being chosen King of the Romans to Hungary 1411 leaving Engelbert Earl of Nassau 4th Governour of the Netherlands whom the Emperour assists in the settlement of the Government the Pope seconding his Temporal Power with his own Spiritual who being hired by the distractions between Holland and Flanders about the Sea resigned his Charge to Albert Duke of Saxony who with his Master Maximilian the K. of the Romans went into Holland settling the Towns as they passed making a Peace between them and the Flemins and punishing the Mutiniers at Harlem and Alâ—mar Ruining the Factions by their own fears and jealousies keeping under the Frizons and Gelders by a new Protestate sent thither by the Emperour Maximilian untill Philip the 2d Arch-Duke of Austria was by his Father Maximilian possessed of the Netherlands 1494 under whom the Duke of Saxony defeated the Factions of Friezland by pretended kindnesses whereby he set them one against the other while both delivered to him their strong Holds which he made so good use of that they appeal from him and his Son George to the Emperour who yet stood by his Governour who in return for his Masters kindness brought them of Friezland after some redress of grievances by their Commissioners to pay his Master the 21th penny of all their Estates putting 6 men to govern there while he reduced the Groningois notwithstanding the Protection of the Earl of Embden and the followers of Col. Vyll about which time a child spake in Holland in the Mothers belly and Philip of Austria being now King of Castile dyed and left Charles the 2d of that name the 35th Earl of Holland and Zealand Lord of Friezland Duke of Burgundy and Lemburgh Luxemburgh Shiia Corinthia Earl of Flanders Artois with many other Marquisates and Principalities to which he added Millain Overyssel Gruningen Cambray and Cambresis his Grandfather Maximilian the Emperour being his Guardian and his Aunt Margaret Dowager of Savoy his Governess under whom Ann of Burgundy that had recovered and walled in many lost Islands in Zealand dying Budwyen was taken and razed the Geldrois Groeningois with the Earl of Embden are conquered Prince Charles taking the Netherlands into his own hands from the Dutchess of Savoy and the Duke of Saxony by the assistance of the Lord of Iselsteen under whom he constituted 7 Governours of Justice in Friezland when he went to Spain for that Crown upon Ferdinand of Arragon his Grandfather by his Mother side death and to Germany for that Empire upon his Grandfather Maximilianâ—s decease settling Margaret of Austria Widow of Castile and Dowager of Savoy the 37th Governess of the Low Countries whose Hâ—rring-busses being seized by the Danes they mutiny seize Newport distract Friezland pretend Religion and fly to the Duke of Gelders until the Imperial Forces came down and awed them insomuch that Groningen yeelds to the Emperour as did Dam Weddra Coeuoelden Huttem Megen Vtrecht and most other places the Gelders being not able to hold out against the Power of Spain and Germany Upon the Dowager of Savoy's death Mary Dowager of Hungary and Sister to Charles the 5th is the 40th Governess of the Low-Countries under whom the new Chanel was made between Brussels and Antwerp the Anabaptists were discovered and banished the War betwixt the Lubeckers and the Hollanders was managed by Vander-burch van Comper and the new Haven at Middleburgh was begun 1536 and the notable surprize upon the French ships was acted in this manner There being a War between the Hollanders and the French some French ships rid along their shore snapping up their Vessels and themselves somtimes in bed whereupon 50 tall Dutchmen well Armed hearing of these ships went in a Hoy lying under Hatches and covered with Sacks of Wool out of the Mase towards them who boarded it but when they were busie about the Sacks of Wooll they were entertained so rudely by those 50 men with Fire-works and Granadoes that they all fled and left 6 ships Prizes to one Hoy to be carried to Delph and sold Now likewise the Emperour brought the Geldrois to a muteny that dismantled their Towns razed their Forts and laid the Faction open to their Soveraigns Power who spoiled the Abetters Abeâ—ters of their Conspiracies the French at Sea and brought this unquiet People that rebelled every year for 527 years together to so good a temper that they presented him at Genoa with 15000 Florens of Gold a Province and quietly submitted to the Resignation he made of those Provinces to his Son at Brussels who now by the name of Philip the 2d of Spain and Lord of Austria by Emanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy his Viceroy demanded of the Netherlands Supplies for the payment of his Fathers debts who would allow him none unless forsooth he allowed a Convocation of their general States and then but a moyety neither of what he demanded and was necessary for his settlement And not onely so but notwithstanding that he honoured their chief Nobility as the Lord Horn William of Nassau the Earl of Egmont with the order of the Golden Fleece at Brussels they created such fears and jealousies between the King and the Noblemen that it was reported who were upon the refusal of the Tax designed for the Block who for the Rack and who for perpetual Imprisonment insomuch as that there was a perpetual Feud between the Court and the Nobility till the Government was dissolved all things being represented to the worst especially the Earls of Egmont and Lornes carriage at the Truce between France and Spain at Bruges and at the Treaty between the same two Crowns at Cambray Their King was yet so intent upon obliging them that he appointed them a Council of State for matters of importance as Peace War and Treaties with forreign Princes A Privy-Council for Lawes Pardons Justice c. and a third Council for the Treasury of which Councils they themselves were the major part their most eminent Nobility being advanced as the Earl of Egmoâ—â— Governour of Flanders and Artois The Prince of Orange Governour of Holland Zealand Vtrech and afterwards of Burgundy Jo. de ligni Earl of Arenbergh Governour of Friezland Overyssel Groning and Leagen Charles de Bunen Governour of Gelderland and Zuphten the Mâ—â—morencies and Hornes of their respective Provinces all subject to Margaret of Austria Dutchess of Parma and Sister to the King of Spain when the very first instance of the ungrateful mens Power is a Petition to their Soveraign a Spaniard himself to remove all Spaniards from the Netherlands A Petition the good King easily granted though to the displeasure of many of his Courtiers that had quitted their whole fortunes for employments there diverting his very Army which should have kept them in better obedience to his War in Barbary And when they had prevailed in that they give out that the Spanish Courtiers would be revenged of them and that the chief Nobility of the Netherlands the Subscribers to that Petition were designed
