things according to those Orders I have now or shall have hereafter CHAP. VIII Of the Great Assembly Extraordinary BEsides the Assembly of the States Generall alwayes residing at the Hague there is besides a great Assembly call'd in the language of the Countrey De groote Vergaderinge which is also convocated to meet at the Hague for affairs of extraordinary importance This Assembly never meets till all the Provinces have first given their consent who do not only prescribe the time and place but do also examine before-hand in their States all the points that are to be put in deliberation that so they may be able to give positive and certain Orders to their Deputies and yet are these Deputies often obliged to write back and have recourse to those that sent them The Order of this Assembly is the same with that of the States Generall and they have the same power CHAP. IX Of the Councell of State which is the greatest after the Councell of the States Generall IT appears by what has been said before that there is a Councell of State of more ancient standing than the States Generall But since the establishment of this last the first takes cognizance of smaller affairs as of those things that concern Taxes or the Militia or those that regard the Towns and Fortresses conquer'd and the visit of the fortifications of them This Councill is compos'd of the Deputies of all the Provinces and the Generall of the Army when there is one is perpetuall President of it and has his Vote There are twelve Counsellors from the Provinces two from Gueldres three from Holland two from Zeeland two from Friezeland and Utrect Overissell Groeningue and Omland each one And because the Generall is often absent therefore they choose a President which ordinarily fall to them by turns Hereof every man makes a Vote and they reckon by Pole and then the greatest number carries it They sit as long as it pleases the States that sent them Friezeland having alwaies had a Governour apart he has had the priviledge of appearing and sitting for them and of appointing some body to do it in his absence This Councell being in effect as a help to the States Generall they treat much about affairs of the same nature and often do give an account of what they do to the States Generall who upon their information do Decree and then the Decree runs thus By the Commandment of our Lords the States Generall of the United Provinces upon the relation of the Councell of State of the same Provinces And besides the Secretary the President pro tempore in the Councell signs it This Councell does ordinarily meet apart and of its own accord but sometimes extraordinarily it joyns with the Assembly of the States Generall When that happens if the Generall of the Army is there he takes place among the Deputies of the States Generall and he takes the most honourable place at the upper end of a long Table and as it often happens when the Counsellors of State are dismiss'd he may keep his place and assist at the other Deliberations of the States Now every time that this Councell meets alone there are two Counsellors supernumerary who have only deliberative voices and not definitive Votes that do assist at it The one is the Superintendant of the Treasury and the other is the Treasurer or Receiver Generall himself The first keeps account and controuls all publick expences though he keep not the money the other has in his hands all the publick treasure of which he gives good account He is ordinarily heard after the Intendant whose counsell they commonly ask first CHAP. X. Of the Power of the States of every Province EAch Province has a soveraign power within it self and may exercise all supreme jurisdiction except such as ought to be common to all by vertue of their union For example that can make Laws obligatory to their Subjects choose Magistrates punish Criminals coyn Money set up Universities make the Dividends of generall Taxes and impose such as are necessary for the States of the Province Yet this is not to be so understood as if this Soveraignty of the States did exclude the soveraign jurisdiction which many Towns do exercise within their Precinct for the end of the Stateâ— being to preserve every ones liberties and priviledges it is not to be thought they will take away any that shall be consistent with the Government As for example Dort Nimmegue Deventer de Camp de Zwoll and Grâ—eningue have many priviledges which we shall else-where take notice of Likewise the Countrey of Drent does exercise by its States a royall and absolute Authority and does commit the administration of it to its Deputies Omland likewise has the power of imposing Taxes upon its â—nhabitants though it make up one Province with Groeningue Now here are the particular acts of Soveraignty of which every Province in particular is barr'd and which do only belong to them all united For they cannot 1. Undertake a new War 2. Make Peace or Truce 3. Lay Impositions which concern the common Union 4. Mâ—ke alliance with Neighbours 5. Set the value of Money or make Laws concerning the publick All these things cannot be done but by common consent CHAP. XI Of the States of Holland and Zeeland IN Holland and West-Friezeland the States are compos'd of two sorts of Members viz. of the Nobles and of the Deputies of Towns the Nobles that are famous not only by their antient extraction but also by the Lordships and Castles which they possess are the chiefest they ordinarily meet to the number of twelve or thirteen and have the first voyce The Towns which send their Deputies are these Dort Harlem Leyden Amsterdam Tergou Rotterdam Gorchom Schoonhove la Brille Alâ—maer Enchuse Edam Monichdam and Purmerent If there be any difficulty about Tributes or if it be to declare War or make Peace then these following Towns are likewise assembled by Dâ—puties Woâ—rde Geertrudenbergue Naerde Muden Oâ—de watre Huesdam Wesop and Wourcom The Deputies of Towns are ordinarily Bourgmasters to whom is ordinarily joyn'd an Alderman or Counsellor who is call'd a Pensioner The great Assembly call'd groot mogende that is Great and Mighty is at the Hague and is vulgarly call'd The Assembly of the States of Holland and West-Friezeland Besides this Assembly which is held but from time to time there is another ordinary Assembly which also sits at the Hague and is a Representative of the States of the Province and in their absence takes care of the Treasury and all ordinary affairs and if there be occasion it convocates the Great Assembly one Nobleman and the Deputies of Towns sit in this and is call'd the Counsellors Deputies of the Lords of the States of Holland and West-Friezeland The Advocate Pensioner of Holland is the Moderator of these two Assemblies and it is he that gathers the Votes and performs the Office of Speaker and eight dayes after their separation he
Utrect that as often as the Confederates should have occasion to deliberate about any thing in a set place they should send thither their Deputies and these Deputies were call'd the States General of the United Provinces But the States being not alwayes in a capacity to meet by reason of divers obstacles and there being a great necessity of a perpetual Senate or Council it was found requisite to establish a Council of State den Raed van Staten which was made up of one President of the Deputies of the Provinces of one Treasurer and three Secretaries There was in those dayes no set place for the meeting of this Council because that then the settlement was not compleated and things were uncertain but here are the Articles which this Council was bound to observe and which were to guide them in their administration First That in the exercise of their charge they should not so much endeavour the benefit and advantage of those Provinces which they were Deputies for as the good of the whole Commonwealth 2. That they should observe the Laws prescribed them by the Authority of the States General 3. That they shall take care of the publick Treasure and pay the wages to all those to whom wages are due 4. That they shall take care that the affaires of the Confederates do not receive any disadvantage or trouble 5. That they shall send every three moneths to the States of each particular Province a Compendium of all their Consultations and the accounts of their expences and receipts 6. That the States General shall consult and deliberate with them in affairs of importance and that they shall call them together according to the 19th Article of the Union This last Article was to be understood of such affairs as could not be delayed For their importance By succession of time the Common-wealth continuing to prosper and advance and the Earl of Leicester being expected in these parts from England to govern as Lieutenant to Queen Elizabeth there was reason to fear that which had already happened viz. that he or others sitting for him in the States should endeavour to dive into the secret of deliberations whereupon it was resolv'd to settle besides this Council of State the Soveraign Council of the States General who should alwayes sit at the Hague leaving to this Council of State the care of smaller and less important business CHAP. IV. In what consists the Superiority of the States General and what sort of affairs are determin'd by them which cannot be determin'd by the States of the particular Provinces SInce that time that is ever since the Year 1587. the Soveraign administration of business has been in the power of the States General and their Soveraign Council and in it is not only all Majesty and Soveraignty by vertue of the Union but they have also the power of deciding some business which the particular Provinces cannot 1. For in the first 〈…〉 lone that give Audience to the Ambassadors of Princes and Foreign States and do also send in their own Name Ambassadors abroad for the good of all 2. This Assembly alone proclaims War and has the management of it both by Sea and Land 3. It is to them that the Officers and Souldiers are first sworn and then to the General that commands the Army 4. Some Deputies of this Assembly are alwayes appointed to accompany the General in time of War without whose advice he cannot lawfully begin any enterprize of importance 5. This Assembly has also its Envoys in the Meetings of the East and West India Companies because there are often deliberations of War and Peace 6. It is this Assembly that has the power of chosing a General both by Sea and Land and of obliging him to take the Oath of allegiance to them 7. They give Safe-conduct and Passes to all Strangers that desire to passe through their Countrey 8. They can pardon and forgive Fugitives and those that have turn'd to the Enemies 9. They make Orders about the transport and entries of Merchandises 10. They alone exercise the power of Soveraignty over the conquer'd Cities and Towns of Brabant Flanders and other places reduced by force 11. They ought to take care that all the Provinces remain in friendship and amity one with another but they ought to comport themselves rather as Remonstrancers than as Commanders And in short they are to take care of all that is directed and addressed to them by Commissions and whosoever shall well weigh these things will not wonder if they are honoured with the title of Illustrious High and Mighty though the States of Holland enjoy only the quality of Noble and Powerfull CHAP. V. How far the power of the States Generall does extend THe States Generall are alwayes upon the Guard for the rest of the Provinces safety and for all publick advantages If therefore the Governour Generall or the Embassadours and Envoys of other Princes do make any Propositions that are of concern and importance to the Commonwealth it is order'd that the Deputies do give account of it by Letters to their respective Provinces and according as their answer is it is determin'd by the plurality of Votes except in cases of contribution for then there is requir'd an unanimous consent of all the Provinces From whence it appears that the States Generall being the representatives of those that send them have no power beyond the extent of their Commission and in such things only as are mention'd by it but do stand in need of new Orders when new business happens and without them they cannot deliberate nor give their Vote in the Assembly So that it appears that they have but a fiduciary and delegated power their Decrees are of no force if they are not agreed to by the particular Provinces and to them these Decrees are directed to be published rather in a precary and submissive way the stile running We pray and require our dear and beloved the States Governours Deputies c. of the respective Provinces c. Besides this every Province makes Laws at home as they please CHAP. VI. Who are those that are ordinarily chosen for Deputies to the States Generall and of the order which is observ'd amongst the Deputies THis high Councell alwayes sitting at the Hague is composed of the Deputies of the seven Provinces in the order above-mentioned They are sent in uncertain number for some Provinces send two some three or one or a greater number but all the Deputies of one Province though never so many make but one Vote or Suâ—â—rage The Provinces that send them furnish them for their expences and give them a considerable allowance The time of their deputation is not limited neither for some Provinces send them for two years some for four six or more some for all their life Now all these Provinces are of equall Authority in the States though Holland which is the strongest of all have the custome of drawing some others to its party and
