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
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
forbid the transport of Arms or Ammunition under pain of death Yet at last when victuals and necessaries for life grew dear among their enemies and that there was an evident advantage for the Confederates to furnish them with those things licence was granted and they drove such a trade with their enemies as made themselves grow rich and powerfull 3. There is likewise a great summe of money rais'd upon the granting of Passports to those in the Spanish Dominions who desire to transport themselves into the Territories of the States for every Passport costs fifty shillings of English money And yet lest this also should prove prejudiciall to the State they seldome grant any to those amongst their enemies who are either in military or politick employments and to any others they scarce grant them for longer than the time of six moneths 4. The Contributions that are levyed upon those Villages and that part of the Countrey which lyes between the enemy and them make another part of their supplyes for these Bourghs pay as much to the States as to the Spaniards and there are Treasurers upon the Frontier for the receit of it 5. The Imposts payed in the conquer'd Towns of Brabant and Flanders make another part of their revenue for there is excise upon Wine and Beer and Salt A Tax upon Houses and upon Lands 6. They receive a part of the plunder made by the Souldiers upon the enemy 7. They have hitherto had from the French and the English great summes of money as long as they have had War with the Spaniards The French to make diversion did maintain in the service of the States a body of 6000. Foot and 2000. Horse at their own charges for many years The serene State of Venice in vertue of a Treaty made in 1622. did promise 4000. pound a moneth in time of War 8. They have money at use that is they keep a bank of such moneys as are lent the State by particulars and pay use for it five in the hundred is the use the State payes All these great summes of money are by the Order of the States committed to the care of a particular Councell call'd A General Directory for the Treasury which is composed of the Deputies of each Province CHAP. XVI Of the principall Forces which do maintain the Commonwealth of the United Provinces THe greatest internall or defensive strength of these Countreys does lye in their situation which makes all their Towns easily to be fortified As for the externall it consists in their Leagues and Alliances with Foreign Princes Let us speak first of the situation That situation which is advantagious for the defence of a Countrey the exercising of commerce and consequently growing rich must needs proceed from the neighbourhood of the Sea and the affluence of great Rivers and Channells thence comes the Proverb The Hollanders are born for the Sea and the Sea for them of which they are well convinc'd and consequently spare no cost nor industry to be the masters upon this Element having long ago graven upon their Coyn this Motto Imperator maris est terrae Dominus If the Spaniards had been so wise as to have spent that treasure in hindring the Hollanders trade and navigation that he layed out upon attaking their Countrey he had undoubtedly ruin'd them and he now perceives it and does endeavour by all means though too late to obstruct their commerce Besides the Sea there are the Rivers of Rhene Meuse and Jud that do make the Countrey almost inaccessible Besides if any enemies be taken on this side these Rivers there is a Law which is exactly observ'd which commands to hang them up immediately The strong Towns are upon the Borders not only in Brabant Flanders Gueldres and Friezeland but also upon the Confines of Germany as Rhinbergue Wesel and divers places bordering upon the Dutchy of Cleves The reason whereof is this the War being kindled between the Spaniards and the United Provinces the Spaniards did first begin to seize and put themselves in possession of the Towns of the Dutchy of Cleves and of the Electour of Cullen that they might the better annoy the Hollanders who fore-seeing the mischief like to arise from thence sent an Army and seized as many of these Towns as they could put Garrisons into them and nevertheless still preserv'd the Inhabitants in all their propriety liberty and priviledges Hereupon arose great contests between the Emperour the Duke of Cleves and the Electour of Cullen on one side and the Hollanders on the other but the Hollanders kept possession Besides the Garrisons they maintain in all Frontier Towns they have also two Magazines in each one with Ammunition for War the other with provisions for life A Governour commands the Garrison they that command in small Frontier Towns are call'd Commanders and they that command in great strong Towns are qualified Governours And for the greater safety of the said Towns the Keys are partly in the Governours partly in the Bourgmasters hands The Civill and Military powers are likewise so distinct that the Governour has nothing to do with the Inhabitants nor the Judges of the place any power over the Souldiers As for the Land-Forces they consist of Strangers and Naturals but the Strangers do exceed the Naturals in number who are more enclin'd to long Voyages and Trade than to Warre Neither is the State endanger'd by putting the force and military power in Stangers hands for they being of different Nations as English Scotch French c. have different inclinations and aversions and so will hardly conspire to oppress their Masters who do alwayes mingle them in their strongest Towns It is believ'd that the number of Souldiers paid by the States and sworn to them does come very near one hundred thousand The Companies are for the most part of a hundred men some few excepted who are either stronger or weaker as necessity requires The Regiments are of ten twelve fourteen sixteen eighteen Companies Each Regiment is commanded by a Collonel The Horse is much inferiour in number to the Foot because that in these Countreys the greatest employment for Souldiers is besieging and defending of Towns in which the Horse are not so necessary as in set Battles There are two sort of Horsemen distinguish'd by their Arms viz. Cuirasseers that wear iron breast and back-pieces and Arquebusiers that carry short Guns on Horseback Their Horses ought to be sixteen handfull high measuring from the hoof of the fore-foot to the top of the shoulder The Infantry has about four shillings and six pence a week pay and the Horse about fifty shillings a moneth They that are payed by the States money are soon and exactly payed but they whose payment is assign'd upon the money that comes from France wait a little longer for it It is very observable in these Provinces that though there be no Money in the Treasury yet the Souldiers receive their pay every week or moneth for every Regiment
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
service of the said Companies oâ— having been formerly employed by them and all such as being now out of their service do live within the jurisdiction of the said Companies shall remain free and unmolested in all places under the obedience of the said King in Europe and may travell trade and frequent in all places as all other Inhabitants of the States Besides it has been Stipulated and Agreed that the Spaniards retain their Navigation to the East-Indies in such manner as it is now for this present time without the liberty of extending themselves any further As also the Inhabitants of these Provinces shall abstain from frequenting the places that the Castilians do possess in the East-Indies 6. And as for the West-Indies the Subjects and Inhabitants of the Kingdomes and Countries of the said King and States shall respectively abstain from Navigation and Trade in all the Harbours places Forts Castles possess'd by either to wit that the Subjects of the said King shall not navigate nor trade in those that belong to the States nor the Subjects of the States in those that belong to the said King And in the places of the States shall be comprehended all those that the Portugueses since 1641. have taken in Brasil upon the said States and all those that they now possess as long as they shall remain in the possession of the said States In all which there is nothing contrary to the precedent Article 7. And because a long space of time is necessary for the giving notice to those that are now abroad with Ships and Forces that they may defist from all acts of hostility it hath been Agreed that within the limits of the Patent granted or to be granted by continuation to the Company of the East-Indies of the United Provinces the peace shall begin no sooner than a year after the date of the present Treaty And as for the limits of the Patent granted heretofore by the States Generall or to be granted by continuation unto the Company of the West-Indies the peace shall not there begin till six moneths after the date of the present Treaty Provided still that if the notice of the said peace be arriv'd by publick Order of each side to the said limits before the said time be expir'd that then immediately all acts of hostility shall cease And that if after the term be expir'd there be yet committed some acts of hostility the dammages shall be repair'd without delay 8. The Subjects and Inhabitants of the Countries of the said King and States trafficking in one anothers Countrey shall not be forc'd to pay any greater Impositions or Customes than their own Subjects respectively so that thereby the Subjects of the said States shall be freed and exempted from the Imposition of 20. per cent or any other whatsoever which the said King did levy during the truce of 12. years or would hereafter raise directly or indirectly upon the Inhabitants of the said States or any wayes charge them further than his own proper Subjects 9. The said King and States shall not raise any Contributions or Imposts out of their limits respectively upon any Merchandize passing either by Land or Water 10. The Subjects of each shall respectively enjoy all freedome of Peages that they were in possession of before the beginning of the War 11. The Trade Commerce and Frequentation shalâ— not be hinder'd between the Subjects of the said King and States and if it should chance to be obstructed any wayes the obstacle shall immediately be taken away 12. And after the day of the conclusion and ratification of this peace the said King shall no longer enjoy upon the Rivers of Rhene and Mouse those Customes or Peages which before the War were under the jurisdiction of any of the United Provinces particularly the Peage of Zeeland which shall not be levied for his Majesty neither in the Town of Antwerp nor any where else upon condition that from that day forwards the States of Zeeland shall take upon them to pay the annuall Rents to those to whom the said Peage was morgaged before the year 1572. which also shall do the Proprietors of all other Peages if they be charg'd with annuall Rents 13. The white boyl'd Salt coming from the