to ruine a Counseâ—lor of Spain it should seem a Pensioner of Holland coming in great hast to the Earl of Egmont thâ— Lord Horn and others at Chest in Gaunt with news that all those that consented to the Petition for the removal of the Spaniard the great Patron of the peoples Liberty should be put to Death when yet his Majesty parted from them friendly 26 Aug. 1357. recommending to them the maintenance of Religion that general stay of Government the finishing of the new River from Antwerp to Brussels for the conveniency of Trade the erection of Doway University for the propagation of Orthodox Learning and the impression of the Complutensian Bible for the â—dvancement of Religion four excellent Designes but so far envyed by these undutiful people that they suspected the last as a Plot as if the Printing of the Bible were a stratagem against Religion and cryed out against the third as a breach of their Liberties CHAP. II. The Revolt of the Hollanders from their natural Allegiance 1564 and the management of that Revolt till they became a Free State FOr you must know that about this time these good People weary of their ancient Government began to search for their old Charters Priviledges Bulls of favour Customs of which they pretended one was That no Popish Seminaries such as Doway was should be built upon their Frontiers another That they should suffer no violence forsooth their Kings must wear a Sword in vain a third That no persons should be admitted to Office unless he swore to be faithful to the Prince and people and a fourth That they might meet and act without their King but he could do nothing without them and that if he presumed to do any thing otherwise they were discharged of their Alleigance These and other Moth-eaten Liberties belonging to the Dutchy of â—rabant if to any at all since the Contract with Maximilian May 16. An. 1488 together with the jealousies about Religion and the murmurings about the tenth Peny when their King was onely intent upon the settling of their Government by that Tax and the prevention of Anabaptistical outrages such as that in Munster by his Proclamation against turbulent Innovaters were alledged first against the Inquisition which yet Mary Dowager of Hungary lately regent graciously suspended upon their Petition at Antwerp That she should not spoil their Trade by her overmuch zeal for Religion And now they had got that surmize of the Inquisition into the multitudes heads every thing the King did was termed the introducing it for his Majesty no sooner observing that the four Bishops of Cambrey Arras Tournay and Vtrecht were unable to oversee effectually the 17 large Provinces of Belgium set up 14 new Bishops by the Pope Paul the Fourth's Order and Cardinal Granvill's solicitations than they declaim against them as so many new Inquisitors and their respective Prebends as so many assistants in Persecutions insomuch that the Earl of Egmont their Admiral finds out another Charter wherein it was declared That the Ecclesiastical estate could not be enlarged without their consent and dispatcheth some Burgemasters with complaints against dead Trade and new Bishops to Spain where observing the Kings resolution to assert his Government against these popular surmizes they remonstrate that his Majesty did ill to act without the concurrence of the Lords the States and at their return home raised such Tumults and discontents as might give opportunity to the Lords to meet an opportunity they imbraced wherein they unanimously agreed to a manifesto of the state of the Countrey to be delivered to Margaret Dutchess of Parma their Governess containing first That the King was misled by ill Councellors Secondly That Cardinal Granvill the principal Person the King relyed on should be removed as their Declarations sent by Montigni and others Aug. 16. 1562. March 11. 1563. into Spain out of their Assemblies which the Tumults made necessary for the good Governess to call too frequently out of which some Lords to palliate their Ambition desired to be dismist to which his Majesty returns gracious Answers whereat they pretended dutiful submission while they made their combination effectual which they had no sooner done than they tyre the Governess with her Assistant the Cardinal with their debates and divisions in all Meetings that he retyres to Spain and they raise Tumults at Harlem stop the Courts of Justice at Antwerp make a breach with England 1564 that made to the great prejudice of their poor people who improved the Commotions for a whole year together In a word such was the apprehensions and fears that were wrought in the people that Groningen Leeur-warden Duenter and Ruremond do violence to their Bishops and Clergy Ourwexgen Abbey is robbed all the Clergies Power and Jurisdiction is questioned matters are aggravated on both sides to dangerous debates notwithstanding the gracious Answer his Majesty vouchsafed Count Egmont Count Horne the Lord of Brederode and others upon their respective addresses to the Court of Spain in behalf of that unquiet people Whereupon his Majesty thought good to settle Religion as he did by his own and the Dutchess of Parmaes Letters which the Grandees opposed with the bare consideration of the present Commotions though all the World knew they were the Authors of those Commotions as appeared upon the very first publication of the Kings Letters touching the Council of Trent when there were Libels the fore-runners of Sedition contrived by a great Lord containing Complaints and Exhortations in the name of the people to the Noblemen about their Priviledge and the Kings breach of promise scattered up and down in three or four streets of Antwerp wherein amongst other things they directed the Grandees to cite the King to the Imperial Chamber about breach of Promise and the infringement of their Liberties This bold Libel and other false reports