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
disburdening of the feeble Treasurie on the other is much better to bee obtained by our waie of Casheiring then by the effect of that of his High s wee therefore held it best seriously to remonstrate all this to his said High s and caused our Deputies to perform the same with many pregnant reasons and especially by a most exact Ballance of our Treasurie exhibited unto him whereby wee shewed That according to our waie the Rate of this Province would yearly bee eased more then by his waie by two hundred eighteen thousand nine hundred and fourtie Gilders 14 Stivers 2 d. Desiring in that regard that hee would bee pleased so to direct the business and recommend it to the rest of the Provinces that the Cashiering propounded by Us may bee expedited and accomplished with all speed At last after many serious instances applied to this end in vain wee found our selvs necessitated to make known unto the Generalitie that by reason of the weakness of our Treasurie wee were not able to grant or bear that which the Council of State desired of us and by the above-named project of the state of War was assigned and charged upon upon us and that consequently wee were absolutely enforced in part to excuse our selvs of that desire declaring that as to the continuing and paying of the before mentioned 105 Foot-companies and 32 of Hors together with other particulars expressed in the above-cited Advice of our Commission'd Council wee could grant no Consent And howbeit that by virtue of the Freedom which the respective Provinces ever had in matters of charging them even under the Dominion of their Dukes Earls and Lords themselvs in the strictest sence wee were not bound to give any particular reasons thereof or to use any persuasive means but might by the vigor of the said Freedom sufficiently have acquitted our selvs with a simple notification of discontinuing our Consent yet for to satisfie all wee forbore not to discover and laie before the Deputies of the States of other Provinces our Confederates at the Generalitie the whole State of our Treasurie and to deduce there all the pregnant motives of the foresaid Discontinuance at large and several times with solid demonstration That a less number of forces effectively would bee retain'd in service then wee had declared our Consent for if so bee that the State will entertain more then they are able to paie Nothing doubting but all this might and would have wrought a fair correspondence of the said Deputies with us and caused theirs by a faithful report of our foresaid Reasons and Motives especially of our great necessitie unto their Principals easily to dispose the same That the foresaid dis-banding of forces and lessening of charges might according to the antient order and old waie have speedily been set a work and effected Nevertheless wee not onely saw our selvs disappointed of any such effects but on the contrarie found to our great grief that the paiment of those charges which wee had consented to as before began to bee required at our hands insomuch that at last wee were constreined to declare unto the Generalitie as also in Januarie 1650 wee had formally declared that the Treasurie of this Province was not able any longer to bear the heavie charges imposed upon them during the Wars now the Peace had already continued so long And whereas every Province hath libertie each year to consent or not to consent to the Petition addrest unto them by the Council of State and likewise to accept of or to excuse the charges therin proposed according to every one's constitution and condition and that the said state of War was knownly nothing els but a Petition of the Council of State and so was transcribed and sent to the respective Provinces That wee finding the charges therein mentioned to bee insufferable for us had found good therefore to make difficultie and to yield no further then our Provincial Advice formerly return'd and often renewed there did import and that consequently wee were resolved in case the other Provinces could not bee disposed to the like to proceed to the execution of the said Provincial Advice according to the contents thereof within our selvs it beeing sure that the before-mentioned Freedom of consenting cannot possibly consist in a bare and emtie sound of words but in such effectual realities whereby one may hold himself free from paying such charges to the continuation whereof hee hath expressly declared hee cannot consent But then the Deputies putting us in som hope they would speedily bring in their Provincial Advices upon our foresaid proposals of saving charges wee again for further satisfaction 's sake to all superseded the foresaid execution for som further time and at the request of the foresaid Deputies continued to delaâ—e it from time to time until at last in the latter end of March and beginning of April next following their respective Advices were produced And notwithstanding our hopes that his foresaid High s the Prince of Orange of immortal memorie would have used som endeavors upon our serious and reiterated desires with the said Deputies of the Provinces of their Principals that the same might have conformed themselvs with our foresaid Resolution or however that his High s would so have directed the matter as that at leastwise they might have accepted of his High s former own proposals made unto us Decemb. 