particularly when Zeeland joyns with it But that which is worth observation and contrary to the opinion of some strangers is that though the Provinces be very unequall in strength and dignity and that some contribute four times as much in peace and war towards the publick yet have they all equall right in deliberations and none has an authority over the other Between the Deputies they observe the order that is receiv'd in their respective Provinces for their precedency In Guâ—ldres the Gentry goes before the Deputies of the Towns and the Deputies of Nimegue precede all the others In Holland the Deputies of Towns yeeld to the Deputies of the Nobles In Zeeland the Deputy of the Marquess of Terveer and of Flushing precede all the others as representing the Nobility In the Diocess of Utrect the Deputies of the chosen or Eleuâ— have precedency before the Nobility and before the Deputies of the Town of Utrect it self In Friezeland the Deputies of the Countrey call'd Goon ende Wolden do precede the Deputies of Towns In Overissel the Nobles Deputies carry it before the Deputy of the three great Towns and the same precedency that Groeningue has upon Omland its Deputy has upon the Deputy of the other These things deserve to be taken notice of because it is ordinarily the first Deputy that presides and he being absent the next takes his place but the same does not preside alwayes in this great Assembly for the president is changed every week and the Deputies of the Provinces take it by turns Some strangers have been grosly mistaken to write that the Governour Generall was the perpetuall President of this Assembly which is so far from being true that he has not so much as the liberty of giving his Vote It cannot be denied indeed that the States do often ask his advice and hear his Propositions and by a receiv'd custome the President does every day see him to know whether he has any thing to propose When the President takes the Votes he begins by Gueldres and goes on to Holland Zeeland c. and having the opinion of all he concludes according to the plurality of Votes except it be an affair of great consequence and that the Deputies desire to have time to advise with the States of their Provinces The Clerk or Secretary does at the same time draw up the resolution of the company which the President signs and the Secretary after him CHAP. VII Of the Orders that the States of Holland and West-Friezeland give to their Deputies in the States Generall and of the Oath they take SInce that the Government of Holland shall be hereafter propos'd as a pattern of the other Provinces it will not be amiss to produce here the Orders that the States of Holland and West-Friezeland gave upon the third of March in 1643. to the Deputies they sent to the States Generall 1. There shall be sent on the behalf of Holland and West-Friezeland none but capable and sufficient men that shall not be before-hand engaged in another employment by Oath or Pension 2. It is not lawfull for the Deputies to go beyond the terms of the Treaty of union at Utrect and the Commands of their Provinces They shall let pass nothing that shall be contrary to the priviledges immunities and customes receiv'd by our Ancestours without a speciall Order from their States 3. The said Deputies shall not neither in this Assembly nor out of it treat of peace nor war nor grant Patents or Priviledges that might be damageable to Holland or West-Friezeland nor levy or cashier Souldiers nor change the current Coyn nor forgive traytors but whensoever things of that nature shall be afoot they shall give notice to the States of Holland and West-Friezeland or in their absence to the Councell of State 4. They shall neither sell nor alienate the Dominions Rights and Priviledges belonging to the publick by vertue of their publick union without a particular and speciall consent of the Provinces 5. All the revenues and prerogatives that belong to the publick by vertue of Treaties and Agreements made with forreign powers shall be applied to the benefit of the publick union and shall be put in the hands of the Treasurer and the Councell of State and the States Generall shall not dispose of them 6. The Deputies shall not neither by themselves nor by others exercise any sort of Judicature upon any cause but shall send the parties either to the Councell of State or to the Admiralty according as the affair is but they may pronounce sentence upon such Law-Suits as are subject to be re-viewed 7. They cannot by their Authority hinder and suspend the execution of any sentence given by any Court whatsoever either in criminall or civill matters 8. As soon as the States of Holland and West-Frieze shall meet they shall immediately send them all the Deliberations made in the States Generall 9. They shall communicate the affairs and concerns of these Countreys to none but their States or in their absence to their Councell of State and if there fall out any thing that may concern North-Holland they shall immediately give notice to the Deputies of that place 10. The Councell of State and the Colledge of the 〈…〉 iralty shall leave that very thing 〈◊〉 the order so prescrib'd and shall not change either by themselves or others any part of these Instructions 11. They shall not dispose of the pri 〈…〉 pall military and pol 〈…〉 ck Offices without the particular consent of the States of Holland neither shall they make such presents as might lessen the revenue of the publick 12. They shall have six shillings a day allowed them for their wages 13. The Deputies shall swear to observe all these Articles of which the States of Holland and West-Friezeland do reserve to themselves a more ample interpretation This Order has been made and confirm'd by the said States the ninth of March in the year 1643. Here follows the Formulary of the Oath I A. B. do promise and swear perpetuall fidelity to the States of Holland and West-Friezeland as being the Soveraign Lords of the said Provinces and that I will not assist neither by counsell nor by deed or any manner in any thing that shall be prejudiciall to the aforesaid Authority and that if I perceive any such thing doing by others I will immediately give notice of it to the States or in their absence to their Councell likewise that I will defend to my utmost the prerogatives and honour of the said Countreys as likewise the Reform'd Religion as it is now taught in those Provinces In a word that I will further and advance as much as in me lyes the interest of the said Provinces both in the States Generall and abroad as far as it stands with the benefit of the publick union I do likewise promise to keep secret all things that shall require to be so kept that I will receive no forbidden presents and that I will do all
most Potent Prince Philip the fourth King of Spain c. on one side and the High and Mighty Lords the States Generall of the United Provinces of the Low-Countries on the other IN the Name of God Be it known to all that after the bloody Wars that have for so many years afflicted the people and Subjects of the obedience of the King of Spain and the States Generall they the said King and States being moved with Christian compassion and being desirous to put an end to all the calamities and deplorable consequences which the farther continuance of the Wars of the said Low-Countries might produce and to change them into the rest and tranquillity of a firm peace have to compass so good an end Deputed and Commissioned fit persons on both sides viz. on the side of the said Don Philip the fourth King of Spain Don Gaspar de Bracamonte Y de Guzman Count of Pigneranda Lord of Aldea seca de la Frontera Knight of the Order of Alcantara perpetuall Administrator of the Commandery of Damyel of the Order of Calatrava Gentleman of his Majesties Bed-Chamber of his privy Counsell and his Embassador Extraordinary towards his Imperiall Majesty as also first Plenipotentiary for his Majesty in the Treaty of the generall Peace Monsieur Aâ—tony Brnn Knight and Counsellor for his Majesty in his supream Counsell of State for the Low-Countries and his Plenipotentiary in the generall Peace On the sides of the States Generall Bartold de Gent Lord of Looven and Meynerswicke Senechal and Diikgrave of Bommel Fieler and Brommelerweerden deputed by the Nobility of Gueldres in the Assembly of the States Generall Jean de Mateness Lord of Mateness Riviere Opmeer Souteveen and Deputy in the ordinary Counsell of Holland and West-Frieze as also Deputy in the States Generall from the Nobles of the said Province Councellor and Heemrade of Shieland Adrian Paw Knight Lord of Heemsteed Hogersmilde and first President Counsellor and Master of the Accounts of Holland and West-Frieze as also Deputy in the Assembly of the States Generall by the said Provinces Jean de Knuâ—t Knight Lord of Old and New Vosmar representing the Nobility in the States in Counsell of Zeeland as in the Admiralty first Counsellor of his Highness the Prince of Orange Deputy in the Assembly of the States Gâ—dart de Râ—â—de Lord of Nederhorst Uredelant Cortchoâ—f Over-meer Horstwaert c. President in the Assembly of the Nobles of the Province of Utrect and by them Deputy in the Assembly of the States Generall Francis de Doma Lord of Hinnâ—ma Hiclsum Deputy in the Assembly of the States Generall by the Province of Frizeland William Riperda Lord of Hengeloo Boxbergen Boculoo and Sussenbergh Deputy by the Nobility of Overyssel in the Assembly of the States Generall All Extraordinary Embassadors in Germany and Plenipotentiaries of the said States for the Treaty of the generall Peace All being sufficiently impowr'd and assembled in the Town of Munster in Westphalia have by common consent and in vertue of their respective powers receiv'd from the said King and the Lords the States Generall Concluded and Agreed upon these following Articles 1. The said King does Declare and Acknowledge that the said Lords the States Generall of the United Provinces and their Provinces Countrey-Towns Lands and Appurtenances are free and Soveraign States Provinces and Countries upon