United Provinces into those of his Catholick Majesty shall be receiv'd and admitted without any higher Impost than upon Bay-Salt and likewise the Salt coming from his Majesties Countries shall be admitted in those of the States upon the same conditions 14. The Rivers of Scheld as also the Channels of Zas and Zwin and other entries into the Sea thereabouts shall be shut up by the States Generall on their side 15. The Ships and Goods coming in and going out of the Harbours of Flanders shall be taxed at the same rate as the Ships and Goods going upon the Scheld and the Channels nam'd in the above-written Article and it shall be agreed of the proportion between the parties hereafter 16. The Anseatick-Towns with all their Citizens and Inhabitants shall enjoy as to Navigation and Trade in Spain and all the Kingdomes and States thereof all the Priviledges and Immunities granted at present or that shall be hereafter given to the Subjects of the United Provinces And reciprocally all the Subjects of the said Provinces shall enjoy the same Rights Franchises Immunities Priviledges and Capitulations as well for the establishing of Consuls in the capitall Towns or Sea-Ports of Spain as for their Merchants Factors Masters of Ships Mariners or others and that in the same manner that the said Anseatick-Towns in generall or in particular have heretofore practis'd or obtain'd and shall hereafter obtain for the safety and advantage of Navigation and Trade of their Towns Merchants c. 17. Likewise the Inhabitants of the Countries of the said States shall have the same liberty in the said Kings Dominions that the Subjects of his Majesty of Great Britain do enjoy by the Articles in the last Treaty of peace made in secret with the High Constable of Castile 18. The said King shall as soon as possible assign a place for the honourable burying of the bodies of such of the States Subjects as shall die in his Dominions 19. The Subjects and Inhabitants of the said Kings Dominions coming into the Territories of the States shall as to the publick exercise of Religion comport themselves with all modesty without giving any scandall or proffering any blasphemy and the same shall be observ'd by the Subjects of the United Provinces 20. The Merchants Masters of Ships Pilots Mariners their Ships Goods and other things belonging to them shall not be arrested nor detain'd by vertue of any Order either generall or speciall nor for any cause of War or otherwise nor under the pretext of using them for the preservation of the Countrey Hereby nevertheless are not meant all seisings and arrests of Ships by the ordinary proceedings of justice by reason of Debts Obligations and Contracts of those whose Goods are seised who
whatsoever 55. There shall be no new Forts made in the Low-Countries of neither side neither shall there be made any new Channels or Trenches by which any of the parties may be dammageed 56. The Lords of the House of Nassaw as also the Count John Albert of Solms Governor of Maestric shall not be pursued nor molested neither in their persons nor Estates for any Debts contracted by the late William Prince of Orange 1667. to his death nor for any Arrears due during the confiscation of such Lands as were charged with the said Debts 57. If there be any infraction made in the Treaty by private persons without the Authority of the said King or States the dammage shall be immediately repair'd in the place where the offence was committed if the persons be there taken or in their Domicile but it shall not be lawfull to pursue them else-where either in their persons or Estates or to take Arms and break the peace but in case of deniall of justice to proceed by Letters of Reprisall 58. All Exheredations made by reason of the War and aversion of parties are made void and in this are comprehended all Exheredations made for such causes as were causes of the War 59. All prisoners of War shall be deliver'd on both sides without distinction of persons and that without ransome 60. The payment of the Arrears of Contributions on both sides shall be decided by the Supervisors of the said Contributions 61. All that during this Negotiation shall be said or alledged either by word of mouth or by writing shall not be a prejudice to the Authors but the said King and States and all the Princes Counts Barons Gentlemen Citizens and all Inhabitants shall enjoy the benefit of this Treaty 62. The Subjects of the said King and States respectively shall enjoy the benefit of the 15th Article of the Truce of 12. years and of the 10th Article of the Agreement that followed the 7th of January 1610. and that because that during the time of the said Truce the parties did not enjoy the effect of those Articles 63. The limits in Flanders and other places shall be set out so that the parties may exactly know under what jurisdiction they are 64. On the side of the said King of Spain shall be demolish'd near the Sluce these following places and Forts viz. the Fort of St. Job St. Donas the Star-Fort the Fort St. Terese St. Frederick St. Isabella St. Paul the redoute Papemâ—ts And on the side of the States Generall shall be demolish'd the following Forts the two Forts in the Island of Lasant call'd Orange and Fredericke the two Forts de Pas both upon the River of Scheld on the East-side except Lillâ— and the Fort a Kieldrect call'd Spinola touching which Demolition it shall be agreed between the parties to set out an Equivalence 65. All Registers Charters Letters and Papers concerning Law-Suits or otherwise that do any wayes regard or concern any of the United Provinces their Towns and Members being in the Courts and Chambers of the obedience of the King of Spain shall be deliver'd bonâfide to such as shall have commission from the Provinces to receive them And the same shall be done by the States for the Provinces and Towns that are under the said Kings obedience 66. The jurisdiction of the Water shall be left to the Town of Sluce as it has of right belonged to it 67. The Digue traversing and stopping up the River Zout near the Fort Donas shall be taken away by making a Zas touching the Garde of which Zas it shall be agreed upon as touching the Demolition of the Forts 68. In this present Treaty of peace shall be comprehended such as before the exchange of ratifications or three moneths after shall be nam'd on both sides in which time the said King shall name those that he shall think fit but by the States are nam'd these following the Prince Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel with his Countrey-Towns c. the Count of Oostfrieze the Town of Embden the County and Countrey of Oostfrieze the Anseatick Towns and particularly Lubec Bremen Hambourg And the said States do reserve to themselves to name such others as they shall think fit in the time prescribed 69. As for the pretension of Count of Flodrof touching the restitution made to him of the Castle of Leat and its Dependances and all other Villages that may depend on it and were seized by the said King the said restitution is confirm'd to him with this reserve that it shall be resolv'd between this and the conclusion of the Treaty about the entertaining of a Garrison for the said King or demolishing the Fortifications made since that the Castle was taken 70. As for all that was agreed upon the 8th of December 1646. between the Plenipotentiaries of the said King and States touching Roger Huygens in the name of his Wife Anna Margarita de Stralem it shall have its effect and be of force as if it were here set down word for word 71. And to the end that this present Treaty be the better observed the said King and States do promise to employ all their power and force to make all passages free and all Seas and Rivers navigable and safe against the inrodes of Pirats and Theeves and to punish them severely if they can take them 72. They do promise besides to do nothing contrary to this present Treaty nor to suffer that any thing should be done either directly or indirectly and if any thing be done to repair the offence and dammage without delay To the observation of all which they do here binde themselves and the more to strengthen the Obligation do renounce all Laws and Customes contrary to this promise 73. This present Treaty shall be ratified and approved by the said King and States and the Letters of ratification shall be deliver'd and exchanged on each side within the term of two moneths and if the said ratification do come before-hand then all acts of hostility shall cease without staying for the end of the two moneths Still it is meant that after the conclusion and signing of this Treaty hostility shall not cease till the ratification of the said King of Spain be deliver'd in good form and exchang'd with the ratification of the States 74. So that affaires on both sides shall remain in the same posture and condition as at the conclusion of this Treaty they are and this till the ratifications be exchang'd 75. This Treaty shall be publish'd in all places that shall require it incontinent after the exchange of the ratifications and then all acts of hostility shall cease The Treaty of Navigation and Commerce Concluded at the Hague in Holland the 17th of December 1650. between Messire Antony Brun Extraordinary Embassador for the King of Spain on one side and the Deputies of the Lords the States Generall of the United Provinces on the other side WHereas since the conclusion of the peaee at Munster between