8 1649. Wee saw contrariwise to our grief the matter so carried that the Provinces remained far beneath them yet Allowing onely 55 Foot-Companies and 12 of Hors to bee disbanded and the rest of the Hors to bee reduced to 60 or 50 riders and the altering of the Cuirassiers into Carabins urging besides all this that the cashiered Ritmasters and Captains should still enjoie a pension of 1500 and 1000 gilders respectively the Lievtenants Cornets and Ensigns therein proportionably And whereas thereby wee should nothing near have been able to save the Moitie of that whereunto wee had forborn our Consent wee again most seriously represented to his High s the Prince of Orange the real Considerations whereupon our former Provincial Advice was grounded with earnest desire to approve and yet to recommend and second the same in dealing with the other Provinces which beeing denied by his High s and the Deputies of the Provinces insisting and pressing that the same Forces for whose continuance wee had not consented should bee entertained and paid by us for the most part beyond our abilities Wee thereupon according to the Right belonging to us andin conformitie of our above-mentioned Declaration presented to the Generalitie in Januarie 1650 began to consider how and by what means wee might best and most conveniently eschew the paiment charged upon us against all right and equitie in prejudice of our Freedom and to the intolerable burthen of our good Commons and consequently to put in effect our former Resolution of saving charges and yet before the effecting thereof the project beeing
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-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
the foresaid Deputies at Vtrecht the Deputies of the common Nobilitie of the Quarter of Nymeghen together with those of the Citie of Nymeghen and declared that having perused the Points and Articles of the said Union and what hath further been transacted by virtue thereof they found it good and thereupon by virtue of their Instruction sealed with the privie Seal of the Citie of Nymeghen and dated Febr. 12. 1579. have solemnly allow'd approved and ratified do allow by these promising like to the other Confederates to keep observ and follow the same and every point thereof in particular In witness whereof the foresaid Deputies of the common Nobilitie and Citie of the Quarter of Nymeghen have set their hands to it the daie month and year as above and was signed Gelis Pick Jan Kelfken Arent van Zeller Dirck Fleming Lambert Janssz Johan van de Have This daie March 5. there appeared in the Assemblie of the foresaid Deputies at Vtrecht the Deputies of the common Nobilitie chief and lesser Cities of the Quarter of Arnhim and declared That having perused the Points and Articles of the foresaid Union and what hath further been transacted by virtue thereof they found it good and thereupon by virtue of their Letters of Credence dated 18. and a certain Instruction dated Febr. 16. 79. both sealed with the privie Seal of the Citie of Arnheim after long and mature Deliberation have solemnly allowed approoved and ratified the same do allow by these promising in qualitie as before that like to the other Confederates they will keep observ and follow the same and every point thereof in particular In witness whereof the foresaid Deputies of the common Nobilitie the chief and lesser Cities of the Quarter of Arnheim have set their hands to it the daie month and year as above and was signed Alexander Bentinck This daie March 23. there appeared in the Assemblie of the foresaid Deputies of the United Provinces at Vtrecht the Deputies of the Cities of Lewarden Sneck Franeker and of certain Bailifs and Baily-ships with som particular Gentlemen of Friesland named in their Procuration and declared That having perused the Points and Articles of the said Vnion and what by virtue thereof hath been further transacted they found it good and thereupon by virtue of their foresaid Procuration dated March 12. 1579. have solemnly allowed approoved and ratified the same do allow approov and ratifie the same by these promising that like to the other Confederates they will keep observ and follow the same and every point thereof in particular In witness whereof the foresaid Deputies of the foresaid Cities Lewarden Sneck Francker and of certain Bailifs and Baily-ships together with som particular Gentlemen of Friesland have set their hands to it the daie month and year as above and was signed B. Idsaerda Jelle Sibesz This daie April 11. 1579. there appeared in the Assemblie of the foresaid Deputies of the United Provinces at Vtrecht the Deputies of the Citie of Venlo viz. Gerard van Lohn Herman de Laet Cornelissen of the Council Jacob Goris Senator and John de Groot as Deputies of the Commonaltie there and declared That having perused the Points and Articles of the foresaid Union and what by virtue thereof hath further been transacted they found it good and thereupon by virtue of their Instruction dated April 3. 