pleased to assert in their Proposition that since the constitution of the Peace it was needless to trouble our selvs with the choosing of a new Captain General especially there beeing none left at present of the Hous of Orange actually fit for it The Province Friesland declare's that they are of opinion that in time of Peace War must bee thought upon and that the nature of War require's it if it shall bee safely managed to bee committed to one both in regard of secret intelligences without which none can stand upon his guard nor any thing bee kept private enough for the executing or preventing of Stratagems whereof wee have had many experiments and to bee alwaies in readiness upon any incident occasion wee especially at this time by reason of our doubtful peace with the King of Spain who continue's in arms still hovering continually about our frontiers and shall never want for pretences if hee can finde an opportunitie to break with us to his advantage for to begin a Deliberation about a General when the Enemie shall bee upon us will prove too late indeeds and the histories of our own age can sufficienly shew what dammage the Common wealth hath formerly suffered on such occasions according to the old saying Dum Romae deliberatur perit Saguntum Whiles they consult at Rome the enemies take Saguntum And put case there was none to bee found of the Hous of Orange at present fit or capable to bee General yet there are those of the Stock and Stem-hous of the Princes of Orange whose Fathers Brothers Uncles Kindred and Allies have shed their blood for the welfare of these Countries and themselvs also at the end of the War have by exploits personally made it appear what they were ready and willing to live and die for And therefore to let those merits pass by unrewarded or to die out and exspire by process of time and by little and little to translate the acknowledgment due to them unto another familie this the Province of Friesland cannot look upon but as a matter of evil consequence and what doubtless will bee strangely reflected on by many good Patriots and well-affected forreign Lords and Potentates Wherefore they refer to your Hi. Mi. serious consideration whether the Dignitie of Captain General might not conveniently bee conferred upon the present young born Prince quoad Titulum honorem fully to bee invested with it at his maturitie with such instructions as to your Hi. Mi shall seem good to frame besides and in the mean time settle such order for the Lievtenant General that the Difficulties which their Hi. Mi. mentioned concerning this matter may bee avoided and alwaies obviated thereby to make known to all the world to the immortal glorie of the Hous of Orange that the United Provinces had so much confidence in it as to trust a well ordered Militia requisite for the welfare both of Church and State even to the shadow of the same The Province of Friesland my Lords is of opinion that if your Hi. Mi. will bee pleased to weigh these their foresaid Considerations the following points of removing the Garrisons and passing of Patents or Commissions will much the sooner bee agreed on Points of Consideration propounded in the General Assemblie of the joint United Provinces by the Citie of Groninghen and the Omlands at the Haghe A o 1651. High and Mightie Lords FOrasmuch as upon the serious Desire and further instance as of the Lords the Ordinarie Deputies here of the Provinces so also in particular of the Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland the joint Confederates of this United State beeing through God's gracious blessing met here together in such a solemn manner as never happened before seem all of them to aim at and agree in this That the true Christian Reformed Religion as the same is publickly taught in the Churches of this State and was confirmed and ' elucidated out of the Word of God in the National Synod of Dort in the years 1618 and 1619. and the Union and everlasting Alliance made at Utrecht Anno 1579. and a well-ordered Militia these three things unitedly together are the fundamentals of this State and so conditioned that any one of these beeing less zealously taken to heart then the other The Concord and consequently the welfare of this State must needs immediately exspect an irreparable flaw and detriment The Lords of the Citie and Land therefore viewing and well weighing that the present constitution of the times and the important affairs which sutably to the undoubted presupposition of the foresaid 3 main points are to bee alter'd or otherwise disposed in this your H. M. most solemn Assemblie do referr unto your H. M. Consideration Whether these high Matters and Consultations ought not to begin from the most excellent and highest point of all that is to saie from the true reformed Christian Religion and the uncorrupted publick worship of God To make manie words of the truth and efficacious operation thereof will bee needless here Onely the Lords of Citie and Lands would reminde your H. M of this ever undoubted Maxime That all good gifts blessings and prosperitie of these Countries and the Inhabitants thereof must com from the great and merciful God who therefore ought to bee worshipped and heartily praied unto Whence wee conceiv it very necessarie if in these high and important affairs wee would partake of God's gracious blessing without which all our consultations will bee abortive to minde and take in hand the things immediately concerning the sincere and true worship of Him above and before all other Worldly concernments And that not onely by such words as these Religion shall bee maintained even if need require with the mightie hand that beeing formerly agreed upon by the Members of the Union but by a real maintenance thereof in which behalf the Lords of Groninghen and Omlands refer to their H. M. consideration Whether there ought not Vigorous means bee provided by the joint Provinces to the end that throughout them all though in each by themselvs and in all the associated Countries and Towns effectual courses may bee taken as well as unanimous Resolutions past and Ordinances publisht for the restraining suppressing and punishing of Popish Conventicles which do daily so encreas in Number and insolencie that without rigorous and present proceedings against them this State cannot but incurr great danger Consequently also that the Seminaries of this Poperie that is to saie the places or Schools where the Youth from their infancie are nourisht up and embibed like a new earthen pot with those abominable superstitions may de facto bee put down and abolished they having hitherto been suffered and continued in this State not by connivance onely but openly and daringly to the great grief of many faithful Patriots That withal there bee to this end upon all events a readie moderation and means devised against the unlimited coming in of the Popish Clergie who do not onely
to consider and resolv farther Hereupon the Members repaired home to their principals and returning back again seemed readie to yield to the proposition But the Provinces the Prince and the Council urged that then there should forthwith bee setled a State of war and no further speech bee made of disbanding reduction c. till after such time as France Spain Sweden and Germanie should have laid down arms This they of Holland would not bee engaged in Nevertheless those of Leyden Rotterdam Gorcum Goude Shoonhoven Horn Enckhuysen eight in number were so scrupulous that hitherto they could nor durst not resolv upon a particular disbanding On the 28 of Maie those of Holland presented the ensuing points much approaching those of the Generalitie as namely That they were content there should bee disbanded fiftie five Foot-Companies Foreiners That there should bee cashiered likewise twelv Companies of Hors That the Curiassiers should bee changed into Carabines That what formerly was represented may bee don provisionally and that the Provinces should bee desired and were desired by these to conform themselvs to the further points of Charge-saving formerly by their Provincial advice exhibited to the Generalitie consisting mainly in the following particulars That the Militarie and such like entertainments should bee regulated according to the project formerly presented by them to the Generalitie That the Officers to bee cashiered should enjoie no further entertainment or pension beeing out of the Land-service That the paiment for lodgings should bee surceased becaus of true and exact pay to bee made to the Armie That the Foot-Forces should bee reduced from 70 to 60 men and that there should bee disbanded 8 Companies more of Hors which added to the former 12 produce in all 20 Companies that may bee spared That the Commissioners of the respective Provinces would undertake or endeavour to recommend these matters effectually to their Principals and within the space of a moneth or six weeks at farthest procure their respective Provincial Advices upon these four last points to bee returned to the Assembly of the Generalitie Next day following beeing Sunday the same points having been presented to their high Mightiness in the presence of his Highness his Excellencie and the Council after advice taken it was declared by the six Provinces that they adhered to their former advices desiring and recommending most seriously and tenderly to the said ordinarie and extraordinarie Deputies of Holland and West-Friesland that as they had alreadie been pleased to declare themselvs conformable to the other six Provinces in som points so they would yet further continue such good offices and devoirs towards their Principals at their present States-meeting to the end that the fame may bee pleased to declare themselvs readie to conform their resolutions in like manner about the remaining different and open points to the advices of the six other Provinces his Highness his Excellencie together with the Council of State that so this important affair which cannot bee protracted but to the great dis-service of the common caus may once bee determined and ended with concord But this was fruitless For those of Holland seeing or conceiving as they asserted that by how much the more they approached to the rest of the Provinces so much the more they recoiled or grew peremptorie they laboured hard all this week to com to an issue and especially to disburthen themselvs which also they went through with on Saturday beeing the fourth of June with great fervencie causing in their presence Letters and Notifications to bee writen and dispatched to twelv Companies of Hors and one and thirtie Companies of Foot reckoning up all the yongest in Commission as beeing their rate for number mentioned in the points presented Maie 28. Sending Inhibitions likewise to the Solicitors to advance no more monies to those Captains And thus thinking they had don their business well and safe enough they parted that very Saturdaie on Whitson-Eve The day following beeing Pentecost or Whitsunday the Council of State was gathered half an hour after seven After the first Sermon the said Council his Highness and Count William were in the Assembly of the States-General continuing together till three in the afternoon where his Highness his Excellencie the Stadtholder and the Council of State represented to their High Might s that it had grieved them to understand that the Lords the States of Holland before their parting had undertaken to act and execute any disbanding and reduction of the Lands Forces and that his Highness his Excellencie and the Council of the States had caused a Letter to bee drawn directed to the Governors or Commanders as also Captains of Hors and Foot or in the absence of them unto their Officers lying in Garrison within this State sutable to their High Might s resolution of April 10. last the contents whereof were word for word as heâ—e ensueth Noble Gentlemen THE high and Mightie Lords the States-General were pleased by their Resolution of April 10 last to autorize his Highness and this Council so to order and direct things that none of the Forces in service of and sworn to the Generalitie should bee disbanded or otherwise disposed upon any particular Order from one or other Province And whereas it is reported that som such particular Order is issued forth in that behalf wee therefore upon mature deliberation with the advice of his said Highness his Excellencie the Stadtholder and the Council of State thought good by this to minde and advertise you that you and every one of you received your Commission from the Generalitie and accordingly did swear to the same and in consideration thereof cannot bee dispensed to obey or yield to any particular charge of disbanding or reducing but that yee ought rather to keep your Companies and men in good order together till further Order from their High Might s or his Highness and Council of State which every one of you is to attend and regard without fail c. His Highness moreover his Excellencie and the Council of State referred it to their High Might s consideration Whether they found not good likewise to dispatch a Letter of like tenor to the Governors and Commanders aforesaid and then desired their High Might s they would bee pleased to bethink themselvs of further means what may bee fit and requisite to bee don about this important affair for the concord tranquillitie and best service of the Land Whereupon deliberation beeing had their High Might s in regard of the former point gave thanks to his Highness his Excellencie and the Council over and for their provident care shewed in the foresaid business and consequently found good and ordered that the foresaid Letter Mutatis mutandis should bee dispatched from the Generalitie to the same intent unto the said Governors or Commanders Whereupon a draught was made readie for to bee read in the afternoon in their High Might â— Assembly and expedited accordingly As for the second point it was found good and