which nor upon their Towns c. the said King neither doth nor shall henceforth or his Heirs and Successors pretend any thing And that in consequence of this his Declaration he is content to treat with the said States as he does by these and conclude a perpetuated peace with them upon the Conditions here following 2. To wit that the said peace shall be firm and inviolable and that all acts of hostility of what kinde soever shall cease both by Sea and by Land in all the Kingdomes and Countries of the obedience of the said King and the said States as also between all their Subjects of what quality soever they be without exception of places or persons 3. Each shall remain in peaceable possession and shall keep and enjoy all the Countrey-Towns Lands Places and Lordships that he now enjoyes and that without being any wayes molested directly or indirectly And in this is comprehended the Burroughs Villages and Countrey appertaining and belonging to that which each shall possess and by consequence all the Mayorship of Bosleduke as also all the Lordships Towns Castles Burroughs Villages and Champain thereunto belonging the Town and Marqueship of Bergues upon Zoom the Town and Barony of Breda the Town of Maestrict and the extent of its jurisdiction the County of Groonhoff the Town of Grave and the Countrey of Luychuist and the Bayliship of Hulst and Hulster-Ambact and Ambact as also the Forts which the said Lords the States do possess now in the Countrey of Waes and all other Towns and places which the said States do hold in Brabant Flanders or any where else shall remain in the power of the said States with all the Right of Soveraignty in the same manner as they hold the United Provinces but all the rest of the said Countrey of Waes except the said Forts shall remain unto the said King of Spain As concerning the three places on the other side the Meuse viz. Falquimont Dalem and Rodeleduc they shall remain in the condition they are now in and in case of dispute the business shall be decided in the Chambre mipartic to be mentioned in the following Articles 4. The Subjects and Inhabitants of the Countries of the said King and States shall live in good union and correspondency together without any resentment for past injuries and they shall have liberty to go and stay in the Territories of each other and to exercise their Trade and Commerce in all surety both by Sea and Land 5. The Navigation and Trade to the East and West-Indies shall be maintain'd in conformity to those Grants or Patents given or to give by the States for surety whereof shall serve this present Treaty and the ratification of it and under this Treaty shall be comprehended all Potentates Nations and Peoples with whom the said States or the East and West-India Companies in their name within the limits of their Patent are in amity or alliance And the said King and States shall respectively remain in possession of all those Lordships Towns Castles Fortresses Commerce and Trade in the East and West-Indies as also upon the Coasts of Brasil Asia Africa and America that the said King and States do now hold And in this Article are particularly comprized all those places and Forts that the Portugueses ever since 1641. have taken from the States as also are comprehended all those places that the said States shall hereafter take conquer and possess without infraction of the present Treaty And the Curators or Directors of the East and West-India Companies of the United Provinces as also the Officers Agents Souldiers Mariners being at prefenâ— at the
whereupon the Princess desir'd leave to be gone for Italy Before her departure she took her leave by Letters of most of the Cities and the Nobility shewed their respects in waiting upon her to the borders of Germany where she left them to their great sorrow for the loss of so wise and moderate a Princess CHAP. VIII Containing the Government of the Duke of Alva THe Duke D'alva having pass'd by Savoy and Lorrain with an Army of 10000. Spaniards and Italians all old Souldiers he was sent by the King to punish and chastize all those that had any hand in pulling down Churches and Monasteries or that had any way favour'd the former Confederations This he executed by a Court of twelve who were to judge soveraignly and without appeal of all Delinquents This was call'd the Councell of blood and so frighted the people that thousands of them fled with their Families into neighbouring Countreys to the great detriment of those Provinces as the Princess Margaret had well fore-seen The Prince of Orange and they that were with him had wisely avoided this storm which they fore-saw but Henry of Erederode the Earls of Hooghstract Culemburg and Bergue were cited before this Councell but they ran into Germany and implor'd the succour of the Princes there In the mean time the Duke of Culemburghs house was razed to the ground and Philip his Son taken from Louvain and sent into Spain to be bred By this time the Princes had got an Army and Hooghstract fell upon Artois and was there defeated by Davila Lewis of Nassaw with his brother Adolfe invaded Friezeland and routed the Earl of Aremberg who oppos'd them the Earl and Adolfe were both kill'd D'alva hearing this resolv'd to meet â—hem in person but before he undertook his journey he made nineteen Gentlemen be publickly executed and a little after caused the Earls of Horne and Egmont to be beheaded no prayers nor entreaties made in favour of so great a Warriour being able to prevail with his fierce temper He valued as little the threats of vengeance that were made after their deaths but in pursuance of his design went and fought the Army of Lewis which he utterly ruin'd and immediately turn'd head to the Prince of Orange who was got into Brabant with another considerable Army him he overcame by policy for he refus'd to fight knowing that the Princes Army for want of pay would soon disband which accordingly fell out After this he demanded the tenth penny through the whole Low-Countreys and that was the apple of division which separated and divided the Low-Countreys and made two states of them one part remaining under the Spanish domination and the other making up that powerfull body of the United Provinces now acknowledg'd by Philip the fourth to be Soveraigns All the people were very much shaken in their affection to Spain by the former causes but this last did as it were precipitate them into war and discord which have at last by the exactness of their discipline produced that incomparable fruit of peace and tranquillity This tenth penny was a new tribute upon all merchandises besides there was a twentieth upon immoveables and a hundredth part upon all for once But the people concern'd in this demand chose rather to put hands to their swords than to their purses and yet by a strange but necessary effect of their resolution they have been forc'd to lay much heavier burdens upon themselves to enable themselves to maintain the War but the desire of liberty made them endure joyfully that which they were so much afraid of from anothers hand In the mean time the Councell still proceeded to execution upon the guilty and those that refus'd to pay this new imposition and though the States did represent what damage would befall the Countrey by the removall of Mark-lands yet he being jealous of his Authority made them go on But there happened an accident which much vexed the Duke which was that Queen Elizabeth of England stop'd in her harbours divers Ships loaden with money destin'd to pay his Army and caus'd it to be transported into the Tower of London where iâ— remain'd never to be repayed This disappointment cool'd the Dukes heat a little and made him publish a solemn pardon for the following year but in vain for by this time he was become so odious that all the people forsook and turn'd to the Prince of Orange as it appear'd not long after About All-Saints day there hapned an unlucky presage of the following calamities and which was indeed a great one it self for the Sea having broken the dikes and sluces over-flowed almost all Friezeland with a great part of Holland and Zeland they say that above 20000. persons perished in Friezeland alone This great misfortune made them represent to the Duke the impossibility of paying the Taxe he requir'd who little satisfied with their Remonstrances was upon the point of dealing severely with some Citizens of Bruxels when the news came that the Gueux d'eau or water Gueux or Beggars had surprized the Bril upon Palm-Sunday The chief of this Faction was the Earl of Lumee who being cast there with his Fleet by a storm found occasion of surprizing the place and there discharg'd upon the Church-men the hatred he owed the Spaniards The Count de Bossu hastening to its relief was beaten off and then seeking to secure Dort he was refus'd entrance Upon this news all the Towns of Holland cast off the yoke and joyn'd with the Prince of Orange except Amsterdam and Schorhof Flushing in Zeland followed the example of the rest being animated to it by a Priest The Province of Overissel chang'd likewise but nothing so much troubled the Duke as the taking of Mons in Hainaut by the French under the conduct of Lewis of Nassaw For fearing lest Charles of France should take this occasion of invading the Low-Countreys he immediately turn'd all his Forces that way which gave time to the Hollanders to frame their small Commonwealth and give it some foundation He besieged Mons by his Son at first and at last came himself and took it in spight of Lewis and his Army who endeavouring to succour the place were beaten and forc'd to a retreat Mons being recover'd many other Towns yeelded and Malines for having receiv'd a Garrison from the Prince was sacked The Dukes Son Frederick following his Fathers foot-steps recover'd Overissel and Friezeland from thence passed into Holland and by the bloody action he committed at Naerden he fastened an indeleble hatred upon his Nation Harlem also was taken but Alcmaer stood out and much fortified the Confederates The year 1573. was famous by the Duke of Alvaes leaving the Low-Countreys He was recall'd by Philip who thought his absence might bring a calm in this troubled Sea but the agitation was too great to be so soon layed He was a cruell proud man a very good Souldier but inexorable in his chastizings if he had made a mixture
