most Potent Prince Philip the fourth King of Spain c. on one side and the High and Mighty Lords the States Generall of the United Provinces of the Low-Countries on the other IN the Name of God Be it known to all that after the bloody Wars that have for so many years afflicted the people and Subjects of the obedience of the King of Spain and the States Generall they the said King and States being moved with Christian compassion and being desirous to put an end to all the calamities and deplorable consequences which the farther continuance of the Wars of the said Low-Countries might produce and to change them into the rest and tranquillity of a firm peace have to compass so good an end Deputed and Commissioned fit persons on both sides viz. on the side of the said Don Philip the fourth King of Spain Don Gaspar de Bracamonte Y de Guzman Count of Pigneranda Lord of Aldea seca de la Frontera Knight of the Order of Alcantara perpetuall Administrator of the Commandery of Damyel of the Order of Calatrava Gentleman of his Majesties Bed-Chamber of his privy Counsell and his Embassador Extraordinary towards his Imperiall Majesty as also first Plenipotentiary for his Majesty in the Treaty of the generall Peace Monsieur Aâ—tony Brnn Knight and Counsellor for his Majesty in his supream Counsell of State for the Low-Countries and his Plenipotentiary in the generall Peace On the sides of the States Generall Bartold de Gent Lord of Looven and Meynerswicke Senechal and Diikgrave of Bommel Fieler and Brommelerweerden deputed by the Nobility of Gueldres in the Assembly of the States Generall Jean de Mateness Lord of Mateness Riviere Opmeer Souteveen and Deputy in the ordinary Counsell of Holland and West-Frieze as also Deputy in the States Generall from the Nobles of the said Province Councellor and Heemrade of Shieland Adrian Paw Knight Lord of Heemsteed Hogersmilde and first President Counsellor and Master of the Accounts of Holland and West-Frieze as also Deputy in the Assembly of the States Generall by the said Provinces Jean de Knuâ—t Knight Lord of Old and New Vosmar representing the Nobility in the States in Counsell of Zeeland as in the Admiralty first Counsellor of his Highness the Prince of Orange Deputy in the Assembly of the States Gâ—dart de Râ—â—de Lord of Nederhorst Uredelant Cortchoâ—f Over-meer Horstwaert c. President in the Assembly of the Nobles of the Province of Utrect and by them Deputy in the Assembly of the States Generall Francis de Doma Lord of Hinnâ—ma Hiclsum Deputy in the Assembly of the States Generall by the Province of Frizeland William Riperda Lord of Hengeloo Boxbergen Boculoo and Sussenbergh Deputy by the Nobility of Overyssel in the Assembly of the States Generall All Extraordinary Embassadors in Germany and Plenipotentiaries of the said States for the Treaty of the generall Peace All being sufficiently impowr'd and assembled in the Town of Munster in Westphalia have by common consent and in vertue of their respective powers receiv'd from the said King and the Lords the States Generall Concluded and Agreed upon these following Articles 1. The said King does Declare and Acknowledge that the said Lords the States Generall of the United Provinces and their Provinces Countrey-Towns Lands and Appurtenances are free and Soveraign States Provinces and Countries upon which nor upon their Towns c. the said King neither doth nor shall henceforth or his Heirs and Successors pretend any thing And that in consequence of this his Declaration he is content to treat with the said States as he does by these and conclude a perpetuated peace with them upon the Conditions here following 2. To wit that the said peace shall be firm and inviolable and that all acts of hostility of what kinde soever shall cease both by Sea and by Land in all the Kingdomes and Countries of the obedience of the said King and the said States as also between all their Subjects of what quality soever they be without exception of places or persons 3. Each shall remain in peaceable possession and shall keep and enjoy all the Countrey-Towns Lands Places and Lordships that he now enjoyes and that without being any wayes molested directly or indirectly And in this is comprehended the Burroughs Villages and Countrey appertaining and belonging to that which each shall possess and by consequence all the Mayorship of Bosleduke as also all the Lordships Towns Castles Burroughs Villages and Champain thereunto belonging the Town and Marqueship of Bergues upon Zoom the Town and Barony of Breda the Town of Maestrict and the extent of its jurisdiction the County of Groonhoff the Town of Grave and the Countrey of Luychuist and the Bayliship of Hulst and Hulster-Ambact and Ambact as also the Forts which the said Lords the States do possess now in the Countrey of Waes and all other Towns and places which the said States do hold in Brabant Flanders or any where else shall remain in the power of the said States with all the Right of Soveraignty in the same manner as they hold the United Provinces but all the rest of the said Countrey of Waes except the said Forts shall remain unto the said King of Spain As concerning the three places on the other side the Meuse viz. Falquimont Dalem and Rodeleduc they shall remain in the condition they are now in and in case of dispute the business shall be decided in the Chambre mipartic to be mentioned in the following Articles 4. The Subjects and Inhabitants of the Countries of the said King and States shall live in good union and correspondency together without any resentment for past injuries and they shall have liberty to go and stay in the Territories of each other and to exercise their Trade and Commerce in all surety both by Sea and Land 5. The Navigation and Trade to the East and West-Indies shall be maintain'd in conformity to those Grants or Patents given or to give by the States for surety whereof shall serve this present Treaty and the ratification of it and under this Treaty shall be comprehended all Potentates Nations and Peoples with whom the said States or the East and West-India Companies in their name within the limits of their Patent are in amity or alliance And the said King and States shall respectively remain in possession of all those Lordships Towns Castles Fortresses Commerce and Trade in the East and West-Indies as also upon the Coasts of Brasil Asia Africa and America that the said King and States do now hold And in this Article are particularly comprized all those places and Forts that the Portugueses ever since 1641. have taken from the States as also are comprehended all those places that the said States shall hereafter take conquer and possess without infraction of the present Treaty And the Curators or Directors of the East and West-India Companies of the United Provinces as also the Officers Agents Souldiers Mariners being at prefenâ— at the
the King of Spain and the States Generall there has happened some disputes about the true sence of the separate Article concluded the 4th of February 1648. in the said Town touching Navigation and Commerce the said King and States have thought fit for the more sincere and perfect observation of the said Treaty of peace to give a better explanation of their meaning to which end the said King has on his side Deputed and Commission'd Messire Antony Prun Counsellor in his High Councill of State for the Low-Countries near his person and his Plenipotentiary at the Treaty of Munster as his Ordinary Embassador to the said States who on their side have likewise Commissioned these following Rugzer Huygens Knight Banninck Cock Knight Lord of Purmerlant and Apendam Bourgemaster and Counsellor of the Town of Amsterdam Cornelius Ripera Bourgemaster Regent of the Town of Horne James Vâ—th Counsellor and Pensioner of the Town of Middlebourg in Zeeland Giisbert de Hoolk old Bourgemaster of the Town of Utrect Joachim Andree first ancient Counsellor in the Provinciall Court of Friâ—zeland John de la Beech of Dorvick and Crystenburgh Bourgemaster of the Town of Deventer Adrian Dant a Stedum Lord of Nittersum all Deputies of the body of their Assembly The said Embassador and Deputies having held many Assemblies and Conferences have at last in the name of the said King and States agreed upon and concluded this present Treaty all its Articles and Conditions 1. The Subjects and Inhabitants of the United Provinces may with safety and liberty trade with all those Kingdoms States and Countries that are or shall be in peace amity or neutrality with the said States of the United Provinces 2. And they may not be molested or troubled in this freedom by the Ships or Subjects of the King of Spain by reason of the hostilities that are or may be hereafter between the said King and the said Kingdomes States c. that are in peace c. with the said States 3. This shall extend it self as to France for all sorts of Commodities that were used to be transported before the said Kingdome was in War with Spain 4. Yet shall not the Subjects of the United Provinces furnish France with such Merchandizes as come from the States of the said King of Spain and may serve the French against him and his States 5. And as for other Kingdomes States c. that may be in War with the said King of Spain and are in neutrality or friendship with the States their Subjects shall not carry to those Kingdomes c. any forbidden Goods or Merchandizes of Counterband which to hinder the said States shall forbid it by express prohibitions 6. Besides to prevent the dispute that might arise concerning the Merchandizes that are of Counterband and those that are not it is agreed that under that name and quality are understood these following all fire-Arms and things belonging to them as Canons Musquets Mortar-Peeces Petards Bombes Grenadoes Cereles Squibs Carriages Forks Powder Match Salt-Peter Bullets All other Arms likewise offensive and defensive as Pikes Swords Casques Helmets Back and Breast-pieces Halberds Pertuiscens and other such Besides under the same name are understood the transport of Souldiers Horses Harness Metall Pistols Belts and all other Implements of War 7. Further to avoid all dispute it is agreed that under