this end That their Hi. Mi. might bee pleased to suspend or surceas the foresaid sending to the Cities of the Province of Holland determined yesterday beeing the same was an Innovation and besides the accustomed order of the Government from which there could bee expected no good fruit the said Deputies of Holland making offer to summon another States-meeting of their Province as soon as could bee don that the same w ch was intended to bee represented by the foresaid sending to the particular Cities and Members thereof might bee presented to them Whereupon offer beeing made by the Deputies for the Province of Gelderland and avowed by the other four then present Provinces that in case the said Deputies of the Province of Holland would call in the Letters of Notifications touching the separate Disbanding and Reduction dispatched from that Province to the respective Officers of hors and foot and put the case of the foresaid Disbanding and Reduction wholly into their former condition that then his Highness should bee desired to appear again in their Hi. Mi. Assembly and the affair of that sending re-assumed there into further deliberation The said Deputies of Holland thereupon giving to understand and declaring that this belonged not to them to do but to their Superiors the States of the said Province of Holland to whom the foresaid motion ought to bee addrest for acceptation it was found good upon precedent deliberation to persist in their Hi. Mi. hesternal and former respective Resolutions in that behalf and then their Hi. Mi. desired the said Deputies of Holland that they would second their as also his Highness and the Councils good meaning and intention in this business touching the separate Disbanding and Reduction with all good offices and endeavors Whereupon the said Deputies of the Province of Holland caused to bee entred that They could not consent to the foresaid Conclusion but did expressly declare against the same conformably and according to their former entries made upon the same subject That the foresaid Resolution was an Innovation not suiting with the Order of the Government offering still the most expedite summoning of the States of the Province but in vain For next morning early beeing Wednesday June 8. the joint Deputies or Commissioners parted from the Hague to Dort with a great number of chief Officers His Highness went first to Honselardyck to take his leav of the pretended K. of England and came to Dort by eleven in the night beeing nevertheless received by the Train-Bands in arms with all respect The Propositions made there to the Citie-Council was as followeth Propositions made by his Highness and the rest of the Commissioners of their Hi. Mi. the Lords States-General in the respective Cities of Holland I. Worshipful c. THE state of the United Provinces is at present surprised with much Disorder and Disturbance by reason of a particular Disbanding of the Lands Forces undertaken by the Nob. Mi. Lords the States of Holland at their last meeting without precedent communication with their Confederates against the minde and will of their residing Deputies at the Assembly of their Hi. Mi. and against the advice and allowance of his Highness and the No. Mi. Counsellors of State to whom onely by consent of all the Confederates the Supreme Command levying and disbanding of Forces is deferred and of whom alone depend's both the engaging of the Souldierie by oath and the releasing or discharging of them from it II. This Order and Way hath ever since the erected Union been kept inviolably to this time III. The alteration now attempted therein by one Province alone causeth the six other Provinces together with his Highness and his Excellencie the Stadtholder and the Council of State to bee greatly troubled and perplexed lest hereby wee might fall into a breach and dissolution of the Union a confusion of the State and the ruine of the good Inhabitants of the Land it beeing not unknown to your Worships that the Enemies both from without and within are uncessantly busie to undermine the maintenance of the true Reformed Religion and the Unitie and Concord among the Provinces and members thereof And if at any time they could finde an occasion to untie the bond of Religion consisting in that Union they would never rest endeavouring the utter subversion and destruction of the Reformed Christian worship and to dispossess the good Inhabitants of this Land professing the same of all their privileges goods and freedom yea and to persecute and destroie them by sword fire and murther even as they have murthered persecuted and tyrannized over our fore-fathers IV. To prevent which formerly-suffered and now again new threatned evils their Hi. Mi. together with his Highness his Excellencie the Stadtholder and the Council of State have deliberately thought upon fit remedies and to that end resolved upon a very solemn Deputation or sending to the members of the Province of Holland as comprehended in the Treatie of the Union and having their part and share in the devoirs and consequences thereof which are caused or occasioned by the Union V. Whereunto since it hath pleased his Highness to bee employed in his Princely person out of an upright Love and Zeal to the conservation of the said Union which his noble Predecessors out of the same Zeal and Constancie have counselled and helped to make and maintein with the loss and hazard of goods and bloud whereupon it pleased God at length to bless these United Netherlands with a glorious peace their high Mightiness most highly thanked his Highness for this tender and provident care of his that with such incommodation to his person hee would so far condescend to advance the service of the Countrie and have together with him put in Commission about that affair as well out of their high Mi. Assembly as out of the No. Mi. Council of State the Lords here present with his Highness in their name to represent unto your Worships the beginnings grounds and intentions of the Union together with the Devoirs whereunto all the Provinces and Members thereof stand engaged VI. As concerning the first rise and beginning of the war it is well known to every one what troubles befell the Professors of the Reformed Christian Religion when the rayes of the Gospel first began to glimmer through the dark clouds of Poperie VII But when afterwards the Light of the Gospel brake forth with force as it were shining as bright as mid-day and beeing entirely separated from the darkness of Poperie to the dishonor and shame of the childe of perdition and a door thereby was opened in these Countries that by reading of the holy Scriptures the people could see every hour and moment what was requisite for their Deliverance and Salvation VIII Then did the Pope the King of Spain and all their Adherents arm themselvs mightily with burnings and murderings against the Professors thereof IX And by reason that so many of them were found in the Netherlands they fell
was a new express consent to bee obteined every year for the continuation of the Armie XXIV Whatsoëver therefore is don now to the prejudice of the Soveraigntie the Rights and Privileges of Holland or practised by any ill-affected Hollanders that same Holland justly reputeth null and invalid according to Art 23. of the Union desiring still as hath been desired for the space almost of two years now that the Reduction may bee made according to the Union with common advice that is to say the Province of Holland beeing necessitated to discharge her self of such unnecessarie Forces and Entertainments that the other Provinces would bee pleased to do the like and so with common consent disband the 55 Companies wherein all the Provinces are agreed Thus the Lords of Holland likewise brought in and after the like long opposition effectually procured their resolved Reduction April 12 1642. to the solace and relief as well of the rest as their own Province XXV The Caution brought in at last that this far-reflecting Commission shall bee without prejudice to the Soveraigntie Privileges c. which nevertheless was forgotten in the first Cities is of that nature which the Lawyers call Protestatio actui contraria others a catch and come's just to as much as if they had given Holland and the Cities a stab into the Bowels saying it shall do you no hurt The Lords of Holland do not at all take upon them to prescribe a Law to their Hi. Mi. or the other Provinces if they pleas to re-entertain the 31 and 12 Companies which Holland cashiered as Gelderland and Over-Yssel did in the year 1623 Holland will not cannot hinder it But there is much reason to doubt whether the Deputies of the other Provinces are instructed by their Principals to charge them with it Nay it is well known that not one of the discharged Captains not one of their Solicitors will advance one pennie to their Companies upon the Countermand Nevertheless if the other Provinces will provisionally take on these cashiered Companies by somwhat raising their own rate and easing that of Holland which lay so heavie and insupportable upon their shoulders it shall bee very pleasing and acceptable to them and in the mean time they will not withhold their hand effectually to procure that the former Souldierie may bee faithfully mustered readily paid and kept so compleat that there shall bee found more men in number upon the Frontiers in Garrison then were before this Reduction For it is a thing well known that the most French English and Scots Companies are not 25 men a piece There is no question but the rest of the Provinces love disorder and waste of monie the contributed sweat and bloud of the poor Commons and unnecessarie charges as little as they of Holland and will in stead of breaking with their friends soon apply themselvs to put in effect their resolution of cashiering the 55 Companies c. as the like hath often happened c. this and but last Winter yet about the reduction of som twentie men in several Companies The 32 Article of the Instruction for the Council of State alleged in the foregoing Animadversions And the meaning of the fore-named States-General is that in regard of the preservation of the Right of the United Provinces both in the general and particular they do not now by this instruction or constitution of the Government and Council of State in their behalf abdicate or abrogate the Right and Power from the States-General and the States of the Provinces in particular that each of them in particular as much as concern's themselvs may in time of need or when the affairs of the Countrie shall require it dispose of and order things committed to the said Council themselvs and to execute by their direction matters of Sea and Land with all their dependance as particularly also the mustering keeping of Discipline Militarie punishments for all kinde of excess and exorbitancie and any other matter Understanding likewise that all businesses of State-Policie and Justice concerning the said Countries Cities and Members thereof in general and particular and not expressly committed to the said Council shall remain at the disposition of the States-General of the States of the particular Provinces of the Magistrates of the Cities and other lawful Autoritie to each according to the peculiar regard and interest There past at Dort som notable reflecting words between the Lord of Aërts-berghen and Burgo-master de Witte whereof there will bee made mention hereafter in the Deduction of those of Amsterdam upon his Highness Proposition July 30. Howêver the Resolution and Answer there was but general and by word of mouth That against the instant next Assembly they would bring in their advice sutable to the Union and Order of the Land and contribute their utmost for procuring the peace and welfare of the State From thence the progress went to Gorcum where as also at Schoonhoven the Resolution was suted ansvverably to the Proposition At Goude they were first resolved to give no audience in their Hall but his Highness arriving and sending for one and the other hee got most voices and prevailed though hee got likewise but a general declaration from them by word of mouth There there came to his Highness in behalf of Amsterdam the Lords of Waveren and Hasselaër That which past betwixt them may bee seen in the foresaid Proposition of his Highness at Amsterdam 30 July and the Answer of the Lordâ— there upon it In the Briel and at Rotterdam whither there were sent som before-hand to awe or draw the chiefest to compliance they were admitted according to desire and were answered accordingly howbeit but by word of mouth and relatively to what they intended to bring in at the States-Assembly But at Schiedam they were simply told their Towns advice should bee brought in at the Provincial meeting So that his Highness receiving so small satisfaction there refused their entertainment and would not so much as take a meal there And so likewise at Delft where they shew'd themselvs readie to give audience to the Prince but to the rest of the Commissioners they would not nor billet the Train which made both his Highness and the rest presently to pass through and return to the Hague Saturday the 18 they went to Alâ—maer where the Communion beeing to bee celebrated next day and his Highness invited hee received it together with Count Henrie and beeing admitted afterwards to audience received a good answer though likewise but by word of mouth and in general terms as also afterwards at Horn Enckâ—uyse and in the smaller Towns was otherwise everywhere received by the Train-Bands in arms and with all respect But they of Medenblick came of their own accord to bring their Resolution dilatorie and general praying his Highness not to take the pains to com to their Citie becaus of the bad waies and that they were but slenderly accommodated to entertain his Highness as was fitting according
to his Qualitie At Edam there came two other Commissioners from Amsterdam to salute his Highness the Lords Geelvinck and Spiegel as wee shall see anon in Amsterdam's answer to his Highnesses Proposition At Amsterdam it self his Highness was everie where received with all possible honor and respect and what further past there will appear by their foresaid answer The Magistrate had prepared a sumptuous Banquet to entertain his Highness withal But hee excused himself and beeing prest but to taste a refreshing Cup replied For to eat and drink together wee had need bee better friends first then wee are Friday the 24 his Highness came to Haërlem where the Magistrate likewise refused audience to the Commissioners of their Hi. Mi. so that his Highness received no content there neither Saturday they went to Leyden where they dined and received answer according to desire yet all by word of mouth onely and both those of Leyden and all elswhere constantly protested that whatsoëver they did was with reservation of the right and privileges of their respective Cities That night they returned all to the Hague again About the hous Deyl betwixt Leyden and the Hague one of the Prince's Pages fell out with his Wain-man whom hee unhappily ran through and kill'd leaving a poor widow and an hous full of small children behinde him which caused much discours It was observed that those of Schoonhoven had more sumptuously entertained his Highness and the Commissioners then any other Having sent for great quantitie of Comfitures many Cooks and Pasterers to Utrecht which seem'd so much the stranger for the smalness of the place and frequent complaints by their Commissioners at the Provincial meetings and continual desires of beeing eased and relieved by others for beeing so much in arrears that they had scarce wherewith to entertain their Deputies at the said Meetings June 27. The Lords Commissioners of their Hi. Mi. made the ensuing Report High Mightie Lords THere beeing a very solemn Deputation or Commission decreed by your Hi. Mi. 5 6 of this present June to repair to the Cities and Members of the Province of Holland and West-Friesland for the undergoing whereof your Hi. Mi. desired and appointed his Highness and the Commission'd Lords Van Aertsberghen Marignant Rensevvoude and Clant out of your high Mi. own Assembly and the Lords Van Asperen Lucas and Treasurer Brasser out of the Council of State to encline and perswade the said Cities by all conceivable arguments and possible means for to desist from all separate disbanding diminishing and altering of the Lands Forces and consequently to join themselvs with the consenting six other Provinces His Highness accordingly together with the other Commissioners disposed themselvs in performance of your high Mi. Resolution to take their Journie the verie next day after beeing June 7. to Dort and in the mean time drew up a Proposition in writing conteining verie good Reasons and Motives to this intent That the Cities as Fellovv-Members of the Union would declare their beeing resolved to cleav indissolubly to the Union to hold fast the antient Unitie so long and unanimously mainteined among the Confederates and for that end to bee assisting that the paiment of the discharged Companies may bee continued and Reparation made for that which is committed against the Union by Separate Disbanding and Reduction Secondly that they would join with the six other Provinces for consent to the State of War and accordingly caus their Deputies to bee appointed for the Provincial Meeting to advance requisite Resolutions in that behalf in their States-Assembly according