of severity and mildness he had without doubt better fitted the humour of the Nations he had to do with He is to this very day in great aversion among the Hollanders who call all cruell men by his name It is said of him that he bragg'd he had brought above 18000. to their end by the hand of justice I know not whether it be true but I know that the States have founded the justice of their pretensions upon his cruelties He govern'd six years and left no body afflicted for his depart It was said and well said that either King Philip should never have sent him or never have recall'd him CHAP. IX The Government of Don Lewis and the great Councell of State LEwis of Requesens high Commander of the Kingdome of Castilia was sent in the place of the Duke and his famous Statue which he had caused to be set up in Antwerp was pull'd down by his order to the great satisfaction of the States His first care was to set out a Fleet to succour Mondragonius a brave Captain who had defended Middleburgh almost two years but he was ignorant that the Sea was the Throne these Nations intended to settle their Empire in The Earl Bossu had been beaten the year afore by the Hollanders and now the Zelanders burn'd and destroyed this Fleet in the presence of Don Lewis and took Middleburgh The Count Lewis of Nassaw had worse fortune for having brought a brave Army out of Germany he was met at Nimmiegue by Davila and entirely defeated himself and his Brother slain This victory was followed by a sedition in the Spanish Army which much weakened their power but being appeas'd were sent before Leyden in hopes of having the pillageing of that Town but being there shamefully repulsed their indignation fell upon their Generall whom they detained in prison till they had received their full pay After that they took Oudewater and Schoonhof Many Propositions and Treaties were advanced but none taking effect Don Lewis fram'd that famous enterprize by many thought impossible of besieging Ziriczee This Island was in the Confederates hands and the Royalists waded through the Sea up to the neck to go and besiege it 't is true there was no hopes of a return the Sea being encreased by the flowing water Ziriczee held out nine moneths after which it yeelded Vitellio a great Captain died during that siege and Don Lewis followed him shortly after By his death the Authority came into the hands of the Couâ—cell of State who for want of union ruin'd the Kings affairs and gave occasion to a fourth sedition of the Spaniards A little after followed the pacification of Gand and the alliance of the Provinces against the Spaniards who seeing themselves generally hated and that the inhabitants of Antwerp were about to divide the Town from the Cittadell by a Trench agreed at last with the Governour Davila and sallying out plunder'd the Town for three dayes together which was a most barbarous and detestable action CHAP. X. The Government of Don John of Austria and of the Prince of Parma DOn John of Austria was receiv'd Governour upon condition that he should subscribe to the pacification of Gand which he did but finding himself without Authority he surprized Namur whereupon the States proclaimed him as an enemy and raised an Army He was a Bastard of Charles the fifth and had made himself famous by that immortall Battle of Lepanto against the Turks in which he was Generall The States chose in the mean time the Archduke Matthias Brother to the Emperour Rodolf for their Governour Then having assembled their Army at Gemblours they faced Don Johns Forces who couragiously engaging them obtained the victory but liv'd not long after it declaring Alexander Prince of Parma for his successour This was that famous Alexander who by his valour and conduct reduced all Artois Hainaut Flanders and Brabant to their obedience who took Antwerp Malines Ipres Brussels and many other Cities and at last he had brought the Confederates to the necessity of submitting to some forreign Prince for protection if God had not raised up Prince Morrice to defend them In the mean time the Archduke Matthias finding that the States had a mind to be rid of him and were ready to call the Duke of Alencon and make him Duke of Brabant left the Low-Countreys The Duke of Alencon went first into England in hopes of being married to Queen Elizabeth but the match being deferr'd he went into Brabant and took possession of the Dutchy In the year 1582. the Prince of Orange was shot in the face with a Pistoll which made the people take some jealousie of the French and threaten to cut their throats and their new Dukes He on his side did complain that all the Authority was in the Prince of Orange his hand and thereupon fram'd a design upon Antwerp but fail'd when it came to the execution so that they were forced to leave the Town and soon after Alexander made them quit the Countrey in which he did still advance having taken Tournay Oudenard and Breda defeated Biron and taken Dunkirk All this while William Prince of Orange was seriously employed in framing and giving Laws to this new Commonwealth but being wakened by the progress of Alexander Duke of Parma he made a Remonstrance to the United Provinces that now there was but two wayes left to provide for their safety the one was to submit and patiently yeeld to the Spanish domination the other to declare the King of Spain to be fallen from and to have lost his right to the said Provinces and thereupon choose another Prince mentioning the Duke of Alenson The last of these was followed and in a generall Assembly at Antwerp King Philip was depriv'd of his right and power in those Provinces and the Duke of Alenson as it has been said before chosen in his place It is to the great wit and prudence of this Prince of Orange that Holland owes its liberty but he liv'd not to enjoy the fruit of his labour for he was assassinated at Delft the same year and day that the Duke of Alenson died at Chasteaâ— Thyerry Alexander having reduced Ipres and Bergue resolv'd against the opinion of all to besiege Antwerp and though he met with inconceivable difficulties in the execution yet he atchiev'd his enterprize with great glory But his noble actions and the brave resistance of the United Provinces with all the series of the long War they have maintain'd for the defence of their liberties have been eloquently written by divers good Authors to whom we refer the Reader our scope in this short Narration being only to instruct him how Holland and the other Provinces were govern'd before their union which having perform'd we now come to our main design which is to give a particular Account of this Union of the Conditions upon which it was concluded and by which it yet stands as it follows in the Second Part of this Book
it is agreed that there be chosen in the Name of all the Confederates some Plenipotentiaries and that these Plenipotentiaries do assign the day and place of the Assembly of the States of each Province and that they send to them in due time the Grievances and Heads of matters they are to treat about Yet if there be such points as require secrecy that then they reserve to declare them in the Assembly General of the States that all the Provinces being thus advertiz'd do send their Deputies with their instructions and powers necessary to the place of the Assembly General that the preference be given by the plurality of Votes except in important affairs that if some Provinces do neglect to send their Deputies that those that shall meet do nevertheless debate and deliberate and decree as if all had been there but if the things to be debated will endure a delay then the Provinces that have not sent their Deputies shall be call'd upon two or three times and those that have not convenience of sending their Deputies let them send their advice by writing 16. If the States of the particular Provinces have any knowledge of those things that deserve to be examin'd and pass'd in the Council of the States General let them give notice to the Plenipotentiaries who shall assign and call together the Assembly of the Confederates 17. If there should be any difficulty about the interpretation of these Articles or any doubt arise let the sence of the major part of the Confederates be taken for the true meaning of all 18. If it be found necessary to abolish or change any Laws already made or make any new ones let it be done by the Votes and consent of all 19. Let all observe and solemnly swear to keep inviolably these Laws that if any thing be done either directly or indirectly contrary to them let it be ipso facto void and let it be lawfull for the other Provinces to seise and take the Cities Possessions and Goods of those that shall infringe them and persist so to do In short if in these Constitutions there be any thing against the Right of any particular Province now constituting it shall not be sufficient to make a general renunciation to it except it be preceded by a particular renunciation of each of the Confederates These are the Laws that have been the foundation and basis of this Commonwealth and are still exactly observed in all points except in the 11th Article concerning Religion which was alter'd by the States General in the Year 1583. And since by the Union of Utrect it is free to amplifie change and shorten any of the said Articles when the safety of the Provinces should require it the States ordain'd that no Religion should be henceforth receiv'd but that which is publickly taught in the United Provinces which is the Reformed but that if any Members Provinces or Papish Towns would enter into this alliance that then they should enjoy the liberty of their Religion in subscribing to the rest of the Articles CHAP. II. The rank and dependencies of the United Provinces towards one another HAving made a slight draught of the Commonwealth of these Uâ—ited Provinces we must now consider what are these Provinces thus united and to that end it is observable that all those Towns that do depend on the administration and Government of the States do send their Deputies to the Hague and do share in the Government but that those Cities and Towns that have been added and subjected by the force of Armes are as conquer'd Nations used to be with the Romans 'T is true that those Towns that by the happy success of the States Armes have been with great cost and time conquer'd in Brabant have often solicited their admission and reception into the Body of the Commonwealth but because they have stood the State in so much blood and treasure and that they are incapable of assisting and being a help against the Enemy by reason of their long sufferings and also because it is fit that they alone who first conspir'd to this alliance should enjoy it they have not yet obtain'd their request But to know whether those Towns of Brabant to the number of eight viz. Bolduc Breda Berguenopsooun Mastrect Grave Steenbergue Heindove and Helmont do deserve the priviledge that the Countrey of Drent now enjoys viz. of having particular Treasurers not accomptable to the States General is a point which deserves a greater discussion than is here to be expected However within these few years the said Towns have a Court of Judicature which does Soveraignly and without Appeal judge and decide all controversies arising in those parts This Court sits at the Hague and is made up of seven Counsellors one Secretary one Attorney of the Exchequer and one Attorney General The Towns likewise conquer'd in Flanders have a Court of Judicature at Middlebourg determining all causes Soveraignly The Countrey of Drent has many great Priviledges as the power to choose a Governor to contribute to the publick necessities as other Provinces do and it has also an ambulatory Court of Justice which goes from Town to Town to hear causes and decree upon them without Appeal besides it has the liberty of naming Commissaries for the Treasury but it has not yet the priviledge of sending Deputies call'd Pensionaries to the States General because they did not at first come into the League and Alliance made between the other Provinces and also because since that time there has been no occasion of making any Articles with any of their Towns except Couverde which is disputed too there being in this Countrey scarce any place which has juâ— Civitatis except the little Town of Meppâ—l which would sooner attain its desire of taking share in the Government if by the consent of Drent it were united to some of the neighbouring Provinces To Drent is ordinarily joyn'd the Mannor or Demean of Rhun which is an antient Lordship of the House of Munster But Gueldres Holland Zeeland Utrect Friezland Overyssel and Groningue with Omlund are of the first alliance and have for Armes a Lion holding in his paw seven Arrows the symbole of their Union and the States General do use it as their publick Seal This order which we have set down though it were so at first was nevertheless disputed between Friezland and Uâ—rect they both pretending to the precedency but besides that Utrect is in possession it has two strong reasons The first is that formerly all Friezland was subject to the Bishop of Utrect as for the Spiritual Jurisdiction â—ly That a 〈…〉 Utrect had declar'd for the Union when divers Towns of Friezland were yet in suspence CHAP. III. What was the Form of the General Assemblies till the time of the Earl of Leicester FRom the first time that the Deputies met to make and ordain Laws about the setling and firm establishing of the Commonwealth it was agreed by the 17th Article of the Union of