that name of forbidden Merchandize are not comprehended Wheat and all sorts of Grains Salt Oyl Wine nor in generall any thing that is nourishment and sustentation to mens bodies which shall be free as all other Goods and Merchandizes not specified in the fore-going Articles and may be carried to all Towns except to such as are besieged and blocked up 8. And the better to hinder that the said forbidden Merchandizes do not pass into the hands of the enemies of the said King and that under pretext of hindring the said transportation the safety and liberty of Trade and Navigation be not hindred it is agreed that the Ships belonging to the Subjects of the United Provinces being entred in any Port of the said Kings Dominions and being from thence bound for the Ports of his enemies shall be obliged only to produce and shew to the Officers of the said King their Pasports containing the particulars of their lading seal'd and sign'd by the Officers of the Admiralty of such places as they come from with declaration of the places they are bound for the whole in ordinary form after which they shall not be molested searched nor detained under any pretext whatsoever 9. Likewise the Ships of the States Subjects being at Sea or coming into some Bay without entring the Harbour or coming in without unlading shall not be bound to give an account of their lading except they be suspected to carry Merchandizes of Counterband 10. And in case of a violent suspition they shall only be forced to shew their Pasports as has been said 11. If they are met at Sea or near the Shore by any Ships or Privateers of the said King then to avoid disorder and plunder the said men to War may send their Boat with two or three men in it aboard the Ship of the States to which men shall be shewed by the Master the Pasport above-mentioned with a particular Letter shewing the quality and place of residence of the owner of the Ship and Master in the said United Provinces and to these shall be given credit without further enquiry but that there be no counterfeit Letters the said King and States shall agree of particular marks not easily to be imitated 12. And in case there should be found in the Ships belonging to the States Subjects by the foresaid means some of those Merchandizes call'd of Counterband they shall be seized upon and confiscated before the Judges of the Admiralty or other competent ones but the said Ship and the rest of the lading shall no wayes be detained or seized upon 13. It has been agreed besides that all Goods whatsoever that the Subjects of the States shall lade in the bottoms of the said Kings enemies shall be confiscated without reserve or exception 14. But also all that shall be found in the bottoms of the Subjects of the said States though part or all of it do belong to the enemies of the said King yet it shall all be free and not seized upon except they be Merchandizes of Counterband 15. The Subjects of the said King shall enjoy all the same liberties in Trade and Navigation as is by this Treaty accorded to the Subjects of the United Provinces with the same equality and though some Kingdomes or States should have friendship or neutrality with the said King though they were enemies of the States yet shall his Subjects enjoy all the benefit granted in the like case to the Subjects of the United Provinces 16. This present Treaty shall be as an explanation to the particular Article concluded at Munster the 4th day of February 1648. 17. This present Treaty shall have
hitherto communicated all their designs and counsils with the three Princes of Orange that have succeeded one another as also the President of the States General has alwayes used to wait upon his Highness before the sitting of the Company besides by reason of the great Estates they possess in Zeeland and other Provinces they enjoy peculiar Priviledges and have in that consideration and others many advantages which the Provinces may either amplifie or restrain at their pleasure But leaving all this aside and considering barely what belongs to the Office of a Governour we may particularly stay upon these six points 1. The Governour General may pardon and forgive all capital crimes that deserve death this Prerogative is call'd trech van pardonneren 2. In those Provinces that have Courts of Judicature he is alwayes the President of them and his Name and Titles are in the front of all their Acts and Decrees 3. In certain places where that custom is receiv'd he names the Magistrates either out of a certain number proposed to him or absolutely as he pleases It is thus practis'd at Nimmegue every where in Holland except at Horne Enchuse Edam and Monchendaâ— in Zeeland every where except at Tergoes in Utrect every where in Friezeland the Governour does the like This Priviledge is extended even to the nomination of amptmans or drostampen of the dignity of Patricians or raâ—ts heers-ampten and many other which would be too long to name here 4. He may send Ambassadors to Foreign Princes for his own particular concerns and give private Audience to the Ambassadors of Foreign States that are sent to the States General 5. It is his duty to see the States Orders executed in those Provinces in which he is Governour 6. By the 9th and 14th Articles of the Union of Utrect he is made Umpire of such contests as should arise between the Provinces or between any Members of one Province or even between the States and some of their Subjects touching all which he alone can pronounce a Soveraign and definitive sentence and if the affairs be of very great consequence then he may joyn with him some Counsellors of State without exception of persons and it is expresly enjoyn'd to all parties to acquiesce and submit to his Aâ—bitration We shall speak elsewhere of the other attributes of Governour that have â—elong'd to him as General by Sea and Land for these two great charges are not as some Strangers do to be confounded and he that is Governour of the Provinces is not alwayes General of their Forces CHAP. XIV Whether or no the United Provinces can subsist without a Governour SInce we have numbred up the Governours of the United Provinces and declar'd freely what is their Authority and Power it is now fit to consider whether they are so necessary to the States as to make them incapable of subsisting without them Many Strangers are of opinion that these Provinces cannot be without a Governour General and the same opinion has taken root in the hearts of many Natives who are not able to discern those things in the Treaty of Utrect which are essential from those that are mutable and may be otherwise disposed of as the circumstances of time do vary But since the Soveraign Power has never been entirely resigned into the hand of any one Governour though some have had very many of the Prorogatives belonging to it it is evident that they in whom the Soveraign Power remains can perform by themselves those Offices which they are pleas'd to trust a Governour with therefore if a Governour does nothing but by Commission and that because of the absence of those who impower him to act for them why shall not they if they be present take upon them the execution of those things that were before committed to anothers care And though Governours be often nam'd and mention'd in the Treaty of Utrect yet was it not intended for a Governour General for even at that time Utrect had its particular Governour and some years after it was govern'd by the same Governour that Holland and Zeeland was 'T is to as little purpose that some pretend that it is necessary that each Province should have its particular Governour who may in fit season prevent and calm all occasions of Civil commotions as the Dictators did in Rome but in vain for who sees not but that as hitherto the way of determining those contests has been by referring them to the Governour and some Deputies of another Province so they may if they please leave out the Governour and refer their debates to the Deputies of other Provinces alone particularly considering that it has been hitherto observ'd that no Governour ever undertook the person of an Umpire before he had consulted with the States Generall who being above any inferiour Province have the power of hindring the progress and encrease of any dissention CHAP. XV. Of the Riches by which the United Provinces do maintain themselves BY the Treaty of Union made at Utrect it was ordained that there should be raised an equall summe of Moneys in every Province but experience hath taught us that such an equality was very unjust For for example is it fit that there should be no more laid upon an acre of Land in Holland which is very rich and yeelds twice as much as in any other place than upon an acre in Gueldres which is poor and yeelds not half the revenue The same difference is to be observ'd in all other things It has therefore been judg'd by common consent more just and profitable for each Province to make a new Order every year in which each should be taxed according to the then abilities of the said Province and according to the publick exigencies So for example if there be necessity of raising 10000. pound Holland alone shall furnish 4000. five hundred of it Zeeland and Friezeland a 1000. a piece Gueldres Utrect and Groeningue 3500. and Transisulania or Overissell the rest This order being once agreed upon it belongs to the States of each Province to consider how it shall be levyed and this is the true reason why the Taxes and Imposts are so different in the Dominions of the States Generall These Levyes thus order'd are not alwayes receiv'd in money and return'd to the publick Treasury of the States Generall but are distributed by Tallies in the Province it self to those to whom the States do owe which is a very wise caution for it is certain that money still lessens as it passes through the hands of many receivers 2. Among these Levyes it was thought fit from the very beginning to give leave to all to transport certain merchandize into the neighbouring Low-Countreys still remaining under the Spanish jurisdiction but there was and is an impost laid upon them for the receit of which there are Officers and seachers upon the Frontier But to the end this licence might be no wayes prejudiciable to the affairs of this rising Commonwealth they