the 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 PRESENT STATE OF THE United Provinces OF THE LOW-COUNTRIES AS TO THE Government Laws Forces Riches Manners Customes Revenue and Territory OF THE DUTCH IN THREE BOOKS Collected by W. A. Fellow of the Royall Society LONDON Printed for John Starkey at the Mitre betwixt the Middle Temple Gate and Temple-Bar in Fleet-Street 1669. THE PREFACE THe Netherland-Provinces have rendred themselves so conspicuous and considerable amongst the other States of Europe that the sole mentioning of them might suffice to awaken the attention and invite the regards of all persons whose more elevated Genius leads them to the contemplation of the rise growth and grandeur of States and Empires which affording the greatest instances of humane wisdome and industry as well as they are the most remarkable Theatres of divine providence are certainly the most adaequate objects for rational and considering men For which reason possibly few Books less needed a Preface than that which is now in the Readers hands and The present State and Government of the Netherlands in the Title-page may seem to carry invitation enough with it to render all other superfluous Scarce any Subject occurres more frequent in the discourses of ingenious men than that of the marvellous progress of this little State which in the space of about one hundred years for 't is no more since their first attempts to shake off the Spanish yoke hath grown to a height not only infinitely transcendnig all the ancient Republicks of Greece but not much inferior in some respects even to the greatest Monarchies of these latter Ages Nor is the wonder inconsiderably augmented in that the lesser Moiety hath farre exceeded even the Whole it self and seven Provinces are become greater than seventeen with a manifest verification of that Aenigmatical Aphorisme Dimidium plus Toto To which it may likewise be added that for above sixty years of that above-mention'd hundred they were continually engag'd in a Warre against the greatest King of this Western World besides what contests they have since had with other Neighbours and nevertheless that difficult exercise of their nonage not only promoted their growth by necessarily exciting the industry natural to that Nation but likewise contributed to rènder the Constitution of the State it self more robust and athletick 'T is the Portraiture of this flourishing Common-wealth which is here presented to the Ingenious drawn by the elegant Pen of a Virtuoso of the Royall Society who the more to gratifie the Reader and compleat his Work hath collected out of severall Authors a summary Account of the Lives of the Earls of Holland down to the alteration of Government which commenc'd about the year 1567. which Lives compose the first Book order of time requiring the same to be prefix'd before the Description of the Confederate Commonwealth or Government of the States Generall whereunto is particularly annex'd that of the States of Holland and Zeeland as examples of the rest The third and last Book exhibits the extent and nature of the Soyl of Holland the Manners Customes and Trade of the Inhabitants together with particular Descriptions of all the considerable Cities and Towns of that Province and an Appendage of divers Treaties of Alliance made between this and other neighbouring States Besides all which the Reader will finde variety of Politick Reflexions and Discourses interspers'd throughout the whole Work which concurre to the accomplishment of the same in reference to the two principall ends of Books Instruction and Divertisement THE FIRST BOOK Containing the HISTORY OF THE EARLS OF HOLLAND CHAP. I. What pass'd before the Earles of Holland THere is all the probability in the world that this fair Province of Holland has not alwayes been as rich and as populous as we now see it but quite contrary it was a kind of a Desert once and full of great Forrests The first People that inhabited it were a Colony of Germans which came out of their Countrey some time before the Birth of our Saviour and it is from thence that it has the name of Batavia if we believe the Roman History and particularly Tacitus lib. de moribus Germanorum There is no doubt but the Batavi are the chief in strength and valour among the Germans and that this Nation which was formerly called Cattes and which upon a sedition at home invaded these Islands which the Rhene makes and are now become Subjects of the Roman Empire are the noblest portion of the German State since History makes so much mention of them and that it appears so in their humours customes and manners of which the chiefest are these following 1. That they pay no tributes 2. That they are free from all contribution towards the War 3. That they are alwayes reserv'd for the War 4. That they have the most honourable rank in the Army as being esteem'd the best Souldiers and the best skill'd in lancing their Javelots 'T is by their help sayes Tacitus that the Romans have extended their Empire beyond the Rhene The Romans in truth did think themselves happy to have them for friends and companions not that I deny but that they were in some way conquered by the same Romans whom they assisted much in their Wars against the Brittains or English witness the Brittain Castle built by the same Romans for as Tacitus sayes it was only by the force of the Batavi and the Tongri that the Romans did overcome the Brittains besides the Emperours were so convinced of their fidelity that they us'd them as guards to their persons but because the Romans did begin to oppress them they revolted from them as it is reported by Tacitus in the fourth Book of his History in these words The Batavi having been us'd in the Wars of Germany did furnish the Empire with arms and men their principall leaders were Julius Paulus and Claudius Civilis of the Royall Bloud Paulus being accus'd of rebellion was kill'd and Claudius put in prison but set at liberty by Galb 〈…〉 Civiiis being a man of parts took notice of the disorder the Empire was in and observing the natural aversion the Bataves had for the Romans because that in raising of Souldiers among them they aim'd more to satisfie their avarice and foul luxury than to supply the legions he fomented under hand at first their discontent then appearing openly exhorted them to recover their liberty and cast off the yoke of slavery We are not said he treated like companions but like slaves remember the glory of your Ancestors and look upon the disorders of the Empire and the Gaules your neighbours who will joyn with you in the design of recovering your liberty Thus it appears by this Writer that the Batavi were to have been the Romans companions and that it was for the breach and non-performance of that promise that they revolted and maintain'd a bloody War in which were perform'd many noble actions The end of this War was a peace in which the Batavi were caâ—l'd the brothers and friends of
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
THE SECOND BOOK Containing the State and Government OF THE United Provinces OF THE LOW-COUNTRIES CHAP. I. The League and Union of the Provinces IT was in the Year 1579. that some of the 17. Provinces formerly under the Dominion of Philip King of Spain began to be call'd the United Provinces because of the League and Union which they made to defend themselves against the Spaniard their common Enemy and though these Provinces be now in the number of seven yet at first they were not so many but those that are mentioned in the Annals are these following Gueldre Zutphen Holland Zeeland the Diocess of Utrect Friezland or that Country which is call'd Omland situated between the Rivers Ems and Larica the Country about Nimmiegue and Arnhem the greatest part of the grietmans of Friezland Antwerp Ypres and Breda The Provinces call'd Overyssel and Groningue followed their example and were admitted into the Union in the Year 1594. Here follow the Articles of this Union 1. That all the aforesaid Provinces shall be as straightly and intimately united as if they did all make up one entire Province and Politick body and that they shall never be capable of being dis-united by any will codicil gift cession sale contract agreement or mariage of any Prince nor by any other means whatsoever 2. That every one of these Provinces shall inviolably keep and enjoy all their Immunities Customs Priviledges and Statutes of their Ancestors that they shall help one another against all Enemies whatsoever that if it should happen that any contentions should arise between the said Provinces that the de-bate should be judged either by the ordinary Judges or by Umpires friendly chosen and in the mean time they shall forbear troubling and offending one another till sentence be pronounced 3. The said Provinces shall be bound to defend and protect each other mutually and freely against all Princes and Lords either of their own Country or Foreigners who shall offer to invade them or commit any act of hostility whatsoever and for this effect they shall raise such Forces and such Money and Contribution as shall be thought fit and judged necessary by the greatest and major part of the Confederates 4. To the end that the said Provinces be alwayes in a readiness and provided against all designs of their Enemies the Frontier Towns shall be Fortified and provided with Men and Ammunition at the Publick charge by the consent of all the Provinces and that those whose Towns are already Fortified shall nevertheless contribute as the rest and if there be found necessity of building any new Forts demolishing or changeing the old ones that it be done at a common charge 5. And to the end that the necessary means whereby to answer all these designs fail not there shall be leavied and raised every where alike and by the same form and way Taxes and Imposts upon all sorts of Wine Beer Wheat Corn Salt Cloths Silks Cattle till'd and pasture Grounds the weight of Merchandizes weighed in publick weights c. That those Regal Rights belonging heretofore to the King of Spain shall still remain and be converted to the use aforesaid that all the Money raised by these or any other wayes shall not be destin'd nor imployed for any other use than for the defence of the said Provinces and the said Imposts shall be lessened or encreased according to publick emergencies 6. That the Frontier Towns shall be bound to receive or dismiss all Garrisons by the command of the States as likewise to pay them their pay out of the publick Money and to the end the safety of the said Towns be the better preserv'd it is agreed that the Officers of the Garrisons shall be sworn not only to the States General but also to the Magistrates of the particular Towns they shall be in that care be taken to make a Military Law to the end the Souldiers be not trouble some to the Inhabitants that the Souldiers themselves in Garrison be not freed from paying the Imposts and there be a sum set apart by the States to pay the Citizens for the lodging and quartering of Souldiers 7. That a moneth after the publication of this Union there be a general review made of all those that have attain'd the age of 18. years and are under 60. and that their Names be registred and declared to the States General to be imployed as they shall think fit 8. That there be made neither Peace War nor Truce nor new Imposition without the consent of all the Provinces not one resisting or standing out and as for the other things that concern the administration and execution of the said alliance that they be undertaken and perform'd by those that shall be appointed by the greatest part of the Confederates yet that all be call'd if there be either Peace or War or some other important business to be decided if the States cannot agree then the business be put to the Arbitration of the Governors of the particular Provinces and that all may follow their decision 9. That none of the said particular Provinces shall make League or Union with any Neighbouring Power or strange and remote Prince or People by their own private Authority and without the consent of the rest and likewise that if any Princes desire to come into the aforesaid alliance that they shall be received by common consent 10. That all approve of or reject the same coyn stamp and money and that as soon as can be there come forth a rule or settlement for coyning which all shall follow 11. As for the publick exercise of Religion whether or no any other ought to be receiv'd besides the Protestant let every Province dispose and ordain about it as they please provided still that they be all bound to let every man have the liberty of his Conscience without persecution for that subject 12. If there should happen any contests between any of the Provinces that then those of them that shall not be concern'd shall have power to determine about the debate of the others but if in these divisions all were concern'd then let the Governors of all the Provinces meet and decide the matter in a moneths time after which there shall be no appeal exception revision or nullity to be pleaded 13. That the said Provinces and Members of this Union do take a special care not to give any occasion to Foreign Princes to make War against them and therefore that they carry themselves towards Strangers with the same equity justice and moderation as towards the Naturals and if any of the Members do infringe and break this Article it is the duty and power of the others to constrain them to observe it by all means whatsoever 14. The States and Governors of each Province shall not lay a heavier Imposition upon those of their Subjects that shall travel to and fro than upon those that are found Inhabitants 15. That the Government and publick administration be well setled as
