Highness hee and the present companie but few in Number fell down upon their knees powring out their praier with sighs and tears and heartily seeking to the Divine Majestie to vouchsafe a gracious and speedie releas to his Highness from under this heavie agonie during the praier there was perceived a great and incredible change in the disposition of his Highness which doubled the zeal of praier and made them sigh out from the heart that God would yet bee further gracious to the person of his Highness and in him to the vvhole Land Rising up from praier the Minister asked his Highness vvhether hee had undsrstood the vvords of the praier and received any comfort by it but hee received no ansvver Then the Physitians vvould have given his Highness som Cordial but they found his mouth closely shut up vvhich made them all conclude that his last minute vvas at hand returning thereupon to praier But they perceived immediately that this young Prince with a gentle hiccough sent forth his Soul to Heaven into that Happiness which notwithstanding the complaints tears and sighs of his faithful servants and others there present took from him all desire to return And thus this Prince who in Wisdom Discretion Prudence and Couragiousness already surpassed his Heroïcal and famous Ancestors and whom the world did wonder at was snatch'd out of it indeed unworthie of him even in the beautifullest bloom and youthfullest vigor of his years beeing old but 24 years and 6 months after that the unthaâ—kfulness of these times and the base unworthiness of manie had for a good while hitherto afflicted and pierc'd his Soul now translated into that place and companie where the Laurel-Garlands of his glorious atchievments shall never fade nor fail him upon Sunday Novemb. 6. about 9 at night in the year of the prognostick of those Countries downfall 1650. The News thereof was at the desire of the Courtiers presently brought to her High s the Mother Dowager by the foresaid Minister Sterremont and to her Royal High s the young widdow by one of her Chaplains which two even to death afflicted Ladies met that night yet about 12. at his late High s Court The sighs sobs tears doleful behaviour and words that past reciprocally between them no eie was able to look upon but it melted his heart into tears the former grieving for the premature death of her onely Son the Crown of her Age and the other for the untimely remooval of the onely hope and support of her Bleeding Hous and of the Illustrious Father of that long long'd-for Infant which yet shee carried swadled in her Bowells and had hoped speedily and cheerfully to have surrendred into his Arms with thanks But woe unto us and our dear Father-land if God bee not gracious unto us in a most singular and yet undiscernable manner the onely hope remaining yet is that God would bee pleased to bless her Royal High s by a happie and successful Deliverie with a young Son another William to shoot forth out of this withered Orange-tree and that hee may grow up prosperously from daie to daie and with his blowing branches shelter and protect all the subjects of these Countries against the Spanish heat and all manner of storms and tempests according to the pattern of his Ancestors God grant in the mean time to my Lords the States abundance of wisdom to remain in Unitie to take care for the Countrie 's and Churche's welfare and to make choice in the interim of a wise pious sober and fit Deputie-Lievtenant beeing that which all honest inhabitants of this Land are bound repentingly to praie for Thus far Sterremont Next daie the Bodie beeing opened one might still see the small pox without raised and white no bad signs and manie broken The Brains were sound the Milt somwhat slap as ordinarie and fill'd with som black blood the 2 parts and the bottom of the Liver blewish but the whole Lungs very black swell'd inflamed surrounded with black blood and thence arose the shortness of breath or difficultie of respiration Dispnoea and the fever of the two last daies not before which as it could not bee known for hee had neither cough nor loosnings of fleam nor obstructions neither from the Fever nor from the Damps so it could not have been remedied neither in that state and condition of the sickness and faculties Those of the Prince's houshold notwithstanding have much complained and given out as if the Prince had been neglected That they suffered him too often to change his linnen and to take too freely Lemonadoes and other cooling drinks But all the three above-mentioned Doctors have signed the foresaid Relation of his sickness with their own hands The Report of his Death immediately fill'd all the Haghe and amaz'd it with the unexspectedness it having alwaies been held and given out there was no danger and all in good hopes as indeed such flattering speeches are alwaies best liked and therefore most used in Courts None indeed durst tell the Prince that hee was in danger The Ministers had once design'd among themselvs to visit him every daie by turns but when any presented himself to his Bed-chamber they were alwaies told it would distemper the Prince and put him out of heart that hee was prettie well and visit was needless Sterremont onâ—ly was once admitted in all the time and yet least the Prince should bee terrified with a thought of death by the approach of a Minister they told him before hand hee came onely to present to his High s som extraordinarie good Oranges which hee had received from Rotterdam and Sterremont was expressly charged to forbear speaking of any apprehension of danger so that the same visit proved but a meer Civilitie The States Gâ—neral assembled that night yet about 10 and found good immediately to advertise the Provinces of this unexspected Departure by Letters Desiring them to prepare themselvs for the taking and framing such Provincial advices thereupon as their No. Mi. should judg fitting and convenient in the weightie conjuncture of the present times and affairs and to return the same with all possible expedition to the Assemblie making overture there of such mattters as concern the Generalitie Notice also was given hereof to the Courts of the Admiraltie as likewise to the Ambassadors and Residents of this State in forrein parts for to put themselvs in Mourning allowing every Ambassador 800 flor and every Resident 400 for that purpose Dispatches also were made to Count William Governor of Friesland to the Lord Brederode Field-Marshal and to all Governors and Commanders of the reduced Cities of Brabant and Flanders item of Orsey Rynberg Wesell Embrik Rees Ravestein Gennep Moeurs to the Commanders at Embden Lezort and Coeverdeu charging them all to keep a narrow and watchful eie to the respective
her Son c. Unto the States of Holland and West-Friesland Noble Great Mightie Lords THe Tragical Afflictions wherewith it hath pleased the great God to visit her Royal High s in the Royal Hous and especially in the person of the King her Father of most blessed memorie as likewise the unexspected and to her most sad and grievous departure of the Prince of Orange her Dear Husband these are matters known to all the World And your N. G. M. have also in regard of the foresaid calamitous accidents shewed unto her Remonstrant your singular condoling and more then fatherly compassion Shee the Remonstrant reduced to such a Condition and beeing great with childe therewithal it pleased the good God graciously to deliver her of the Fruit shee had born in her womb with so much grief to the singular solace of her in these foresaid heavie Visitations And therein also shee Remonstrant having favorably received your N. G. M. friendly Congratulations and cordial Demonstrations of mutual rejoâ—ceing Shee testifies to bee and to remain obliged unto your N. G. M. with immortal Devoirs of gratefulness But waiting for opportunities to evidence the same further shee is necessitated to appear sooner troublesom then thankful unto your N. G. M. and by request touching her particular affairs to interrupt your N. G. M. that they would bee pleased to suffer themselves to bee informed that shee Remonstrant in no wise intend's to do any thing that shall bee inconsistent with the Laws or but liable to any construction of attempting ought against Justice much less against the Autoritie of your N. Gr. M. It is without all Controversie most agreeable to the Laws of this Land that Shee the Remonstrant beeing Mother of the Prince her Son her Dear Husband deceasing shee thereby becom's and is the Governess or Guardian of her said Son beyond all dispute with exclusion of the Grandmother Which unremoovable Foundation beeing laid it follow 's surely and is clearly grounded in Right that Shee the Remonstrant is enabled thereby not onely to undertake the Guardianship but likewise to exercise all acts thereon depending and that shee cannot bee hindred therein by reason that hitherto there are no Guardianassistants assigned with her That which is said here beeing clear and plain in Law shee the Remonstrant stand's evidently free from having attempted the least against it so that in Justice there can bee no Inhibition made of her foresaid Administration of the Guardianship Shee the Remonstrant is not able neither to conceiv or remember that the Acts hitherto past and used by her in Qualitie of Guardian should or could bee other then most advantagious for the Prince her Son beeing the most important Act thereof is tendering how upon good Deliberation and advice with his High s Counsel the Hous mortuarie may bee disburthened of the heavie and unnecessarie Charges of above six hundred thousand flor per. an The other Acts consist in the Election of som persons into Magistracie made by her in the Name of the Prince her Son upon the Nomination of a double Number whereunto it is apparant that none other is or can bee qualified but herself the Remonstrant in her present Qualitie of Guardian over the Prince her Son The foresaid Council of his High s of blessed Memorie beeing provisionally autorised no further by the Court of Holland then what concerneth their Ordinarie function and is contained within their Instruction among which it is manifest that the Election of any Magistrate is not comprehended Shee the Remonstrant doth protest that this Concertation and Difference about her own indubitable Right with the Ladie Princess her Mother in Law and the Prince Elector of Brandenburg is much against her minde and heart wishing for no other occasions but to meet and occur them with all Offices of Civilitie and kinde Correspondence and beeing readie to give them likewise all reasonable Satisfaction about the Direction in the particular of the Guardianship For the said Guardianship consisting principally in three functions the first touching the Education of the Person of her Son the second the Administration of his goods the third the Collation or bestowing som Charges and Grants or Benefices Shee Remonstrant declareth herself to bee ready in all uprightness to order and dispose the said Education with the approbation and advice of the foresaid Ladie the Princess her Mother in Law and according to the manner and custom of these Countries to as much advantage as may bee without suffering any Forrainers to divert her from so doing The managing and administration of the goods the Remonstrant conceiveth ought as hitherto to bee disposed by the Council and conformably to the desire of his late High s her husband And that therein consequently bee considered the Confidence that before all things all debts and charges of the Hous mortuarie bee paid and discharged out of the yearly Revenue And for to give the said Prince Elector full assurance thereof in respect of the Fidei-Commissio or Trust mentioned in his Remonstrance shee the Remonstrant here will gladly admit that the same Prince Elector and her High s the Princess Dowager shall themselvs or by their appointed Commissioners assist to audit the yearly accounts of the Treasurer General And if they at any time shall thereupon conceiv of better waies and managing of the said estate shee declare's herself willing to embrace the same Beeing far from any inclination or design that the foresaid Goods or Revenues shall in the least part bee diverted to any other uses besides that according to the known Laws the like would not bee in her nor in the Assistant-Guardians power for to do As for the Collation of the places and offices the same belong's to her the Remonstrant by contract of marriage in all such places out of which her Dowrie is to bee paid and the rest in the qualitie of Mother and Guardian of the Prince her Son beeing ready nevertheless in the Election of the Magistrate not to proceed otherwise but by the advice of the Court of Holland and therein punctually to follow the Tenor of the Privileges and Charters of the places where the Magistrates are to bee changed And in respect of the Cities lying in Zealand to take the advice during the minoritie of the young Prince of the States of that Countrie whereby all apprehended surmises vanishing how injuriously soever devised The Remonstrant desire 's to give your N. G. M. to perpend in their righteous judgment whether there can bee ought more just and behoofful to the honor and lustre of the young Prince and respect of the Remonstrant as Mother and Guardian of him then that the foresaid Collations and Elections bee don in manner aforesaid Shee Remonstrant not entertaining so much as a thought to intrude or intrust any English therewith or even to suffer any Nundination to bee made about them but rather to take care that in all the Rules of distributive Justice may exactly bee considered and observed
All which Shee Remonstrant thought good to attest thus unto your N. Gr. M. in all sinceritie least by any contrarie impressions shee might bee prejudiced in her undoubted Right to the great indignitie of her foresaid Qualities and personal Illustrious extraction but especially to the more aggrieving of her affliction wherein shee ought rather in this desolate estate to bee by all means comforted and cheer'd up And that in regard hereof you will not suffer the waie of Justice to bee shut up to the Remonstrant which to the glorie and reputation of your N. G. M. Government stand's ever open even to the meanest and remotest that com's but to make his address here unto it The Princess Dowager stood upon this that the Roial was himself in Minoritie yet and could not in Law bee Guardian that shee might bee drawn to dissipate the good or revenue and adventure to spend it upon her Brothers even as the late Princes both Henrie and William had don themselvs and run themselvs deep in debt besides upon the same score That shee the Grandmother having much experience and special relations the Guardianship ought to bee committed to her shee could better administer the same and the like as appear's more fully by her own ensuing Remonstrance Noble and great Mightie Lords HEr High s the Ladie Princess Dowager of Orange having in respect of her qualitie as mother and Guardian of the young Princesses her daughters next interessed in the Hous Mortuaire of his late High s her son of happie memorie been desired soon after his Deceas jointly with som Deputies of his Electoral High s of Brandenburgh to appoint som Commissioners who in their Name might present themselvs at the opening to bee made by the Court of Holland of a certain disposition of a Last Will as was said to have been left behinde by his foresaid High s and was by her Roial High s put into the hands of the said Court under close Covert and not long after that shee had been informed by the Commissioners how that there was opened and read there a certain sealed Codicillarie Disposition made and sign'd by his said High s and attested by a Notarie and other witnesses in due form and manner in the behalf of her said Roial High s. That withal at the instance of the foresaid Commissioners there was read a certain other open Writing begun som years past to bee rough drawn by his High s in another hand but not completed much less dated signed sealed or past in form accustom'd Nevertheless that the Lecture hereof was not made but upon precedent Protestation of her High s Commissioners against the plain invaliditie of the same seconded after by the said Court 's explicite Declaration that the said Lecture should neither benefit nor prejudice any howbeit the Deputies of his Electoral High s having protested against it refused to stay the reading and withdrew themselvs out of the Court. And her High s consequently together with all uninteressed people of reason and discretion looking upon the condition of this hous mortuaire no otherwise then that his foresaid High s having of late drawn the Contents of the foresaid Codicil out of the rough-draught above-mention'd hee hath thereby plainly rejected the same and therefore at several times testified upon his Death-bed hee intended to make his Testament and therefore without any contradiction beeing precipitated by his sickness came to die intestate and that therefore it were requisite above all things order should bee taken both for the Guardianship of the young born Prince together with his Roial Ladie Mother and the administration of his goods Shee was very confident indeed and still shee doth relie upon it that your No. Gr. Mi. as Sovereigns of the Province where the Hous Mortuaire happen'd and in consideration likewise of its Eminencie you would bee pleased to settle such order therein as in like Cases the Common Laws and Customs of this and all Countries almost have provided and hath by reason hereof refrained hitherto to importune your N. Gr. M. in this affair But beeing her High s hath been informed since that the Lords of the Court of Holland had besides their rescription communicated Copies unto your N. G. M. not onely of the foresaid Codicil but also the other imperfect Writing and doth otherwise also understand that certain persons whom it least beseem's do seek and go about to the undervalue of this Illustrious Hous to engage the principal members thereof into needless Controversie and dare take upon them contrarie to all Laws Customs and sound reason publickly to assert and maintein as if by virtue of the foresaid invalid Writing the pretenders were enabled to act in what concern's the foresaid Guardianship and Administration even with seclusion of the nearest in Blood and Alliance that are ungainsaiably legitimated and qualified thereunto and that the said persons likewise endeavored to carrie on and dispose of the business by all kinde of strange under-hand-dealings Her High s hath in all respects both of Law and Nature found herself obliged and even constrained hereby most courteously and friendly to desire your N. Gr. M. They would bee pleased to take all what here hath been deduced according to your accustomed wisdom and discretion into good and mature Counsel-deliberation and to devise and settle such Order about the fore-named Guardian ship and Administration That your N. Gr. M. doubtless finding good to appoint a Committee of som Members of the Government it self for it there may bee no further prejudice practised against them to whom it belong's to bee preferred and emplâ—ied hereunto as from the Father's side before all others and who consequently likewise cannot bee put by or excluded without singular reason disgust and offence However your N. Gr. M. are to consider that her High s is making this timely application in discharge of her Devoir partly out of motherlie affection to her dear and onely Grandchilde and partly by reason of her foresaid qualitie of Mother and Guardian to the said young Princesses her daughters whose interests shee may not abandon That Guardianship beeing solemnly laid upon her by the last Will and Testament of his Highness of blessed memorie her Lord and Husband who likewise desired therein your N. G. M. assistance for the execution By another Memorandum the Princess Dowager shewed as followeth Noble Great Mightie Lords ALthough her High s the Princess Dowager of Orange and the next Allies of his High s side of blessed memorie were very loath to disturb and interrupt the high and important deliberations of your N. G. M. with their particular affairs and rested confident that whilest your N. G. M. to whom as to the Sovereigns of this Province of Holland belong's the disposing of the Guardianship of the young-born Prince of Orange Resolution was not opened or declared all things should remain in State as it was and nothing bee attemted by the Princess Roial as on the side of her High s respect
beeing themselvs also without the Government and therefore unprejudiced might best bee able to judg of them or if this should bee excepted against that there might bee called and Commissionated som of the ablest most experienced and discreetest States men who beeing well acquainted with Questions daily arising in Government and knowing that in matter of State and Policie the waie of Accommodation is usually more safe and expeditious then that of rigor in Law they might per-adventure bee emploi'd thereabout more fruitfully or if these persons also as having som part or share in the Government either directly or indirectly cannot bee held impartial and free of prejudice that the Differences bee submitted to som of the friends and Allies of the State such as are most concerned in the preservation thereof Desiring that upon all these proposals they may distinctly understand your Hi. Mi. wise considerations and that by this solemn convocation effectual order may bee settled in this behalf Touching the third point viz that of Religion the States of Zealand assure themselvs your Hi. Mi. will evermore continue holily and sincerely to maintein that precious pledg by God Almightie put into the hands of this State from Heaven and by their common Forefathers and Successors hitherto with the hazzard and loss of so much blood and treasure preserved among us Nevertheless their N. M. most affectionately desire your Hi. Mi. would bee pleased upon this occasion anew to declare That they are resolved not onely to maintein the true Christian Reformed Religion so as the same is taught now in the publick Churches of this Land and hath been elucidated by the Synod held at Dort But likewise never to suffer any alteration to bee made therein and that the said Religion shall bee protected and vindicated by the armed powers of the Lands as in every Province apart by themselvs so by the Generalitie in the Quarters resorting under their Command against all disorders or offences whatsoëver That likewise for the further preventing of all considerable prejudices the Sects and Separate people in Religion which are secluded from the publick protection and onely connived or wink 't at shall bee kept in good order and quietness and limited against all exorbitancies and under express caution and clauses that they shall bee tolerated no where els but in those places where now they are at present That for refraining of the publick Exercise of the Romish Superstition and remooving of whatsoever hath dependance thereon the publick Ordinances of the Land shall bee executed punctually without any composition or connivence forasmuch as experience hath made it manifest that for want of such prompt and readie Execution whether it came through remissness of the Officers or otherwise not onely the Government it self hath suffered much in their Honor and Reputation but the diseas also is grown from ill to wors so that the libertie of the Papists which according to the privileges of the Land cannot bee denied them in what concern's and regards their Consciences and Opinions in matters of Religion that therein they may not bee questioned nor any waies molested is by little and little degenerated into an open licentiousness and stoutness insomuch that they are not shie to set up formal Hierarchies and actually by concurs of armed men to oppose the lawful endeavors of the officers of Justice in the very face of Justice and the Higher Powers of the Land themselvs to the great prejudice of the true Reformed Religion the sad grief of all the upright professors thereof and the joie and exultation of all disaffected thereunto which might at last occasion very troublesom effects and what advantage may thereby bee given in particular to all that are ill-affected to the State for attempts upon it your Hi. Mi. are best able to judg the consequences thereof would prove so much the sadder and more dangerous in that they would light upon none more heavily then the best Patriots that is to saie those of the Reformed Religion on whose faithfulness this State reposeth with most securitie Wee are not ignorant neither Hi. Mi. Lords that many Princes and Common-wealths are allied together for mutual protection notwithstanding their manifest difference in Religion And that likewise the discrepancie therein doth not hinder their living together in confident Unitie But as there is no sure arguing from the Examples or natural constitutions and humors of one Nation to the other so doubtless though the same may safely bee practised with other confederates and is at this present yet here in this Countrie it is not onely unprofitable but prejudicial and ruinous in the highest degree beeing that the most principal Bond of this Government is the foresaid Reformed Religion the Flower of the Inhabitants thereof to wit all the persons making profession of and beeing well-affected to the said Religion are thereby inseparably enclined and engaged to mutual Unitie and to the common interest of the State And whereas likewise Hi. Mi. Lords it is evident that the Number and Boldness of the said Papists doth very much encreas by means of the bad Instructions and impressions which the good and plain Inhabitants of this State are possest withal by Popelings Priests and other pretended Ecclesiastical persons which daily in great numbers arrive into these parts out of the King of Spain his Territories The States of Zealand are desirous that Provision bee made against it as well as may bee For although it is agreed unto of this side by the Treatie of peace that the Subjects of the said King in General may convers and negotiate in these Countries the same seem's nevertheless not applicable to the foresaid ecclesiastical persons or Clergie-men First by reason of the Resolution taken upon the preliminar points to bee observed during that peace wherein it is plainly set down that the Ordinances made against the Papists should bee executed according to their form and contents in which Ordinances there is an express penal prohibition of the coming of such Ecclesiastical or Clergie-persons into this Countrie Secondly becaus that the said pretended Ecclesiasticks generally do maintain as the Plenipâ—tentiarie Ambassador of the King of Spain at Munster themselvs alleged that they are none of the said Kings Subjects nor subjected to any secular power but onely to the Pope of Rome wherefore also the Provision of the foresaid Treatie of free resort howëver couched in general terms cannot bee extended to their advantage As likewise in the third place the same is evinced by the interpretation and practice of several other Princes and Potentates who notwithstanding their friendship and alliance with the said King whereby his Subjects in general are denied no access nor commerce in their Countries yet suffer no known Clergie of his to com and covers there which interpretation agree's likewise with the Declaration of the Lords the Ordinarie Deputies of the Generalitie plainly expressed in a Certain Ordinance of theirs made for that very purpose and observed to
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
pleased to assert in their Proposition that since the constitution of the Peace it was needless to trouble our selvs with the choosing of a new Captain General especially there beeing none left at present of the Hous of Orange actually fit for it The Province Friesland declare's that they are of opinion that in time of Peace War must bee thought upon and that the nature of War require's it if it shall bee safely managed to bee committed to one both in regard of secret intelligences without which none can stand upon his guard nor any thing bee kept private enough for the executing or preventing of Stratagems whereof wee have had many experiments and to bee alwaies in readiness upon any incident occasion wee especially at this time by reason of our doubtful peace with the King of Spain who continue's in arms still hovering continually about our frontiers and shall never want for pretences if hee can finde an opportunitie to break with us to his advantage for to begin a Deliberation about a General when the Enemie shall bee upon us will prove too late indeeds and the histories of our own age can sufficienly shew what dammage the Common wealth hath formerly suffered on such occasions according to the old saying Dum Romae deliberatur perit Saguntum Whiles they consult at Rome the enemies take Saguntum And put case there was none to bee found of the Hous of Orange at present fit or capable to bee General yet there are those of the Stock and Stem-hous of the Princes of Orange whose Fathers Brothers Uncles Kindred and Allies have shed their blood for the welfare of these Countries and themselvs also at the end of the War have by exploits personally made it appear what they were ready and willing to live and die for And therefore to let those merits pass by unrewarded or to die out and exspire by process of time and by little and little to translate the acknowledgment due to them unto another familie this the Province of Friesland cannot look upon but as a matter of evil consequence and what doubtless will bee strangely reflected on by many good Patriots and well-affected forreign Lords and Potentates Wherefore they refer to your Hi. Mi. serious consideration whether the Dignitie of Captain General might not conveniently bee conferred upon the present young born Prince quoad Titulum honorem fully to bee invested with it at his maturitie with such instructions as to your Hi. Mi shall seem good to frame besides and in the mean time settle such order for the Lievtenant General that the Difficulties which their Hi. Mi. mentioned concerning this matter may bee avoided and alwaies obviated thereby to make known to all the world to the immortal glorie of the Hous of Orange that the United Provinces had so much confidence in it as to trust a well ordered Militia requisite for the welfare both of Church and State even to the shadow of the same The Province of Friesland my Lords is of opinion that if your Hi. Mi. will bee pleased to weigh these their foresaid Considerations the following points of removing the Garrisons and passing of Patents or Commissions will much the sooner bee agreed on Points of Consideration propounded in the General Assemblie of the joint United Provinces by the Citie of Groninghen and the Omlands at the Haghe A o 1651. High and Mightie Lords FOrasmuch as upon the serious Desire and further instance as of the Lords the Ordinarie Deputies here of the Provinces so also in particular of the Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland the joint Confederates of this United State beeing through God's gracious blessing met here together in such a solemn manner as never happened before seem all of them to aim at and agree in this That the true Christian Reformed Religion as the same is publickly taught in the Churches of this State and was confirmed and ' elucidated out of the Word of God in the National Synod of Dort in the years 1618 and 1619. and the Union and everlasting Alliance made at Utrecht Anno 1579. and a well-ordered Militia these three things unitedly together are the fundamentals of this State and so conditioned that any one of these beeing less zealously taken to heart then the other The Concord and consequently the welfare of this State must needs immediately exspect an irreparable flaw and detriment The Lords of the Citie and Land therefore viewing and well weighing that the present constitution of the times and the important affairs which sutably to the undoubted presupposition of the foresaid 3 main points are to bee alter'd or otherwise disposed in this your H. M. most solemn Assemblie do referr unto your H. M. Consideration Whether these high Matters and Consultations ought not to begin from the most excellent and highest point of all that is to saie from the true reformed Christian Religion and the uncorrupted publick worship of God To make manie words of the truth and efficacious operation thereof will bee needless here Onely the Lords of Citie and Lands would reminde your H. M of this ever undoubted Maxime That all good gifts blessings and prosperitie of these Countries and the Inhabitants thereof must com from the great and merciful God who therefore ought to bee worshipped and heartily praied unto Whence wee conceiv it very necessarie if in these high and important affairs wee would partake of God's gracious blessing without which all our consultations will bee abortive to minde and take in hand the things immediately concerning the sincere and true worship of Him above and before all other Worldly concernments And that not onely by such words as these Religion shall bee maintained even if need require with the mightie hand that beeing formerly agreed upon by the Members of the Union but by a real maintenance thereof in which behalf the Lords of Groninghen and Omlands refer to their H. M. consideration Whether there ought not Vigorous means bee provided by the joint Provinces to the end that throughout them all though in each by themselvs and in all the associated Countries and Towns effectual courses may bee taken as well as unanimous Resolutions past and Ordinances publisht for the restraining suppressing and punishing of Popish Conventicles which do daily so encreas in Number and insolencie that without rigorous and present proceedings against them this State cannot but incurr great danger Consequently also that the Seminaries of this Poperie that is to saie the places or Schools where the Youth from their infancie are nourisht up and embibed like a new earthen pot with those abominable superstitions may de facto bee put down and abolished they having hitherto been suffered and continued in this State not by connivance onely but openly and daringly to the great grief of many faithful Patriots That withal there bee to this end upon all events a readie moderation and means devised against the unlimited coming in of the Popish Clergie who do not onely
such Regiments and Companies of either Foot or Hors as shall by repartition bee charged upon the Provinces and do receiv their Commissions from them provided onely they take the Oath of Fidelitie to bee true to the Generalitie As likewise that the disposing of the Commâ—nderies Major ships and the like câ—arges coming to bee vacant in the Towns and apperteining Forts of the respective Provinces shall remain to the respective States where they happen to bee vacant to do therewith as shall seem good unto them Moreover that the Deputies or Commissioners of the respective Provinces to bee appointed as is aforesaid shall have the chief autoritie over and managing of the Sea affairs with the advice of the respective Councils of the Admiraltie and in a word power to do whatsoëver otherwise a General of this State by Sea and land upon incident occasion and emergencies of trouble and danger is warranted and commanded to do until such time as the joint Provinces shall bee agreed about a General for the service of this State By which occasion the Lords of the Citie and land do present to your H. M. whether it is not highly necessarie and mightily important for the service of this State especially in regard of the great exigencie of secret Correspondence or Intelligence that the same Generalship bee taken into consideration with the first opportunitie and that for this end there bee first and formost drawn up and settled a pertinent and rational instruction for that Charge and Dignitie And in case your Hi. Mi. inclination herein should light upon the person of â—the new born Prince of Orange that this State may bee provided with a Lievtenant General whereunto God hath preserved as their N. M. are confident very Capable Persons of Illustrious Familie such as have very well deserved of this State Your Hi. Mi. know very well that in times of Peace one must bee mindful of War and that sudden cases and accidents suffer no long deliberations of several Counsels and may bring irreparable dammage to the State And forasmuch as it is to bee feared that during these difficult and most important Deliberations this State will suffer in their Commerce at Sea the principal sinews of the Land inestimable prejudice in their reputation and credit and an irrecoverable flaw in their Autoritie unless there bee in the interim som vigorous means taken in hand against it Your Hi. Mi. are desired to consider and weigh well whether the affairs of the Admiralties so much out of order together with that of the West-Indie-Companie near utterly decaied ought not to bee most seriously look'd unto and the said Companie even during these Deliberations instantly and extraordinarily relieved as to the principal and put in state and condition again of useful subsistence Those of Utrecht put in likewise at last their following Declaration to shew what Considerations they had who together with Zealand and Gelderland made it appear they held it needless to have a Stadtholder and Captain General passing by the matter or leaving it untouched Inclinations and Considerations of Utrecht High and Mightie Lords AS the caus of this Great Assemblie and Solemn meeting was sad by occasion of the unexspected Deceas of his High s the Prince of Orange of immortal memorie so it is comfortable again and very prais-worthie that the United Provinces agreed all so unanimonsly to assemble so strongly here for to consider with mature Deliberation of Counsels and mutual Communication how the fourscore years structure of this Republick so wisely and excellently devised and founded by our Forefathers may bee kept standing and strengthened more and mores wherein the pious zeal of the Confederates is very remarkable and laudable every one shewing himself so ready and forward to put his helping hand to the underpropping and upholding of the said antient structure Now as wee seldom see Bodies attein to any great age without som sickness and diseases and those though recovered yet commonly leav som weakness behinde so very great and good care must bee had least the Bodie of our Government fall into any relaps or new diseas and that fit preservatives and remedies may timely bee applied against them And whereas that which is necessarie for the Conservation of this Bodie may fitly bee referred to three main points viz. the Religion the Union and the Militia the Lords the States of the Land of Utrecht have thought good to laie open their inclinations upon each of them in particular and accordingly to present unto the aforesaid Grand Assemblie of the United Provinces these ensuing Considerations Upon the point of RELIGION I. Their N. M. should hold it needful and expedient that the respective Provinces should declare each of them that they will keep and maintein stedfastly no other but the true Christian Reformed Religion so as the same is taught at present in the publick Churches throughout these Countries and was elucidated and confirmed by the National Synod at Dort A o 1619. II. That the said Reformed Religion shall in each Province apart and in the Generalitie's behalf throughout the respective Quarters resorting under the Command of their Hi. Mi. bee mainteined by the power of the State of the United Provinces without suffering the least alteration to bee ever made or allowed in the same Religion in any sort or manner by any whosoever III. Item that the Sects and Separatists beeing secluded and shut out of the publick protection and onely connived at may bee kept in a regulated order and quiet branding them against all exorbitancies and likewise that such Sects and Separates shall bee permitted and suffered no where els but where they are winked at and tolerated at present IV. And that in like manner the Ordinances published heretofore against the Roman Papists shall bee and remain firm and stedfast and bee observed in their full virtue and vigor causing them to bee punctually executed according to their tenor without any connivencie or dissimulation and strictly obliging the Officers to the performance V. Framing withal such orders and expedients against the licentious coming into these Countries of Roman Clergie-men and persons in Orders as can bee made without the least impairing or prejudice to the Treatie of peace VI. That the Ambassadors likewise and publick Ministers of Forein Kings Princes and Potentates bee held to this not to suffer or permit that within their Houses or habitations there bee made any Sermons preachings or other administrations of religious worship in ihe Netherlandish tongue but to take order that the same bee don in the respective languages of their Lords and Masters and besides That neither to the exercising nor the assisting of the foresaid Services there bee emploied or admitted any other person or people but those and such as particularly and properly belong to the familie and train of the said Ambassadors and publick Ministers VII And lastly That the wholsom Resolutions and Decrees taken and past at the Generalitie for the introduction of