is bound to send to the Nobles and to the Deputies of Towns the deliberations and resolves made in the Assembly Zeeland being also govern'd by States there are two sorts of Members viz. the Nobles and the Deputies of Towns the Prince of Orange as Marquess of Treveer and Flessingue represents the Nobles by his Deputy in the Assemblies at Middlebourg and has the first place The Towns that send their Deputies are Middlebourg Ziriczee Tergoes Tertole Flessingue and Treveer these States meet as often as they think fit and in the intervals seven Deputies supply their room one in the Name of the Prince who represents the Nobility and in the Name of each Town one to whom are added the Pensioner and the Secretary Besides Walachria which is the principal Island of Zeeland has the right of holding a particular Assembly at Middlebourg which is ordinarily call'd the Assembly of the States of the Isle of Walachria and is composed of one Deputy in the Name of the Prince of Orange and of six others three for Middlebourg Flessingue and Treveer two for the rich Landowners of the Island call'd de breed geerfde to whom is adjoyn'd a Secretary CHAP. XII Of the Governors of the United Provinces untill the Year 1650. WIlliam Prince of Orange was the first Governor General of the United Provinces and since by the desert of this Family this so great a charge has been continued in it it will not be amiss to set down their Titles and Lordships here They are Princes of Orange Counts of Nassaw Catinilibogue Viande Diest Lingue Meurs Bure and Leerdam c. Marquess of Treveer and Flessingue Lords Barons of Breda Grave Cuych Diest Grimbergue Harental Branendock Warneston Arlac Noseroy Saint Vite Doesbourg Polan Wilemstad Nieuward Ysselstein of the Fort Saint Martin Guertrudeâ—bergue Chasteanrenart of the two Swalâ—es of Naddwick Vicounts hereditary of Antwerp and Besanson Governors of Gueldres Holland Zeeland West-Friezeland Zutphen Overyssel and Generals by Sea and by Land This first noble Prince having been wickedly assassinated in the year 1584. brought such a consternation upon the United Provinces that many Towns nay some Provinces fell back under the Spanish domination The Earl of Meurs was Governor of Gueldres and Utrect The Hollanders and Zeelanders chose by provision the Prince Maurice younger son to the deceased Prince William William Lewis Earl of Nassaw had been receiv'd General in Friezeland not long before the Earl of Hohenlo had the conduct of the Army and the Council of State the management of affairs But things were in so great a confusion that the States mâ—strusting their own strength offer'd themselves to the French who having used them ill they address'd themselves to ' Queen Elizabeth of England with whom they prevailed at last to send them Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester He came into Holland in 1585. with so absolute a power that no Governor before him ever had the like for he had power to name one half of the Council of State and because he was a credulous easie man he suffer'd himself to be led by the Nose by some Strangers about him who little intended the advantage of the Low-Countries and himself being a particular Enemy to Prince Maurice and the Earl of Hohenlo at last the hatred against him became great and all the affections of the people and Souldiers turn'd to Maurice the treacherous actions of Stanly and York English Commanders who had deliver'd Deventer and Zutphen to the Spaniard had much exasperated the States and now a general fear began to possess the Lovers of their Countrey least they should either be sold or oppress'd whereupon the States of Five Provinces gave all the charge of governing to Prince Maurice who being setled did soon quash all jealousies and suspicions which did already make people apt to sedition and tumults But since our design is not to write Annals we need not here recite all the glorious actions of Prince Maurice it is only fit to observe that William Lewis Earl of Nassaw then Governor of Friezeland and since 1550. Governor of Groningue and Omlande was alwayes in perfect intelligence with his Cousin Maurice and so this famous couple of the Nassavian Family advanc'd the affairs of the United Provinces conjoyntly Maurice died the 23. of April in the Year 1625. he was a very great Captain and of incomparable conduct in War and politick affairs Maurice being dead and Spinola the Spanish General having then besieged Breda a Town of great importance for the States they presently chose Henry Frederick of Nassaw his Brother for General in his room and not long after Gueldres Holland Zeeland Utrect and Overyssel accepted of him for their Governor Groningue Omlande and Drent submitted to Ernest Lasimir of Nassaw Brother to William Lewis of Nassaw who was also Governor of Friezeland Prince Henry was a worthy successor to his Brothers deserts as well as Honours and carried himself with singular valour and prudence his Cousin Ernest was no small help to him and the Provinces being a most excellent Field Officer and in that imployment he died at the siege of Ruremonde in the Year 1632. His successor to his Governments of Friezeland c. was his son Prince Henry the Aâ—hilles of the Hollander he was young and by his beginnings did promise so much as might make all men wish him a longer life but he was kill'd in the Year 1640. his very Enemies bearing witness of his noble valour and the Friezelanders much afflicted chose his Brother William Frederick of Nassaw who worthily supplyed his Brothers loss Groningue Omlande and Drent coming back to Henry Frederick Prince of Orange who died likewise at the Hague in 1647. the 14th of March having first forced the Spaniards to make Peace His only son William took the Oath of Allegiance to the States the same day as General of all their Forces both by Sea and Land A little after six of the Provi 〈…〉 s chose him for their Governor as they had promised his Father but Friezeland alone being already provided of Prince William Frederick made no change but engaged that in case he should die they would then choose the Prince of Orange But O unexpected misfortune just as all the Provinces were in hopes of living in a flourishing condition under the protection of this William the second he died at the Hague in the Year 1650. and that in so short a time that the noise of his disease did scarce fore-run the news of his death he left the Princess his Lady with Child of a son of whom she was brought abed eight dayes after the Princes death who is the now Prince of Orange whom God keep and preserve and give him his Ancestors spirit CHAP. XIII Of the charge of Governour IT is a hard matter to reduce the charge of Governour under certain Heads because hitherto the Provinces have given them such different instructions that they have had a hand in every thing The States General have
chooses an Agitatour who resides near the States to sollicite the payment of those he represents and when there is no Money in the publick Treasury he may confidently and does borrow and take up Money for the present necessity and it is repaid him again with interest by the States order The hopes of the great profit there is to be made engages these Sollicitors to do thus for when they advance their Money it is at the rate of 10 per Cent. gains which they tâ—â—e upon the arrears which the State owes to the Officers But this produces another inconvenience which is that the Officer being forc'd to give so much to the Sollicitor out of his pay endeavours to recover it again upon the States and musters more men in his Company than he really pays Besides their pay the Souldiers have likewise their Lodging free and the States do pay to the Inhabitants of all Towns upon that score six pence a week for each Souldier they lodge and this is call'd Service-Money If the Enemies besiege a Town and that the Money laid up in it for the paying of the Souldiery come to fail they make Money of Tin Brass Leather or Pastboard which the Magistrates set a price upon and such a one as exceeds very much the price of the matter of which such Money is made In the mean time the Souldiers take it freely for the siege being raised or the Town yielded up there comes a Treasurer who gives them currant Money for their other All sorts of Provisions that are brought to the Armies are free from all Imposts and Tributes in favour of the Souldiers In the siege of Towns the Souldiers have likewise gratuity given them some Provisions for their diet out of the publick Magazines The Souldiers and inferiour Officers being made Prisoners are at liberty in paying their ransom which by agreement between the States and the Spaniards is a moneths pay of the Prisoners The Inhabitants or Citizens are not so mildly dealt withall for they are constrained to pay whatsoever the Enemy demands or to rot in Prison till there be a general exchange made of Prisoners which is once or twice a year The Women and Children under twelve years old are not to be taken So much for the Forces in ordinary In extraordinary dangers there are extraordinary Forces rais'd which they call Waertgelders to encourage them the more the States do promise them Ten pence a day but because that many in hopes of so great a pay do forsake the ordinary Companies and take imployment in these new ones it has been often thought fit to command out instead of these Waertgelders the Train-bands of every Town and to mingle with them some old Souldiers and so make them fit for service Every Souldier as well in the Army as in Garrison is subject to the Jurisdiction of a Council of War which is compos'd in the Field of the General and some high Officers and in a Garrison of the Governour and his Captains they judge according to the Articles of the Formulary prescribed and printed by the States order The pay of Souldiers on Ship board is 12 s. and 6 d. a moneth besides which they have their diet which he that commands the Ship is bound to find them and receives from the States 6 d. a day for each man At Sea there is no such custom as the ransom at Land nay at first all Prisoners were bound hand and feet and thrown over-board but because so great a cruelty displeased both Spaniards and Hollanders they agreed there should be quarter given but not at such easie rates as at Land The Spaniards reason for this his so great a severity was that he might deterr the Hollanders from venturing to Sea but it produced only this that it made them defend their Ships with more courage and successe than before Ostend and Dunkirk were the places from whence they made most incursions upon the Hollanders which made them every year put a Fleet to Sea and come and besiege the Ports of these two Towns CHAP. XVII Of the Alliances of the United Provinces with Foreign Princes THe external Forces of the United Provinces are their Alliances which they maintain either by their Ambassadors or by their Agents They allow their Ambassadors ordinarily a thousand pound only he that is in this quality at Constantinople is allowed more that he may maintain the glory of his Nation to the eyes of that ambitious people Let us consider these Alliances one after another With the Emperor of Germany there is no Alliance but only a Friendship observ'd since these many years in appearance though not in reality for the Emperor has often sent great succours to the Spaniards under-hand and the Hollanders have done the same to the Princes of France and Germany Yet the Emperor has by divers Embassies press'd the United Provinces to declare themselves Members of the Empire as their Princes were formerly writing to them in the stile of Faithfull and Well-beloved But the States have been