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
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
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
so much their own advantage The Souldiers of this Company and Officers are sworn not only to the Curatours but also to the States General and to the General of the Army because it is not safe that private men should have an Army at their command These two Companies have the priviledge of Trading alone into both the Indies not for ever but for twenty or thirty year more or less And it was wisely order'd so for two reasons First because it may be the necessity of affairs might have been such as to have oblig'd the States to make Peace or Truce with the Spaniards which it may be would not have been obtain'd without relinquishing the Trade to the Indies which they could not do had they granted a perpetual priviledge to these Companies Secondly that whensoever they demand the renewing of their Priviledges the Commonwealth may take occasion to demand a round sum of money in acknowledgement of the favour they receive In a word these two Companies are so well establish'd as to be upon all occasions a very great prop to the State for they are a Nursery of Souldiers and Seamen out of which in time of War the States may upon a sudden be provided with Ships Armes and some thousands of Men and by which in time of Peace many thousands got a very handsom livelihood CHAP. XXII What Judgement may be made of the lasting or decay of this Commonwealth CArdinal Bentivoglio who was for some time the Popes Nuncio in the Low-Countries has writ the History of their Wars and in his Book has given me occasion of adding here this Chapter For he has propounded the same Question and after he has brought some Reasons which seem to conclude in favour of the perpetuity of this Commonwealth he does produce some others to shew that a contrary opinion is more likely 'T is certainly a great vanity to go about to dispute about futures yet the Form and Government and present felicity of a State may give us leave to give a guess at its future happiness And first if we consider the cause of the founding of this State we cannot think that it will ever be dissolv'd For that was the recovering of lost Liberties and the preservation of them when recovered two things mightily priz'd by all mankind but particularly by the Northern Nations of the world Besides not only by this the Liberties of all its Subjects are secur'd but none of the neighbouring Nations can stand in fear of losing theirs by the increase of this so that it will be no bodies Interest to procure a change for the people cannot be more easie than they are already adde to this the mutual aversion between the Spaniards and the Hollanders that it is natural to fear and not to trust those that we have offended Besides let any body cast back their eyes upon the first change and they shall find it such as no body is offended at 'T is most certain that when in Government men pass from one extremity to the other there are many whom a desire of the first Government does sollicite and possess but here it was not so for except the change that was made of the person of the King of Spain for the States General there was no change made in the Laws Constitutions and Customs of these Provinces Since therefore that the antient Laws and Magistrates and all other Priviledges do remain it is easily agreed that the change was scarce sensible to the Inhabitants And upon this we may found this maxim that Those States that have suffer'd least in their change are like to last longest The inequality of strength and riches in these Provinces is one of the tyes of their perpetuity though ordinarily it be the cause of ruptures and fallings out in these cases If we consider the riches of these Provinces and the industry of the Inhabitants to acquire them we may certainly conclude that they will not be wanting to themselves in their Government besides without doubt as long as the Spaniards power shall give occasion of jealousie to Europe England and France will never forsake the protection of Holland If we consider also the example of some Commonwealths of our time as of the Swizzers who do not only maintain themselves free from neighbouring Princes by the natural situation of their Countrey but are a terrour to many of them These are our reasons but Cardinal Bentivoglio brings some against them as follows Liberty begets license that begets inequality inequality begets Monarchy so the Romans having driven out Kings gave themselves up to the enjoyment of their Liberty after that they fell out by the inequality of Charges and Honours and at last fell under the domination of Emperors To this is answer'd that it is in vain that this example is alleadged because the change proceeded from the oversight in the constitution of the Roman Government in which it was not provided against inequality but it is not so with the Hollanders As for what he sayes that the Authority of the Governour General is too great we do confess it yet the Authority of the States is above it for in him lies only perswasion in them the power of commanding If it be objected that the charges of a War are here incredible and excessive and that the Treasury must needs be exhausted I shall answer that our Enemies are not in a better condition but there is this difference between us that our Enemies grow Beggars and we grow rich under this oppression If it be further urged that one Province Holland is much superiour to the others in strength and riches and so may usurpe the domination over the rest I shall answer that in this inequality of power all the Provinces are equal in Authority and do not meddle with one anothers affairs As for the diversity and plurality of Religions it is so far from being an apple of discord that it is a tye of union and concord every one being pleas'd with the liberty he has to enjoy the freedome of his conscience CHAP. XXIII An Abridgement of the State of the United Provinces by Paul Merle GErmany which is one of the noblest parts of Europe is divided into two parts high and low It is not our design to say any thing of the higher Germany The lower call'd the Eye of the North by reason of its excellency is compos'd of seventeen Provinces Those of them that lye upon the banks of the River Rhin towards the North were us'd to be reckoned among the Lordships of the upper Germany and the others upon the banks of the same River towards the East were anciently esteem'd dependances of Gallia Belgica Each of them have been govern'd till within these few years by their particular Princes and Princesses The Provinces of Brabant Limbourg Luxembourg and Gueldres were govern'd by Dukes Flanders Artois Hainaut Zeeland Holland Namur and Zutphen by Earls Antwerp which bears the title of the Marquessship of the holy
Suits about the publick revenue and receit of Customes c. In the absence of the Governour Generall they determine all Causes concerning Prisoners of War touching Plunder and Booty c. Here follows the method they use in all their affairs 1. They do the business that concerns the whole Province 2. Those affairs that regard Towns and Corporations Last of all They decide the Controversies between private persons The Counsellors of the Admiralty who are six in number ought to be very carefull and to act conjoyntly with the Admirall the States and their Deputies to have alwayes a convenient Fleet ready to secure the Sea from Pirates and that all Merchants and Passengers passing to and fro upon Rivers and Channels be duely provided of Pasports They are also to find out the ablest Pilots and stoutest Captains and when they have sworn them give them their Orders They are soveraign Judges of all abuses and frauds committed in falsifying and counterfeiting Pasports as also of all quarrels and suits between Sea-men and Souldiers aboard the Ships In a word they have all the power that Admirals do enjoy in England France or any other Countrey I have not time to shew here by what Agents and Officers the States do administer justice to their Subjects keep accounts of their treasure give Livings and Fees to be held from them and many other things which would require a greater Volume It remains to satisfie some Politicians curiosity who would know it may be whether our State be Monarchie Aristocracie or Democracie or of which of these it participates most To which I answer that I think the Government of Holland to be a fit mixture of them all In the person of the Governour Generall who commands the Armies both at Land and Sea with an absolute Authority is seen Monarchie the States represent Aristocracie and Democracie is seen in the Government of the Cities and Towns for nothing is done without the consent of the meanest Inhabitant CHAP. XXIV The Proclamation of the States of Holland and West-Frieze touching the ancient Right of the Common-wealth of Holland THe Knights Nobles and Towns of Holland and West-Frieze representing the States of the said Provinces after a mature deliberation and communication of the business with the Nobles and Senates of Towns and carefully weigh'd their advice and answer have in discharge of their Oath and duties thought fit to publish and make known to all the world by a publick Edict the State of Government of the said Provinces being perswaded that all Readers will be inclin'd to pitty and favour the deplorable estate of our Countrey It is most certain for that in past ages for the time of 800. years the Soveraign Administration of the Provinces of Holland West-Frieze or Zeeland was committed to the care of Earls or Countesses who had receiv'd this power from the States and that upon certain Conditions These Earls did govern with so much moderation and prudence that they did never undertake either to declare War or make Peace or lay Imposts or Taxes without asking the advice and consent of the Nobles and of the Magistrates of Towns though they had their own Privy Councellors men of great capacity and abilities but they did much yeeld to the Authority of