to the antient custom And if so bee that any differences yet should then remain betwixt the Provinces touching the State of War that the said Cities would help to further the submitting and determining thereof according to the Tenor of the Union And Lastly that order may bee taken without delay for provisional paiment of the cashiered and reduced Souldierie to prevent the danger that might otherwise ensue all which was expressed and deduced more at large in the Proposition delivered to them in writing The Reasons and Inducements were both by word of mouth and writing fitly accommodated and applied and all managed in such sort as his Highness and the Lords Commissioners judged the same sutable to the condition of things and places som of the Cities and Members of this Province beeing thanked for their good offices and purposes shewed in behalf of the conservation of the Union and the Unitie and Order of the Governmeṅt with desire that they would constantly persevere therein Others were largely informed of the troubles confusion and mischief that was to bee feared from this separate Disbanding and Reduction of Forces standing engaged by oath in common to all the Confederates and desired thereupon to help to repair what had been committed against the Union according to the twentie third Article thereof whereby that which is don against the Union is declared null and invalid besides the forfeiture of all particular trespassing Provinces Cities and Members thereof their persons and goods for reparation And it was not onely shewed that the Judgment of the six consenting Provinces was strengthned with the advice of his Highness as Captain General of these United Netherlands and that of his Excellencie the Stadtholder and the No. Mi. Council of State that viz. this precipitated separate cashiering and lessning of the Forces of the Land ordered and concluded by the No. Mi. States of Holland fourth of this present month upon a Resolution taken by pluralitie of voices is a plain Contravention against the Union but likewise that it is the Judgment and Opinion of the States of Holland themselvs as the same was made known and brought into the Generalitie by them in the years 1623 1626 1642 whereof the proof was read before them out of the Exstracts of the publick Records His Highness and the rest of their Hi. Mi. Commissioners proceeded herein with all the circumspection and diligence attainable fully to inform and possess all the Cities of Holland of their Hi. Mi. good intention to the end their Deputies might the better bee instructed and autorised against the next Provincial Assembly They found indeed that their Hi. Mi. were not every where alike welcom His Highness was received in all the Cities except Medenblick where hee came not with all honor concours of people and acclamation both coming and going so that there appeared a general great respect and affection every where unto his Highness The endeavors of their Hi. Mi. Commissioners were by som Cities well taken they expressing their thanks both to his Highness and the Commissioners for the good care they took in the behalf and service of the Land Som of the Cities as Haerlem Amsterdam and Medenblick refused to give audience to his Highness and the Commissioners of their Hi. Mi. in the manner desired All the rest of the Cities have upon intimation from his Highness gathered their Councils together gave ear to
Repartitions of the years 1626 1627 1628. as manie as then were in Service yet and that till the last of Decemb. 1648 inclusively and the beginning of Januarie 1649. according to the new State of War presented here at the Generalitie Decemb. 8 o. 1648. and sent unto the Provinces until the time of the Disbanding to com now and after that according to the State of War now settled Further it was resolved and established That henceforward no manner of Separate and particular Disbanding Reducing or Cashiering of any Forces hors and foot in service and oath of the Generalitie shall bee undertaken by any Province of their own autoritie it beeing contrarie to the Resolution of Nov. 1 o. 1623. and Febr. 9 o. 1626. hereby renewed and confirmed but that all Disbandings Reductions Cashiering shall and ought to bee made according to the order of the Government and if so bee that there arise any Difference hereafter among the Provinces about the continuance or alteration of this State of War that the same shall bee composed by friendly conferences and in case they cannot agree that the Difference or Question shall bee referred then to the most wise advice and decision of the â—ords Stadtholders or Stadtholder of the provinces then beeing and that this their Hi. Mi. Resolution shall issue without further reassumption Nevertheless the Deputies of Gelderland caused to bee enter'd hereupon into the register Book That they could not accept of the State of War but with condition that the Services in it should bee devided and paid in the same manner as hitherto was used throughout the United Provinces according to the seventh Article of the Union The States of Holland in Bodie enter'd That their No. Mi. had given their Consent to the abovesaid Conclusions safe and without prejudice to their accustomed Freedom in point of Consent The Deputies for the Province of Zealand in the Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. enter'd that having heard the wise Advice of his Highness his Excellencie Stadtholder and the Council of State and likewise taken notice of the Advices of the other Provinces they declared themselvs readie to acquiesce to this Conclusion upon pleasure of their Principals and withall safe and without prejudice to their wonted freedom in point of Consent The Deputies of the Province of Utrecht made entrance about the foresaid Conclusion in the same tenor as Zealand The Deputies of the Province of Friesland caused to bee entred hereupon in their behalf That they could no otherwise accept of the new projected state of War but under express condition that the same bee reviewed and redrest so as the Resolution of the No. Mi. States of Friesland of Octob. 20 1649 punctually held forth And as for the disbanding of 55 Companies Foot and 12 Troops of Hors they consented therein so far forth as the same should bee made of the Forrein Nations in service according to the Provincial advice of their Principals Febr. 21. 1650 declaring they were not instructed for any further or other consent in that behalf much less to admit of any penal Clauses whereby their Principals might bee prejudiced in their freedom of advice embracing in the mean time provisionally and upon pleasure of their Principals the Modification of Services and Entertainments mentioned in the Proposition of Julie 15 last past Safe alwaies and without prejudice of the freedom of their Principals in point of Consent The Deputies of the Province of Over Yssell caused to bee entred that for the matter of Services they referred the same to the further deliberation and disposing of their Principals yielding to the rest safe and without prejudice of their freedom in point of Consent The Lord Eysinga entred in behalf of the Province of the Citie of Groninghen and Omland to acquiesce no otherwise with the Conclusion aforesaid but under these express reservations 1. That the Disbanding of the 55 Companies of Foot and 12 Troops of Hors bee made of none but Forrein Nations 2. That the Lodging-monies for the Souldierie within the respective Provinces and Forts about them bee still as formerly paid and defraid by the Generalitie 3. That the considerations moved heretofore by his Principals about the new state of War and such as ere long shall bee added thereunto may bee had in good regard 4. That they do disavow by these the penal Claus inserted in the foresaid Conclusion and yield to the rest safe still and without prejudice of the States of Groningen and Omland their freedom in point of Consent Hereupon at last there followed the Disbanding of the 55 Companies of Foot of every French Regiment 4. in all 20. of Cromwell's Regiment 8. of Craven's 8. of Killgrey 9. of Oxford 7. in all 32. and of each Scot's Regiment one in all 3. beeing all of them the youngest in Commission Of the Cavalrie there were Cashier'd four antient Troops and the rest the youngest in Commission After which his Highness and Count William Aug. 27 went to Dieren for som Divertisment and the Princess Royal beeing great with childe to the hous of Teylinghen Yet before the Prince his departure out of the Haghe the States of Zealand arrived there and solemnly presented their large thanks to his High s in these terms The Lords the States of Zealand having examined and weighed the means and proceedings which his High s was pleased to use both in regard of the Forces sent towards and about Amsterdam and likewise about the seizing and apprehending of som Members of the Assemblie of Holland judging it to bee conformable to the Resolution of their Hi. Mi. of Jun. 5. last past they have avowed and commended and do avow and commend all aforesaid giving thanks to his High s for the pains and endeavors undertaken in this behalf and desiring him to continue his zeal therein Charging our Deputies to make the same known to the Generalitie and to enter it into the Register-book of their Hi. Mi. and to desire the rest of the Provinces to conform themselvs to the same acknowledgment Don at the assemblie of the States of Zealand August 16. 1650. Underneath stood Agreeing with the Notes Signed Le Brunâ— The Thanks of Friesland came in next month with this expression And serious thanks are given to his High s the Prince of Orange for the great pains care and providence which it pleased his High s for to undergo in behalf of establishing the Provincial advices touching the state of war But of the Siege of Amsterdam or seizing the six Lords not a word Nevertheless in their Letters to Prince and Count William apart their expression and thanks were somwhat enlarged in manner as followeth Illustrious High-born Prince WEe have understood at large by the Lord Chevalier André our Deputie at the Assemblie of the Hi. Mi. Lords the States General and the Lord Wickel of the Council of State the singular pains labor and care which it hath pleased your High s to employ for the preservation of the Union and
Audience in the Assemblie of the States of Holland there passing abundance of Complements and shews of much affection and friendship with readiness of contributing whatsoeÌ„ver might tend and conduce to the maintenance of the everlasting Union and faithful correspondence one with another Therefore did they of Holland in Bodie or one of every Member the Lord van Opdam still beeing the chief for that the Lord Beverweert first nominated for that purpose had excused himself meet with these of Zealand making an Assemblie together apart at the New Doel where they had sevâ—ral Conferences They of Zealand spake in the beginning of the young Prince that special regard ought to bee had of him and at the least hee might bee nominated Stadt-holder and have a Lievtenant join'd to him in which particular the Princesses also both Mother and Grandmother took much pains both personally and by theiâ— well affected friends and dependants But Holland replied it was too too soon and uncertain what hee might grow and bee brought up to Possibly indeed hee might prove a good and fit Prince but hee might likewise as â—asily â—iscarrie As som of late reported of the present Queen of Sweden beeing wished to marrie that shee answered her States J hold it better to design you a Successor that is fit alreadie and known to bee a good Prince then to marrie for â— may as easilie bring forth a Nero as an Augustus and so might this young Prince of Orange as easily bee bred to follow the exorbitant footsteps of his Father Prince William such as hee made last Summer against the Citie of Amsterdam and the Assemblie of the States of Holland and Prince Maurice before him in the year eighteen as other Qualities and Virtues of his Predecessors That likewise the appointing of a Lievtenant or Deputie Stadt-holder might prove dangerous as well for the young Prince himself as for the State for the same might during the Princes Minoritie so settle and establish himself that neither the Prince full grown nor the State should bee able afterwards to make him resign and give up the place And the young Prince besides having now such an honor conferred upon him would never con the States any thanks for it but rather grow up in an opinion that hee had it by inheritance and that hee could not bee past by Whereunto came further the secret considerations of his near and great Alliances with France Spain England and Denmark join'd with his gâ—eat and mightie possessions in the Land it self making him formidable to the State that these were dangerous Entertainments for a Republick and no sure means of maintaining Libertie The Ostracismus and Petalismus were used in the Grecian Republicks against fellow-Citizens if they grew once too potent in autoritie the same was much more to take place against a Prince whose Father and predecesâ—or evidently shewed that under the Name of Governor they levell'd at the Soveraigntie which yet in effect as well for Autoritie and Direction both of State and Militia they enjoyed alreadie more absolutely and powerfully then the Souveraigns of the Land had don before Those of Geldâ—rland and Utrecht came likewise in the later end of December and were welcom'd and complemented in like sort by them of Holland as the Zealanders were before Those of Friesland of Groninghen and the Omlands arrived in Januarie and though they of Over Yssel had first onely autorized their Ordinarie Deputies yet they sent Extraordinarie after viz. those of Zealand Twent and Vollenhove as many of the Gentrie as would go at their own charges and from Deventer two of the Magistrates there from Campen came onely their Ordinarie Commissioner from Swoll no bodie by reason of their instant Election They of Holland saluted and welcom'd them all in particular and held particular and preparatorie Conferences with all respectively for to impart to and receiv back from them their particular inclinations and considerations upon the three main points that were to bee treated of in the Grand Assemblie The States of Holland finding the Chamber of the Ordinarie Assemblie was not large enough for the Number of this Extraordinarie meeting of all the Provinces they caused the great Hall of the Court of Holland to bee fitted for their Session remooving all the Booksellers and other shops quite thence and setting up convenient seats and benches on both sides rising up by degrees one behinde the other in manner of an Amphitheatre to place the Provinces in their Order and each according to the number of their Commissioners apart by themselvs Between both sides there was a prettie space left and in the midst thereof a square long Table placed at the upper end whereof was to sit the President and right over against him at the other end the Secretarie The Walls Benches and Table were all hung with green cloath to shevv the State vvas not in mourning And becaus the talk vvent that Holland intended by this opportunitie in favor of Spain to remove and take avvay out of the said great Hall all the Colors Cornets Standarts and Flags formerly taken from the Spaniards both by Sea and Land and hung up there in abundance they contrarily caused them all to bee vvell brushed over and made more conspicuous adding many more that never vvere there before but kept elswhere hitherto that it made a very gallant shew Wednesday Januarie 18 o. the Session began and the Lords of Friesland in their turn sitting President having made the Introduction with convenient terms of welcoming this Grand Assemblie and praying God to assist and bless their Consultations they desired the Lords of Holland to make Overture of the chiefest points for which they had desired this solemn meeting Whereupon the Lord Cats by word of mouth made this ensuing Proposition and delivered it next daie unto the Assemblie in writing High Mightie Lords GOd Almightie bee ever blest and praised that this Grand and Solemn Assemblie may bee kept now in the very place where heretofore the King of Spain was Abjured his Yoke cast off and the Foundations laid of these Countrie 's Libertie whereof the Trophies and Bliss-tokens of Victorie from time to time most graciously bestow'd upon this State by God are waving over every one of our heads here This same God now let us pray unto from the bottom of our hearts to continue his Governing hand over this State from age to age and more and more to multiplie his Grace and Mercie upon us After that through the incomprehensible Judgments of Almightie God Prince William of Orange of immortal memorie was suddenly and unexspectedly taken away from this world without leaving any issue of his bodie visible however afterwards through God's blessing a young Prince was happily born The State of these United Netherlands was found to bee reduced into such an estate and condition the like it never had been in from their Foundation viz. at that point that there is none left of the Hous of ORANGE fit and