so far from consenting to such a Proposition that they have often order'd that such Letters should be sent back again to the Emperor without being opened saying that theirs was a free absolute State which had never yielded to pay homage to any Prince In the mean time there passes between them all Commerce and offices of Friendship There was likewise a League and Union made between the United Provinces and the Princes of Germany to protect them from the oppression which threatned them from the great Power the Emperor was got into and in this they did nothing but what the care of their Liberty did force them to for had those Princes been over-power'd the Low-Countries might have feared the same fate Above two hundred years ago there was an Alliance between the Anseatic Towns and the Low-Countries and there happening to be amongst the United Provinces some of these Towns as Amsterdam Middlebourg Dort which now make a part of the Common-wealth it was thought fit to renew the Alliance which was accordingly done in 1614. by a new Treaty in which the States oblige themselves to maintain the Rights and Priviledges of the said Anseatic Towns This the Emperor took so ill that he endeavour'd to make those Anseatic Towns that were in the Empire liable to the crimes of Treason and Rebellion against his Imperial Majesty but by their Ambassadors they proved that time out of mind they had the right and priviledge of making such Alliances The Treaty of Alliance made formerly with the King of Denmark concerns nothing but a reciprocal liberty for Traffick and Commerce and yet these States have often been forc'd to complain to their Ambassadors of the excessive Rates and Customs they did pay in passing the Sound But the necessity they stand in of venting their Commodities makes them undergo this hardship and has produced of late a more strict Alliance for the maintaining of Trade They are likewise in Friendship with the
King and Commonwealth of Poland particularly for the great quantities of Corn that come from thence though the Imposts be there likewise very high and such as have often made the Hollanders think of changing their Market and buying in Muscovy which they would have compass'd by this means The Countrey people in Muscovy are such slaves their Duke being the Proprietary of all their Lands that they never trouble themselves to plough or sow more Land than just as much as will make such a product as can find them and their Families food Thence it happens that huge Fields of good ground lie wast Now the Hotlanders design was to perswade the Duke of Muscovy to force his Subjects to Till more ground and so he would be able to drive a great Trade and to further this they offer'd to leave Overseers that should direct the work While this was a treating the Poles fearing the consequence bated their Imposts and Customs and so things remain as they were In the Year 1615. there was a Treaty made likewise with the King of Swedeland and Traffick was the ground of it A little before the said King fell upon Germany the amity was renewed and it was agreed that the United Provinces should give the said King 400. pound a moneth as long as the War should last between him and the House of Austria but since these few years the succour that has been given to the Danâ—â— and the interruption of Trade in that Kings Dominions have almost chang'd this Friendship into War There has been likewise a very good Treaty for Trade made with the Duke of Muscovy where mongst other things liberty is granted to levy Souldiers here in his Name and to transport Ammunition for War into his Dominions Trade has also made the States make Treaties with the Emperor of the Turks the Sophy of Persia and the Pirates of Thunis and Algier In Italy the States have no Alliance but with the Venetians which is yet maintain'd for the Honour of these two Commonwealths which are the only flourishing ones in Europe and for certain reasons the Venetians do give five hundred pound a moneth to the Hollanders towards the maintenance of the War with the Spaniards as also the Hollanders have promis'd the like succour to Venice if it should be attaqued by the Spaniard In the first birth of the Common-wealth there was a most advantagious Treaty made with the English under the reign of Queen Elizabeth who maintain'd this reeling State by the succours of Men and great sums of Money which she sent over to them though in such a way that the Hollanders were bound to respect her as if they had been her Subjects Now that the Peace is made with the Spaniards there remains nothing of this Alliance but the liberty of Trade and Commerce and the use of the English Ports There has been likewise many Treaties with the King of France and the States of the United Provinces have receiv'd from him great sums of Money towards the carrying on of the War CHAP. XVIII Of the Admiralty and care that is taken to maintain a Sea-strength SInce it is true that a State is maintain'd by those means by which it is first acquir'd the United Provinces ought not to neglect their Maritine affairs because they have and do really get all their subsistance out of the Sea This Sea-strength consists in a number of Men of War parâ— whereof belong to the States and part to particular men and are call'd Privateers The first are set out at the charges of the publick the other borrow only the States Banner and Commission though to encourage them the States have propos'd to them a set price according to the value of the thing they take from the Enemy The Men of War of the States serve to convoy Merchant-men to and fro and preserve them from danger of Pirates and Enemies The Privateers are most imployed to give chase to and take the rich India Ships of the Spaniards coming from the West-Indies The High Admiral who at present is the Governour General of the States commands over all Ships of War but he seldom goes in person because his presence is necessary at home his room is supplyed by a Vice-Admiral The Great Council call'd the States Gâ—neral being as well oblig'd to look after the Maritine affairs as the Land business and yet finding themselves over-burden'd with business they have discharg'd that care by choosing some others to compose a Body or Council which shall order all Sea-affairs in the Name of the States There are divers of these Assemblies and particularly in those three Provinces which are near the Sea viz. in Holland at Amsterdam Roterdam and Horne this last is sometimes transported to Enchusen which is a Town of North-Holland in Zeeland at Middlebourg and in Friezeland formerly at Doâ—cum but is now transported to Harlingue Each of these Assemblies consists of seven Counsellors or Senators who being chosen by the Members of each Province are delegated and impower'd by the States General they have a Secretary and a Treasurer The Governour General is the head of all these Assemblies as High Admiral the Vice-Admiral represents him in his absence these Deputies did formerly use to meet at the Hague twice a year and do still meet there when the affairs require a conjoynt deliberation with the States about the necessary means of securing the Sea and furthering Commerce They have a Treasury particular to themselves and the Money which is in it is gather'd from the Money that their own Merchants and Strangers pay for Convoys and likewise from the Imposts laid upon Commodities that are transported from one Harbour to another There is likewise brought into this Treasury all the Money that is rais'd by giving licenses to transport Commodities to the Enemies The Deputies of these Assemblies are bound to give an account every quarter of all their expences and receipts to the Commissioners from the States General They have also the power of naming Captains to the Men of War but then the Admiral chooses out of those that they have nam'd In a word their charge is so to secure the Sea as there be no interruption neither from Pirates nor Enemies of any other sort in Trade and Navigation to judge and determine all causes between Seamen and Officers and that Soveraignly and without appeal provided the summe in dispute exceed not fifty pounds observing exactly all brevity and expedition not suffering long harangues in any Cause or giving leave to the parties to reply more than once or twice and that because ordinarily Sea people have occasion of departing upon long Voyages and cannot come again suddenly Last of all it belongs to them to see that the States be payed their proportion of what is taken The fifth part of all prizes belongs to them the tenth to the Amirall and the rest to those that have set out the Privateer as also to the Captain and Sea-men This is only
to be understood of Privateers CHAP. XIX Of the particular Government of the Towns in Holland VVE have seen hitherto what is the Government of the whole Body of the United Provinces now we may descend to the particular Towns The Towns are govern'd by a Bailif a Senate or Councill by Bourgmasters or Consuls and by Aldermen There is but one Bailif in each Town who to say true has no power of himself to pronounce judgement but in criminal Causes he is as it were an Attourney-Generall and manages accusations against offenders in the name of the States This is done before the Aldermen who have power to examine the heads of the accusation and to pronounce sentence The Bailifs have no Sallary and all the profit of their places rises from the Fines that are lay'd upon the guilty The Senate and the greatest is that which is call'd Den breeden raâ—dâ— or De Vroedschap in most Towns as at Leyden it is compos'd of about fourty persons according to the number of the richest Citizens more or less The ancient Laws admit none to be of this Senate but such as are of the richer sort This Assembly seldome meets but upon the occasion of choosing new Magistrates as also when the States of the Province are to meet then the heads of the Deliberations are examin'd in this Senate before-hand They do also controle and correct their Bourgmasters and Aldermen if in the Assembly of the States they chance to go beyond their Commission And to the end they may do it without fear it has been ordain'd by our wise Ancestours that the charge of Senatour should be perpetuall that so they may not fear to be persecuted for what they shall do in the defence of the publick liberty The Bourgmasters and Aldermen are chosen from amongst these Senatours by the plurality of voices In some places there are four Bourgmasters and in some there are but two Their Office is to determine all that concerns the good order of the Town as also to inform themselves of all the fallings out of the Citizens and bring them either by themselves or others to an agreement which if they cannot compass then their duty is to cite them before the Aldermen They meet in a common Chamber and give audience to all Inhabitants without distinction In some places there are seven Aldermen in others nine They are the Judges of the Town who meet three or four set times a week and determine all civill Causes between the Inhabitants and judge all crimes propos'd by the Bailif For the first cognizance of the Cause belongs to the Judge of the place where he that is cited dwells Except they be priviledged Causes the Towns judge of no greater summe than five pounds and the Bourghs of thirty shillings though in very great Cities they may judge as far as thirty pound The appeal is first to the Court of the Province and then to the great Councill where there is a double number of Judges they that are cast are fin'd for having appeal'd without reason In the Court of the Province the Fine is three pound ten shillings in the great Councill of six pound and when the Process is re-viewed if the sentence be confirm'd the Fine is of twenty pound As for criminall Causes the Judges are absolute and there