1579. have solemnly allowed approoved and ratified the same do allow approove and ratifie the same by these promising that like to the other Confederates they will keep observ and follow the same and every Point thereof in particular In witness whereof the foresaid Deputies of the foresaid Citie of Venlo have set their hands to it the daie month and year aforesaid and was signed Gerard van Lohn Herman de Laet Cornelissen of the Council Jacob Grois John de Groot Forasmuch as his Excellencie ever held it expedient and needful for the Conservation and Maintenance of the common good the Rights and Liberties of the Netherlands to keep and entertain still good friendship unitie and concord among the Provinces of the said Countries the Cities also and particular Members thereof whereby the common Enemie may not onely more effectually by the common power and mutual assistance bee resisted and kept off but likewise bee dispossest and deprived of the means to sow or caus any misunderstanding and discord among the said Provinces Cities and Members thereof by reason of discrepancie in Religion and otherwise Therefore his Excellencie having seen a certain Vnion and Alliance made in Januarie last at Vtrecht between the well-born Lord Count John of Nassaw Lievtenant of the principalitie of Gelders and Countie of Zutphen and likewise those of Holland Zealand Vtrecht and the Frisish Om-lands betwixt the Ems and Lawers had indeed found the said Vnion good and allow'd of it although to the end the same might so much the better and with the more conveniencie and opportunitie bee presented to the Generalitie of the Provinces for to bee received with common consent and concluded into an Universal Peace Unitie and Concord of all these Countries hee hitherto deferr'd and put off the subscribing of the said Union And wheras his High s now together with a great part of the foresaid Provinces which hitherto have declared themselvs that they found it good and convenient such an Vnion should bee framed concluded and entred into for the better administration of the affairs of our common Father-land his Excellencie is likewise pleased now to declare as by these hee doth declare that hee doth accept of and will observ and hereby doth accept and approov of the foresaid Union lately made and concluded at Vtrecht between the foresaid Provinces as beeing assured that the Magistracie and Autoritie of the Arch-Duke is nothing impaired or lessoned thereby and vvhereas also the foresaid United Confederates are to assemble again very shortly further to settle and conclude about all the particular points and Articles of the said Union what may conduce to the more effectual and stedfast Concord of the same his Excellencie therefore further likewise declareth that hee will accept of and conform himself to the same Points and Articles so as by the foresaid Provinces of Gelderland Holland Zeland Vtrecht and others associating themselvs shall bee devised framed concluded and allowed In witness whereof his Excell cie hath underwrit his Name and caused his privie Seal to bee affixed to it in the Patent of the Citie of Antâ—erp May 3. 1579. signed William de Nassaw and lower was writen By permission of his Excell cie signed N. Bruninex This daie Jun. 1. 1579. the Plenipotentiaries of the Cities beeing assembled in the Cloister of the Jacobites at the Land-daie within Lewarden after they had heard the proposition of the Ambassador from the neerer Vnion at Vtrecht and that som of their Plenipotentiaries had been deputed to the said Ambassador more particularly in the name of all the rest to communicate with the said Ambassador and to peruse the
several Points and Articles of the said Union which beeing performed and report made to their fellow-Commissioners all the said Plenipotentiaries of the said Cities which underwrit these do declare that they have allowed approoved and ratified all the foresaid Points and Articles of the Union aforesaid do allow c. by these promising that like unto the rest of the Confederates they will keep observ and follow the same and every point thereof in particular as well what hitherto is don therein as what by virtue thereof shall yet further bee don and agreed on In witness whereof the foresaid Plenipotentiaries of the Cities have set their hands to this the daie month and year abovesaid and was signed with the names here ensuing writen by divers hands Julius van Botnya Plenipotentiarie for Francker Jurien Hendrieksz Plenipotentiarie for Franiker Henrick Jahrichsz Plenipotentiarie for Lewarden Jan Jansz substituted by Ayde Lammarts who had procuration and was from home Claes Hotthissz for the Council of the Citie of Sneeck Jacob Syverttz Plenipotentiarie for Bolswert Frans Jacob Frerekson for those of Bolswert Banne Peters Plenipotentiarie from the Burgomasters of the Citie of Ylst Jeltze van Galama likewise for Ylst Reynier Olfertsz for Staveren Willem Sippessz for Sloten Joh. Bettegh Burgomaster of Worcum Donne Abbesz likewise for Worcum Whereas wee George van Laling Count of Rinnenberg Baron and Banner-Lord at Ville Seigneur of Villierve Imbriechies Lievtenant and Captain General of Friesland Over-Yssel Groninghen the Omlands Drent and Linghen chief of his Ma ties Exchequer have found it expedient and very needful for the conservation and maintenance of the common-Weal Rights and Liberties of the Netherlands that there bee maintain'd all good friendship