abating of Poperiâ— c. before the Land do spue us out for it and â—od râ—â—engâ— iâ— upon us Thus shall your Hi. Mi. shew your selvs truly thankful to God for the great Mercies and Benefits vouchsafed to your State whom God hath raised from small to great from poor to rich and even miraculously brought and preserved hitherto Then shall your H. M. not have received the Sword in vain but acquit your Conscience do God acceptable service preserv many souls from destruction terrifie wicked-doers cherish the good and doubtless receiv a blessing from Heaven upon your further Consultations and Government and upon all your persons and Inhabitants and at last as faithful Servants and Stewards of God bee made partakers in Heaven of the gracious reward readie prepared there for all good Governors which God Almightie grant to your Hi. Mi. Amen Signed in the Name of all Bernard Craso Eleazar Lotius Maximilian Feeling Cornelius Lamanus Johannes Heystius Means exhibited for the hindring of the Popes Hierarchie and the Superstitions of the Papists in the United Provinces for the most part taken out of the Acts and Ordnances of the Land I. THat all popish Clergie persons Jesuits Priests Friars c. bee kept out of the Land they beeing no Subjects of any Secular Princes or Magistrates but onely of the Court of Rome according to their own Tenents as likewise the United Provinces have determined in the preliminar points before the concluding of the Peace that the Ordinances against the Papists formerly published should remain in their vigour and executed according to their plain form and â—ontents II. That all Acts and Liberties granted to popish Clergie-men Priests c. may bee repealed and an Order made that no Governors nor Commanders nor any whatsoëver shall for time to com grant any more such III. That all Assemblies or Cohabitatioâ—s in Houses Cloysters Nunneries of unmarried persons Nuns Beguins Jesuitesses Queâ—els Cloppens may bee dissolved and in particular all Cloppens and Quesels may bee banished the Land or reduced from that pernicious Order IV. That no Papists bee admitted to the Government or any publick Employment of the Land but that all popish Justices town-Senators Secretaries Forresters publick messengers bee cashired and able persons making open profession of the Reformed Religion put in their places V. That all Popish Conventicles may bee prohibited disturbed their Altars Images Crucifixes and Ecclesiâ—stical Ornaments and things belonging thereunto broken in pieces and taken away and strict orders made against all that frequent such meetings or let out yield or grant their Houses Court-yards Ships c. to any such purpose VI. That likewise the Inhabitants running after Popish Câ—urches processions festivals may bee let and prevented VII That no Ambassadors or Agents beeing of a Contrarie Religion bee permitted to exercise their worship in any other but every one his own language and none admitted but their Domesticks VIII That likewise all particular Lords dwelling in this State or having any Lordships Mannors Houses in the same bee prohibited to permit any Popish worship to bee celebrated in any of them IX That all private entries and close passages which the Papists make use of for the conveighing of themselvs from one hous to another in the exercise of their worship may bee stopt up and forbidden X. That all publick pilgrimages processions visiting of pretended holy places the setting up of Images and Crucifixes in Church-yards the crossing and marking of Papists houses for to bee the better known and found out by their Clergie and kneeling at the graves the setting up at or about the dead bodies any crosses candles and other such like Popish superstitions in use here among them as the shutting of their shops upon the foresaid festivals or holy-daies may bee prevented and hindred XI That it bee expressly forbidden to make directly or indirectly any Collection or gathering of Monies Wares Commodities c. in the behalf of any the foresaid Ecclesiastical Popish persons Churches Colleges Convents within or without the Land or to send away or remit any such monies wares c. XII That all Popish parents or families bee interdicted to disinherit their children or lawful heirs for or by reason of the reformed Religion and that the Papists of this Countrie bee forbidden likewise to make over their goods to the Jesuits Priests Nuns or any other pretended Ecclesiasticks whether within or without the Land to the prejudice of their heirs XIII That no Marriages of the Papists bee acknowledged lawful but such as are made before the Magistrates or in the publick Churches and that they bee prohibited to marrie any other waie XIV That all Popish Schools in this Land together with the Catechizing or teaching of children by Nuns in their Nunneries or by the Cloppens in particular houses may bee hindred and restrained XV. That the Papists dwelling in these Countries may bee forbidden to let their children bee brought up forth the Land in any Popish Schools Universities Colleges of Jesuits Cloysters of Frieries XVI That the children of the Reformed whether by father or mother bee brought up by reformed Guardians in the Reformed Religion without suffering them to bee put under popish Guardians XVII That no popish Landlord bee suffered more henceforward but strictly forbidden to let out his Lands with stipulation and condition that the Tenants shall go to Mass and let their children bee baptized by popish Priests XVIII That all useless Colleges and Popish Societies bee put down and the revenue emploied to pious uses and likewise all superstitious customs as the running about with Drums and Burgundian Banners which are used at the meetings of the Childs or Companies may bee restrained and all the old Charters full of Idolatries and superstitions renewed XIX That strict Orders bee made against all Officers that are negligent in the Execution of the Ordinances and that the same bee enjoined not onely to them but also to the Militarie Officers XX. For conclusion of these means besides what other the wisdom of your Hi. Mi. shall judg fit and ordain wee do wish som convenient ones could bee thought upon by your Hi. Mi. whereby the Papists in this Land might bee brought to the hearing of Gods holy Word and by it the true faith in Jesus Christ and an upright obedience to their lawful Magistrates In the Name of all it was signed as before Bernard Craso Eleazar M. F. Lotius Maximilian Feeling Cornelius Lamanus Johannes Hestius Som Provinces could have been contented the Ministers had staid at home especially for that there was one among these Representers who in a certain Dedication of a Book to the late Prince had highly praised and flatter'd him in regard of his proceedings last year against those of Holland and Amsterdam misapplying and wresting several Scripture-places to that purpose which most Ministers themselvs held to savor too too much of profanation Those of Holland remembred likewise what endeavors were used last Summer to charge them with defaults
to the said Provincial Government privative absolutely and so far forth that the Countrie hath enjoin'd their Deputies not onely to exercise and maintain the same right but also in case any Souldiers came marching into the same Province upon any other Order to keep off and hinder them de facto To this same end serv also the 5. 11. and 17. Articles of the Instruction whereupon Prince Maurice of immortal memorie in the year 1590. item the 11. 17 Artic. whereupon Prince Henrie in the year 1625. were received Stadt-holders of the foresaid Province wherein there are especially observable the said 11 th Articleimporting That the Stadt-holder bee not permitted to put any Garrison into the Cities without the fore-knowledg and consent of the respective Magistrates and the said 17 th Article ordaining that if his Excellencie shall not bee within the Countrie the Government shall bee exercised by the Landship or Land Deputies to whom the Souldierie shall bee bound to yield as perfect obedience as to his Excellencie himself As for the Provinces of Holland and Zealand over and above that which hath been amply deduced in this behalf out of their fore-cited Resolution of Feb. 6. 1587. there is a very pertinent passage in the instruction for the Commission'd Counsel of their N. Gr. M. made in the year 1590 and contained in the 38 th Article thereof where it beeing first ordained in general that the said Commissioners should issue forth all their Dispatches or Orders under the Title of the Commissioners of Holland and West-friesland there are afterwards by waie of Exception subjoined these following words safe notwithstanding the Dispatches and Commands to the Souldierie which they shall issue forth in the Name of his Excellencie with advice of the Commission'd Counsel aforesaid As likewise in the later Instruction of the foresaid Commission'd Counsel of the year 1623. Artic. 35. the same is ordained more streightly yet even with Exclusion of the Governor of the Province That namely the Dispatches and Commands to the Souldierie shall bee issued in the name of the L ds the States with reference to the Commission'd Counsel It beeing also given in charge to the respective Stadt-holders of Holland and Zealand by the States of the said Provinces in their Instruction Artic. 6. together with the Deputie Counsel to look to all the needful Garrisons securitie and protection of the foresaid Countries Cities Forts Ports Waters and Rivers thereof All which is yet further confirmed by the contents of the 5. 31. 35. Artic. of the former-cited Instruction of the Commission'd Counsel and those of the 5. 28. 32. Artic. of their later last cited Instruction In conformitie whereof also the Patents within the Province of Holland were given and dispatcht in the former times by the foresaid Commission'd Counsel and confirmed with their Seal and Secretaries Signature in the Name of the Stadt-holders and Governors with these express words inserted with advice of the Commission'd Council whereof for example there shall bee a copie set down here of a Patent given and dispatched by the said Commission'd Council April 17 0. 1595. word for word as followeth Maurice born Prince of Orange Earl of Nassaw c. Marquis of Vere Flushing Governor and Captain General over Gelderland Holland Zealand West-Friesland Zutphen Utrecht Over-Yssell c. Admiral and General By the advice of the Commissioned Council of the States of Holland and West-Friesland chargeth and ordaineth by these Captain Strackman to transport himself to the Citie of Goude and there to abide for a certain short time till further order from his Excellencie Don at the Haghe under the Seal of the forementioned Commission'd-Council underneath stood By his Excellencie according to the ordinance of the Commission'd Council of the States of Holland and West-friesland and was signed C. de Rechtere And although for som years hitherto the last Stadt-holders may have past and given som Patents of themselvs without the knowledg of the Commission'd Council it is considerable nevertheless that the same beeing don by them as Stadt-holders and Governors particular of the said Province and consequently in the Name of the same Province in particular and not in the Name of the Generalitie the Right of the Province is no whit impaired thereby Coming now to the Citie Towns and Lands of Utrecht there are divers pertinent passages in the Instruction for their Stadt-holders or Governors to prove what hath been said before and particularly the passage of the 11 th Article thereof importing that if it bee found needful any Garrison should bee put into the foresaid Citie or Towns the same shall not bee don but by the Patent of the Governor with consent of the States or their Deputies under a certain restriction about the same Governor's absence set down there more at large As the same is yet further elucidated in the 13. and 14. Articles of the foresaid Instruction The States of the Province of Friesland speak very clearly in the Instruction framed for their Deputie-States and especially in the 33. Article of the same in these words Whereas the Plenipotentiaries are assured that the Garrisons have generally been transplaced and changed by the sole command of his Lordship the Governor and never with the advice of the Lords Deputies and the Plenipotentiaries judging that the said transplacing of the Garrisons is a principal point of the Government of this Countrie Note that here the transplacing of the Garrisons is said to to bee a principal point of the particular or Provincial Government of Friesland therefore they the Plenipotentiaries do ordain their Deputies to suffer no more henceforward any transplacing of Garrisons to bee made otherwise then with express consent and advice of the said Deputies c. It beeing very pertinent withal to this purpose what is said in the end of the 31. Article of the foresaid Instruction namely That the Captains and Commanders having Companies under them shall stand engaged to bee readie for the service and protection of the Countrie in all places and quarters where the same shall bee appointed them by the Governor and Deputie-States to pass by divers other places of the same Instruction applicable to this purpose which their N. Gr. M. judg needless notwithstanding here to enumerate Onely for further Confirmation thereof let the 8 th Article speak of the Instruction whereupon his Lp Count Henrie of Nassaw whilom in the year 1632 and afterwards his Excellcie Count William received the Government of the foresaid Province it beeing therein ordained That the Stadt-holder shall govern himself according to the foresaid Instruction of the Deputie-States for so much as the same concern's his Person especially about placing of Garrisons in which regard they must precisely observ the foresaid 33 Article of the Instruction for the Deputies provided alwaies that in the absence of the L d Stadt-holder the Government of the foresaid Countrie shall remain in the sole disposition or administration of the said