of which this one to incense and injealous the Nobility was most malicious viz. That the King of Spain should say that it was but folly to busie themselves with Frogs they must first fish for the great Salmos meaning Horne and Egmont brought the Netherlanders to an expostulation with their Soveraign why he should decree any thing concerning them without their consent And a popular Tumult against these four Points The Inquisition The new Bishops The entertainment of the Council of Trent and The decay of Trade Insomuch that most of the chief Noblemen the Prince of Orange the Marquess of Bergen the Earles of Egmont Horne Hockstrate the Lord of Brederode met with the Male-content Princes of France and Germany under the pretence of an entertainment at Breda and Hockstrate where they heightned one anothers animosities to that degree of discontent as produced a private League among themselves and a Publick Manifesto of the state of the Provinces by Francis Baldwyn an Outlawed but cunning Person they sent for and consulted out of France wherein among other matters it was expressed 1. That the Mind could not be forced
and that the Conscience should be free 2. That Religion consisted not in outward Ceremony but in the inward Perswasion 3. That the King should hear every mans perswasion and endeavour to convince them 4. That the Scripture should decide Controversies 5. That every peaceable man should be allowed free exercise of Religion whatsoever might be his perswasion because all the World could not hinder a Religion that is of God 6. That several abuses in the Church whereat the people were offended should be reformed 7. That the King should think none could be true to him that was not faithful to God 8. That the Masters of the most useful Trades and most large Stocks in the Nation would desert it upon the first settlement of the Ecclesiastical Government to enjoy the Liberty of their Consciences and go to Embden France and England with whom likewise â—the best Souldiers and Gentlemen would take this occasion to withdraw 9. That the strength of Kings is the love of their Subjects whereof the most considerable are they of the Religion for Birth Interest Parts Estates Prudence and Learning 10. That it is no new thing to tolerate divers Religions the danger of a Countrey proceeding not from private Opinions but from secret Passions and Interests which together with the noise made of trouble and War which they pretended most to fear who most promoted them put the discontented Nobility assembled at the Prince of Parmai's marriage at Brussels And afterward at St. Tradon after a Declaration how much pity it was that so populous a Countrey should be ruined by evil Counsellors upon a resolution to Petition his Majesty in the name of the people for their ancient Rights and Liberties and for the further prosecution of the affairs to enter to mutual Oaths to stand by one another that what wrong was done to any one should be done unto all a Confederacy that gratified the Hopes of many improved the Fears of more and disturbed the Minds of all men altering the very Face of the Government the King and Church being awaked to a resolution and Rigour on the one hand and the People to a Fury and Madness on the other it being among other matters bruited abroad that the Duke of Brunswich should Levy 10000 German Horse to reduce them to subjection which together with the French suggestion of their approaching desolation and the German Princes aggravation of their Slavery when all their neighbour Countreys were free and they were themselves Members of the Empire and so should enjoy the priviledges of the Pacification at Passau adding that their Kingdom was Elective and that upon six such Articles as their King had broken That by the Feodau Law that King their Lord had forfeited his Right to his Fee by fellonious actings on their goods and lives and many more unseemly allegations in Private discourse and Publick Pasquils encouraged the Contrivers of this disturbance to Commissionate Agents to remonstrate the case of the Provinces in the Imperial Diet then at Ausburch before Maximilian the Emperour and when the Governess had offered so much reasonable moderation as prevailed with the more modest part of the Knights of the Order and other Noblemen interceding likewise very zealously with his Majesty of Spain for the confirmation of it the People are taught to protest against their Governours proceedings as to compliance with the Governess and his Majesty in their four seditious Petitions to the King and State which were no more than so many sawcy Menaces what would follow if they were not gratified in their Propositions that were not so much vouchsafed the honour of a perusal as were not the other unmannerly Remonstrances of Gaunt Bruges Ypre Hondschoon about the decay of Trades and Handicrafts and those of Flanders about Liberty of Religion carried on in a most Tumultuous and Riotous manner by a Rabble of Geux or Beggars as my Lord Barlement called them upon which appellation they coyned Meddals with the Kings Picture on the one hand a Wallet and a Dish on the other with this Inscription Faithful to God and the King even to bear the Wallet and presented a rebellious Petition by the Lord of Brederode to which the unquiet people would take no answer but an allowance for all their factious Assemblies for the time past and a full Liberty to their Consciences for the time to come with â—ecurity that all matters should be hereafter transâ—cted with the consent of the Estates Yea and notwithstanding as can did and satisfactory a return as could be expected the Gentlemen of the Confederacy as they were called fearful of the consequences of their Seditions and Mutinies exasperated the people with strange Letters bearing Date An. 1615 which they discovered threatning them and their Adherents with extremities intimating the mighty Sea and Land preparations which enflamed the Countrey into a general sedition and combustion that provoked the Government to Rigour on the one hand and incensed the Populacy to Tumults on the other The chief Conspirators judge the humour so high that they might work upon it and to that purpose order an Assembly amongst themselves for the Government An Assembly I know not whether more rediculous as wherein some were attired in Fryars Gray others carried Foxes-tailes in their Hats others carried Dishes and goods