unitie and concord among the Provinces of these Countries and those under our Government as also among the Cities and particular members of the same whereby the common Enemie will not onely bee the more effectually withstood and kept off by a joint power and mutual assistance but likewise deprived of the means to sow or rais any misunderstanding or difference betwixt the same Provinces Cities or Members thereof by reason of difference in Religion or otherwise howsoever Therefore having seen a certain Vnion and Alliance as it was projected first last summer by our advice at Arnheim and made in Januarie last at Vtrecht and concluded there between the wel-born Lord Count John of Nassaw Lievtenant of the principalitie of Gelders and Countie of Zutphen and them of Holland Zeland Vtrecht the Friesish Omlands and others together with several Acts of approbation and acceptance of the foresaid Union by my Lord the Prince of Orange Lievtenant General of the Arch-Duke Matthias Governor General of the foresaid Netherlands dated May 3. 1579. wee do declare that wee have ratified approoved and allowed the same do ratifie approov allow and accept of the same by these beeing perswaded and sure that the Magistracie and Autoritie of the Arch-Duke's eminencie is no waies impaired nor lessened thereby Promising like the other Confederates to keep observ and follow the same and every point thereof In witness whereof wee have underwriten these with our hand and caused our privie Seal in Patent-waie to bee affixed hereunto Actum at Winse in the Omlands this 11 th of Jun. 1579. beneath was writen George van Lataines This daie July 10. 1579. there appeared in the foresaid Assemblie of the said Deputies at Vtrecht the Deputies of the Citie of Ypren viz. Sig. Jan van Lanquedul Law-keeper and M. Peter Balde Pensioner to the said Citie of Ypren who had declared that having perused the points and Articles of the foresaid Vnion and that which by virtue thereof hath further been transacted they found it good and thereupon have by virtue of their Letters of Credence and Procuration bearing date June 23. 1579. allowed approoved and ratified do allow c. the same by these promising like to the other Confederates to keep observ and follow the same and every point thereof in particular In witness whereof the foresaid Deputies of the Citie of Ypren set their hands to it underneath the daie month and year abovesaid signed Jan van Lanquedul M. Peter Balde This daie the 29 th of July 1579. there appeared in the Assemblie of the foresaid Deputies of the neerer United Provinces assembled in Vtrecht the Commissioners of the Citie of Antwerp viz. Sig. Jan van Stralen utter Burgomaster Voncker Philips van Schoonhoven Sig. of Wanroy of the Council Jan van Brecht old Counsellor Adam Verhult Colonel Valerius van Dale and Jan Gyssels Dekens who declared that having perused the Points and Articles of the foresaid Union and that which by virtue thereof hath been further transacted They found it good and thereupon by virtue of their Procuration bearing date July 22. and Letters of Credence dated July 23. 1579. have allowed approoved and ratified do allow approov and ratifie the same by these promising like to the other Confederates to keep observ and follow the same and every point thereof in particular In witness whereof the foresaid Deputies of the said Citie of Antwerp set their hands to it the daie month and year as above and was underwriten Jan van Stralen Philips van Schoonhoven Jan van Brecht Adam Verhult Valerius van Dale Jan Gyssels This daie the 13 of Septemb. 1579. there appeared in the Assemblie of the foresaid Deputies assembled at Vtrecht the Deputies of the Citie of Breda viz. Godert van Luchtenberg Burgomaster of the Citie Godefroy Montes of the Council and Lievtenant of the Colonel and Captain likewise and Christian Back Master of the Orphants and Ten-man who declared that having perused the Points and Articles of the foresaid Union and that which by virtue thereof hath been transacted since they found it good and thereupon have by virtue of their Procuration dated Septemb. 10 1579. allowed approoved and ratified do allow c. the same by these promising like to the other Confederates they will keep observ and follow the same and every point thereof in particular In witness whereof the foresaid Deputies of the said Citie of Breda have set their hands hereunder the daie month and year abovesaid signed Godert van Luchtenberg Godefroy Montes and Christian Back Frans-son This daie Febr. 1. 1580. there appeared in the Assemblie of the foresaid Deputies of the neerer United Provinces assembled at Vtrecht Sig. Guido du Bruecq of the Council of the Citie of Brugge who declared that they having perused the Points and Articles of the foresaid Union and what hath further been transacted since by virtue of the same they found it good and thereupon over and above the approbation thereof by Sig. Levin Steppe of the Council and M. Jacob Yman Pensioner of the said Citie of Brugge by virtue of their sealed Procuration of Nov. 7. 1579. made at Antwerp the 26. of the same month by virtue of Letters of Credence and sealed Procuration both dated Januar. 25. 1580. have allowed approoved and ratified
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.