service of the said Companies oâ— having been formerly employed by them and all such as being now out of their service do live within the jurisdiction of the said Companies shall remain free and unmolested in all places under the obedience of the said King in Europe and may travell trade and frequent in all places as all other Inhabitants of the States Besides it has been Stipulated and Agreed that the Spaniards retain their Navigation to the East-Indies in such manner as it is now for this present time without the liberty of extending themselves any further As also the Inhabitants of these Provinces shall abstain from frequenting the places that the Castilians do possess in the East-Indies 6. And as for the West-Indies the Subjects and Inhabitants of the Kingdomes and Countries of the said King and States shall respectively abstain from Navigation and Trade in all the Harbours places Forts Castles possess'd by either to wit that the Subjects of the said King shall not navigate nor trade in those that belong to the States nor the Subjects of the States in those that belong to the said King And in the places of the States shall be comprehended all those that the Portugueses since 1641. have taken in Brasil upon the said States and all those that they now possess as long as they shall remain in the possession of the said States In all which there is nothing contrary to the precedent Article 7. And because a long space of time is necessary for the giving notice to those that are now abroad with Ships and Forces that they may defist from all acts of hostility it hath been Agreed that within the limits of the Patent granted or to be granted by continuation to the Company of the East-Indies of the United Provinces the peace shall begin no sooner than a year after the date of the present Treaty And as for the limits of the Patent granted heretofore by the States Generall or to be granted by continuation unto the Company of the West-Indies the peace shall not there begin till six moneths after the date of the present Treaty Provided still that if the notice of the said peace be arriv'd by publick Order of each side to the said limits before the said time be expir'd that then immediately all acts of hostility shall cease And that if after the term be expir'd there be yet committed some acts of hostility the dammages shall be repair'd without delay 8. The Subjects and Inhabitants of the Countries of the said King and States trafficking in one anothers Countrey shall not be forc'd to pay any greater Impositions or Customes than their own Subjects respectively so that thereby the Subjects of the said States shall be freed and exempted from the Imposition of 20. per cent or any other whatsoever which the said King did levy during the truce of 12. years or would hereafter raise directly or indirectly upon the Inhabitants of the said States or any wayes charge them further than his own proper Subjects 9. The said King and States shall not raise any Contributions or Imposts out of their limits respectively upon any Merchandize passing either by Land or Water 10. The Subjects of each shall respectively enjoy all freedome of Peages that they were in possession of before the beginning of the War 11. The Trade Commerce and Frequentation shalâ— not be hinder'd between the Subjects of the said King and States and if it should chance to be obstructed any wayes the obstacle shall immediately be taken away 12. And after the day of the conclusion and ratification of this peace the said King shall no longer enjoy upon the Rivers of Rhene and Mouse those Customes or Peages which before the War were under the jurisdiction of any of the United Provinces particularly the Peage of Zeeland which shall not be levied for his Majesty neither in the Town of Antwerp nor any where else upon condition that from that day forwards the States of Zeeland shall take upon them to pay the annuall Rents to those to whom the said Peage was morgaged before the year 1572. which also shall do the Proprietors of all other Peages if they be charg'd with annuall Rents 13. The white boyl'd Salt coming from the United Provinces into those of his Catholick Majesty shall be receiv'd and admitted without any higher Impost than upon Bay-Salt and likewise the Salt coming from his Majesties Countries shall be admitted in those of the States upon the same conditions 14. The Rivers of Scheld as also the Channels of Zas and Zwin and other entries into the Sea thereabouts shall be shut up by the States Generall on their side 15. The Ships and Goods coming in and going out of the Harbours of Flanders shall be taxed at the same rate as the Ships and Goods going upon the Scheld and the Channels nam'd in the above-written Article and it shall be agreed of the proportion between the parties hereafter 16. The Anseatick-Towns with all their Citizens and Inhabitants shall enjoy as to Navigation and Trade in Spain and all the Kingdomes and States thereof all the Priviledges and Immunities granted at present or that shall be hereafter given to the Subjects of the United Provinces And reciprocally all the Subjects of the said Provinces shall enjoy the same Rights Franchises Immunities Priviledges and Capitulations as well for the establishing of Consuls in the capitall Towns or Sea-Ports of Spain as for their Merchants Factors Masters of Ships Mariners or others and that in the same manner that the said Anseatick-Towns in generall or in particular have heretofore practis'd or obtain'd and shall hereafter obtain for the safety and advantage of Navigation and Trade of their Towns Merchants c. 17. Likewise the Inhabitants of the Countries of the said States shall have the same liberty in the said Kings Dominions that the Subjects of his Majesty of Great Britain do enjoy by the Articles in the last Treaty of peace made in secret with the High Constable of Castile 18. The said King shall as soon as possible assign a place for the honourable burying of the bodies of such of the States Subjects as shall die in his Dominions 19. The Subjects and Inhabitants of the said Kings Dominions coming into the Territories of the States shall as to the publick exercise of Religion comport themselves with all modesty without giving any scandall or proffering any blasphemy and the same shall be observ'd by the Subjects of the United Provinces 20. The Merchants Masters of Ships Pilots Mariners their Ships Goods and other things belonging to them shall not be arrested nor detain'd by vertue of any Order either generall or speciall nor for any cause of War or otherwise nor under the pretext of using them for the preservation of the Countrey Hereby nevertheless are not meant all seisings and arrests of Ships by the ordinary proceedings of justice by reason of Debts Obligations and Contracts of those whose Goods are seised who
whatsoever 55. There shall be no new Forts made in the Low-Countries of neither side neither shall there be made any new Channels or Trenches by which any of the parties may be dammageed 56. The Lords of the House of Nassaw as also the Count John Albert of Solms Governor of Maestric shall not be pursued nor molested neither in their persons nor Estates for any Debts contracted by the late William Prince of Orange 1667. to his death nor for any Arrears due during the confiscation of such Lands as were charged with the said Debts 57. If there be any infraction made in the Treaty by private persons without the Authority of the said King or States the dammage shall be immediately repair'd in the place where the offence was committed if the persons be there taken or in their Domicile but it shall not be lawfull to pursue them else-where either in their persons or Estates or to take Arms and break the peace but in case of deniall of justice to proceed by Letters of Reprisall 58. All Exheredations made by reason of the War and aversion of parties are made void and in this are comprehended all Exheredations made for such causes as were causes of the War 59. All prisoners of War shall be deliver'd on both sides without distinction of persons and that without ransome 60. The payment of the Arrears of Contributions on both sides shall be decided by the Supervisors of the said Contributions 61. All that during this Negotiation shall be said or alledged either by word of mouth or by writing shall not be a prejudice to the Authors but the said King and States and all the Princes Counts Barons Gentlemen Citizens and all Inhabitants shall enjoy the benefit of this Treaty 62. The Subjects of the said King and States respectively shall enjoy the benefit of the 15th Article of the Truce of 12. years and of the 10th Article of the Agreement that followed the 7th of January 1610. and that because that during the time of the said Truce the parties did not enjoy the effect of those Articles 63. The limits in Flanders and other places shall be set out so that the parties may exactly know under what jurisdiction they are 64. On the side of the said King of Spain shall be demolish'd near the Sluce these following places and Forts viz. the Fort of St. Job St. Donas the Star-Fort the Fort St. Terese St. Frederick St. Isabella St. Paul the redoute Papemâ—ts And on the side of the States Generall shall be demolish'd the following Forts the two Forts in the Island of Lasant call'd Orange and Fredericke the two Forts de Pas both upon the River of Scheld on the East-side except Lillâ— and the Fort a Kieldrect call'd Spinola touching which Demolition it shall be agreed between the parties to set out an Equivalence 65. All Registers Charters Letters and Papers concerning Law-Suits or otherwise that do any wayes regard or concern any of the United Provinces their Towns and Members being in the Courts and Chambers of the obedience of the King of Spain shall be deliver'd bonâfide to such as shall have commission from the Provinces to receive them And the same shall be done by the States for the Provinces and Towns that are under the said Kings obedience 66. The jurisdiction of the Water shall be left to the Town