the Civil Reformation in the Mayerie of the Bosch and other Quarters of like nature bee once effectually and with all possible speed and expedition put in execution in all the points and Articles thereof so that accordingly there shall bee no Baylifs Justices Secretaries Forresters and other such like officers there anie more henceforward but such as truly are and shew themselvs indeed to bee of the said true Reformed Religion provided nevertheless that the particular Lords having anie right and power to put in Officers within the said Mayerie have warning given them and bee seriously admonished that within a certain peremtorie time to bee perfixed they themselvs perform the same necessarie and required change and alteration of their present Popish Officers or els that in default thereof at the perfixed time elapsed the supply shall bee made by their Hi. Mi. Touching the UNION I. THat the Union shall religiously bee maintained in manner as the same hath been established at Utrecht in the year 1579 II. As touching the Decision of incident Differences it would bee advised That in case the same should happen to arise among the respective Provinces in General for to decide and determine the same there should bee appointed three of the Members in Government and three Judges or Civil Lawyers and they all bound by oath to pronounce what is right without respect to their own Province and that in such a manner that the said questions and differences shall bee voyded and dispatched if possible within the space of six Weeks and then no further appeal nor other exception under what pretext soever to bee admitted and if the partie condemned after 2 or 3 summons made in the name and behalf of the States General shall not submit or refuse to obey and observ the sentence past that then there shall bee courses requisite taken against the refusing to the end that the said sentence may prove effectual and not illusorie provided onely that neither before nor after there bee auy reprisals or other actual attemts made by in or among the Provinces III. If so bee that there happen any misunderstanding or difference betwixt two or more Provinces That the same shall bee composed and determined by the other Provinces not interested in the Questions who shall bee bound to do Right to the parties or to make them agree within a month or shorter time if need require upon the one or the other parties address or desire And that which the foresaid other Provinces or their Deputies do pronounce and doom the same shall bee obeyed and yielded to without any further plea or exception of Law Appeal Relief Revision pretence of Nullitie or any other evasion whatsoëver to bee propounded or admitted IV. And if there should arise any difference or question among the respective Members in the United Provinces that therein that cours shall bee held and followed which is provided by the Union in that behalf Concerning the MILITIA I. THeir N. M. should hold fitting That the Disposing of the point of the Militia should bee recommended to the Assemblie of the States General and that with such Instructions as shall bee agreed on by the joint Consent of the Confederates or to the Council of State with like Instructions voted by Provinces and not heads II. Well considering and weighing whether it were not expedient for the State forthwith to frame an Instruction by joint consent of the Confederates whereupon in time of sudden need to bee judged of by the consenting Votes of at least five agreeing Provinces a well qualified General may bee made choice of best suiting with the service and prosperitie of the State of the United Provinces to bee over the Militia III. That the respective Provinces according to the Charge to bee given to their Deputies at the Assemblie of the said Lords the States General shall have the disposing of all the high and low Militarie Charges and Offices which respectively heretofore were disposed by their H M. or his High s to the Charges of Collonels Lievtenant Collonels Serjeant Majors Captains of hors and foot and lesser offices which his High s absolutely bestowed and conferred without nomination of the Provinces IV. As for the Companies of foot and hors and such other Militarie offices and emploiments whereof his High s had the choice upon nomination of the paie masters That the same shall absolutely bee disposed by the respective pay masters or Provinces to whom they are allotted V. The places of Commanders and Majors in the Cities and Forts of the respective Provinces having Voice in the State and Generalitie coming to bee vacant and beeing necessarie shall bee disposed and conferred by the Provinces themselvs according to the Charge which those Provinces shall finde good to give unto their Deputies at the Assemblie of the States General VI. As also the Commanders in the Cities of the voicing Provinces aforesaid shall not use nor extend their Militarie Jurisdiction any further then to matters of neglecting or trespassing marches and Watches going over to the Enemie deserting of Companies or running away from the one to the other without passport together with such other excesses and delinquencies as may happen between the officers and Souldiers among themselvs and not further insomuch that for all other matters and causes whether Criminal or Civil the Militarie men or Souldiers whatsoëver shall bee apprehendable prosecutable and executable onely by the Civil or Criminal Judg in Ordinarie whose sentence if it bee in matter of Debts or the like for want or default of other goods and means of satisfaction shall bee executed upon the wages of the partie condemned according to the Order of the Land VII That the Governors places in Cities and Forts having no Voice in the State such as are Sluys Berghen op Zoom Hulst Breda the Bosch Willemstadt Mastricht and Wesel beeing void or otherwise shall bee disposed of and conferred by the respective Provinces according to the Charge to bee given by them to their Deputies at the Generalitie VIII And that in like manner and order the Commanderies also in the same as well as in other Cities and places not voicing in the State shall bee conferred and disposed of by them IX Leaving so far forth as hitherto may have been observed and practised the disposing of the Majors offices unto the Council of State X. Provided alwaies that all the foresaid Charges vacant bee conferred upon fit and qualified persons making Profession of the true Reformed Religion who coming to bee officers of War shall together with all other persons govern themselvs according to the order of the Land XI The giving of Patents or Commissions and remooving of Garrisons from one place to another Randevouzing of Leaguers or sending forth of considerable Troops to places and upon occasions such as the service of the Land may require to abide and continue in the disposing of the Lords the States General according to such Instructions as their H. M. shall bee
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
common advice of the Provinces shall bee agreed on And as wee are confident Hi. Mi. Lords that you will take these our considerations seriously to heart so wee will not doubt neither but that according to your eminent wisdom and antient zeal for the common good you will take a speedie and couragious resolution and cours for the refreining and suppression of the foresâ—id vâ—le enormities and corruptions to the end that Justice may bee administred with all integritie the Government duly served the Subjects protected against all violence and a free passage opened for Virtue Knowledg Honestie and Pietie discountenancing and suppressing all oppreâ—sion and profaness Whereupon wee shall bee able to rest secure That God Almightie the Autor and Protector of this flourishing Republick will bless and prosper all your H. M. Deliberation and Resolution in this great and solemâ— Assemblie to the continual preservation and maintenance of the same Here followeth the Old Instructions for the Council of State Instructions for the Council of State of the Vnited Netherlands according to which the Lords lawfully commissioned and to bee commissioned are provisionally and till it shall bee otherwise ordered by the States General to manage and direct the affairs concerning the common state the defence conservation and Vnion of the foresaid Countries I. IN the foresaid Council there shall bee comprehended and at all times appear have place and voice therein the Governors of the respective Provinces where they are and matters shall bee handled deliberated and treated in the said Council with all due reverence respect and modestie for most service of the foresaid Countries and the good unitie and friendship among them and and the Cities and members thereof together with the mutual concord of the Lords assembling in that Council And the Governors of the respective Provinces and the President of the foresaid Council for the time beeing are desired to take good provident care that all particular affections jangling and impertinent motions not concerning the matters and affairs under Deliberation may bee prevented and hindered II. In the foresaid Council there shall not bee together such as are allied by consanguinitie in the fourth degree and by affinitie in the second according as the same are accounted by the Civil Laws III. And for the better direction and managing of all emergent businesses The same Council shall ordinarily assemble at 9 of the clock in the forenoon and at 3 in the afternoon and none of the Counsellors shall bee allowed to depart or go forth without acquainting the Lord President therewith And the said Counsellors shall bee obliged to repair and appear constantly at the place where the said Council shall negociate and to bee readie to to meet at any time when they shall bee desired except they have lawful excuses IV. The foresaid Council shall have a special regard that the Countries and United Provinces Cities and Members thereof may conformably to the confederacies made and established betwixt them bee settled and kept in Unitie and Concord both amongst themselvs and with the Governors and militarie Commanders as also the Governors and the Commanders amongst themselvs V. And the said Council shall have and exercise the Autoritie to dispose in matters of War and over all the Souldierie beeing in the Lands service causing their Commands to bee performed by the foresaid Governors of the Provinces for the time beeing the Admiral or other offâ—cers every one in his place VI. Conditioned they the said Council do nor attempt nothing which might tend to the prejudice of the Privileges Rights Liberties Treaties Contracts Ordinances Statutes Decrees and Customs of the said Countries in general or of any Provinces Cities or Members thereof in particular VII The said Council shall endeavor that the general means agreed or to bee agreed on and committed or to bee committed to their disposing by the consent of the Provinces for the Lands Defens may uniformly and generally bee raised throughout all the United Provinces the Associated Countries Cities and Members thereof together with the Quarters resorting under the Generalitie in particular and that the Farmers and Collectors thereof bee maintained for the getting of it in and executing of what shall bee farmed out to them or commanded to bee collected and that the trespassing of the Ordinances made in that behalf or to bee made bee punished without any connivance The Council of Brabant or Flanders beeing exempted from meddling at all with any of the foresaid Means or Questions and Differences arising thence VIII And for the raising of the said general means they shall follow and execute such Instructions and Ordinances as are made or to bee made in that behalf by the States General IX And for the getting in and executing the said Common means together with the agreements or Subsidies of of the Provinces and in manner as they shall bee appointed the foresaid Council shall proceed against the Debitors Farmers and Collectors as also against the Inhabitants of the Provinces and Cities beeing in default and their goods as in former times the custom was to proceed in these Countries about the actions and monies of the Prince and according to the Executorials to bee granted in that behalf provided that none shall bee summoned forth the Province where hee inhabit's without the consent of the States of the same Province X. They shall take care and narrowly look to that all such as are accountable for the Generalities means duely bring in their accounts at the Generalities Chequer or Chamber accountant XI The monies proceeding of the foresaid assented means and other consents shall bee used and emploied for the paiement of the Souldierie and other requisites of War according to the agreements of the respective Provinces or so as the Provinces in general shall ordein for most profit of the Land and especially shall there bee good order settled for the mustering and militarie discipline and that the Souldierie may bee paid by the head or pole XII They shall take care and streightly oblige the Captains in the Land-service under pain of cashiering that they paie and caus to bee delivered to their Souldiers the full paie according to the order of the Land without also abating to the said souldiers the eight daie and those by whose information any trespassing of the order aforesaid shall bee discovered they shall take special notice of to further and advance them according as opportunitie shall bee given XIII All Patents or Commissions and Command to bee addressed to the Souldierie shall bee signed by three of the Council beeing of distinct Provinces and by the Secretarie XIV As likewise all Orders for Paiments shall bee signed by the Treasurer and three of the Council beeing of several Provinces and by the Secretarie of the said Council and no Orders of paiment shall bee held authentick but such as shall bee signed in manner aforesaid with a Note Registred folio tali upon it XV. They shall likewise endeavor and further as far as
shall bee needful that the Convoys according to the Agreements and Lists made or to bee made yet by the States General in that behalf and so likewise the free passages according to the Lists appointed and to bee appointed bee uniformly raised and executed and that neither the States nor the Governors of the particular Provinces nor the Magistrates or Commons of any Cities or places nor any other whosoêver do hinder or impede the passages and transport of the goods which are duly provided with their Convoys and Passes according to the Lists aforesaid nor that any whosoêver require or take ought above the aforesaid lists of those goods and that the contrarie thereof whether directly or indirectly committed may receiv exemplarie punishment XVI They shall let the Cities enjoie their Custom in time of exigencie and when matters can suffer no delaie to arm themselvs by Sea and to set out Ships of War at the charge of the Land that they may bee paid out of the foresaid means and that against all Pyrates and other such like enemies of the Common-weal to resist the same and to reduce them under their power on condition nevertheless that the cognizance both of persons ships and goods shall lie in the Decision of the Courts of Admiraltie settled or yet to bee settled in the respective Quarters of those Provinces which negotiate and traffick by Sea XVII The Council of State shall bee obliged to deliver up to the States General and to the States of the particular Provinces an exact state from three months to three months of the List of War and the Incoms of the means to bee agreed on and the emploiment or expending of the same XVIII They shall keep an exact List of the besetting or garrisoning of all Cities Forts and places so as the same shall bee conditioned from time to time and shall bee obliged to yield at all times copies thereof to the Provinces desiring the same XIX They shall take care to their utmost that the Pales and Limits of the foresaid Provinces respectively bee not lessened and that all Cities and places resorting under the Generalitie bee brought and reduced under equal Contribution for the common defence of the Land as much as may bee possibly and that the like bee used in regard of the Cities and places which shall bee recovered hereafter XX. They shall take care that all Governors Admirals Generals Collonels Ritmasters Captains and all men belonging to the Wars by Sea and Land shall promiss and swear unto the United Countries jointly abiding in the Union and maintenance of the Reformed Religion to the States of the Provinces and Magistrates of the Cities where they are emploied and at whose charge and repartition they are paid to bee true and faithful to them faithfully to serv them and readily to obey the aforesaid States General and also the States of the particular Provinces each in their respective concernments and that the Governors likewise of the Provinces and their Generals shall promiss to obey the Council of State instituted or to bee hereafter instituted by the States General and that the Collonels Ritmasters Captains and all the rest of the Souldierie shall likewise further promiss and swear duly to obey the commands of the Governors of the Provinces where they are and the souldiers at Sea the Commands of the Admiral and all such other Officers and Commanders as shall bee set over them XXI They shall entertain all Treaties and Alliances made by the United Countries the Provinces Cities and Members thereof with the Neighbor-Kingdoms Countries and Republicks and for that end and the advancement of the Trade and Traffick of these Countries they shall entertain good Correspondencie Friendship and Neighborhood with forrein States and Princes the Kingdoms Republicks Countries and Cities round about by all the best means they can devise XXII They of the Council aforesaid and each of them coming to Vote they shall openly and plainly declare what in honor dutie and conscience they shall think good whether it bee by conforming themselvs with the opinion of others which they approve for to avoid repetitions or as they shall think best by other arguments and considerations And all matters shall bee determined in the said Council by most voices of the Lords present having voted thereupon and if so bee the matters concern directly or indirectly any of the said Council either in regard of their own persons or their Kindred and Allies unto the fourth degree the same shall not bee allowed to give his advice therein nor bee present at the Deliberation and Conclusion thereof but shall withdraw and remain without the Council-Chamber during the said Deliberation XXIII Nothing shall bee finally determined or decreed in the foresaid Council but in the presence of all the Lords of the Council which shall bee present or resident in the place where the Council shall bee kept or at least the greater part of them XXIV The Council shall not assemble about nor resolv upon any Extraordinarie Business but with precedent intimation thereof to all the Counsellors resident at the place XXV They shall dispose of no grants to give any nor continue such as the States General shall have granted for a certain space of years after the exspiration thereof nor allow any pensions or Annuities at the Charge of the Land nor any resignation of Offices XXVI They shall grant no Remissions to Farmers or other Debtors of the common Land otherwise then in the presence of all the Council and at the least with two thirds of the voices XXVII They shall put out all works publickly and allow of no continuation of works undertaken upon pain to make satisfaction themselvs in particular of the dammage which the Common-wealth may chance to incurr thereby XXVIII The foresaid Council shall not bee allowed to have any part or share directly or indirectly in any Works alreadie put out or to bee put out hereafter for the service of the Common-wealth nor in any Convoyes Imposts or other common means nor in any Powder Shot Artillerie Arms Corn Rie Oates Butter Chees or any other victuals ammunition and such like militarie requisites whatëver they may bee which are to bee emploied for the profit and service of the publick affairs nor shall they buy or under any other Title undertake or grant any Ordinances which at the charge of the Land are granted in common or of any Province in particular neither by themselvs their wives children families nor by any any other whosoëver nor participate in the buying undertaking and disposing thereof by others directly or indirectly nor yet themselvs their wives children families or any other in that behalf receiv enjoy or make use of any gifts presents or gratuities of any thing how small soever even to eating and drinking wares from or by whomsoever it bee whether Cities Courts publick or private persons whom they know to have any business before the Council or that they are like to have any
which Officers and Souldiers in militarie matters may commit among themselvs and no further so that all other matters whether Criminal or Civil shall make the Souldierie or Militarie persons lyable to bee aprehended indited sentenced and executed by the Civil or Criminal Judges whose sentences bee they about matters of debts or otherwise shall in default of other satisfaction bee put in execution according to the order of the Land The Governors in the Cities and places having no voices in the State as at Sluys Berghen of Zoom Hulst Breda the Bosch Willemstadt Mastricht and Wessel shall bee appointed by the Provinces and that with the usual Commissions the Commanderies of other such like places by the States General The Majorships by the Council of State The Militarie Officers to bee admitted hereafter ought all of them to profess the Reformed Religion As for the giving of Patents or Commissions and transplacing of Garrisons gathering of Camps and Leaguers or sending forth considerable troops or squadrons to places and upon occasions where the service of the Land requireth it the same shall bee and remain in the disposition of the States General with advice of the Council of State And their Hi. M. are to conclude and determine therein by the pluralitie of voices provided that if any alteration com 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 As likewise timely notice is to bee given by Letters to the Provinces where the said Companies are to pass or randevouz that orders and courses may bee taken about their marchings and quarters provided that the Governments of the Respective Provinces shall have libertie also to send Companies from one place to another for the securitie thereof and the Officers of the said Companies bee bound to obey them they giving immediate advertisement thereof to their Hi. Mi. And that furthermore all such Companies as are any where in Garrison now or may bee put in hereafter shall bee obliged to swear to the respective Cities according to the 17 th Article of the Union and the form alreadie made or to bee made or to the chief Officers in the open Countrie in case Necessitie should require to put any Companies there for the keeping of Rivers or otherwise The Cities antiently exempted and privileged of beeing molested with any Garrison against their will they shall remain in their old right and possession thereof and not bee prejudiced therein at all As for Secret Correspondencie both within and without the Land the same shall bee kept and continued with their Hi. Mi. and the Council of State by such persons and in such order as their Hi. Mi. and the Council of State shall think fitting and requisite for most service of the Land and most secret managing thereof with the least chargeableness that may bee the monies for it beeing to bee furnished from the Treasurie by the Receiver-General Besides all these foresaid Inclinations and Considerations the present Lords of the Province of Over-Yssell reserâ— to themselvs the libertie of taking off or adding what they shall judg fit and requisite for most service of the Countrie Upon Februarii 13 o there beeing com in now the Inclinations and Considerations of all the Provinces upon the Overture and Proposition made by and in behalf of Holland Januar. 18 o. The Lords of Holland propounded by word of mouth and delivered in writing their further considerations for contracting the affairs of the Great Assemblie in manner as followeth The Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland have brought into the Assemblie and made overture of their further Considerations for dispatching the affairs of this great Assemblie by distinguishing things purely provincial concerning which they have likewise declared themselvs in manner as will bee shewed by and by and things properly to bee deliberated by this Assemblie containing in effect That the said Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland having perused and examined the respective Considerations served in by the Provinces at the said great Assemblie they judged thereupon that the matters contained in the said Considerations are som of them purely Provincial and do not belong to the Deliberation and Ordering of the said Assemblie but wholly and solely to the managing of the Respective Provinces and others som belong purely to the managing of the Common Union and consequently to the Deliberation of the foresaid great Assemblie That the things which their No. Mi. judged to bee provincial and wholly and solely to belong to the managing of the States of the Respective Provinces are these following I. The appointing of Stad-holders or forbearing it at the States pleasure in every Province II. The disposing of the Commanderies and Major-ships in the Cities and Forts within the respective United Provinces together with their Condependencies III. The keeping of the keies by such Cities as have voices in the State and the giving of the watch-word by the Magistrates of the said Cities IV. The jurisdiction over the Militia in all things which are not purely Militarie V. The disposing of the Collonel-ships Captain-ships and lesser charges of their own Repartition VI. The transplacing of the Garrisons within the respective Provinces with the condependencies VII The swearing of the Souldierie by the States of the Province and Magistrates of the Cities where any Souldierie is put in Garrison besides the oath which the said Souldierie is bound to make to the Provinces upon whose Repartition they stand That their No. Mi. conceiv the foresaid matters ought wholly and solely to remain in the Disposing of the States of the Respective Provinces every one apart declaring withal that their N. M. intending to make use of this Right within their own Government they shall bee well content that the Provinces and members of them shall as they think good make use of and improve the same Right and therefore they hold it expedient That the Officers Militarie may bee written unto from this Board in that behalf for to submit themselvs in what is said before to the States of the respective Provinces and Members thereof and to obey the same therein That the matters which their N. M. judged to belong properly to the managing of the Common Union and consequently ought to bee deliberated in this Assemblie are I. Whether in the General Direction and Disposition of Militarie affairs and the Armie or Souldierie by common advice of the Confederates formerly referred unto the Council of State it will bee thought good to make any alteration therein II. By whom and in what manner the Patents or Commissions shall bee given to such of the Armie as are without the limits of the United Provinces III. In what manner the voicing Provinces and the Cities thereof shall receiv Garrisons and give waie to Marches and Randevouzes IV. In what manner any Souldierie shall bee drawn forth out of voicing Provinces and the Cities thereof V. To whom it shall bee
friendly desiring your H. M. since it pleased you by the honor of your witnessing for him at his Christian Baptism to assure him of your special favor and protection in the face of the Church to take such further regard in his behalf as in your great wisdom and prudence you shall finde fitting upon the premisses Her High s shall confidently await your H. M. favorable resolution without any further importunitie concluding this onely with her most express declaration and protestation that shee doth not intend in the least manner to pretend and claim ought of your H. M. as if those high charges the Princess of Orange have been invested with for so many years should thereby bee acquired to their houses and posteritie but on the contrarie her High s intent is whatsoëver Your H. M. shall bee pleased at her request to grant and conferr to look upon and accept of it as purely and originally proceeding from the good and friendly disposition which You are pleased thankfully and prais-worthily to shew unto that hous in regard of their said long and manifold services and merits Which favor her High s is confident this young Sprout will duly acknowledg in due time with the same care and faithfulness toward yaur H. M. and the State of the Land as the Lords his Forefathers have shewed Whereof your H. M. may rest very confident not onely in regard of the hous from which this Prince is sprung hut also by reason of the great and considerable possessions which by lawful successions are fallen to him under your H. M. jurisdiction beyond all other inhabitants insomuch that in his person there will alwaies bee a concurrence of the consideration of his own interest join'd with his own and Fore-father's honor and glorie together with the in-bred love and affection to the constant welfare of the State which God Almightie second with his holie Blessing Signed Amelia Princess of Orange This Memorandum beeing taken into deliberation there was nothing don upon it but that it was received as a Notification and copies made of it for the Provinces both Holland and most of the other Provinces continuing disposed still not to enter into thoughts of entrusting any one person and â—uch less a Childe with such a power as the former Stadholders and Governors General had here Friesland and Groninghen with the Omlands having a Stad-holder already were much less able to saie any thing in behalf of the young Prince in point of Stadholdership They shewed indeed a great deal of zeal for conferring the Charge of Captâ—in General upon the young Prince so as that Count William their Stadholder might in the mean time and during his Minoritie bee his Lievtenant But this was not relisht by the rest The Lords Deputies of the Province of Holland and West-Friesland advising upon the two points lately appointed for Deliberation by the Lord President they declared themselvs FOr the First That in the General Direction and Disposition of the Militarie affairs and the Souldierie formerly by common advice of the Confederates referred to the Council of State there should bee made no alteration but that the same Direction should bee left to the Council of State and that the Instruction of the said Council should bee framed for the securitie of the Provinces sutably to the considerations brought in in this behalf by the Lords of Zealand the first of this month whereunto their N. Gr. M. herewithal conform'd themselvs And for the Second That as much as is feasible the Companies bee laid in Garrison within such Provinces and adjacent Frontiers from which Provinces they do receiv their paie and that to this end there bee by common advice of the Members of the Union certain Frontier-places assigned to every Province in which respective Frontier-places the foresaid Council of State shall have libertie of transplacing the Companies acquainting the Provincial Government with it and that the States of the Province to which the said Frontier-places shall bee assigned or their Commission'd Council shall have power to do the like as also to bring the Companies out of the said frontier-places into their own Province and vice verâ—â out of their Province into the same Frontiers provided onely that they give present advertisement thereof to the Council of State That the Council of State intending to draw forth any Companies out of any of the assigned Frontiers shall address themselvs to the States or Commissioned Council of the Province to which the said Frontiers are assigned transmitting Patents for that purpose with open Names to bee fill'd up by the said States or their Commissioned Council or elf their reasons to bee returned to the Council why they make difficultie and the same to bee judged of by the Council and upon the second address of the Council the foresaid transmitted reasons beeing not found weightie enough the Companies shall bee yielded with this proviso nevertheless That by the common advice of the Confederates and for the more mutual content and quiet there should bee made two Lists the one for Besetting the other for Emploie and that in case of Invasion or sudden Surprisals by the Enemie the Council should have power to draw forth so many Companies as are upon the List of Emploie giving but advertisement and notice thereof to the Provinces where and in whose assigned Frontiers they laie and causing them to return as soon as the danger shall bee over into their former Garrisons They of Zealand declared in manner as followeth The Lords Deputies of the Province of Zealand advising in the behalf of their Principals upon the two points propounded for Deliberation at the Assemblie by the Lord President on the 13 of this instant they declare AS to the First that they yield their consent that in present constitution of time and affairs the General Direction and Disposition of matters of War and over the souldiers shall bee referred to the Council of State under such an exact and pertinent Instruction as according to the draught was som few daies ago in their N. M. behalf presented to this Assemblie or shall with joint-advice of the common Confederates bee thought best by which determining of the Instruction their N. M. likewise understand that the decreeing of the foresaid Delegation shall bee comprehended pari passu aud not otherwise as without which they declare their foresaid consent no consent For the second point their N. M. conceived that in it there came explicitè into consideration the business of Repartition and Assignation of the Frontiers to bee made to the respective Provinces and the transplacing of the Garrisons therein Declaring their N. M. advice to bee that the Militia and the Souldierie standing upon the Repartition and at the charge of the repsective Provinces should bee laid as much as possibly might within the same Province together with the Frontiers and places assigned for their securitie and protection as not beeing liable then for their faithfulness and obedience to their
