thereof But the said Treaty taking no effect the said Plenipotentiaries removed from Uytrecht before Mr. Carew arrived at Amsterdam Then Mr. Carew returning for England in Company with Mr. John Sherland the Fiscall Generall by order of the States of Holland Committed them both to Prison on the 6. of August 1672. as Criminalls upon pretence they were Enemies to the Country and Charged Mr. Carew as a seditious person in seeking after Justice in the premises and detayned them both close prisoners in the gevangen port where they are subject to many affronts and reproaches upon every rencounter and Alarum in the Country and also obstructed in the Just prosecution of the debt and damages aforesaid which is by an Especiall order of the Councell board dated at Whitehall the 2. of May 1673. recommed to the Lords Embassadours Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries at Cologne intimating therein that the case of the Adventurers and Creditors of Sir William Courten being already fully stated should be first insisted upon in the list of all Complaints wherefore the Letters Patents were exempliâ—ied and sent to Cologne accordingly a true Copie hereafter followes A Copie of the Letters Patents for Especiall Reprisalls from the King of Great Brittain under the Great Seale of England against the States Generall and their Subjects Inroled in Chancery Anno 1665. CHARLES the Second by the grace of God of England Scotland France Ireland King Defendour of the Faith c. To all Christian People to whom these presents shall come Greeting Whereas our loving Subject William Courten Esquire deceased and his Partners anno 1643. by the depredation and hostile act of one Geland Commander in chief of two Ships belonging to the East-India Company of the Netherlands was between Goa Maccao in the Streights of Mallacca deprived and most injuriously spoiled of a certain Ship named the Bona Esperanza and of her Takle Apparrell and Furniture and all Goods and Lading in her upon a very hopefull trading Voyage to China which were carryed to Batavia and there all de facto without due Processe of Law confiscated And that also in the same year another laden Ship of Our said Subject called the Henery Bonadventura being come on ground nere the Island Mauritius was there both Ship and Goods seized upon by some of the Officers and Ministers and others under the command of the said East-India Company and utterly deteined from the right Owners And whereas the said William Courten and his Assignes in his life time used all possible endeavours to recover the said Ships and Goods and to procure further Justice against the Malefactours and yet could obtain no restitution or satisfaction whereby they became to be much distressed and utterley undone in their Estate and Credit And that thereupon and upon the most humble supplication and Adresses of Francis Earle of Shrewsbury and William Courten Esquire Sonne and Heir of the said Sir William deceased Sir John Ayton Sir Edmond Turnor Knights George Carew and Charles Whittaker Esquires on the behalf themselves and divers others interessed in the said two Shipps Bona Esperanza and Henery Bonadventura and in the Estates of the said Sir William Courten deceased Sir Edward Littleton Barronet and Sir Paul Pindar Knight deceased that We would take their Case into Our Princely consideracion We out of a just sence We then had and still have of their unjust sufferings in that business both by Our own Letters under Our signe Manuall to the States Generall of the United Provinces by Sir George Downing Knight and Barronet Our Envoy Extraordinary to whom We gave Especially command so to do required satisfaction to be made according to the Rules of Justice and the Amity and good correspondence which We then desired to conserve with them firme and inviolable And whereas after severall Addresses made to the said States Generall by Our said Envoy and nothing granted effectuall for relief of Our said Subjects whom We take Ourselves in Honour and Justice concerned to be satisfied and repaid We lately commanded the said Sir George Downing to intimate and signify to the said States that We expected their finall Answer concerning satisfaction to be made for the Ships and Goods by a time then prefixed and since elapsed that We might so govern ourselves thereupon that Our aforesaid Subjects might be releived according to Right and Justice And yet no satisfactory Answer hath been given so that We cannot but apprehend it to be not only a fruitles endeavour but a prostituting of Our honour and dignity to make further Application after so many denyals and slightings And whereas Iohn Exton Doctor of Laws Judge of Our High Admiralty Court of England upon Our Command to certify to Us the value and losses and damages susteyned by the said William Courten and Partners whose Interest is now vested in Our loving Subjects Sr. Edmond Turnor Knight George Carew Esquire and Partners hath upon full Examination and proofs thereof made by witnesses in Our High Court