of Sluce as it has of right belonged to it 67. The Digue traversing and stopping up the River Zout near the Fort Donas shall be taken away by making a Zas touching the Garde of which Zas it shall be agreed upon as touching the Demolition of the Forts 68. In this present Treaty of peace shall be comprehended such as before the exchange of ratifications or three moneths after shall be nam'd on both sides in which time the said King shall name those that he shall think fit but by the States are nam'd these following the Prince Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel with his Countrey-Towns c. the Count of Oostfrieze the Town of Embden the County and Countrey of Oostfrieze the Anseatick Towns and particularly Lubec Bremen Hambourg And the said States do reserve to themselves to name such others as they shall think fit in the time prescribed 69. As for the pretension of Count of Flodrof touching the restitution made to him of the Castle of Leat and its Dependances and all other Villages that may depend on it and were seized by the said King the said restitution is confirm'd to him with this reserve that it shall be resolv'd between this and the conclusion of the Treaty about the entertaining of a Garrison for the said King or demolishing the Fortifications made since that the Castle was taken 70. As for all that was agreed upon the 8th of December 1646. between the Plenipotentiaries of the said King and States touching Roger Huygens in the name of his Wife Anna Margarita de Stralem it shall have its effect and be of force as if it were here set down word for word 71. And to the end that this present Treaty be the better observed the said King and States do promise to employ all their power and force to make all passages free and all Seas and Rivers navigable and safe against the inrodes of Pirats and Theeves and to punish them severely if they can take them 72. They do promise besides to do nothing contrary to this present Treaty nor to suffer that any thing should be done either directly or indirectly and if any thing be done to repair the offence and dammage without delay To the observation of all which they do here binde themselves and the more to strengthen the Obligation do renounce all Laws and Customes contrary to this promise 73. This present Treaty shall be ratified and approved by the said King and States and the Letters of ratification shall be deliver'd and exchanged on each side within the term of two moneths and if the said ratification do come before-hand then all acts of hostility shall cease without staying for the end of the two moneths Still it is meant that after the conclusion and signing of this Treaty hostility shall not cease till the ratification of the said King of Spain be deliver'd in good form and exchang'd with the ratification of the States 74. So that affaires on both sides shall remain in the same posture and condition as at the conclusion of this Treaty they are and this till the ratifications be exchang'd 75. This Treaty shall be publish'd in all places that shall require it incontinent after the exchange of the ratifications and then all acts of hostility shall cease The Treaty of Navigation and Commerce Concluded at the Hague in Holland the 17th of December 1650. between Messire Antony Brun Extraordinary Embassador for the King of Spain on one side and the Deputies of the Lords the States Generall of the United Provinces on the other side WHereas since the conclusion of the peaee at Munster between
THE PRESENT STATE OF THE United Provinces OF THE LOW-COUNTRIES AS TO THE Government Laws Forces Riches Manners Customes Revenue and Territory OF THE DUTCH IN THREE BOOKS Collected by W. A. Fellow of the Royall Society LONDON Printed for John Starkey at the Mitre betwixt the Middle Temple Gate and Temple-Bar in Fleet-Street 1669. THE PREFACE THe Netherland-Provinces have rendred themselves so conspicuous and considerable amongst the other States of Europe that the sole mentioning of them might suffice to awaken the attention and invite the regards of all persons whose more elevated Genius leads them to the contemplation of the rise growth and grandeur of States and Empires which affording the greatest instances of humane wisdome and industry as well as they are the most remarkable Theatres of divine providence are certainly the most adaequate objects for rational and considering men For which reason possibly few Books less needed a Preface than that which is now in the Readers hands and The present State and Government of the Netherlands in the Title-page may seem to carry invitation enough with it to render all other superfluous Scarce any Subject occurres more frequent in the discourses of ingenious men than that of the marvellous progress of this little State which in the space of about one hundred years for 't is no more since their first attempts to shake off the Spanish yoke hath grown to a height not only infinitely transcendnig all the ancient Republicks of Greece but not much inferior in some respects even to the greatest Monarchies of these latter Ages Nor is the wonder inconsiderably augmented in that the lesser Moiety hath farre exceeded even the Whole it self and seven Provinces are become greater than seventeen with a manifest verification of that Aenigmatical Aphorisme Dimidium plus Toto To which it may likewise be added that for above sixty years of that above-mention'd hundred they were continually engag'd in a Warre against the greatest King of this Western World besides what contests they have since had with other Neighbours and nevertheless that difficult exercise of their nonage not only promoted their growth by necessarily exciting the industry natural to that Nation but likewise contributed to rènder the Constitution of the State it self more robust and athletick 'T is the Portraiture of this flourishing Common-wealth which is here presented to the Ingenious drawn by the elegant Pen of a Virtuoso of the Royall Society who the more to gratifie the Reader and compleat his Work hath collected out of severall Authors a summary Account of the Lives of the Earls of Holland down to the alteration of Government which commenc'd about the year 1567. which Lives compose the first Book order of time requiring the same to be prefix'd before the Description of the Confederate Commonwealth or Government of the States Generall whereunto is particularly annex'd that of the States of Holland and Zeeland as examples of the rest The third and last Book exhibits the extent and nature of the Soyl of Holland the Manners Customes and Trade of the Inhabitants together with particular Descriptions of all the considerable Cities and Towns of that Province and an Appendage of divers Treaties of Alliance made between this and other neighbouring States Besides all which the Reader will finde variety of Politick Reflexions and Discourses interspers'd throughout the whole Work which concurre to the accomplishment of the same in reference to the two principall ends of Books Instruction and Divertisement THE FIRST BOOK Containing the HISTORY OF THE EARLS OF HOLLAND CHAP. I. What pass'd before the Earles of Holland THere is all the probability in the world that this fair Province of Holland has not alwayes been as rich and as populous as we now see it but quite contrary it was a kind of a Desert once and full of great Forrests The first People that inhabited it were a Colony of Germans which came out of their Countrey some time before the Birth of our Saviour and it is from thence that it has the name of Batavia if we believe the Roman History and particularly Tacitus lib. de moribus Germanorum There is no doubt but the Batavi are the chief in strength and valour among the Germans and that this Nation which was formerly called Cattes and which upon a sedition at home invaded these Islands which the Rhene makes and are now become Subjects of the Roman Empire are the noblest portion of the German State since History makes so much mention of them and that it appears so in their humours customes and manners of which the chiefest are these following 1. That they pay no tributes 2. That they are free from all contribution towards the War 3. That they are alwayes reserv'd for the War 4. That they have the most honourable rank in the Army as being esteem'd the best Souldiers and the best skill'd in lancing their Javelots 'T is by their help sayes Tacitus that the Romans have extended their Empire beyond the Rhene The Romans in truth did think themselves happy to have them for friends and companions not that I deny but that they were in some way conquered by the same Romans whom they assisted much in their Wars against the Brittains or English witness the Brittain Castle built by the same Romans for as Tacitus sayes it was only by the force of the Batavi and the Tongri that the Romans did overcome the Brittains besides the Emperours were so convinced of their fidelity that they us'd them as guards to their persons but because the Romans did begin to oppress them they revolted from them as it is reported by Tacitus in the fourth Book of his History in these words The Batavi having been us'd in the Wars of Germany did furnish the Empire with arms and men their principall leaders were Julius Paulus and Claudius Civilis of the Royall Bloud Paulus being accus'd of rebellion was kill'd and Claudius put in prison but set at liberty by Galb 〈…〉 Civiiis being a man of parts took notice of the disorder the Empire was in and observing the natural aversion the Bataves had for the Romans because that in raising of Souldiers among them they aim'd more to satisfie their avarice and foul luxury than to supply the legions he fomented under hand at first their discontent then appearing openly exhorted them to recover their liberty and cast off the yoke of slavery We are not said he treated like companions but like slaves remember the glory of your Ancestors and look upon the disorders of the Empire and the Gaules your neighbours who will joyn with you in the design of recovering your liberty Thus it appears by this Writer that the Batavi were to have been the Romans companions and that it was for the breach and non-performance of that promise that they revolted and maintain'd a bloody War in which were perform'd many noble actions The end of this War was a peace in which the Batavi were caâ—l'd the brothers and friends of