that which is urged out of the word provisionally or by provision inserted in the IX Article is in truth to small purpose first for speaking but of particular cases secondly for that in those very cases the difference is to bee referred to the Lords Stadholders by provision till it shall bee otherwise ordered by common advice of the confederates Uâ— Articulus IX expressè habet cujus prior explicatio etiam ad hunc posteriorem casum pertinet quia nulla diversitatis ratio potest dari vel alia commodior explicatio adduci So that however no Province can bee deprived of this provisional Remedie nor the cours altered but by common advice forasmuch as the Stadholders are to do or administer Right in the rest of the Cases besides the forenamed in a principal manner and at last cast As for the distinction betwixt the Office of the Stad-holders and the Persons thereof taken from these words of the IX Article now beeing to pass by the contradictorie terms of debate the same savoreth more of acuteness then of probabilitie and is partly literal and contrarie to the meaning intent and design of the Confederates which without all question was no other but that the questions hapning to arise from the foresaid causes might aswell bee accommodated and decided by the subsequent Stad-holders as by those that were beeing at the time of making the Union there beeing the same ground and necessitie for either namely by provision till it should bee otherwise order'd by common consent and advice which was never don to this day And besides it is plain that the foresaid IX Article treat's onely of the foresaid particular cases and that the XVI and XXI together with others formerly alleged speak generally and indistinctly of all the Stad-holders aswel to com as present as likewise in a special case mentioned without the foresaid occasion it was but lately understood by your H. M. by the Resolution of August 18. 1650 which referrâ—th the particulars therein mentioned to the decision of the Stadholders or Stad holholder of the Provinces at that time with reflection to the Union and all the parts thereof The rest of the foresaid debate consist's in too too large an assumtion of the alleged interpretations impertinent consequences refutations of imaginarie objections conceited limitations of the office of Stadholders and the like which are sufficiently defeated by the foregoing arguments and explication so that the Deputies shall not need to repent any for to applie them to each point in particular Their N. M. the Commissioners of Friesland declaring herewith that they have no other aym in all this deduction but in the uprightness of their hearts zealously to maintain the common caus and to contribute their utmost for the conservation and setling of the State beeing not able to think on change and alterations without fear and trembling The admitting of one drawing along with it a great many others and very seldom any good success considering withal that this State hath found so much benefit by the former way of Government in regard whereof the United Provinces have good reason to mindâ— what was said of Rome Moribus antiquis res stat Romana virÃsque In prosecution and remembrance of what those of Zealand had propounded against Corruptions and receiving of presents the Lord Jacob Vett presiding for Zealand at the Assemblie Febr. 22 hee moved to their Hi. Mi whether for those reasons and motives largely then deduced and insisted on by him they did not â—inde good forthwith to order by express Resolution that such of their Hi. Mi. Deputies or Commissioners as should henceforward bee emploied to enter into and make any Treatie in the behalf of this State with Ambassador or other publick Ministers of forrein Princes Potentates and Republicks should bee obliged before they enter upon any business of that kinde to take such an oath mutatis mutandis as the Lords their Hi. Mi. Extraordinarie Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries for the General Treatie of Peace at Munster had solemnly taken before their going thither according to the 9 and 91 Article of their Instruction Hereupon it was next daie expressly resolved That all such as should for time to com bee emploied in the behalf of this State for to make any Treatie with Embassadors and other Ministers of forrein Kings Republicks Princes and Lords shall bee bound by solemn Oath to promise and swear that before the beginning of the respective Treatie they had neither taken noâ— enjoied and that during and also after the conclusion of the Treatie they would not take nor enjoie any Gifts or Presents directly or indirectly in any manner conceivable or unconceivable but that on the contrarie if any gifts were presented them before the beginning of the foresaid Treatie or should bee presented them during or after the conclusion of the said Treatie they would with all uprightness and faithfulness and as soon as possibly might bee without any delaie give notice thereof to their Hi. Mi. under pain of infamie and such other punishment as the condition of affairs should require And that they shall likewise bee bound to swear That they will â—eprightly and faithfully follow their Instruction and the Resolution relating thereunto and contribute whatsoever shall tend most to the furthering thereof and contrarily to decline and oppose themselvs to whatsoever shall bee practised to retard or prejudice the same This same daie it was likewise found good Letters should bee writen in friendlie terms unto the Province of Groninghen and the Omlands that they would bee pleased to send their Deputies hitherwards to help together with the rest of the Provinces to resolv upon the important deliberations none beeing absent of the Principal Members but they Since that there past som daies wherein nothing was don in matters relating to the great Assemblie there beeing presented before them howbeit contrarie to the former intent and appointment of the Assemblie the business of the West-Indies the Ratification of the Danish Treatie The Complaints and Counter-complaints of Spain and France Whereupon the Ambassador of Spain the Resident Brasset and the Roial Swedish Commissioner Appelboom had successively and respectively Audience in the Assemblie All which not relating to our present purpose wee pass over here Holland it self grew cool in pressing the business of the Militia whether it were that they would staie for the arrival of the English Ambassador to caus jealousie in the other Provinces that Holland and Zealand alone if need were could so settle their affairs with England that the rest of the Provinces should bee fain to accommodate themselvs with Holland's desires of their own accord or that Holland and Zealand having now declared their minde and purpose they would give â—acitly so much to understand that they intended not to communicate the autoritie over the Militia in their paie any further with the rest then according to the project of assigning the limits and distinctions of the Companies and to leav it
to the Council of State whereunto if the rest complied not of themselvs Holland and Zealand would stand to it by themselvs Those of Drent sought and sollicited lately again by their Deputies Schickard and Strâ—ick respective Recorder and secretarie of the land of Drent in all the assemblies of the particular Provinces their former pretence pressed these many years of beeing a Member of the State as having signed together with the rest from the beginning of the Union and having their peculiar Stadholder and Government And after they had sufficiently prepared the same in particular they craved Audience in the great Assemblie and had it Martii 2 o upon the Letters of Credence from the Drost and Deputie of the foresaid Countrie whereupon having wished their Hi. Mi. God's gracious and blessed assistance for their present important Deliberations They desired that according to their Summons of Novemb. 6 last they would bee pleased to receiv them into their Assemblie and to shew and appoint the places where they the Commissioners should in the name and behalf of the said Land of Drent have their Ordinarie Session at and together with the rest of the Provimces as also That the Deputies of the said Countrie should bee allowed Session likewise in all the Courts of the Generalitie Hereupon it was found good that the Retro-acta of and in regard to such matters and propositions formerly past in the Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. touching the said Countrie should bee searched into It was strange to see that there was a Summons past as from their Hi. Mi. dated Novemb. 6 signed by the then Lord President and addrest by the Secretarie to those of Drent whereby they were as well invited to com to the Great Assemblie and to bring in their advices as the seven other Provinces And thereupon was it that the Deputies thence desired the Session as was said before The then Lord President beeing desired to shew how that abuse came hee was able to say nothing els to it but that such kinde of dispatches depend upon the direction notice-taking and fidelitie of the secretarie having all the Registers and Original Acts in his keeping and it beeing impossible for a President to collation every thing that is brought him for to sign with the Registers or to look after it whether all bee well don there beeing somtimes twentie thirtie and more things sent in together at one time to bee signed in hast However this abuse profited those of Drent nothing but they were silently kept without the Assemblie for all that That which the Deputies of the Countrie of Drent produced and presented in writting to the Lords of the great Assemblie in grounding and justifying their Demands is to bee seen by that which followeth formerly exhibited by them High Mightie Lords THe Gentrie and Free-holders of the Countrie of Drent having understood that your Hi. Mi. were pleased of late to issue Writ's to the Lords the States of the respective Provinces that by occasion of the instant Treatie of Peace or Truce at Munster and Osnabrug they would deliberate and resolv upon the necessarie means such as should bee found fitting and requisite for the maintenance of the State of their Countries and in particular for a renewed confirmation of the common Union of Utrecht in such sort as the same was made and kept in former times and yet not any Notice or Writ beeing issued or sent from your Hi. Mi. unto the Countrie of Drent in that behalf notwithstanding that the same is known to bee a fellow-member of the said Union They have therefore in their latest Land-day and States-Assemblie found good and necessarie to present their just complaints or grievance in that behalf unto your Hi. Mi. and in that regard appointed and charged mee that after presentation of their humble service and wishing your Hi. Mi. a long and prosperous Government I should with all due respect and reverence summarily again propound unto you that which heretofore hath been so often represented here and clearly verified by sufficient demonstrations viz. That the said Countrie of Drent hath been of old and still continueth an entire formed Province by it self and separated from others having ever had and still having their own peculiar perfect Members Governments Prerogatives Rights Immunities high and low Jurisdictions Magistrates Name Arms Seal Treasurie Laws and Customs altogether distinct and apart from other Provinces That the said Countrie likewise even under the Soveraigns of these Countries as well by the Government of the Bishops of Utrecht as that of the Hous of Burgundie was never held otherwise but as one of their Neighboring Provinces Not onely in the point of a peculiar homage and reciprocal promises and confirmations of their Rights and Privileges And in the Contributions for the common Charges whereunto the said Countrie was alwaies prai'd and entreated apart and had thanks returned them accordingly for their voluntarie consents although the same did many times com far short of the summons petitioned or praâ—'d for But likewise in the Case of summoning the Lords the States-General together when any weightie and difficult matters touching the common-weal of the Provinces required their assembling whereunto the States of the Countrie of Drent were constantly no less called and invited by Writs then the States of any other Countrie As the same appeared notably among other instances at the time of the solemn Transport of these Netherlands by the Emperor Charls to his Son King Philip in the year 1555. at Brussels Unto which Act the States of the Countrie of Drent were summoned and invited by the said Emperor Charls and King Philip apart and accordingly made their apperances and likewise upon the desire of the Emperor they yielded their consent to the said Transportation and beeing thereupon peculiarly discharged of the Oath formerly made to the Emperor and anew engaged to King Philip they received likewise on the contrarie peculiarly for themselvs from the said King the Oath and confirmation again of their Rights Freedoms and Possessions The same Countrie likewise afterwards when these Netherlands came to bee engaged in War with the King of Spain and by the Union of Utrecht into an nearer alliance one with another beeing no less acknowledged but alwaies invited and summoned by Writ for to assist all affairs of the Countries and to advise and deliberate together with the rest even before such time as they were receiv'd into the said Union it beeing a matter so known and manifest that the said Countrie was of it self qualified and privileged to repair to and appear in the Assemblie of the States General and that by virtue of the 3 d Article of the Pacification of Ghendt The Convocation of the States General was to bee don in the same form and manner as it was used when the Emperor Charls transported these Countries to his Son King Philip where the States of the Countrie of Drent were likewise summoned apart and appear'd as well as the
Direction and Disposition in militarie affairs together with the giving of Patents or Commissions Upon the 18 th the said 2 points beeing taken into further Debate and a further proposition likewise presented by the Lords of Gelderland and som other Provinces that there might bee a Committee appointed of som few members of this Assemblie for to examine the several Advices and Considerations of the respective Provinces brought in by them upon the case of his High s departure and to see wherein they were agreeing or differing and thereupon to frame a Reconciliatorie Model the foresaid matter was put by yet and the Provinces which had not yet declared themselvs about the foresaid 2 points and others concerning the direction and employ of the Militia were most friendly and seriously desired to do the same with the first and without further delaie The 22 th at length there were som Commissioners named for every Province for to examine and review all the Considerations and Advices successively from time to time brought in by the respective Provinces upon the business touching the Direction and Disposition over the Militia and the giving of Patents and presented to the Assembliâ— and to observ how and in what points they were agreeing together and wherein disagreeing yet thence to frame in writing an Advice Conciliatorie and to make report of all to their Hi. Mi. provided that every Province should have libertie to augment or diminish the Number of their said Deputies at their own pleasure Next daie it was found good that there should not bee above 3 from each Province at the Committee for the business Conciliatorie On the 24 th the Lords of Gelderland gave in this ensuing motion The Province of Gelderland desireth the great Assemblie That their H. M. would bee pleased That Letters bee writen to the Commanders of the Garrisons in the Cities having voice in the State to this end that the said Commanders or their Majors shall henceforward not assume to themselvs the keeping of the Keies opening and shutting of the Gates or the giving of the word but that the same shall wholly and solely remain in the power of the Magistrates of the foresaid Cities having voice in the State Secondly That the foresaid Commanders with the Council of War in the foresaid Cities shall no further use or extend Militarie Jurisdiction but for neglects and trespassings in in marches and watches going over to the Enemie deserting the Companies or running from one Companie to the other without Passport together with such other exorbitances and delinquencies as may happen to bee committed between officers and Souldiers or among themselvs and no further insomuch that for other offences whether Criminal or Civil the Militarie persons shall bee subject and liable to bee apprehended and executed by the Civil or Political Judg whose sentence is to bee executed according to the order of the Land even with extent in case of Debts and the like and default of others means upon the Wages of the partie condemned Lastly that the Companies both hors and foot in Garrison at present or for time to com within the foresaid Citie shall according to the 7 th Article of the Union make Oath to the Magistrates of the said Cities without prejudicing the common Oath made or yet to bee made to the United Provinces together or the particular and respective ones as likewise to the chief officers in the open Countrie where the said Militia shall bee disposed of By this occasion it was likewise propounded whether it were not expedient to nominate a Committee for to draw the formes of the Oath to bee made by the Militia respectively 1. To the Confederates in general 2. To the Provinces their paymasters 3. To the Provinces where they shall bee employ'd 4. To the Magistrates of the Cities and the Officers of the open Countrie where they shall bee put in Garrison all to this end that the foresaid Oaths may not chance to thwart and contrarie one the other Which beeing taken into Deliberation The Provinces desired and took Copies thereof and next daie it was found good That in conformitie thereof Letters should bee writen to the Commanders of the Garrisons in the Cities of Gelderland having voice in the State to the end that the foresaid Commanders or their Majors shall henceforward not assume to themselvs the keeping of the keies opening and shutting of the Gates or the giving of the Word but leav the same wholly and solely to the Magistrates of the foresaid Cities having voice in the State Secondly That the foresaid Commanders with the Council of War in the foresaid Cities shall not have power to use or extend the Militarie Jurisdiction any further then over neglects and trespassings in marches and watches going over to the Enemie deserting of the Companies or running from one Companie to another without passport together with such Exorbitances and Delinquencies which officers and Souldiers may chance to commit among themselvs or one against the other and no further insomuch that for all other offences whether Criminal or Civil the militarie persons shall bee subject and lyable to bee apprehended proceeded against sentenced and executed by the Judges Civil or Political whose sentence shall bee put in Execution according to the order of the Land and extend in matter of debts and the like and default of other means to the very wages of the partie condemned Furthermore their Hi. M. declared upon the proposition aforesaid that the companies both hors and foot lying in Garrison at present or to bee laid hereafter within the said Cities shall conformably to the VII th Article of the Union make Oath to the Magistrate of the said Cities without prejudicing the Oath alreadie made or yet to bee made to the United Provinces together or the particular and respective ones as also to the officers of the open Countrie where the foresaid Militia may bee disposed of Which occasion it was likewise found good that by certain Commissioners to bee nominated there should bee drawn up the forms of the Oath to bee made to the Confederates in general the Provinces having besides undertaken reciprocally by their Deputies to communicate one to another in this behalf the respective forms of Oath to bee made by the said Militia to the Provinces their Paymasters as also to the Provinces where they shall bee employ'd and to the Magistrates of the Cities and Officers of other places in the open Countrie where the same may happen to bee put in Garrison all to this end that the foresaid Oaths may not thwart and contrarie one another On the 28 it was found good that in the Conciliatorie Conference about the points touching the Direction and Disposition of the Militarie Affairs the Advices or Votes should bee gathered not by the Heads but by the Provinces That the said Conference should bee begun that same afternoon precisely at 4 of the clock in the place of the Ordinarle Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. and the
to make the Captains promise and subscribe likewise if they think good and that the rest of the Cities may also make or receiv such of the like Articles at their pleasure Herewith the foresaid Committee trust to have satisfied your N. G. M. intention referring all to their further order and Disposition Don and advised thus by the foresaid Committee-Members of your N. G. M. the last daie of March 1651. Draught of The Form of Oath to bee taken by the Souldierie keeping Garrison within the Province of Holland and West-Friesland in relation to and before the States thereof or their Committees WEe do promiss and swear unto the States General of the United Netherlands such as shall continue to maintain the Union and maintenance of the true Christian Religion and by Name to the States of Holland and West-Friesland to bee true and faithful to them to serv them uprightly and faithfully for the defens of the foresaid United Netherlands and by name the Countries of Holland and West-Friesland the Quarters Cities or Members thereof against all their Enemies to bee obedient to the said Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland or their Commissioned Counsel whiles wee are in the said Province in such things as they shall command us for the furthering of the service and defens of the foresaid Countries to help protect the foresaid Provinces from inquarterings and throughfairs of other forces as also not to march within this same Province but by and upon Patent or Commission of the foresaid Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland or their Commissioned Council and consequently in every thing to submit and follow all the Orders and Articles of War So truly God Almightie help us Draught of The form of Oath to bee taken by the Captains and Officers before the Magistrates of the Cities where they are lying in Garrison with their Companies respectively I Do promiss and swear to bee true and faithful with the Companie under mee unto this Citie and the Magistrates thereof and faithfully to serv and obey them in what they shall command mee for the maintenance service and tranquillitie of their Citie and in particular against all uproars and sedition the commands which the Lords the States of this Province or their Commission'd Council shall give mee So truly c. Upon the 22 of March the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Braband resorting under the State did likewise address themselvs unto the Great Assemblie and as in the year 1648. before and at the conclusion of the Peace they had presented a certain long Deduction or Remonstrance so they did now also that which here ensueth and desired to have Audience carrying themselvs in the Superscription of their Address and in the Text it self not as Petitioners by waie of humble or submissive request but as fellow Confederates and that which is more as the first Member of the Union They had sent divers of their own into the particular Provinces before to recommend their affair where they received courteous indeed but onely general and no concluding Answers and Resolutions from them The Deduction of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Braband Vnited and associated with the rest of the Vnited Netherlandish Provinces shewing how well they are grounded in their desire presented to the Generalitie PHILIP surnamed the Good Duke of Burgundie Earl of Flanders Arthois c. beeing by right of Collateral succession becom Duke of Braband and Limburg and of the lands of Over-Mase Earl of Hainoult Holland Zealand and West-friesland and by purchase Duke of Lutsenberg Earl of Namen and Lord of Mechelen Hee first joined all these Countries beeing formerly under several Lords into One Bodie Emperor Charls the V. afterwards having gotten likewise the Over-Rhenish Provinces of Friesland Utrecht and Over-Yssel Groningâ—en and the Omlands Gelderland and Zuâ—phen for himself and his Heirs and posteritie as Dukes of Brâ—band and Earls of Holland and having reduced and reannexod to that Bodie certain considerable parcels which for a long time had been alienated and distracted Hee in the year 1549 with consent and at the desire of the Stateâ— of those Countries made a fundamental Law or Sanctiâ—â— to that end and purpose That all the foresaid Netherlands should thenceforward for ever remain united in one Bodie under one Prince onely And when after in the year 1555 the foresaid Emperor resigned the Sovereigntie over these Netherlands unto his Son King Philip the second taking his leav of all the Provinces hee exhorted them that notwithstanding the Countries were divers and separated in themselvs yet all of them making but one Bodie the Members of that bodie ought still to help assist and succor one another considering that without such a Concord and Conjunction among them the Enemies would easily get great advantage upon and means to surprize and invade them when as on the contrarie they remaining united together and assisting one another experience had shewed what they were able to perform in resisting those that durst attemt to hurt or molest them After the Peace concluded at Camerick in the year 1559 all the States together unanimously resolved to keep out all Spanish and forrein forces and promised each other ever to continue so doing After which the troubles and bloodie Wars ensuing in the Netherlands the most principal of the said Countries allied themselvs together from the very beginning for their Common Libertie and opposed themselvs jointly with common advice and aid goods and blood against the Inquisition and Spanish Tyrannie The Confederated Nobilitie who in the year 1566 presented their Petition to the Duchess of Parma at Brussels as to the Governess of these Countries were indeed som out of all Provinces but most of them of Braband and Flanders And the men of Brussels were those which principally opposed themselvs against the execution of the Tenth penie notwithstanding that the Duke d'Alva was present then within their Citie and had a strong Garrison of Spaniards about him Whereupon there following that unexspected beginning of the Deliverance by the taking in of the Briel most of the Cities of Holland and Zealand joined themselvs together for Libertie at which time those of Braband and other adjacent and Inland-Countries beeing oppressed and opposed by the Tyrannie of Duke d'Alva with Castles and strong Garrisons had not yet found or met with the conveniencie and opportunitie which they of Holland and Zealand had of casting off the Spanish Yoke but the Citie of Anwerp was plundered first twice over by the Spaniards At the Treatie of Peace at Breda in the year 1575 the Deputies of the Prince of Orange the States and Cities of Holland and Zealand Bommel and Buren with their associates and som particular Noblemen out of other Provinces treated there with the King's Commissioners In the time of greatest streight when as North Holland and South-Holland through the loss of Haerlem and the Province of Zealand through that of Ziriksea and the land of Scâ—owen were rent
States General And however hitherto the Government of Braband since the loss of Antwerp hath been exercised in the Name of the States General nevertheless the same is don onely by waie of provision for that time without impairing and under protestation of not prejudicing the Right and privileges belonging to the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Braband as was formerly demonstrated And whereas the Wars through God's blessing are brought to an end now and the King of Spain doth by the Treatie of Peace concluded at Munster declare and acknowledg That the States General of the United Netherlands and respective Countries Cities and appertaining Lands are free and Soveraign Cities Provinces and Countries whom and their Associated Countries Cities and Lands the foresaid King shall neither now nor ever pretend the least unto neither for himself nor his Successors and Posteritie Therefore the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Braband do confidently perswade themselvs beeing in the Union and Associates That according to the forementioned Concordates Confederacies Unions Treaties Promisses and Acknowledgments of Kings yea of the King of Spain himself They shall bee held by the United Provinces Confederates Sworn Allies Associates and Free States and not conquered invaded and subdued ones in wors condition then the Spanish Netherlands To their Hi. Mi. Lords the States General of the Vnited Netherlands THe Nobilitie Gentrie and Cites of Braband holding the side of the Union shew and desire That forasmuch as the war through God's blessing is com to an end now They Exhibitors may as Associates and Confederates of the common Union have Session and Voice in the Generalitie like other Provinces and that for the reasons alleged in the annexed Deduction Or in case That your Hi. Mi. could not as yet yield thereunto wee beeing perswaded they may That at leastwise the Exhibitors may without prejudice of the Rights of Braband govern their Province particularly contributing for the common welfare and Defens together with other Provinces such a Rate as by mutual agreement and equitie shall bee found fitting which doing c. High Mightie Lords THe Commissioners of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Braband holding the side of the Union presented in April 1646 unto the high mightie Lords the Deputies at the Generalitie a certain Remonstrance and Deduction hereunto annexed and thereby attentively concluded either to obtain Session and Voice in the General Government like other Provinces or at leastwise that without prejudice to the Rights of Braband they might Govern their Province particularly contributing to the common welfare and Defens such a Rate or Tax as according to the condition of the Countries should by mutual accord bee held fitting in equitie Whereupon there having been no Resolution taken by your Hi. Mi. the Exhibitors addressed themselvs to the No. Gr. Mi. Lords the States of the respective Provinces and propounded the same alternative conclusion to them who most of them after enquirie and mature Deliberation sufficiently agreed that the second member of the foresaid conclusion could not bee denied unto the Exhitors autorizing thereupon their Deputies at the Generalitie that they might treat with the Deputies there from the other Provinces about it And foresmuch as the United Provinces ate now extraordinarily met in a grand States-assemblie to deliberate about the most important Points for the establishing of this State and especially about the maintenance and full settlement of the Union The Exhibitors present themselvs with all due respect unto this most honorable Assemblie to reiterate the foresaid Conclusion grounded upon the Union and represent thereupon unto your Hi. Mi. That the Exhibitors have been and were every where without contradiction acknowledged Associates and Confederates of this State and members of the common Union as well by virtue of the Pacification of Ghendt de Anno 1576. whereof they of Braband had been the first Autors as especially of the neerer Union of Utrecht de Anno 1579. signed by them of Breda at Utrecht publisht in the Bosoâ— and by the rest of the Cities embraced and followed in States-manner That likewise None of the Exhibitors ever abandoned the Union but that the Cities of the Bosch Breda Grave and Steenberghen were by force of arms or domestick oppression and treacherie rent from the same with the good parties loss of goods and blood Berg op Zome and Willemstadt having alwaies remained in the Union as is more largely deduced in the annexed information That the forementioned Four withdrawn Cities have been delivered and reduced again to the Union by the help of the Confederates in conformitie to the Pacification and Union aforesaid And whereas the Foundations of the whole State doth mainly consist in the foresaid mutually made and firmly concluded Union and everlasting Confederacie And that consequently the same beeing aequo jure entered into the Members are bound not onely to assist one another with goods and blood but also if need bee to restore them in their antient Rights Liberties and Privileges whereunto it would bee è diametro repugnant that one Member should take upon him to exercise Superioritie and Domination over the other Therefore the Exhibitors negociating at present for such a considerable number of Cities and great district of Countrie conteining in ground more then the Moitie of all Braband offering to contribute according to their abilities to the common welfare ought not to bee excluded in any wise but fully to enjoie the effect of the Confederacie like unto the other United Members thereof The Exhibitors undertaking beside that by their direction the Means of Braband shall undoubtedly bee brought in to the best advantage and behoof of the Generalitie All this nevertheless notwithstanding beeing the Exhibitors are held and treated no better then invaded and conquered places suffering sufficient prejudice generally in all their Rights and Privileges as well in regard of administring Justice without their Countrie as the direction of their Civil Government and incoms They are confident your Hi. Mi. will for the reasons succinctly here alleged and more largely deduced in the Papers adjoined restore the said Exhibiters highly-wronged Right in best sort and manner or at leastwise let them enjoie the effect of the second Member of their conclusion Further Deductions and Informations of the Right of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities holding the side of the Vnion IT is universally known that the supreme power of the Serenissime Republick of the Netherlands consisteth in the States General of the United Provinces so called after the General Uniting of Ghendt and nearer Union of Utrecht whereon the same is founded For the preservation of good Unitie in the State upon the old and laudable principles and foundations of the first Government the Great Mightie States of all the Provinces caused to bee enâ—egistred Novemb. 16 1646 for an everlasting Remembrance That they were resolved to keep and maintein the foresaid Union among the Provinces as also the associated Countries Cities and Members thereof and now lately again at
and the same degree so that none can pretend any right of Superioritie over the other Whence it is evident that there is no ground which can take away or hinder the Right of the Lords Gentrie and Cities of Braband of governing their own State particularly without the Generalitie The Government of the Switsers Republick may serv us for an Example The same consisteth in three parts First in XIII Cantons whereof every one is Sovereign in his own district and yet they are all engaged one to another for common Defence Secondly in the Confederated Allies such as are the Abbot and Citie of S t Gal the Grisons the Bishop and Countrie of Valaye Rotwiel Mulhausen and divers others every one of these beeing likewise Sovereign within his Sphere and yet bound together with the Cantons for the Common Safetie Thirdly in the Governments or Praesecturae places conquered from the Enemies and subject to the Cantons and governed by them in several manners among whom there are no Countries nor Cities which formerly were Members of the Cantons or Associates And whereas in default of a Prince and Sovereign the Sovereigntie of the Land remaineth and returneth into the hand of the Gentrie and Cities as the States of Holland rightly asserted in several of their Declarations and Remonstrances to Leicester And that the Government of Braband since the loss of Antwerp hath hitherto during the Wars been governed in the name of the Hi. Mi. States General onely provisionally for that time without impairing and under protestation of not prejudicing the Rights and Privileges belonging to the Lords Gentrie and Cities of Braband as hath been declared by divers Acts of the States General themselvs which make's it apparant that their desire is grounded upon order and reason and ought therefore according to the Union to bee determin'd by most voices This is that which make's the Lords Gentrie and Cities of Braband aforesaid to bee very confident That as Confederates and Associates of this Serenissime Republick they shall yet at length enjoie the fruits of â—eace together with the rest of the Provinces according to the Common Union and their own unqâ—â—stionable Rights and Privileges THe Princess Roial had in the beginning of Januarie discharged the Tables of her houshold allowing them Bord-wages to continue till after the Enterrment whiles the dispute betwixt her and the young Prince his Grandmother about the Gardianship did still continue and that not without som eagerness and estranging none would yield And it was observable that the late Prince having but last Sommer charged those of Holland with Discord though they maintein'd the contrarie and prosecuted the managing of their affairs very unanimously and handled them so roughly upon that pretence his own Hous should bee visited now with so much Discord and Contention and that those of his Hous must take their Refuge and seek unto those very States for Right and Redress whom hee but a little before had subdued in a manner The Court of Holland propounded several waies of Accommodation But the Grand mother clayming part in the Guardianship and the Mother all entire to her self all expedients and conciliatorie means were frustrated insomuch that about the end of Februarie Sig t Matsvelt and Commissarie Copes were sent in behalf of the said Princess Grand-mother and the Prince Elector of Brandenburg to the Prince's Council insinuating and declaring there by a missive from the said Grand-mother all Acts possessorie made by the Princess Royal to bee null and of no validitie with charge and countermand to surceas the like for the future or that They should know how to resent it against their persons and this was likewise more especially intimated by a Letter to Secretarie Bucero the Princess Grand-mother grounding her self upon this That according to all Rights and Laws nothing ought to bee innovated or attempted by the Princess Roial deliberante Principe Judice the States and Court of Holland The Princess Roial stood upon this Shee would have her mother in law first of all to acknowledg her Guardian and then shee would hear her speaking of Co-Guardianship The Mother in law on the contrarie would have the Princess Royal first of all to acknowledg her Guardian and hearken then what shee could saie for partnership The Baptism of the young Princess was at last resolved to bee solemnized on Sundaie the 15. of Januarie the Ceremonies whereof were performed in the great Church that afternoon in manner as followeth The Deputies of the States General those of Holland those of Zealand as also those of the Cities of Delft Leyden Amsterdam assembled themselvs presently after high noon each partie in their usual places of assembling Those of the States General rode first to Church in a Caroach and took their places appointed for them all which together with the passage all a long from the entrie of the Church and Church-yard the waie they came covered over with black Baies The Steward Dorp together with the Prince's Gentle-men and Halbardiers came to meet the Deputies of the States General first and afterwards the rest of the Deputies successively unto their Caroaches and led them to their Seats Tegneius the minister was to make the Sermon and Lindanus to administer the Sacrament The Church was so throng'd and fill'd with people greedie after Noveltie that it caused very much disorder and disturbance both in singing and preaching the one was confounded the other could scarce bee heard by any for all the autoritie and command for silence insomuch that the minister was fain to give over abruptly soon after the infant and the rest of the train were got in once There had been som Disorder likewise at Court which caused them to com later then was exspected and that by reason of the dispute about the Duke of York his going along with them The first order was that the Princess Albertina should carrie the Infant and bee led by the Duke of York and Prince Edward But the Duke desired to bee excused saying hee had not been wellcom'd by the State and if on this occasion hee should meet with som of the Government hee knew not how to comport himself towards or salute them nevertheless hee said hee would go along and lead the Queen of Bohemia but afterwards considering that likewise hee repeated his former Excuse and went not at all But hee himself having made no address at all before unto the State of his coming that hee might bee wellcom'd by them his Excuse was none and it was thought hee refused it onely of greatness or by reason of the contesting of the Princesses Royal and Dowager about the Guardian-ship But hereupon the Princess Albertina likewise refusing to carrie the Infant it was moved my Ladie Stanhope Governess of the Princess Roial should carrie it and the young Ladies of Brederode and of Dhona should bear up the Train beeing a long piece of cloth with white fur and black spots This was opposed by my Ladie Brederode