the States for any business that concern'd these Nations This Government thus founded upon equity and justice could not choose but attract the blessings of Heaven upon its Lords and indeed it did for no Princes ever perform'd more glorious actions or receiv'd more demonstrations of honour from their Neighbours than they William the second Earl of Holland was chosen Emperor in the year 1247. And that which is yet an addition of glory for these Princes is that they have maintain'd many bloody Wars obtain'd many famous victories and alwayes so defended the very borders of their States that their enemies have not been able to get any ground upon them We may also protest with truth that in the space of 800. years Holland and Zeeland were never conquer'd nor subjected by any Strangers whatsoever neither did they pass under the power of any Foreign Prince which is an advantage that we believe no State in Europe except it be the Republick of Venice can brag of We do ingeniously confess that the firm Constitution of this our Government does consist in the union and good intelligence which is between the States and the Prince for the power of these Earls was very inconsiderable without the help of the States they having nothing but their own Demean or Revenue to live upon and uphold the splendor of their Court We have also observ'd by what means and Authority they have often made their Courts remember that duty which some evil counsellors had perswaded them to forget and that not only by Remonstrances and Petitions but often by chastizing and personally punishing those who wickedly abusing the Princes Authority did lead them so much out of the way of justice and moderation We find likewise in our Histories that the States have chosen Guardians for their Princes under age and that William the Fifth being run mad they created a Lieutenant-Governour in his room In a word 't is a thing question'd by no body that the Soveraign power was alwayes in the States whensoever their Princes came to die or were otherwise disabled from performing the Functions of their Charge and in those Cases they did appoint a Governour whom they called Guardian or Ruwarde Under the Domination of the Dukes of Burgundy this Right was also maintain'd for a little after the death of Charles their Duke and his Daughter the Dutchess Mary Maximilian of Austria having undertaken to introduce some novelties and oppress the Authority of the States was so oppos'd that had he continued he had without doubt undone himself The Emperor Charles being yet minor receiv'd Guardians and the Provinces receiv'd Governors from the said States and though their liberties had suffer'd some diminution under the Dukes of Burgundy yet did the said Emperor alwayes respect and honour them as being perswaded that without their assistance his power could not stand Upon this Subject he gave many grave admonitions to his Son wishing him to govern with all moderation and not by any means to exasperate that power whose consent he must have to enjoy his Prerogative And indeed he now knows to his own and these Provinces great cost the truth of what his Father did foretell for there can be no other cause alledged of the troubles and revolutions of the Low-Countreys than his going about to infringe their Priviledges and fasten the yoke of servitude about their necks Though these things be as clear as day yet we have thought it necessary to publish them to the world because that many being yet in suspence and ill-inform'd do think that the States are only a tumultuous Assembly of some Deputies who being men concern'd in the quarrell do carry on things more according to their own ends than
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. 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Praxis Chymiatrica or Practical Chymistry Written in Latin by John Hartman And Basilica Chymica or Royal Chymistry Written in Latin by Oswald Crollius Both faithfully translated into English in Folio This will be published in Michaelmas Term next The Jesuites Morals faithfully extracted from their own Books which are Printed by the permission and approbation of the Superiors of their Society Written by a Sorbon Doctor In Folio This Book will be published in Hilary Term next FINIS * The name of a Faction Peages is a word that signifies the right of levying such summes upon Merchants in such and such places or passages
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
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
to the publick good But they that will open their eyes and consider the noble actions perform'd in Holland and Zeeland within these fifteen years will easily see that they cannot be the effect of some few persons passion but they must necessarily be seconded by the unanimous consent of whole Nations Therefore that none may any longer have the least pretext for their doubts we will give such evidences of our power as shall shew whence it is derâ—v'd The Princes that heretofore govern'd were not only possess'd at first of this honour by the consent and agreement of the States but have also been continued in this their dignity by the same means that all those bodies of which they were made heads did remain in the same entire state of liberty a thing which it may be we should not now be able to brag of had not the States alwayes had a vigilant eye upon the actions of ambitious Princes and the malice of ill Counsellors and applied present remedies upon all occasions and so stop'd up the way to tyranny as to make it not worth their while to endeavour it These States are divided into two bodies the Nobility and the Towns The Nobility by reason of their ancient extraction their rich possessions and their gallant actions do justly compose the first body and meet with the Deputies of Towns in publick Assemblies to provide for the Common-wealth The Towns have almost all the same Government The Colledge of Senators of the Towns is chosen from among the Patricians who in some places are forty in others thirty four twenty more or less Being once rais'd to this honour they enjoy it as long as they live or as long as they have Jus Civitaâ—is when they die or remove to other places others are chosen in their place by the common consent of the Citizens These Colledges alone have the power of deliberating and determining the affairs of the Towns and that which is resolv'd upon in these Assemblies is by the people receiv'd and obeyed In this Colledge are every year chosen the Magistrates viz. four Bourgemasters three two or seven Aldermen for so 't is they call the Judges to administer justice for one year In some Provinces these Magistrates are chosen absolutely and in others there is a double number chosen and out of them the Governor chooses those that are to be Judges The Bourgemasters duty is to take care to make good orders be kept throughout the City in all things and to provide that the publick be no wayes dammaged The Aldermen determine Causes and punish Crimes The Colledges have the super-intendance over all these in Holland Zeeland and West-Frieze insomuch that the Princes of these Provinces had not reserv'd to themselves any other power than to create one to preside in these Assemblies This is the true state of these Countreys whence may be inferr'd that the Magistrates the Senates and the Nobility joyn'd together do represent the whole body of these Nations and that their government is so equally temper'd as to subsist as long as it has done and with as much if not more felicity When publick affairs require that these Colledges of the Nobility and Towns should meet they are advertis'd of it by their Deputies who do call them together by express Writs sent to them in which the heads of the matters to be deliberated upon are inserted These having been discuss'd and weigh'd in the Assembly Deputies are sent to the States Generall with power to consult and determine such things as shall be found necessary for the good of all the Provinces The Nobility is present in a competent number The Towns send one Bourgemaster with some Senators Their duty in generall is to treat and decide concerning all that has any relation to the welfare of the State and particularly they are bound to provide for the maintaining of the Immunities and Priviledges These assembled are call'd the States not that they are but because they represent a nobler and more powerfull Assembly which sent them thither Neither is it to be imagin'd that one can easily by favour and faction attaine to this degree of honour for besides that naturally the common people are averse for those that seem to desire the choice of such a one is void of its self Besides who would be so mad in the age we live in as to purchase ambitiously an employment which carries with it nothing but cares and afflictions and which by the malice of those who study to defame and black the most unspotted reputation is a place of danger rather than a degree of elevation Certainly they that are well acquainted with our Common-wealth will witness how many artifices nay what threats and constraints we are fain to use to get the Deputies to accept of their charges When these Assemblies are dissolv'd the Deputies are bound to give an account of the Resolutions to those that sent them This is that foundation upon the which our Commonwealth was first built and has stood for this 700. years as it appears by our Histories 'T is by this union that we have maintain'd a War for these many years without the loss of any of our members and that since our League no Towns have revolted nor none of our Armies divided into parties for which no better reason can be given than that we have proceeded in all things justly according to the Constitution of our Government For this reason that every one might share in the Government we have granted to many small Towns who formerly did not use to be call'd to the generall Assemblies the priviledge of sending their Deputies and taking part in the administration of all affairs that so they may the more willingly support the paying of Taxes which they themselves shall have thought fit to impose Upon the same score the Nobility has the liberty of assisting at these publick Assemblies in such numbers as they please Provided still they be of the body of the great Assembly except those that are priviledg'd If any body can prove that any of the Nobles or Deputies of Towns has gone beyond his Commission or has come short of it or any wayes fail'd in the trust put in him he shall be bound to come in the presence of those that did depute him and justifie himself and in case he refuse he shall be punish'd according to the rigour of the Law and we shall think our selves oblig'd to those that shall accuse him and bound to thank them as true and faithfull lovers of their Countrey But as for those that do cast aspersions and forge calumnies against the States it is fit they should know that they are much mistaken if they think to deal with the Nobility and Deputies of Towns as with private men For though they may be led away and induc'd to deride their actions and resolutions innocently and only to make sport yet do we here declare that those we shall find doing so maliciously and with