of Admiralty reported certified under his hand that the same do amountt to the summe of one hundred fifty one thousand six hundred twelve pounds Now know yee That for a full restitution to be made to them for their Ships Goods and Marchandizes of which the said William Courten and the Assignes of the said William Courten and Partners were so dispoiled as aforesaid with all such Costs and Charges as they shall be at for the recovery of the same We by the Advice of our Privy Councill have thought fit and by these presents do grant Licence and Authority under Our great Seale of England unto Our said Subjects Sir Edmund Turnor and George Carew their Executors Administrators and Assignes for and on the behalf of themselves and other Persons Interessed as aforesayd to equippe victuall furnish and to set to Sea from time to time such and so many Ships and Pinaces as they shall think fit Provided alwayes that there be an entry made and recorded in the Admiralty Court of the Names of all Ships and Vessels and of their Burthen and Ammonition and for how long time they are victualled And also of the Name the Commander thereof before the same or any of them be set forth to Sea And with the said Ships and Pinaces by force of Armes to set upon take and apprehend any of the Ships Goods Monyes and Marchandizes of the said States Generall or any of their Subjects inhabiting within any their Dominions or Territories wheresoever the same shall be found and not in any Port or Harbour in England or Ireland 〈…〉 be the Ships and the Goods of the Parties that did the wronge And the said Ships Goods Monyes and Marchandizes being so taken and brought into some Port of Our Realms and Dominions an Inventory thereof shall be taken by Authority of Our Court of Admiralty and Judgement shall be given in Our Court of Admiralty by the Judge or Judges thereof for the time being upon proofs made before
of Spaine the French King the States Generall and many other Kings Princes and States Those Keepers haveing stamped their Coyne with the inscription of God with us on the one syde and the Comon wealth of England on the other Which proved a true motto â—f their dissolution In the yeare 1651. The Keepers of the Comon wealth of England As their â—ist Essay abroade sent Mâ— Olvier St. Johns and Mâ— Strickland their Embassadours extraordinary with a great Equipage and splendour unto the States Generall of the United Netherlands the substance of their instructions being to contract an everlasting league offensive and defensive against all the enemies of both comon wealths and to borrow a considerable summ of money upon the publique faith of their Masters to supply their present occasions and for incouragment thereunto The Embassadours told them of an Act of Parliament that should Naturallize all the United Netherlanders whereby they might have and injoy the same rights and priviledges equally with free borne subjects of England But the old crafty States men in Holland knowing that England would draw away their best Marchants and fishermen into better Ellements And that the publick faith was allready upon the taynters they rejected the first proposall and denied the second presuming to continnue their priviledges they had in the English seas and harbours upon their owne termes Then the English Embassadours told the States Generall that they must pay for their Herring fishing and make satisfaction and reparations for the spoyles and damages committed at Amboyna and upon Sir William Courten and his partners in the East-Indies Unto all which they persisted in the negative Then after some personal affronts offered to the Embassadours and their retinnue by the Kings party in the Hague they returned re infecta to make their report to the Councell of State at Whitehall who highly resented the indignity shewne to their supreame greatnes and suddainly resolued to chastise the Hollanders for their contempt without any formall declaration of warr and to that purpose Equipped out a fleete of Shipps The States Generall doeing the like they were demanded by the English Admiralls to strick their flaggs and lower their topp-sayles but the Hollanders refusing to give that acknowledgment unto their younger brothers they went both to it Catch that Catch could allmost three years together wherein the States Generall lost soe many Shipps and were soe often beaten in solemne fights that they sent their Embassadours over into England to treat with Oliver Cromwell who was stept into the Goverment under the title of Lord Protector to give him satisfaction in the premises It appeared then that although the Hollanders were insolent they were not invincible In the yeare 1655. Oliver Cromwell made an unprofitable peace with the States Generall without disarming them or taking caution against future spoyles and injuries granting unto the Marritine Provinces Holland Zeland and Frizland the same priveledges in the English Seas streams and havens that they had in former times When they were under the Dukes of