Gr. Mi. in publick testimonie that inded and truth wee ever held and yet do hold the foresaid Lord John Duyst van Voorhunt qualified as is before expressed Herewith c. Noble c. Writen at Delft Julie 26 1651. Your N. Gr. M. subjects the 40 Council and Commons of the Citie of Delft By Order of the same Signed S. Groenewegen van der Made Act of Justification of the Citie of Amsterdam WEe Burgomasters and Commons of the Citie of Amsterdam having heard the reading of a certain Writing entituled Reasons and Motives c. and finding that therein are made notable Charges against divers Members of the Assemblie of the No. Gr. Mi. Lords the States of Holland and Westfriesland about the passages last year touching the new state of War and consequences thereof and especially in regard of the separate cashiering of forces found good and set on foot by the N. Gr. M. Lords the States aforesaid together with the counteractings to that solemn Commission or Sending therin mentioned and having seen withall a certain Letter from the said Lords the States of Holland and Westfriesland of the 6 th of this month whereby c. and having maturely weighed all wee found our selvs obliged in defence of truth and the innocence of us all and of the Lords in particular emploied by and for Us in the affairs aforesaid and aimed at in the foresaid Charge as also to satisfie the desire and Order of their N. Gr. M. do testifie and declare the contrarie of what is asserted in the foresaid Writing That namely the said Lords our fellow-Governors and especially the Lords Andrew and Cornelius Bicker Old-Burgomasters at present of this Cirie both in the foresaid and other occasions have alwaies shewed themselvs true and honest Governors and upright and faithful Patriots and lovers of their Native Countrie whose actions and counsels were far from enterprising much less effecting any thing that could have stretched to the dissolution of the Union change or alteration in the Civil Government or true Reformed Christian Religion and consequently to the prejudice ruine and distraction of the State but on the contrarie have alwaies tended to the conservation and assurance thereof and that in that regard wee are abundantly satisfied with their sincere affection as to the good of the common caus in general so especially in their industriousness about and faithful prudent managing of the Execution of our Orders touching the business of the New state of War and the reducing of part of the Militia with the things annexed in all which wee declare that they have don nothing els but what wee our selvs found good in that behalf for the service of the Land and gave them in charge by iâ—erated Resolutions insomuch that then wee gave them thanks and heartily thank them still for what they did and do declare that the foresaid Lords have served and supplied Us from time to time with sincere and faithful reports of the foresaid affairs to our full and necessarie instruction without ever shewing any ill-affectedness much less endeavoring to abuse us thereby and that in like sort the Counter-acting and opposing by this Citie of the sending decreed by a few Lords of the other Provinces to bee made to all the Members and Cities of Holland and Westfriesland hath been our own work grounded upon very pregnant and weightie reasons and decreed by reiterated Resolutions taken in our Assemblie and directed to no other end then to the common good the conservation of the order of Government the eminence of this Province the privilege of our Citie and by no means at all thereby to caus any Distraction in the State According as about that very time wee have by our Deputies to your N. gr M. fully justified the same and drawn it up in wrâ—ting wheâ—â—â— his High s was pleased to make particular complaint to your N. gr M. of our Cities and their Deputies encountring of him and to demand reparation and satisfaction in that behalf to which Justification of ours wee here refer our selvs and have caus to think our selvs happie for the good direction which hath been afforded to us by the Lords whom wee employd in all this renewing our heartie thanks unto them and promising to all the foresaid Lords our fellow-Governors that whatever shall beâ—ide them or their posterities hereafter by reason of the things aforesaid to hold and save them harmless In Witness whereof wee have caused Our Citie Seal to bee hereunder annexed July 19. 1651. underneath stood By Order of the Burgomasters and the 36. Council signed Gr. Hulst and sealed with Green Wax Act of Justification of the Citie of Horen WEe Burgomasters Council and Commons of the Citie of Horen in West-Friesland make known to every one to whom it appertaineth That by our present Deputies at the Assemblie wee are advertised 27 Junii of the reading of certain Motives and Reasons c. whereof a Copie was sent us by their N. gr M. having heard likewise the personal plea and answer of the Lord Nanning Keyser of our Citie-Council and late Pensionarie in our Assemblie having been a fellow-member at that time made upon our the said Burgomasters precedent permission instantly and since again upon this daie by reason that on the daie aforesaid there had been three