Utrect that as often as the Confederates should have occasion to deliberate about any thing in a set place they should send thither their Deputies and these Deputies were call'd the States General of the United Provinces But the States being not alwayes in a capacity to meet by reason of divers obstacles and there being a great necessity of a perpetual Senate or Council it was found requisite to establish a Council of State den Raed van Staten which was made up of one President of the Deputies of the Provinces of one Treasurer and three Secretaries There was in those dayes no set place for the meeting of this Council because that then the settlement was not compleated and things were uncertain but here are the Articles which this Council was bound to observe and which were to guide them in their administration First That in the exercise of their charge they should not so much endeavour the benefit and advantage of those Provinces which they were Deputies for as the good of the whole Commonwealth 2. That they should observe the Laws prescribed them by the Authority of the States General 3. That they shall take care of the publick Treasure and pay the wages to all those to whom wages are due 4. That they shall take care that the affaires of the Confederates do not receive any disadvantage or trouble 5. That they shall send every three moneths to the States of each particular Province a Compendium of all their Consultations and the accounts of their expences and receipts 6. That the States General shall consult and deliberate with them in affairs of importance and that they shall call them together according to the 19th Article of the Union This last Article was to be understood of such affairs as could not be delayed For their importance By succession of time the Common-wealth continuing to prosper and advance and the Earl of Leicester being expected in these parts from England to govern as Lieutenant to Queen Elizabeth there was reason to fear that which had already happened viz. that he or others sitting for him in the States should endeavour to dive into the secret of deliberations whereupon it was resolv'd to settle besides this Council of State the Soveraign Council of the States General who should alwayes sit at the Hague leaving to this Council of State the care of smaller and less important business CHAP. IV. In what consists the Superiority of the States General and what sort of affairs are determin'd by them which cannot be determin'd by the States of the particular Provinces SInce that time that is ever since the Year 1587. the Soveraign administration of business has been in the power of the States General and their Soveraign Council and in it is not only all Majesty and Soveraignty by vertue of the Union but they have also the power of deciding some business which the particular Provinces cannot 1. For in the first 〈…〉 lone that give Audience to the Ambassadors of Princes and Foreign States and do also send in their own Name Ambassadors abroad for the good of all 2. This Assembly alone proclaims War and has the management of it both by Sea and Land 3. It is to them that the Officers and Souldiers are first sworn and then to the General that commands the Army 4. Some Deputies of this Assembly are alwayes appointed to accompany the General in time of War without whose advice he cannot lawfully begin any enterprize of importance 5. This Assembly has also its Envoys in the Meetings of the East and West India Companies because there are often deliberations of War and Peace 6. It is this Assembly that has the power of chosing a General both by Sea and Land and of obliging him to take the Oath of allegiance to them 7. They give Safe-conduct and Passes to all Strangers that desire to passe through their Countrey 8. They can pardon and forgive Fugitives and those that have turn'd to the Enemies 9. They make Orders about the transport and entries of Merchandises 10. They alone exercise the power of Soveraignty over the conquer'd Cities and Towns of Brabant Flanders and other places reduced by force 11. They ought to take care that all the Provinces remain in friendship and amity one with another but they ought to comport themselves rather as Remonstrancers than as Commanders And in short they are to take care of all that is directed and addressed to them by Commissions and whosoever shall well weigh these things will not wonder if they are honoured with the title of Illustrious High and Mighty though the States of Holland enjoy only the quality of Noble and Powerfull CHAP. V. How far the power of the States Generall does extend THe States Generall are alwayes upon the Guard for the rest of the Provinces safety and for all publick advantages If therefore the Governour Generall or the Embassadours and Envoys of other Princes do make any Propositions that are of concern and importance to the Commonwealth it is order'd that the Deputies do give account of it by Letters to their respective Provinces and according as their answer is it is determin'd by the plurality of Votes except in cases of contribution for then there is requir'd an unanimous consent of all the Provinces From whence it appears that the States Generall being the representatives of those that send them have no power beyond the extent of their Commission and in such things only as are mention'd by it but do stand in need of new Orders when new business happens and without them they cannot deliberate nor give their Vote in the Assembly So that it appears that they have but a fiduciary and delegated power their Decrees are of no force if they are not agreed to by the particular Provinces and to them these Decrees are directed to be published rather in a precary and submissive way the stile running We pray and require our dear and beloved the States Governours Deputies c. of the respective Provinces c. Besides this every Province makes Laws at home as they please CHAP. VI. Who are those that are ordinarily chosen for Deputies to the States Generall and of the order which is observ'd amongst the Deputies THis high Councell alwayes sitting at the Hague is composed of the Deputies of the seven Provinces in the order above-mentioned They are sent in uncertain number for some Provinces send two some three or one or a greater number but all the Deputies of one Province though never so many make but one Vote or Suâ—â—rage The Provinces that send them furnish them for their expences and give them a considerable allowance The time of their deputation is not limited neither for some Provinces send them for two years some for four six or more some for all their life Now all these Provinces are of equall Authority in the States though Holland which is the strongest of all have the custome of drawing some others to its party and
particularly when Zeeland joyns with it But that which is worth observation and contrary to the opinion of some strangers is that though the Provinces be very unequall in strength and dignity and that some contribute four times as much in peace and war towards the publick yet have they all equall right in deliberations and none has an authority over the other Between the Deputies they observe the order that is receiv'd in their respective Provinces for their precedency In Guâ—ldres the Gentry goes before the Deputies of the Towns and the Deputies of Nimegue precede all the others In Holland the Deputies of Towns yeeld to the Deputies of the Nobles In Zeeland the Deputy of the Marquess of Terveer and of Flushing precede all the others as representing the Nobility In the Diocess of Utrect the Deputies of the chosen or Eleuâ— have precedency before the Nobility and before the Deputies of the Town of Utrect it self In Friezeland the Deputies of the Countrey call'd Goon ende Wolden do precede the Deputies of Towns In Overissel the Nobles Deputies carry it before the Deputy of the three great Towns and the same precedency that Groeningue has upon Omland its Deputy has upon the Deputy of the other These things deserve to be taken notice of because it is ordinarily the first Deputy that presides and he being absent the next takes his place but the same does not preside alwayes in this great Assembly for the president is changed every week and the Deputies of the Provinces take it by turns Some strangers have been grosly mistaken to write that the Governour Generall was the perpetuall President of this Assembly which is so far from being true that he has not so much as the liberty of giving his Vote It cannot be denied indeed that the States do often ask his advice and hear his Propositions and by a receiv'd custome the President does every day see him to know whether he has any thing to propose When the President takes the Votes he begins by Gueldres and goes on to Holland Zeeland c. and having the opinion of all he concludes according to the plurality of Votes except it be an affair of great consequence and that the Deputies desire to have time to advise with the States of their Provinces The Clerk or Secretary does at the same time draw up the resolution of the company which the President signs and the Secretary after him CHAP. VII Of the Orders that the States of Holland and West-Friezeland give to their Deputies in the States Generall and of the Oath they take SInce that the Government of Holland shall be hereafter propos'd as a pattern of the other Provinces it will not be amiss to produce here the Orders that the States of Holland and West-Friezeland gave upon the third of March in 1643. to the Deputies they sent to the States Generall 1. There shall be sent on the behalf of Holland and West-Friezeland none but capable and sufficient men that shall not be before-hand engaged in another employment by Oath or Pension 2. It is not lawfull for the Deputies to go beyond the terms of the Treaty of union at Utrect and the Commands of their Provinces They shall let pass nothing that shall be contrary to the priviledges immunities