Bourgundy and Arch-dukes of Austria notwithstanding The Kings of England gave them the liberty of Free fishing then upon the English Coast in consideration of the mutually assistance their Lords and Princes gave against France Amsterdam being then a pore fishing towne and content with the rest of the Hollanders to live upon their honest labour and industry with what they could gett by fish and the product of their owne Country as they did before the East and West-India Companies were Errected and before they had built soe many Shipps of warr out of the spoyles of Spaine Portugall and England Cromwell only compelled them to make some reparations to the English East-India Company for the spoyles at Amboyna and obliged them to referre all other differences concerning the English Damages to Commissioners which nevertheless they reglected to doe finding out expedients even in those days to evade their Articles A Poâ—… that the Hollanders have beyond any other Nations in the universe In the yeare 1655 Cromwell appeared most dreadfull to all partes of the world receiued noe addresses from Emperours Kings or Princes but under the style of deare Brother and most Screene highnes he concluded an Alliance with France made a warre with Spaine assisted in the taking of Dunkirke as Auxilliary and kept it a principall layed out for the Spanish plate fleetes Attempted Hispaniola and by a mistake toke Jamâ—aca then runn himselfe out of breath for want of money and dyed If usurpâ—rs in a divided Kingdome could â—â—ate the Hollanders shake France and make Spaine tremble what may not the Lawfull Soveraigne doe with his Lords and Comons united in Parliament against the enâ—mâ—â—s of the King of great Brittaigne France and Yreland In the yeare 1660 when a peace was concluded betweene France and Spaine upon the Match with the Infanta The Lords and Comons in England invited King Charles the second to come and take possession of his Crowne and Kingdomes The Hollanders then fearing another storme they stricke in with the new Ministers of State in France finding Cardinall Mazarine under a cloude but however the States of Holland treated the King of great Brittaigne at the Hagâ—e in his returne and all the Commissioners of English Lords and Comons in great glory and least it should be forgotten they also register their treatment in their Almanacks with the gifts presented by the States to His Majesty viz. Nine hunderd-thousand gilders in money and to the value of eight thousand gilders in Harlems â—amaske and â—iaper for His Majesties Table linnen which altogether amounted unto 9200 pound Sterling A small recompence for the affront in bannishing his Majesty and his Brother the Duke of Yorke and Duke of Gloucester out of their Provinces during Cromwells usurpation and for all the Shipps and goods they had lately taken with Spanish Comissions And gott condemned to their owne use as free prize at Oastend and other Spanish Portes Which ought to have bin puniâ—hed as Pyrâ—cy in the Hollanders and the Zâ—…ders by the Laws of Comon Amity and Commerce About six months after the King was arrived in England the States Generall sent M. r Symon van Hâ—rne a Burgermaster of Amsterdam and Director of the East-India Company with M. r Michaell van Gâ—gh their Embassadours Extraordinary to his Majestie to reneue the cheife Articles of Cromwells treaty which was made persuant to the treaty betweene Philip Arch-duke of Austria and Henery the VII in the yeare 1495. And withall to gett a generall abolition and extinguishment of all Actions for spoyles injuries and dammages whatsoever sustained by his Majestie or his Subjects at any time before his Majesties most happy restauration and gave such Documents alonge with them that if any objections should be raised against the materiall poynts in Cromwells treaty or that his Majestie was not obliged to allow the same that then they should insist upon the loss of all their Shipps and
of sale from William Courten and Sir Echrard Littleton to the Directors of the East-India Company interdicting their payment of any monie for Courtens share and stock in the Shipps and lading aforesaid to any person or persons whatsoever but unto the said Ionas Abeels in right of Sir Paul Pyndar protesting that if they did other wise it should be no discharge unto them which insinuation and Protest was done by the said Notary Publicq on the 25. of May 1648. in the Assembly of the said Directors at their Chamber in Amsterdam in the presence of Ian Iansen and Adrian Nys witnesses thereunto In the Month of October following Ionas Abeels caused to be arrested in the hands of the said East-India Company all such sumes of mony as should be found due from the said Company concerning the said two Shipps and their lading that out of the said monies Sir Paul Pindar share and proportion should be paid in the first place to him the said Ionas Abeels in his quallity which Arrest was made the first of October 1648. by Goosen Daniels Bode or Messenger And a second Arrest