is no appeal from them neither in the Villages nor in the Towns except the Bailif require that the criminall should undergo a severer punishment and then the accused has liberty to defend himself There are two sort of Laws in Holland the first sort is the Customes Priviledges and Constitutions of the Countrey and former Princes and of the States The second is the Roman Law call'd the Civill Law Moreover that the course of justice be not retarded nor the Judges time taken up in petty businesses there are chosen by the Aldermen a certain number of the richer sort of Citizens who are call'd Commissaries of small Causes These take cognizance of all Causes that are not above five pound as also of all Actions for reparation of Honour and of the Differences between Masters and Servants and such like An Alderman presides ordinarily in this Assembly and is ordinarily a good Civilian There is also in the Senate or Town-House and in the Colledge of the Bourgmasters one who is call'd a Syndiâ— or Pensioner who ought to be eloquent and learn'd as being the Speaker of the whole Town or Corporation in their most important affairs CHAP. XX. Of the Tributes and Imposts of how many sorts they are and of the manner of levying them in Holland SInce as Tacitus sayes there is no War without pay nor no pay without tributes and that that is the particular case of the United Provinces who have been long in War to which they have all contributed their share it is fit to consider of the wayes they use to levy them There are two sorts of Tributes the ordinary and the extraordinary The ordinary which being once granted are alwayes continued the extraordinary which are levied but for some certain time and are then left off There are three sorts of extraordinary Tributes viz. the Tribute by Head or Pole-money the Chimney-money and the Land Taxes The Pole-money is so levied that the State has twenty pence for every Head they that are extream poor are freed from this Tribute To my remembrance this was never practis'd but once and then too there was great murmuring and many refus'd to pay The Chimney-money is that Tribute which is paid for every Chimney or Hearth which is twenty pence and in this the Hollanders have imitated the Spaniards in the Kingdome of Naples The third Tribute call'd a Land Taxe may be properly call'd the two hundredth penny for out of two hundred pound a year for example is paid one pound to the States So out of four hundred two pounds or fourty shillings To this may be objected that it is a very hard thing if not impossible for the perfect knowledge of the true value of mens Estates to be had It is answer'd that the Magistrate does take his measure from the publick voice and the generall report that any man has to have such and such revenues And because in this there is room for a mistake the Law gives any man leave to complain of the greatness of his Taxe and if he will take his Oath he is not worth so much as the world values his Estate at his Taxe shall be moderated As for the ordinary Tributes the chief are these following 1. The Tribute from Salt call'd in Dutch Sonte geldt it is levied after this manner The Magistrate of the Town visits each Family and reckons every head of it then they guess at the quantity of Salt that they may reasonably be thought to spend in one year and thereupon they exact from them a summe of money proportionable to the quantity of Salt they are to have And in some Towns they set a price upon the
the King of Spain and the States Generall there has happened some disputes about the true sence of the separate Article concluded the 4th of February 1648. in the said Town touching Navigation and Commerce the said King and States have thought fit for the more sincere and perfect observation of the said Treaty of peace to give a better explanation of their meaning to which end the said King has on his side Deputed and Commission'd Messire Antony Prun Counsellor in his High Councill of State for the Low-Countries near his person and his Plenipotentiary at the Treaty of Munster as his Ordinary Embassador to the said States who on their side have likewise Commissioned these following Rugzer Huygens Knight Banninck Cock Knight Lord of Purmerlant and Apendam Bourgemaster and Counsellor of the Town of Amsterdam Cornelius Ripera Bourgemaster Regent of the Town of Horne James Vâ—th Counsellor and Pensioner of the Town of Middlebourg in Zeeland Giisbert de Hoolk old Bourgemaster of the Town of Utrect Joachim Andree first ancient Counsellor in the Provinciall Court of Friâ—zeland John de la Beech of Dorvick and Crystenburgh Bourgemaster of the Town of Deventer Adrian Dant a Stedum Lord of Nittersum all Deputies of the body of their Assembly The said Embassador and Deputies having held many Assemblies and Conferences have at last in the name of the said King and States agreed upon and concluded this present Treaty all its Articles and Conditions 1. The Subjects and Inhabitants of the United Provinces may with safety and liberty trade with all those Kingdoms States and Countries that are or shall be in peace amity or neutrality with the said States of the United Provinces 2. And they may not be molested or troubled in this freedom by the Ships or Subjects of the King of Spain by reason of the hostilities that are or may be hereafter between the said King and the said Kingdomes States c. that are in peace c. with the said States 3. This shall extend it self as to France for all sorts of Commodities that were used to be transported before the said Kingdome was in War with Spain 4. Yet shall not the Subjects of the United Provinces furnish France with such Merchandizes as come from the States of the said King of Spain and may serve the French against him and his States 5. And as for other Kingdomes States c. that may be in War with the said King of Spain and are in neutrality or friendship with the States their Subjects shall not carry to those Kingdomes c. any forbidden Goods or Merchandizes of Counterband which to hinder the said States shall forbid it by express prohibitions 6. Besides to prevent the dispute that might arise concerning the Merchandizes that are of Counterband and those that are not it is agreed that under that name and quality are understood these following all fire-Arms and things belonging to them as Canons Musquets Mortar-Peeces Petards Bombes Grenadoes Cereles Squibs Carriages Forks Powder Match Salt-Peter Bullets All other Arms likewise offensive and defensive as Pikes Swords Casques Helmets Back and Breast-pieces Halberds Pertuiscens and other such Besides under the same name are understood the transport of Souldiers Horses Harness Metall Pistols Belts and all other Implements of War 7. Further to avoid all dispute it is agreed that under that name of forbidden Merchandize are not comprehended Wheat and all sorts of Grains Salt Oyl Wine nor in generall any thing that is nourishment and sustentation to mens bodies which shall be free as all other Goods and Merchandizes not specified in the fore-going Articles and may be carried to all Towns except to such as are besieged and blocked up 8. And the better to hinder that the said forbidden Merchandizes do not pass into the hands of the enemies of the said King and that under pretext of hindring the said transportation the safety and liberty of Trade and Navigation be not hindred it is agreed that the Ships belonging to the Subjects of the United Provinces being entred in any Port of the said Kings Dominions and being from thence bound for the Ports of his enemies shall be obliged only to produce and shew to the Officers of the said King their Pasports containing the particulars of their lading seal'd and sign'd by the Officers of the Admiralty of such places as they come from with declaration of the places they are bound for the whole in ordinary form after which they shall not be molested searched nor detained under any pretext whatsoever 9. Likewise the Ships of the States Subjects being at Sea or coming into some Bay without entring the Harbour or coming in without unlading shall not be bound to give an account of their lading except they be suspected to carry Merchandizes of Counterband 10. And in case of a violent suspition they shall only be forced to shew their Pasports as has been said 11. If they are met at Sea or near the Shore by any Ships or Privateers of the said King then to avoid disorder and plunder the said men to War may send their Boat with two or three men in it aboard the Ship of the States to which men shall be shewed by the Master the Pasport above-mentioned with a particular Letter shewing the quality and place of residence of the owner of the Ship and Master in the said United Provinces and to these shall be given credit without further enquiry but that there be no counterfeit Letters the said King and States shall agree of particular marks not easily to be imitated 12. And in case there should be found in the Ships belonging to the States Subjects by the foresaid means some of those Merchandizes call'd of Counterband they shall be seized upon and confiscated before the Judges of the Admiralty or other competent ones but the said Ship and the rest of the lading shall no wayes be detained or seized upon 13. It has been agreed besides that all Goods whatsoever that the Subjects of the States shall lade in the bottoms of the said Kings enemies shall be confiscated without reserve or exception 14. But also all that shall be found in the bottoms of the Subjects of the said States though part or all of it do belong to the enemies of the said King yet it shall all be free and not seized upon except they be Merchandizes of Counterband 15. The Subjects of the said King shall enjoy all the same liberties in Trade and Navigation as is by this Treaty accorded to the Subjects of the United Provinces with the same equality and though some Kingdomes or States should have friendship or neutrality with the said King though they were enemies of the States yet shall his Subjects enjoy all the benefit granted in the like case to the Subjects of the United Provinces 16. This present Treaty shall be as an explanation to the particular Article concluded at Munster the 4th day of February 1648. 17. This present Treaty shall have