like Beggars their servants crying God save the Beggars Or more dreadful all being rude and unruly which yet the Princess invited civilly to Arschor and Duffel the one 6 Leagues the other 3 from Antwerp where a daring Petition is delivered to the Earl of Egmont and other Grandees who under pretence of acting for the Governess betrayed her insisting on the very same things in their Hâ—rangâ—es that the Rabble did in their Petitions yea and enrolling underhand formidable Levies under pretence of their securities about Villevoord while Antwerp was in a Combustion by the Faction of Brederode who raised Forces for the Liberty of the Subject on the one hand as the Earls of Megen and Arembergh drew up Forces for the Kings Prerogative on the other The Prince of Orange taking this opportunity to seize the Government of the Place as Seditious Preachers did to usurp the Pulpits of it the Magistrates being jealous and distrustful of the Populacy and the Populacy of the Magistracy and all afraid of the 1200 newly levyed there Which general distemper being not a little improved by the approaches of the Duke of Brunswick's Army to the Borders they rescue some Prisoners in a Mutiny and create such fears and jealousies touching the Confederate Gentlemen as they were termed that they insist upon Assurance and Security The Ministers dissenâ—ions and disputes come to Tumults the Sectaries under which name all discontents were shrowded preach and hear in Armes upon pretence of Letters intercepted that the Droissard had 3000 men inrolled with Cartloads of Arms to Massacre all those of the Reformation upon the Ringing of a Bell A suggestion that enraged the Multitude to cast off the
Army was so likely to moulder away for want of pay that she thought fit to intercede for the distressed States with his Majesty of Spain and Don John by the Lord Cobham and Sir Fracis Walsingham and when that failed a Religious Peace as they called it which the States-General consented to was settled which bred great jealousies in the Provinces where many were still stiff for Popery especially at Gaunt till the Queen of England declared against them and promised notwithstanding that Duke Casimer and the D. of Anjou retired in discontent to stand by the Protestant States to the utmost as she did effectually having brought the Estates first to stricter Union and Alliance at Vtrech 1579 than that before at Gaunt and afterwards to erect a Council of State for the management of affairs whose very first debate was a Consultation about the alteration of Government to shorten the War and engage some Person in their defence The next was the taking and demolishing of several strong Holds that had been too serviceable to the King of Spain But their affairs not prospering they resolve upon the Duke of Anjou as their Soveraign upon 27 Articles signed on both sides with Medals coyned whereon were these devices Leonem loris mus li erat Liber revinciri Leo pernegat Pro Christo grege lege Religione justitià reduce vocato ex Gulliâ pacatâ duce Andegariensi â—elgiae Libertatis vindice vos terrâ â—go excubo ponto 1580 Si non nobis saltem posteris And that being dispatched they agree upon Martial Discipline and relieve Steenwich under the conduct of Sir John Norris who victualled it and raised the Siege having given notice of it in Letters which he shot in his Bullets The States-General in the mean time answering the King of Spain's Proscription against the Prince of Orange and providing against the insolences of the Papists by a restraint upon the exercise of their Religion at Brussels and Antwerp declare thus The States General of the United Provinces Guelders Holland Zealand Zuphten Friezland Overysel and â—roeninghen having declared Prince Philip of Austria second of that name King of Spain fallen from the Sigâ—ioâ—y of the said Provinces by reason of his extraordinary and too violent Government against their Freedom and Priviledges solemnly sworn by him having by the way of Right and Armes taken upon us the Government of the publick State and of the Religion in the said Provinces An 1581 having by an Edict renounced the Government of the K. of Spain breaking his Seals Counter-seals Privy-signets for new ones made by them in their stead and entertaining the Duke of Anjou nobly attended from England by the Lord Willoughby Sheffield Windsor Sir Philip Sidney Shirley Parrat Drury and the Lord Howard's son and recommended by the Queen who avowed That what service was done him she esteemed as done to her self and commended to him this one good Rule to be sure of the hearts of the People who invested him Duke of Brabant and Earl of Flanders wherein Dunkirke did import him much to keep a Passage open from Flanders into France as the refusal his Brother made of succour and his entertainment of French Nobility to the discouragement of the Netherlands did him much harm especially since most of his Followers were either men of Spoil or secret Pensioners to the King of Spain and he by their advice lost himself in his Enterprize upon Antwerp so far that had not her Majesties Authority reconciled them the States and he had broken irrecoverably though indeed they never after peiced For the Duke thereupon delivers all the Towns he had taken to the States retyring himself to Dunkirke while the Ganthoes and other troublesom men of the Innovation declared against him and for Duke Casimir And all the Estates humbly beseeched the Queen of England by General Norris to have mercy upon them in this woful juncture especially when the wise Prince of Orange was murthered by a fellow recommended to him by Count Mansfield and serving him three years to await this opportunity having time to say no more but Lord have mercy upon my soul and this poor People And the Spaniards during the States differences and the youth of Grave Maurice of Nassau who succeeded his Father carrying all before them insomuch that the King of France was so afraid to take the Netherlands into his Protection that he sent Embassadors to the Duke of Parma to remove the very suspition of it Especially when the Guisian League brake out upon him and the poor States had now none to trust to but the Queen of England who during their Treaty with France had made them gracious promises by Secretary Davison by whom by the Respective Deputies of their Provinces June 9. 