comprehend how either by the Text of the Union or any Arguments thence deduced or by any other pretended necessities it is or ever can bee proved That the Provinces should bee bound to choos Stadtholders or the interest and service of the Common League should require the same for it is a thing past all dispute and asserted by the presented Considerations of the Provinces themselvs That the States of the respective United Provinces every one apart are Soveraign States That the Union made between them expressly condition'd it that every Province notwithstanding the same should not onely remain unprejudiced in their freedoms and prerogatives so as that none should trouble or molest the other about it but on the contrarie by all means due and possible yea with body and goods to help assist maintain strengthen and protect one another therein to the utmost against any whomsoëver and whereas among all the foresaid privileges the greatest and most considerable point is the Free and Soveraign Government therefore the Provinces had no intent nor desire to bound and over-rule one another therein in their Respective Jurisdictions but have left one another as to that in their perfect freedom for to administer all the parts of Soveraigntie in policie Justice and otherwise by themselvs or som of them in their name by others And verily the Confederates could have no such particular intent at the time of making the Union as to oblige or engage one another to the appointing of Stadtholders forasmuch as at that time they had not yet renounced the Dominion of the King of Spain and consequently were not qualified to appoint any Stadtholders and therefore it will follow so much the less that by the 10 Article of the Union the States should have obliged themselvs to the continuance of appointing Stadtholders they having then made no beginning yet and the Stadtholders which then were having the King's Commission besides that by the foresaid Article such questions as might arise about the matters there mentioned are not absolutely referred to the Stadholders but onely provisionally neither at all to the office of Stadtholdership but onely to the persons in office and place then insomuch that the foresaid provisional Order not beeing discontinued or altered in the life time of the Stadt-holders then in beeing the foresaid submission must needs bee ended with the deceas of the said Stadt-holders as beeing fastned by the said Confederates to the Elected persons of those Stadt-holders And by adding of the words now beeing clearly shewed that they meant not their Successors should pretend to the same right unless it were that the same by a later Resolution should bee referred unto them which the Lords of Holland do not finde was ever don since beeing the words of the foresaid Article cannot possibly bear any such interpretation as the Lords of Friesland do hold forth namely That the submission should not bee provisional but that the sentence or doom of the Stadt-holders should have provisional Execution so much the less beeing this is directly opposite to the 16 Article of the Union expressly importing That the sentence of the Stadt-holders ought to bee followed and yielded unto without any further demur or other proviso of right by way of appeal relief review nullitie or any other exception whatsoëver which doth not agree with a provisional Execution presupposing a further demur or appeal whereby the sentence may com to bee altered as also the words now beeing cannot bee referred to the United Provinces becaus that thereby the Stadtholders of the Provinces which thereafter might have joined themselvs to the Union would have remained excluded from the foresaid Umpirage or arbitrarie Decision and those Provinces should have been fain to submit themselvs to the judgment and decision of the Stadtholders of the other Provinces which would have made an inequalitie amongst the Members of the Union and in no wise advantaged the Union or encouraged other Provinces to enter into such an one Much less yet can it bee inferred from Artic. 24 of the said Union That the Provinces should bee bound to the appointing of Stadtholders for that it is said there That the Stadholders then in beeing or afterwards coming in should bee sworn to the observance of the Union and the Articles thereof for although these words shew what the Stadtholders which may happen to bee chosen are bound to do they do in no wise prove that the Provinces shall ever bee bound to chuse Stadtholders and the Lords of Holland do not think neither that the office of Stadtholdership should bee absolutely necessarie for the voiding of differences and that the same should serv as the uttermost remedie of removing controversies for besides that on the one hand it would bee unreasonable that the Provinces onely for deciding of Differences should bee necessitated to chuse Stadtholders though otherwise full sore against their wills who afterwards besides the foresaid Decision should do whatsoëver otherwise ordinarily belong d to the conduct of Stadtholders and on the other side it would bee as ill-beseeming that the Stadt-holder's Commission should bee altogether impaled with the foresaid Decision And the ninth Article it self shew's that our forefathers foresaw the Stadholders might not prove such of whom the said Decisions could bee exspected forasmuch as they beeing engaged every one to stand for his own Province and thereby bound to the interests thereof will hardly bee perfectly neuter and impartial wherefore it is said that when they shall not bee able to agree among themselvs they shall assume to themselvs som unpartial assessors or adjuncts which make's the Lords of Holland to think and conceiv that the Union remaining together with the Obligation of the Provinces thereby one to another in terms and manner as it is laid down if som difference should happen which might must be determined by decision som such expedients might then be taken follow'd as are propounded by the Lords of Zealand Gelderland and Utrecht respectively those of them which shall bee judged the best and most convenient according to the condition and exigence of times and affairs hoping nevertheless that God Almightie shall bless the State with so much prudence wisdom and Unitis that it shall bee needless to have ever recours to any Decision of Differences whereunto the Lords of Holland and West-Friesland shall evermore bee readie to contribute not onely all good will and readiness but likewise the real and upright effects desiring that this their Declaration as proceeding from upright hearts may bee received accordingly my Lords of Holland and West-Friesland reserving to themselvs the Libertie to make such further Declaration upon the said and other Articles of the Union as it shall pleas them to agree upon At last there came in likewise the inclinations of Over-Yssell touching the 3 important points of the great Assemblie High and Mightie Lords AS on the one side the State hath great reason of beeing greived at the last departure of his
which Officers and Souldiers in militarie matters may commit among themselvs and no further so that all other matters whether Criminal or Civil shall make the Souldierie or Militarie persons lyable to bee aprehended indited sentenced and executed by the Civil or Criminal Judges whose sentences bee they about matters of debts or otherwise shall in default of other satisfaction bee put in execution according to the order of the Land The Governors in the Cities and places having no voices in the State as at Sluys Berghen of Zoom Hulst Breda the Bosch Willemstadt Mastricht and Wessel shall bee appointed by the Provinces and that with the usual Commissions the Commanderies of other such like places by the States General The Majorships by the Council of State The Militarie Officers to bee admitted hereafter ought all of them to profess the Reformed Religion As for the giving of Patents or Commissions and transplacing of Garrisons gathering of Camps and Leaguers or sending forth considerable troops or squadrons to places and upon occasions where the service of the Land requireth it the same shall bee and remain in the disposition of the States General with advice of the Council of State And their Hi. M. are to conclude and determine therein by the pluralitie of voices provided that if any alteration com to bee made the same bee made known to the Provinces Cities and places where the Companies are to bee sent to or taken forth As likewise timely notice is to bee given by Letters to the Provinces where the said Companies are to pass or randevouz that orders and courses may bee taken about their marchings and quarters provided that the Governments of the Respective Provinces shall have libertie also to send Companies from one place to another for the securitie thereof and the Officers of the said Companies bee bound to obey them they giving immediate advertisement thereof to their Hi. Mi. And that furthermore all such Companies as are any where in Garrison now or may bee put in hereafter shall bee obliged to swear to the respective Cities according to the 17 th Article of the Union and the form alreadie made or to bee made or to the chief Officers in the open Countrie in case Necessitie should require to put any Companies there for the keeping of Rivers or otherwise The Cities antiently exempted and privileged of beeing molested with any Garrison against their will they shall remain in their old right and possession thereof and not bee prejudiced therein at all As for Secret Correspondencie both within and without the Land the same shall bee kept and continued with their Hi. Mi. and the Council of State by such persons and in such order as their Hi. Mi. and the Council of State shall think fitting and requisite for most service of the Land and most secret managing thereof with the least chargeableness that may bee the monies for it beeing to bee furnished from the Treasurie by the Receiver-General Besides all these foresaid Inclinations and Considerations the present Lords of the Province of Over-Yssell reserâ— to themselvs the libertie of taking off or adding what they shall judg fit and requisite for most service of the Countrie Upon Februarii 13 o there beeing com in now the Inclinations and Considerations of all the Provinces upon the Overture and Proposition made by and in behalf of Holland Januar. 18 o. The Lords of Holland propounded by word of mouth and delivered in writing their further considerations for contracting the affairs of the Great Assemblie in manner as followeth The Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland have brought into the Assemblie and made overture of their further Considerations for dispatching the affairs of this great Assemblie by distinguishing things purely provincial concerning which they have likewise declared themselvs in manner as will bee shewed by and by and things properly to bee deliberated by this Assemblie containing in effect That the said Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland having perused and examined the respective Considerations served in by the Provinces at the said great Assemblie they judged thereupon that the matters contained in the said Considerations are som of them purely Provincial and do not belong to the Deliberation and Ordering of the said Assemblie but wholly and solely to the managing of the Respective Provinces and others som belong purely to the managing of the Common Union and consequently to the Deliberation of the foresaid great Assemblie That the things which their No. Mi. judged to bee provincial and wholly and solely to belong to the managing of the States of the Respective Provinces are these following I. The appointing of Stad-holders or forbearing it at the States pleasure in every Province II. The disposing of the Commanderies and Major-ships in the Cities and Forts within the respective United Provinces together with their Condependencies III. The keeping of the keies by such Cities as have voices in the State and the giving of the watch-word by the Magistrates of the said Cities IV. The jurisdiction over the Militia in all things which are not purely Militarie V. The disposing of the Collonel-ships Captain-ships and lesser charges of their own Repartition VI. The transplacing of the Garrisons within the respective Provinces with the condependencies VII The swearing of the Souldierie by the States of the Province and Magistrates of the Cities where any Souldierie is put in Garrison besides the oath which the said Souldierie is bound to make to the Provinces upon whose Repartition they stand That their No. Mi. conceiv the foresaid matters ought wholly and solely to remain in the Disposing of the States of the Respective Provinces every one apart declaring withal that their N. M. intending to make use of this Right within their own Government they shall bee well content that the Provinces and members of them shall as they think good make use of and improve the same Right and therefore they hold it expedient That the Officers Militarie may bee written unto from this Board in that behalf for to submit themselvs in what is said before to the States of the respective Provinces and Members thereof and to obey the same therein That the matters which their N. M. judged to belong properly to the managing of the Common Union and consequently ought to bee deliberated in this Assemblie are I. Whether in the General Direction and Disposition of Militarie affairs and the Armie or Souldierie by common advice of the Confederates formerly referred unto the Council of State it will bee thought good to make any alteration therein II. By whom and in what manner the Patents or Commissions shall bee given to such of the Armie as are without the limits of the United Provinces III. In what manner the voicing Provinces and the Cities thereof shall receiv Garrisons and give waie to Marches and Randevouzes IV. In what manner any Souldierie shall bee drawn forth out of voicing Provinces and the Cities thereof V. To whom it shall bee