the same force as if it had been inserted into the original Treaty at Munster with this reserve that if for the time to come any frauds or hindrances of Navigation be discover'd for which this Treaty has not provided a remedy it shall be lawfull to adde to it such Cautions as both parties shall agree upon till then it shall remain in force FINIS A Table of the Chapters The First Book CHap. 1. What passed before the Earls of Holland page 1. Chap. 2. Thyerry of Aquitain the first Earl p. 5. Chap. 3. The House of Hainaut p. 18. Chap. 4. The House of Bavaria p. 21. Chap. 5. The House of Burgundy p. 24. Chap. 6. The House of Austria p. 29. Chap. 7. Containing the memorable passages under the Government of Margaret of Parma p. 39. Chap. 8. The Government of the Duke of Alva p. 44. Chap. 9. The Government of Don Lewis and the great Councel of State p. 52. Chap. 10. The Government of Don John of Austria and of the Prince of Parma p. 55. The Second Book Chap. 1. The League and Union of the Provinces p. 60. Chap. 2. The Rank and Dependencies of the United Provinces towards one another p. 70. Chap. 3. What was the form of the generall Assemblies till the time of the Earl of Leicester p. 74. Chap. 4. In what consists the Superiority of the States Generall and what sort of affairs are determined by them which cannot be determined by the States of the particular Provinces p. 77. Chap. 5. How far the power of the States Generall does extend p. 80. Chap. 6. Who are those that are ordinarily chosen for Deputies to the States Generall and of the order which is observed amongst the Deputies p. 82. Chap. 7. Of the Orders that the States of Holland and West-Friezeland give to their Deputies in the States Generall and the Oath they take p. 86. Chap. 8. Of the great Assembly Extraordinary p. 91. Chap. 9. Of the Councel of State which is the greatest after the Councel of the States Generall p. 92. Chap. 10. Of the Power of the States of every Province p. 95. Chap. 11. Of the States of Holland and Zeeland p. 97. Chap. 12. Of the Governors of the United Provinces untill the year 1650. p. 100. Chap. 13. Of the charge of a Governor p. 106. Chap. 14. Whether or no the United Provinces can subsist without a Governor p. 109. Chap. 15. Of the Riches by which the United Provinces do maintain themselves p. 111. Chap. 16. Of the principal Forces which do maintain the Commonwealth of the United Provinces p. 116. Chap. 17. Of the Alliances of the United Provinces with forreign Princes p. 125. Chap. 18. Of the Admiralty and care that is taken to maintain a Sea-strength p. 131. Chap. 19. Of the particular Government of the Towns of Holland p. 136 Chap. 20. Of the Tributes and Imposts of how many sorts they are and of the manner of levying them in Holland p. 141. Chap. 21. Of the East and West-India Companies p. 153. Chap. 22. What judgement may be made of the lasting or decay of this Common-wealth p. 173. Chap. 23. An Abridgement of the State of the United Provinces by Paul Merle p. 178. Chap. 24. The Proclamation of the States of Holland and West-Frieze touching the ancient Right of the Common-wealth of Holland p. 189. The Third Book Chap. 1. Of the Original of Holland p. 203. Chap. 2. Of the length and breadth of Holland the number of its Towns and Villages p. 206. Chap. 3. Of the Division of Holland and the nature of the Soyl. p. 210. Chap. 4. Of the Manners and Dispositions of the Inhabitants p. 222. Chap. 5. Of the Trade of the Hollanders and the wayes of getting a livelyhood p. 232. Chap. 6. Of the Imposts and Customes p. 238. Chap. 7. Of Leyden in Latine Lugdunum Batavorum p. 241. Chap. 8. Of the Territories about Leyden p. 263. Chap. 9. Of Amsterdam p. 271. Chap. 10. Of Harlem and some Villages round about it p. 280. Chap. 11. Of Delft and its Villages p. 285. Chap. 12. Of Dort p. 289. Chap. 13. Of Goude p. 293. Chap. 14. Of Rotterdam p. 295. Chap. 15. Of the small Towns of Holland p. 296. Chap. 16. Of the Hague p. 299. Chap. 17. Of Voerden p. 303. Chap. 18. Of the Towns that are in Goylant near the South-Sea p. 312. Chap. 19. Of the Lakes and Rivers p. 316. Chap. 20. Of North Holland commonly called West-Frieze p. 319. Chap. 21. Of Alcmaer and Medenbliick p. 322. Chap. 22. Of Enchusen p. 325. Chap. 23. Of Horne and the small Towns of North Holland p. 328. Chap. 24. Of the different Religions in Holland p. 336. Chap. 25. Of the Nobility p. 345. Chap. 26. Of Liberty p. 350. Chap. 27. Of some Voyages undertaken under the Banner of Holland p. 354. Chap. 28. Containing divers Curiosities p. 360. The Articles of Peace between the King of Spain and the Dutch in 1648. p. 379. Books Printed for and Sold by John Starkey at the Mitre betwixt the Middle Temple-Gate and Temple-Bar in Fleet-Street Folio's 1. THe Voyages and Travels of the Duke of Holstein's Ambassadors into Muscovy Tartary and Persia begun in the year 1633. and finisht in 1639. Containing a Compleat History of those Countries Whereto are added The Travels of Mandelslo from Persia into the East-Indies begun in 1638. and finisht in 1640. The whole Illustrated with divers accurate Maps and Figures Written originally by Adam Olearius ecreta ry to the Embassie Englished by J. Davies of Kidwelly Price Bound 18. Shillings 2. The World Surveyed Or the famous Voyages and Travels of Vincent le Blanc of Marseilles into the East and West-Indies Persia Pegu Fez Morocco Guinny and through all Africa and the principall Provinces of Europe Price Bound 10. Shillings 3. A Practicall and Polemicall Commentary or Exposition upon the third and fourth Chapters of the latter Epistle of St. Paul to Timothy by Thomas Hall B. D. Price Bound 10. Shillings 4. A Generall Collection of Discourses of the Virtuosi of France upon Questions of all sorts of Philosophy and other Naturall Knowledge made in the Assembly of the Beaux Esprits at Paris by the most Ingenious persons of that Nation Englished by G. Havers In two Volumes Price Bound 30. Shillings 5. A Treatise of the Sybils giving an account of the Names and Number of them of their Qualities the Form and Matter of their Verses and of their Books Written in French by David Blundell Englished by J. Davies Price Bound 7. Shillings 6. The History of Barbado's St. Christophers Mevis St. Vincents Antego Martinico Monserrat and the rest of the Caribby Islands in all twenty eight in Two Books containing the Natural and Moral History of those Islands illustrated with divers Pieces of Sculpture representing the most considerable Rarities therein described Englished by J. Davies Price Bound 10. Shillings 7. The State of the Ottoman Empire in Three Books containing the Maxims of the
hitherto communicated all their designs and counsils with the three Princes of Orange that have succeeded one another as also the President of the States General has alwayes used to wait upon his Highness before the sitting of the Company besides by reason of the great Estates they possess in Zeeland and other Provinces they enjoy peculiar Priviledges and have in that consideration and others many advantages which the Provinces may either amplifie or restrain at their pleasure But leaving all this aside and considering barely what belongs to the Office of a Governour we may particularly stay upon these six points 1. The Governour General may pardon and forgive all capital crimes that deserve death this Prerogative is call'd trech van pardonneren 2. In those Provinces that have Courts of Judicature he is alwayes the President of them and his Name and Titles are in the front of all their Acts and Decrees 3. In certain places where that custom is receiv'd he names the Magistrates either out of a certain number proposed to him or absolutely as he pleases It is thus practis'd at Nimmegue every where in Holland except at Horne Enchuse Edam and Monchendaâ— in Zeeland every where except at Tergoes in Utrect every where in Friezeland the Governour does the like This Priviledge is extended even to the nomination of amptmans or drostampen of the dignity of Patricians or raâ—ts heers-ampten and many other which would be too long to name here 4. He may send Ambassadors to Foreign Princes for his own particular concerns and give private Audience to the Ambassadors of Foreign States that are sent to the States General 5. It is his duty to see the States Orders executed in those Provinces in which he is Governour 6. By the 9th and 14th Articles of the Union of Utrect he is made Umpire of such contests as should arise between the Provinces or between any Members of one Province or even between the States and some of their Subjects touching all which he alone can pronounce a Soveraign and definitive sentence and if the affairs be of very great consequence then he may joyn with him some Counsellors of State without exception of persons and it is expresly enjoyn'd to all parties to acquiesce and submit to his Aâ—bitration We shall speak elsewhere of the other attributes of Governour that have â—elong'd to him as General by Sea and Land for these two great charges are not as some Strangers do to be confounded and he that is Governour of the Provinces is not alwayes General of their Forces CHAP. XIV Whether or no the United Provinces can subsist without a Governour SInce we have numbred up the Governours of the United Provinces and declar'd freely what is their Authority and Power it is now fit to consider whether they are so necessary to the States as to make them incapable of subsisting without them Many Strangers are of opinion that these Provinces cannot be without a Governour General and the same opinion has taken root in the hearts of many Natives who are not able to discern those things in the Treaty of Utrect which are essential from those that are mutable and may be otherwise disposed of as the circumstances of time do vary But since the Soveraign Power has never been entirely resigned into the hand of any one Governour though some have had very many of the Prorogatives belonging to it it is evident that they in whom the Soveraign Power remains can perform by themselves those Offices which they are pleas'd to trust a Governour with therefore if a Governour does nothing but by Commission and that because of the absence of those who impower him to act for them why shall not they if they be present take upon them the execution of those things that were before committed to anothers care And though Governours be often nam'd and mention'd in the Treaty of Utrect yet was it not intended for a Governour General for even at that time Utrect had its particular Governour and some years after it was govern'd by the same Governour that Holland and Zeeland was 'T is to as little purpose that some pretend that it is necessary that each Province should have its particular Governour who may in fit season prevent and calm all occasions of Civil commotions as the Dictators did in Rome but in vain for who sees not but that as hitherto the way of determining those contests has been by referring them to the Governour and some Deputies of another Province so they may if they please leave out the Governour and refer their debates to the Deputies of other Provinces alone particularly considering that it has been hitherto observ'd that no Governour ever undertook the person of an Umpire before he had consulted with the States Generall who being above any inferiour Province have the power of hindring the progress and encrease of any dissention CHAP. XV. Of the Riches by which the United Provinces do maintain themselves BY the Treaty of Union made at Utrect it was ordained that there should be raised an equall summe of Moneys in every Province but experience hath taught us that such an equality was very unjust For for example is it fit that there should be no more laid upon an acre of Land in Holland which is very rich and yeelds twice as much as in any other place than upon an acre in Gueldres which is poor and yeelds not half the revenue The same difference is to be observ'd in all other things It has therefore been judg'd by common consent more just and profitable for each Province to make a new Order every year in which each should be taxed according to the then abilities of the said Province and according to the publick exigencies So for example if there be necessity of raising 10000. pound Holland alone shall furnish 4000. five hundred of it Zeeland and Friezeland a 1000. a piece Gueldres Utrect and Groeningue 3500. and Transisulania or Overissell the rest This order being once agreed upon it belongs to the States of each Province to consider how it shall be levyed and this is the true reason why the Taxes and Imposts are so different in the Dominions of the States Generall These Levyes thus order'd are not alwayes receiv'd in money and return'd to the publick Treasury of the States Generall but are distributed by Tallies in the Province it self to those to whom the States do owe which is a very wise caution for it is certain that money still lessens as it passes through the hands of many receivers 2. Among these Levyes it was thought fit from the very beginning to give leave to all to transport certain merchandize into the neighbouring Low-Countreys still remaining under the Spanish jurisdiction but there was and is an impost laid upon them for the receit of which there are Officers and seachers upon the Frontier But to the end this licence might be no wayes prejudiciable to the affairs of this rising Commonwealth they