1585 they absolutely resigned the Government to her Majesty who upon sundry great considerations of State refused that yet graciously sent them 4000 men under General Norris 184600 Guilders upon the security of either Ostend or Sluce and promised 5000 Foot and 4000 Horse under a General and other Officers of her own with pay For which the States stood bound giving Flushing Ramekins Briel and the two Sconces thereunto belonging into her hand for security and taking in her Commander in chief with two persons of Quality more of her Subjects by her appointment into their Council of State According to which Contract Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester is made Governour of the Low-Countreys for the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Queen of England to whom the whole Countrey did Homage receiving him as their absolute Governour though the Queen disavowed that as being likely to engage her too farr in the Quarrel and the States humbly submitted to her pleâ—sure in which capacity he set out Edicts for Discipline for the Treaty and Traffique which these troublesom people upon pretence of Liberty and Priviledg mutinied against to the great hinderance of the Earls proceedings insomuch that after he had born up their Interest as his entrance into the Government just ready to sink and taken Daventer Zuphten and other places he resigned his Government to the Council of State leaving a Meddal behind him on the one side whereof was engraven his Picture with these words Robertus â—omes Leicestriae in Belgia Gubernator 1587. And on the other side a flock of sheep scattered and before them an English Dogg with these words Non gregem sed Ingratos invitus desero Whereupon Deputies of Estates attended him with a Present a Cup as big as a Man and an humble supplication to the Queens most Excellent Majesty not to forsake them now in their low Estate so low that the King of Denmark thought fit to intercede for them to their own Leige the King of Spain while they in extremity devolve their affairs upon young Grave Maurice and declaring against the Earl of Leicesser's proceedings incensed the Queen so far that she called home General Norr is though yet Sluce had ben lost
Shallops 1631. And now Gustavus Adolphus held the house of Austria in play and Cardinal Richlieu set all Europe together by the ears especially engaged Spain their Enemy with the power of France Now Catalonia and Portugal begin to revolt and the French fall into Flanders notwithstanding the loss of Crun and Schenke and their defeat of Hulst being healed by the taking of Breda and the success at Lentz never hearkned to peace till they were acknowledged a Free-state at Munster 1648 where the peace was concluded Jan 8. which was confirmed at the Hague March 26 and published throughout this Republick June 5. 1648. CHAP. V. Their dealings towards the English BUt assoon as these ungrateful people had made an end of their War by the Truce 1607 and Commenced their Soveraignty they forgot their Protectors and did so much wrong to the English in the Indies where yet they had never traded had not we assisted them against the power of Spain then Lord of that Countrey in right of the first Discoverers of it amounted in the estimate of English Parliament 1606 to 1500000l sterling and had drawn out King James his sword which they painted nailed to a scabbard and provoke that Parliaments Resolve and Vote for a War or a Reprizal had not the High and Mighty humbled themselves and by all their Allies begged a Treaty that began to no other purpose but to busle and elude us at London 1613 ending a year after to as little purpose as it was begun had not their humble Petition renewed it 1615 at Londâ—n 1616 at the Hague 1619 at London where it was concluded with a general amnesty upon equal ballance of allowance for what was past and an exact Method of Trade for the time to come But how sincerely they observed either these Terms or their former Obligations to us is too evident from their Hostile attempts on Lantore Polleroon and other places in our possession by accord which they took razing our Forts there and behaving themselves Barbarously towards our people there both living and dead over whom they usurped Authority in all Controversies which they exercised most cruelly in Whipping Fining Imprisoning Sequestring and torturing them Besides that they forced them in Partnerships to be contented with their Accounts laying to their Bills what had been disbursed upon their private occasions it being indeed their business while we as the Subjects of a Noble Monarck contented with his own Dominions traded fairly there to invade Islands take and build Forts acquire Dominion and exclude all Partners Especially at Amboyna an Island fourty Leagues round near Surat where we traded for Cloves maintaining five Factors But these people setting up there four Forts with four Bulwarks belonging to each Fort and six great pieces of Ordinances mounted upon each Bulwark guarded by Dutch ships in the Sea round it did what they pleased a great while and at last torturing the poor Natives to allure the English of a pretended Plot and the English to charge the Natives where its not probable either would attempt so strong a place and people insomuch that CHAP. VI. Their Cruelty at Amboyna and the Judgement of God upon it FIrst * The Tortures at Amboyna They hoysed them up by the hands with Cords over a large Door made fast with two Staples of Iron at the top of the Door-posts as wide as they could stretch as they did their Legs too then binding a cloth about their necks and faces so close that little or no water could go by they poured the water softly on their heads till the cloth was full to the mouth and nostrils Insomuch that in drawing their breath they must of necessity suck in the water which with long continuance forced all their inward parts out of their Nose Ears and Eyes till they were almost stifled and choaked then would they take them down till they vomited the water and hoyse them up again till their bodies swelled to double their own proportion their eyes stand out of their heads setting burning Candles in the bottom of ther Feet while they thus hung till many times the fat dropped out the Candles as also under their Elbows in the palms of their Hands and under their Arm-pits till their very Inwards might be seen making the English believe the Japouers had accused them and the Japoners that the English had