of the Checker Chamber of the Countie of Holland The Magistrates of the Hague and of Delft The Ministers of Delft The Ministers of the Hague All these Companies in very Stately mourning After all this there followed the 6 Companies or Train-bands of the Hague likewise with trailing Colors and pikes the muskets under their arms with the bores downwarde the Officers all in mourning following the grand Train forth the Hague as far as the Leaper's-hous where attended an exceeding great number of Coaches Waggons and horses all with black liveries for the Noble-men and Great-ones following one another all along in great State unto Delft where the Train-bands of the Citie conducted the Hears to the new Church c. But though the Prince was buried the heavie contention between the Princesses about the Guardian-ship was not There were several motions and proffers made for accommodation among others one in behalf of the Princess Dowager and Pr. Elector of Brandenburg which the Princess Royal absolutely refused upon suggested hopes that shee ought of right to bee the sole Guardian Shee caused hers likewise to take great pains in Zealand at the Land-daie there in April to get the young Prince received there again as Premier Noble upon several grounds which the Province notwithstanding would in no wise yield unto There were likewise great endeavors made to dispose those of Zealand for the chusing of a Stad-holder Those of Holland to have an eie upon it dispatched thitherwards the Lords van Opdam de Wit Nyport and Rypen as it were to invite those of Zealand to the sending back their Deputies to the great Assemblie and to erect the Chambre Mi-partie according to the Treatie of Peace with Spain but really for the diverting of that blow of choosing again a Stadholder and Premier Noble there And so much they effected That there was nothing don at that meeting but a Resolution taken of sending to the Hague again And the Countie-Cities took upon them the Right of choosing their own Council after the example of Holland All propositions and essaies hitherto of accommodating the difference of the Princesses about the Guardianship having prooved fruitless there was at last pronounced a Sentence by the Court of Holland from which the Prince Elector of Brandenburg or his Counsellors and the Princess Dowager immediately appealed to the High Court addressing themselvs to the same for inhibition which though many were of opinion it could not bee don was nevertheless granted During these Contests his High s the Pr. Elect. of Brandenbourg arrived at the Hague in person together with the Electress and was lodged at the Court of the Princess Dowager Understanding there that it was conceived the great animositie and partialitie in the Princess Royal proceeded more from evil Counsel then her own inclination suspecting most the Lords of Beverweert and Henvlict the said Pr. Elector caused a certain Proposition to bee presented Jun. 24. 1651. to the Princess Royal by his Counsellor Sweryn which did rather more exasperate then mitigate or reconcile the mindes shee the Princess Royal giving to understand in her Answer that instead of a friendly enterview and debate which had becom such Allyes shee was laden with reproaches c. But the said Elector stai'd not there for having intimated in the foresaid Proposition that her bad Counsel swaied too much and principally ayming at the above mentioned Lords Beverweert and Henvliet hee caused in solemn manner by two of his Counsellors in the presence Jun. 27. of a publick Notarie protests to bee made in the Haghe first to the Lord Beverweert to this effect That his Elect â—l High s took it very strange the said Lord had medled with the Questions in debate betwixt his said El. High s the Princess Dowager and Princess Royal concerning the Guardian-ship of his High s the young Prince of Orange and caused the same by his advice and counsel to bee so carried that hitherto no good could bee don in it for the young Prince his High s did thereby warn the said Lord not to trouble himself henceforward with giving of any counsel in this affair but for peace and the best advantage of his High s the young Prince of Orange and that bee the Lord Beverweert should do well to remember in what Obligations hee stood to the Hous of Orange and have a care therefore to meet the Princess Dowager with as much respect as if his High s of blessed memorie were yet alive Or els his Elect l High s should not forbeare to require another account of him the said Lord Beverweert in this behalf Whereupon the said Lord Beverweert made answer Hee was confident his Elect l High s was evil informed concerning the foresaid matters desiring his said Counsellors they would undeceiv him therein forasmuch as hee was not in any service now with the Princess Royal nor sworn nor of Counsel to her and had no wages nor entertainment from her High s yet nevertheless hee held both his late High s of happie memorie and the Princess Royal in that esteem that if the Princess Royal did require his Advice hee was and would still bee readie to serv her not onely with his Counsel but also with his person and whatsoëver depended on it and yet never advise any thing but what may bee most advantagious to the Hous and Person of his High s the young Prince of Orange as beeing the onely remaining hopes of the Hous of Orange Moreover said the Lord Beverweert that hee bore all due respect to his Elect l High s as became a Prince of so high Qualitie but that hee was none of his Subjects but the Lords the States of Holland to whom and none other hee was bound here to give account of his Actions And touching the memento made of yielding respect to my Ladie the Princess Dowager hee said hee had no obligation to her person but onely to her high Qualitie and knew well enough what hee owed to such To the Lord Henvliet his said Elect l. High s of Brandenbourg caused the like protest to bee made by and before the same persons That his Elect l High s took it very strange hee the Lord Henvliet had meddled with the Difference betwixt his said High s the Princess Dowager and the Princess Royal and by his counsel and direction brought things to that pass that hitherto no good could bee don for the young Prince That his High s esteemed him too mean to bee emploi'd in affairs concerning his High s the Prince of Orange though hee was not against it but that hee might bee used in private concernments and businesses of the Princess Royal as one of her Hous-hold That his Elect l High s gave him warning hereby to have a care and meddle no further with the affairs concerning the Prince of Orange or els hee should finde the hands of his Elect l High s not to bee too short to require a personal account thereof of the
Lord Henvlict Whereupon the Lord Henvlict made answer That hee had received Charge and Commission from his late Roial Ma tie of great Brittain renewed by his present Ma tie since to assist the Princess Royal in all her affairs and occasions with his Advice and Counsel and that what hee had don hitherto was don by virtue thereof and as his Elect l High s did maintain his Servants and Ministers so hee was confident hee should bee likewise bee maintained in following his Commission and said moreover That hee had declared in full Council that hee never intended to trouble himself with the business of his High s but onely with the affairs of the Princess Royal wherewith hee was charged adding thereunto That hee should never suffer himself to bee hindred by his Elect l High s or any bodie in the World to give his advice in the affairs of the Princess Royal and if they would give him what they had against him in writing hee would return his answer in writing accordingly On the 29 th of June the Princess Dowager caused the foresaid two reports or protests to bee delivered to the Counsellor Pensionarie Cats with desire that they might bee read at the Assemblie of their Nob. Gr. Mi. to the end that they might truly understand what had past between his Elect l High s of Brandenburg or his Ministers and the Lord Beverweert and Henvlict which her High s declared was otherwise reported of to their No. Gr. Mi. then Truth held forth Together with that there was read likewise another paper dated Junii 28 o. which had been delivered to the said Counsellor Pensionarie by the Secretarie of the Princess Royal the sum whereof was That her Royal High s found herself very much wronged in that his foresaid Elect l High s had of his own humor caused two persons of qualitie viz not onely the Lord Henvlict her superintendant but likewise one of her friends to bee most uncivilly disorderly and unreasonably affronted and threatned withal if they should undertake any further to meddle with the business concerning the Guardian-ship of the Young Prince her Son Desiring their N. Gr. M. would bee pleased to provide and order against such proceedings what they should finde requisite in reason and Justice to further her Caus which things beeing taken into Deliberation it was found good That the persons as well of the Lord Beverweert as of the Lord Henvlict should bee taken and were taken into the protection of their N. G. M. And that this Result should bee made known to the Counsellors and Ministers of his said Elect l High s from the States and in their Name expressly declaring unto them that their N. G. M. could not allow of such kinde of proceedings here as unsufferable to the Constitution of this State That the same Resolution aforesaid should likewise bee intimated to my Lady the Princess Dowager of Orange and shee most seriously desired to dispose his Elect l High s that hee would forbear such proceedings and leav matters referr'd to justice to the Decision thereof without using any further threats or any such like unbefittiug means as those foresaid papers held forth against any one especially against persons that have Relation to her Royal High s or assist her with their Counsel And the performance of this Resolution was committed to the Lords of Dort Harlem Amsterdam Alcmar together with the Counsellor Pensionarie And by this occasion it was found good likewise to advise how and in what manner it should bee provided That no great Ones should bee suffered to com into the Cities and Forts of this State without precedent intimation from them and good liking of the State Besides all this there happened yet a further occasion of exasperating and heightning the Contention news beeing brought about this time that the Governor of Orange the Earl of Donaw had caused to bee apprehended and secured an Orange Gentleman by name Rafaëlis heretofore French Minister at the Haghe and afterwards one of the Princes Counsel beeing secretly dispatcht by the Princess Roial to get a certain Act declared in the Principalitie of Orange pretended to have been made by Prince William and addrest to the said Earl of Donaw in manner as followeth Le Prince d' Orange ORdain's by this that the Earl of Donaw Governor of Orange shall not yield up the said place to any one after his Deceas but follow the Orders which the Princess Roial his Spous shall give him And the said Earl shall maintein the said place in her behalf against any other whatsoëver pretending to it Don at the Haghe this 24 of Febr. 1649. Signed G. P. Prince of Orange and lower Busero When the said Rafaëlis took his leav of the Princess Dowager shee presently told him Sir You are going upon an errand for the Princess Roial but hee declared again and again hee went about his own affairs When hee arrived at Orange it was so late which it seem's hee did of purpose that the Castle gates were shut already that so hee might have the better excuse why hee was not com to speak with the Governor before any other and so to lose no time hee presently addrest himself to the Parlament and Magistrate there to recommend the Princess Royal her intention unto them but the Governor getting notice here hee caused hold to bee laid on him that night and lodged him safe in the Castle The High Court having heard out the full plea of the Difference between the Princely parties there were all means tried to bring it to an amicable transaction and composure but the same not taking Sentence was pronounced and therein also how the Cabinet should bee disposed which the Court Provincial in their precedent Sentence had not so much as mentioned once By this Sentence the Princess Royal conceived herself much prejudiced and declared that shee would desire Review thereof to bee made yet becaus all the Creditors remained still unpai'd and clamored much the Princess Roial declared That though shee could not yield to the foresaid Sentence there beeing Errors in it and was resolved to desire a Review thereof and to prosecute it accordingly nevertheless for the Creditor's sake that they might receiv due satisfaction once shee was content reserving her Right and exception against the foresaid Sentence that Order may bee taken jointly for their paiment c. Which Declaration beeing presented from the Princess Roial to the Princess Dowager July 31. her answer was That as for the alleged Sentence her High s and the Pr. Elect of Brandenburg had more reason to except against and desire a review of it beeing that therein the Princess Royal was join'd in the Guardiansh p contrarie to the Law shee beeing yet in her Minoritie And as for payments her High s wish'd that the monies had not been otherwise diverted but employ'd for their proper use and appointment It was none of her High s fault that the Creditors were not paid shee having
bee redeemed at 20 years purchase within the space of twelv years to bee paid at several terms and by several parcels provided no parcel to bee paid bee less then three hundred thousand florins each time And all this under the pledges conteined in the foresaid Treaties and the speciall obligation of all the Goods Domains Subsidies and other Revenues of his said Majestie in the Dukedom of Braband and Earldom of Flanders This advantage onely the Spaniard got by the death of the Prince and the dispute about the Guardianship That in lieu of paying the Rents and Interests of the Equivalent agreed upon for the Marquisate of Bergues from the time of Signing intended by the Prince the paiment began but now so that they got or saved all the rest viz. not onely from the time of signing the Peace but also from the death of the Prince hitherto which was one of the fruits of those Domestick jars and misunderstandings among friends The Gardians pressed likewise for a new Act of Caution or performance of the Prelates in manner as the former Transactions Jan. 8 and Decemb. 27 1647 were signed and confirmed thereby But the Ambassador advised it were safer they should let that alone for that the Prelates might easily chance to refuse it and becaus of their autoritie one might bee loath and could not easily neither compel them and by reason of their interstice they might pretend their former Agreement was held invalid and could not therefore binde them and so it was waved The Treatie beeing Signed the Spanish Ambassador feasted and Regalized the Commissioners together with his Excellencie the Lord Stadholder Count William in place of the Princesses Having thus far treated of the Defect and Detriment susteined by the death of the late Prince wee shall novv go on to prosecute that vvhich vvas taken in hand for the orderlie supplie and redress or resettling of the Government About the latter end of March and beginning of April as also before and after the great Assemblie was more busied with the affairs of France Spain Portugal and others then with domestick and such as properly were the caus of their meeting and therefore wee shall but barely point at the forrein affairs as not conducing to the scope and matter in hand The French King's Ambassador Bellievee was arrived in the beginning of March and becaus they could not agree together about the Ceremonies there was no conference at all held with him insomuch that Hee seeing hee could do nothing here went his waie home again in the beginning of May. The Ambassadors S â— John and Strickland both Counsellors of State to the Republick of England arriving here about the latter end of March with a Train of neer 300 persons had Audience upon the 30 th in the great Assemblie but withal so many affronts put upon them from the Courts and Courtiers there however the Lords of Holland labored to suppress them that towards the end of April they were charged by the Parlament to return declaring they could tarrie there no longer with safetie to themselvs and Reputation of the Republick The State sought indeed to give them all possible satisfaction propounding the Treatie of the year 1495. Those of Holland caused the same to bee insinuated to the Parlament by their Commissioner Schaep desiring som longer staie of the Ambassadors which was granted for a certain space longer but that beeing elapsed they were again summoned back towards the end of June and though there were all possible endeavors used to protract their Departure a little longer they could not bee prevailed with and so the Treatie remaining uneffected it was resolved that by an Extraordinarie Ambassie from hence into England the same should bee consummated They took their leaves Junii 30 th and parted from the Hagh the first of July The long and ever since the year 1649. delaied Ratification of the Treatie made that year with Denmarck by the High Steward Ulefeld was at last compleated and settled in the great Assemblie March 21. 1651. notwithstanding the Swedish Ministers Canterestein and Appleboom their respective and reiterated offices and endeavors against it The King of Portugal his Ambassador Sousa de Macedo having after long Delaie obtained Audience at last Martii 6 o. and made his proposition in Latin in the great Assemblie gave more hopes then effects so that it was resolved Martii 25 o. to cut off all further conference with him and thenceforward not to acknowledg him any longer in the qualitie of Ambassador notwithstanding that the Queen of Sweden offered by her Commissarie Appleboom to mediate between the State and the said Ambassador who thereupon within a little time after departed thence for Hamborow Between the Spanish Ambassador le Brun and the French Resident Brasset there happened both before and during the â—taie of the Ambassador Bellievre several bickerings presented in the great Assemblie both by publick audiences and by transmitted papers which were divulged still in print as is conceived by their own consent but the State did entertain it with nothing but the hearing and seeing thereof Now then to return again to our domestick affairs There was much pains taken since March 28. for to conciliate the discrepant inclinations that were com in and presented by the several Provinces which at length produced a full Report made in the Assemblie April 26. and afterwards Jun. 16 o. compleatly past and determined as shall bee seen in due place At this time Things stood not in Zealand according to the minde of the Lords of Holland understanding what endeavors there were on foot to proceed to a new choice of a Stadtholder Captain General c. And though the same did not necessitate the Lords of Holland to do the like yet they feared it might occasion som alteration in the Provinces of Gelderland Utrecht Over-Yssell and in divers Cities of Holland it self Therefore to keep the Province of Zealand in a good intelligence with Holland they sent as was said likewise before the Lords van Opdam de Witt Newport and Picca in Commission thither who made there this ensuing Proposition Noble Mightie Lords WEe hold our selvs obliged in discharge of our Commission and according to the intent of our Principals successively to communicate and represent unto you the considerations and sollicitous Trutinations of their N. Gr. M. touching the Captainship General All the other points of Religion the Union and Militia are by mutual conferences betwixt the â—wo Provinces God bee praised unanimously agreed on so that wee were not able to observ any discrepancie concerning any other subject Your N. M. well know that the Supreme Autoritie over the Militia or Armie together with the Direction of militarie affairs doth appertain to every one of the United Provinces within their own Sovereign Provincial Sphere and that accordingly there was ever given by them even to the particular Stadholders the qualitie of Captain General within their respective Provinces and especially in those
Captain General during this said Minoritie when it would prove very prejudicial to the publick interest that the Provinces in that case should bee manacled by such an Engagement from doing their Countrie service And on the other hand it might so happen likewise as wee hope to God it shall that the young Prince of Orange beeing com to age these Netherlands may yet enjoie the blessing of a settled Peace so that all the reasons and motives formerly alleged whereupon wee ground it at present unserviceable and unadvisable to make a Captain General shall remain the same and firm and good still yea and that at that very time also the Election of a Captain General may bee found and held directly to bee against the service of the Land and repugnant to its welfare And that it would prove the highest prejudice to have in any sort obliged our posteritie by such Engagements However and in all cases whatsoever wee are fully perswaded that the welfare and service of the Countrie or the publick or common good and interest is that which ought to bee the onely aim of all good Governors and the onely square whereby they are to rule and order all their Actions and Deliberations and that above all things the same Freedom is to bee left unto posteritie to dispose themselvs in their own time of such weightie concernments so as then they shall judg requisite and expedient for the good and service of the Countrie it beeing likewise to bee feared upon very probable ground that the Governor to com shall protest that in matters of such weight and moment the Resolutions or promises of their predecessors could not binde them nor prejudice their own Deliberations Whereby it would com to pass then that the Prince of Orange and his Adherents grounding themselvs upon these promises and conceiving that by virtue thereof they have a just claim and title there must needs arise Factions and Fractions in the State which wee are confident your N. M. will ever help and endeavor to avoid and prevent according to their wonted providence Besides that in all the Provinces express resolutions have been taken and prohibitorie Laws enacted against seeking of Reversions or Survivances or promising of any Offices or Charges for time to com and in som Provinces against the very nomination of a Captain General within themselvs doubtless becaus that such survivances and promises are usually procured and practised by corruptions or favor of som great ones without regard had to the common good and service of the Land Which reasons together with sundrie others wee dare promiss our selvs your N. M. will finde sufficient to persuade you not to proceed in this weightie affair without the orderlie cours and against the accustomed order but by the common advice of both Provinces Now although this Proposition made April 25. was not otherwise answered but in complemental and general Terms That the Lords of Zealand would so instruct and charge their Commissioners now readie to return to the great Assemblie about the matter proposed that the common interest should suffer no detriment by it but all endeavors used for tranquillitie and settledness Yet there happened soon after a very remarkable change and alteration of things in Zealand as will bee seen toward the latter end of this book in prosecuting the affairs of the Hous of Orange At present wee shall return to the most observable Result and Issue of the great Assemblie where the Lord van Andref presiding in the latter end of April propounded That their Hi. Mi. would bee pleased to take into their consideration how to elucidate their Resolution of Jan. 27 last touching the point of Religion together with the consectaries and dependencies thereof and especially for the finding out of such a Temperament about the repairing of the Romish Clergie into these Countries as might best and most commodiously bee introduced without derogating to the Treatie of Peace as also about the framing of an uniform cours of executing the Laws of these Countries made against the Papists Whereupon next daie the Lord President mooved that there might bee som Lords commissioned of the Provinces for to inform themselvs of the waie and cours which was kept in this behalf during the twelv-years Truce here and accordingly to prepare a Draught of a fit and requisite Temperament to bee presented to the Assemblie that Deliberation had upon the same som Resolution may bee taken about it This same was afterwards referr'd to the Ordinarie Assemblie of the States General and tacitly left as it was resolved Jan. 28. last and reassumed Julii 17 o. In the beginning of Maie the Lords of Holland propounded and desired that the Lord Field-marshal might bee admitted into the Council of State to assist the Consultations about militarie affairs but the rest especially those of Friesland Groninghen and the Omlands had no minde to it This same month there were great pains taken about the business of giving Patents or Commissions and enlarging the Instruction for the Council of State and stopping Corruptions May 12 o. a Form was agreed upon and determined of giving Commission to the Governors and Commanders of the Cities and places immediately resorting under the Generalitie according as the same was presented to and read before the Assemblie two daies before and in persuance thereof all the said Governors and Commanders who formerly were onely autorized by his High s the Pr. of Orange were summoned hither by their Hi. Mi. where they received all their respective Commissions and took their oath upon it Here followeth the form of the Commission THe States General of the United Netherlands greeting all those which shall see or hear the reading of these present do publish and make known hereby That wee reposing Trust in the valor manfulness and good Experience in handling Militarie affairs of Title and Name of the Governor or Commander wee have with advice of the Council of State of the United Netherlands continued appointed commissioned and autorised him as by these wee do continue appoint commission and autorise him to be Governor or Commander over the Citie or Fort c. Name of the place giving him full power autoritie and special Charge to commaad all the Souldierie and Forces lying in the said Citie or Fort or according to future occurrences and accasions to bee put in Garrison there and to use and employ them against all and every one that shall attempt or practise any hostilitie to the prejudice of the said Citie c. and the State in General the Provinces in particular and the members thereof and that in such sort and manner as hee shall bee ordered and commanded by Us and the Council of State of these United Netherlands or by others entrusted by Us keeping the Garrison in good order militarie guard and Discipline by daie and by night without suffering them to endammage or molest the Citizens and inhabitants of either Citie or Countrie where they lie in the United
Stadtholder or Stadholders should not bee prejudiced thereby that the name onely of the Council of State is expressed in these Articles without adding that of Stadtholder or Stadtholders Their N. M. conceived the words of Stadtholder or Stadtholders ought to bee inserted and likewise that these Articles should not in the least prejudice the Right of the Province of Friesland or their Governor in disposing over the Neighbor Forts and Commanders according to the old custom together with the Resolution and agreements of their H. M. in several years past The Lords of Groninghen having examined the foresaid Advice Conciliatorie they declared likewise that they could easily conform thereunto provided there were but som â—all alteration made therein which they conceived did â—ncern the interest of their Province in particular the 〈◊〉 part of the foresaid Advice and Resolution 〈◊〉 remaining otherwise entire thus namely â—at in the I. Article and all the rest where it is said With 〈◊〉 advice of the Council of State the words may bee read thâ— With advice of the Lords Stadholders or Stadholder and the Council of State Instancing further that the Stadholder of â—e Province of Groninghen and Omlands had the undoubtedright to sit in the foresaid Council and especially in mâ—er of securing the Frontiers and the like whereof the secoâ— Article treated for to serv their Hi. Mi. with advice what might bee requisite in cases concerning them for the Text remaining as it is in the foresaid Resolution might otherwise at first somwhat obscure and at length que obliterate this clear Right of their Province so well knâ—wn yet to their Hi. M. themselvs All which said they might easily bee prevented by the foresaid insertion withâ—t nevertheless altering any thing essential in the establishâ— Resolution it beeing said they far from the meaningâ—d intent of this solemn Assemblie to prejudice any Memâ— thereof in their due Right and Autoritie Touching the V. Artic. th said Deputies of Groninghen represented to their H. M. That bâ—th in the Province of Friesland theirs the Direction Dispâ—stion of the garrisoning keeping the forts of Câ—â—vorden ohers lying about the Provinces had ever since the Reduction of Groninghen been and remained at the Disposal of their Stadholders and that consequently the besetting and guarding of those Forâ—s and Sconces were from time to time in especial manner recommended to the respective Lords Stadholders of the said Provinces in their Instruction And accordingly the Commanders thereof were alwaies put in by and received their Commissions from the said Lords Stadholders And all that in the same method and manner which their H M. had been pleased to appoint themselvs in regard of tâ— said Sconces and circumstances in the year 1596 and atâ—â— times Should the Text of the fift Artic. remain in tens as now it is couched the foresaid right and autoriâ— of the Lord Stadholder of the said Provinces would 〈◊〉 notably impaired to the no small prejudice of the 〈◊〉 Provinces in their remoteness And therefore the ords of Groninghen and Omlands conceiv that the foresaid fift Article ought to bee altered or claused thus to 〈◊〉 Saving the right and interest of the Provinces And furtâ—r their N. M. conceived That the Order or Direction affairs Militarie now advanced by the Advice Conciliorie beeing but provisional it ought to bee expressed 〈◊〉 it should stand and bee of force onely until it shaâ— bee otherwise disposed of as the constitution of the Land shall require it The present Lords Deputies of the â—rovince of Over-Yssell having seen what the Province of Friesland and Groninghen pretended yesterday Jun. 16 at he Assemblie in their Exceptions delivered in about the oints of Direction of Militarie affairs and giving of Pants namely that the Direction and Disposing of gaâ—isoning and keeping the Fort of Coevorden belong'd of â—ght to them They the Lords of Over-Yssell could not pâ—s it thus without contradicting it in behalf and for the conservation of the Right of their Province in that particulâ—â— against the pretences of the said Provinces of Friesland and Groninghen However within a few daies after viz. Jun. 21 it was agreed That touching the Exceptions of the said three Provinces there should bee satisfaction given them in manner as followeth That upon the motion of som Provinces at their H. M. Assemblie it was found good upon precedent deliberation expresly to declare That by the Resolution taken June 16 about the Direction of Militarie affairs and the giving of patents their H. M. meant not to enervate alter or prejudice in any kinde or part the Articles of the Union and everlasting Confederacie made at Utrecht betwixt the United Provinces Januarie 29 1579 nor the Articles of Instruction for the Council of State in as much as may concern the the Stadholders nor that the Provinces or any one of them shall bee prejudiced in the least by the abovesaid Resolution nor their Stadholder or Governor in the Disposing over som neighbor Forts and Commanders when ever they shall make it appear by Resolutions or Agreements of their Hi. Mi. or by any other lawful Title that they have gotten an absolute Right of disposing therein In the foregoing Resolution of Jan. 16 the Oath is set down to bee made to the Generalitie But how and in what manner there were framed three other Forms touching the Provinces and Cities in particular whereof soâ— mention is made in the former Oath to the Generalitie the same is to bee seen by the Copies following the first whereof is The Form of Oath to bee made by all Chief Commanders Collonels Ritmasters Captains Lievtenants under-Officers and all the Souldierie standing upon the Repartition of Holland and Westfriesland into the hand of the States of the said 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 to serv them resolutely and faithfully in the Defence of the foresaid United Netherlands and especially the Countrie of Holland and Westfriesland the Quarters Cities and Members thereof against all their enemies 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 said Countries and particularly to help to protect and defend the open Countrie of the foresaid Province from all inquartering and disorder of militarie forces * * Note The words as also c. to Autorized Commissioners inclusively to bee left out at the swearing of the Common Souldier as also that beeing within the said Province wee shall not march forth or beeing without wee shall not enter into it for to bee emploied quartered or garrison'd there but upon the Patents of the said Lords the States of Holland and Westfriesland or their
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
any waie to protract or delaie the redress of having and keeping a good and well ordered Militia they counting nothing more needful and had therefore been continually pressing for the same and recommended it from time to time most seriously as the greatest service of the Land and so they did still But to obtain that by a reformation of the mustering and making of strict Acts and Orders about that they conceived it would bee fruitless if there went not before a redress of that pretext which is so commonly taken up in this kinde viz. in the first place a more precise and readie paie without letting the Companie 's arrears run on for a long time even many months together so as they said they were informed of late when they went about to take a cours with a certain Ritmaster for the better paying of his complaining Troopers the said Ritmaster alleging That his pay-masters were in arrears to him for 24 months together The like they had understood also by other Ritmasters and Captains and that others though better paid were put to monthly extraordinarie charges for Clarks and Sollicitors whom they must entertain at 60. 70. and more Florins per month besides other incumbrances as defalcating of the 100. pennie and the like over and above all other expences which they beeing not able to supplie out of their own entertainments beeing allowed but a single paie for a Clark in the list they must either abate and deduct the interests of so many months arrears from their Souldiers and Troopers whence those complaints of them arise that they can never get their full paie or els they must seek and finde out other waies whereby to repair their dammages to the Land 's great disservice Which ground of their pretext if it were once remooved and that the Companies were duely and orderly paid their wages the redress in the mustering would easily finde admittance that the transgressors might bee punished according to the tenor of the Acts made or to bee made in that behalf Furthermore They said that it had been observed in the matter of mustering things were not every where managed for the best whiles som Provinces sent their Commissaries to a Garrison where there laie many Companies of several Repartitions mustering there onely such Companies as belong'd to theirs where it is easie to conceiv for any one that it was no hard matter for such Companies to make compleat musters when the rest knew it concern'd not them though all the Companies appeared in arms and som kinde of mustering past upon them all as long as their paie was not at hand But said they if this Council should muster the whole Garrison together then none would bee at libertie to lend his Souldiers to another which would bee so much the more effectual yet if the Provincial paiments were made by no other rolls but those of the Council where the publick interest would bee better heeded And if one or other Province were desirous at any time to have those of their Repartition mustered the Council having notice thereof should presently give order for it The said Council protesting that in making these motions they had no design or desire to prejudice the Provinces Right of mustering themselvs in the least but that according to their bounden dutie they were constrained to make this representation it beeing evident that in the courses hitherto used the publick service was not considered as it ought and the whole Land and the Provinces abused They therefore desired their H. M. that they would bee pleased to take all these things into due consideration that the affairs concerning the militia may bee brought once to a good settlement at length In this month of July there presented themselvs likewise once more a prettie number of Ministers out of all the Provinces who had Audience on the 14 th at the great Assemblie and delivered there this following Remonstrance To the Hi. Mi. Lords the States General of the United Netherlands High Mightie Lords IN the beginning of this great and Illustrious Assemblie the Churches of our Father-land cast themselvs by their Deputies into the arms of your H. M. for to recommend unto them with all humilitie and the zealous yearning of their Souls the welfare of the true Christian Reformed Religion as the onely keie the true Pillar and Foundation of this flourishng State together with the protecting it against and delivering it from that which might bee dangerous and ruinous to the establishment and propagation of it in regard especially both of the Popish Idolatrie and daily encreasing sins and scandals lying heavie upon this Land and calling alowd to heaven for the provoking of God's wrath and plagues against Us Upon which Remonstrance your H. M. were pleased Jan. 27 o. to grant and pass a most favorable and wholsom Resolution for the conservation of the foresaid Religion and supporting it against that which might prove prejudicial to the growth and prosperitie of it which doubtless was well pleasing to the Lord and caused all honest hearts and all the reformed Churches to return thanks to your H. M. from the bottom of their hearts as by these they express it the rather for that they have begun to see and enjoy good effects of it alreadie especially in the both Ecclesiastcal and Political Reforming of the Mayorie of the Bosch and Marquisat of Berghen where the presumptions and insolencies of the Papists were grown so high That the Churches of our dear Father-land which had so heartily rejoiced at the zeal of your H. M. shewed forth by the introducing of Reformed Teachers into these parts and Quarters seeing the slow advancement there of the Reformed interest and on the contrarie the great disobedience stubborness and bitterness of the Inhabitants there it could not but afflict their hearts most sensibly that the holy worship of God and those which administred the same in those parts were entertained there in such an hostile and barbarous manner that it could hardly happen wors to them among the Turkies and Muscovites as it hath been sufficiently deduced in former Remonstrances The Deputies of the Synods Hi. Mi. Lords do gladly indeed confess That since the Political Reformation of the Officers there hath ensued a remarkable amendment in divers places upon it though it was no where so good as they had hoped it would have prooved and therefore they cannot but make known and complain to your H. M. how that even in som such places of the Mayerie where Reformed Officers were brought in nevertheless things go not as they ought for where som former Popish Officers had before onelie in policie put in som Reformed Under-Officers others succeeding them put out again and substituted most bitter Papists in their places besides the untimely ejecting of such as were not much avers from the Reformed Religion and taking in biâ—terest Papists to supplie their places when as a certain Quarter-Justice or Sheriff tore an Ordinance of your H. M.
