places committed to their trust against any stirs or attemts that might arise by occasion hereof whether from without or from within carrying and discharging themselvs faithfully according to the Oath made by them to this State at the undertaking of their respective Commissions of which Oath there were sent Copies to them to refresh it in their memories And then the Council of State was desired to inform their Hi. Mi. with all speed of the true state and condition of the Garrisons in all the Frontier-Towns and places of this State that accordingly such order might bee taken and provision made as should bee found expedient and requisite for most safetie of the State Advertisement was likewise given to the reduced Cities of Brabant and Flanders apart To the Forrein Ambassadors and Residents residing at the Haghe intimation was given of this Accident by som Deputies of their Hi. Mi. and by the Agent Verburgh The Corps was not shewed in publick as his Fathers Uncles and Grandfathers had been partly for that the face was much altered and disfigured by the small Pox and partly to avoid further disturbance of the Princess Roiall by too much stir and nois there shee beeing great with childe which was the caus likewise that shee never saw the Prince in all his sickness as also they would have kept his departure from her knowledg the first night but that shee perceived it well enough by the much running out and in and hearing the whole Court alarm'd with it The King of Spain his Ambassador sent immediately to impart unto her his condoling and for leav that hee might com to perform it in Person which was don next morning as likewise that of the States General and inferior Courts or Assemblies both to her and to the Princess Dowager and the Q. of Bohemia The Princess Dowager sent that daie by Seig r de Willem and Secretarie Busero to get the Lord van Wimmenum to represent unto the Assemblie that there was a certain Treatie agreed upon between the Spanish Ambassador and the late Prince about an Equivalence for the not surrendring of the Marquisate there wanting nothing to it but the Subscription and fearing the winde might get in between beeing the Ambassador was upon his departure for Brussels and therefore her High s desired their Hi. Mi. would bee pleased to induce the Ambassador to the accomplishment They sent and pressed it but the Ambassador said Hee was charged to get the Treatie sign'd by the Princes own hand The same now beeing dead hee must and would write for further instruction and somtime after returning again to the Haghe hee declared himself ready for to conclude that Treatie as soon as the Wardship of the young Prince should bee settled The Death of the Prince did much perplex and afflict all those that together with and by him had agitated the proceedings against Holland Som Ministers also both in the Pulpit and otherwise in companies and meetings exclaimed and lamented that now the State was Headless that there was no King now in Israël that the State must needs fall into Discord Confusion and Ruine But among those of the Government of Holland and every where among such whose hearts stood more for Libertie then Court dependance you might have seen immediately a very great Alteration and Reviving The news ran nimbly by 3 in the morning it was alreadie at Amsterdam The Alms box fared well by it the people really glad would bee really thankful and liberal for their libertie One among the rest putting in a good quantitie of Gold in the Deacons purs at Sermon had featly wrap'd it up and added a Note to it with words to this purpose in Ryme The Prince his death Make 's my gift great No gladder nâ—ws these hundred years Upon the Letters from the Holland Deputies at the Generalitie the States of Holland met presently and after som preparatorie business with their Commission'd Members they caused to bee presented in writing to the Generalitie That their N. G. M. do judg the Unitie of the Provinces to bee the onely Foundation for to make the State subsist and that therefore Declaration was hereby made unto the Provinces that the sincere intention of their N. G. M. is constantly to improve maintain and evermore holily and inviolably to keep and cultivate the Unitie Love Friendship and good Correspondence with and among the Provinces without ever to recede therefrom and that they are readie to shew forth the same not in words onely but by real effects also upon all occasions Furthermore that their N. G. M. are firmly resolved to uphold and maintain Religion according to to the Synod of Dort and as the same is taught at this present in the publick Churches of these Countries That the Union shall bee kept faithfully so as it was concluded on in the year 1579 at Utrecht and that the Souldierie for the service of the State shall bee entertained according to the Resolutions formerly taken upon the preliminar points for the Treatie of Peace That the Provinces may bee desired to appoint a General Assemblie of all the States in the Hagh and to take care that they may com every one duely and sufficiently instructed for a work of so great importance and general concernment That they had found good to send unto all the several Provinces for this end and purpose That the Deputies of the other Provinces are earnestly desired to second the good intention of Holland by serious Letters to their Principals That in the mean time all States-affairs may bee left and proceeded in according to the accustomed Cours and fundamental Order of this Government The Courts or several Councils as also the chief Militarie Officers remaining in their respective Commissions and Instructions until such time as further Order shall bee taken upon the whole frame of the said affair by the Provinces In the first draught the words of this Claus â—un thus Until such time as her Royal High s shall bee delivered of the Fruit shee yet doth go with But least that might have caused a Construction of som Engagement it was alter'd as above Holland studied and endeavored much how they might draw Zealand in at least to side with them hoping that thereby they should bee able so to shut their Fence and to bee in that posture as that they should not need to fear to have a Captain General or a Stadtholder forced upon them And yet they ever shewed themselvs very Civil in their expressions of thankfulness to the Hous of Orange and Nassaw declaring they would gladly forget and laie aside all what was past and live and die with the Provinces in all Love Unitie and Concord Before their intended sending to the Provinces could bee dispatched the Princess Royal was delivered of a Son upon Mundaie Novemb. 14. betwixt 8 and 9 of the clock at night Whereupon the Assemblie presently met and notice was given of it to the Provinces and congratulations made to
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
beeing themselvs also without the Government and therefore unprejudiced might best bee able to judg of them or if this should bee excepted against that there might bee called and Commissionated som of the ablest most experienced and discreetest States men who beeing well acquainted with Questions daily arising in Government and knowing that in matter of State and Policie the waie of Accommodation is usually more safe and expeditious then that of rigor in Law they might per-adventure bee emploi'd thereabout more fruitfully or if these persons also as having som part or share in the Government either directly or indirectly cannot bee held impartial and free of prejudice that the Differences bee submitted to som of the friends and Allies of the State such as are most concerned in the preservation thereof Desiring that upon all these proposals they may distinctly understand your Hi. Mi. wise considerations and that by this solemn convocation effectual order may bee settled in this behalf Touching the third point viz that of Religion the States of Zealand assure themselvs your Hi. Mi. will evermore continue holily and sincerely to maintein that precious pledg by God Almightie put into the hands of this State from Heaven and by their common Forefathers and Successors hitherto with the hazzard and loss of so much blood and treasure preserved among us Nevertheless their N. M. most affectionately desire your Hi. Mi. would bee pleased upon this occasion anew to declare That they are resolved not onely to maintein the true Christian Reformed Religion so as the same is taught now in the publick Churches of this Land and hath been elucidated by the Synod held at Dort But likewise never to suffer any alteration to bee made therein and that the said Religion shall bee protected and vindicated by the armed powers of the Lands as in every Province apart by themselvs so by the Generalitie in the Quarters resorting under their Command against all disorders or offences whatsoëver That likewise for the further preventing of all considerable prejudices the Sects and Separate people in Religion which are secluded from the publick protection and onely connived or wink 't at shall bee kept in good order and quietness and limited against all exorbitancies and under express caution and clauses that they shall bee tolerated no where els but in those places where now they are at present That for refraining of the publick Exercise of the Romish Superstition and remooving of whatsoever hath dependance thereon the publick Ordinances of the Land shall bee executed punctually without any composition or connivence forasmuch as experience hath made it manifest that for want of such prompt and readie Execution whether it came through remissness of the Officers or otherwise not onely the Government it self hath suffered much in their Honor and Reputation but the diseas also is grown from ill to wors so that the libertie of the Papists which according to the privileges of the Land cannot bee denied them in what concern's and regards their Consciences and Opinions in matters of Religion that therein they may not bee questioned nor any waies molested is by little and little degenerated into an open licentiousness and stoutness insomuch that they are not shie to set up formal Hierarchies and actually by concurs of armed men to oppose the lawful endeavors of the officers of Justice in the very face of Justice and the Higher Powers of the Land themselvs to the great prejudice of the true Reformed Religion the sad grief of all the upright professors thereof and the joie and exultation of all disaffected thereunto which might at last occasion very troublesom effects and what advantage may thereby bee given in particular to all that are ill-affected to the State for attempts upon it your Hi. Mi. are best able to judg the consequences thereof would prove so much the sadder and more dangerous in that they would light upon none more heavily then the best Patriots that is to saie those of the Reformed Religion on whose faithfulness this State reposeth with most securitie Wee are not ignorant neither Hi. Mi. Lords that many Princes and Common-wealths are allied together for mutual protection notwithstanding their manifest difference in Religion And that likewise the discrepancie therein doth not hinder their living together in confident Unitie But as there is no sure arguing from the Examples or natural constitutions and humors of one Nation to the other so doubtless though the same may safely bee practised with other confederates and is at this present yet here in this Countrie it is not onely unprofitable but prejudicial and ruinous in the highest degree beeing that the most principal Bond of this Government is the foresaid Reformed Religion the Flower of the Inhabitants thereof to wit all the persons making profession of and beeing well-affected to the said Religion are thereby inseparably enclined and engaged to mutual Unitie and to the common interest of the State And whereas likewise Hi. Mi. Lords it is evident that the Number and Boldness of the said Papists doth very much encreas by means of the bad Instructions and impressions which the good and plain Inhabitants of this State are possest withal by Popelings Priests and other pretended Ecclesiastical persons which daily in great numbers arrive into these parts out of the King of Spain his Territories The States of Zealand are desirous that Provision bee made against it as well as may bee For although it is agreed unto of this side by the Treatie of peace that the Subjects of the said King in General may convers and negotiate in these Countries the same seem's nevertheless not applicable to the foresaid ecclesiastical persons or Clergie-men First by reason of the Resolution taken upon the preliminar points to bee observed during that peace wherein it is plainly set down that the Ordinances made against the Papists should bee executed according to their form and contents in which Ordinances there is an express penal prohibition of the coming of such Ecclesiastical or Clergie-persons into this Countrie Secondly becaus that the said pretended Ecclesiasticks generally do maintain as the Plenipâ—tentiarie Ambassador of the King of Spain at Munster themselvs alleged that they are none of the said Kings Subjects nor subjected to any secular power but onely to the Pope of Rome wherefore also the Provision of the foresaid Treatie of free resort howëver couched in general terms cannot bee extended to their advantage As likewise in the third place the same is evinced by the interpretation and practice of several other Princes and Potentates who notwithstanding their friendship and alliance with the said King whereby his Subjects in general are denied no access nor commerce in their Countries yet suffer no known Clergie of his to com and covers there which interpretation agree's likewise with the Declaration of the Lords the Ordinarie Deputies of the Generalitie plainly expressed in a Certain Ordinance of theirs made for that very purpose and observed to