testified against them the poor Heathens crying O English where did we see you The English answered Why then did you accuse us And they replyed If a Stone were thus burnt would it not change its Nature How much more we who are but flesh and blood A cruelty unparalleld among Christians or indeed among men which therefore the God of both pursued with vengeance 1. In that King James and King Charles excepted the murders from the Indemnities that passed in their time between us and the Hollanders 2. In that a sudden Hurricano almost destroyed the Dutch ships in the Haven of Ambayna at the very hour of this â—orrid execution 3. In that the first Informer against the English fell down dead upon the very place where these men are buried rising again distrâ—cted in which condition he continued to his dying day 4. In that An. 1630 18 Dutchmen whereof three were guilty of the Massacre at Amboyna supping at Frankford in their way to Strasburgh boasted how they served our Nation in this place glorying in their shame which one in the Company noting and relating to two English Captains then in the Germane Wars whose Kindred had suffered there These two way-laying the Hollanders in a Wood with a Troop of Horse bid them stand willing them to prepare for death for they must dye The Dutch answered They hoped not so for all their money was at their dispose We seek not your money said the Captains but your lives for our Countrey men and Allies you murthered at Amboyna And so hanging up Johnson the chief Amboynist and giving the rest leave to throw Dice which of them should escape to bring the news of this to Holland they trussed up all but Jobs Messenger the odd man sent home to tell his Countrey-men that Doubtless there is a God that judgeth in the Earth Cruelty not to be paralleld among the Barbarous much less among Christians and especially between the Netherlanders and the English who when newly recovered from Popery and unsettled when engaged in Ireland and the Countreys about when governed by a Woman when threatned from Spain relieved the distressed Estates espoused their quarrel spent their lives and fortunes in their behalf So dear were those poor people to us that they seemed to be one Nation with us and their Cause and quarrel the same with ours being entertained by us with the affection of Brethren the love of Friends and the respects of Neighbours and Allies For which though they promised it before the year 1625 they never made any suitable satisfaction nor returned to us any of those Islands of Spices
Dutch were flush with a Ten years free Trade and we spent with as many years Rebellion when we were the â—dium of Mankind and they at least upon the account of that Quarrel the Darlings of Europe a handful of our meanâ—st and most inconsiderable of our People durst Vote That no Goods should be Iâ—ported or Exported into or out of England but in English Bottoms And when the Lords States forsooth took that in Dudgeon our bold fellows the King Lords and Commons standing by and not concerned Vote their Embassadoâ—r the Lord Joachim away out of England Octob 6. 1650 within a month at his peril at whose return the High and Mighty draw in their Money sink their Bank mistrust one another break all to pieces raise Fortifications cast Ordinances provide new Artilleries Yards Rendezvouz Militiaes and withdraw 200 Families at least to Hamburgh and the other Hans-Towns of Germany Yet so much Courage they had left as to scorn the pretended Embassadours our Mock-Governours sent thither insomuch that one Dorisla by name lost his life there and another Strickland was weary of it strike to his Majesties concerns as he was King of Great Brittain in most of their Treaties with France Portugal Denmark Sweden c. though yet in their General Meetings Jan. 20. 1651. they Voted our Tom Thombs a free State forsooth and Common-wealth and that they would transact with their new-coyn'd Honours about a Truce and that too by old Joachim who was sent packing but two Months before the Province of Holland having cast the charges of a War and considered that half the money might advance it to a Seignory over its Sister Provinces And all the Provinces being amazed at the Tempest that broke the two Dikes St. Anthonies and the Harlem-Dike to the ruine almost of Gelders Zuphten Overystel Friezland and Holland Upon the least suspicion of War up came Chimney-money Poll-money Excise on Salt Beer Vinegar Wines Butter Oyl Candles all Grains Seeds Turff Coals Lead Brick Stone Wood Linnen and Woollen Clothes Silks Silver Gilt Wagons Coaches Ships and other Vessels Lands Pastures Gardens Nurseries Houses Servants Immovable Goods all Seals They forbid all affronts to their Lordships forsooth Strickland and St. John They drink and that was a great Argument of the High and Mighty States good affection in continuationem prosperitatem Reip Angliae Notwithstanding all which complyance the paltery thing called Our Parliament stayed a Fleet of theirs in the Downs forsooth till further Pleasure because there was Cordage Powder and Ammunition in them under the Corn. Whereupon His Majesty prospering in Scotland and a Peace being made with France the Mighty make bold to tell Sir John That they cannot answer his Proposition touching a League Offensive and Defensive under four Months for that they must send to all the Provinces for their advise and consent in a business of so high a concernment and our High and Mighties take snuff and call their Messengers home to the no little trouble of their Brethâ—en who beseech and intreat their stay but to no purpose the young Usurpers being intollerable when ever intreated to be kind and when that would not do pass this Vote The States General of the Netherlands having heard the Report of their Commissioners having had a Conference the day before with the Lords Embassadors of the Common-wealth of England do Declare That for their better satisfaction they do wholly and fully condescend and agree unto the 6 7 8 9 10 and 11 Propositions of the Lords Embassadors as also to the 1 2 3 4 and 8 Articles of the year 1575 made between H. 7th and Philip Duke of Burgundy Therefore the States do expect in the same manner as full and clear an Answer from the Lords Embassadors upon the 36 Articles delivered by their Commissioners 24th of June 1651. And not only so But they nominate the Heer Bever of Dort and the Heer Vell of Zealand with old Joachimi