was made by Willem Iansen Bode or Messenger in November following both which the Court declared to be valid Notwithstanding all these Admonitions and proceedings the Directors of the East-India Company at their Chamber in Midleburgh on the 18. of September 1649. made an underhand agreement with the said Iacob Pergens for â—5000 gilders upon Caution given by the said Iacob Pergens and Peter Boudaen of Midleburgh Marchant to save the said Company harmeles and indempnified from Sir Paul Pindar and others concerning the said monie or any after claymes Ionas Abeels on the 1â— of May 1650. understanding of the underhand agreement at Midleburgh summons the Directors of th'East-India Company before the Magistrates of Amsterdam and declares against them that they should be condemned to pay the 85000. gilders to him in right of Sir Paul Pindar with damages for the same untill effectuall payment Then the Directors of th'East-India Company summoned Iacob Pergens and Peter Boudaen on the 13. of September 1650. to indempnify them from Sir Paul Pindar for the said mony and free them of all Costs accordingly as by the Acts of the Court appears In the same year 1650. Sir Paul Pindar dyed and soon after Ionas Abeels dyed also So the right of Action remained in statuquo In the year 1654. William Tonnes Executor of Sir Paul Pindar and severall of the Proprietors and Adventurers exhibited their clayme for the Originall loss and damages of 85000. Pound Sterling before the English and Dutch Commissioners at London appointed by the Treaty made between Oliver Cromwel and the States Generall which by provisoe in the said Treaty was referred to the Protestant Cantons of Switserland if the said Commissioners did not compose the same with in three months Afterwards the Proprietors and Adventurers applyed themselves to Mr. Secretary Thunder for a Commission to be directed to the Protestant Cantons who answered that most of the Proprietors being Delinquents by Act of Parlement for adhering to the late King whereby they had forfeited their Estates they could not expect any protection from his Highness Oliver Cromwel therefore perswaded them to desist from any further Prosecution protempore In the year 1660. upon His Majesty's most happy restauration severall of the Proprietors and adventurers on the behalf of themselves the rest of the Interested made their address to Sir Edward Nicholas Principall Secretary of State to move His Majesty to recommend their case concerning the Ships Bona Esperanza and Henery Bonadventura to the States Generall for satisfaction and reparation Whereupon Sir Edward Nicholas having informed the King the true state of the case and also intimated to His Majesty what great services and sufferings Sir William Courton and Sir Paul Pindar had undergone for the Crown of England both in the time of King Iames and the late King as also of the particular sufferings of Sir Edward Littleton and severall of the other Proprietors His Majesty was gratiously pleased to direct his Letter under his signe Manuall to the States Generall signifying that the said spoils and damages being committed against the Laws of comon Amity upon his Subjects who had merited so much from the Crown he Earnestly required the States Generall to make satisfaction to the Persons interessed and injured according to the proofs made in his high Court of Admirallity signifying also that he was obliged in Justice and Honour to see it effected accordingly In persuance of which Letter and severall Orders of the Councell-Table for Instructions to Sir George Downing who was then Envove Extraordinary for His Majesty at the Hague divers Memorialls Answers and Replyes passed between him and the States Generall in the year 1662. concerning the said spoils and dammages of those Ships Bona Esperanza and Henery Bonadventura wherein the States Generall denyed not the matter of fact but would have Evavaded any other satisfaction to the Proprietors and Participants then what the East-India Company by Combination had given to Iacob Pergens upon his fraudulent practise as aforesaid In the year 1662. the States Generall having instructed Mr. Simon van Hoorn and Mr. Michiel van Gogh their Ambassadours in England to gett the said spoiles and depredations concerning the said Shipps to be mortified and Extinguished in the Treaty then depending at Whitchall his Majestie declared he would breake of the said treatie unlesse satisfaction and reparation should be made for the said Shipps according to the said Letter of recommendation to the States Generall at the Hague as aforesaid Whereupon there was a particular Erception in the 15. Article of the said Treaty concluded at Whitchall the 4. of September 1662. that the damages concerning those two Shipps Bena Esperanza and Henery Bonadventura should not be comprehended in the Extinguishment and mortification of former losses and injuries in the East-Indies but reserved for reparation according to his Majesties Letters of Recommendation as aforesaid and Expressed