to the Council of State whereunto if the rest complied not of themselvs Holland and Zealand would stand to it by themselvs Those of Drent sought and sollicited lately again by their Deputies Schickard and Strâ—ick respective Recorder and secretarie of the land of Drent in all the assemblies of the particular Provinces their former pretence pressed these many years of beeing a Member of the State as having signed together with the rest from the beginning of the Union and having their peculiar Stadholder and Government And after they had sufficiently prepared the same in particular they craved Audience in the great Assemblie and had it Martii 2 o upon the Letters of Credence from the Drost and Deputie of the foresaid Countrie whereupon having wished their Hi. Mi. God's gracious and blessed assistance for their present important Deliberations They desired that according to their Summons of Novemb. 6 last they would bee pleased to receiv them into their Assemblie and to shew and appoint the places where they the Commissioners should in the name and behalf of the said Land of Drent have their Ordinarie Session at and together with the rest of the Provimces as also That the Deputies of the said Countrie should bee allowed Session likewise in all the Courts of the Generalitie Hereupon it was found good that the Retro-acta of and in regard to such matters and propositions formerly past in the Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. touching the said Countrie should bee searched into It was strange to see that there was a Summons past as from their Hi. Mi. dated Novemb. 6 signed by the then Lord President and addrest by the Secretarie to those of Drent whereby they were as well invited to com to the Great Assemblie and to bring in their advices as the seven other Provinces And thereupon was it that the Deputies thence desired the Session as was said before The then Lord President beeing desired to shew how that abuse came hee was able to say nothing els to it but that such kinde of dispatches depend upon the direction notice-taking and fidelitie of the secretarie having all the Registers and Original Acts in his keeping and it beeing impossible for a President to collation every thing that is brought him for to sign with the Registers or to look after it whether all bee well don there beeing somtimes twentie thirtie and more things sent in together at one time to bee signed in hast However this abuse profited those of Drent nothing but they were silently kept without the Assemblie for all that That which the Deputies of the Countrie of Drent produced and presented in writting to the Lords of the great Assemblie in grounding and justifying their Demands is to bee seen by that which followeth formerly exhibited by them High Mightie Lords THe Gentrie and Free-holders of the Countrie of Drent having understood that your Hi. Mi. were pleased of late to issue Writ's to the Lords the States of the respective Provinces that by occasion of the instant Treatie of Peace or Truce at Munster and Osnabrug they would deliberate and resolv upon the necessarie means such as should bee found fitting and requisite for the maintenance of the State of their Countries and in particular for a renewed confirmation of the common Union of Utrecht in such sort as the same was made and kept in former times and yet not any Notice or Writ beeing issued or sent from your Hi. Mi. unto the Countrie of Drent in that behalf notwithstanding that the same is known to bee a fellow-member of the said Union They have therefore in their latest Land-day and States-Assemblie found good and necessarie to present their just complaints or grievance in that behalf unto your Hi. Mi. and in that regard appointed and charged mee that after presentation of their humble service and wishing your Hi. Mi. a long and prosperous Government I should with all due respect and reverence summarily again propound unto you that which heretofore hath been so often represented here and clearly verified by sufficient demonstrations viz. That the said Countrie of Drent hath been of old and still continueth an entire formed Province by it self and separated from others having ever had and still having their own peculiar perfect Members Governments Prerogatives Rights Immunities high and low Jurisdictions Magistrates Name Arms Seal Treasurie Laws and Customs altogether distinct and apart from other Provinces That the said Countrie likewise even under the Soveraigns of these Countries as well by the Government of the Bishops of Utrecht as that of the Hous of Burgundie was never held otherwise but as one of their Neighboring Provinces Not onely in the point of a peculiar homage and reciprocal promises and confirmations of their Rights and Privileges And in the Contributions for the common Charges whereunto the said Countrie was alwaies prai'd and entreated apart and had thanks returned them accordingly for their voluntarie consents although the same did many times com far short of the summons petitioned or praâ—'d for But likewise in the Case of summoning the Lords the States-General together when any weightie and difficult matters touching the common-weal of the Provinces required their assembling whereunto the States of the Countrie of Drent were constantly no less called and invited by Writs then the States of any other Countrie As the same appeared notably among other instances at the time of the solemn Transport of these Netherlands by the Emperor Charls to his Son King Philip in the year 1555. at Brussels Unto which Act the States of the Countrie of Drent were summoned and invited by the said Emperor Charls and King Philip apart and accordingly made their apperances and likewise upon the desire of the Emperor they yielded their consent to the said Transportation and beeing thereupon peculiarly discharged of the Oath formerly made to the Emperor and anew engaged to King Philip they received likewise on the contrarie peculiarly for themselvs from the said King the Oath and confirmation again of their Rights Freedoms and Possessions The same Countrie likewise afterwards when these Netherlands came to bee engaged in War with the King of Spain and by the Union of Utrecht into an nearer alliance one with another beeing no less acknowledged but alwaies invited and summoned by Writ for to assist all affairs of the Countries and to advise and deliberate together with the rest even before such time as they were receiv'd into the said Union it beeing a matter so known and manifest that the said Countrie was of it self qualified and privileged to repair to and appear in the Assemblie of the States General and that by virtue of the 3 d Article of the Pacification of Ghendt The Convocation of the States General was to bee don in the same form and manner as it was used when the Emperor Charls transported these Countries to his Son King Philip where the States of the Countrie of Drent were likewise summoned apart and appear'd as well as the
Articles agreed upon among themselvs That the King ought to reduce under his obedience the Cities and open Countrie taken by the Enemies and join them to the Provinces again to which they belonged not suffering in any wise that the contracting Provinces should bee rent or torn asunder at any time the one from the other It is confessed indeed that after the loss of Antwerp in the year 1585. Richard of Merode Lord of Oirschot the Lord van Poderlo van der Werck and van der Menlen Deputies of Braband in the Generalitie taking their leav or farewel from the Ordinarie Assemblie of the States General made this request That the Lords the States would bee pleased to take that care of the remaining Cities of Braband that they might bee dealt with conformably to the Privilege of the said Countrie But those foresaid Deputies beeing swai'd by their particular interest were charged with no such thing by their Principals and therefore could not draw any prejudice thereby upon the Rights of the rest of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Braband which continued in the Union and afterwards were again reduced under it Whereupon followed that Counsellor Bruyninex beeing appointed by Prince Maurice and the Lords of Lockeren Sonsveld and Tameren did in the years 1586. 1587. 1588. both in their own behalf and that of the other Nobilitie and Gentrie together with the Deputies of the Citie of Berg op Zome seek and solicite as well by writing as word of mouth That without impediment they might govern and administer their State in particular and that in matters touching the Generalitie such as are the consent of Subsidies for war the framing out and collecting of Imposts the appointing of Licences or free passages augmentation of services and the like they may have such a part and cognizance as those of Braband which are under the Generalitie ought to have by virtue of the Common Union Upon which Motions and Desires after several Communications both before Commissioners of the States General and at the Assemblie it self their Hi. Mi. were pleased at last to declare That in this posture and condition of Braband They could not acknowledg or hold them otherwise then their Associates and not as States of Braband And by an Act of that year 1588. Prince Maurice of happie memorie was appointed Captain General over the Cities Forts and Forces in Braband And the Council of State Autorised provisionally to govern and direct all matters regarding the Government of Braband in the Name of the States General in respect of the State of Braband for that time without prejudice to the States of Braband beeing of this side and to the Citie likewise of Berg op Zome with this promiss annexed That in case hereafter there should bee any Treatie set on foot about a General Peace or transportation of the Soveraigntie of the Lands in general then the foresaid Nobilitie and Gentrie of Braband and the Governors of Berg op Zome should bee summoned Which beeing promised them in regard but of one Citie what consideration ought there to have been of the present State of Braband whenas not onely one Capital Citie or Metropolis but other Considerable ones likewise are reunited to the Union which formerly had Writs sent them to com to the Assemblie of the States and accepted of the Union During the above said sollicitation Prince Maurice had in the year 1587. put and autorised som to bee Counsellors of Braband in matters of justice who were to administer the same in several parts and relations till in the year 1591. the States General of the United Provinces instead of a Chancerie and Fief-Court appointed a Council of Braband under this Declaration That having taken into their special Consideration how the Countrie the Nobilitie Gentrie Cities Liberties Villages and other Inhabitants of Braband which remained in the Union of the Netherlands and those which were afterwards reduced or yet might bee through the blessing of God might bee governed in good order policie and Justice They ordained c. without impairing or prejudicing the Privileges and Rights of the Land of Braband and of the Nobilitie Gentrie Cities Liberties Villages and the Inhabitants thereof Afterwards in the year 1600 when by the States General there was introduced at Berg op Zome and Breda a higher raising of the general means and complaint presented thereupon in these Cities behalf shewing That the said Cities for matter of means contributions and the like burthens were not dealt withal according to their old Rights and Privileges of Braband the said States General declared thereupon That they judged the Remonstrants ought as members of the Common Union bear the burthen together with their Neighbors and if thereafter there should bee occasion of any high or new raising of means they should have Writs sent them first to com to the Assemblie of the States General with the same autoritie as they should have in those matters among the States-Assemblie of Braband if the same could bee formed in due maner In this foresaid State and Government did the affairs of Braband remain notwithstanding That their state and condition was much strengthened and enlarged from time to time through the Reduction of the Cities of Breda Steenbergen Grave the Bosch Mastricht c. insomuch That the State of Braband holding it with the United Netherlands consist's at present in six strong and walled Cities besides Mastricht and divers others belonging thereunto and therewithal an exceeding great District of open Countrie full of liberties villages and Habitations resorting under it extending it self to 30 leagues in length and 10 more in breadth and making up the greater half in ground of the whole Dukedom of Braband Before the troubles those of Flanders in the Beden petitionings and contributions were commonly taxed with a third part of the general sum which was asked and granted throroughout all the Netherlands Braband with a fourth part Holland with a fourth part of the rate of Flanders But Braband beeing impoverished by the warr and Holland with the other United Provinces enriched shall the hard fortune that those of Braband were expelled and banished for the common caus their Cities forced taken and plunder'd by the Enemies c. Bee the ground and reason of forfeiting their Libertie From all which resulteth and appeareth sufficiently that the Netherlands though divided and separated the one Province from the other do constitute or make up but one bodie beeing allied together equally atque aequo foedere and so that none of them hath any right of Superioritie or Dominion over the other for confirmation whereof may bee alleged that which Prince William of Orange of happie memorie and the State of Holland and Zealand writing in the year 1573 to the King of Spain do expresly say that the Netherlanders having formerly been under several Lords were afterwards reduced together under one head of the hous of Burgundie allied thereafter with the hous of Austria and at last with