in pieces nay the Papists are and continue so bold and daring that in violent and hostile manner they fell upon beat and wounded the Lievtenant of the Land Drost Ravesway when hee was com to dissipate the assembling of them by hundreds in the Chappel of Aerler in Peeland and would doubtless have endangered his life if hee had not been rescued by som Troopers coming to assist him The idolatrous Crosses and Saints-Shrines by the high waies sides which the Papists so much resort to in their blinde devotion they remain standing in many places still for all the Ordinances made against it and in the Citie of the Bosch the Priests and Jesuits do dwell and convers so openly that they have divided the whole Town into quarters and parishes amongst them and your ghostly sisters run the streets up and down by hundreds and their idolatrous worship is so freely and frequently exercised there that the Countrie people of the Mayerie com flocking thither and of the Baronie of Breda and Marquisate of Berghen and Countie of Linghen and Land of Cuyck the report goe's that the Papist's insolences are nothing abated but encreas rather daily in many places and that particularly in Breda there are ordinarily six or seven Popish Priests residing whose habitation is publickly known and such a Concourâ— there to their superstitious worship as if they had publick licence and autoritie from the Magistrate that in the open Countrie the Priests remain still and in many places where heretofore there was but one there are oft-tâ—me two or three now that here and there they keep possession of the Parsonage-houses by force and there instruct the people and have nothing undon and unattemted to hinder the free courâ— of the Gospel besides that the Political reformation is but slenderly advancing any where in those parts but the Papists Officers continue in their places and dare presume under color of Countrie charges to collect and gather monies for the entertainment of their Priests that in the Countie of Linghen all the chief Officers but four are Papists oppressing the Reformed Churches and opposing the exercises and functions of the Ministers besides their laying taxes upon the inhabitants for their Mass-priests and punish them which refuse to paie the same insomuch that there is scarce any left which dare shew himself well affected to the Reformed Religion for fear of trouble Of all which and divers other exorbitancies the Deputies having good information it is much to bee feared if there bee not som speedy cours taken that the hope of Reformation will shortly vanish altogether and therefore they the said Deputies of the Synods do with all due respect address themselvs to their H. M. beseeching them with most sollicitous hearts that orders may bee taken and settled in this great Assemblie of their H. M. for the effectual execution of their foresaid laudable Resolution upon the point of Religion and matters coincident taken and decreed in your H. M. great Assemblie Januarie last 17 and consequently that not onely by every Province within their own jurisdiction but also by your H. M. in the Mayerie of the Bosch the Marquisate of Berghen Land of Cuyck Ravestein and Over-mase and other quarters immediately resorting under your H. M. the Papist's insolencies may effectually bee refrained Religion mainteined and the Reformation both Ecclesiastical and Civil as far forth as the same is defective yet without further delaie brought to perfection and in particular that the place Ghement having been provided with a Reformed Preacher for these three years may bee mainteined by this State that likewise som quick and vigorous means may by your H. M. wisdom bee found out established and published whereby all Sectaries may bee kept in aw and order without reviling the Reformed Religion or the Ministers thereof by words or writings not suffering them to spread into any other places but where they are at present according to your H. M. Resolution Item that all Popish protended Ecclesiastical or Spiritual persons Jesuites Priests Clergiemen Friars may bee kept out of the land as beeing no subjects to any secular Princes or Magistrates but onely to the Court of Rome according to their own Tenents And besides all this that all crying and God-provoking sins such as are the publick violations of Sabbaths Cursing Swearing and divers others shewed forth by the former Remonstrance presented to your H. M. Januarie last 20 might bee made to ceas once among us and all your H. M. Officers charged upon forfeiture of their places and other heavie censures punctually to execute and perform your H. M. good intention in this behalf And not to detein your H. M. anie longer They the Deputies do once again in the Name of the Churches in general yea in the Name of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ praie and beseech your H. M. that yee would bee pleased to entertein this their Remonstrance with heartie tenderness and let it prevail so far that it may bee seconded with a fruitful execution that as your H. M. famous Assemblie began with the LORD his Word and Honor so it may likewise end there to the joie and comfort of all the Churches of our Father-land which at present with great longings do exspect and look up for the great Work of securing and setling of Religion happily begun by your H. M. great and illustrious Assemblie that it may not bee left half don but carried on to perfection Your High Might most humble servants in the LORD the Deputies of the respective Synods of these United Netherlands Signed Petrus Cableau Deputatorum Praeses Virgilius Coâ—nely Doct. Deputatorum Assessor Albertus Thomae Deputatorum Scriba Abrahamus Tilenus Cornelius Lamanus Nathanaël Voghelsang Volckerus ab Osterwyck Regnerus Berckel A. Pereyn Jacobus Clerquius Maximilian Teling Matthias Waelsweer Joannes James-Huysen John Knyphuysen The 15 of June there was brought in the following appointment for Vacations and travelling expences both for the Lords Commissioners of the Generalitie and those of the Council of State whereof mention will bee made hereafter about the resolving and settling of the Instruction for the Council of State As that one of the said Lords travelling in Commission with one or more servants shall bee allowed for vacancie and entertainment in the journey repast and baiting comprehended therein eight gilders per diem Taking a Messenger along besides his man or men aforesaid hee shall bee allowed two gilders more per diem over and above the foresaid sum in all ten gilders besides the said Messenger his Vacancie as also the said Lord his Boat Ship Waggon Fraight Convoy or such like charges which ought to bee put upon account apart One of the Lords travelling with a greater Train or Companie then his fellow-Commissioners the said his fellow-Commissioners ought not to bee put to charges by it The said respective Comissioners shall accept and partake of no defraiments by the Magistrates of the Cities and other places resorting under the
Generalitie nor by such persons as are in service of the Generalitie Upon these foresaid respective Declarations to turn them into a due form of Ordinances it was ordered That the respective original Resolutions of the Commissions should bee annexed to the said Declarations and thus delivered into the Council of State by them to bee first viewed and examined from thence to bee transmitted to the Generalities Checquer-chamber to bee there likewise viewed examined and cleared and especially to see whether the Land was lyable to bee charged or not with the accounts brought in and then to bee returned back to the foresaid Council by them to bee past into Ordinances which Ordinances should bee signed by the Lord President besides two others Lords of the same Council beeing all of several Provinces together with the Treasurer and Secretarie of the said Assemblie the same beeing first registred folio tali And this beeing don those ordinances with the foresaid annexions should bee brought again into the foresaid Exchequer to see and examin whether the same was don according to the Order of the Land and after the examination past the said Ordinance should there likewise bee registred folio tali and all the Ordinances to bee past hereafter upon the respective Declarations should bee thus conditioned or els no monies paid upon them by the Receiver General As touching the precedent Remonstrance of the Synodical Ministers the Provinces declared unanimously Julie 17 o. that the Resolutions taken in point of Religion Januarie last 27 o. should by every one of them as much as concerned them effectually bee and caused to bee prosecuted and put in execution and as touching the Countries and Cities resorting under the Generalitie the Lords Commissioners at the Generalitie in Ordinarie were charged to take especial care and inspection that the publick Reformation both ecclesiastical and civil may bee accomplished with due zeal and seriousness the Acts and Ordinances strictly executed according to the tenor and content of them the boldness and insolence of the Sectaries duely restrained and every thing effected and executed conformably to the before mentioned Resolution As likewise the foresaid Lords Ordinarie Deputies had charge given them to make and publish due Acts and decrees against all gross sins Profanations of the Sabbath of the Lord Fighting of Duels publishing of Contentious writings betwixt Ministers and Divines printing of scandalous books Socinians writings and the like And of all these their H. M. Resolutions there were Extracts made and imparted to the foresaid Church-Deputies wherewith they were dismissed having thanks given them for their good endeavors zeal and pains shewed and undertaken in this behalf There was great endeavor made this week the Lord Scheel presiding for Over-Yssell to make an end of all and upon the proposition of Holland of the 15 th the same in a manner agreed on Yea so confident they were thereof that alreadie a project was made of coyning a certain Medail of Gold and Silver for a memorial of this famous Assemblie and to this end the Lords Cats and de Brun respective Counsellors and Pensioners of Holland and Zealand had made the ensuing Device That namely on the one side there should stand a Rock with seven hillocks as representing the seven Provinces and on the other the Assemblie with this respective inscription Dum totus miratur Orbis anceps exspectat quò res Foederati Belgii à morte Arausionensium Principis evasurae sint aliis alia pro moribus genio cujusque augurantibus Jani foribus pridem clausis magnâ Batavorum Aulâ ingenti Procerum Consilio apertâ Tandem annuente Deo Religione Foedere Militiâ sortiter assertis Sociis in Orbem datis acceptisque manibus aliis aliorum colla amplectentibus à se invicem dimissi Malorum spem ac vota egregiè fefellerunt Bonorum superârunt Whiles all the world stood amazed and doubtfully long'd what issue the affairs of the United Netherlands would take upon the Death of the Prince of Orange with various conjectures according to the varietie of each partie 's Conditions and Dispositions it pleased God Janus Temple beeing shut before that the Grand Court of the Batavian States was opened where at last through God's assistance after a couragious settlement of Religion Union and Militia the Confederates plighted their hands and troth each to the other and mutually embraced one another before they parted they notably thus disappointed the hopes and wishes of Malignants and surpassed those of the well-affected And about the Rock with the seven hillocks there should have stood these words Stant foedere juncti Ut rupes immota Dei sub Numine tuti By Covenant join'd they stand Rock like unshaken and safe under God's own hand But however The Ship of affairs instead of getting streight into the harbor as most had conceived was driven about again for a while by new cross windes arising out of the Debate touching the Amnestie or Act of Oblivion and withal it was advised by som that since the last years troubles proceeded mainly from and by reason of the excessive publick charges all courses of lavishing the same might bee eschewed to prevent clamoring among the people notwithstanding that those of the other Provinces beeing com hither upon the invitation of Holland and having spent much conceived it was the least this Province could do in civilitie to present each Deputie with such a gold Medail But there it stuck and never came further The Business of Religion beeing dispatched as was said the first daie of this Presidencie there was taken in hand the point of Secret Correspondence concerning which it was found good and decreed according to the report of the Conciliatorie Conferences That it was verie necessarie and expedient for this State to send and still to entertain publick Ministers abroad whether they bee Ambassadors Residents Agents or Commissioners at the respective Courts of the Emperor the Kings Spain Sweden c. at Brussells and elswhere where it should bee found requisite so much the better and more conveniently to consider and observ what might bee best for this State 's Interest as also that from time to time advertisement may bee had what is practising or passing there for either the advantage or prejudice of this State That likewise all particular secret Correspondences from the Respective Governors and Commanders of the Frontiers of this State shall bee continued in the same waie as before according to their Commissions The present Commissioners at the Assemblie beeing of opinion That during the peace this cours would bee provisionally sufficient for this State That the monies likewise appointed for secret Correspondences may provisionally bee converted to the entertainment and support of the foresaid respective Ministers That likewise all forrein Ministers of this State shall address their Letters immediately to the Ordinarie Assemblie of the States General and writing of things which ought to bee held secret that the same shall bee enclosed
under Seal apart and transmitted within the Ordinarie Letters provided there bee every such line mention made in the ordinarie Letters of the said enclosed secret one Which Secret Letters shall not bee opened but by a certain select number of the Commissioners successively to bee nominated and chosen thereunto out of every Province present together with the Secretarie and that the said Secret shall forthwith bee made known to the Ordinarie Assemblie unless it were judged requisite by the said Committee it should bee kept close yet for a little while and the Committee shall afterwards revealing the Secret declare their reason withal of the former concealment The foresaid Governors and Commanders of the respective Frontier places as also all other secret Correspondents shall in like form and manner address their Letters to the Ordinarie Assemblie of the States General whether they send them mediately under covert by a third hand or immediately and all such Letters shall bee opened and managed as was said before And to the end that the service of the Countrie may bee so much the better regarded and the foresaid publick Ministers the more fitted for it the Assemblie judged it requisite that the Committee to whom the opening of the foresaid secret Letters shall bee referred should likewise bee desired and autorized to transmit unto the said publick Ministers from time to time all the Resolutions and other necessarie points and informations as may stand them instead for the performance of their charge to best advantage of the State The Lords of Gelderland moved again this daie that som Resolution might bee taken about the consolidation of the upper Quarter of Gelderland and that the conferring of the Companies which formerly had been in the Prince's Disposition might henceforward bee disposed by the Generalitie but they obteined neither The first was referred to the Chambre my-partie agreed upon at Munster between Spain and the United Provinces the other business remained in the Disposition of the respective Paie-masters As for the Instruction for the Council of State the same was found good and resolved upon Julie 18 to bee decreed in manner as the same was drawn up by their H. M. Deputies in the Conferences Concilâ—â—torie and reported in the Assemblie on the 6 th and was likewise entered in their H. M. publick Registers save onely the 21 Article of the said Instruction speaking of the grant of orders upon som Declarations to bee dressed according to the last Article of the report made by the Lord Ommereun and other their Hi. Mi. Deputies for the Conference Conciliatorie Julie 25 touching the appointments or allowances for vacations and travelling charges of any of the Deputies at the Generalitie or Counsellors of State going in Commission from the Generalitie Those of Gelderland entered hereupon that they were not instructed yet in that behalf Those of Friesland and Groninghen with the Omlands declared they had given their consent upon ratification of the Lords their Respective Principals Instructions for the Council of STATE of the United Netherlands whereby the Counsellors thereof lawfully Commissioned and to bee Commissioned shall provisionally and till the States General do otherwise ordein guide and govern the affairs touching the State in general the defence conservation and Union of the Countries aforesaid I. IN the foresaid Council there shall bee comprehended and at all times appear have place and voice the Governors of the respective Provinces where now they are or may bee hereafter and matters shall bee handled deliberated and transacted in the said Council with all due reverence respect and modestie to the best advantage of the service of the said Countries the good unitie and friendship among the same their Cities and Members together with the mutual good understanding of the Lords of the Council among themselvs And the Governors of the respective Provinces and the President of the Council aforesaid for the time beeing are desired to take good care that all particular affections jarrings and impertinencies nothing concerning the matters and affairs there to bee deliberated may bee prevented and forborn II. Into this Council there shall bee chosen and admitted men qualified fit and versed in matters of State and beeing of the true Christian Reformed Religion such as the same is taught and preached at present throughout the publick Churches of these Countries and not beeing engaged by Oath pension or emploiment to any King Prince or Lords at home or abroad nor allied to each other unto the fourth degree of blood or second of affinitie according to the computation of the civil Laws and that without any dispensation also the said Counsellors ought to bee firmly resident in the place of their Assemblie III. And for the better direction and managing of all emergent affairs the same Council shall ordinarily assemble at Nine of the clock in the forenoon and at Three in the afternoon and the Counsellor shall not part or go forth without leav or knowledg of the Counsellor-President and they shall bee bound constantly to repair to the place where the Council shall bee emploied and appear at any time when they shall bee desired to meet except onely upon lawful excuses IV. The foresaid Council shall together with the Assemblie of the Commissioners in the Generalitie take good care that the Countries and United Provinces Cities and Members thereof may bee put and kept in mutual good concord according to the Union made and settled amongst them and likewise that all good correspondence bee enterteined between them and their Governors and Militarie Commanders as also between the said Governors and Commanders among themselvs V. And the said Council shall together with the Assemblie of the Ordinarie Deputies as before have and exercise the autoritie of disposing in Militarie affairs and over the Souldierie beeing in the State 's service taking according to the exigencies of things the considerations thereupon of the Field-marshal and other chief Commanders of War and causing their Commands to bee executed by the foresaid Governors of the Provinces for the time beeing the Admiral or other Officers and Commanders each within their sphere VI. Provided that the said Council do or attemt nothing that may tend to the prejudice of the Privileges Rights Freedoms Treaties Contracts Ordinances Statutes Decrees and Customs of the said Countries in general or any Province Citie or Member thereof in particular VII And the said Council shall together with the Assemblie of the foresaid Ordinarie Deputies at the Generalitie take care that the Frontiers of the State in general may bee beset or provided with sufficient garrison of several Nations and that the rest of the Souldierie bee divided and quartered as near as is feasible and occasions suffer into the next and most commodious places about the said Frontiers to the end that in time and case of sudden need as well within as without they may bee at hand VIII For which end the foresaid Council shall bee obliged the foresaid Assemblie of the
subscription By Order of my Lords the States General of the United Netherlands with relation to the Council of State thereof XLVIII And the Dispatches beeing not of so great importance and consideration they shall bee issued in the Name of the Council of State of the United Netherlands but yet under the Seal Counter-Seal and Signet of the States General aforesaid XLIX The Seal shall bee kept by one of the Counsellors to bee appointed thereunto who shall bee responsable for it not suffering the same to com into any other hands in any wise and shall keep an exact Register and counter-rowl of all Dispatches and rights of the Seal and bee paid for it according to the tax ordained or to bee ordained by the States General and the profits coming in thereby shall bee converted and employ'd to the paying of the Officers of the foresaid Council and other necessarie occasions in matters of the said Councils Disposition L. And the joint foresaid Confederates declare herewithal for the Conservation of the Right of the United Lands in the general and in particular That by this Instruction they do not abdicate or renounce the Right and Power either the States General themselvs or the States of the Provinces in particular should not in time of need and when the affairs of the Land shall so require it each in as much concern's them themselvs to order appoint and execute what shall bee fitting for the service of the Land even in those very things which are by them referr'd to the disposition of the foresaid Council such as is the Direction of militarie affairs by Sea and Land with all things appertaining thereunto and in particular the keeping of Musters exercising of militarie discipline and punishments of all exorbitances and in all other causes They declare likewise That all things concerning the Civil State and Justice of the foresaid Countries Cities and Members thereof both in general and in particular not expressly referr'd to the disposition of the Council of State aforesaid shall remain in the disposition of the States General the States of the particular Provinces the lawful Magistrates of the Cities and other places each in their sphere and the giving of Patents to the train bands in case of necessitie and when the service of the Countrie shall require their marching forth out of their own Cities shall remain within the Provinces to the respective parts thereof without any of the Councils meddling therein LI. Those of the Council of State aforesaid shall at their entring or admittance to their charge clear themselvs by oath that for the getting of that place they neither gave nor promised any mony or mony-worth nor any thing els whatsoever nor shall give or promiss ought directly or indirectly or in any wise conceivable or unconceivable and shall further promiss and swear in the hands of the States General or their Deputies to bee True and Faithful to the said States General of the Provinces abiding in the Union and maintaining the true Christian Reformed Religion and shall renounce by oath to all particular Correspondencies with either Provinces Cities or private and particular persons so far forth as the same may proove prejudicial to the common good and that without regard had to the Provinces or Cities where they were born or chosen or to the particular profit and advantage of the same or of any other and have nothing at all before their eies but the Honor of God and the welfare and the conservation of the foresaid Countries and the publick affairs That they shall not reveal the Communications Deliberations or Resolutions which ought to remain secret and speak with no bodie about them besides those of the said Council and especially not with any Ministers of any forein Kings Republicks and States in whose or with what companie soêver unless it bee with those of the said Council seperated as apart from all other Item They may not bee engaged in any ones service nor receiv or enjoy any pensions neither may nor shall they partake or share directly or indirectly in any works put out or to bee put out upon the publick account nor in any Ecclesiastical goods lands domains c. which are or may bee farmed out for the publick nor in any Convoys Imposts or other common means nor in the furnishing of any powder shot artillerie arms corn rie butter chees beer oats or other provision or ammunition and necessaries of War whatsoever beeing to bee used for the benefit and service of the publick nor buy nor under any other title take upon them or let forth any orders granted at the charge of the Land in general or of any Provinces in particular neither by themselvs nor their wives children families nor by any other whosoever nor participate in the sale undertaking or letting out made by other directly or indirectly neither shall they by themselvs their wives children families nor by any other as before receiv or enjoy any gifts gratuities or presents nor take benefit by any thing how small soëver even to meat and drink from any either Cities or Courts publick or private persons whom they know to have any thing to do at the Council or likely to get any thing to do there and that as well before as after the business shall bee transacted and if so bee they should receiv any such gifts of any one not knowing the giver had any thing to do at the Council at the time of receiving the same or if afterwards the same should get any business with the Council that they shall give notice thereof unto the Council and that moreover they shall precisely regulate themselvs according to the contents of this Instruction and every Article thereof and do besides whatsoever good and faithful Counsellors of State are bound to do and all this provisionally LII If so bee that this Instruction shall bee found to have any obscuritie or need of any alteration contracting or enlarging the States General shall upon occasions with advice of the Council take notice thereof and provide accordingly as shall bee requisite Don thus and decreed in the Assemblie of the States General July 180. 1651. Note here That the one and twentieth Article beginning All Orders for payment was set down after as followeth FOr to reduce the Order for paiment into a due Form the respective Requests to that end presented to the Council shall bee accompanied with all the requisites bills and particulars belonging to the business wherefore the said respective Order shall bee desired and beeing viewed and examined by the said Council they shall bee transmitted to the Generalities Checquer chamber to bee there also viewed examined and cleared where special heed is to bee taken whether the Land is bound or not to the particulars therein specified and thence they are to bee returned to the Council again that by them there may bee past and granted Orders which Orders beeing registred folio tali are to bee signed by the Lord
read at the Generalitie after the opening of the like writing there containing Reasons and Motives as before presented to their Hi. Mi. Assemblie August 15. 1650. by the Lord President for the time beeing and by Resolution then taken laid by them in the Box of the Secretarie And in case the foresaid opening should beyond exspectation bee disputed by the Provinces They the Commissioned Members do hold that the foresaid justification ought then to bee presented to the Generalitie notwithstanding and entred into the Register there In the second place That the Sending or Commission in June the last year 1650. performed by his High s the Prince of Orange with the assumed Lords to all the Cities of Holland and West-Friesland having Voice in this Assemblie together with all the consequences and effects thereof ought to bee disapproved by a positive Resolution As contrarie to the Order and Form of the Government infringing the Eminencie and Prerogative of this your N. gr Might Assemblie and especially prejudicial to the Freedom of Deliberation of the respective Members thereof and that it bee decreed That the Cities of this Province shall for the future neither offer nor admit or suffer any such Sending or Commission in their respective jurisdiction That the same disapproving Resolution ought together with the abovesaid writen Deduction and Justifications to bee presented to the Generalitie and entred into the Register there and likewise transmitted by Missives unto the respective Provinces desiring each of them that for the reasons to bee alleged in the said Missives and justifying Deduction they would bee pleased to conform themselvs to the like however in no case to laie any ground for such Sendings hereafter nor ever to take upon them to decree the same Thirdly That the respective Provinces as well in the Assemblie of their High Mi. appearing there by their Deputies as also by pregnant Letters to their respective States-Assemblies shall bee desired to disapproov the Resolutions of Jun. 5. and 6. 1650. taken by a few Members at the Generalitie and having past it is confidently believed without the foreknowledg and notice much less the command and autorisation of the respective States of the Provinces their Lords Principals and doubtless forced upon or from the said Deputies at least the greater part by the over-awing and swaie of his High s the Prince of Orange and especially that autorisation of the person of his said High s inserted in the foresaid Resolution of June 5. 1650. together with all the consequences and circumstances thereof as likewise to declare unlawful and invalid and consequently to repeal known extorted thanksgivings made unto his foresaid High s and to declare that they hold the same as such for no lawful Resolutions and to geth the same to bee entred in the Generalitie's Register Fourthly That their N. gr M. ought to declare by positive Resolutions as before the enterprize against the Citie of Amsterdam last year July 30. together with the seizing of the six Lords Members of this Soveraign States-Assemblie committed the same daie and the consequences thereof to have been an attempt upon the Freedom Eminencie and Soveraigntie of this Province directly contrarie to all the Laws Rights and Prorogatives of the same That moreover the Common Halls or Councils of the Cities for which the foresaid six Lords had appeared in this Assemblie there and so far forth as it was not performed alreadie as also all other common Halls or Councils sending their Deputies to the said Assemblie ought to bee desired to send in their Declaration in writing whether their respective Deputies had in the matter of Reducements and in regard of the Deliberations happened about the State of War in the year 1649. for the with-holding of the Consents of paying som forces as was petitioned by the Council of State in the foresaid State of War and in the Execution thereof and things depending thereon carried themselvs conformable to the charge and intent of their Principals yea or no that the same Declarations beeing perused the Assemblie might then proceed in regard of the six Members aforesaid by further Declarations according as the condition and exigencie of the matter should bee found to require Hereupon there was taken several examinations and informations as first that of the respective late Secretaries and Clarks of his said High s Heylersich Hulst and Cunes Which was don the 15 and 16. of June by a Committee of the States of Holland Secretarie Heylersich was demanded I. Whether hee had not delivered to the Clarks of his High s Secretarie two several papers the one containing Complaints against those of Amsterdam with desire of Repartition and Satisfaction in the points therein deduced and the other beeing entituled Reasons and Motives which induced his High s to seiz on som of their N. Gr. M. Assemblie and to laie Seige to the Citie of Amsterdam Hee answered Yea and that hee had received the said papers from his High s own hands but knew not the hand whereby the same was written II. Whether hee knew not otherwise who had written or endited the same Hee answered no. III. Whether hee had never surmised with himself who might have penned it Hee said That now and then hee received writings of that nature at his High s hands within som hours or a little while after that the late Secretarie Mush had been with his High s in private and that thence hee took occasion somtimes to conceiv that the said Secretarie Mush might have drawn them IV. Whether all the forementioned writings had been writen by one and the same hand or no. Hee said hee conceived That the letter writen by his High s to the Provinces and Cities touching the matter of the foresaid seizing and siege and the first-named paper above was writen by one and the same hand but that hee was not able to saie whether the other paper intituled Reasons and Motives c. was writen by the same or no. V. Beeing demanded a second time whether hee could saie nothing of the hand whereby both the papers mentioned in the first Article were writen Hee said hee thought that one of the Clarks of his High s Secretarie by name N. Hulst had told him whilest the same writings were copying that it was the hand of Cunes chief Clark of the foresaid Secretarie Musch VI. Whether hee knew the hand of the said Secretarie and whether hee could not saie for certain that the foresaid writing was writen by the Secretarie himself Hee said hee knew well enough that it was not the hand of the said Secretarie himself and that the writings withal were written fair without any blots VII Why Hee examined beeing summoned by their N. gr M. went home first Hee said it was to tell his wife that hee was summoned and withal to make water VIII Whether hee had spoken with no bodie els concerning this before hee made his appearance in the Assemblie of their N. gr M. Hee answered No but onely