a design of subverting our State by vilifying the Governors thereof we shall hold as enemies and punish accordingly Therefore be it known to all that we that do here declare that the Soveraign power is in the States do not mean that it is in the Deputies but in those that sent them whom they represent by vertue of their Commission This is a truth which many Princes and particularly her most Serene Majesty the Queen of England as also his Excellency the Prince of Orange when he was sworn Governour did both acknowledge Neither do we think that any body can dispute so constant a verity for else it would follow that the States have not now they are free so much power as they had before and not only the contracts made with the English and the creation of the Governor Generall would be invalid but all that the States have so nobly perform'd since these fifteen years would be unjust which no body but our greatest enemies will or dare say From what has been said it appears how great a necessity there is of keeping inviolable the Authority of the said States as the foundation of all the safety of our Commonwealth and of letting every body know that the Soveraign power is no less in them now than it was under their former Princes Decreed at the Hague and order'd to be publish'd by the common consent of the States Made at Harâ—â—mâ— the sixteenth of October in the year 1587. THE THIRD BOOK Containing the DELIGHTS OF HOLLAND CHAP. I. Of the Original of Holland SOme Writers say that the word Holland is deriv'd from the Gâ—rman word Holtlandt which is as much as to say a Countrey of Wood and they found this their conjecture upon the names of many Villages which have been nam'd from their Woods Our Annals likewise do say that formerly this Province was full of Forrests and the Sea-side all border'd with Trees There was not above a hundred years ago a large Forrest in the Island of Texel which does as it were make up the tail of the Lion which the seventeen Provinces put together do represent And to this day there are bodies and stumps of Trees which do often hurt Ships and entangle their Cables about their roots which in a storm is often the cause of the loss of divers Ships for that reason the Fishermen never cast their Nets there for fear of tearing them Some others say and that probably enough that the word Holland does denote the property of the Earth which in most places seems hollow and quakes as if it swam upon the top of the Water To this purpose Guicciardin tells a Story of a Cow That passing in a Meadow half a mile from Harlem fell into a Ditch and was drown'd and â—â—reâ— dayes after was found in a Lake hard by the Town on the East-side of it which had no communication with the Ditch The third opinion and that which is most likely to be true is that these Provinces having been conquer'd by the Normans they gave them the name of the Provinces they came out of And in effect not only whole Provinces but many Towns and Villages have the same names here and in Denemark as Zeeland Oland besides the Kingdome of Norway the Towns as Schagen Bergen Valkenburg and many others which it is needless to set down In all antiquity it is observable that when ever a Nation did enlarge by Conquests or Colonies the same custome was put in use So the French having entred Gallia drive out the Romans and call'd the Countrey France The Spaniards do the same in the West-Indies And to go no further the Dutch themselves have given the name of Batavia to that great Town in the Indies which they have made the seat of their Trade and Empire in those parts These Northern Nations not content with their having deluge-like over-run these Countreys pass'd into Neustria and call'd it Normandy and to this day the people of that Province have an accent much resembling that of the Danes in their tongue which is not a small conjecture that they are come originally out of the North. Our Authors do not agree about the time that these Nations did invade Holland and whether they were again driven out by the French or no. CHAP. II. Of the length and breadth of Holland the number of its Towns and Villages UNder the name of the Low Countreys are comprehended the seventeen Provinces and before these troubles Flanders was esteem'd the best of them but now Holland may more justly claim that title as being the richest Countrey in the world for its bigness Holland is encompassed almost on three sides by the Ocean viz. on the West the East and the North it has Brabant the River Meuse and Utrect to the South It may be said of this Province as an Ancient said of France that there is no desert solitude nor empty place in it for there has been such an affluence and concourse of people by reason of the Wars that it is almost too little to hold them The Circuit of Holland is only a hundred and fourscore miles and in this compass are comprehended great Lakes and a part of the South Sea Its length is taken from the Island Schelling in the North to the River Scheld and Zeeland in the South The breadth is not above twenty four miles if we take it in a straight line in the middle from Catwyck by the Sea-side to Woerden a small Town upon the Frontiers of Utrect The chief and principall Towns are six in number Dort Harlem Delft Leyden Amsterdam Goude The others that are less Towns but who do send their Deputies to the States Generall are these Rotterdam Gorcum Schiedam Schoonhove Briel Alcmaer Horn Enchuyse Edam Monnicken-dam Medenblick and Purmerend The other Towns are not admitted to the same priviledges either because they are built upon the conquer'd Countrey of Brabant as Gertrudenbergh Heusden Workum or because they have particular Lords that will not have them belong to the States as Vianen is owned by the Brederodes and Yselsteyn is claim'd by the States of Utrect or else because they are poor and cannot bear the charges of Deputies as Woerde Audewater Heukelom Asperen Leerdam Naerden Wâ—sop and Muyden of which mention shall be made hereafter The principall Burroughs which have the priviledges of Towns though they be not wall'd are the Hague Vlaerding Gravâ—sant Delfs-haven Beverwyck Schagen Nieuport There are in Holland above two hundred Villages which if you consider for their building trade and riches they may take place of many Towns in other Countreys but the fairest of them are Nortwic Reensburg Worbury Maeslant-sâ—â—ys Egmond Ryswyck Geervliet c. Vlaerding Reâ—nsburg and Bevâ—â—wyck were in former ages reckon'd amongst the strongest and fairest Towns of this Province as also Geervliet But Holland is much chang'd since its troubles and many Towns are risen by trade and their situation which before were very inconsiderable I have heard old Women
awe 'T is thought that the Company payes above 10000 men the places and employments are much valued and not to be come by but by the intercession of some great friend Every Summer about August there comes in an East-India Fleet of ten or twelve Ships which is esteem'd to bring in the value of above a million of gold The prohibitions that Philip King of Spain made to the Hollanders from trading in his Countrey were the cause of this Enterprize 'T is said that the Veâ—etians did counsell and further it for a design which succeeded otherwise than they expected and to their own loss The Ships that go for the Indies are of extraordinary bulk Every one that has put in a thousand pounds may be a Director and every one that has a hundred pounds there may have three hundred for it and every hundred yeelds forty and forty five sometimes more sometimes less The riches of this Company are inestimable and to go about to describe them were to desire credit to a thing which to most people would seem fabulous though they are very reall in themselves All the Channels render themselves into Lakes and they into the Sea There are two chief overtures to the Ocean the first is the mouth of the River Meuse which is at the Brill and Gâ—ree the other from Amsterdam and the Towns of North-Holland to the Texel CHAP. VI. Of the Imposts and Customes THough Holland be both naturally and by the greatness of its commerce aboundant in all things yet every thing is extream dear and that for two reasons first because of the greatness of the Consumption caus'd by the affluence of people from all parts the other because of the Excise which is upon every thing almost and which is easily supported by the Inhabitants by reason of the great gains every one is able to make in his profession These Imposts are so layed and gather'd that they are willingly payed though there be nothing free from them The Money that is thus rais'd comes to a vast summe which added to the situation of the Countrey has made all the King of Spain's endeavours vain But to shew the greatness of this Tribute I will give only this example A Cow of nine years old if it be sold for five pound will have payed above six pound to the States There is never a Dish comes to Table but has payed excise above twenty times The States seeing the necessity of having money to defend their liberties did by little and little and not all at once settle these Excises so that the people bear it chearfully enough In the time of the War every one pay'd the two hundredth penny of their Estates they only that were not worth two hundred pound principall were exempted from this contribution There are many other Imposts which may be all seen in the Second Part of this Book in the Chapter of Imposts All that is wonderfull is to consider that that very thing for the fear of which these Nations revolted from the Spaniards has been put in execution in a higher manner upon themselves by their own consent and prov'd the means of their preservation Let us now come to the description of particular Towns and let us begin by Leyden which is to the rest as the Spring is to the other seasons of the year the gayest and most pleasant Towns in other Countries are subject to the injuries of time and revolutions but here they spring up encrease and grow bigger every day This Town amongst the rest has had the good fortune to be one of the most flourishing of the Low Countreys The Ocean is on the West-side of it and within twelve miles Harlem on the North within fifteen and Amsterdam within one and twenty Utrect within thirty towards the East Delft and the Hague on the South and South-West and within nine miles distance CHAP. VII Of Leyden in Latine Lugdunum Batavorum THis Town the greatest and most pleasant that is in Europe if we consider the magnificence of its Buildings the breadth of its Streets the conveniencies of its Channels and the pleasing shade of the Trees planted on each side the Channels is situated upon the ancient River of Rhene which goes through it makes many Islands and then joyns in one bed at the white Gate It is almost in the Center of Holland and from it we will draw lines to the rest of the Cities which are as it were the circumference It is a very ancient City as appears by the