bee redeemed at 20 years purchase within the space of twelv years to bee paid at several terms and by several parcels provided no parcel to bee paid bee less then three hundred thousand florins each time And all this under the pledges conteined in the foresaid Treaties and the speciall obligation of all the Goods Domains Subsidies and other Revenues of his said Majestie in the Dukedom of Braband and Earldom of Flanders This advantage onely the Spaniard got by the death of the Prince and the dispute about the Guardianship That in lieu of paying the Rents and Interests of the Equivalent agreed upon for the Marquisate of Bergues from the time of Signing intended by the Prince the paiment began but now so that they got or saved all the rest viz. not onely from the time of signing the Peace but also from the death of the Prince hitherto which was one of the fruits of those Domestick jars and misunderstandings among friends The Gardians pressed likewise for a new Act of Caution or performance of the Prelates in manner as the former Transactions Jan. 8 and Decemb. 27 1647 were signed and confirmed thereby But the Ambassador advised it were safer they should let that alone for that the Prelates might easily chance to refuse it and becaus of their autoritie one might bee loath and could not easily neither compel them and by reason of their interstice they might pretend their former Agreement was held invalid and could not therefore binde them and so it was waved The Treatie beeing Signed the Spanish Ambassador feasted and Regalized the Commissioners together with his Excellencie the Lord Stadholder Count William in place of the Princesses Having thus far treated of the Defect and Detriment susteined by the death of the late Prince wee shall novv go on to prosecute that vvhich vvas taken in hand for the orderlie supplie and redress or resettling of the Government About the latter end of March and beginning of April as also before and after the great Assemblie was more busied with the affairs of France Spain Portugal and others then with domestick and such as properly were the caus of their meeting and therefore wee shall but barely point at the forrein affairs as not conducing to the scope and matter in hand The French King's Ambassador Bellievee was arrived in the beginning of March and becaus they could not agree together about the Ceremonies there was no conference at all held with him insomuch that Hee seeing hee could do nothing here went his waie home again in the beginning of May. The Ambassadors S â— John and Strickland both Counsellors of State to the Republick of England arriving here about the latter end of March with a Train of neer 300 persons had Audience upon the 30 th in the great Assemblie but withal so many affronts put upon them from the Courts and Courtiers there however the Lords of Holland labored to suppress them that towards the end of April they were charged by the Parlament to return declaring they could tarrie there no longer with safetie to themselvs and Reputation of the Republick The State sought indeed to give them all possible satisfaction propounding the Treatie of the year 1495. Those of Holland caused the same to bee insinuated to the Parlament by their Commissioner Schaep desiring som longer staie of the Ambassadors which was granted for a certain space longer but that beeing elapsed they were again summoned back towards the end of June and though there were all possible endeavors used to protract their Departure a little longer they could not bee prevailed with and so the Treatie remaining uneffected it was resolved that by an Extraordinarie Ambassie from hence into England the same should bee consummated They took their leaves Junii 30 th and parted from the Hagh the first of July The long and ever since the year 1649. delaied Ratification of the Treatie made that year with Denmarck by the High Steward Ulefeld was at last compleated and settled in the great Assemblie March 21. 1651. notwithstanding the Swedish Ministers Canterestein and Appleboom their respective and reiterated offices and endeavors against it The King of Portugal his Ambassador Sousa de Macedo having after long Delaie obtained Audience at last Martii 6 o. and made his proposition in Latin in the great Assemblie gave more hopes then effects so that it was resolved Martii 25 o. to cut off all further conference with him and thenceforward not to acknowledg him any longer in the qualitie of Ambassador notwithstanding that the Queen of Sweden offered by her Commissarie Appleboom to mediate between the State and the said Ambassador who thereupon within a little time after departed thence for Hamborow Between the Spanish Ambassador le Brun and the French Resident Brasset there happened both before and during the â—taie of the Ambassador Bellievre several bickerings presented in the great Assemblie both by publick audiences and by transmitted papers which were divulged still in print as is conceived by their own consent but the State did entertain it with nothing but the hearing and seeing thereof Now then to return again to our domestick affairs There was much pains taken since March 28. for to conciliate the discrepant inclinations that were com in and presented by the several Provinces which at length produced a full Report made in the Assemblie April 26. and afterwards Jun. 16 o. compleatly past and determined as shall bee seen in due place At this time Things stood not in Zealand according to the minde of the Lords of Holland understanding what endeavors there were on foot to proceed to a new choice of a Stadtholder Captain General c. And though the same did not necessitate the Lords of Holland to do the like yet they feared it might occasion som alteration in the Provinces of Gelderland Utrecht Over-Yssell and in divers Cities of Holland it self Therefore to keep the Province of Zealand in a good intelligence with Holland they sent as was said likewise before the Lords van Opdam de Witt Newport and Picca in Commission thither who made there this ensuing Proposition Noble Mightie Lords WEe hold our selvs obliged in discharge of our Commission and according to the intent of our Principals successively to communicate and represent unto you the considerations and sollicitous Trutinations of their N. Gr. M. touching the Captainship General All the other points of Religion the Union and Militia are by mutual conferences betwixt the â—wo Provinces God bee praised unanimously agreed on so that wee were not able to observ any discrepancie concerning any other subject Your N. M. well know that the Supreme Autoritie over the Militia or Armie together with the Direction of militarie affairs doth appertain to every one of the United Provinces within their own Sovereign Provincial Sphere and that accordingly there was ever given by them even to the particular Stadholders the qualitie of Captain General within their respective Provinces and especially in those
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
to commit the Custodie and Keys of those In-Land-Garrisons unto the Captains there then indeed the Citizens nay the Magistrate nay the States themselvs might have reason to say once as Whilem the Duke of Gelderland yea marrie now shee sit's cleanly But prithee tell mee those great entertainments of the Governors of the Colonels and other Warlike Officers things altogether unknown in the hottest times of war and which serv for nothing but to brave it in the Hague to keep great Horses and Carroches to feast it and bribe and domineer are they the Guards and Ramparts of our Frontiers Do they stand Sentinels For one indeed of such Entertainments you might well entertain thirtie fortie nay fiftie better men to perform that emploiment and yet wee must bee told therein consist's the State of War and guarding of the Frontiers and this forsooth is the onely means to stave off the Spaniard and other open and hidden Enemies within and without the Land from annoying or affronting of us XIV The Province of Holland hath been in Conference and Treatie with the Council c. about the Entertainment of a Compleat Quantitie of Forces above this twelv-month and Holland hath made it plainly appear that following the project of Reduction readie paie exact mustering and order there would bee more men effectually kept in service then that way the Council propounded in their project or state of war All the Question now is but about 50 Companies of whom all the rest of the Provinces are to provide but for 21. XV. Whereas the Lords of Holland in their State's-Assembly as the Proposition confesfeth in the 15 Section declared that they were extremely necessitated to discharge themselvs of 3◠Foot-Companies and 12 of Hors according to that right of non consent or discontinuing of consent each Province hath power and libertie every year to make use of which now is the point in Controversie it was exceeding strange and unheard of and might otherwise well bee called Sedition to go and irritate or set at odds the Members of a Soveraign Province one against the other and against the Provincial Government Might not a bodie as easily meet with male-contented and ill-affected Citizens and Inhabitants within the Cities of other Provinces if one should put the like Questions to the Commons or their Representative meetings there Your Deputie-States Sirs have don such and such things or left undon such and such Is this according to your sens or minde Will you have it to pass thus or not rather otherwise Especially if one should add and interweav all manner of perswading soothing promising and threatning arguments representing in what danger Religion stood how the Gates vvould bee opened to the Spaniard and all readie to bee exposed to murthering burning robbing plundering as the like was both openly before in and after this Sending broached everyvvhere and covertly insinuated in the Proposition it self might it not endanger the States there and shake their Government into Subversion XVI All the Cities of Holland none excepted have allowed of the project or state of reducing so as it vvas laid though in the point of discharging there bee no universal consent needful XVII The Officers and Souldierie are properly sworn and engaged to the United Provinces or the States thereof who are their Soveraigns and pay masters the Direction and Captain-ship General indeed they have committed to his Highness and the Council Yet so nevertheless that they the States never yielded up to them the soveraign and absolute power of disbanding raising augmenting or diminishing the Armie and Forces of the Land at their own pleasure and arbitrie Els might the Companies by virtue of their repartition or allotment play the same feats with the Cities they are referred to which the Imperialists Swedish and French were wont to practise by their Quarterings in Germanie XVIII In the 18 Section the Proposition confesseth this Sending to bee a new extraordinarie Remedie that is to say in plainer terms a business of dangerous and evil consequence such indeed as may make the whole Government suspect to the Commons and hazard a total subversion This unexspected undeserved requital Holland had from their confederates for having rescued assisted and protected them these 80 years more alone then all the rest together Nevertheless it is not imputed to the Provinces themselvs but onely to a few ill-affected Hollanders who beeing grown rich and great by Jars Divisions and Confusions do seek by the same craft to grow more rich and greater still XIX If so bee that they know the charges of Holland and the other Provinces then is this proceeding of theirs against their own Conscience if there ought to bee a full agreement in the discharge which nevertheless is untrue and against the known practise much more certainly ought there bee a full agreement in bearing the charge and Holland must likewise give its consent to the laying of it on As long as Holland dissent's there is no full agreement XX. The discharging of the Companies made by those of Gel. derland and Over-Yssel whereof the Resolution of Nov. 1 0 1623 doth speak and the diminishing of their rates that hath been practised and continued by the same Provinces until such time as the East-side of the Rhine was wholly cleared of the Spaniards XXI Those of Zealand were not sent to in the year 1626. in such a new and unheard of manner as Holland now is Letters were writen and Commissioners were sent to the full Assembly of the States And Zealand at that time beeing awed to continuation of consent by the instant danger from a puissant enemie they have not therefore yielded up their right of consenting or non-consenting for all time to com The Lords Beveren and Scháffer likewise went not thither with intent to dispoil those of Zealand of that right but according to the accustomed manner of Sending to the States onely for to induce and perswade them Yet it follow 's not that in case of standing out they should have gone up and down the Countrie to incens and stir up the Commons against the Government there XXII The Reduction mentioned in the 22 Sect. was don precipitantly without communication and advice of the Provinces without shewing themselvs so greatly over-charged and in the hottest time of war and therefore differeth very much from that of Holland which was not made till after long and manifold friendly communications having shew'd and prov'd their excessive charges and that not till after the war ended and all this and the like resolutions were taken and are without any prejudice to the Union and to the Rights and Soveraigntie of any Province even as Utrecht in the midst of war discharged themselvs of their rate for Sea-matters or guarding the Sea-Coasts Friesland of the arming and expedition against the Portugals and for all that there was never any attempt made to stir up the Commons there against their Magistrates XXIII The contrarie practice is well known there