made by many hee desired their N. Gr. M. would but consider first that though hee had refused and concealed his High s Command the design would have gon on for all that and himself would thereupon have been charged of having failed in his Militarie Oath by his disobedience for which the heaviest punishment according to custom of War would undoubtedly have been inflicted upon him And if hee had attemted further to reveal namely to their N. G. M. what his High s had given him in charge and to do the same without witness as indeed hee had none to produce beeing it was told him but by word of mouth his High s might easily have fallen upon him as a Liar and Slanderer and their N. G. M. themselvs lookt upon him as a man out of his wits And besides all this hee prai'd their N. Gr. M. would but remember when his High s was pleased in person to denounce his intent and purpose in the full Assemblie by the Counsellor Pensionarie there was none then of all that heard the same offered to speak one word against it but they seemed by their silence as much to approve of that business as hee Examinat by the obligation of his Militarie Offices was bound to bee emploied therein Now as touching his having plai'd the Spie upon the Citie of Amsterdam hee represented the occasion the time and the caus of his journie to Sharp-Zeel by Amsterdam beeing gon from the Haghe upon Wednesdaie in the afternoon about one a clock on hors-back attended but with a Chamber-groom and overtaken about Koudekerck by the Marquis de la Vieuville who presently told him hee had order from his High s to overtake him and to make report of the March which hee was to make with the Cavallerie And thus they were in Companie arrived at Overtoom half an hour after nine at night where alighting they went into the greatest Inn and lodged there that night and beeing got on hors-back again next morning a little after half an hour past four and riding up towards the Leyden-gate and there meeting a number of Hors driven out to bee put to grass it chanced that one of the Marquis his stirrups brake and whilest his man the Marquis having none with him of his own did reaccommodate the same hee rid on like a Travellour directly the readiest waie towards the Utrecht-gate without the least staie any where but that about the middle of the street which lead's to the Utrecht-gate riding on still hee saluted and spake to the Scout or Justice of Bueren newly arrived from Utrecht with the night-boat which nevertheless was so little that the Marquis overtook him not again till hee was gotten a prettie waie forth the gate and to shew what haste hee had made the clock struck five at that very instant so that all that waie from their Inn at Overtoom till without the Utrecht-gate they had not spent half an hour which make's it evident enough said hee that hee was altogether as guiltless and free from the act of discovering or spying the walls of Amsterdam as hee protested hee had neither charge nor thoughts of any such enterprise and had taken his waie by Amsterdam for no other end but that hee might know the exact distance of the march and to pass through the villages which had been given him in writing hee having never gon that waie before and beeing expressly ordered to march through them Concerning the Deposition of the Lords of Haerlem although said hee the reports bee very much differing nevertheless hee held the Depositors to bee so honest that hee doubted not if hee should minde theâ— of the occasion and the discours it self they would well enough agree with him And however it was but a relation of newes yet by good hap beeing fresh in his minde yet hee could assure them the substance and circumstances thereof were briefly thus That after hee had with much ado put the Lords of Haerlem out of fear and perplexitie they beeing even ready to depart again the Lord van der Camer addrest himself to him Examinat and asked whether the 6 or 7000 Swedish Hors which were said to bee com into the â—and of Gulich were sent for by his High s Whereupon hee assured that for as much as was known to him his High s had nothing to do with them at all but that they were onely com there for to get in their Contribution-arrears in those parts and that it were happie if those of Amsterdam had no more to do with the Parlament of England and beeing demanded How so hee answered That there were strange rumors abâ—oad whereupon they replying bâ—t no ground for it at all â—ee rejoin'd bee hoped so too but hee could assure them that but six daies ago his Highness told him hee had a Letter in his hand written fâ—om London to an English officer of this State wherein hee had seen that the Parlament should have decreed an Assistance of ten thousand men for those of Amsterdam and that therewithall the very names of the Collonels had been expressed That this was all according to his best remembrance that had past in discours with them beeing onely a communication of rumors and news for proof whereof hee could produce the Officer whom his High s had named beeing at the Haghe now and ready to avouch not onely that hee had shewed such a letter to his High s but likewise seen divers others of like tenour This hee said was all succinctly and truly what hee had to laie before their N. Gr. M. for their better information and his Justification about these three points charged upon him resting confident that it would give them satisfaction and offering more fully to clear all remaining scruples their N. Gr. M. should propound Now forasmuch as in this Examination there was mention made of Count William Stadtholder of Friesland and Groninghen c. and that the Design of the last Summer was subject to bee further dived into therefore it was that the Lords of that Province brought in that project of the Amnestia or general oblivion the 20 of Julie last The Lord van Sommersdyck to facilitate the same the more was advised by express desire to recommend himself to the said Amnestia which accordingly hee did in manner following As that beeing given to understand to his great grief and amazement that all hee had said or propounded in their N. Gr. M. Assemblie had been so ill taken and construed as if thereby hee had intended to justifie his Caus by process or cours of Law whereas hee declareth hereby sclemnly that hee had no other aim but with all respect personally to inform their N. Gr. M. whom hee had understood to bee upon enquiries by their Commissioners about his Actions in regard of the Expedition for Amsterdam of the true condition thereof fully persuaded that thereby hee might have given all satisfaction to their N. Gr. M. Hee therefore found good anew hereby
writing beeing neither signed nor bearing any date of time or place nor adressed or directed to any and after the reading thereof delivered into the hands of the said Burgomasters His High s after som compliments beeing conducted back to his Lodging it was found good by the Old-Council aforesaid that the said Propositions and papers should according to the order of this Government bee examined and thereupon such Resolutions presented to the next instant Assemblie of the Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland as should bee found to serv and make most for the good of the Land the conservation of the Eminence Freedom Rights and privileges of the said Province of Holland and West-Friesland the Cities and Members thereof as likewise for the best concord and conservation of the Union Where it was found good likewise That the substance of all this should by a Committee of the foresaid Old-Council bee communicated to his High s by waie of answer to the forementioned Propositions June 10. 1650. There beeing examined in the full Assemblie of the Old-Council som few onely absent the Points and Articles of the Writ of their N. gr M. the Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland touching the Reducement of the charges of the Land and casheiring of som forces hors and foot and the Resolutions and Orders past in that behalf from time to time and given to the Deputies of the Citie of Dort assisting then at the said Assemblie upon further examination of the affairs and resolutions made and taken from time to time in that behalf and especially in the affair and resolution of their N. gr M. about a separate and peculiar Casheiring and reducing of the foresaid Militia whenas the rest of the Provinces refused to condescend thereunto it was found contrarie to the abusive report as if the foresaid Deputies for the Citie of Dort at the said States-Assemblie had given their consent to the reducing of the said Militia and separate casheiring of them contrarie to their order and the resolution of the Old-Council that the foresaid Lords Deputies have truely followed their Order which was given them remaining yet rather too much within then any whit exceeding their Compass as having had Warrant enough to go further aud therefore all they did was approved and they the said Deputies had thanks given them and express notes were registred thereof to the securing of them against the foresaid wrongful imputation His High s beeing next daie upon his desire admitted again in the Assemblie of the Old-Council together with the foresaid Deputies of the Generalitie under benefit of the protestation made the daie before to his High s that should bee no prejudice to them their Declaration was made by the mouth of the Lord van Capelle van Aersberghen in most sharp bitter and unsufferable terms and the foresaid Assemblie given to understand that the Lords Deputies could take no satisfaction at all in the diliatorie answer presented yesterday unto his High s and that hee would not stirr hence before the Lords of the Old-Council aforesaid had made a round Categorical Declaration to the Lords Deputies whether they would return into the Union which they had deserted and until they the said Deputies had gotten from them a clear short and positive pertinent and peremptorie answer in writing to their exhibited Proposition and the Lords of Dort made prompt and effectual reparation for their breaking of the Union whereby together with such other Members of Holland as had likewise broken the Union they had made themselvs guiltie and punishable in bodie and goods in as much as by the 23. Article of the said Union and according to former Examples whereof som had been alleged to them alreadie by reason of the transgression of the same both their persons and goods might bee arrested and prosecuted in all places before any Lords Judges and Judicatories where-ever the same may bee met with in case of delaie concerning which Reparation hee the Lord van der Capelle declared they the Lord's Deputies shall bee constrained to talk with them in an other strain yet whereof they should hear more ere long All which beeing taken into Deliberation it was unanimously found good and resolved that all further answering of the said Deputies either in writing or by word of mouth should bee refused and the former Resolution persisted in That moreover it should bee declared to the said Deputies in down-right and significant terms that the foresaid Old-Council found themselvs by reason of the foresaid harsh and threatning language uttered by van der Capelle aforesaid abused and scandalized in the highest degree and that upon all occasions they would testifie their utmost resent and forasmuch as the said language was injurious and opprobious against the Eminence Prerogative Freedom Reputation and good Intention of this Province the Cities and Members thereof that they the said Council could not avoid to make the same known to the next instant Assemblie of the Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland to the end that due and effectual reparation may bee required in that behalf all which accordingly was in the name of the said Council remonstrated unto the said Lords Deputies and especially to the forenamed Capelle with singular seriousness couâ—age and resentment And although upon further desire of his High s the matter was taken once again into further Deliberation nevertheless the Council persisted unanimously in their former Resolution as before after which the foresaid Lords Deputies went away next daie without any further answer obtained towards Gornichem underneath stood Extracted out of the Notes of the Resolutions of the Citie of Dort agreeing therewith July 17. 1651. signed M. Berek Act of Justification of the Citie of Haerlem WEe Burgomasters Counsellors and Commons of the Citie of Haerlem having heard the reading of a certain writing entituled Reasons and Motives which induced his High s the Prince of Orange to the undertaking both of the seizure of the Lords and that which was undertaken at by and about the Citie of Amsterdam together with the Declaration of the L. Counsellor Pensionarie Cats dated Jun. last 16. subjoined and ripely considered the Contents thereof and seriously pondered every point and finding that therein are set down several imputations to charge the said Lords withal among whom were also the Lord John de Waet presiding Burgomaster at that time and M r Albert Ruyl Pensioner of this Citie both of them at the time of the foresaid Arrest our Deputies at the Assemblie of their N. Gr. M. the Lords the States of Holland and Westfriâ—sland do declare contraâ—ie to what is pretended in the writings aforesaid that the same each of them have ever in their respective emploiments shewed and given full proof that they are upright Patriots and lovers of their native Countrie and of the dear-purchased freedom thereof and zealous defenders of the true Christian Reformed Religion That their actions have alwaies been far from enterprising projecting or
plotting much less â—ffecting any thing that migâ—t have rended to the dissolution of the Union changing of the Civil Government and of the true Reformed Religion and consequently to the prejudice and ruine of the State but on the contrarie that in all their doings they have shewed upon all occasions to have had no other aim before their eies but the furtherance of the honor of God and the freedom quiet and securitie of their Native Countrie That the same men each of them have with all sinceritie and faithfulness followed and performed whatsoëver wee had given chem in charge as Deputies for us at the Assemblie and elswhere and aâ—quitted themselvs so well therein that hee had caus to commend them for it and to give them thanks for their zeal and endeavors and especially that touching the new state of War projected by his High s his Excellencie the Stadholder and the Council of State after the Peace concluded and the Deliberations ventilated thereupon both in particular conferences of the deputed Members and in full Assemblie of their N. Gr. M. they have served and supplied us from time to time with pertinent and faithful reports and with good and true informations for our full and needful instructions that in all these affairs they never shew'd to bee acted by passion or possessed with any malignancie but alwaies sought every one of them to direct and steer things according to the qualitie of their Functions to the preservation and good of the State That in the point of the foresaid State of War cashiering and reducing of the Militia and other unnecessarie charges of the publick Treasurie they have propounded and urged nothing at the Assemblie of their N. Gr. M. but what beeing found good by Us they had given them in charge That the Counter-acting to the Execution decreed by the rest of the Provinces at the Generalitie of sending Deputies to all the Cities and members of the Province of Holland and Westfriesland hath been a work of our own grounded upon weightie and pregnant reasons and determined by a formal resolution taken in our Assemblie and that the said Lords so far forth as each of them hath been emploied in the executive part thereof have demeaned themselvs with prudent circumspection and discreet direction of all to our full contentment and singular satisfaction wherefore also by the very Act of August 15 1650 whereby wee were necessitated to our great grief to discharge them from their respective emploiment wee commended and approved whatsoever respectively to that very time they had most carefully and faithfully don and transacted in the the Government as also still wee approve and prais both that and whatsoever els hath since been don by them in our behalf and give them heartie thanks for their good endeavors therein and especially in the business of reducing the Militia and unnecessarie charges as also opposing the foresaid Sending and other affairs touching the state of this Land wherein they are emploied promising to them and their posterities to keep them alwaies free and harmless from any thing that might molest or trouble them by reason of any of the services aforesaid and to defend and protect them against any upon that account under the obligation of our Citie and all the goods thereof to bee impleaded by any Court or Judges Don thus in the Assemblie of the Noble Lords the Counsellors and Companies of the Citie of Harlem this third daie of Julie Anno 1651 there beeing present four Burgomasters six Senators six old Law-keepers and eleven Counsellors and Companiemembers of the foresaid Citie In witness whereof is the Citie-Seal hereunder affixed Signed J. Benningh Act of Justification of the Citie of Delft Noble Great Mightie Lords THere beeing exhibited and read in our last Assemblie a certain Missive from your N. Gr. M. addrests to the Lords Burgomasters and Governors of this Citie dated Julie 6 1651 together with a certain Paper entituled Reasons and Motives c. as before accompanied with the Declaration of the Lord Counsellor Pensionarie Cats bearing dat 16 o Jun. last Wee have after the reassumtion of our former Resolution and with mature deliberation found good and resolved by waie of answer to make known unto your N. Gr. M. that our Deputies in the Point of Reducement and in regard of the Deliberations happened upon the State of War projected for the year 1649 about the with-hoding of their consents for paying certain forces petitioned for by the Council of State in and toward the foresaid state of War and about the Execution thereof and what depended thereon have not carried themselvs otherwise then conformable to our intention and orders which wee not abused by our foresaid Deputies and abusively informed as the forementioned Paper very ill and wrongfully hold's forth but according to the true and full report made to Us of all things and upon full knowledg of the matter as it was tending and making most for the service of the Land For which caus also wee have commended and approved and yet further do commend and approve whatsoëver our said Deputies did or transacted in this kinde as our own work returning thanks to their N. for the great care and faithfulness which they have testified in the managing and executing of our Resolutions and in particular to the Lord John Duyst van Voorhout at the time our Commissioned Counsellors of Holland who in all his emploiment hath alwaies given full proof of an upright Patriot and true lover of his Native Countrie and the dear-bought freedom thereof and whose actions therefore were ever far from attemting much less executing any thing that might have tended to the Dissolution of the Union the change and alteration in Civil and Ecclesiastical Government and consequently to the prejudice and ruine of these Countries but on the contrarie that with great industrie faithfulness providence sinceritie and uprightness hee hath still considered the main end and aim of his emploiment Wherefore also wee do hereby declare that the Contents of the foresaid Paper in regard of the said Lord Duyst van Voorhout together with the rest of our Deputies is contrarie to the known Truth and that consequently the said Lord Duyst van Voorhout hath without any grounds and against the Laws of the the Land been deteined first at the Haghe in the Court of his High s together with five other Lords and carried prisoners afterwards to the Hous of Loevestein That indeed at the same time wee held our peace and upon the said Lord Duyst van Voorhout his own desire though to our great grief discharged him from the exercise of his Functions becaus the times were evil but beeing delivered thereof by God's wonderfull Providence wee restored him soon after his High s deceas into his former state and place return'd him into the Court of the Commissioned Council of Holland and his Ordinarie time of serving there beeing exspired have deputed him for the Assemblie of their No.
order of Government and especially the 9 th Article of the Union as beeing a matter of charge requiring contribution of monies wee can nor may not bee over-voted in that case Or if so bee that on the contrarie such a thing should have been endeavored to bee put upon us wee might have had libertie then to with-hold those monies or contributions and forbear them altogether like as June 1 1650 wee took such a Resolution spoken of before at large and consequently did well and justly for the preventing of confusion and muâ—inie to give advertisement thereof to these viz. Ritmasters Captains and other Militarie Officers who otherwise conceiving afterward they were to draw monies would together with the Souldiers under them have been disgusted in the highest degree and that not without great reason By all which rational Motives and from the consequences of true and duly disposed Premisses the groundlesness of their Supposition is evidently discernable which would have drawn the foresaid Libertie of Consents in regard of the Militia into question It beeing very remarkable besides to the further Confusion of such That before the beginning of the Peace that that very partie which so fain would have seen the foresaid yearly libertie of consenting in these Militia-matters justled out hath been very busie about it for a whole twelv month together as the Registers of the Resolutions at the Generalitie shew forth though all in vain and without any success there beeing inserted into the fundamental Resolution about the preliminar points before the Treatie of Peace Novemb. 16 1646 these express words Thirdly concerning the Militia it is found good and resolved that the said Militia shall bee fitâ—ed and framed according to the occasions of times and affairs and according to the antient custom there shall yearly a Petition bee made by his High s his Excell cie the Stadholder and the Council of State and transmitted to the Provinces for them to deliberate thereupon about needful Consents and to return the same to the Generalitie By reason whereof also wee alwaies were wont to restrain our Consents which from time to time were granted by Us upon the yearly Petition of the Council of State and the state of War with this express claus That the same was meant and don for the time of one year and no further and never engaged or promised further then for the year current onely to take fitting order for the paying of our Quote towards the Militia and other petitioned publick charges After the quotation of which clear significant and express words both of the foresaid General Resolution and our own Acts of Consenting wee cannot judg our foresaid first point should need any further confirmation Although ex abundanti it might bee shewed here not onely that their Hi. Mi. in general have by several Missives and particularly that of Decemb. 8 1648 and Septemb 27 1649 respectively desired of us that wee would yield our Consents to the foresaid state of War but likewise that all the Provinces in particular have in their respective Provincial Advices upon the said projected state of War not onely acknowledged the said libertie of Consenting but likewise themselvs plainly made use thereof in several particulars for their own advantage for proof whereof wee shall content our selvs to produce here onely the words of the Province of Zealand who in their advice returned upon the foresaid state of War having premised that in the general Proposition or Petition they pretended to have their Quote to bee lessened or substracted from the whole mass or bodie of the State aforesaid they claus it with these following formal words declaring That otherwise wee will not bee bound to consent to any further charges or Petition Whence indeed wee took occasion to believ as also wee are still persuaded that the foresaid affair was agitated and advanced at the Generalitie not according to the intention or by the joint acting of the Provinces themselvs whom wee perceiv to have been of one minde with us concerning the main but onely by som few Deputies seeking to currie grace and favor from his High s or otherwise byassed by particular aims and interests of their own Now concerning the Second point propounded above namely the Sending Julie 5. 1650 decreed and forthwith expedited to all the Cities and Members of our Assemblie wee have therein observed a twofold unlawfulness and unbefitttingness the one in regard of the partie giving the Commission or decreeing that Deputation and the other in respect of the matter it self or the aim and drift wherefore the same was undertaken As for the givers of the Commission The truth is and may appear by the Notals of the Lords present in the Register-book of their Hi. Mi. that they were men in such a scantling Number that three whole Provinces were represented there but Note by four persons so that wee could not sufficiently admire how so small a number of Deputies should dare to undertake the foresaid general autorisation a matter of so great weight and consequence together with the foresaid never well succeeded Commission and Sending without first as in such matters of importance the usual custom is beeing warranted and ordered thereunto by their Principals or having understood their minds and intentions in that behalf proceeding to grant and decree the same onely upon the Votes of five Provinces so slenderly represented as said is against the standing out of the Deputies of the Province of Gelderland and the protestation of Ours Besides this that wee are verily perswaded there were divers yet among those few ones of a contrarie opinion and meerly over-voiced by their fellow Deputies and others som which by reason of the presence and autoritie of his High s durst not oppose Insomuch that even thereby first it may easily bee judged what is to bee held of the lawfulness of the foresaid Conclusions taken at the Generalitie Jan. 5 and 6 aforesaid And secondly it is considerable also in regard of these givers of the Commission that though the foresaid Sending had been approved of and concluded on by the Lords the States General or the Deputies of the Provinces compleatly instructed and autorised thereunto with unanimous consent of six consonant advices in regard our own Deputies could not join with them nevertheless it had been clearly shewed and will bee further very clearly and evidently deduced that their Hi. Mi. are in no part warranted nor qualified to do it Beeing that all Sendings decreed or to decree unto the Provinces ought according to the fundamental Order of the Government to bee addressed unto the States-Assemblie and not to the Cities or particular Members thereof Which likewise was alwaies observed in these Countries and particularly also by the Lord Stadtholder Count William Lodovick of happie memorie and Deputie for the Province of Friesland in the year 1587. who understood and declared it thus in regard of the Letters and Sendings by or in the behalf of the E. of Leicester
make choice of an equall Number of Arbiters II. The same equal Number of Arbiters shall likewise in the first place and before all things make trial of the way of Concord between the differing parties but in case that cannot bee found then those Arbiters shall by the major voices â—hoos a Super-Arbiter but if the voices should bee equal the matter shall bee expedited by Lot and hee on whom the lot falls bee the Super-Arbiter or Umpire among them III And the foresaid Seaven persons shall make oath to the foresaid even number of Arbiters and to the Super-Arbiter also That without respect to any Province or Members thereof they will judg and pronounce unpartially what in conscience reason right and equitie they shall find due and requisite for the most quiet peace and Unitie of the Provinces III. Provided nevertheless that if any parties conceiv they may have reason to except against anie of the foresaid Seaven persons or chosen Arbiters they shall have libertie to produce their said reasons and the remainder of the foresaid seven persons and arbiters respectively shall judg and pronounce touching the suffâ—iciency of the foresaid Exception and that forthwith there bee others chosen to supply the places of such as upon good reasons are accepted against V. That the judgment once pronounced shall bee yielded unto and put in execution without pretence and much less admittance of any further appeal or other proviso under what pretext whatsoever VI. And if the partie condemned shall after two or three summons from their Hi. Mi. delay and fail to obey the sentence pronounced then shall their Hi. Mi. take requisite order for to see it don to the end that the said sentence becom not illusorie but may bee really effected and executed according to the 23 d Article of the Union Those of Friesland advised about this matter of Decisions thus I. IF there arose any disputes or differences between the joint Provinces in matters not subject to over-voting according to the articles of the Union made at Utrecht in the year 1579. that besides the Stadholders of such Provinces where any is or may bee hereafter there should bee chosen out of every Province an unpartial able peaceable and expert man in State-affairs to the number of seaven to assay the way of friendship between the differing parties and the same not succeeding that the partie shall each of them make chois of the like number of arbiters II. This number of 21 Arbiters together should likewise first and before all things assay the way of concord between the differing parties but not beeing able to finde the same the said Arbiters should proceed unpartially to judg and pronounce that which in conscience reason right and equitie they shall finde fit and requisite III. Aud those former seaven persons and all the rest chosen in as aforesaid should bee obliged to make oath without respect of any Province or members thereof to do right in manner aforesaid Artic. 2. IV. And in case that among the 14. adjoyned there were any recusable then the 7 former and the rest of the unsuspected Arbiters should examin the reasons of the recusation and judg of the sufficiencie thereof and pronounce accordingly provided there bee presently another supplied by the Provinces into the place of him that upon good reasons was recused thus V. That the Sentence once past it should likewise bee performed and executed without pretence and much less admittance of any further appeal and other Provisoes under what name or pretext soëver VI. And in case the condemned partie shall after 2 or 3 summons from their Hi. Mi. delaie or fail to obey the sentence pronounc'd then the same should take due and requisite order therein to see it don to the end the same sentence bee not rendred illusorie but really effected and executed according to the 23 d Article of the Union The Lords of Groninghen and the Omlands declared thereupon in this manner THat upon examination of this point considering that the Provinces which had no Stad-holders as yet had right and reason to supplie that defect with chusing of a Stad-holder That they likewise had power to do the same at such times and seasons as suited with their Conveniences and when they should judg the same expedient for the Provinces That in the mean time in these deliberations and during the defect of a Stad-holder they ought not to bee prejudiced in their right of helping to decide the questions arising between the Provinces And besides that very well considering it was highly requisite there should none or but very little alteration bee made in the Union but that the same should bee left in an entire State and cours The Lords Commissioners for Groninghen and the Omlands are of advice and understand by way of inclination that the Provinces having no Stad-holders might have that defect supplied with a provisional expedient And that then in case any question or difference should arise beyond expectation among the joint-provinces during the foresaid defect That the decision thereof should bee and remain in the Lords Stad-holders for the time beeing and such arbiters as the rest of the Provinces destitute of Stad-holders should chuse each Province one and join the same with the Stad-holders aforesaid Which Arbiters should in as much as concerned this difference abjure their own respective Provinces and engage themselvs by oath to help the deciding of the difference arisen according to right and reason and to determine the same by arbitration or sentence after after that they shall have assai'd first som other means of agreement in vain This beeing don the Province condemned shall bee bound without any delaie or opposition to perform and obey the judgment or sentence pronounc'd And if beyond expectation they should fail thereof after three summons made unto them from fortnight to fortnight respectively that then the 23 d Article of the Union should take place and bee fully executed The said Lords Commissioners do not hold it fitting that there should a special solemn Oath bee framed in this behalf beeing the same might presuppose an Innovation to bee introduced into the Union whereas all the Provinces they are perswaded are far from such innovations and will hold this but a provisional Expedient during the Defect of Stadtholders in the other Provinces It might therefore bee declared by special Resolution of the joint Confederates that this Expedient and the results thereof ought during the Defect aforesaid to bee of equal force and validitie as if it had been inserted in the Union at the making decreeing and solemn swearing thereof at first And if it should happen also that one or other of the Arbiters to bee joined to the Lords Statdtholders should bee recused as suspect in that case the Lords Commissioners are of opinion that the Reason produced by the recusing partie should bee examined by the Lords Stadtholders and the rest of the unreproached Arbiters and sentence pronounced accordingly July 22. The
in Conscience Reason and Equitie to bee requisite beeing to promiss to this end by Oath without regard or affection to any Provinces or Members thereof to judg and pronounce impartially as before Provided that if any parties should conceiv they had reason of recusing any of the foresaid Arbiter or Super-Arbiter they may have libertie to allege their Reasons and that the sufficiencie thereof shall bee judged and sentence pronounced accordingly by the rest of the said Arbiters on condition there bee presently another supplied in the room of him that was rightfully Recused Moreover that the respective Provinces should promiss to conform and submit to the sentence to bee given without doing causing or suffering to bee don any thing against it directly or indirectly in any kinde or manner without any seeking or making use of any further exception or provision of the Laws in that behalf whether it bee by waie of Appeal Relief Revision Nullitie or any other Evasion or Plea whatsoever And if any one should do or attemt any thing against this the same should bee declared now as then to bee Null and of no validitie at all all this under the obligation of themselvs and all the Inhabitants of the respective Provinces Cities and Members thereof their persons and goods for in case of contravention and failing to satisfie the foresaid Sentence by performing the effect thereof and that which depend s thereon to bee arrested deteined and prosecuted in any places between Magistrates Laws and Judicatures wherever they may bee met with renouncing and rejecting to that end all Exceptions Charters or Grants Privileges Reliefs and generally all other benefits of the Laws which might stand them in any stead to the contrarie hereof and especially the Laws which saie That no General Renunciation ought to have place without a special one bee gon before The Point of the New State of War beeing likewise propounded was remitted to the Ordinarie Assemblie It was conceived the great Assemblie would have ended on Saturday July 29. beeing just the anniversarie of the siege of Amsterdam and seizure of the six Lords But Friesland and Groninghen with the Omlands insisted still with great eagerness for the Amnestia And those of Holland were so indisposed or unreadie for it that on the 29. aforesaid there was a Recess made and the Assemblie adjourned to the 7. of August against which time the Provinces took upon them precisely to meet here again it beeing found good that in the mean time the Conference Conciliatorie should bee revived again about the remaining and unresolved points all the Provinces having undertaken that against the foresaid time they would declare finally upon the projects about deciding the differences which might at any time arise among the Provinces and so likewise upon the Amnestia or Oblivion of the things happened in the Land the last year 1650. and upon the Lists of the Garrisons to bee left both within and without the voicing Provinces Nevertheless it was Friday first the eleventh of August before the Great Assemblie met again at which time the Council of State brought in their further advice dated Aug. 8. touching the Lists of the Garrisons within and without the voicing Provinces declaring that having examined what was mooved by som Provinces That som places or Frontiers situated within the voicing Provinces were set upon the List as resorting under the Generalitie and vice versâ for that reason they had in the presence of his Excell câ—e the Stadtholder in Council reassumed the Lists aforesaid and examined them and accordingly declared That they met with no place of that reflexion but in the list of places without the voicing Provinces the Forts of Bourtang Bellingwold and Lang acker-sconce as also Coevorden and in the other List of places within the voicing Provinces Axel Neusen Biervliet Lillo and Liefkens-hoeck As for the Forts of Bourtang Bellingwold and Lang-acker-sconce the same laie not in or within any of the voicing Provinces as neither Coevorden lying in the Countrie of Drent and in that regard justly placed in the List without the voicing Provinces and then concerning Axel Neusen Biervliet Lillo and Liefkens-hoeck beeing put upon the List of the voicing Province of Zealand it must bee understood that this was don not for that the said places laie in or within the Province of Zealand which indeed could bee said of none but becaus that Province having otherwise but few Garrisons the Companies of the foresaid places might serv them for the more commodious Execution of their Civil administrations and commands without any intention notwithstanding thereby to prejudice the Generalitie but as the Lords of Zealand had heretofore in time of War the oversight over the five forenamed places as well for besetting and fortifying thereof as otherwise so likewise had the Provinces of Friesland and Groninghen with the Omlands together with the Lords Stadtholders of the same Provinces the oversight over the 3 first-named Forts both for the besetting and fortifying thereof as otherwise in which regard it is propounded and prest in behalf of the 3 foresaid respective Provinces that those places ought to bee continued to them forasmuch as they are respectively most highly concerned in the guarding of them for the securitie of their Provinces and that the respective Garrisons continuing thus under their Tuition they would bee the better accommodated for the executing of their Civil Commands which beeing taken into consideration the Lords of Zealand and Friesland were desired with all speed to bring in their respective proofs and warrants for the assertion of the right which they pretended in the autoritie and inspection or oversight over those places and forts lying otherwise without the voicing Provinces under the immediate resort or jurisdiction of the Generalitie Those of Holland were much desired by them of Friesland and Groninghen with the Omlands to consent to the Amnestia generally and without reservation and consequently to comprehend therein likewise the Lord vâ—n Sommersdyck whose case bred most of the Difficulties as likewise that they would suffer the matoer of Consents about publick charges to bee comprised in the Act of deciding Differences which Holland instanced ought to remain Soveraignly and absolutely in the power of the particular Provinces according to the Union and their Resolution As for the Amnestia those of Holland were very loath to recoil from their Project which was that they would shew no Resentment of things past in the year 1650. against the other Provinces the Subjects Inhabitants or Ministers thereof of what qualitie state or condition soever c. but under these words against the other Provinces the Subjects Inhabitants thereof did not disable themselvs to exercise resentment against their own Subjects which aimed principally at the Lord van Sommersdyck beeing not able to forget or disgest that any one should bee a Member of their own Assemblie and nevertheless do such services to the Stadtholder and Captain General as were so much prejudicial to