and customes receiv'd by our Ancestours without a speciall Order from their States 3. The said Deputies shall not neither in this Assembly nor out of it treat of peace nor war nor grant Patents or Priviledges that might be damageable to Holland or West-Friezeland nor levy or cashier Souldiers nor change the current Coyn nor forgive traytors but whensoever things of that nature shall be afoot they shall give notice to the States of Holland and West-Friezeland or in their absence to the Councell of State 4. They shall neither sell nor alienate the Dominions Rights and Priviledges belonging to the publick by vertue of their publick union without a particular and speciall consent of the Provinces 5. All the revenues and prerogatives that belong to the publick by vertue of Treaties and Agreements made with forreign powers shall be applied to the benefit of the publick union and shall be put in the hands of the Treasurer and the Councell of State and the States Generall shall not dispose of them 6. The Deputies shall not neither by themselves nor by others exercise any sort of Judicature upon any cause but shall send the parties either to the Councell of State or to the Admiralty according as the affair is but they may pronounce sentence upon such Law-Suits as are subject to be re-viewed 7. They cannot by their Authority hinder and suspend the execution of any sentence given by any Court whatsoever either in criminall or civill matters 8. As soon as the States of Holland and West-Frieze shall meet they shall immediately send them all the Deliberations made in the States Generall 9. They shall communicate the affairs and concerns of these Countreys to none but their States or in their absence to their Councell of State and if there fall out any thing that may concern North-Holland they shall immediately give notice to the Deputies of that place 10. The Councell of State and the Colledge of the 〈…〉 iralty shall leave that very thing 〈◊〉 the order so prescrib'd and shall not change either by themselves or others any part of these Instructions 11. They shall not dispose of the pri 〈…〉 pall military and pol 〈…〉 ck Offices without the particular consent of the States of Holland neither shall they make such presents as might lessen the revenue of the publick 12. They shall have six shillings a day allowed them for their wages 13. The Deputies shall swear to observe all these Articles of which the States of Holland and West-Friezeland do reserve to themselves a more ample interpretation This Order has been made and confirm'd by the said States the ninth of March in the year 1643. Here follows the Formulary of the Oath I A. B. do promise and swear perpetuall fidelity to the States of Holland and West-Friezeland as being the Soveraign Lords of the said Provinces and that I will not assist neither by counsell nor by deed or any manner in any thing that shall be prejudiciall to the aforesaid Authority and that if I perceive any such thing doing by others I will immediately give notice of it to the States or in their absence to their Councell likewise that I will defend to my utmost the prerogatives and honour of the said Countreys as likewise the Reform'd Religion as it is now taught in those Provinces In a word that I will further and advance as much as in me lyes the interest of the said Provinces both in the States Generall and abroad as far as it stands with the benefit of the publick union I do likewise promise to keep secret all things that shall require to be so kept that I will receive no forbidden presents and that I will do all
forbid the transport of Arms or Ammunition under pain of death Yet at last when victuals and necessaries for life grew dear among their enemies and that there was an evident advantage for the Confederates to furnish them with those things licence was granted and they drove such a trade with their enemies as made themselves grow rich and powerfull 3. There is likewise a great summe of money rais'd upon the granting of Passports to those in the Spanish Dominions who desire to transport themselves into the Territories of the States for every Passport costs fifty shillings of English money And yet lest this also should prove prejudiciall to the State they seldome grant any to those amongst their enemies who are either in military or politick employments and to any others they scarce grant them for longer than the time of six moneths 4. The Contributions that are levyed upon those Villages and that part of the Countrey which lyes between the enemy and them make another part of their supplyes for these Bourghs pay as much to the States as to the Spaniards and there are Treasurers upon the Frontier for the receit of it 5. The Imposts payed in the conquer'd Towns of Brabant and Flanders make another part of their revenue for there is excise upon Wine and Beer and Salt A Tax upon Houses and upon Lands 6. They receive a part of the plunder made by the Souldiers upon the enemy 7. They have hitherto had from the French and the English great summes of money as long as they have had War with the Spaniards The French to make diversion did maintain in the service of the States a body of 6000. Foot and 2000. Horse at their own charges for many years The serene State of Venice in vertue of a Treaty made in 1622. did promise 4000. pound a moneth in time of War 8. They have money at use that is they keep a bank of such moneys as are lent the State by particulars and pay use for it five in the hundred is the use the State payes All these great summes of money are by the Order of the States committed to the care of a particular Councell call'd A General Directory for the Treasury which is composed of the Deputies of each Province CHAP. XVI Of the principall Forces which do maintain the Commonwealth of the United Provinces THe greatest internall or defensive strength of these Countreys does lye in their situation which makes all their Towns easily to be fortified As for the externall it consists in their Leagues and Alliances with Foreign Princes Let us speak first of the situation That situation which is advantagious for the defence of a Countrey the exercising of commerce and consequently growing rich must needs proceed from the neighbourhood of the Sea and the affluence of great Rivers and Channells thence comes the Proverb The Hollanders are born for the Sea and the Sea for them of which they are well convinc'd and consequently spare no cost nor industry to be the masters upon this Element having long ago graven upon their Coyn this Motto Imperator maris est terrae Dominus If the Spaniards had been so wise as to have spent that treasure in hindring the Hollanders trade and navigation that he layed out upon attaking their Countrey he had undoubtedly ruin'd them and he now perceives it and does endeavour by all means though too late to obstruct their commerce Besides the Sea there are the Rivers of Rhene Meuse and Jud that do make the Countrey almost inaccessible Besides if any enemies be taken on this side these Rivers there is a Law which is exactly observ'd which commands to hang them up immediately The strong Towns are upon the Borders not only in Brabant Flanders Gueldres and Friezeland but also upon the Confines of Germany as Rhinbergue Wesel and divers places bordering upon the Dutchy of Cleves The reason whereof is this the War being kindled between the Spaniards and the United Provinces the Spaniards did first begin to seize and put themselves in possession of the Towns of the Dutchy of Cleves and of the Electour of Cullen that they might the better annoy the Hollanders who fore-seeing the mischief like to arise from thence sent an Army and seized as many of these Towns as they could put Garrisons into them and nevertheless still preserv'd the Inhabitants in all their propriety liberty and priviledges Hereupon arose great contests between the Emperour the Duke of Cleves and the Electour of Cullen on one side and the Hollanders on the other but the Hollanders kept possession Besides the Garrisons they maintain in all Frontier Towns they have also two Magazines in each one with Ammunition for War the other with provisions for life A Governour commands the Garrison they that command in small Frontier Towns are call'd Commanders and they that command in great strong Towns are qualified Governours And for the greater safety of the said Towns the Keys are partly in the Governours partly in the Bourgmasters hands The Civill and Military powers are likewise so distinct that the Governour has nothing to do with the Inhabitants nor the Judges of the place any power over the Souldiers As for the Land-Forces they consist of Strangers and Naturals but the Strangers do exceed the Naturals in number who are more enclin'd to long Voyages and Trade than to Warre Neither is the State endanger'd by putting the force and military power in Stangers hands for they being of different Nations as English Scotch French c. have different inclinations and aversions and so will hardly conspire to oppress their Masters who do alwayes mingle them in their strongest Towns It is believ'd that the number of Souldiers paid by the States and sworn to them does come very near one hundred thousand The Companies are for the most part of a hundred men some few excepted who are either stronger or weaker as necessity requires The Regiments are of ten twelve fourteen sixteen eighteen Companies Each Regiment is commanded by a Collonel The Horse is much inferiour in number to the Foot because that in these Countreys the greatest employment for Souldiers is besieging and defending of Towns in which the Horse are not so necessary as in set Battles There are two sort of Horsemen distinguish'd by their Arms viz. Cuirasseers that wear iron breast and back-pieces and Arquebusiers that carry short Guns on Horseback Their Horses ought to be sixteen handfull high measuring from the hoof of the fore-foot to the top of the shoulder The Infantry has about four shillings and six pence a week pay and the Horse about fifty shillings a moneth They that are payed by the States money are soon and exactly payed but they whose payment is assign'd upon the money that comes from France wait a little longer for it It is very observable in these Provinces that though there be no Money in the Treasury yet the Souldiers receive their pay every week or moneth for every Regiment