manage the business so that it was not read in the Assemblie much less Copies given of it but lock'd up under Seal which yet came to light at length as shall bee shewed in due place After all this August 13 the Lords of Holland came to the Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. in presence of his High s his Excellencie the Stadtholder and the Council of State declaring That in the name and behalf of their Principals there had been oft times before motions made about reducing of the Souldierie and matters depending with arguments taken from the condition of their exhausted Treasurie caused by the late long and heavie War but having since considered that the rest of the Provinces shewed themselvs unsatisfied as judging the State of these Countries would not bee safe enough if the forces were reduced according to the project and proffer of their Principals they had therefore thought good now to meet their Confederates in this matter as far as might bee and to put them out of all doubts and perplexities consented and agreed to the Proposition made by the Council of State July 15 last past in terminis as it lie's fully confiding and seriously recommending that the Provinces as good Confederates will on their side in recompence of this their undergoing again so heavie a charge to pleas and complie with the other Provinces undertake now for the good of the State to improve their best endeavours That the means of the State may bee well and duely managed and advantaged That the Navie-affairs may seriously bee taken to heart That the Liquidations between the Provinces may at length bee taken in hand and really performed That the business of the West-Indie-Companie may vigorously bee relieved That the Ratification of the Treatie and Contract made with the King of Denmark and matters coïncident may bee fully concluded and settled Whereupon after som Deliberation it was found good according to the Proposition and Modification which his High s his Excellencie the Stadtholder and the Council of State had brought in and presented to the Generalitie July 15 by reason of the Differences arisen then about the State of War with joint consent of all the Provinces to accept of and confirm the State of War as the same was projected by his Highness his Excellencie and the Council of State and sent unto the Provinces and that the Disbanding and Reduction therein mentioned should bee made by his Highness his Excellencie and the Council of State according to the Order of the Land provided that the 4 troops of hors and a 1000 foot shall bee entertained and paid till the Provinces shall bee wholly agreed touching the same whereunto the Provinces were desired to accommodate themselvs and to bring in their Conferences and Advices at furthest within the space of 5 or 6 weeks the Provinces undertaking in the interim to paie all Souldiers wages entertainments and other defrayments of War according to the old State of War Further it was resolved and agreed that henceforward there shall no separate Cashiering or Reducing of Forces bee undertaken or practised by any Province of their own Autoritie and in case any Province should attempt the like the same shall forthwith bee addressed and remedied by the General Autoritie as a Contravention of the Union and Order of Government Nevertheless the Provinces were pleased to declare hereupon that these matters abovesaid should as yet bee held onely as projected Resolutions The 15 of August the Lord Reynswoude then President propounded and communicated to their Hi. Mi. that his Highness had put into his hands shut and sealed with his Signet the Reasons and Motives of his seizing the six Members of the Provincial Assemblie of Holland in persuance of their High Mi s. Act Jun. 5 0 last past which beeing taken into Deliberation it was agreed that the foresaid shut and sealed Reasons should as yet bee laid by and put into the Secretarie's Cabinet The Deputies of Holland caused to bee enter'd hereupon that they would make report hereof to their Principals The same Lord President likewise then by Order from his Highness communicated to their Hi. Mi. that the Governors of the Citie of Delft as also the kindred of the Lord Jan Duyst van Voorhout had sought to his Highness for his freedom and releas of his Restraint at Laeuvenstein under condition and offer That the said Governors at the request of the said Jan Duyst van Voorhout himself would discharge him from the Employment Commission and Oath wherewith hee was engaged to the said Citie without ever reassuming or taking him in again and yet so nevertheless as that it should bee no blot to his good Name and Fame and that this might bee taken for satisfaction which his Highness by Virtue of their Hi. Mi. Act of Authorization of July 5 last past had granted and accordingly released him and their Hi. Mi. upon deliberation found good to accept of this as a Notification The Holland Deputies entred hereupon that they would make report hereof to their Principals The like Notification in the same manner was afterwards presented for the rest also till they were all released As for the State of War abovesaid the Resolution and establishment thereof was by reason of its importance reassumed August 18. when after further Deliberation upon the Contents of the New State of War as the same was projected by his Highness his Excellencie Stadtholder and the Council of State and formerly sent to the respective Provinces as likewise upon the modification in the proposition of accommodation presented at the Assemblie by his said Highness his Excellencie and the Council of State dated July 15. It was found good and agreed to with common Consent and advice of all the Provinces herewithal to accept of and to establish the foresaid State of War as the same was projected and framed by his Highness his Excellencie and the Council of State and sent to the Provinces formerly under and with the foresaid modification in the proposition of July 15 and that the Disbanding and Reduction of Forces hors and foot to bee made in pursuance thereof shall bee performed by his Highness his Excellencie and the Council of State according to the Order of the Land provided nevertheless that the 4 Troops of hors and 1000 foot about whom there were som Differences yet should in regard of the Advices of som Provinces and the foresaid modification bee entertain'd and paid provisionally until the Provinces shall have brought in their Provincial Resolutions in that behalf within the space of 5 or 6 weeks at furthest and the same not coming in within that time that after the Expiration thereof the foresaid Disbanding and Reduction shall bee put in effect without further delaie also the Provinces have undertaken to proportion all Souldiers-wages Entertainments Arrears and other charges comprehended in the State of War of the year 1621. as also the Forces hors and foot comprehended in the respective more particular
standing at the right hand of God to give your Bodie new strength or favorably to receiv your Soul into his glorie Whereupon with good liking of his Highness hee and the present companie but few in Number fell down upon their knees powring out their praier with sighs and tears and heartily seeking to the Divine Majestie to vouchsafe a gracious and speedie releas to his Highness from under this heavie agonie during the praier there was perceived a great and incredible change in the disposition of his Highness which doubled the zeal of praier and made them sigh out from the heart that God would yet bee further gracious to the person of his Highness and in him to the vvhole Land Rising up from praier the Minister asked his Highness vvhether hee had undsrstood the vvords of the praier and received any comfort by it but hee received no ansvver Then the Physitians vvould have given his Highness som Cordial but they found his mouth closely shut up vvhich made them all conclude that his last minute vvas at hand returning thereupon to praier But they perceived immediately that this young Prince with a gentle hiccough sent forth his Soul to Heaven into that Happiness which notwithstanding the complaints tears and sighs of his faithful servants and others there present took from him all desire to return And thus this Prince who in Wisdom Discretion Prudence and Couragiousness already surpassed his Heroïcal and famous Ancestors and whom the world did wonder at was snatch'd out of it indeed unworthie of him even in the beautifullest bloom and youthfullest vigor of his years beeing old but 24 years and 6 months after that the unthaâ—kfulness of these times and the base unworthiness of manie had for a good while hitherto afflicted and pierc'd his Soul now translated into that place and companie where the Laurel-Garlands of his glorious atchievments shall never fade nor fail him upon Sunday Novemb. 6. about 9 at night in the year of the prognostick of those Countries downfall 1650. The News thereof was at the desire of the Courtiers presently brought to her High s the Mother Dowager by the foresaid Minister Sterremont and to her Royal High s the young widdow by one of her Chaplains which two even to death afflicted Ladies met that night yet about 12. at his late High s Court The sighs sobs tears doleful behaviour and words that past reciprocally between them no eie was able to look upon but it melted his heart into tears the former grieving for the premature death of her onely Son the Crown of her Age and the other for the untimely remooval of the onely hope and support of her Bleeding Hous and of the Illustrious Father of that long long'd-for Infant which yet shee carried swadled in her Bowells and had hoped speedily and cheerfully to have surrendred into his Arms with thanks But woe unto us and our dear Father-land if God bee not gracious unto us in a most singular and yet undiscernable manner the onely hope remaining yet is that God would bee pleased to bless her Royal High s by a happie and successful Deliverie with a young Son another William to shoot forth out of this withered Orange-tree and that hee may grow up prosperously from daie to daie and with his blowing branches shelter and protect all the subjects of these Countries against the Spanish heat and all manner of storms and tempests according to the pattern of his Ancestors God grant in the mean time to my Lords the States abundance of wisdom to remain in Unitie to take care for the Countrie 's and Churche's welfare and to make choice in the interim of a wise pious sober and fit Deputie-Lievtenant beeing that which all honest inhabitants of this Land are bound repentingly to praie for Thus far Sterremont Next daie the Bodie beeing opened one might still see the small pox without raised and white no bad signs and manie broken The Brains were sound the Milt somwhat slap as ordinarie and fill'd with som black blood the 2 parts and the bottom of the Liver blewish but the whole Lungs very black swell'd inflamed surrounded with black blood and thence arose the shortness of breath or difficultie of respiration Dispnoea and the fever of the two last daies not before which as it could not bee known for hee had neither cough nor loosnings of fleam nor obstructions neither from the Fever nor from the Damps so it could not have been remedied