in these words poterint litem inceptam prosiqui c. which agreement was also attested under the Hands and Seales of the late Duke of Albermarle the Earle of Manchester the Lord Hollis the Lord Bartlet Sir George Carteret Sir Edward Nicholas and Sir William Morice Commissioners that Treated with the States Embassadours In the year following Sir George Downing in persuance of the said Treaty held a Conference with the Pentionaris Iohn de Wit and the Deputies of the States Generall in the presence of Mr. Peter van Dam and two of the Directors of the East-India Company in the Chamber of the States Generall to adjust the said damages But in stead thereof the Company made severall impertinent constructions upon the Law of England in the Case of Sir Paul Pindar and Sir Edward Littleton Nothwithstanding the said Company had the Opinions by them under the hands of Sir John Glynn Sir John Maynard Sir Edward Turner and Master Serjeant Baldwyn affirming that
William Courten had nothing in him to grant to Iacob Pergens after the Bills of Sale to Littleton and Pindar which made them absolute Proprietors by the Law of England Only there was a possibility left in Courten call them to Accompt after their debt should be paid which opinions were also confirmed by Sir Gâ—â—â—s Sâ—â—â—t Sir William Turner Sir Walter Walker and Sir Timothy Baldwyn Doctors of the Civill Laws and delivered to Mr. Peter van Dam the Advocate of the East-India Company Then John de Wit offered 30000. Pound sterling upon Accompt of all the Proprietors and persons interessed reserving the Civill right of Action against Iacob Pergens and Peter Boudaen for the 85000. gilders paid upon their caution as aforesaid which offer was not satisfactory so the Generall dispute remayned also in stato quo Afterwards Sir George Downing did by his last Memoriall upon that Subject dated the 14. of October 1664. give the States Generall a peremptory day to cleare that business intimating therein how ill the King resented it to be so slighted and that His Majestie would not prostitute his Honour any further but Governe himselfe accordingly yet all proved ineffectuall Then the Proprietors with others addressed themselves with a list of damages to the House of Commons in Parliament The Bona Eâ—peranza and Henâ—ry Bonadventura being placed in the front of all demands whereupon the Comons voted to assist his Majestie with their lives and fortunes in acquiring satisfaction and reparation And soone after a declaration for Generall Reprisalls was ordered by the King and Councill against the States Generall and their Subjects And severall millions of Pounds Sterling were granted to his Majestie in Parliament for the prosecution thereof In the year following The Earle of Shrewsburâ— Sir Iohan Wolstenholme Sir Iohn Ayton George Carew and William Lâ—â—yd Esquires and others Interessed made application to his Majestie by petition for Especiall Letters of Reprisall to remaine in force against the States Generall and their Subjects untill the Origâ—nall losse and damages concerning the Bona Esperanza and Henery Bonadventura should be reprised which was referred to the Judge of the Admirallity and his Majesties Advocates Generall and severall other Doctors of the Civill Law to Examine the whole matter and to report their opinion what was fitt for His Majestie to doe further for his Subjects releife in that Case After severall Consulations and debates had betweene the said referees concerning the premises Doctor Exton then Judge of the Admirallity Court Sir Robert Wiseman Sir William Turner and Sir Timothy Baldwyn made their report to his Majestie that in this case of spoyles there was no remedie left but Especiall Reprisalls to continue in force against the States Generall and their Subjects untill the debt and damages which they sound upon the prooâ—es to arrise unto the summ of 151â— 12. pound sterling should be recovered with Costs or a Composition made for the same betweene the East-India Company of the Netherlands and the parties interessed whereof the said Company were obliged by the Law of Nations to take notice thereof In persuance thereof Letters Patents under the Great Seale of England dated the 19. of May 1665. were granted unto Sir Edmond Turnor and Mr. George Carew Administrator of Sir Paul Pindar their Executors Administrators and Assignes on behalfe of themselves and all the Interessed to continue in force accordingly With this Especiall clause and Provisoe therein contained that notwithstanding it should happen that a pâ—ace and agreement should be made betweene His Majestie and the States Generall for the Generall Reprisalls Yet is should be lawfull for the said Turnor and Carew and their Executors and Aâ—â—gnâ—s to putt the said Letters Patents in Execution for Especiall Reprisalls from time to time untill they had recovered the said debt of 151612. pounds with all 〈…〉 Charges or that the East-India Company of the Netherlands should Compound with the Proprietors and other persons Interessed