in matters where no over-voting take's place according to the Union made in the year 1579. they not beeing able to understand one another in that case there shall bee a meeting of seven unpartial able peaceable and in matters of State well experienced persons to wit one of each Province of which Number shall bee the Stadtholders of the Provinces where any are at present or hereafter may bee and whom the rest of the respective Provinces shall bee pleased to appoint thereunto for to trie the waie of friendship between the differing parties which not succeeding then shall the differing parties on both sides make choice of som new Arbiters unto the foresaid 7 Reasons in such sort that the new-elected Arbiters joined to the first delegated persons shall make up on both sides an equal Number to wit if the controversie bee between one Province of one side and six Provinces of the other that in that case the said one Province shall chuse eleven Arbiters yet and the foresaid six Provinces six more to make up thus the Number of 12 Arbiters on each side and if the difference bee betwixt two Provinces of the one side and five of the other in that case the said two Provinces shall assume eight Arbiters yet and the foresaid five five other to make up the number of ten on each side Lastly if the Question bee arisen betwixt three Provinces of the one and 4 of the other side that then these 3 Provinces shall chuse nine Arbiters yet and the foresaid four eight more to make up 12 again in all for each side II. And the foresaid thus elected Arbiters shall assume unto themselvs and chuse by pluralitie of voices a Super-Arbiter but if the voices about it fall out to bee even then the Decision shall bee committed to Lot and hee on whom that fall's shall bee the Super-Arbiter III. And the foresaid Arbiters and Super-Arbiter that have their Sessions and rank together with the Voices or Votes according to the Order of the Provinces from whom respectively they com and likewise first and before all things assay the waie of Concord betwixt the Differing parties and failing of success proceed then impartially to judg and pronounce as in Conscience Reason Right and Equitie they shall finde requisite to which end they shall promiss by oath that without respect or affection to any Provinces or Members thereof they will pronounce sentence unpartially as before IV. Provided that if any partie should conceiv they had Reasons of recusing any of the foresaid Arbiters or the Super-Arbiter they shall have libertie to shew the same and that the sufficiencie thereof shall bee judged and accordingly sentence pronounced in that behalf by the foresaid Arbiter so that presently there bee another supplied in the room of him that was rightfully recused V. The Respective Provinces having promised as by these they do promiss to conform and submit to the foresaid sentence to bee given without doing or causing or suffering ought to bee don against it directly or indirectly in any kinde or manner and without seeking or making use of any further exception or other provision in Law either of Appeal Relief Revision Nullitie or any other Evasion or Plea whatsoëver and if any shall have don or attempted ought to the contrarie they do declare the same now as then null and of no effect nor validitie obliging here under themselvs and all the Inhabitants of their respective Provinces Cities and Members thereof their goods and persons for in case of contravention and failing to satisfie the foresaid sentence by performing the effect thereof and what depend's thereon to bee arrested detained and prosecuted in any places and by any Magistrates Laws and Judicatures where-ever they can bee met with renouncing and rejecting to that end all Exceptions Charters or Grants Privileges Reliefs and generally all other Benefits of the Laws which might stand them instead to the contrarie and especially the Laws which saie That no general Renunciation is to have place where the particular went not before The Lords of Holland were prettie well satisfied with the frame of this Act if they would have but in terms exemted therein the Consents of Charges concerning which every Province should retein their Freedom to do and dispose in that regard as they should judg the service of the Land required it Hereupon the said Lords of Holland were desired to bring in their further consent concerning this at the Ordinarie Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. as soon as might bee as also the Lords of Friesland and Groninghen with the Omlands were desired to approve of the foresaid frame and to conform thereunto with the speediest The Lords of Friesland declared that concerning this they adhered yet to the Conclusion made by the Lord President on Fridaie last The Lords of Groninghen with the Omlands likewise declared their adhering still to their Provincial Advice brought in upon that subject Julie last 21. And in regard of the redress of the Instruction for the Council of State determined at the Assemblie Julie last 18 they declared as followeth to wit That they accepted of the Instruction for the Council of State in that sort and condition as the same was amended and drest by their Hi. Mi. Commissioners in the conference Conciliatorie with that proviso nevertheless that the 20 th Article speaking of the Solicitors could not as yet bee put in practice with them according to the present constitution of the Province of Groninghen and Omlands nevertheless they shall bee careful that after the deceas of the present Solicitors no Ritmasters or Captains shall bee charged with Clerks of greater Entertainment then is allowed by the state of War they would likewise take such order for effective paying of the Souldierie Hors and Foot that no just complaints should bee presented to the Council of State in that behalf Withal they conceived that the Provinces of Utrecht Over-Yssell Groninghen and Omlands might justly claim and enjoie their Right according to the example of other Provinces of sending each one Commissioner more into the Council it standing not with reason that a more contributing Province should have less or not so much to saie in a Court or Council of the Generalitie as one that contributeth less After that the Amnestia or Act of Oblivion was unanimously agreed to and consequently printed proclaimed and publickly affixed as followeth WHereas in the year 1650 there were risen divers troubles in the Government which afterwards went further and further grounded upon certain Resolutions of June 5 and 6 the year aforesaid taken at the Ordinarie Assemblie of the Lords Deputies of the Generalitie And that afterwards it hath pleased God Almightie according to his Fatherlie Goodness wholly to take away again the foresaid troubles and therewithall to let shine forth among the General Confederates such an Harmonie Concord Love Confidence and Affection that all the great and weightie Deliberations occasioned by the Deceas of his Highness the Prince
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
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
their N. Gr. M. to others Promiss beeing made hereupon that good and full consideration of all this should bee taken his Honor at last complied and beeing sworn in the accustomed manner undertook the charge in God's Name The great Assemblie beeing ended in this manner there remained divers points of less concernment or but imperfect and unfinished referred to the Ordinarie Assemblie which together with other incident matters held them busie to near the end of the year 1651 as especially the granting of leav for absence to the Militarie Officers whil'st som of the Officers against the Act engaged themselvs in forrein service others and particularly the French English and Scots beeing desirous in this time of peace and breathing to visit their own Countries once The States General maintained the right of disposing herein to belong to them by such reasons as they sent unto the Provinces Nov. 30. whereof more shall bee said anon The Council on the other side claimed it to themselvs protesting the one against the other For Accommodation whereof there were propounded several Expedients as That Leavs should bee given by their Hi. Mi. and likewise by the Council of State the one giving notice thereof to the other and both Assemblies should keep exact Registers thereof provided that neither should grant leav to to him that was refused by the other That Leavs should bee sought at and given by both Assemblies but none should pass for current or valid but that which hath the Seals of both That their Hi. Mi. alone should give the Leavs upon precedent advice of the Council which should bee sealed likewise by the said Council which they might not refuse and that to this end the Council of State should turn back to their Hi. Mi. all the requests presented to them in that behalf That one daie in the week should bee appointed for to examine the requests of that nature by a Committee of both Assemblies and to advise their Hi. Mi. whether the desired Leav should bee granted or not and that the Leavs to bee given should pass in the name of their Hi. Mi. and the advice of the Council of State to bee witness by their Sealing thereof That the like number of Members of both Assemblies might bee autorized for to dispose of these Leav-givings and that the grants then after report made thereof should go forth in both their Names and under both Seals That no Leavs should bee asked but of their Hi. Mi. who should have power to refuse the same or els to put it off to the Council of State for to dispose therein and in case the said Council did yield unto it that then they should go in the name of the Council alone but yet not bee valid till first they were confirmed by the Seal of their Hi. Mi. And assoon as the one or the other of these waies should bee liked and determined that then notice should bee given thereof to the Provinces with desire that thenceforward they would give no Leavs themselvs but by waie of annexing theirs to the Leav given by their Hi. Mi. or the Council of State in such a manner as should then bee found good to bee granted for to avoid confusion and disorder which els would hardly bee avoided As for the Absent Officers the Lords of Holland brought in their Provincial Resolution Sept. 30 conteining a charge to their Commissioned Council to issue no paie to any which contrarie to the Act of June 30 this year had absented himself forth the Land or ingaged in forrein service or should do the like for time to com Desiring that the rest of the Provinces would take the like order in their districts Whereupon their Hi. Mi. determined that the foresaid Act should bee executed according to its form and contents Nevertheless they agreed not about the manner of the Execution the Lords of Holland understanding it thaâ— each Province might do the same upon the Companies belonging to their respective Repartition A good while after viz. Octob. 24. it was resolved That their Hi. Mi. alone should give the foresaid Leavs with precedent Advice from the Council of State who might not refuse the under-sealing thereof and that consequently the Council should return all the requests presented to them in that behalf unto their Hi. Mi. The Provinces in the mean time remaining entire and unprejudiced for either to give or to refuse their annexings to them which shall have obtained their leavs in manner aforesaid The Acts or Instruments of the foresaid Leav-giving beeing to bee dispatched with the addition of these words after advice taken from the Council of State But the Council not satisfied therewith their Hi. M. writ unto the Provinces under date of Novemb. 3c That after they had caused several Conferences to bee held by Deputies of their Assemblie with a Committee of the Council of State about the waie and manner to bee observed in giving leav to the Militarie Officers in service of this State which was to bee don by their Hi. Mi. with precedent Advice of the said Council provided that there were besides that annext consents to bee sought and obtained from the respective Provinces their pay-masters nevertheless the Lords of the said Council were not pleased as yet to acquiesce therein they maintaining still that it belonged to them to grant the same leavs together with Us according to the Right conferr'd upon them by the first Article of the Act in the year 1599. in the point of Mustering and the possession ensued which beeing not specifically revoked or taken from them by the Assemblie General of all the Confederates kept here in the great Hall it ought of right to remain where it was before Their Hi. Mi. could not forbear by waie of further Elucidation and Information of what is said before to represent to their No. Mi. the particular Provinces that having ripely examined and pondered every thing they could not finde the Council's Assertion to bee so grounded as that the Right of granting the foresaid Leavs at first instance should irrevocably appertain to them in regard that according to the Resolution of June 16. last taken by the foresaid Great Assemblie the chiefest care autoritie and direction over the Militia of this State was peculiarly committed to the Generalitie to whose disposition principally was left the granting of Patents and the taking care for the Frontiers of the said State together with the consequences and dependencies thereof onely with the precedent advice of the Council aforesaid which they understood was likewise to bee observed in this particular especially considering moreover the Resolution likewise taken at the great Hall July last 21. committing to their hands alone and solely the whole business of secret Correspondencie whereby they could best penitrate what was specially necessarie for the securitie of the respective Frontiers of the State aforesaid and of what a dangerous consequence it might bee in case the said Leavs should bee given by any
to this it might prove many times very disserviceable it beeing not feasible that there should alwaies remain Lords of five several Provinces and the less becaus the Provinces of Utrecht Over-Yssell and Groninghen with the Omlands have but one Lord a piece in the Council besides that the Commissioned Lords in the Council are by som Provinces called and summoned to attend their Land-daies so that they cannot bee continually present here again though there might Commissioners bee present here of five Provinces if one of them should fall sick or were otherwise hindred to appear should not the rest then beeing for persons the Major Number though not just of five Provinces bee able to proceed and act then it would follow that the Council chamber ought to bee shut up at som times to the great disservice of such as com up in necessarie affairs of the Land which require a present and readie dispatch and many times can brook no delaie at all as it is well known doth happen very often but the Council beeing so framed that each Counsellor hath his own Vote and the conclusion is carried by the pluralitie of voices it was more fit That if but five Lords were present without regard had of what Province the same might deliberate and resolv upon all matters as also it was the Custom that no process of any matter of importance could bee determined without at least five Lords present though smaller ordinarie businesses might bee dispatched by a less number the Council trusting the intention now to bee no other Touching Artic. 44. they said They were well contented with the allowance the Provinces afforded them and the reglements made or to bee made about the satisfaction for the Freights Convoys and Charges of their Travels without drawing any other vacations nevertheless they hoped there was no alteration intended in the 300 Gilders for Hous hire the laie monie about 8â— Gilders the Cony-monie about 64 Gilders and the ordinarie laies upon the farmings beeing they were things used and enjoied from all antiquitie The 46 Articl they said was taken according to the old Instruction of the year 1588. when as there were three Secretaries appointed for the Council of State each with an Entertainment of 800 Gilders per an And three Secretaries there were then becaus the Council in those times was fain according to the occurrences of affairs to divide themselvs som here som in other Provinces and in the Leageurs where the Secretaries had all the Dispatches with the profits and emoluments thereof they beeing dead there were no others put in their rooms so that since the year 1605. all was lookt to by one Secretarie and accordingly his entertainment was augmented and hath been above these 30 years enjoied by the predecessors of this present Secretarie viz. up to 1400 Gilders as may bee seen by the State of War in Anno 1628. whence this is extracted The present Secretarie they said had remonstrated to the Great Assemblie his 34 years service in several qualities and having been Secretarie for above nine years did upon good grounds then specified sue for an augmentation of the foresaid Entertainment of 1400 Gilders which request of his was by Resolution of July last 21. returned to the Disposition of the Ordinarie Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. Therefore the Council trusted and dâ—d recommend to their Hi. Mi. that they would bee pleased to take it into such consideration that instead of lessening the Entertainment it may rather bee somwhat amended and hee not discouraged but rather cheared and animated in his faithful service To the 49. they said That the Counter-Seal was wont to bee kept by the Lord President in the Council but in regard of the troublesomness there beeing oftimes divers Commissioners and other Dispatches to bee Sealed without the Councils sitting the Seal was therefore committed to the hands of the Secretarie of the Council who kept the same in a peculiar Box under lock within the Council-chamber and delivered yearly a particular List of all the sealed Dispatches and the dues received for the same together with such monies as were emploi'd there for publick businesses though but of small importance This they said had been in use thus for many years and that if any alteration was desired therein the same might bee don but it was worth considering whether this service and troublesomness should bee undertaken gratis To the 51. they said they referr'd the same to Artic. 35. whereby this also might bee considered of The 52. they said was conform to the 6 th of the old Instruction which had it been thus followed the Council was of opinion it would have produced so good a fruit from the practice of and advice for any alteration that they might have taken the oath in behalf thereof without scruple and should not have been troublesom now to their Hi. Mi. with this Remonstrance Trusting nevertheless that there will bee so good a regard had unto it as that the Council may swear to the Instruction without scruole and perform and practise the same with tranquilitie of minde to the best advantage and service of the Countrie which they said was their onely aim in all this And thus the taking of the Oath upon the said Instruction was put off for that time As for the Lords which henceforward were to bee employ'd in the name and behalf of the Generalitie in any Ambassie Commission or any other Deputation of what nature soever whether within or without the Land it was decreed alreadie August last 10. that they should bee prohibited and forbidden to receiv any Honoraries gifts or presents from any at any time neither themselvs nor by any other directly or indirectly in what manner or under what pretext or title soever of what qualitie and how small soever the same shall bee all upon pain of infamie and incapableness of any Charges Employments Offices or Benefits whatsoever for ever and that likewise the said Receivers or Accepters of presents shall ipso facto bee and remain deprived of all such Charges Employments Offices and Benefits as then they may have enjoie or bee invested with and all this without any connivance mitigation or moderation besides other arbitrarie punishment to bee inflicted upon them of which Resolution Copies were sent to all the publick Ministers employ'd at present in behalf of the said Generalitie in any Ambassie Commission or Deputation as well within as without the Land for to govern themselvs according to to the Contents of the same without failing in the least particular Next daie the Lord Wimmenum presiding at the Assemblie hee offered to their Hi. Mi. consideration whether according to their former Resolution of Octob. 9. 1638. the Commissions of the Lords Deputies from their Hi. Mi. going for Flanders to renew the Magistrates there as likewise the Lords Commissioners for deciding going to Mastricht ought not to bee performed hereafter without the charge of the Generalitie by the ordinarie laies respectively
Sovereigntie Resort and Homage And Secondly that the foresaid particular Lords by the Contract of their foresaid Sale and Transport they have notoriously past away no more right or autoritie over them then the Instruments of Investiture and the specification of the Fiefs do contein and hold forth Which for all the Concession of as well higher as middle and lower Jurisdiction and divers other both honorable and profitable rights and prerogatives made over to the said Lords do therefore withall in terminis give up unto them all manner of functions and requisites necessarie for the Direction and Government of a Civil Societie it followeth evidently that whatsoever serving to that end and not belonging to the immediate exercise of Sovereigntie is not expressly and by name set down in the foresaid Letters the same ought to bee left and reserved to the Cities aforesaid As indeed the same distinct Right thereof over the said places belonging on the one side to the Lord in respect of his Enfeofment on the other side to the Citie-Magistrates Ratione Juris publici may yet further bee asserted First from certain immunities and privileges particularly granted unto the foresaid Cities and their common resort for their particular accommodation by the the Earls and Countesses of Zeland som even after the time that the said Cities were under particular Lords which are things without dispute and to bee seen in the Records of the said Cities Secondly from divers Contracts Transactions and Agreements solemnly made as well of old as later times betwixt the Lords on the one and the Governors and Commonalties of the said Cities on the other side And particularly from the Contract made in the year 1530 between Adolph of Burgundie as Lord of Flushing and the Burgamasters and Governors of that Citie touching the mainteining of the Citie-works to the Sea-ward and the collecting of several Incoms and means arising there a certain distinction beeing made therein between partie and partie both for charge and benefit thence accrewing where is likewise mention made not onely of nulling or repealing a former Contract but also which is worth noting in the Citie 's behalf that this was don after due and Legal communication had with the Principal ones and Commons of the said Citie the whole Contract also beeing confirmed on the one side with the Seal of the Lord and on the other with the Seal used for the Citie-affairs As likewise Prince William of Hon ble Memorie in the year 1582 granted unto those of Flushing aforesaid for their support and relief and towards the mainteining of their Sea works the Herring-toll there and Heir's-right together with the handtoll under certain conditions set down at large in the said Concessions The like Agreements and Contracts both touching the fortifications and other matters were made at several times between the Marquises and the Citie Veer respectively All which could not stand in Law if the Governors and Inhabitants of the said Cities were wholly and without any exception depending on their Lords and could not in any wise bee considered without them as also in such a case beeing all one with their Lords it is plain of it self that they would not bee able to make any Contract with them Siquidem nemo secum contrahit It appear's Thirdly also very evidently by the Agreements and Transactions entered into and past by the said Cities without their Lords apart and in particular with the States of this Province For proof whereof doth serv especially among others that which past between the said Lords the States of Zeland and the Citie of Flushing in the year 1585 touching the Indemnitie desired by them upon the ensurance made to her Roial Majestie of England By which Letters or grant of Indemnitie obteined then there are engaged to them and put into their hands all the Domains Means and Revenues of the Earl and Earldom of Zeland within that Citie and resort thereof with autorization that of their own power they may seiz upon the same for the Indemnitie of the Citie their Citizens and Inhabitants against all damages and prejudices which by reason of the said transport or surrender the said Citie might chance to suffer in their Domains Incoms and otherwise or any of their Citizens and Inhabitants in their concernments Beeing that the foresaid Letters and Acts of Indemnitie note well were granted to the Governors of Flushing for themselvs and their Inhabitants in particular and upon their particular Request without any use made in that behalf of the name and intervention of his Excellencie Maurice beeing at that time the Lord of the place And that which is more yet those of Flushing among other points and articles delivered in by them to the end aforesaid one was besides the satisfaction desired in particular for themselvs that content might bee given likewise to Count Maurice for his Interest making thus express distinction between the interest of the one and that of the other As also it is notorious and appear's by the Registers that after the foresaid Act of Indemnitie for the Governors and Inhabitants of Flushing expedited Septemb. 23 1585 the Letters of Indemnitie for his Excellencie aforesaid in case that through the foresaid Garrison of the Queen of England his Jurisdiction Domains Houses and Rights should com to suffer any damage or inconvenience for all the instance of those of Flushing aforesaid and the earnest sollicitation of the Lord Bruninex Counsellor to his Ezcellencie were not granted till December thirteenth ensuing It beeing true withal that the Magistrate and Citizens of Flushing for the caus abovesaid having been engaged by a particular Oath of Fidelitie to her Majestie aforesaid they were afterward June 14 1616 particularly likewise released thereof And therefore was it very pertinently said in the 9 Article of the Grant or Charter given to those of Flushing by his Excellencie Prince William of happie memorie in the year 1574. That according to their antient Privileges they are sufficiently qualified and antorized to treat transact and dispose of all matters and affairs belonging to the foresaid Citie Fourthly the grounds of the former assertion are conspicuous also from the Contracts and Transactions made as well by the Lords as the Governors of the the said Cities intervening and for their distinct interest with other forrein Princes and Potentates An example whereof wee have in the Agreement made in the year 1612 between the Commissioners of the States of Scotland by autorization of the King on the one part and the Commissioners both of the Marquiss and of the Citie of Veer on the other concerning the foundation of a Staple for the Scotish Wares within the said Citie in most of the Articles principally engaging the Magistrate there and in the solemn Signature thereof the Deputies of the Marquiss standing separated from the Commissioners of the Citie All which had been to no purpose and could not have been don without incongruitie if the Magistrate of the foresaid two Cities
had no power and autoritie in civil matters without their Lord but absolutely in all things depended on him Fifthly the same is put out of all Controversie in regard of the particular Domains Revenues Royalties Lordships and Offices which the said Cities of old have had and still own the proprietie of and whereof they ever had the sole and full disposing without any intervention or opposition of the Lord. By reason whereof also it is expressly said in the 5 Article of the Charter aforesaid granted to those of Flushing by Prince William That they shall have power yearly to Commissionate the Rent master or Treasurer for Receiver of the Revenues particularly belonging or appropriated to the said Citie And for further proof may bee added that the foresaid Rent-master is bound yearly to bring in a due Account of his Receit and Administration together with his Evidences and Remains before and in the presence of the Burgomasters and Senators without making any mention of the Lord or his Commissioners passing by the very Counsellors beeing that they are particularly put in by the Lord for the administration of Justice as also to this very daie there is not the least notice taken of those things in the Lord's behalf Upon which ground also Artic. 7 ensuing the King 's Domains are pertinently distinguished from the Citie-Revenues And Artic. 8 it is again declared that the Burgomasters according to their antient privileges should have the Disposing of the Citie Revenues to emploie them to the use there rehearsed without any mention made of the Lord. It beeing likewise known that in conformitie hereof the Districts and and Lordships of Soutelanden and Coudekerck do particularly appertain at present to the Citie of Flushing the Lord not pretending the least Right or Direction therein As also in times past the Lordship of the Oost Capelle belong'd to those of Veer which afterwards they alienated to their own benefit without needing or seeking for the consent of the Marquiss And further it is as well known that both the foresaid Cities for the maintenance of their said Revenues Domains and other Rights sustein and prosecute all processes of Law actively and passively in their own name and at their own charges as likewise the Sentences pronounced in that behalf are directed to and executed accordingly onely in relation to the said Cities Sixthly the same is also strongly manifested thereby that the Cities aforesaid were privileged and autorized of old as is expressly agreed by Artic. 9 of the foresaid Charter of Prince 〈◊〉 of their own power to make themselvs such Ordinances Statutes and Inhibitions for both Civil Justice and Goâ—ernment as they shall finde good and useful for themselvs and their Inhabitants The same right and power beeing grounded partly upon the Jus directum Universitatis alleged above and partly upon the free concession of Count William or other their Lords for the better direction of the Civil Societie of the said Cities In which regard it is likewise remarkable what is further said in the tenth Article of the foresaid Charter That viz. in Case of Discrepancies in opinion about that point and differences arising thereupon about Conclusions the same should bee reserved to bee determined by the Discretion and sentence not of the Lord or Marquiss but of his Excellencie as Stadtholder of the Province assisted with the Senate in the name of the Earldom an evident testimonie that the said Cities in the point aforesaid are all subject to their Lord's feodataries In the seventh place the Assertion aforesaid is also confirmed thereby that the Collation or Conferring of most of the Offices regarding the Administration of the Civil Government there doth appertein not to the Lord but unto the Cities themselvs by reason whereof also it is notably declared Artic 7 of the Charter above-mentioned That the Burgomasters Senators and Counsellers of Flushing have the Autoritie for to create all Officers requisite for the service and maintenance of the Government there where the Officers requisite for the maintenance of the Lord's Autoritie are all of them plainly and expressly distinguished from the former Insomuch that as among other things the Lord is qualified and wont in the foresaid Cities to appoint in his own behalf for the direction and assistance of justice the Bailifs and Secretaries and for the administration ofhis Domaines and survey of the works standing on his charge certain Rent-masters and Clarks so on the other side the Cities were privileged of old not onely to appoint peculiar Treasurers and Receivers over their proper goods and revenues but likewise partly in matters of Government such as are called Assessores Universitatis Surveyors of the fortifications Water-Clarks Porters and other Ministers partly for assisting and dispatching of justice the Orphant-Masters the Sâ—out or Sheriff and elected Senators of the lands quadri-partition the Commissioners and Secretaries of the land-right together with the Clerks and messengers and som likewise to oversee the poor and hospital and other attendants belonging thereunto So also do the said Cities use of their own autoritie and without the privitie or knowledg of the Lord not onely to send their Deputies to the Assemblie of the Provincial Government but also to Commissionate som persons both for the Commissioned Council and Court of the Admiraltie as likewise for the Chamber of Accounts and the States of Wolcheren besides the Elections which are made by them too out of the Nomination of the triple number for Adventures in the East and West-Indie Companies And all this originally from that power which directly belong's unto them in matter of Policie and Government and out of respect of the particular and singular interest which the foresaid Cities have in the Conservation and prosperitie of the Province Eightly The same may further bee deduced out of the manifold Privileges and Immunities granted unto them not onely by the Earls and Countesses of Zeland as was told alreadie above but also by forrein Kings and Princes as well if not more in favor and respect of the Governors and common Inhabitants of the said Cities then for their subaltern or subordinate Lord's sake Whereunto among others especially relate's a certain Privilege given them by King Edward of England in the year 1475. to Henry van Borssele as Lord of Veer together with the Burgomasters and Governors distinguished from the Lord as also the general Inhabitants and Commons of the said Citie which then were or should bee hereafter Which kinde of Privileges especially there beeing many of them are of that validitie and weight in regard of the foresaid Cities and must so bee understood in Law that although the Lords thereof should either committ any felonie or delinquencie against the Earl as the direct Lord or have given to the said forrein Potentates any just caus of offence and merited thereby to bee deprived of the Disposition and Contents of the foresaid Privileges so far forth as concerneth them nevertheless the same could not bee