that which is urged out of the word provisionally or by provision inserted in the IX Article is in truth to small purpose first for speaking but of particular cases secondly for that in those very cases the difference is to bee referred to the Lords Stadholders by provision till it shall bee otherwise ordered by common advice of the confederates Uâ— Articulus IX expressè habet cujus prior explicatio etiam ad hunc posteriorem casum pertinet quia nulla diversitatis ratio potest dari vel alia commodior explicatio adduci So that however no Province can bee deprived of this provisional Remedie nor the cours altered but by common advice forasmuch as the Stadholders are to do or administer Right in the rest of the Cases besides the forenamed in a principal manner and at last cast As for the distinction betwixt the Office of the Stad-holders and the Persons thereof taken from these words of the IX Article now beeing to pass by the contradictorie terms of debate the same savoreth more of acuteness then of probabilitie and is partly literal and contrarie to the meaning intent and design of the Confederates which without all question was no other but that the questions hapning to arise from the foresaid causes might aswell bee accommodated and decided by the subsequent Stad-holders as by those that were beeing at the time of making the Union there beeing the same ground and necessitie for either namely by provision till it should bee otherwise order'd by common consent and advice which was never don to this day And besides it is plain that the foresaid IX Article treat's onely of the foresaid particular cases and that the XVI and XXI together with others formerly alleged speak generally and indistinctly of all the Stad-holders aswel to com as present as likewise in a special case mentioned without the foresaid occasion it was but lately understood by your H. M. by the Resolution of August 18. 1650 which referrâ—th the particulars therein mentioned to the decision of the Stadholders or Stad holholder of the Provinces at that time with reflection to the Union and all the parts thereof The rest of the foresaid debate consist's in too too large an assumtion of the alleged interpretations impertinent consequences refutations of imaginarie objections conceited limitations of the office of Stadholders and the like which are sufficiently defeated by the foregoing arguments and explication so that the Deputies shall not need to repent any for to applie them to each point in particular Their N. M. the Commissioners of Friesland declaring herewith that they have no other aym in all this deduction but in the uprightness of their hearts zealously to maintain the common caus and to contribute their utmost for the conservation and setling of the State beeing not able to think on change and alterations without fear and trembling The admitting of one drawing along with it a great many others and very seldom any good success considering withal that this State hath found so much benefit by the former way of Government in regard whereof the United Provinces have good reason to mindâ— what was said of Rome Moribus antiquis res stat Romana virÃsque In prosecution and remembrance of what those of Zealand had propounded against Corruptions and receiving of presents the Lord Jacob Vett presiding for Zealand at the Assemblie Febr. 22 hee moved to their Hi. Mi whether for those reasons and motives largely then deduced and insisted on by him they did not â—inde good forthwith to order by express Resolution that such of their Hi. Mi. Deputies or Commissioners as should henceforward bee emploied to enter into and make any Treatie in the behalf of this State with Ambassador or other publick Ministers of forrein Princes Potentates and Republicks should bee obliged before they enter upon any business of that kinde to take such an oath mutatis mutandis as the Lords their Hi. Mi. Extraordinarie Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries for the General Treatie of Peace at Munster had solemnly taken before their going thither according to the 9 and 91 Article of their Instruction Hereupon it was next daie expressly resolved That all such as should for time to com bee emploied in the behalf of this State for to make any Treatie with Embassadors and other Ministers of forrein Kings Republicks Princes and Lords shall bee bound by solemn Oath to promise and swear that before the beginning of the respective Treatie they had neither taken noâ— enjoied and that during and also after the conclusion of the Treatie they would not take nor enjoie any Gifts or Presents directly or indirectly in any manner conceivable or unconceivable but that on the contrarie if any gifts were presented them before the beginning of the foresaid Treatie or should bee presented them during or after the conclusion of the said Treatie they would with all uprightness and faithfulness and as soon as possibly might bee without any delaie give notice thereof to their Hi. Mi. under pain of infamie and such other punishment as the condition of affairs should require And that they shall likewise bee bound to swear That they will â—eprightly and faithfully follow their Instruction and the Resolution relating thereunto and contribute whatsoever shall tend most to the furthering thereof and contrarily to decline and oppose themselvs to whatsoever shall bee practised to retard or prejudice the same This same daie it was likewise found good Letters should bee writen in friendlie terms unto the Province of Groninghen and the Omlands that they would bee pleased to send their Deputies hitherwards to help together with the rest of the Provinces to resolv upon the important deliberations none beeing absent of the Principal Members but they Since that there past som daies wherein nothing was don in matters relating to the great Assemblie there beeing presented before them howbeit contrarie to the former intent and appointment of the Assemblie the business of the West-Indies the Ratification of the Danish Treatie The Complaints and Counter-complaints of Spain and France Whereupon the Ambassador of Spain the Resident Brasset and the Roial Swedish Commissioner Appelboom had successively and respectively Audience in the Assemblie All which not relating to our present purpose wee pass over here Holland it self grew cool in pressing the business of the Militia whether it were that they would staie for the arrival of the English Ambassador to caus jealousie in the other Provinces that Holland and Zealand alone if need were could so settle their affairs with England that the rest of the Provinces should bee fain to accommodate themselvs with Holland's desires of their own accord or that Holland and Zealand having now declared their minde and purpose they would give â—acitly so much to understand that they intended not to communicate the autoritie over the Militia in their paie any further with the rest then according to the project of assigning the limits and distinctions of the Companies and to leav it
Stadtholder or Stadholders should not bee prejudiced thereby that the name onely of the Council of State is expressed in these Articles without adding that of Stadtholder or Stadtholders Their N. M. conceived the words of Stadtholder or Stadtholders ought to bee inserted and likewise that these Articles should not in the least prejudice the Right of the Province of Friesland or their Governor in disposing over the Neighbor Forts and Commanders according to the old custom together with the Resolution and agreements of their H. M. in several years past The Lords of Groninghen having examined the foresaid Advice Conciliatorie they declared likewise that they could easily conform thereunto provided there were but som â—all alteration made therein which they conceived did â—ncern the interest of their Province in particular the 〈◊〉 part of the foresaid Advice and Resolution 〈◊〉 remaining otherwise entire thus namely â—at in the I. Article and all the rest where it is said With 〈◊〉 advice of the Council of State the words may bee read thâ— With advice of the Lords Stadholders or Stadholder and the Council of State Instancing further that the Stadholder of â—e Province of Groninghen and Omlands had the undoubtedright to sit in the foresaid Council and especially in mâ—er of securing the Frontiers and the like whereof the secoâ— Article treated for to serv their Hi. Mi. with advice what might bee requisite in cases concerning them for the Text remaining as it is in the foresaid Resolution might otherwise at first somwhat obscure and at length que obliterate this clear Right of their Province so well knâ—wn yet to their Hi. M. themselvs All which said they might easily bee prevented by the foresaid insertion withâ—t nevertheless altering any thing essential in the establishâ— Resolution it beeing said they far from the meaningâ—d intent of this solemn Assemblie to prejudice any Memâ— thereof in their due Right and Autoritie Touching the V. Artic. th said Deputies of Groninghen represented to their H. M. That bâ—th in the Province of Friesland theirs the Direction Dispâ—stion of the garrisoning keeping the forts of Câ—â—vorden ohers lying about the Provinces had ever since the Reduction of Groninghen been and remained at the Disposal of their Stadholders and that consequently the besetting and guarding of those Forâ—s and Sconces were from time to time in especial manner recommended to the respective Lords Stadholders of the said Provinces in their Instruction And accordingly the Commanders thereof were alwaies put in by and received their Commissions from the said Lords Stadholders And all that in the same method and manner which their H M. had been pleased to appoint themselvs in regard of tâ— said Sconces and circumstances in the year 1596 and atâ—â— times Should the Text of the fift Artic. remain in tens as now it is couched the foresaid right and autoriâ— of the Lord Stadholder of the said Provinces would 〈◊〉 notably impaired to the no small prejudice of the 〈◊〉 Provinces in their remoteness And therefore the ords of Groninghen and Omlands conceiv that the foresaid fift Article ought to bee altered or claused thus to 〈◊〉 Saving the right and interest of the Provinces And furtâ—r their N. M. conceived That the Order or Direction affairs Militarie now advanced by the Advice Conciliorie beeing but provisional it ought to bee expressed 〈◊〉 it should stand and bee of force onely until it shaâ— bee otherwise disposed of as the constitution of the Land shall require it The present Lords Deputies of the â—rovince of Over-Yssell having seen what the Province of Friesland and Groninghen pretended yesterday Jun. 16 at he Assemblie in their Exceptions delivered in about the oints of Direction of Militarie affairs and giving of Pants namely that the Direction and Disposing of gaâ—isoning and keeping the Fort of Coevorden belong'd of â—ght to them They the Lords of Over-Yssell could not pâ—s it thus without contradicting it in behalf and for the conservation of the Right of their Province in that particulâ—â— against the pretences of the said Provinces of Friesland and Groninghen However within a few daies after viz. Jun. 21 it was agreed That touching the Exceptions of the said three Provinces there should bee satisfaction given them in manner as followeth That upon the motion of som Provinces at their H. M. Assemblie it was found good upon precedent deliberation expresly to declare That by the Resolution taken June 16 about the Direction of Militarie affairs and the giving of patents their H. M. meant not to enervate alter or prejudice in any kinde or part the Articles of the Union and everlasting Confederacie made at Utrecht betwixt the United Provinces Januarie 29 1579 nor the Articles of Instruction for the Council of State in as much as may concern the the Stadholders nor that the Provinces or any one of them shall bee prejudiced in the least by the abovesaid Resolution nor their Stadholder or Governor in the Disposing over som neighbor Forts and Commanders when ever they shall make it appear by Resolutions or Agreements of their Hi. Mi. or by any other lawful Title that they have gotten an absolute Right of disposing therein In the foregoing Resolution of Jan. 16 the Oath is set down to bee made to the Generalitie But how and in what manner there were framed three other Forms touching the Provinces and Cities in particular whereof soâ— mention is made in the former Oath to the Generalitie the same is to bee seen by the Copies following the first whereof is The Form of Oath to bee made by all Chief Commanders Collonels Ritmasters Captains Lievtenants under-Officers and all the Souldierie standing upon the Repartition of Holland and Westfriesland into the hand of the States of the said Province or their Autorized Commissioners WEe do promiss and swear to bee true and faithful to the States General of the United Netherlands remaining constant to the Union and in the maintenance of the true Christian Religion and especially to the States of Holland and Westfriesland to serv them resolutely and faithfully in the Defence of the foresaid United Netherlands and especially the Countrie of Holland and Westfriesland the Quarters Cities and Members thereof against all their enemies to bee obedient to the said Lords the States of Holland and Westfriesland or their Autorized Commissioners in what they shall command us for the furtherance of the service and defence of the said Countries and particularly to help to protect and defend the open Countrie of the foresaid Province from all inquartering and disorder of militarie forces * * Note The words as also c. to Autorized Commissioners inclusively to bee left out at the swearing of the Common Souldier as also that beeing within the said Province wee shall not march forth or beeing without wee shall not enter into it for to bee emploied quartered or garrison'd there but upon the Patents of the said Lords the States of Holland and Westfriesland or their
Autorized Commissioners And besides in all things to conform our selvs to the Articles of War So truly help us God Almightie The Form of Oath to bee made by all Chief Commanders Collonels Ritmasters Captains Lievtenants under-Officers and all the Souldierie in Garrison within the Province of Holland and Westfriesland not beeing of their Repartition into the hands of the States of that Province or their Autorized Commissioners WEe do promiss and swear to bee true and faithful to the States General of the United Netherlands remaining constant to the Union and in the maintenance of the true Christian Religion and especially to the States of Holland and Westfriesland the Quarters Cities and Members thereof against all their Enemies and for the time wee shall remain in the said Province to bee obedient to the said Lords the States of Holland and Westfriesland or their Autorized Commissioners in what they shall command us for the furtherance of the service and defence of the foresaid Countries and particularly to help to protect and defend the open Countrie of the said Province from all inquaâ—tering and disorder of militarie forces * * Note the words as also unto autorised Commissioners inclusively to bee left out at the swearing of the common Souldier as also not to march within this Province but upon the Patent of the said Lords the States of Holland and Westfriesland or their Autorized Commissioners And beside in all things to conform my self to the Articles of War So truly God Almightie help us The Form of Oath to bee made by the Captains under-Officers and Souldiers into the hands of the Citie-Magistrates where with their Companies they lie in Garrison or are to bee laid respectively I Do promiss and swear * * Note The words with the Companie under mee to bee left out at the swearing of the Lievtenant under-Officers and Souldiers with the Companie under mee to bee true and faithful to this Citie and Magistrate faithfully to serv and obey them in what they shall command mee for the conservation service and tranquillitie of their Citie and particularly against all manner of uproar and sedition of the people saving alwaies the Command which the Lords the States of this Province or their Commissioned Council shall lay upon mee So truly God help mee On the 19 th of June it was found good to desire the Lord Roesveld and other their High M. Deputies that they would effectually once take in hand the business about Corruption formerly treated of and make report of it with all speed possible Jun. 21 o. it was agreed that the Militarie Officers should bee sworn by the Commissioners appointed for the mustering of the Forces under this State The Lords of Friesland caused to bee enter'd in their behalf that they consented no further to the conclusion then that their Militia and Militarie persons should bee sworn upon the form here agreed on by the Lords the Deputed states of their Province from whom they had likewise ever received their Commissions according to the old custom observed there ever since the beginning of this Republick wherein there had hapened no alteration at all by the death of the Prince of Orange Jun. 22 o. the Lords van Ghent Dort Roesveld Wimenum Loo Paets Sonck Aylva van der Beeck Cates Jacob Veet vâ—n der Hoolk Tiassens and Claâ—t took their oath before the the great Assemblie upon the Instruction of Jun. 16 o. for the Lords Deputies in the Ordinarie Assemblie of the Generalitie whereby they are to govern themselvs in giving of