Burg built either by the Romans or Saxons whence many derive the word Leyden from Legio there being there a Roman Legion in quarters The opinion of some is that it was built by an English man in the year 1050. Plutarch and Ptolomy mention it and Antonine calls it the Capital of the Germans The Burg-graves of Leyden have taken their name from this Burg which is round and high and from it one may discover all the adjacent Meadows the sandy Downs and the Sea of Harlem The ascent to it is by steps and round about it as well as within are Fruit-Trees in abundance It has about a hundred and fifty foot in compass and within these few years there has been bred up Hedges all trimm'd and cut into Labyrinths which in a short time will make it a very recreative place In the year 1121. the great Church was consecrated to St. Peter 't is one of the finest Churches in Holland having three ranks of Pillars on each side without the Quire It is said that there was a high Tower which serv'd as a Light-House to those that were at Sea and pass'd before Catvic but it fell down in the year 1509. In the year 1344. the Church dedicated to St. Pancratius was bless'd it is a stately Building so much of it as is done It is now the Church of the French and Walloons the great Scaliger lyes buried in it In the year 1573. the Spaniards having taken Harlem after a long and tedious siege went and sate down before Alcmaer but being forc'd to raise the siege of that place they came before Leyden but hearing of Count Frederick de Nassaw his coming they retir'd A little after having recruited their Army they came again under the conduct of their Generall Baldese who judging that it would be a hard matter to take the Town by force resolv'd to starve them to a surrender The Inhabitants endur'd all the extremities of famine and at last the banks that kept in the Rivers Meuse and Issel being broke on purpose by the Hollanders the Spaniards were forced to forsake their Trenches The first relief came into the Town the third of October which is still made an anniversary day of Thanksgiving Every year there is a Play made in representation of this siege which draws great numbers of people to see it and the money gather'd is given to poor Orphans In the middle of the famine a troop of Citizens being come to the door
of one Peter Adrian de Verf cried out aloud that they must either surrender or perish with hunger but he answer'd them with an immortall constancy Friends kill me if you will and divide me between you for it is the same thing to me to die by your hands or by the hands of my enemies They made Paper-money with this Inscription Hâ—c libertatis ergo pugno pro patria c. which is to say We endure all these miseries for our liberty and our Countrey I will adde that as Leyden has been the second Town that sustain'd valiantly the Spaniards attacks so the Sas of Gand was the last place but one which fell into the States hands and that by the fault of the Governor who was not able to make use of his Sluces against those who by water had driven the Spaniards from their Walls A year after this painfull siege was establish'd the famous University of Leyden to recompence the Inhabitants for their constant sufferings But many other reasons might invite the States to choose this Town before any other for it is neat finely built delicate Walks and a pleasant Countrey about the Town the Sea near it The University was inaugurated the eighth of February in the year 1574. and every year upon the same day is declar'd Rector he whom his Highness the Prince of Orange is pleas'd to choose out of three that are nam'd to him Here has alwayes been very famous professors in all faculties but particularly the Civil Law and Physick have alwayes flourished by the particular care of his Highness the Prince of Orange The great Scaliger and the incomparable Salmazius have been as the two great Lights among the other Stars of this learn'd Firmament There are besides Lectures of Divinity Mathematicks in all which the professors do excell as being chosen with care and well recompenc'd for their labours When any one dies the three Curators provide another of the same faculty so the University is alwayes supplied Those Students that are written in the University-Book do enjoy great priviledges They that are above twenty year old may have fourscore quarts of Wine in a year which pay no excise and half a barrell of Beer every moneth free likewise They give a groat to the Servants of the University every quarter The Rector or Chancellor has his Counsellors before whom are brought all quarrels and they endeavour to make the parties agree if they will not then they may go to a triall before the University Counsell where the Rector presides and decides without appeal in civil matters If any of the Students have committed a crime that deserves death or otherwise the Officers of justice cannot take him before they have the Rectors consent and then too they may not carry him to a loathsome prison but into the Town-House Hall Duels are severely prohibited ever since a Danish Student was kill'd in one Besides they are forbid to commit any riot in the night time or break the Citizens Windows under pain of a considerable Fine and often of being bannish'd There is a Watch goes on purpose to hinder such disorders which takes away Scholars Swords if they be insolent and carries them to prison where next day they are produc'd before the University Counsell There are also as good Masters for all Exercises as Riding Dancing c. as any where and the Italian French and Spanish Tongues are taught excellently well Here are Students of all Nations of Europe most of them Gentlemen of good Families and often Princes and great Lords Sons have been seen to come hither for their education They all have a dependance upon the Rector and to this day never any Member of the University was put to death except a servant to a Prince who confess'd himself to be the author of a murder that had been committed The University has Schools for the different Lectures and on the North-side of the great Court is the famous Printing Press of John Elzevier so well known for his fair Characters It is placed upon the Rapembourg the fairest Street of all the Town for in the middle of it runs a large Channell and of each side is a rowe of tall Trees from one end to the other The Pavy has a little fall towards the Channell so that it can never be dirty let there fall never so much rain There are five fair Bridges over this Channell and abundance of delicate Houses on each side 'T is not only this Street that is thus shaded but all the Town so that he was in the right that desir'd to know whether Leyden was in a Wood or a Wood in Leyden We should never have done if I would particularize all the singularities of Leyden the great and most frequented Street begins at the Gate of the Hague and ends at Utrect Gate it is the broadest and highest Street of the Town The most considerable next is Harlem Street which has a Channell call'd the old Rhene into which all the other Channels do faâ—l and which ends it self at Catvic It is adorn'd with four stone Bridges one of which is the largest and fairest of all the Town it is call'd the Corn-Bridge because that on every Market-day the Countrey people take up their stations upon it with their Corn. There is another likewise call'd the Fish-Bridge because the Fishermen do there expose their Sea-Fish to sale The best Fish comes from Catvic that of Maeslantsluys is not valued as being ordinarily stale If this City had but running Water a great Market-place and some fountains of clear Water for drink it would be the pleasantest in all Europe but nothing can be ex omni parte beatum accomplish'd in all points There has been lately built a Church in a circular figure admir'd by all Strangers for its incomparable Architecture both within and without The first Sermon was preach'd in it some weeks before Easter in the year 1650. The Town is so populous by reason that poor people of the neighbouring Countries do seek a refuge here in time of War that it is a hard matter to get a Chamber in the new Town Here is the great manufacture of that excellent Cloths which are transported all the world over they cannot make any such any where else The fine Wool comes from Spain and the course from England and Pomâ—rania All sorts of Nations work in the manufacture where many other Stuffs are made In Summer during the hot weather these Channels do send forth a noysome smell particularly when the weather inclines to rain the reason of it is the drying up of the Lake of Soetermeer which did use to cleanse the Town by flowing into it To prevent this the Magistrates have caus'd two large Channels to be made and two Mills to be set upon them to drive the Water into the Town at one end and two other that drive or carry it out at the other end so that by this invention the City is free'd from that
Zembla between mountains of Ice In this journey they met no Pirates nor enemies but great white fierce Bears which would follow them upon the land and in the Sea as one particularly did for leaping into the Sea to follow their long Boat which they had maâ—â—d out they shot him and hurt him but he nevertheless following still they threw a Rope about his neck thinking to carry him away alive after them to Austerdam nevertheless this furious Beast had the force to leap with his two fore-feet upon the Boat and so frighted the Seamen that they were all ready to leap into the Sea had not the Rope by good luck entangled it self about the Rudder whereupon one run him through with a Pike and kill'd him They met besides with a sort of great Fish as big as Oxen call'd Valres their Head is like an Oxes and they have two Teeth that come out like Boars Tushes At last seeing the season of the year far spent they went back and some dayes after met with the other Ships which had left them and learn'd from them that they had been in the Tartarian Ocean which they had found full of Whales That they had landed and discover'd a Cross upon a Mountain near which they had found some Sacks of Meal and something written upon the Cross in Russian Characters At last they all arriv'd at Amsterdam in September having been hindred by the Ice to go any further The chief of these was one William Barenson who having made the recitall of their journey there was a second Voyage resolv'd of under the conduct of the said William but they met with the same obstacles again though it were in August They met with a Shallop laden with Barks of Trees and Geese and such other Merchandizes which waited for the Russian Fleet which every year goes that way They that were in the Bark did say that within a few dayes the Sea would be so frozen as that one might go over the Ice into Tartary The Hollanders invited them aboard and presented them with Butter and Cheese which they refused saying it was fasting-day but took some Herrings Having left them and seen the Countrey of the Samoctes which they found to be a barbarous people wearing Buff-skins they steered their course to the States