for Agents to the Common-wealth forsooth of England remembring the old Motto in Queen Elizabeths time Si Colâ—idimur frangimur Especially when the men at Westminster gave Letters of Mart to several Merchants to make themselves satisfaction for the losses they had suffered by Pickeroons belonging to the Netherlands Whereupon they filled up their Embassy with min Heer Schaep delaying the matter till the Kings Majesties business was decided Their 11 East-India ships worth a Million were put to sale an 160 sail arrived from Bourdeaux Mounsier Borreel could not prevail in France and the bold ones at Westminster make an Act as they called it for Increase of shipping the improvement of Trade the encouragement of Fishing and Navigation so prejudicial to the Cities of the Rine which together with the surprize of so many Amsterdamers awaked them so farr that Van Tromp with 36 sail in three Squadrons was ordered to Sea first to the Straights and then to the Downs to secure their Monopoly of Wine and Currans and Agents dispatcht to Denmark Sweden Portugal and France to strengthen the War in behalf of it altering their Embassadors for England whither they send the cunning Head-pieces mine Heer Catz and min Heer Scaep the last whereof in the mean time treats with France about Dunkirk and with Sweden about Neutrality The English men discourse of 100000 for Amboyna the Herring-fishing free passage through the Shee ll and the cautionary Towns frighting them to a resolution with 152 sail to commence a War eight Dutch ships being taken by the English as they came from New found-land and the Swedish Embassador Speering dealing under-hand with the English insomuch that they forbid any ship to stir from either the Mase or Texel and Amsterdam offereth an no sail as Zealand doth 40 on condition its Petition be granted about Letters of Mart the States fortifying Briel and Flushing prohibiting the Exportation of any Warlike Provisions and making a stay of all English ships In the mean time a certain Faction crept in that disturbed their Publick Peace at Middleburgh and Dort because they mentioned not the Prince of Orange in levying Souldiers till Trump departed in July with resolution to find out the English Yet espying Sir George Aiscue in the Downs with a Squadron was not able to bear up with him because of a Calm wherefore he addresseth himself against Blake in the North attending some Indian Vessels and taking the Dutch Herring-Busses from whom a Tempest parted him to his loss as the night did De Ruyter from Aiscue onely he met with Captain Badileyes 4 ships in the Straights and took the Phaenix which was re-gained by Captain Cox in Portologn upon a Dutch festival night when during the heat of the Holland Carouses he stole upon it in a Boat in the habit of a Dutchman which success was indeed allayed by Captain Appleton's weighing Anchor out of Legorn Mole sooner than he should and so falling into the hands of 22 Dutchmen of War before Captain Badiley could come
leave upon pain of death 10. He that sleeps at a Watch or bewrayeth the watch-word must dye 11. Mutineers and unlawful Assemblers shall dye 12. None shall Quarrel with a Souldier or lift up a sword against an Officer on pain of death 13. He that leaves his Post and Breach dieth 14. He that deserts his Captain or serveth under two shall be imprisoned during pleasure 15. He that imbezleth his Armour Provision or Furniture is discharged 16. He that steals any Souldiers Furniture fore-stalls any Victuals Exacts on the people abusâ—th Tradesmen shall dye 17. He that resist a Proclamation assists any Mâ—lefactor disturbs any Quarters sets on fire any Building within the Camp or without makes any false Alarms knavishly shall dye 18. No man shall neglect an Alarm entertain a stranger converse with Trumpeters or Messengers of the other side loyter with the Carriages or Forrage abroad without leave upon pain of suffering what the Marshal or chief Commander pleaseth 19 No Captain shall undertake any Enterprize or be absent from the Watch without Order from the General 20. Neither Souldier nor Captain shall dismiss sell or ransom any Prisoner or Booty beâ—ore he hath presented him or it unto his immediate Officer 21. Every Souldier shall stand by his Ensign day and night till ordered to depart and observe and learn the sound of Drums Fifes and Trumpets 22. No Beast shall be garbaged no Easement made but at a distance appointed from the Camp 23. Whosoever delivereth any place left to his charge or keeping flieth to the Enemy or passeth any other way either in Town or Camp but at the ordinary Gates without Order shall dye 24. No man shall as they March make any cry at all at the putting up of any hair c. All other offences that may tend to disorders not comprimised in the foresaid Rules shall be punished as the chief Commander shall think fit These are the several Particulars whereby they rose to this Grandeur and opulency whereof some have failed and the rest are not able to bear up that Government which they altogether erected Gent It being so obvious from these reflexions to conclude their weaknesse it were necessary their present Case and Controversie should be favourably staâ—ed to their Neighbours for compassion or assistance Trav. They are more unhappy in the ground of this present Quarrel than in any of the fore-mentioned particulars Gent. As how Sir Trav. Why first In reference to trade and Fishing in the narrow Seas The present state and Controversie between us and the Dutch ALl the world know that we have Right to the Narrow-Seas for the Seas that surround our Island whither the Scottish the British the Irish or German were possessed and secured by the Brittains who fished so much upon them that they furnished the Hilts of their Swords with such fishes teeth as they took and traded so considerably that none came amongst them but Merchants Those Seas were by them transmittâ—d with their countreyes to the Romans upon the Conquest who as they managed the Government of the Land by Presidents so they did that at the Sea by an Archigubernacy or chief Governour and Admiral who seâ—ured Commerce took Prizes looked on the Coasts of Spain Italy and Affrica it self After the Romans the Saxons succeeded to this Right and Dominion and commâ—nded the Sea under a Count of the Saxon shore i. e. whatever Pava ollus saith to the contrary the Sea-shore Octa and Ebista under Vortigerne and Hergist commanding these Seas the Saxons and Danes keeping a numerous Navy to that purpose by such Tributes and Duties as they imposed upon their Vassals particularly Dane-ghelt for the Guard of the Sea Edgar and Canutus styling themselves Soveraigns of the Sea The Right and Dominion of the Seas passed with this Nation to the Normans as appears 1. From their Government the custody of the Seas being under an Admiral by Commissions from the several Kings maintained by Tributes paid in consideration of the said custody 2. From their Right in all the Islands lying on the Sea before the French shore 3. From leave asked alwaies and granted to Forreigners by the English to pass thâ—se â—eaâ— And those that asked leave were the Kings of Denmark and Sweden the Hans Towns in Quern Elizabeths time Hollanders and Zealaâ—â—ers themselves not daring to fish before they asked leave of Scarborough and Kâ—ng James proclaiming May 6. 