chooses an Agitatour who resides near the States to sollicite the payment of those he represents and when there is no Money in the publick Treasury he may confidently and does borrow and take up Money for the present necessity and it is repaid him again with interest by the States order The hopes of the great profit there is to be made engages these Sollicitors to do thus for when they advance their Money it is at the rate of 10 per Cent. gains which they tâ—â—e upon the arrears which the State owes to the Officers But this produces another inconvenience which is that the Officer being forc'd to give so much to the Sollicitor out of his pay endeavours to recover it again upon the States and musters more men in his Company than he really pays Besides their pay the Souldiers have likewise their Lodging free and the States do pay to the Inhabitants of all Towns upon that score six pence a week for each Souldier they lodge and this is call'd Service-Money If the Enemies besiege a Town and that the Money laid up in it for the paying of the Souldiery come to fail they make Money of Tin Brass Leather or Pastboard which the Magistrates set a price upon and such a one as exceeds very much the price of the matter of which such Money is made In the mean time the Souldiers take it freely for the siege being raised or the Town yielded up there comes a Treasurer who gives them currant Money for their other All sorts of Provisions that are brought to the Armies are free from all Imposts and Tributes in favour of the Souldiers In the siege of Towns the Souldiers have likewise gratuity given them some Provisions for their diet out of the publick Magazines The Souldiers and inferiour Officers being made Prisoners are at liberty in paying their ransom which by agreement between the States and the Spaniards is a moneths pay of the Prisoners The Inhabitants or Citizens are not so mildly dealt withall for they are constrained to pay whatsoever the Enemy demands or to rot in Prison till there be a general exchange made of Prisoners which is once or twice a year The Women and Children under twelve years old are not to be taken So much for the Forces in ordinary In extraordinary dangers there are extraordinary Forces rais'd which they call Waertgelders to encourage them the more the States do promise them Ten pence a day but because that many in hopes of so great a pay do forsake the ordinary Companies and take imployment in these new ones it has been often thought fit to command out instead of these Waertgelders the Train-bands of every Town and to mingle with them some old Souldiers and so make them fit for service Every Souldier as well in the Army as in Garrison is subject to the Jurisdiction of a Council of War which is compos'd in the Field of the General and some high Officers and in a Garrison of the Governour and his Captains they judge according to the Articles of the Formulary prescribed and printed by the States order The pay of Souldiers on Ship board is 12 s. and 6 d. a moneth besides which they have their diet which he that commands the Ship is bound to find them and receives from the States 6 d. a day for each man At Sea there is no such custom as the ransom at Land nay at first all Prisoners were bound hand and feet and thrown over-board but because so great a cruelty displeased both Spaniards and Hollanders they agreed there should be quarter given but not at such easie rates as at Land The Spaniards reason for this his so great a severity was that he might deterr the Hollanders from venturing to Sea but it produced only this that it made them defend their Ships with more courage and successe than before Ostend and Dunkirk were the places from whence they made most incursions upon the Hollanders which made them every year put a Fleet to Sea and come and besiege the Ports of these two Towns CHAP. XVII Of the Alliances of the United Provinces with Foreign Princes THe external Forces of the United Provinces are their Alliances which they maintain either by their Ambassadors or by their Agents They allow their Ambassadors ordinarily a thousand pound only he that is in this quality at Constantinople is allowed more that he may maintain the glory of his Nation to the eyes of that ambitious people Let us consider these Alliances one after another With the Emperor of Germany there is no Alliance but only a Friendship observ'd since these many years in appearance though not in reality for the Emperor has often sent great succours to the Spaniards under-hand and the Hollanders have done the same to the Princes of France and Germany Yet the Emperor has by divers Embassies press'd the United Provinces to declare themselves Members of the Empire as their Princes were formerly writing to them in the stile of Faithfull and Well-beloved But the States have been so far from consenting to such a Proposition that they have often order'd that such Letters should be sent back again to the Emperor without being opened saying that theirs was a free absolute State which had never yielded to pay homage to any Prince In the mean time there passes between them all Commerce and offices of Friendship There was likewise a League and Union made between the United Provinces and the Princes of Germany to protect them from the oppression which threatned them from the great Power the Emperor was got into and in this they did nothing but what the care of their Liberty did force them to for had those Princes been over-power'd the Low-Countries might have feared the same fate Above two hundred years ago there was an Alliance between the Anseatic Towns and the Low-Countries and there happening to be amongst the United Provinces some of these Towns as Amsterdam Middlebourg Dort which now make a part of the Common-wealth it was thought fit to renew the Alliance which was accordingly done in 1614. by a new Treaty in which the States oblige themselves to maintain the Rights and Priviledges of the said Anseatic Towns This the Emperor took so ill that he endeavour'd to make those Anseatic Towns that were in the Empire liable to the crimes of Treason and Rebellion against his Imperial Majesty but by their Ambassadors they proved that time out of mind they had the right and priviledge of making such Alliances The Treaty of Alliance made formerly with the King of Denmark concerns nothing but a reciprocal liberty for Traffick and Commerce and yet these States have often been forc'd to complain to their Ambassadors of the excessive Rates and Customs they did pay in passing the Sound But the necessity they stand in of venting their Commodities makes them undergo this hardship and has produced of late a more strict Alliance for the maintaining of Trade They are likewise in Friendship with the
King and Commonwealth of Poland particularly for the great quantities of Corn that come from thence though the Imposts be there likewise very high and such as have often made the Hollanders think of changing their Market and buying in Muscovy which they would have compass'd by this means The Countrey people in Muscovy are such slaves their Duke being the Proprietary of all their Lands that they never trouble themselves to plough or sow more Land than just as much as will make such a product as can find them and their Families food Thence it happens that huge Fields of good ground lie wast Now the Hotlanders design was to perswade the Duke of Muscovy to force his Subjects to Till more ground and so he would be able to drive a great Trade and to further this they offer'd to leave Overseers that should direct the work While this was a treating the Poles fearing the consequence bated their Imposts and Customs and so things remain as they were In the Year 1615. there was a Treaty made likewise with the King of Swedeland and Traffick was the ground of it A little before the said King fell upon Germany the amity was renewed and it was agreed that the United Provinces should give the said King 400. pound a moneth as long as the War should last between him and the House of Austria but since these few years the succour that has been given to the Danâ—â— and the interruption of Trade in that Kings Dominions have almost chang'd this Friendship into War There has been likewise a very good Treaty for Trade made with the Duke of Muscovy where mongst other things liberty is granted to levy Souldiers here in his Name and to transport Ammunition for War into his Dominions Trade has also made the States make Treaties with the Emperor of the Turks the Sophy of Persia and the Pirates of Thunis and Algier In Italy the States have no Alliance but with the Venetians which is yet maintain'd for the Honour of these two Commonwealths which are the only flourishing ones in Europe and for certain reasons the Venetians do give five hundred pound a moneth to the Hollanders towards the maintenance of the War with the Spaniards as also the Hollanders have promis'd the like succour to Venice if it should be attaqued by the Spaniard In the first birth of the Common-wealth there was a most advantagious Treaty made with the English under the reign of Queen Elizabeth who maintain'd this reeling State by the succours of Men and great sums of Money which she sent over to them though in such a way that the Hollanders were bound to respect her as if they had been her Subjects Now that the Peace is made with the Spaniards there remains nothing of this Alliance but the liberty of Trade and Commerce and the use of the English Ports There has been likewise many Treaties with the King of France and the States of the United Provinces have receiv'd from him great sums of Money towards the carrying on of the War CHAP. XVIII Of the Admiralty and care that is taken to maintain a Sea-strength SInce it is true that a State is maintain'd by those means by which it is first acquir'd the United Provinces ought not to neglect their Maritine affairs because they have and do really get all their subsistance out of the Sea This Sea-strength