Island a place which they found full of Hares whereof they made provision Some pass'd into the Continent not far from the Island and there a furious Bear kill'd two and routed all the rest of the company though twenty in number and well arm'd with Pikes at last with succour from the Ship the Bear was kill'd After which they set sayl for Holland running much hazard in the Ice but arriv'd without any other loss than of those two men The small success of this Voyage could not discourage the undertakers from venturing once more under the conduct of the same William Barenson to whose Ship James Heemskerke was aded as Commissary Two Ships set sayl the eighteenth of May and met with the first Ice the fifth of June They sayled up and down till the eighteenth without being able to meet with any passage Wherefore one return'd into Holland Barenson having steered to Nova Zembla and endeavouring to leave it behinde him was surprized by the Ice and his Ship frozen up In this extremity some having landed found abundance of Timber about a league within the shore with that they built a little House which they cover'd with the Boards of their Ship and had Wood enough left to make fire with The Sun forsook them quite from the fourth of November to the twenty fourth of January Till the Sun forsook them the Bears tormented them but they had great relief by a sort of Foxes which they did use to catch and rost and make warm Caps of their Skins Their Beer and their Sack being frozen they were fain to break them with an Axe and thaw them upon the fire and when their Beer was spent they were fain to melt the Snow and drink it At last the Sun came again but with him the Bears who did persecute so as they were not able to stir out of them they kill'd many and us'd their fat in stead of Oyl to burn in Lamps Twelfth-day being come they resolv'd to be merry and choose King and Queen making their King King of Nova Zembla and the Islands about it After some time they begun to think of returning home not in their Ship for that they could not stir but in their Boat which with much ado they fitted up and set sayl the fifteenth of June among shoals of Ice the Bears still following them upon the Ice and into the Sea The f 〈…〉 h of July they came to the Cross Island and the eighteenth they met with two Russian Boats who gave them some refreshments and at last they came to Amsterdam in October 1597. having lost Barenson and four more CHAP. XXVIII Containing divers Curiosities IN the generall recitall of so many delicious Wonders we have it may be omitted some which we here adde by way of Supplement North-Holland had formerly a great Lake near Purmerend which has been drain'd with great pains and charges it is now a most fertile spot of ground about 20. mile in compass The Cattle there is the biggest and fattest of all the Low-Countries It is confidently reported that in the generall contribution of the Provinces towards the War Holland gives 57. in a 100. and Amsterdam alone gives above 27. of the 57. from whence may be inferr'd what are the riches of that Town The revenue of the said City comes to above 4000. pound a day according to the Treatise that has been Printed of it This year 1650. the Excise of Beer Meat and Corn being farm'd out to them that bid most was let at a 150000. pounds Besides these there is the Wine-Excise the Taxes upon Houses the eighth penny and a thousand others There is a Square-house before the Town-house where all things are weigh'd it yeelds above 10000. pound a year There is a Glass-house in which Chrystall-Glasses are made not inferior to Venice-Glasses as also excellent Looking Glasses which do attract all mens admiration The Rhetoricians or Poâ—ts-house deserves to be remembred it being a laudable custome practis'd almost all over the Low Countries which is that people given to Poetry have a House at Amsterdam where they may represent Playes They are distinguish'd into different Chambers and make Aenigmes which if unridled carry a prize with them for the Oedipus I shall end by the publick Library to shew that our Merchants have not forgot Learning amongst the hurry and noise of their Trade It is hard by the South Church and very well stored with all sorts of curious Books The Epigram that is at the Door gives people warning how they are to behave themselves when they are within There is added to it a Physick-Garden which encreases every day by the care that the Magistrates take to
c. with all the Fruits Revenues Rents and Profits of them And those that have so hid the said Estates Rights c. shall not be any wayes molested by the Treasury but shall enjoy and dispose of them as of their own 36. The Trees cut down after the day of the conclusion of this Treaty or such as shall be cut down the day of the conclusion and those not being cut down are nevertheless bargain'd for shall remain to the Proprietary notwithstanding the sale of them 37. The Fruits Farms Rents Leases Tenths Fishing-Houses c. of such Estates as according to this Treaty shall be restor'd to the right owners if they fall after the conclusion of this Treaty shall remain for the whole year to the Proprietaries and their Heirs c. 38. All Farms and Leases of confiscated Estates though made for many years shall nevertheless expire and be at an end in the year of the conclusion of this Treaty and the Farms or Leases falling after the day of the conclusion of this Treaty shall belong to the Proprietaries with this caution that if the Farmer of the said Estates has employed any of his stock towards the said years crop he shall be re-payed by the Proprietary as the Judges of the place shall value the said disbursement 39. All sale of confiscated Estates made after the conclusion of this Treaty is void as also the sale made before the conclusion if it be against the Capitulations and Agreements made particularly with certain Towns 40. The Houses of particular persons that are or shall be restor'd shall not be made Garrisons on neither side neither shall they pay any higher Taxe or Contribution than the Houses of other Inhabitants 41. None on either side shall be hindred directly or indirectly from changing the place of his abode so he pay the ordinary Taxes 42. If any Fortifications or Works have been made on either side by Authority in such places as are to be restored the Proprietaries shall be content to value them at the rate the Judges of the place shall put upon them as also the Proprietaries shall receive satisfaction for so much of their Estates as shall have been made use of either in Fortifications publick Works or pious uses 43. As for Church-Revenues Colledges and other pious places situated in the United Provinces which were members and dependances of the Benefices Colledges c. now under the obedience of the King of Spain so much of them as has not been sold before the conclusion of the present Treaty shall be restor'd and the owners may take possession of it by their own Authority but for those that have been sold or otherwise disposed of they shall receive a yearly Rent to the value of them after the rate of 8. in the 100. The same shall be observ'd on the side of the said King 44. As for the pâ—eâ—ensions and interest that the Prince of Orange may have in such things which he is not in possession of there shall be made a Treaty by it self to the satisfaction of the said Prince But as for the Lands Goods c. that the said Prince is in possession of by the gift of the said States in Bay 〈…〉 f ship of Hulster-Ambacth and elsewhere they shall all remain in his free possession as his own excluding hereby all pretensions to the contrary by this Treaty or any other 45. Touching certain other ' points which besides the contents of the preceding Article have been agreed upon and signed in two different Writings one of the 8th of January the other of the 27th of December 1647. in the name of the said Prince of Orange the said Writings shall be observ'd accomplish'd and executed according to their contents just as if all the said points in particular were all inserted into this present Treaty and this notwithstanding all Clauses or Articles of this Treaty any wayes contrary for if there be any such they are declar'd void in that point by this present Article 46 Those to whom confiscated Estates are to be restor'd shall not be bound to pay any Arrearages Rents Charges c. specially assign'd upon the said Estates for the time they did not enjoy them and if any pursuit or molestation do befall them they shall immediately be relieved 47. Judgements given upon confiscated Estates between parties that did acknowledge the power of the Judges shall hold only the condemn'd parties may seek relief by the ordinary course of justice 48. The said King does quit and renounce all pretensions of Redemption or other upon the Town of Grave the Countrey of Luych its Appurtenances Dependances and the ancient Barony of Brabant engaged heretofore to the Prince of Orange and which has been since converted as propriety to the use of Prince Maurice of Nassaw in December 1611. by the States Generall as Soveraigns of the said Town of Grave and Countrey of Luych In vertue of which concession the Prince of Orange that now is his Heirs c. shall enjoy for ever the propriety of the said Town of Grave c. with all its Dependances c. 49. The said King does also renounce to all Right Claims c. either of propriety or cession c. to the Town County and Lordship of Lingen and the four Villages and other its Dependances as also to the Towns and Lordships of Bevâ—rgarde Cloppenberge that they may remain for ever to the said Prince of Orange his Heirs c. confirming by this Treaty all the said Princes other Titles to them 50. The said King and States shall each of them separately and for themselves place Judges and Officers in such Towns and strong places as by this Treaty are to be restor'd to the Proprietaries 51. The high part of Gueldres shall be changed for an Equivalence which if it cannot be agreed upon in this Treaty shall be decided by the Chamber of equall number of Judges on both sides and that in the time of six moneths after the ratification of the Treaty 52. The said King does oblige himself to procure effectively the continuation of the neutrality friendship and good neighbour-hood of his Imperiall Majesty and the Empire with the States to the observation of which the States do likewise oblige themselves and the confirmation of the said neutrality shall be made in the space of two moneths by his Imperiall Majesty and in the time of a year by the Empire after the ratification of this Treaty 53. The Fruits Moveables confiscated and receiv'd before the conclusion of this Treaty shall not be subject to be restor'd 54. They that during the War were retir'd into Countries that did stand neuters shall enjoy the benefit of this Treaty and may stay where they please or return to their ancient homes there to live in all quiet and tranquillity in the observation of the Laws of their Countrey without danger of having their Estates or Chattels seized on by reason of the stay they make in any place