neither in that state and condition of the sickness and faculties Those of the Prince's houshold notwithstanding have much complained and given out as if the Prince had been neglected That they suffered him too often to change his linnen and to take too freely Lemonadoes and other cooling drinks But all the three above-mentioned Doctors have signed the foresaid Relation of his sickness with their own hands The Report of his Death immediately fill'd all the Haghe and amaz'd it with the unexspectedness it having alwaies been held and given out there was no danger and all in good hopes as indeed such flattering speeches are alwaies best liked and therefore most used in Courts None indeed durst tell the Prince that hee was in danger The Ministers had once design'd among themselvs to visit him every daie by turns but when any presented himself to his Bed-chamber they were alwaies told it would distemper the Prince and put him out of heart that hee was prettie well and visit was needless Sterremont onâ—ly was once admitted in all the time and yet least the Prince should bee terrified with a thought of death by the approach of a Minister they told him before hand hee came onely to present to his High s som extraordinarie good Oranges which hee had received from Rotterdam and Sterremont was expressly charged to forbear speaking of any apprehension of danger so that the same visit proved but a meer Civilitie The States Gâ—neral assembled that night yet about 10 and found good immediately to advertise the Provinces of this unexspected Departure by Letters Desiring them to prepare themselvs for the taking and framing such Provincial advices thereupon as their No. Mi. should judg fitting and convenient in the weightie conjuncture of the present times and affairs and to return the same with all possible expedition to the Assemblie making overture there of such mattters as concern the Generalitie Notice also was given hereof to the Courts of the Admiraltie as likewise to the Ambassadors and Residents of this State in forrein parts for to put themselvs in Mourning allowing every Ambassador 800 flor and every Resident 400 for that purpose Dispatches also were made to Count William Governor of Friesland to the Lord Brederode Field-Marshal and to all Governors and Commanders of the reduced Cities of Brabant and Flanders item of Orsey Rynberg Wesell Embrik Rees Ravestein Gennep Moeurs to the Commanders at Embden Lezort and Coeverdeu charging them all to keep a narrow and watchful eie to the respective
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
Deputies Concerning the Province of Over-Yssell it is plain that the Respective Stadt-holders of the said Province were by the States thereof entrusted with power to transplace the Souldierie garrison'd within their Province with precedent deliberation of the States or Deputies and to give due patents accordingly the said Stadtholders beeing moreover to prevent their abusing of that power charged in the 11 Article of their Instruction to bring no garrison into any of the Cities without the foreknowledg and good liking of their respective Citie-Council and sworn Commons As also the same Stadtholder hath given it him in charge in the same Instruction Artic. 7 To give no Patents for throughmarchings randevouzes or quartering no not in extreme necessitie nor to receiv any patents given by others but with precedent deliberation of the States or their Deputies autorized â—hereunto Which could bee deduced with many more instances as from the same Instruction so out of several other publick Acts of the said States but that their N. Gr. M. do hold it needless For Conclusion onely they will add here touching the Province of Groninghen and the Omlands the contents of the 12 Article of the Instruction for the Stadtholder and Captain General of that Province prescribed by the States thereof importing That the said Stadtholder together with the Deputie-states of that Province shall change the Garrisons in such sort as shall bee found requisite for the protection of the said Province and the Common-wealth provided that the foresaid Deputies in the absence of the Lord Stadtholder shall have power to transplace the Garrisons within the Province and the Frontiers thereof themselvs And this their N. G. M. are persuaded will suffice and that nothing more can bee desired for the justification of what was said before and asserted to wit That every one of the United Provinces in particular have alwaies had and practised the transplacing of the Souldierie within their Circuit either by their Deputie States or by their Stadtholders with the advice of them without address to the Generalitie even to this daie And forasmuch as the foresaid transplacing of the Garrisons is a principal yea the most principal point of the Sovereigntie and Rights of every Province as the Lords of Friesland also do avow in express terms in the before alleged 33 d Article of the Instruction for their Deputie States And that every member together with every particular person of this Assemblie is bound by solemn Oath to stand up for defend and maintein the sovereigntie and rights of every one of these United Provinces and of his own respectively Their N. Gr. M. are very confident that your Hi. Mi. weighing the reasons deduced above will not onely yield that each Province in their precinct shall maintein this peculiar right of theirs of transplacing the Souldierie within their Province but also in case of necessitie help to uphold and maintein the rest of the Provinces in the same right All which premised thus there result's from it the Justification of what before Artic. 3. was asserted for this beeing sure that the care of the common defence and union together with the managing and ordering of the Militarie affairs of these Countries in general doth belong to the Council of State it is without all contradiction that the said Council for the same end must take care that all places which may happen to bee in danger of beeing invaded or over-run by any forrein forces for preventing and withstanding the same may have sufficient forces sent into them and it beeing proved above that the Supreme Autoritie and Command over the Souldierie within each Province doth appertein to the particular States thereof or to them whom the States absolutely have autorized thereunto there remaineth nothing but that the said Council standing in need of taking forth any forces out of a Voicing Province and beeing destitute of power to caus the same to march within the Territorie thereof do address themselvs by waie of Desire to the Provincial Government there that they would bee pleased to yield the forces desired to march And for that their N. Gr. M. are of opinion that the foresaid Provincial Government is to join their Patent or Commission they conceiv the reason deduced before convincing enough That namely within the Soveraigntie of every or any Province no souldierie or militarie forces may march without order or patents and Commissions from the States thereof or such as by the same State shall thereunto bee qualified And that therewithal there ought to bee provided also a patent from the Council for as much as the forces beeing past the bounds of thâ— Province whence they com and forth their jurisdiction the power of the foresaid Provincial patent come's to ceas then and the patent of the Council must supply the warrant for the forces coming upon the ground of the Generalitie And although according to the foresaid known Right the States of that Province whence the forces are desired to bee taken forth are not bound stricto jure to yield the same nevertheless partly by reason of the solemn promisses made at the Treatie of the Union to help to protect one another with bodie goods and blood against all violence and partly for conveniences and expedition's sake Their N. G. M. thought good to proceed herein with such an expedient and temper as is set down in the 3. Article aforesaid And it is worth singular observation about that third Article That all that is laid down there and especially the transmitting of the Patents with blanks for the names is in every point agreeing with the manner of proceeding observed and practised in those Provinces which had their particular Governors and such as were not withal Captains General of the Armies or Leaguers and particularly in the Province of Friesland out of which when the Council of State had a minde to take forth any forces they were alwaies wont to address their desire for that end to the Stadt holders or Governors particular of that Province transmitting their patents with blanks for names which the Stadt-holders or Governors particular by advice of the States or their deputies fill'd up and added thereunto their own Provincial patent Now concerning the Iustification of the Fourth point set down above That namely no Forces may enter or march through anie Province without express consent and patent of the Provincial Government thereof besides that the same sufficiently and naturally follow 's from the Grounds alreadie laid it is a thing expresly setled and ordained in every one of the United Provinces by their respective States-autoritie in each Wherein the States of Gelderland went so farr That in the before-cited 31. Article of the instruction for their Deputies They charge them De facto or actually to forbear all necessarie inquarterings and thorow-Marchings without due patents to wit without patents given by the said Deputies in the name of the Stadt-holder and by advice or in relation to the Deputies aforesaid so as
rest In regard whereof the said Countrie was held for so essential a Member of the Assemblie That the same was not onely summoned by Writ in the year 1579. for the sending of their Deputies together with the other Provinces to contribute their advices and resolutions as well towards the Pacification intended at Cullen as about the good directions of the War Nay even the Lords the States General themselvs and the Archduke Matthias Governor of these Countries have roundly declared it again and again by their Letters that they might nor could not bring things to a Resolution without the advice of the Countrie of Drent and that therefore in default of sending their Deputies or their Advice at least they should bee necessitated to leav the foâ—esaid affairs undon In pursuance of this the Gentrie and Freeholders representing the State of the Countrie or Countie of Drent were solemnly and aequo Jure as Confederates taken and received into the Union of Utrecht April 11 o. 1580. And thereupon they likewise had and enjoied Session and Voice at the Assemblie of the States General negotiating in the several Courts or Colleges of the Generalitie and continued thus until the Countrie to their great grief and without any fault of theirs was rent from the Union for som time through the loss of Groninghen Cororden and Steenwick and subdued by the Enemie The like case happened also to other their neighboring Provinces either totally or in part who notwithstanding the same beeing afterwards reduced again recovered all their former places and privileges Jure postliminil So that in every regard it is more then fitting and reasonable that the Countrie of Drent after their Deliverance and Reduction bee likewise wholly restored unto and repossessed of their former state and condition Which your Hi. Mi. themselvs also have understood thus and clearly manifested in the year 1584. whenas your Hi. Mi. stood in Treatie with the King of France after the death of the Duke of Alencon where not onely in the 3 d Article all the Countrie 's privileges in general and in particular were reserved but likewise by Article 22. the condition made That all the rest of the United Provinces as OverYssell Omlands and Drent which at that time were for the most part oppressed under the power of the Enemie should enjoy the same conditions with the rest as Reidanus doth rehears the same in the fourth book of the Netherlandish histories Which foresaid restitution or restoration ought to have so much the more place here in regard of the offers and promisses which your Hi. Mi. were pleased to make in the years 1602. and 1632. by publick Ordinances in most ample terms even unto such Provinces as are yet under the Spanish Dominion and som whereof had abandoned the Union formerly of their own voluntarie accord Whereas on the Contrarie the Countrie of Drent entered into the said Union of their own free accord and alwaies carried themselvs like faithful Confederates and contributed to the common charges according to nay sufficiently beyond their abilities and hath not deserved in the least to bee frustrated or deprived of their Right Nor can or ought the smalness of the said Countrie or their mean abilities prejudice them ought beeing that notwithstanding the said Considerations they were received into the Union and into the general Assemblie aequo jure so long ago by reason whereof they cannot now in that regard bee rejected It beeing moreover well known that it doth happen but seldom that all Confederated members are alwaies alike able and powerful enjoying nevertheless alike Right of Session and suffrages as wee finde it practised of old in the confederacie between the mightie King of Persia and