absent with all due modestie unto all and every point thereof comprehended by him in seven with reference to the writen Resolutions taken from time to time in our Assemblie and besides to the proper knowledg of our selvs respectively which both in this our Citie and at the Haghe have seen and heard his advices and directions about the Execution of our Resolutions whereupon when the foresaid Lord Keyser of his own accord withdrew himself out of our Assemblie wee took in his absence such an unanimous Resolution of Thanks to Contentment in and Justification of him as might give sufficient satisfaction to any Nevertheless since it hath pleased the N. gr M. Lords the States of Holland and West Friesland to address their Letters unto Us and other Members of their N. gr M. Assemblie enquiring whether our Deputies and especially the said Lord Keyser having been one of the six arrested Lords in the known points of Reducements the State of War for the year 1649 with holding of Consents and the Execution thereof hath carried himself according to our Orders and Intention Wee do hereby unanimously declare Yea adding moreover That both in these and other affairs of the Land hee hath made unto Us sincere faithful and pertinent reports as well in writing as by word of mouth opening the points in Question and the Considerations of the respective Members laying the matters naked before our eies without any malignancie ill-affectedness or passion and fitting his advice accordingly to his best knowledg as an honest fellow-member would or could do That likewise hee shewed much sorrow by reason of the discord or misunderstanding arisen among the
afterwards of his High s to all the Cities of this Province and lastly of the approbation of the conciliatorie project of July 16. 1650. and other businesses ensued thereupon hath carried himself so honorably honestly sincerely and uprightly according to the orders given him by Us made Us such faithful and true reports from time to time of the advices and considerations of all the Members at the Assemblie of the Province of Holland and West Friesland as also at the Generalitie touching the foresaid subjects both pro and contra according to his ordinarie curious and laborious custom as well by writing as word of mouth as ever could bee don by any wherefore also both himself and his respective fellow-Deputies after reports made of their vigilancie zeal and good endeavors had every time most heartie thanks given them which is now reiterated by these in special manner approving the Zeal and Courage which they have shewed in these matters for the service of the Land declaring withal the contents of the foresaid papers in this regard for untrue injurious and calumnious and that the rest can bee reputed no better promising also therefore to him and his descent and posteritie not onely to hold them guilt-and harm-less of whatsoever might at any time betide them by reason hereof but likewise to repute of any such accident as happening unto our selvs in General and to every one of us in particular and to see the same repaired with all vigor to our utmost and to save and keep him and his free of all charge charges and damages in that behalf under the obligation of our Citie and goods thereof impetrable by any Court or Judicatories Laws and Judges Underneath stood Extracted out of the foresaid Register of the Resolution book and found to agree therewith word for word the daie and year as before Signed by mee M. Ryckaert Secretarie at Medenblyck Declaration of the No. Gr. Mi. Lords the States of Holland and Westfriesland touching the Charge against the six arrested Lords and the Government of Amsterdam THe Knighthood Nobles and Cities of Holland and Westfriesland representing the States of the said Countrie To all those that shall see or hear the reading of these greeting Bee it known That whereas last year 1650 a Deliberation beeing on foot about the receiving a new state of War a Retrenchment of the Land-Charges and other dependences thereof som of the Lords Members of our Assemblie of State by name Jacob de Witte Old-Burgomaster of the Citie of Dort Jan de Wael Burgomaster and Aelbert Ruyl Counsellor Pensionarie of the Citie Haerlem John Duyst van Voorhout old Burgomaster of the Citie of Delft Nunning Keysar Counsellor and Pensionarie of the Citie of Horem and Nicolas Stellingwerf Counsellor and Pensionarie of the Citie of Medenblyck were seized and for a time deteined prisoners in our hous of Loevestein and that all the foresaid Lords as also together with them the Lords Andreas Bicker Lord of Engelenburg and Cornelius Bicker Lord of Swieten the former Old and the latter governing Burgomaster of the Citie of Amsterdam were fain through the practice used then about the foresaid matters to resign and bee discharged of their respective Citie 's emploiments That likewise our good Citie of Amsterdam hath for som daies been kept shut up and besieged by forces of the State all which might caus such as have not a right and full knowledg of the true condition and circumstances of affairs happened and transacted then to take it for granted and currant as if the said respective Lords had been brought to this