in the same In the year 1666. Mr. Iames Boevé delivered a Copie of the said Letters Pattents to Mr. Peter van Dam at the East-India Chamber at Amsterdam and requested him to move the said Company to compose the said debt and damages in an Amicable way rather then to leave it in dispute from Generation to Generation to the prejudice of the States Generall and their Subjects In the year 1667. during the Treaty at Breda the States Generall having surprized the Kings Shipps at Chattam severall of the Proprietors friends in the Hague moved the Pentionaris Iohn de Wit to incite the States of Holland and the East-India Company to give some Honourable satisfaction for the Shipps Bona Esperanza and Henery Bonadventura which had bin so solemnely debated in former Treaties being more for the Interest of their Country then to insist upon such scandulous Articles as they had framed and sent to Breda concerning the said dammages which could not extinguish the debt or make void the Letters Patents to Turnor and Carew any more then to disannull the 35. Article of the States Patent to the East-India Company of the Netherlands whereby they make peace and warr with all Princes and States whatsoever at their pleasure from the Cape Bona Esperanza to the Streights of Magelanus Yet Iohn de Wit and his Complices persisted in their projects and would not hearken to any other advice In the year 16-1 the States Generall having made severall Breaches of the Treaty at Breda and denyed Common Justice to his Majesties Subjects in their ordinary Courts of Judicature in Holland and Zeland severall of the Proprietors and Interessed Persons in the saâ—d debt and damages made fresh applications to his Majestâ—e by petition and prayed that his Majestie would please to insist upon reparation and satisfaction in an Extraordinary way according to the merits of their causes and Especially for the debt of 151612 pound ascertained under the Great Seale of England as aforeâ—â—â—d whâ—ch said petition was by order of Councell referred to the Lords Câ—mmissioners of the Treasury and the two principall Secretaries of State who made a report to His Majestie That the States Generall 〈…〉 bin refractory in severall Articles of the Treaty at Breda his Majâ—stâ— and his Subjects were at libertie both in Justice and Equity to require full satisfaction and reparation in Mr. Courtens Case notwithstanding the said Treaty at Breda In persuance thereof his Majestie was gratiously pleased on the 7. of July 1672. to recommend the debt of 151612. pound with dammages by his Letter under his signe Manuall sent by the said George Carew to his Grace George Duke of Buckingham and the Right Honourable Henery Earle of Arlington his Majesties Plenipotentiaries and Embassadours Extraordinary to the French King and the States Generall then upon a Treaty at Uytrecht requiring the said Plenipotentiaries to insist upon satisfaction accordingly declaring therein his care to protect his Subjects in their Just rights as well as to assist them in the recovery
the dutch â—leete upon their owne Coast in that time of consternation The French English and Munster forces having entred Gilderland Overâ—sell and Utrecht Yett the Hollanders out of an ambitious humour to keepe up their sinking reputation exposed their prints to all partes of the world signifieing that they had beaten two glorious Kings at sea and many English men to their shame be it spoaken rejoyed at their owne folly and infirmities Complying with the appeallants fancies That from Cromwells joyning with the French the distruction of Europe might take its date The Kingdomes of Câ—cillea and Naples made Arragon and Casteâ—le much lighter then before The West-Indies and the Netherlands putt into the sâ—ale made all Spaine of less waight Princes that graspe at more then they can governe and protect make themselves unfortunate and their Subjects miserable In that yeare 1671. if the divell had not owed the Hollanders a shame for their pride and insolency they might have complyed with England or France but notwithstanding they saw the dangers approaching and had faire warnings given them after the breaches of their faith treatyes and Alliances yett in stead of making any reconciliation with either they persisted in the desiance of great Brittaigne concerning his Majesties Prerogative in the seas exposing to sale their medalls and Prints of Chattam their Pamphletts and pasquills of the King and his Councell and likewise inraged the French with their impositions menaces and contempts painting the King between Madamoiselle de la Valiere and Madamoiselle de Montspan with both his hands under their Petticoates and this in scription over his head Louys le grand Conquerour and at the same time painted the Bishop of Munster riding upon a hogg and his Coach drawne with six wild Bores Then by order of the King and Councell at Whitehall the warr was proclaymed the Dutch Smirna fleete attacqued and the Exchequer stopt from payment of the Banckers assignments Necessity hath