those of Thebes and by that of the Athaeans and at this very daie in the Covenant and Cantons of Switzerland yea not to go far in these very United Provinces of the Netherlands and their Members and Cities in particular Besides that the said Countrie of Drent is not so small neither or of so little consideration but that in regard of the situation shee is the Keie of 2 or 3 of her neighboring allied Provinces in which the Countries in general are not a little concerned No more can it prejudice the said Countrie that divers and som particular Cities also were admitted into the Union which nevertheless had no Session nor Voice in the general Assemblie There beeing a vast difference betwixt one or more particular Cities of a Province which which were meerly received into the Union without allowing them Session among the States of the Provinces and betwixt an entire formed Countrie or Province such as the Countrie of Drent is which as it was abovementioned had both Session and Voice in the said Assemblie suo jure even before the constituting of the said Union and was afterwards by the rest of the Provinces and Confederates solemnly called and admitted not onely to the Union simply but likewise to the Session and Right of voicing nay and held and acknowledged too for so necessarie a member of the said Assemblie That without them and their Resolutions no final Resolution could bee taken in any point concerning Peace or War or other weightie affairs of the Land by the States General according to their own Declaration Nor are there any considerable Reasons of State which can prejudice the just Right they have what ever was pretended formerly it beeing plain That no better Maximes or Foundations of State can possibly bee found or laid then that vvhich God the onely Autor and Founder of all vvell constituted Governments hath laid himself saying In Justitiâ stabilietur Thronus Regis And that there is nothing more just nor more conformable to the Divine Natural and National Right throughout the Univers then that solemnly contracted Covenants and sworn Confederacies bee Religiously observed and kept And on the contrarie that it is repugnant against all Jura Societatis Foederum that the one shall go about to usur pover the other Even as your Hi. Mi. themselvs do understand it declaring in one of your Resolutions that of Sept. 1. 1592. most worthily That the welfare of the Land in general and of every Province in particular is especially concerned and conversant therein That every one bee mainteined in his proper Rights and Privileges the Arms having been taken up and continued hitherto for that very purpose and that so doing according to the General Union sworn unto by all the Provinces without the least attemt of usurping over or supplanting the one the other God Almightie would doubtless bless the Common Caus and grant it an happie issue and doing contrarie it would certainly multiplie mischiefs and hale on Judgments for the future upon them And least som should pretend and saie that the Countrie of Drent hath been careless and negligent about their Right in this behalf and if not expressly at least tacitly given up the same it is manifest enough that for the recovering of their former state
and divided within themselvs and one from another Then was made the Pacification of Ghendt viz. in the year 1576 whereof the States of Braband were the first and principal Autors on the one side not onely by the Deputies of the Prelates Nobilitie Cities and Members of Braband Flanders Arthois and Henioult but also by particular Cities and Countries of their own accord as by the Cities of Valencien and Dormick the land of Turnetis those of the Cities of Ryssell Douny and Orchies and those of the Citie of Mechelen representing the States of those Provinces Cities and Countries and on the other side by the Deputies autorized by the Prince of Orange the States of Holland and Zealand and their Associates And there was concluded by the parties and Countries aforesaid an Everlasting Firm Peace Confederacie and Union to the end that the Inhabitants of all the Netherlands beeing united together by indissoluble Friendship and Agreement should at all times and upon all occasions assist each other with Counsel Aid Goods and blood and especially for to expel out of these Countries and to keep out of them all Spanish and other forrein souldiers and their adherents and to restore unto them the use of their own Rights Privileges Customs and Liberties According to which the said States compelled the Germane forces to abandon the Cities of Ziericksea Berg op Zome Steenberghen Stolen the Bosch Breda Grave Campen Deventer and made themselvs masters of and demolished the Castles of Utrecht Antwerp and Groninghen But whereas it was found that since the foresaid Pacification the Spaniards with Don John sought all means whereby to reduce the Countries under their slaverie and both by force of arms and practises to divide and dismember the Provinces and to nullifie the Union made by the foresaid Pacification therefore the Nobilitie of the Principalitie of Gelders and Countie of Zutphen the States of Holland Zealand Utrecht and Friezish Omlands betwixt the Ems and Lawers did for the eschewing of further separation among the foresaid Provinces and particular Members thereof enter in a streighter and more particular League Union and Confederacie for ever to remain in all manner and condition as if they were all of them but one Province without ever separating or suffering themselvs to bee separated for any caus whatsoëver engaging themselvs one to another to maintein and protect each other 's special and particular privileges with bodie and goods against all and every one that should make or attemt any actual breach therein and against all forrein powers which should go about to offer them any wrong or violence or make war upon them either in general or particular Which foresaid nearer Union beeing made at Utrecht and published there from the Town-hous Januarie 29 1579 was likewise approved and signed by divers of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities which were not qualified for to represent the States of their Provinces as among many others by the Prince of Orange and the Citie of Breda who had their Deputies there at the Assemblie of the States General of the United Netherlands as may bee evidenced by many and divers Writs of Summons and Commissions But within a little while after the said Union was likewise accepted of and entred into in the name and behalf of the States and Provinces of Braband and the same beeing published in a special manner with the Citie of Bosch the said States according to the antient custom sent their Deputies to the Assemblie of the forementioned States General and thereby the foresaid particular Deputation began to surceas But admit the Province of Braband had not accepted of the Union afterwards the Prince of Orange and Citie of Breda c. would undoubtedly have remained particular Members of the said Union and kept their place and voices in the same The Condition of affairs beeing changed truly since the foresaid Prince and his Illustrious Successors have together with the Cities of Berg op Zome and Willemstadt hitherto assisted the said Union with all means possible and constantly adhered thereunto and â—ince the Cities of the Bosch Breda Grave Steenberghen beeing forcibly withdrawn from the Union and reduced under it again by the arms of their Confederates the said Cities ought not therefore contrarie to the express sens of the common Union bee excluded from the same The rather for that the said Cities stand as to this in the same degree with divers others which at present have part and share in the General Government The Illustrious Hous of Nassaw is next God Almightie a principal means of the preservation and recovered Libertie of the United Countries Nor hath any of the foresaid Braband-Cities ever purposely separated from the common Bodie of the United Provinces contrarie to the contract made with them and solemnly confirmed but they were all of them rent away from the same by the Power of the Enemie or the Treacherie of others without any fault of their own nay to their great grief and sorrow and therefore they have no waies merited to bee proscribed or outlawed by the States of the United Provinces so as those of Brug or Bruges and the land Van Vrye were in the year 1584 and those of Venlo in the year 1586. Unto whom nevertheless as well as to the other revolted Provinces and Cities it was offered by the Treatie made not long ago with France That in case any Provinces Cities Princes or Lords came to join themselvs for the establishing of a Peace and their Freedoms the said King and States would take them into protection and Confederacie and make a League with them Offensive and Desensive and in case three or four Cities surrendred themselvs together the same should have power to make a free bodie of State apart The State of Braband were they which together with those of Gelders and Zutphen Holland Zealand Mechelin and Utrecht for the protection and safegard of their mutual and common Rights Privileges and Customs and the freedom of their Native Countries made that solemn Decree of Julie 26 1581 whereby the King of Spain was declared to have forfeited the Sovereigntie of the foresaid Netherlands and ordeined in conformitie to the Union of Utrecht that instead of the King's Seals there should henceforward bee used the Great Seal counter-seal and signet of the States General of the United Provinces in matters touching the Politick administration of justice and other particular affairs in each Province apart there should bee used by the Provincial and other Counsels the Name Title and Seat of the Countries respectively where the matter happen's to bee don and no other all upon pain of all such Letters Judgments or Dispatches Nullitie which shall bee expedited or sealed contrarie to the waie prescribed As the Treatie of the States of Braband Gelderland Flanders Holland and West-Friesland Zealand Zutphen Utrecht Friesland and Mechelin with the king touching the Transportation or surrender of the Soveraigntie the States propounded to the King in the
the King of Spain nevertheless alwaies with this express reservation and limitation that the same land and each Province apart should remain and bee maintained in their own peculiar Policie Rights and liberties wherein they had continued from all antiquities so that the one Countrie or Dominion should pretend no Right or Seigniorie over the other to disposess the same in any kinde of it's Rights and liberties but they should bee obliged and engaged each to other in concord and equal Degree By the Union of Utrecht the Countries engaged themselvs together as if they were but one Province namely in that they might not bee separated but wâ—re bound to help and assist one another without inâ—ringing or impairing nevertheless the special and particular Privileges Liberties Exemtions Rights Statutes laudable and well-maintained Customs Uâ—ances and any other peculiar advantages of any one of the Provinces or particular Cities Members and Inhabitants thereof Now where there is such an Union it may well bee questioned whether the one Member ought to exalt it self over the other by reason of his prosperitie and power They make up all but one Bodie to the preservation whereof each Member hath chearfully contributed its part for if one hath afforded more means the other hath protected and defended the Rivers and passages the third hath hazarded his Countrie and lost his Cities with standing it out to the utmost against the Common Enemie The Illuâ—trious Princes of Orange of happie Memories they have contriâ—uted thereunto their wise and couragious direction and Conduct and hazarded their persons lives and estates thereby and thus every one hath brought and contributed somthing of that which was requisiâ—e and necessarie for the forming and framing of the Common State The War never bâ—gan betwixt the Netherlanders but was undertaken by the Netherlanders against the Spaniards This is that the Letter of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Holland written to the States General of the Provinces assembled at Brussels under Date of Sept. 12 1573 drive's at saying Wee do hope that you shall never bee able to forget the chearful and friendlie faithfulness which in former times wee alwaies did and still do bear one to the other iâ— beeing our dutie before both God and Men and wee for our parts beeing still resolved and ready for it Do but remember it beeing the very truth that wee do not wage War the one against the other for wee never offended one another neither in great nor small concernments but all our strife and War is onely and mâ—erly against the Government of forrein Nations The Confederacie of the Union of the Netherlands is Offensive and Defensive for ever and alwaies against al and every one who or how qualified soëver they may bee that shall attemt actually to infringe the special and particular Privileges of the Countries insomuch that the chiefest condition of the Union among the rest to maintein the Countries in their Rights one of which without all peradventure must bee the Government for the Union was made for their advantage and not for their dammage The King of Spainâ— caused offers to bee made at the Treaties at Breda of Cullen and at all others since That hee would keep and maintein the Countries both in general and in particular in all their Privileges Rights Laws and Customs so as the same had been before the Troubles and if any thing were changed and impaired the same should bee restored beeing made known In prosecution of which ground the States of the United Netherlands have often and at several times summoned the States of the Countries subject to the Spanish Government and among the rest in a certain Letter of theirs dated June 7. 