seizure and resignation of their emploiments through or by reason of any misdeed or misdemeanour of theirs in either their respective Cities or the State 's affairs and consequently through their own fault as also that by the Governors of the Citie of Amsterdam there had been any just caus given of the trouble they susteined by the Siege aforesaid And that nevertheless on the contrarie it hath plainly been evidenced unto Us by the lawful and solemn Declarations of the Unanimous Commons of the above-named Cities that the foresaid Lords respectively have with all sinceritie and faithfulness followed and performed what they had given them in charge by their respective Principals and in particular about those points of retrenching the charges of the State and in regard of the State of War and things dependent thereon together with all the results of the Deliberations held in behalf thereof as well touching the with-holding of the consents of paying of a part of the Militia petitioned for by the Council of State in the fore-mentioned State of War as about the Execution of the Resolutions taken by us in those matters and other consectaries thereof have discharged their trust and followed the intentions and orders of the foresaid respective Commons their Principals and likewise served and supplied the same from time to time with pertinent true and faithful reports of all the advices and considerations both of the other members in our own State's-Assemblie and those of the Deputies of the rest of the Provinces at the Assemblie of the Lords the States-General deduced pro and con to those Commons their Principals perfect instruction good content and abâ—olute satisfaction Moreover that in the managing of the foresaid matters and deliberations in the reâ—pective Commonalties the said Lords or any of them never shewed themselvs to bee acted by passions or possessed with prejudice or ill-affectedness but on the contrarie ever directed the affairs uprightly sincerely and unpassionately however as much as in them laie they laboâ—ed by all good and sutable means to direct all to the â—ecuring of the dear-bought Libertie of the United Provinces in General and of our Couâ—trie of Holland and Westfriâ—slâ—nd in particular and all that for the quiet welfare and common good of our dear Father land Therefore wee our selvs having likewise good and perfect knowledg of all the proceedings about the foresaid affairs transacted in our Assemblie beeing fully satisfied with and giving perfect credit to the respective Testimonies in that regaâ—d of the foresaid Commonalties of the Cities of Dort Haerlem Delf Amsterdam Horem and Medenblick finding alâ—o our selvs fully satisfied in the innocence and uprightness of the proceedings which by the Government of the foresaid Citie of Amsterdam was used about that business and judging not otherwise thereof but the same were directed to the good of the State in general and of our Province in particular Wee have declared and do declare by these for the taking off all mis-interpretions abusive informations evil and groundless opinions that all and every one of the above-named Lords and those of the Government of the said Citie of Amsterdam have don or managed nothing about all the foresaid matters deliberations resolutions and executions thereof but what good and just Governors faithful Patriots and lovers of the freedom and welfare of these Countries and the good inhabitants thereof were bound to
of Flushing and Veer respectively were again desired to declare themselvs upon the seventh point of the Writ touching the Right of the Earldom on the one side and the Lords of Flushing and Veer respectively one the other but they persisted in their former advices that first they might have Copie of the Verbal Advice against the Counter-Remonstrance made in behalf of the Prince of Orange as likewise of the Letters of Sale or Transport and Investiture upon which dedesire the four fore-sitting Members beeing the second time sollicited by the Pensionarie of the land to advise They declared That the business having its accomplishment of Deliberation and lying so clear before them as could not bee gainsaid by any reason The Conclusion ought to bee taken without any further delaie upon which the Pensionarie of the land producing and reading a certain Memorandum delivered unto him in behalf of their High ss the Princesses of Orange after the reading thereof hee propounded whether the Members might not finde good for to proceed in this weightie affair with all complementarie civilitie and discreet leisurableness to communicate copie of what was Verbally brought in against the Counter-Remonstrance unto the Commissioner of their High ss as Guardians of the Prince of Orange as likewise to the Lords of Flushing and Veer copie of the desired pieces that in convenient time they might produce what they shall have to saie to it and to the end that there may no ground bee laid of any prejudice that the Election of the Magistrate and all other matters in Justice and Policie might the while remain in statu whereupon the question beeing put the second time The four fore-sitting Members persisted in their former Advice and