noe Law and people that cannotâ— be conquered with Kindnes must be taken upon all advantages to make them mannerly and honest against their wills In the yeare 1672. after that sea fight when the United Netherlands were invaded by the French English and Munster forces the Women in the Hague having before proclaymed the Prince of Orange Captaine Generall the Burgers and Boares in all the Citties and Dorpes voated him their Statholder and the States Generall in the first weeke of Julij 1672. were forced for their owne defence to establish him in all the Offices and honours that his Ancestors had injoyed Which the Prince of Orange willingly accepted for their safty in time of trouble that would not pray for his welfare in time of their prosperity In this juncture of confusion the King of great Brittaigne having a difficult game in hand wherein the Hollanders and Zelanders were to be sufficiently humbled and the French not exalted His Majesty sent the Duke of Buckingham and the Earle of Arlington his Embassadours Extraordinary and Plenipotenciaries to the French King and the States Generall who held some conferrences at Utrecht untill the Burgers of Amsterdam had Cutt the bancks of the Tye and opened the sluices to drowne the land about that Cittie then the Magistrates and inhabitants there protested against any further treaty declaring that they would not doe any thing upon a surprise Concluâ—ing â—hâ—râ— they â—â—ulâ— not make an honourable peace they would runn the 〈◊〉 of a distruâ—â—â—ve â—â—rr The French King in his proposalls to the States Generall at Utrecht inâ—isted that a Cathedrall Church in every Citty of Holland should be allowed to the Roman Catholicks for Divine worshipp The Romanists giveing theise reasons for it unto the Dome-Heeres there 1. That the Churches were all built by the Roman Catholicks 2. That the Major parte of the people in those United Provinces remayned still Roman Catholicks 3. That the States had kept the possession of those Churches eighty yeares from the Roman Catholicks 4. That the Protestants in France who denied the Popes supreamâ—â—y were allowed Churches wherein many of the Netherlanders had free access 5. And lastly that it was very scandalous that the Roman Catholicks should be confined to such pore consecrated meeting places for the service of God in the cheifest Câ—tties and townes of the United Netherlands Yett all those Arguments would not prevaâ—le with the Amsterdamers who pretended that it would be a badge of conquest over them to alter any thing of their goverment in poynt of Religion And having gotten those Churches by their victorious Armes with such congregations into them they would not soe tamely parte with either The like congregations are not to be found in any other parte of the world gaâ—hered together by the sword regulated by the Civâ—ll Magistrates as they are in the United Nâ—therlands During this confusion the Maritine Plenipotenciary Cornelius de â—â—tt who had bin newly gratified with 36000. gilders by the States Generall for his good service at sea in that Expedition where the Earle of Sandwich was fyred was contriving how to poyson or pistoll the Prince of Orange at land and to that purpose treated with one William Titchelaer a Chyrurgion at Peirshill a tenant under that Plenipotentary to accomplish the designe Cornâ—â—ius de Witt insinnuating to him that the Prince being now made Statholder by the meane people they would not rest untill they had made him Soveraigne and consequently subverted the Goverment of the Country and that if he would undertake the busines to dispatch him there were aboue thirty Lords in the Goverment of Holland that would very well requite him besides he should have 3000. Pound Sterling for his premium and for the better effecting the designe some of the Lords in the States of Holland should helpe him to an imployment in the leaguer to be nere the Prince But the Chyruâ—gion notwithstanding he had sworne secrecy to Câ—rnâ—â—â—us de Witt yett he could not be quiet in his mind untill he had revealed the conspiracy to the Prince Whereupon Cornâ—â—â—us de Witt being apprehended The Court of Justice heard the evidence and waâ—ghing all circumstances did on the 10. of August 1672. old sâ—â—â—â— give sentence only for his banishment and the â—orfeiture of his Offices and Dignâ—ties But the Common people in the Hague Banished him and his Brotâ—â—r John de Witt on the same day into another world as mâ—mbers not fitt to â—â—ve any longer in this The Prince of Orange sone after made some alteration amongst the Magistrates of Amsterdam and other places Then he gave his first asâ—ault upon the French at Worden where he come off with loss and a dâ—â—honorable retreat In December following he made an attempt upon Charleroy without success when the Duke of Lutzâ—â—burgh with his forces from Utrecht burnt Bodegrave and Swammerdam two of the best Dorpes in Holland and if the Frost had continnued 24 houers longer they had burnt the Hague where the people upon the