1610. That none fish upon the English or the Irish Sea without leave obtained and every year at least renewed from the Commissioners appointed for this purpose at London But 4. Our Right to the Sea appears from the Limits we set to such Forreigners as Moderators of the Sea as 〈◊〉 at enmity with one another and at amity with the English 5. From the Publick Records wherein the Dominion of the Sea is ascribed to the Kings of England by the King himself and the Estates of Parliament with very great deliberation and in such express words as these Lords of the English Sea on every side all people accounted us Soveraigns of the Seas That our Soveraign Lord the King and his Illustrious Progenitors being Lords of the Seas would impose a Tribute upon all strangers the Kings of England have by right of their Dominions been Lords of the Sea these are the words of all Europeâ— by their Commissioners at Paris and made Laws Statutes and Restraints of Arms upon them together with Admirals that they should preserve their Superiority over the same 6. From the Laws and most received Customs of England that make the Seas the Patrimony of Eng. and the King by the old custom of Engl. Lord of the Narrow-â—eas and his Soveraignty there so ancient that they make the four Seas to be equivalent with those words within or without the Kingdom De mer Apourtenant au Râ—â—d ' Angleterre The Sea belonging to the King of England 7. From the Coyn called Rose-nobles of which its said four things our Nobles sheweth to our King Ship Sword power of the Sea 8. From the custom of striking sail on our Coast time out of mind 9. From the Licenses granted upon their humble supplications to the French and Flemings with limitted number of Boats to fish upon our Coastâ— 10. From the Prerogative whereby all wrecks and Royal fishes as Whales Sturgeons c taken in our Seas are due to the King of England onely or unto such to whom by special Charter he grants the same Stat. Edw 3. 17. The state of the Controversies in point of Injuries and Affronts with the Vnited Netherlands Trav HOw they forced us to trade at second hand 1. In Ternata under their Fort Tabuche 3 In Motir 3. In Tidore 4. In â—alvan Hillo Amboyn 5. At Bunda 6. Poleway 7. The Coast of Cormandel near their Arsenal at Jacatra 8. Their chief places Bantham Japan Jamby though we directed them to all these places How they represented us as Pyrates there and when they had done any mischief said they were Englishmen untill for our safety we were fain to distinguish our selves from them by the solemnity of Novemb. 17. and 5. How they contrived to blow up our Warehouses forbad us all Commerce upon Queen Eliz. her death made all Christians so odious that the first Question asked in those parts was Are you Flemmings How they seized our Yards Wharfs c. giving order to kill every Englishman that would not swear fealty to them upon the erecting of their Fort at Banna intending to put all English in an old ship and blow it up How they search and stop our ships give out that they are under a King Make us pay them Custom at Bantham How they seized our ships at Poâ—eway though the Island was given our King leading our men about streets with Halters about their necks and an Hour glass before them intimating that after that ran out they should be hanged How though the Mogul would not look on them till Sir Tho. Roe assured him they were our Friends they seized our Poleroon 1617 suborning the Slaves to burn our ships loading our men with Irons dismembring some setting others in their wounds in hard Grates wherein their Legs swelling so that they could go neither in nor out without a Carpenter pissing over their heads in Dungeons every morning and allowing them but a half-penny loaf and a pinte of water a day How it was proved at Jacatra that the States were seven years a plotting a War between the English and the Dutch at the Indiâ—s threatning likewise to land 60000 men in 24000 Flat-boats in England How they carried us in Cages from Port to Port boasting that our King was their Vassall How though between 1577 when we assisted them first in their Indian trade and 1625 they got 1500 Tuns of Gold in Private hands besides 400 in Common they used us in Amboyna They disputed our Right to the Sea stopped our entrance to and Trade at Bantham Scanderooâ— Guinee Angola c. burned â—â—ur Factories at Jambee How they surprized us at Guinee abused us in the restoring of the Island Polaroon which they have promised from time to time since 1622. How they gave us Law in the New Netherlands a spot of ground they held of us by curtesie How they put our men in nasty Dungeons at Castledelmina to lye in their own Excrements having not bread and water enough to sustain Nature leaving the living and the dead after exquisite tortures to lye together Injuries these with Infinite more of the like nature to the value of 600000l in goods being aggravated with their preparations for War to maintain them even when His Maâ—esty for three years together solicited them to justice and peace that make it evident to the World that War which is defined The state of two Parties contending by publick force about right and wrong is become necessary to us since equity is denyed and that we must put our affairs to the order of force when they dare not come to the Test of the Law Insomuch that I conclude That as few will pity this ill-natured and unhappy People at the end of the War as incourage them in the beginning of it FINIS