1602 â—used these words Onely wee do still most friendly desire exhort and entreat you seriously to reflect upon the prais-wâ—rthie reputation which you and your forefathers have gotten to themselvs for som hundred of years and left the same to us upon record for a rule that still wee should bee upright Defenders and Protectors of the Rights and Freedoms of the Netherlands in general and of the Countries or Provinces the Members Cities and Inhabitants thereof in particular By waie of distinguishing the Provinces and Cities on this side joined together by a Common Union the Provinces and Cities of the Netherlands beeing under Spain are by this State called the Invaded Countries In the reduction of the Cities of Braband to the Union it was especially conditioned and promised that the Cities and Inhabitants thereof should be mainteined in their Rights Privileges and immunities The States General of the United Netherlands declared but lately by their Letter of March 14 last year to all the Cities of the Union That they had appointed his High s Prince William of Orange Captain and Admiral General over the people of War in service of this State for the maintenance of the Union the Right and Privileges of the Land the members and Cities thereof The States of Holland declared Febr. 19 of the same year concerning the Union That the Provinces are bound to assist one the other with life and goods and to abide together not suffering themselvs to bee divided and if this bee to bee understood of such which desired to bee under the Union and continue to desire the same The Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Braband have alwaies desired the same and declare hereby that they are constantly and extremely desirous of it By deputation of the States in the year 1586 Febr. 1. the Earl of Leicester was appointed Governor and Captain General of the United Provinces to wit of Gelderland Zutphen Flanders Holland and Westfriesland Zealand Utrecht Friesland together with their Associates And by the Act of that daie there were put into the hands of the said Earl the General Means of Consumtion or Revenues of Gelderland Flanders and associated Cities of Braband And in pursuance of the foresaid Commission the Earl made Oath to the States of the United Provinces and their Associates and the States reciprocally to the Earl in the name both of their own respective Provinces and the said Associates The States General of the United Provinces do address the Inscription of their Letters for publick Bid and Fasting daies and other things concerning the common affairs and and interest to the Cities of Braband on this side under the name of Associates And divers Cities of the United Provinces in their particular Letters to the Cities of Braband do design themselvs their Confederates Nay The Treatie between France England and the States General concluded ult Octob. 1596. import's expressly That the Ambassadors do in the name and behalf of the King of France and Queen of England and their Successors receiv and associate with the States General of the United Netherlandish Provinces to wit Gelderland and Zutphen Holland and West-Friesland Zealand Utrecht Friesland Over-Yssell Groninghen and Omlands together with the Gentrie Cities and Forts of Brabaâ—d those that were United then with the
Generalitie nor by such persons as are in service of the Generalitie Upon these foresaid respective Declarations to turn them into a due form of Ordinances it was ordered That the respective original Resolutions of the Commissions should bee annexed to the said Declarations and thus delivered into the Council of State by them to bee first viewed and examined from thence to bee transmitted to the Generalities Checquer-chamber to bee there likewise viewed examined and cleared and especially to see whether the Land was lyable to bee charged or not with the accounts brought in and then to bee returned back to the foresaid Council by them to bee past into Ordinances which Ordinances should bee signed by the Lord President besides two others Lords of the same Council beeing all of several Provinces together with the Treasurer and Secretarie of the said Assemblie the same beeing first registred folio tali And this beeing don those ordinances with the foresaid annexions should bee brought again into the foresaid Exchequer to see and examin whether the same was don according to the Order of the Land and after the examination past the said Ordinance should there likewise bee registred folio tali and all the Ordinances to bee past hereafter upon the respective Declarations should bee thus conditioned or els no monies paid upon them by the Receiver General As touching the precedent Remonstrance of the Synodical Ministers the Provinces declared unanimously Julie 17 o. that the Resolutions taken in point of Religion Januarie last 27 o. should by every one of them as much as concerned them effectually bee and caused to bee prosecuted and put in execution and as touching the Countries and Cities resorting under the Generalitie the Lords Commissioners at the Generalitie in Ordinarie were charged to take especial care and inspection that the publick Reformation both ecclesiastical and civil may bee accomplished with due zeal and seriousness the Acts and Ordinances strictly executed according to the tenor and content of them the boldness and insolence of the Sectaries duely restrained and every thing effected and executed conformably to the before mentioned Resolution As likewise the foresaid Lords Ordinarie Deputies had charge given them to make and publish due Acts and decrees against all gross sins Profanations of the Sabbath of the Lord Fighting of Duels publishing of Contentious writings betwixt Ministers and Divines printing of scandalous books Socinians writings and the like And of all these their H. M. Resolutions there were Extracts made and imparted to the foresaid Church-Deputies wherewith they were dismissed having thanks given them for their good endeavors zeal and pains shewed and undertaken in this behalf There was great endeavor made this week the Lord Scheel presiding for Over-Yssell to make an end of all and upon the proposition of Holland of the 15 th the same in a manner agreed on Yea so confident they were thereof that alreadie a project was made of coyning a certain Medail of Gold and Silver for a memorial of this famous Assemblie and to this end the Lords Cats and de Brun respective Counsellors and Pensioners of Holland and Zealand had made the ensuing Device That namely on the one side there should stand a Rock with seven hillocks as representing the seven Provinces and on the other the Assemblie with this respective inscription Dum totus miratur Orbis anceps exspectat quò res Foederati Belgii à morte Arausionensium Principis evasurae sint aliis alia pro moribus genio cujusque augurantibus Jani foribus pridem clausis magnâ Batavorum Aulâ ingenti Procerum Consilio apertâ Tandem annuente Deo Religione Foedere Militiâ sortiter assertis Sociis in Orbem datis acceptisque manibus aliis aliorum colla amplectentibus à se invicem dimissi Malorum spem ac vota egregiè fefellerunt Bonorum superârunt Whiles all the world stood amazed and doubtfully long'd what issue the affairs of the United Netherlands would take upon the Death of the Prince of Orange with various conjectures according to the varietie of each partie 's Conditions and Dispositions it pleased God Janus Temple beeing shut before that the Grand Court of the Batavian States was opened where at last through God's assistance after a couragious settlement of Religion Union and Militia the Confederates plighted their hands and troth each to the other and mutually embraced one another before they parted they notably thus disappointed the hopes and wishes of Malignants and surpassed those of the well-affected And about the Rock with the seven hillocks there should have stood these words Stant foedere juncti Ut rupes immota Dei sub Numine tuti By Covenant join'd they stand Rock like unshaken and safe under God's own hand But however The Ship of affairs instead of getting streight into the harbor as most had conceived was driven about again for a while by new cross windes arising out of the Debate touching the Amnestie or Act of Oblivion and withal it was advised by som that since the last years troubles proceeded mainly from and by reason of the excessive publick charges all courses of lavishing the same might bee eschewed to prevent clamoring among the people notwithstanding that those of the other Provinces beeing com hither upon the invitation of Holland and having spent much conceived it was the least this Province could do in civilitie to present each Deputie with such a gold Medail But there it stuck and never came further The Business of Religion beeing dispatched as was said the first daie of this Presidencie there was taken in hand the point of Secret Correspondence concerning which it was found good and decreed according to the report of the Conciliatorie Conferences That it was verie necessarie and expedient for this State to send and still to entertain publick Ministers abroad whether they bee Ambassadors Residents Agents or Commissioners at the respective Courts of the Emperor the Kings Spain Sweden c. at Brussells and elswhere where it should bee found requisite so much the better and more conveniently to consider and observ what might bee best for this State 's Interest as also that from time to time advertisement may bee had what is practising or passing there for either the advantage or prejudice of this State That likewise all particular secret Correspondences from the Respective Governors and Commanders of the Frontiers of this State shall bee continued in the same waie as before according to their Commissions The present Commissioners at the Assemblie beeing of opinion That during the peace this cours would bee provisionally sufficient for this State That the monies likewise appointed for secret Correspondences may provisionally bee converted to the entertainment and support of the foresaid respective Ministers That likewise all forrein Ministers of this State shall address their Letters immediately to the Ordinarie Assemblie of the States General and writing of things which ought to bee held secret that the same shall bee enclosed
never saw the Prince in all his sickness 117. The Spanish Ambassadors visit 117. His beeing prest to sign the Treatie made between the King of Spain and the Prince and his evasion ibid. The Prince his Death variously taken by Courtiers and Patriots 118. The carriage of som Ministers 〈◊〉 The advice of the States of Holland for a General Convocation of all the Provinces 118. Their aversness from having any Captain General of Stadtholder more 119. The young Prince of Orange born p. 119. The Lord Cats his comparison of Pillars and a Candlestick 120. Hollands Deputation to all the Provinces for a General Assemblie and three main points to bee treated of 1 Religion 2 the Union 3 the Milirid p. 121 c. The Provinces answer and readiness p. 124. The old Princess Dowager of Orange her address to the Provinces in behalf of the young Prince her grand-childe p. 125. Count William and Maurice and the Lord of Bredetode their address to the States General in their own behalf 126 127. Count William chosen Governor of Groninghen and the Omlands 127. Knuyt excluded from the Assemblie ibid. The six outed Members restored to their places and functions p. 128. Hollands provisional Government within themselvs p. 128. 