the Pensioner of the land was urged again to proceed to the Conclusion Flushing and Veer persisting in their Desires till upon reiterated putting the matter to the question and deliberations past upon the same it was found good and resolved to embrace and in all parts to accept of the Advice exhibited by the Lords of the Commissioned Council touching the Right belonging to the Earldom on the one side and to the Lord of Flushing and Veer respectively on the other in respect of their Magistracie and Civil Government the Lords of Flushing and Veer beeing desired to draw up and bring in their respective Reiglements for to bee past and registred in conformitie of the Resolutions of March 23. and May 1. last past the Lords of the Council beeing autorised finding the same agreeing with the foresaid advice to pass and register the same together with other both there by the Secretaries and in the Chamber of Accounts At which conclusion this Item was entered The Deputies of the Flushing and Veer respectively have by Order of their Principals caused to bee entered That they reserved them the Libertie to bring in touching this matter hereafter what they shall finde requisite In Holland as was intimated before the Cities had alreadie immediately after Prince Williams departure assumed to themselvs the self-choosing of their Magistrates by grant of the States of the Province as the Soveraign In Gelderland the Citie of Nimighen undertook the like of her own accord on New-years daie the 1 of Januar. 1651. as a matter of old and rights belonging to them The Citie of Tiel obtained it during the Great Assemblie from the States of Gelderland by waie of Grant all the rest of the Cities in Gelderland were of old in the possession of making their own Magistrates as likewise all the Cities great and small in Over-Yssel and Groninghen At Utrecht the Magistrates likewise reassumed it to themselvs as of old and right belonging unto them in this manner Thursday Maie 22 1651 the common Council assembled and there beeing likewise present among them the Lords which otherwise by reason of their Commissions and Offices were not wont to appear the first Burgomaster Wyck propounded That whereas by the death of his High s the Prince of Orange of high-praised memorie the Province of Utrecht had no Stadholder more and through the Deceas of the old Burgomaster the Lord John van der Nyport there was a place vacant in the Council therefore it had been found good to desire and call the foresaid Lords jointly to consider and resolv upon the form and manner to bee observed for time to com about the supplying of vacant places And after mutual communication and mature deliberation it was unanimously agreed That the Right of appointing Burgomasters and Senators in the Common Council and Counsellors of the Citie of Utrecht was and for ever should remain belonging to the Common Council onely and that it should bee decreed as an unalterable Resolution and everlasting Law that the said Right shal never bee yielded up neither whole or in part on no condition and in no manner whatsoever to any other Saturdaie Maie 24 the Common Council beeing met again in competent number there was after divers propositions made and ripe deliberations used unanimously found good and agreed this following form and cours of Nomination and Election of Senators in the Common Council First That so many papers should bee marked with Numbers as there bee Members present in the Common Council and that by the drawing out of the said papers the Court should bee divided into four parts according to the Order of the Numbers That the partition beeing made thus none of the Members should by either words or signs recommend or intimate any to others upon pain of loosing his voice the first time That then at last and during the Council's sitting the Members of the first division shall by most voices with close papers nominate a person qualified according to the order of the Common Council and ensued Resolutions That the voices coming to bee even-ballanced amongst those of the first Division so that by voicing again with close papers the person cannot bee found out yet they shall proceed to lots by drawing of two papers And that the Name of the person thus nominated shall bee set down by the Secretarie That then successively and orderly in manner as before the like proceeding shall bee made by the second third and fourth Division respectively Provided nevertheless that by the subsequent parties none bee nominated that was nominated already by a former and set down by the Secretarie as before That four persons beeing nominated and set down as said is there bee chosen one of them by the joint present Members with close papers by pluralitie of voices None of the Members by either words or signs recommending or intimating any of the four to others upon pain as before And that the voices coming again to bee evenly ballanced they shall proceed to voicing again or lots in manner as before Furthermore it is unanimously resolved and agreed that the Common Council shall yearly upon the 1 daie of October proceed to the Election of two Burgomasters for the year ensuing and that by close papers and pluralitie