consists in a number of Men of War parâ— whereof belong to the States and part to particular men and are call'd Privateers The first are set out at the charges of the publick the other borrow only the States Banner and Commission though to encourage them the States have propos'd to them a set price according to the value of the thing they take from the Enemy The Men of War of the States serve to convoy Merchant-men to and fro and preserve them from danger of Pirates and Enemies The Privateers are most imployed to give chase to and take the rich India Ships of the Spaniards coming from the West-Indies The High Admiral who at present is the Governour General of the States commands over all Ships of War but he seldom goes in person because his presence is necessary at home his room is supplyed by a Vice-Admiral The Great Council call'd the States Gâ—neral being as well oblig'd to look after the Maritine affairs as the Land business and yet finding themselves over-burden'd with business they have discharg'd that care by choosing some others to compose a Body or Council which shall order all Sea-affairs in the Name of the States There are divers of these Assemblies and particularly in those three Provinces which are near the Sea viz. in Holland at Amsterdam Roterdam and Horne this last is sometimes transported to Enchusen which is a Town of North-Holland in Zeeland at Middlebourg and in Friezeland formerly at Doâ—cum but is now transported to Harlingue Each of these Assemblies consists of seven Counsellors or Senators who being chosen by the Members of each Province are delegated and impower'd by the States General they have a Secretary and a Treasurer The Governour General is the head of all these Assemblies as High Admiral the Vice-Admiral represents him in his absence these Deputies did formerly use to meet at the Hague twice a year and do still meet there when the affairs require a conjoynt deliberation with the States about the necessary means of securing the Sea and furthering Commerce They have a Treasury particular to themselves and the Money which is in it is gather'd from the Money that their own Merchants and Strangers pay for Convoys and likewise from the Imposts laid upon Commodities that are transported from one Harbour to another There is likewise brought into this Treasury all the Money that is rais'd by giving licenses to transport Commodities to the Enemies The Deputies of these Assemblies are bound to give an account every quarter of all their expences and receipts to the Commissioners from the States General They have also the power of naming Captains to the Men of War but then the Admiral chooses out of those that they have nam'd In a word their charge is so to secure the Sea as there be no interruption neither from Pirates nor Enemies of any other sort in Trade and Navigation to judge and determine all causes between Seamen and Officers and that Soveraignly and without appeal provided the summe in dispute exceed not fifty pounds observing exactly all brevity and expedition not suffering long harangues in any Cause or giving leave to the parties to reply more than once or twice and that because ordinarily Sea people have occasion of departing upon long Voyages and cannot come again suddenly Last of all it belongs to them to see that the States be payed their proportion of what is taken The fifth part of all prizes belongs to them the tenth to the Amirall and the rest to those that have set out the Privateer as also to the Captain and Sea-men This is only
c. with all the Fruits Revenues Rents and Profits of them And those that have so hid the said Estates Rights c. shall not be any wayes molested by the Treasury but shall enjoy and dispose of them as of their own 36. The Trees cut down after the day of the conclusion of this Treaty or such as shall be cut down the day of the conclusion and those not being cut down are nevertheless bargain'd for shall remain to the Proprietary notwithstanding the sale of them 37. The Fruits Farms Rents Leases Tenths Fishing-Houses c. of such Estates as according to this Treaty shall be restor'd to the right owners if they fall after the conclusion of this Treaty shall remain for the whole year to the Proprietaries and their Heirs c. 38. All Farms and Leases of confiscated Estates though made for many years shall nevertheless expire and be at an end in the year of the conclusion of this Treaty and the Farms or Leases falling after the day of the conclusion of this Treaty shall belong to the Proprietaries with this caution that if the Farmer of the said Estates has employed any of his stock towards the said years crop he shall be re-payed by the Proprietary as the Judges of the place shall value the said disbursement 39. All sale of confiscated Estates made after the conclusion of this Treaty is void as also the sale made before the conclusion if it be against the Capitulations and Agreements made particularly with certain Towns 40. The Houses of particular persons that are or shall be restor'd shall not be made Garrisons on neither side neither shall they pay any higher Taxe or Contribution than the Houses of other Inhabitants 41. None on either side shall be hindred directly or indirectly from changing the place of his abode so he pay the ordinary Taxes 42. If any Fortifications or Works have been made on either side by Authority in such places as are to be restored the Proprietaries shall be content to value them at the rate the Judges of the place shall put upon them as also the Proprietaries shall receive satisfaction for so much of their Estates as shall have been made use of either in Fortifications publick Works or pious uses 43. As for Church-Revenues Colledges and other pious places situated in the United Provinces which were members and dependances of the Benefices Colledges c. now under the obedience of the King of Spain so much of them as has not been sold before the conclusion of the present Treaty shall be restor'd and the owners may take possession of it by their own Authority but for those that have been sold or otherwise disposed of they shall receive a yearly Rent to the value of them after the rate of 8. in the 100. The same shall be observ'd on the side of the said King 44. As for the pâ—eâ—ensions and interest that the Prince of Orange may have in such things which he is not in possession of there shall be made a Treaty by it self to the satisfaction of the said Prince But as for the Lands Goods c. that the said Prince is in possession of by the gift of the said States in Bay 〈…〉 f ship of Hulster-Ambacth and elsewhere they shall all remain in his free possession as his own excluding hereby all pretensions to the contrary by this Treaty or any other 45. Touching certain other ' points which besides the contents of the preceding Article have been agreed upon and signed in two different Writings one of the 8th of January the other of the 27th of December 1647. in the name of the said Prince of Orange the said Writings shall be observ'd accomplish'd and executed according to their contents just as if all the said points in particular were all inserted into this present Treaty and this notwithstanding all Clauses or Articles of this Treaty any wayes contrary for if there be any such they are declar'd void in that point by this present Article 46 Those to whom confiscated Estates are to be restor'd shall not be bound to pay any Arrearages Rents Charges c. specially assign'd upon the said Estates for the time they did not enjoy them and if any pursuit or molestation do befall them they shall immediately be relieved 47. Judgements given upon confiscated Estates between parties that did acknowledge the power of the Judges shall hold only the condemn'd parties may seek relief by the ordinary course of justice 48. The said King does quit and renounce all pretensions of Redemption or other upon the Town of Grave the Countrey of Luych its Appurtenances Dependances and the ancient Barony of Brabant engaged heretofore to the Prince of Orange and which has been since converted as propriety to the use of Prince Maurice of Nassaw in December 1611. by the States Generall as Soveraigns of the said Town of Grave and Countrey of Luych In vertue of which concession the Prince of Orange that now is his Heirs c. shall enjoy for ever the propriety of the said Town of Grave c. with all its Dependances c. 49. The said King does also renounce to all Right Claims c. either of propriety or cession c. to the Town County and Lordship of Lingen and the four Villages and other its Dependances as also to the Towns and Lordships of Bevâ—rgarde Cloppenberge that they may remain for ever to the said Prince of Orange his Heirs c. confirming by this Treaty all the said Princes other Titles to them 50. The said King and States shall each of them separately and for themselves place Judges and Officers in such Towns and strong places as by this Treaty are to be restor'd to the Proprietaries 51. The high part of Gueldres shall be changed for an Equivalence which if it cannot be agreed upon in this Treaty shall be decided by the Chamber of equall number of Judges on both sides and that in the time of six moneths after the ratification of the Treaty 52. The said King does oblige himself to procure effectively the continuation of the neutrality friendship and good neighbour-hood of his Imperiall Majesty and the Empire with the States to the observation of which the States do likewise oblige themselves and the confirmation of the said neutrality shall be made in the space of two moneths by his Imperiall Majesty and in the time of a year by the Empire after the ratification of this Treaty 53. The Fruits Moveables confiscated and receiv'd before the conclusion of this Treaty shall not be subject to be restor'd 54. They that during the War were retir'd into Countries that did stand neuters shall enjoy the benefit of this Treaty and may stay where they please or return to their ancient homes there to live in all quiet and tranquillity in the observation of the Laws of their Countrey without danger of having their Estates or Chattels seized on by reason of the stay they make in any place