129. Differences and jarrings about the Guardianship of the young Prince of Orange p. 130. The Princess Royal her memorandum and address to the States of Holland and West-Friesland p. 131. c. and 134. c. The Princess Dowager the grandmother her address to the States of Holland p. 137 c. 140. The Prince Elect. of Brandenburg his pretension p. 142. Ubi Cadaver ibi congregantur Aquilae 144. The States of Holland resolv That no Member of the Government shall bee employ'd in the Administration of this Guardianship p. 145. Lists of all the Companies hors and foot in the States paie and their wages p. 146. c. The Cities of Holland begin to chuse their own Magistrates which formerly was don by the Stadtholder p. 149. They of Zeland arrive the first to the great General Assemblie p. 149. An answer of the Queen of Sweden beeing advised to marrie applied to the doubtfulness what an Infant Stadtholder might proov in time and the danger of Lievtenants under him both to to the State and himself p. 150. c. The arrival of the rest of the Provinces all but Groninghen and Omlands p. 151. The beginning of the great Assemblie General p. 152 The Lord Cats his first Speech and Proposition there in behalf of the States of Holland p. 152. c. The Considerations of Gelderland p. 159 c. The Proposition of Zeland p. 166 c. The Remonstrance of the Synodical Ministers p. 177. c. Means of hindring the growth of papistrie in the Provinces propounded p. 182 c. Various Dispositions about matters of Religion and libertie of conscience p. 187. The Advice of Holland about the point of Religion generally assented to p. 189. The Minister's acknowledgment p. 191. The Considerations and Inclinations of Friesland touching Religion the Union and Militia p. 192. The Considerations of Groninghen and the Omlands p. 197. c. The Inclinations of Utrecht p. 204. c. The large Justification of Holland's proposition in point of the Militia p. 215 c. Provincial Considerations of Zeland about giving of Patents or Commissions and remooving or transplacing of Garrisons and conferring of Militarie Offices p. 242. c. Pensionarie or Advocate of Zeland De Vett his notable speech against Corruptions p. 245. The old Instruction for the Council of State of An. 1588. p. 260. c. Considerations of Holland about som Articles of the Union p. 281 c. The Considerations and Inclinations general of Over-Yssel p. 285. c. Hollands Proposition for expediting the affairs to bee debated by distinguishing matters meerly Provincial and General p. 290. Two main points propounded 1 the Direction of the Militia 2 the giving of Commissions p. 294. The Princess Dowager grandmother her Application to the great Assemblie for the young Princes succeeding in his Fathers charges p. 294. laid by p. 297. Further Advice of Holland about the Militia p. 297. of Zeland 299. of Gelderland 301. of Friesland p. 306. Over-Yssel p. 307. Frieslands Justification of their former Considerations about Stadtholders c. p. 309. c. Ambassadors and publick Ministers of State ordered to receiv no gifts c. p. 316. Groninghen and Omlands are desired to send in their Deputies p. 317. Several matters brought before the Great Assemblie besides the first intent as that of the West-Indies of Denmarck Sweden Spain and France p. 317. Those of Drent seek to bee re-admitted at the States of a peculiar Province p. 317. their Right and Claim deduced at large though all in vain p. 319. c. Commissioners appointed for a Conference Conciliatorie 3 for each Province to frame an unanimous advice from the respective considerations presented p. 329. Gelderland's motion of limiting the militarie Commanders in voicing Cities about the keies the word c. and about the several Oaths to bee taken by the Souldierie with the Resolutions thereupon p. 330. The manner of proceeding or voting in the Conference Conciliatorie p. 332. Holland's Considerations about the Souldier's Oath to the States of the Province and the Magistrates of the Cities p. 333 c. The forms of the said Oaths p. 337 338. The Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Braband under the Resort of this State their Address to have place again as equal Confederates and the first Members of the Unioâ— together with the Deduction of their plea at large p. 33â— c. Continuation of the Dfferences and Altercations betwixt 〈◊〉 Dowagers of Orange p. 363. The young Prince Christned notable circumstances and passages about it p. 366 c. His Father's Burial with the state and pomp thereof p. 369. c. Further strife and debates betwixt the Dowagers about the Guardianship 373. The Prince Elector of Brandenburgh his coming to the Hague divers animosities and contests as betwixt the said Elector and the Princess Roial p. 374. So especially betwixt him and the Lords Beverwert and Henvliet p. 375. The Princess Roial her Address thereupon to the States of Holland p. 376. Their Resentment and Resolution p 377. 378. More matter of contention about the Principalitie of Orange and the Cabinet 378. With much ado som Agreement is made among the parties by partnership p. 380. The Guardian 's further application to the Spanish Ambassador for concluding of the Treatie made betwixt his King and the late Princes by virtue of the Munster-Articles p. 381. The Spaniards Generositie ibid. Disadvantage of contentiousness ibid. The â—â—al conclusion and signing of the said Treatie p. 382. 383. Forrein affair transacted in the great Assemblie accidentally p 384. French English Danish Swedish Portugal Ambassadors p. 384. 385. Contentions betwixt the Spanish Ambassador and French Resident p. 386. Holland's Deputation into Zealand to prevent the choosing of a
Stadtholder and Captain General 386. Their Propositions at large p. 386. 387. c. the answer and effect 392 A Motion at the General Assemblie for prohibiting of the Popish Clergie's resort into the Provinces p. 392. A Motion about the Field-Marshal to have place in the Council of State p. 392. A Form of giving Commissions to Governors and Commanders of places p. 393. Many Governors solemnly sworn p. 395. Report from the Conference Conciciliatorie and the Advice it produced p. 396. 397 Utrecht demands they may depute as Members to the Council of State as any other Province p. 397 Over-Yssel demand's the like 398. Orders agreed upon for giving of Patents or Commissions p. 398. 399. c. Special Instructions for the Deputies at the Generalitie about the same p. 405 The Oath to bee made by the Souldierie to the Generalitie p. 408. 409 Friesland and Groninghen conform themselvs in this behalf with the rest under respective Declarations p. 410. 411. Over-Yssel 412. Form of the Oath Militarie to bee made to the particular Provinces under whose Repartition or paie the Companies are p. 414. Form of the Oath they are to make to the States of that Province where they may bee placed or garrison'd not beeing under the Repartition or paie of that Province p. 415. Form of the Oath to bee made by them to the Magistrate of the Cities where they are in Garrison p. 416. The business against Corruptions revived p. 416. 417 The Deputies or Commissioners of the Ord. Assem of the Generalitie sworn ib. Count William of Nassaw and all the Militarie officers solemnly sworn in the great Assemblie as also in the Assemblie of the States of Holland 417. The Order and Act against Corruptions 417. 418. Form of giving Patents for remooving of Companies 421. Lists agreed upon for Garrisons in the frontiers and for the execution of civil commands within the respective Provinces 422 c. Matters to bee debated yet in the Great Assemblie 426. The Council of State 's advice about Mustering 427 c. A second Remonstrance from the Ministers of all the Provinces 429 c. Defraiments 433. The General Assemblie's Resolution upon the Minister's Remonstrances where among other things special charge is given to the States General in Ordinarie to make strict orders against all gross sins profanation of the Sabbath Fighting of Duels contentious writings about Religion and especially Socinian and other scandalous books p. 435 The Great Assemblie seem's at an end p. 435. 436. Projects of certain Medailles or Coins in commemoration of this famous Assemblie com to nothing 436 The point of secret correspondencies Ambassadors Residents Agents and Commissioners 437 The address of Letters to bee made by them and the Governors ib. 438 The manner of opening Letters of Secrecie 438 All Resolutions of State and such like necessarie matters to bee sent and communicated to the publick Ministers residing or emploied in forrein parts 438. 439 The New Instruction for the Council of State consisting of LII Articles 440 c. the point of Defraiments settled for Commissioners within the Land travelling in State-affairs 463. A motion that the Resolutionsof this Assemblie might bee of equal value and vigor with the Articles of the Union waved 464. The Councils of State further advice about the point of Musterings 465. The Advice of Friesland about the Amnestia or Act of Oblivion 476. The Lord Cats seek's to bee discharged of his Pensionarie-ship or place of Advocate General for Holland 477. Hee delivereth up the sealed paper of the late Prince of Orange containing the Motives and Reasons of seizing the six Members and besieging of Amsterdam ibid. The same paper is read openly in the Assemblie 478. The Resolutions of the States of Holland thereupon 481 c. Several Examinations in that be half 484. The Lord van Sommersdyke his purgation of himself before Commissioners about his forwarding the enterprise against Amsterdam 489 c. His submission 500. 501. The respective Cities of Holland whose respective Deputies the six seized Members were at the Assemblie of the States of that Province their solemn Justifications as That of Dort p. 502 c. of Haerlem p. 508. of Delft p. 511. of Amsterdam 513. of Horen p. 515. of Medenblick 520. A Declaration of the States of Holland and West-Friesland touching the late Prince of Orange his Charge against the 6 Members and the Governors of Amsterdam 522. A large Information and Deduction of the States of Holland their whole proceeding about the reducing of their forces and retrenching of their charges together with a Refutation of the late Prince of Orange his foresaid Reasons and Motives of proceeding as hee did against the said Members and the Citie of Amsterdam 525. c. Friesland presenteth a draught of the Amnestia or General Oblivion 568. Several projects and advices about the deciding and determining of Differences happening among the Provinces 568. 570. 571. 573. A Draught of the Amnestia by the Committee for the Conference Conciliatorie 574. Som Differences about the Lists of Garrisons 575. Further Debate and projects about the voiding of Differences among the Provinces 576. The disposing of Places of Governments remitted to the Ordinarie Assemblie general 578. The business of Drent about Session in the Generalitie likewise remitted thither ibid. Holland's Advice about deciding of Differences 578 579 580. The point of a new State of War refer'd to the Ordinarie Assemblie 580. Friesland eager and Holland remiss about the Amnestia 580. 581 c. That and the rest of the points undetermined recommended to the Conference Conciliatorie 581. Adjournment of the Assemblie for a little while 581. Their meeting again and Report from the Conference Conciliatorie of the Lists of the Garrisons to remain 581 582. Contestations betwixt Holland and Friesland about the Amnestia 582 c. The Lord van Sommerdyck's case a principal rub in the matter of the Amnestia 58â— Friesland's sharp Remonstrance and Protestation 584 585 An Expedient found out and made use of 585 586. Further projects about ending of Differences 587. Som Exceptions against the Qualifications of the Instructions for the Council of State 590. The Amnestia or Act of Oblivion solemnly past and published 590 591. Conclusion of the great Assemblie 592. The Lord Pensionarie Cats his Speech at the breaking up thereof 592 593 c. A Sermon of thanksgiving in the Assemblie 598. Several Rooms formerly used by the Stadtholder of Holland made use of by the States for the enlarging the place of their provincial Assemblie 598. The Lord Cats resigning his place of Pensionarie or Advocate of Holland 598 599. The Lord Adrian Pauw van Hemstede chosen and put in his room 599. The Condition upon which hee accepted the same 600 601. Many difficult businesses left to bee determined by the Ordinarie Assemblie 602. especially about granting leavs to militarie Officers for som absence ibid. and about such absents as enter into any other States service 603 c. Som further Points and Articles relating to the Instruction for the Council of State touching the Generalties Chamber of Accounts 607 c. and touching the Receiver General 610. Further Debates about the list of the Garrisons and for executing the civil commands Item about a State of War c. 611. The Council of State beeing summoned to take their Oath they demur upon it and present their Exceptions in regard of several of the Articles prescribed them 611 612 c. Resolution That no Ambassador or publick Minister shall receiv any gifts 620. Item about Defrayments of Commissioners employ'd within the Land and their accounts 621. Item That all publick Officers beware of transgressing the Act against Corruptions ibid. The Oath all Officers of the Generalitie are to take that they have neither given nor promised any thing for their places 622. Endeavors for a like Oath to bee taken by the Deputies at the Generalitie 622. Remaining Differences among the Guardians of the young Prince of Orange about the Government of Orange the Magistracie of Breda and elswhere 623 624. The great Difference between the Princely Guardians and those of Zeland about the Cities of Veer and Flushing much animated by Holland 624. and the Ministers 625. Great stirr's and tumults thereupon at Middleburgh 626 c. The Councils of Zeland ample Deduction of the Difference between the Rights of the Earldom or States of Zeland as Soveraign and the Marquisate of the said Cities which appertained to the Prince of Orange as vassal 635 c. The Princely Guardians answer thereunto 657 and Counter Remonstrance 660 c. The Result 681 c. The Cities of the Provinces generally reassume the choosing of their own Magistrates 685. Utrecht in an especial manner ibid c. The Autors Conclusion 687 688. FINIS