the direction and well-ordering of Government it is requisite besides that there bee chosen som likewise which are constantly versed and well-experienced in affairs Besides that therein also specially consisteth the assurance and freedom of the Cities that as the charge and emploiment of Common Counsellors ought to bee every where firm and permanent so likewise all manner of functions in matter of Government bee as near as may bee conferred upon the Members of the said Councils onely Where it is likewise very considerable that by the abovesaid Charters the Election of both Burgomasters out of those nominated of the Common Councils and Counsellors out of the Commonaltie is left to his Roial Majestie to wit as Earl of Zeland beeing that the qualitie of the Lord as concurring therein is not all exprest nor the Designation of his Majestie in this behalf ever used in all the Charter Which nevertheless had been very needful in every regard if so bee that the meaning of Prince William had been to gratifie the King as Lord of the said places above the advantages and prerogatives mentioned in the Letters of Investiture with sundrie other such eminent Concessions forasmuch as of Right all Collations of Roialties whether of Vassaâ—s or otherwise ought to bee made plainly and in express downright terms such as admit not any arguments of presumtion or inference to the contrarie But besides that same beyond all this would yet imply divers other palpable contradictions and absurdities against the qualitie and function wherewith his Excellencie was then invested as was demonstrated above it is undoubtedly to bee held that it was as far from his Excellencie's intention as the East is from the West Not onely for that the King so grievously persecuting him at that time had merited no such thing at his hands but also becaus the same could not bee admitted then to the use and exercise of such eminent Roialties with any safetie and quiet of the said Cities as also that none knew what â—sâ—ues and events were like to ensue upon the war begun and the Differecâ—es then arisen And therefore it might well bee said and asserted upon good ground that although their Excellencies and Highnesses of happie memorie did successively expedite the foresaid Election that nevertheless they did it not as Lords of the foresaid places but as Stadtholders and in the Name of the Earldom The rather becaus his often abovesaid Exrellencie Prince William made the said Election there from the year 1574 to the year 1582 inclusively at which time hee first became the buyer of the two foresaid Lordships no otherwise and in no other qualitie then as Stadtholder of the Province and that it was likewise most reasonable and equal that the Magistracie of the foresaid Cities beeing made integrating Members of the Earldom's Sovereign Government with so many prerogatives of the Earldom should depend of the Earldom if not entirely and altogether yet at least for the most part And howbeit that it will bee instanced the appointing of the Counsellors cannot bee disputed to the Marquiles or Lords of the foresaid places beeing the power thereof is expressly given them by the Letters of Investiture yet it can no waies bee conceived or imagined how or upon what ground the said Lords or Marquises should have any right or autoritie over the Election of the Common Councils or of the Burgomaster as the head and chief members thereof Beeing that to the Office of the Consul or Burgomaster there is peculiarly committed the Ordinarie Direction and Command in all Civil affairs touching as well the Administration of the Citie 's Goods and Revenues as the welfare and protection of the Cities Concerning which the Feodatarie Letters of the said Lords and Marquises forasmuch as now especially they must bee considered as integrating Members of the Sovereigntie do not make the least mention Notwithstanding that those very Letters were granted many years before the date of the Concession of the foresaid great Privilege and since the date thereof to this daie were never couched in any other terms then they were originally and therefore cannot contein more now then was granted and conferred upon them at the original investiture A manifest token that there appertein's no share nor autoritie to the Lord or Marquises in the present Government of the said Cities and that whatsoever hath been indulged to the Bailiffs Burgomasters Counsellors and Common Councils thereof in that behalf the same is not derived unto them from the Lords but onely from the Earldom Which is the more to bee credited yet forasmuch as in the Judgment of all those which are versed in these matters it is held altogether incompatible and contrarie to natural reason that one and the same persons Court Societie or Universitie in the said qualitie shall bee Vassal and Independent together of the Earldom and on the other side comprehend such a considerable and main part of the Sovereigntie it self on the one side to do Oath and homage and on the other side to receiv it to bee subject and command all at once As therefore it is well known that in som of the neighbor Provinces som Cities could not bee made Members of their Provincial Assemblies but after that it was solemnly resolved by the States of that Countrie the said Cities should alwaies and solely depend of the Earldom without ever beeing to bee reduced or engaged any more to any particular Lords The said States alleging this reason in the Letters solemnly past thereupon That thus they do and did for the securitie of their Province besides that it could not but caus a great undervalue and disrespect to the Governors of integrating Members of the State 's Assemblie to bee chosen by particular and subaltern Lords to saie nothing of the disservice to the common interest which in many regards would unavoidably ensue thence All which Considerations of what reflexion and weight they are your N. M. will easily judg according to their wonted wisdom and determine by their Resolution Holding nevertheless under correction that hereunto is not contrarie that both here and elswhere som Ecclesiastical persons Gentlemen and Citizens beeing Subjects and Vassals of the State do constitute a part of the Supreme Magistrate beeing that the same doth not appertein to them as to Vassals but as Commissioners or beeing the first and worthiest of certain Bodies or Orders whereof the foresaid State is composed Nor that it is contrarie to this or implieth any contradiction that many of the foresaid Common Councils are appointed and emploied by the Marquiss for the administration of Justice and keeping of his Right Lordships and Roialties there beeing that in Law one and the same person considered in divers respects may without any incongruitie or confusion bee emploied in distinct services and engaged under several Oaths as might bee instanced and verified if need were by many examples and autorities And consequently the persons which from among the foresaid Common Councils may bee appointed
choosing join'd with the Magistrate The Prince had found good that besides the Baylif Burgomasters and Schepens there might bee chosen by the Citie som of the ablest men thereof into the Common Council and Citie-Court And that according to the Text of the Charter for the governments or civil administrations of the said Cities without making any distinction between Burgomasters Schepens and Senate or of the autoritie or advantage of them As it is likewise well known that from that very time hitherto the whole Common Council there is consisting of the Baylif in the Lord's Name the Burgomasters Schepens and Senators and that by them all affairs of Government without distinction are transicted whether they concern the Citie or the chief Government of the Province As also in the same Cities the Schepens besides their employment in the aâ—ministration of Justice do perform all the functions els of Senators and Common Council And both indeed take one and the same oath and that which is more yet it may appear by the oath which is taken from the Senators of the Citie of Flushing that the Schepens are the Principal Members of the Citie Council The words run thus This I Senator do swear alwaies to do the common advantage of the Câ—tie with those of the Law Item at all times when I shall bee summoned upon any oath to repair to the Law of Flushing to hearken there and to give advice thereunto and to follow that which shall bee given mee to understand there That which by the Lords of the Commissioned Council is further deduced in the 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82 and 83. Articles of their Considerations touching the institution and employment of the Common Councils all to this end to make men believ that in Zeland matters of Government belong not to the Counsellors but all Autoritie and direction thereof to the Common Council and Senators with seclusion of the Schepens To that the Council of his High s reply That such as bave any knowledg of the Government of the Cities of Zeland and those of Holland they may easily apprehend and understand that this may onely bee said of the Government of the Cities in Holland And is no waies agreeing with the Government of the Cities in Zeland beeing that there is no Citie in Zeland where the Counsellors are excluded from the managing autoritie and deliberations of affairs of government whether they concern the Cities in particular or the Supreme Government of the Province It is manifest and known to every one That at Middleburgh there are no affairs of Government transacted but by the College or Court which is called a Wett and Raedt a Law and Senat consisting of Burgomasters Schepens Counsellors and Raedens Senators The like use and practice is observed at Zireck-zee In the Citie of Goes there are indeed no Counsellors or Common Council at all nor in the Citie of Tolen neither the whole Government consisting there both for Policie and Justice in the Burgomasters and Schepens Whence followeth answerably that the Positions and Inferences of the Lord of the Commissioned Council in the 84. 85. 86. and 87. Articles of their Considerations touching the manner of the Election of Magistrates and the persons from among whom the same was made of old and is now made at present are groundless altogether and cannot serv to their purpose and intentions But on the contrarie those very Articles include a Justification of the Lord Marquiss in that which they meant to deprive him of That namely the choosing of the Magistrates hath of old belonged and so continueth to this daie to the Lords of Flushing and Veer As likewise the same Lords electing of Burgomasters and Schepens can bee shewed and verified by the Registers of the said cities for the space of about two hundred years It would withal make a very strange construction if one should argue according to 84 article of the consideration of the commissioned Council That the Prince for in the matter of Nomination and election of the Magistrates to make an equalitie with the cities of the Earldom by the said Privelege depriving the Lords of Flushing and Veer of the free Election which to that time hee had made ex arbitrio without Nomination and prescribing an Order according to which the Election to bee made out of the precedent Nomination now as to this by that Order the Election it self should bee taken away from the Lord. Moreover it turn's likewise for the advantage of his High s that it beeing presupposed even according to the sence of the Commissioned Council themselvs that Prince William his meaning aim and intention had been to equalize the two Vassal-cities with the cities of the Earldom There is no probabilitie at all that the said Prince should have been minded to introduce such a form of Government into the said two Cities as was not known in any of the Cities of the Earldom as namely whereby the Schepens should bee secluded from the cognisance and deliberations of matters of Government as is deduced above Nay on the contrarie it appear's plainly that this was not the least part of his intention or meaning by the very text of the said great Charter in several Articles where mention beeing made of the Government of the Cities all the disposition is put conjunctim to the Burgomasters Counsellors and Senators and no where to the Senators alone As also it cannot so much as bee conceived that the Prince should in that conjuncture of time have been willing to undertake such a notable alteration as to withdraw the cognisance and deliberation of Policie whereof depend all the important affairs of the State from the lawful and antient Magistrate and against the usual order of Government observed in all the Cities of Zeland to reduce and confine the same onely to the new Senators As for the contents of Artic. 88 of the foresaid Considerations it shall serv for replie thereunto to saie that a perverted fence is put upon the contents of the Charter there whenas the said Article averr's that the Election to bee made out of the nominated persons as well of Burgomasters as Schepers should bee left to his Roial Majestie as Earl of Zeland beeing that the qualitie of the Lord is not expressed therewithal nor the Designation of his Majestie any where in all the Charter exhibited by that Name Whereas the contrarie hereof is unanswerably manifest by sundrie Articles of the foresaid Charter as for Example in that of Flushing Artic. 2. That his Majestie shall appoint a Bayliff for to keep his Majestie 's and the Citie 's Rights Artic. 7. that the Burgomasters Schepers and Senate shall create the Officers requisite for the good of the Citie and maintenance of Government the King's Majestie 's autoritie and domains remaining still entire and so likewise in the 24 and 34 Articles of the Charter of the Citie of Veer That the Fishermen shall not bee allowed to sell their fish upon the
stream but bring the same for rebate into the foresaid Citie and pay there the dues of the Clark-office belonging to his Majestie All which Articles have relation to the Domainial Rights belonging to his Majestie there not as Earl of Zeland but as Lord of those two Cities For further verification whereof doth serv that the King having by a Decree of the great Council at Mechelen in the year 1563 remained Buyer of the Cities of Flushing and Veer with the Charges lying upon them Though his Majestie did not satisfie the same nevertheless hee carried himself as the Buier and Proprietarie of the said Cities and the Domainial Rights thereof Which is evidently proved thereby that the conditions and cautions whereupon the Marquisate with the foresaid Cities were sold to his Majestie in the year aforesaid by the said Decree do expressly import That the prerogative of representing all the Nobles of Zeland the second State of the Countrie aforesaid from all times belonging to Lord of Veer the same Right and Prerogative should likewise remaine to the Buyer In pursuance whereof his Majestie also gave Commission Junii 21 o 1568 to the Lord Adolph of Burgoigne to take special heed in the King's behalf of the said place of Premier Noble and that in terms as followeth Whereas the Lord Maximilian of Burgoin in his life time Marquiss of Veer used as Premier Noble of our Countrie and Countie of Zeland by reason of his Marquisate of Veer and the Citie of Flushing to com and appear in person or by his Plenipotentiaries into all the Convocations and Assemblies of the General States of this Countrie and that the foresaid Cities are devolved of late to Us by purchase wee found good therefore to ordein and commissionate a certain qualified person in our Name to act in that behalf as Lord of these Cities so as the exigencie and opportunitie of times shall require and likewise to help and further the good weal and profit of the said Cities in the same manner as the fore-named late Marquiss of Veer was wont to do in his life time c. By the deduction of which instance there fall's to ground the contents of the 89 90 and 91 Articles of the oft-mentioned Considerations there beeing otherwise also no question here about gratifying the Marquiss above the advantages and prerogatives mentioned in the Letters of Investiture with any other extraordinarie ones But whether the Sovereign Lord may dispossess the Lord Marquiss of his Domainial Rights That which the Commissioned Council somwhat doubtfully seem to infer in the Artic. 92 and 93 and afterwards positively assert Artic. 112 That hitherto the Princes of Orange had made no Election of the Magistrates in the said Cities as Lords of the places but onely as Stadholders of the Earldom and that through their deceas now the said Election should bee devolved again into the bosom of the Earl The same is manifestly a wrong conclusion grounded upon untrue premises since the contrarie thereof can bee fully proved out of the Letters of Nomination which from the time when the Princes of Orange purchased the Marquisate in the year 1581 the Magistrates of the foresaid Cities have yearly writen to their Highnesses for the making of the Election which Letters can bee produced in originali shewing That their Highnesses have made the said Election not as Stadholders but as Lords and Marquises of the said Cities Whence the Lords of the Commissioned Council may bee desired to consider the reasons which their Nob. Artic 94 saie could not bee conceived or imagined how there should belong any right or autoritie to the Lords Marquises in chusing of the Common Councils or of the Burgomasters as the Heads and chief Members of the same As likewise the contents of Artic. 95 namely That the Direction and Command in all politick affairs should peculiarly bee committed to the office of the Burgomasters which above is proved not to agree with the Government of any Citie in Zeland beeing that the affairs of policie or Government in the said Cities are referred to the Buhgomasters Counsellors and Senators and not as in Holland to Burgomasters and Senators or Common Councils with seclusion of the Counsellors That it is true indeed that the Feodotarie Letters contein no more now then the original first Letter of Cession Erection and Investiture of the years 1477 and 1555 above-mentioned as also there is no more right pretended to by his High s then by those Letters is conferred upon him But this onely is stood upon That the Right of Electing the Magistrate which undoubtedly is comprehended among the Rights whereof the Letters speak and hath been acquired by the Prince his forefathers by lawful Title and they and their Predecessors have had in peaceable possession about two hundred years cannot bee taken from them True it is that as the 97 Article hinteth the Bailiff in the name of the Lord the Burgomasters Schepens and Raedens are they to whom conjunctim the rule and government of these Cities beeing made integrating Members of the Sovereigntie stand's committed by the foresaid Grant or Charter of the year 1574. And that the same which is granted to the Cities in that behalf deriveth from the Earl But as for the share or autoritie of the Lord Marquiss in the present or former Government of the foresaid two Cities and the incompatibilitie of one and the same person or bodie Collegiate beeing Vassal on the one side and obliged to make oath and do homage and on the other side to bee an integrant Member of the same Sovereigntie and to receiv oath whereof is spoken by the Commissioned Council in the 98 and 99 Articles of their Considerations together with what is deduced to that purpose in pursuance thereof to the end of the Considerations aforesaid To that it is replied in his High s behalf That from that there can bee nothing at all inferred for the impairing or taking away his High s Right touching the Election of the Magistrate's persons Considering that according to the Laws Aliud sit Magistratus aliud Magistratûs functio sicut aliud est Praetura aliud Praeturae administratio aliud Jurisdictio aliud Jurisdictionis Exercitium So also it is quite another thing the Right of Electing the persons of the Magistrate and the Right function and autoritie belonging to the persons of elected Magistrates whether the same derive directly from the Earl as Soveraign Lord or by the Marquis The Lord Marquis having by his lawfully acquired Right from the Earl elected the Magistrates persons The functions and employments requisite for the Magistracie do belong to those Persons co ipso that they are elected to the Magistracie Burgomasters and Schepens sitting in Judgment do administer ex mandato Jurisdictionis de Justitiâ The Baylif Burgomasters and Counsellors with the Senat transact the affairs politick whether it concern the Citie ex Jure publico Universitatis belonging to them without the Lord or in
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
assigned thereunto but it was onely found good that the said Deputies should regulate themselvs according to the appointments determined July 18. by the great Assemblie for the vacations and Journies or Travelling Exspences After that Septemb. 16. it was agreed that all such persons as should bee put in any charge or office by their Hi. Mi. the Council of State the Generalities Chamber of accounts the respective Courts of the Admiralties the Councils of Braband and Flanders respectively as likewise by the Court of the Vryen at Sluys shall bee demanded whether they had seen and considered the Act against Corruptions published July 1. of this year 1651. if not that before the swearing of them the same shall bee read before them and they further demanded whether for the getting and obtaining of the said office or employment they have not trespassed against that Act and bee readie to take the Oath here ensuin g The form of the particular Oath whereby according to their Hi. Mi. Resolution of Novemb. 16. all such persons are to bee sworn as shall bee put in any place or office by the Generalitie I A. B. declare and swear That for the obtaining of this office I have neither directly nor indirectly presented promised or given nor shall promiss or give any gifts or presents to any persons either within or without the Government under what pretext or title soever So truely help mee God Almightie Of which Resolution several Extracts together with som Copies of the foresaid Act against Corruptions were transmitted to the foresaid Council of State the Generalities Chamber of accounts the Courts of the Admiralitie the Councils of Braband and Flanders respectively as also to the Court of the Vryen at Sluys to the end the same may bee respectively kept and observed and seen kept and observed On the 20. of Novemb. there was presented before the Lords of the Ordinarie Assemblies of their Hi. Mi. the frame of an Oath according to which they should promiss and swear That they would not take accept or enjoy neither themselvs nor by their wives children or others in relation to them or any other whatsoever nor by any under hand-dealing sale exchange or any other waies directly or indirectly any Gifts or Presents of any thing how small soever even to eating and drinking wares from any persons whom they should know to have or likely to get any business before the Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. for pretending seeking or having obtained there any Charge Office Benefice Grant Sentence Resolution in any business or for expedition thereof under what pretext soeÌ„ver whether it were before or after the business shall bee transacted or dispatched and in case they should have received or enjoied any such gifts from any one whom afterwards they understood to have somthing to do at the foresaid Assemblie which at the time of their receiving the said gifts or presents they knew not of that thereof they should give notice to the said Assemblie and forbear directly or indirectly to recommend any such business by themselvs or others to either the Assemblie or Members ihereof But for the present there were onely taken Copies hereof by reason of the consideration lately presented by the Council of State upon the 35. Article of their Instruction Somthing there is to bee said yet of â—he Princely Hous Mortuaire How the Agreement was made between the Princely Guardians or Administrators for the yong Prince of Orange the same hath been deduced above but there remaining unadjusted yet the point resulting from the Act of the late Prince given to the Count of Dona touching the Government of Orange as also whether the Magistracie in the Citie of Breda and elswhere places assigned for the Princess Royal her Dowrie should bee constituted onely by her or by them jointly their Plea's were were heard for som daies together about it in the latter end of November before the High and Provincial Council to whom they had amicably compromitted and and referred the said two points But the said Princely Guardians met with a more important Difference yet though not among themselvs but with the States of Zealand about the Cities ter Veer and Flushing called Vassals for that they belonged not immediately to the Earldom but to the Prince of Orange as Marquis who by reason of these two Cities and as Premier Noble the chief Nobleman had three Voices or memberships of the seven in Zealand and having besides that the placing of the Magistrate in Middleburgh Ziriksea and Tolen Goes onely beeing exemt had the full and absolute direction in the said Provinces Nevertheless the nature and disposition of the Zelanders as well as of the other Netherlanders beeing inclined to Freedom they did for a great while hitherto support the said direction of the Prince the rather for that commonly and of necessitie hee must sway it by an under-Director with som impatience for the asswaging whereof the late deceased Prince was fain to alter the Direction and commit the Direction to other hands This was no removing of the absolute Direction but onely of the Director therefore the caus remaining still the same the impatience remained in like manner To this came also that those which had the present Direction labored very much still during the Great Assemblie against the intentions of Holland who for that very purpose sent to the State's-Assemblie in Zealand the Lords Opdam de Wit Nyport and Ricce who made in publick the Proposition of April 25 above-recited But under-hand there was discovered or given to understand that there was a design on foot to engage the State in difference with England for such Interests as did nothing concern the State that the Provincial libertie was undermined and means used to continue the Direction or Government Oligarchical committing all to the hands but of a very few and those none of the best The Ministers and Commons at Middleburg were alreadie besides that extremely unsatisfied with those which had the Direction there and were invested with all the principal offices It was laid to their charge that they did many things contrarie to the privileges of the Citie which caused at last a total change of the Magistrate at Middleburg as oftimes it happen's when outward ordinarie medicines are destitute of operation that nature it self begin's to work a change within The storie and occasion hereof is that the Cities of Zeland had according to the example of Holland undertaken and resolved to make henceforth their own Magistrates saving still the Rights Privileges and good Customs of the Cities onely supplying the defect of the Stadtholder and doing themselvs what hee did otherwise The Directors at Middleburg for to retain the Government there had so contrived the matter that the Right or Custom of certain twelv Electors who were all to bee strangers or forein-born Citizens was much impaired in the Grant for the Citie of Middleburg and the Election almost totally put into the hands of those that were
suppressed and that therefore hee was constrained now for to bee duly and sufficiently freed from all the suspected street-violence and other insolencies together with his wife children familie servants moveable and unmoveable goods and unmolestedly to attend in due manner upon the discharge of his offices to applie himself unto this Court desiring their provision herein Whereupon order was given to the first sworn Messenger to go to the place where it shall bee requisite and there in the name and behalf of the Supreme Magistrate calling to his assistance if need bee the officer of the Pleek to put and take the foresaid Lord Thibant his wife Children men and maid-servants and whole Familie into the protection and safegard of the supreme Magistrate Commanding moreover all the Commons ' Companies and all other in name and behalf as above upon pain of Death and Confiscation that they neither do nor caus to bee don to the foresaid Thibaut his wife children men and maid-servants and the rest of his familie any manner of injurie in bodie or any of their goods great or small by words or deeds in any kinde beeing that in the name and behalf of the Supreme Magistrate they had put and taken and did put and take hereby all the foresaid persons and goods into the protection and safegard of the Supreme Magistrate aforesaid And to the end that none may bee able to plead or pretend ignorance hereof and every one beware of trespassing in this kinde they charged him to make publick Proclamation hereof in the usual places of promulgations and where it shall bee requisite Advertising therewithal all Justices Officers Ministers and subjects of the foresaid Supreme Magistrate that hee executing this seriously to assist and obey him therein as they stood in aw of the Supreme Magistrate's indignation and would avoid their peril The foresaid Exploiter or Door-keeper arriving at Middleburgh hee made his address to the Magistrate who demanding his Warrant and having taken it into deliberation they found not good that the same should bee proclaimed least the Commons might thereby bee the more irritated both against the matter it self and to the endangering of the Messenger himself who thereupon returned back again without performing the Exploit And the Magistrate finding som passages in the said Protection to bee contrarie to the Truth they sent Senator Morthamer and Secretarie Beaumont to the Court Provincial whom they informed otherwise and in such sort that the Protection was call'd in again and promiss made that the Magistates of Middleburg themselvs if need required should protect the said Lord Thibaut and caus him to bee protected sufficiently against all injuries One night the Lord Thibaut his brother in Law Peckius went about to set up the foresaid Protection in som of the chief passages at Middleburg and to publish the same but by command of Burgomâ—ster Vette accidentally passing that waie one of them was torn from the wall and immediately the Round doubled for to finde out who set it up by and by som bodie beeing discovered busie som where with putting up the like hee for fear of beeing apprehended flung away his Hat Coat and Sword and shewed them a good pair of heels The things found beeing brought before the Senate it was soon known they belong'd to Peâ—kius who beeing sent for and questioned about it after som tergiversation hee confest the deed and was thereupon commanded to depart the Citie without ever returning into the same This alteration having happened at Middleburgh and consequently in all Zeland the four Cities thereupon by virtue of an antient Resolution and taken before the alteration took in hand the business of the Vassal Cities Whether and how the same henceforward might or ought to have Voice among the States Whereupon presupposing that the Prince of Orange had constituted the Civil Magistrate there not as Marquis of ter Veer and Flushing but as Stadtholder of the Province they determined that the constitution thereof was now of it self necessarily revolved to the States through the Stadtholders Deceas and that they had power now to pass the Grant thereof unto the said Cities if they desired it or els to do it themselvs or in case the said Cities should continue to suffer the constitution of their Magistrates to bee made by the Prince or his Administrators then to refuse them Voice and Session among the States The Advice which the Commissioned Council thereupon presented in writing was this here ensuing Copie of the written Advice of the Commissioned Council of the Lords the States of Zeland bearing date Septemb. 1. 1651 touching the Distinction of the Right belonging on the one side unto the Countie or Earldom and on the other side to the Marquis or Lord of Flushing and Veer in regard of the Magistracie and Civil Government of the same FOr the pertinent handling whereof there must bee taken into consideration three different cases concerning the said Cities First in what state and condition these places were before they came under the particular Lords Vassals of the Earldom Secondly what their constitution was under the said particular Lords And Thirdly how the foresaid Cities ought to bee considered after that in the beginning of the War they were admitted Members of the Sovereign Government of this Province As to the first this must bee held for assured unquestionable that although an Earl of the Land in those times could justly claim not onely the Power of Sovereigntie and Resort but likewise all manner of Jurisdiction and Roialties in the same nevertheless there remained and belonged also to the places themselvs ex jure publico Universitatis som proper and peculiar autoritie in matter of Government distinct and separated from the Earl's Command in the behalf and among their own Common Inhabitants As likewise it is notorious that there can no Universitie or Bodie Politick bee otherwise rightly constituted sine aliquo Exercitio Juris publici Therefore it appear's also that the same places before ever they came under any particular Lords had several Elections and Privileges granted and confirmed them by the successive Earls and Countesses for the use of them and their Inhabitants and the administration of their own Government as is manifest among other proofs by the old Citie-rights and Charter given by William of Hanolt as Earl of Zeland to them of Flushing in the year 1315 and afterwards renewed and amplified by the Ladie Marie of Burgundie in the year 1477. Which thus premised it is further known and notorious that the foresaid Government having originally appertained to the said Cities ex Jure Publico the same was not taken from them but contrarily left entire when afterwards by the Earls and Countesses of Zeland they were sold and transported to other Lords It beeing plain for the proof thereof First That the said Earls or Countesses in making those Cessions have according to the Tenor of their Instruments expressly reteined no more to themselvs then the right of