Patents to the Souldierie and taking care for the Frontiers of this State the same was likewise performed afterwards by the rest of the Ordinarie Deputies About the later end of June all the chief and subordinate Officers militarie to Captains Lievtenants and Ensignes inclusively beeing summoned and com to the Haghe they presented themselvs in the Ordinarie Assemblie and there took the oath according to the form established in the great Assemblie Jun. 16 o. all of them standing and barehead except onely his Excellencie Count William of Nassaw as beeing Stadtholder of Provinces for whom a chair was set nevertheless taking the oath hee stood and was uncovered The like was don by them all in the Assemblie of Holland For the stopping of the cours of Corruptions there was a Report made June 27 o. importing that a â—olemn Act or Proclamation ought to bee published against the same and an order settled by Resolution That no members of the Government sitting in any Assemblie Court Magistracie or Judicature depending on the Generalitie should suffer himself to bee corrupted or drawn about with receiving or enjoying any gifts bribes and presents from any persons that may have any thing to seek or sue for in any of the foresaid Governments Courts or Judicatures June the 30 th those of Holland Zealand and Utrecht conformed themselvs unto it and the rest of the Provinces were desired to declare themselvs in like manner Whereupon July 1. the Lord Jacob de Vett beeing President at the Great Assemblie it was disposed of and unanimously resolved agreed and consented to That None of the Lords Commissioners at the Assemblie of the States General noâ— Council of State nor Treasurâ—e or Exchequer nor Courts of the respective Admiralties nor the Lords Justices of Braband and Flanders nor their chief Ministers or Officers respectively nor any other resorting under the Generalitie none at all excepted nor their wives children or any in relation to them shall either themselvs or by any other take receiv or enjoy any thing not so much as by transaction sale exchange or otherwise either directly or indirectly beeing a gift or present whatever yea and how small soever the gift or gifts may bee even to eating and drinking wares and that from no person whatsoever whom they know to have any thing to do at the fore-mentioned Assemblie Courts Judicatures whereof they are members or may bee like to get any business there by reason that either for themselvs or other they may pretend sue or have obtained any Charges Offices Benefices or Emoluments Grants Judgments Decrees Resolution about any matter there depending or for expedition's sake under what pretext soever either before or after the Business shall bee transacted or dispatched and if so bee they should have received or enjoy'd any such gift or present from any one whom afterwards they came to understand that they had business in the Assemblie or any of the foresaid Courts or places of Judicature where they are Members chief Ministers or Officers which at the time of receiving of those gifts or presents they were ignorant of that then they ought to give notice thereof to the Assemblie or Courts before named respectively and refrain either directly or indirectly to recommend the business of such to the Assemblie or Courts or any members thereof in person or by others But if it should plainly and manifestly appear that They have wittingly and purposely received or
to declare that his intention was no other then hee professed before and doth herewithall humbly desire and beseech their N. Gr. M. not to construe his actings and sayings any otherwise and that accordingly they will bee pleased to comprehend him together with all other Militarie Officers and inhabitants of this Land which were imploied in that Expedition in the General Amnestia or Act of Oblivion which hee understood was in agitation among the Provinces And afterwards hee presented the ensuing Petition To the Noble Great Mightie Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland THe Lord van Sommersdyck sheweth with all reverence his beeing so unhappie that notwithstanding his uttmost endeavor of giving satisfaction to their N. gr M. by an upright and respectful Information touching his Employ in the Amsterdam Expedition hee understands their N. gr M. do still remain unsatisfied in that behalf Hee doth therefore once again most humbly beseech your N. gr M. seriously to consider the strict obligation and forcible tie of his Militarie Employment most submissively praying that in regard thereof they will bee pleased to comprehend him in the Amnestia now in agitation promising that in acknowledgment thereof hee shall evermore bee and remain Their No. gr M. most humble and most obedient Servant and Subject signed van Aerssen van Sommersdyck Whiles thus on the one side inquisition was made about such as had lent their helping hand to the Princes Designs last year it was found good on the other side to justifie the Actions and Resolutions of the Lords of Holland and accordingly there came in from the respective Cities of Dort Haerlem Delâ—t Amsterdam Horen and Medenblick as also by the N. gr M. Lords the States of Holland themselvs these ensuing Acts of Justification Act of Justification of the Citie of Dort WEe Burgomasters Senators Counsellors old-council and commons of the Citie of Dort make known by these our open Letters to all and every one to whom they shall bee presented That the Lord Jacob de Witte old Burgomaster of this Citie at present Commission'd Counsellor and Deputie from this Citie at the Assemblie of Holland hath advised nothing touching the new State of War and the Cashiering and reducing of the Militia but that which our Deputies there were charged to do and this beeing anew examined in our full Assemblie and all the Acts and Resolutions concerning that matter renewed Junii 10. last the same is found in truth to bee so and that for all this thanks were and yet are returned to him by these wherewithal is comprehended the report of a certain Letter from their Hi. M. to the Commissioned Counsellors bearing date April 16. last past That the same Lord old Burgomaster de Witte hath been of the same advice together with the other Lords concerning what last time was conferr'd of here with his High s in particular and yielded to and promised by word of mouth with our Consent to the content of his High â— according to the written advice presented in our behalf to the foresaid Assemblie of Holland That besides the Lord de Witte hath endeavored to the utmost together with other Deputies that the conciliatorie advice of 16. July last might first among the Deputie-Members of their great Might and afterwards here in our Assemblie by their Nob. gr M. bee settled and for that and other continued services had together with his fellow-Commissioners thanks given him by us and wee thank him to this daie by these and whereas all the foresaid affairs and advices were don and performed by his Honor with our full knowledg order and autorisation therefore wee declare by these that wee do commend approve and ratifie the same together with the advices grounded thereupon promising to his Honor and to his Children also that whatsoever in regard and by reason hereof shall further com or is alreadie com upon or don to him to hold the same as if it were com upon or don to Us in general and to every one of Us in particular and personally and to help the same to bee repaired with all vigor aad to keep his Honor harmless and indamnified under the obligation of our Citie and all the goods thereof recoverable by any Lords Courts Laws Judges and Judicatures Actum August 2. 1651. and the foresaid Act beeing read over again in our Assemblie Aug. 5. next ensuing the extent thereof hath been approved and wee Burgomasters Senators Counsellors Old-Council and Commons abovesaid do caus this to bee sealed with the Citie Seal in behalf thereof Underneath stood In absence of the Secretarie signed by H. Roosboom where under stood the Seal exprest in green Wax covered over with white paper Register-Notes taken by occasion of his High s the Prince of Orange his arrival at Dort together with Lords van de Capelle van Aersberghen Marignault Rhynswoude Claut of the Assemblie of the Lords the States General and the Lords van Asperen Lucas and Treasurer General Brasser of the Council of State all in qualitie of Deputies from the Generalitie about the point of Reducing and Casheiring of the Militia by the Lords the States of Holland aud West-Friesland resolved in June 1650. Thursday June 9. 1650. ADvertisement beeing given the daie before by the Commission'd Counsellors of the arriving of his High s and the foresaid Deputies of the Generalitie after that the Lords Burgomasters of this Citie accompanied with divers Lords of the Government had waited till ten a clock at night for the said arrival of his High s for to receiv the same according to the accustomed order by causing a considerable number of Citizens to attend in arms and that the said Burgomaster seeing it grow so late and doubting of his High s arrival that night had dismissed the foresaid Lords of the Government together with the Citizens this morning earlie the said Burgomasters were desired in his High s behalf who was com to town yet last night about eleven that the Assemblie of the Senators Counsellors Old-Council and Commons might bee gathered that forenoon yet for to have Audience there together with the foresaid deputed Lords from the Generalitie whereupon the foresaid Burgomasters accompanied as before beeing gon to his High s lodging for to bid him welcom and desired by him to assemble the Old-Council apart returned answer to his High s that they the said Burgomasters would at the desire and for the respect to his High s onely gather the foresaid Old-Council and admit of the said Audience under protestation nevertheless this beeing an innovation and beside the Order of Government to laie no ground of prejudice thereby to the Eminence Prerogative and Soveraigntie of the Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland nor to the freedom of their Deliberations in their State-Assemblie about it Where after his High s beeing conducted to the foresaid Audience attended by the forenamed Deputies of the Generalitie there were read by the Lord vand der Cappelle som Propositions and papers in
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
in Conscience Reason and Equitie to bee requisite beeing to promiss to this end by Oath without regard or affection to any Provinces or Members thereof to judg and pronounce impartially as before Provided that if any parties should conceiv they had reason of recusing any of the foresaid Arbiter or Super-Arbiter they may have libertie to allege their Reasons and that the sufficiencie thereof shall bee judged and sentence pronounced accordingly by the rest of the said Arbiters on condition there bee presently another supplied in the room of him that was rightfully Recused Moreover that the respective Provinces should promiss to conform and submit to the sentence to bee given without doing causing or suffering to bee don any thing against it directly or indirectly in any kinde or manner without any seeking or making use of any further exception or provision of the Laws in that behalf whether it bee by waie of Appeal Relief Revision Nullitie or any other Evasion or Plea whatsoever And if any one should do or attemt any thing against this the same should bee declared now as then to bee Null and of no validitie at all all this under the obligation of themselvs and all the Inhabitants of the respective Provinces Cities and Members thereof their persons and goods for in case of contravention and failing to satisfie the foresaid Sentence by performing the effect thereof and that which depend s thereon to bee arrested deteined and prosecuted in any places between Magistrates Laws and Judicatures wherever they may bee met with renouncing and rejecting to that end all Exceptions Charters or Grants Privileges Reliefs and generally all other benefits of the Laws which might stand them in any stead to the contrarie hereof and especially the Laws which saie That no General Renunciation ought to have place without a special one bee gon before The Point of the New State of War beeing likewise propounded was remitted to the Ordinarie Assemblie It was conceived the great Assemblie would have ended on Saturday July 29. beeing just the anniversarie of the siege of Amsterdam and seizure of the six Lords But Friesland and Groninghen with the Omlands insisted still with great eagerness for the Amnestia And those of Holland were so indisposed or unreadie for it that on the 29. aforesaid there was a Recess made and the Assemblie adjourned to the 7. of August against which time the Provinces took upon them precisely to meet here again it beeing found good that in the mean time the Conference Conciliatorie should bee revived again about the remaining and unresolved points all the Provinces having undertaken that against the foresaid time they would declare finally upon the projects about deciding the differences which might at any time arise among the Provinces and so likewise upon the Amnestia or Oblivion of the things happened in the Land the last year 1650. and upon the Lists of the Garrisons to bee left both within and without the voicing Provinces Nevertheless it was Friday first the eleventh of August before the Great Assemblie met again at which time the Council of State brought in their further advice dated Aug. 8. touching the Lists of the Garrisons within and without the voicing Provinces declaring that having examined what was mooved by som Provinces That som places or Frontiers situated within the voicing Provinces were set upon the List as resorting under the Generalitie and vice versâ for that reason they had in the presence of his Excell câ—e the Stadtholder in Council reassumed the Lists aforesaid and examined them and accordingly declared That they met with no place of that reflexion but in the list of places without the voicing Provinces the Forts of Bourtang Bellingwold and Lang acker-sconce as also Coevorden and in the other List of places within the voicing Provinces Axel Neusen Biervliet Lillo and Liefkens-hoeck As for the Forts of Bourtang Bellingwold and Lang-acker-sconce the same laie not in or within any of the voicing Provinces as neither Coevorden lying in the Countrie of Drent and in that regard justly placed in the List without the voicing Provinces and then concerning Axel Neusen Biervliet Lillo and Liefkens-hoeck beeing put upon the List of the voicing Province of Zealand it must bee understood that this was don not for that the said places laie in or within the Province of Zealand which indeed could bee said of none but becaus that Province having otherwise but few Garrisons the Companies of the foresaid places might serv them for the more commodious Execution of their Civil administrations and commands without any intention notwithstanding thereby to prejudice the Generalitie but as the Lords of Zealand had heretofore in time of War the oversight over the five forenamed places as well for besetting and fortifying thereof as otherwise so likewise had the Provinces of Friesland and Groninghen with the Omlands together with the Lords Stadtholders of the same Provinces the oversight over the 3 first-named Forts both for the besetting and fortifying thereof as otherwise in which regard it is propounded and prest in behalf of the 3 foresaid respective Provinces that those places ought to bee continued to them forasmuch as they are respectively most highly concerned in the guarding of them for the securitie of their Provinces and that the respective Garrisons continuing thus under their Tuition they would bee the better accommodated for the executing of their Civil Commands which beeing taken into consideration the Lords of Zealand and Friesland were desired with all speed to bring in their respective proofs and warrants for the assertion of the right which they pretended in the autoritie and inspection or oversight over those places and forts lying otherwise without the voicing Provinces under the immediate resort or jurisdiction of the Generalitie Those of Holland were much desired by them of Friesland and Groninghen with the Omlands to consent to the Amnestia generally and without reservation and consequently to comprehend therein likewise the Lord vâ—n Sommersdyck whose case bred most of the Difficulties as likewise that they would suffer the matoer of Consents about publick charges to bee comprised in the Act of deciding Differences which Holland instanced ought to remain Soveraignly and absolutely in the power of the particular Provinces according to the Union and their Resolution As for the Amnestia those of Holland were very loath to recoil from their Project which was that they would shew no Resentment of things past in the year 1650. against the other Provinces the Subjects Inhabitants or Ministers thereof of what qualitie state or condition soever c. but under these words against the other Provinces the Subjects Inhabitants thereof did not disable themselvs to exercise resentment against their own Subjects which aimed principally at the Lord van Sommersdyck beeing not able to forget or disgest that any one should bee a Member of their own Assemblie and nevertheless do such services to the Stadtholder and Captain General as were so much prejudicial to
out of the adjoined Bills whether the works were put out publickly and that the said Bills and particulars bee annexed to the Orders as likewise look to it that no continuation of undertaken works bee yielded unto and that no Orders of what kinde soêver shall bee otherwise issued but to the Receiver General who shall accommodate the owners of the said Orders at their desire with assignations upon the subordinate Receivers at the places of their Residence or where it may bee most convenient for them IX Turn to Artic. 49. THere shall likewise account bee rendred of the Rights of the Seal according to the Tax ordained or to bee ordained by the States General whereof good and exact Registers and Counter-rolls are to bee kept Nevertheless the same may bee converted to the paying of the Officers and other necessarie expences of the Council of State And so likewise was the Instruction of the Receiver General enlarged with these two Articles I. IN the first place the Receiver General shall hold no Orders valid nor make any paiment thereupon unless they bee given by the Council of State and signed by the Lord President and two other Lords of the said Council together with the Treasurer and Secretarie of the same upon precedent registring thereof folio tali and having annexed to it all the bills and requisites about the particulars for which the respective Orders were granted and having been likewise viewed examined and cleared that they were given according to the Land's Order with the inscription of Registrata folio tali made by the said Chamber without all which the Receiver is to make no paiment upon pain of disallowance II. Nor shall any Orders of what name or kinde soëver bee issued or charged but upon the Receiver General who shall accommodate the owners of the said Orders at their desire with Assignations upon the subordinate Receivers at the places of their aboad or where it shall bee most convenient for them There was likewise consultation held several times about dressing of the List of the Companies as well for besetting the Frontiers as for better Execution of the civil commands in every Province which continued yet in December as likewise the deliberations and considerations about the settling of the State of War The Council of State was also summoned again and again for to com and take their Oath upon the new Instruction past Julie 18. But by reason that through the absence of many the Council was very thin and uncomplete they excused and declined it still until Decemb. 1. they brought in their Considerations upon the said Instructions shewing that som points thereof were not practicable according to the letter as also that thence would follow much remissness or slow proceeding in the affairs and therefore no small disservice to the Land Wherefore they desired that before the passing of their Oath they might enter into conference with Commissioners of their Hi. Mi. about those difficulties But receiving no answer hereupon and beeing pressed anew with the soonest to com and take the Oath they judged it necessarie to draw up in writing the Considerations which in presence of his Excell cie Count William of Nassaw Stadtholder they had observed upon several Articles of the said Instructions wherein they found it too difficult for them to yield performance accordiâ—g to the letter without knowing the true sence of them by further interpretation protesting beforehand that they were sorrie they must represent it in this manner beeing constreined to it for the quiet and satisfaction of their mindes which indeed might well have been prevented if so bee that according to the 24 Article of the Old Instruction the alteration or change thereof had been made with the knowledg and advice of the Council of State according to the plain words of the said Article but now the Council beeing past by contrarie to the plain text of the foresaid old â—worn Instruction they found that without scruple they could not safely swear nor duly execute the said New Instructions They said the Second Article required That the Lords of the Council should have their firm Residence at the place of their Assemblie this the Council held serviceable indeed for the State if it could bee put in practice by the Lords but som declared they had taken the Commission upon them on other terms and those which were sent hither from the Provinces but for the space of one or two years beeing absent now they would finde themselvs put to a great deal of inconvenience to quit therefore their habitation in the Provinces and to transport their whole families hither for so small a time To the Third Article of gathering in the fore and afternoon and that the Counsellors should still bee ready at hand where the Council is emploi'd they said they held it sufficient to keep to the old practice and such as their Hi. Mi. themselvs do gathering namely in the forenoon in ordinarie and besides that at any time when the Lord President shall finde it requisite for the service of the Countrie To Article 15 That is was known the Council had no disposing of the common means within the respective Provinces but onely in the places without the Provinces resorting under the Generalitie where the equalitie would bee observed well enough but that it was requisite there should first som resolution bee taken about the difference which was in the common means of the Bosch with other places of Braband for which advice was given a good while ago and that the Lists of Braband and Flanders may likewise bee looked into as not well agreeing yet They declared they could not perform the 19 Article according to the letter beeing the paiment of the Souldierie was not made by them but the same and the charges of War beeing charged by Repartition upon the respective Provinces they had the disposition over the paiment and the managing of their means themselvs The Generalities means were emploied by the Council upon the undivided Interests running upon the account of the Receiver General and all other emergent occasions necessities and charges incident and incumbent to and with the Assemblies of the Generalitie As for the necessarie Mustering and Discipline over the Souldierie the Council would take care for well enough but the paying them by Pole or by the head was never practised yet and beyond the Council's abilitie To the 20 Article the Council said it was not in their power to provide for that beeing every Province did therein every one as they found good and som did practice the contrarie causing the Companies to bee charged som also not paying precisely so that without redressing first the one and other exorbitancie in the Provinces and reducing all to an Uniformitie it was in vain precisely and duly to effect the rest upon or against the Souldierie To the 21 where is said how the Orders ought to bee signed they observed there was omitted that the Secretarie of the Council
other matters politick by special Title devolved or granted to them from the Lord or such affairs as do concern the Province and the state of the Countrie committed unto them by the Soveraign Government as integrating Members thereof All these respective Functions Employments and Deliberations beeing quite different and severed from the Right of electing the Magistrates persons belonging to the Marquis By all which it having been unanswerably demonstrated that the Right enjoi'd hitherto by the Princes of Orange of happie memorie over the Cities of Flushing and Veer in respect of their Magistracie and Civil Government hath been exercised by them Not as Stadtholders of the Earldom but as Marquises and Lords over the said Cities By virtue of their own and domainial Right by lawful Title acquired to themselvs from the Earls of Zeland And confirmed by a peaceable and uninterrupted possession of the Predecessors Lords of Veer and Flushing for about two hundred years And that therefore by the Death of his late High s of happie memorie the same Right is no waie and in no part devolved or relapsed into the Bosom of the Earldom By reason whereof all the Provision com's to surceas and fall to ground of it self which the Lords of the Commissioned Council in the forementioned seventh point of intimations desired of and commended to your N. M. As also doth the Project of the Reiglement transmitted to your Nob. Migh after the foresaid Considerations And in case your N. M. should have conceived any further scruple yet from the foresaid considerations about the Domainial Right of his High s yet Their High ss the Guardians of the Prince-Pupil are confident your N. M. will forbear to dispose or determine ought in that behalf But it beeing no affair of State to remit the whole business to the Court of Justice thence to receiv its determination and accomplishment This Counter-Remonstrance beeing presented at the Assemblie of the States of Zeland Novemb. 9. The Counsellor Pensionarie of the Countrie propounded next daie after whether it would not bee fitting and expedient to proceed therein with all due Circumspection and equitie that the Lords of the Council should ripely examin the same and send their Considerations to the Members as a point of intimation Hereupon it was said by the Lords of Middleburgh that having heard the said Counter-Remonstrance both by word of mouth and lecture made before them they had not observed the least therein that overthrew any thing of the former advice given but on the contrarie were much more confirmed thereby fully to embrace the same without any further scrupling and that the Lords of Flushing and Veer ought to draw up and bring in their respective Reiglements in conformitie thereof nevertheless to shew how readie they are to proceed therein with leisurable prudence they found good that the said Counter-Remonstrance should bee put into the hands of the Lords of the Commissioned Council who should ripely examin the same and within a few daies make their Report and communicate their advice to the Lords the States by word of mouth considering especially the great Privilege granted to the Lords of Flushing in the year 1574. by Prince William together with the copies of the Letters of Investiture and Sale relating to the said Cities That thereupon a final Resolution may bee taken in this matter such as should bee found requisite in reason and equitie to which advice Zirick-zee Goes and Tholen conformed themselvs Flushing and Veer desired a copie of the said Counter-Remonstrance to bring in their Advice with the soonest Wednesday Novemb. 15. report beeing made by the Counsellor Pensionarie of the Land That the respective Members having heard the daie before the further Considerations of the Lords of the Council serving to answer the reasons of the Counter-Remonstrance made in the behalf of the Prince of Orange touching the Right of the Earldom and the Lord of Flushing and Veer respectively deduced They were desired this daie to advise further upon it The four fore-sitting Members unanimously declared that in the Counter-Remonstrance there were no reasons alleged which could any waies move them to change the former advice but on the contrarie they were rather more encouraged therein by the lecture thereof and that so much the rather now since they daie before the heard the further deduction of the Council by word of mouth more clearly yet justifying the grounds and positions of their advice and confuting the allegations of the Counter-Remonstrance That therefore the business beeing now sufficiently and fully verified the same was readily fitted for to bee determined and that the Pensionarie of the Land ought to put it in form without any longer delaie The Lords of Flushing judging this to bee a point of great weight and Consideration and which should not bee entered into without due search and ripe deliberation so as neither on the one nor the other side any might bee prejudiced they desired that what the daie before was declared by word of mouth might bee brought to paper and coppies given thereof unto the Members that so the Common Councils might bee made acquainted with and examine the same and orderly with all circumspection take further advice about it to which Vote the Lords of Veer conformed themselvs relating therewithal that the Counsellor Beaumont having presented himself to their Assemblie in the behalf of the Princess of Orange had desired them to direct their advice accordingly as also the Pensionarie of the land declared that the said Beaumont had in the same Name desired that a Copie of the foresaid Verbal Advice might bee brought to the hands of the Ladies aforesaid before any further proceeding in and concluding of so weightie a point which advices beeing heard and the respectiue Members a second time desired to consider the the Desire of Flushing and Veer yet further the four fore-sitting Members persisted That the business beeing fully discussed now prooved and justified there ought to bee used no further delaie and that the Pensionarie was bound to conclude though otherwise they could bee content that Copie of the foresaid Verbal Advice should bee given to the respective Members to serv them sooner or later for the clearer information of all the passages and transactions in this business The Lords of Flushing and Veer judging it strange that Copie of the Verbal Advice should bee yielded and yet the conclusion not delai'd they insisted again on their former desire and withal that beside the said copie of the Verbal advice they might have a view of the Letters of Sale and Investiture that so much the better and with full knowledg of the caus they might frame their advice upon which desires no further conclusions beeing taken the Pensionarie of the land desired the Lords of Flushing and Veer to make report to their Principals of the advices and Considerations advanced by the other Members that next daie they might declare themselvs in the principal matter Two daies after the Lords