being chosen King of the Romans to Hungary 1411 leaving Engelbert Earl of Nassau 4th Governour of the Netherlands whom the Emperour assists in the settlement of the Government the Pope seconding his Temporal Power with his own Spiritual who being hired by the distractions between Holland and Flanders about the Sea resigned his Charge to Albert Duke of Saxony who with his Master Maximilian the K. of the Romans went into Holland settling the Towns as they passed making a Peace between them and the Flemins and punishing the Mutiniers at Harlem and Alâ—mar Ruining the Factions by their own fears and jealousies keeping under the Frizons and Gelders by a new Protestate sent thither by the Emperour Maximilian untill Philip the 2d Arch-Duke of Austria was by his Father Maximilian possessed of the Netherlands 1494 under whom the Duke of Saxony defeated the Factions of Friezland by pretended kindnesses whereby he set them one against the other while both delivered to him their strong Holds which he made so good use of that they appeal from him and his Son George to the Emperour who yet stood by his Governour who in return for his Masters kindness brought them of Friezland after some redress of grievances by their Commissioners to pay his Master the 21th penny of all their Estates putting 6 men to govern there while he reduced the Groningois notwithstanding the Protection of the Earl of Embden and the followers of Col. Vyll about which time a child spake in Holland in the Mothers belly and Philip of Austria being now King of Castile dyed and left Charles the 2d of that name the 35th Earl of Holland and Zealand Lord of Friezland Duke of Burgundy and Lemburgh Luxemburgh Shiia Corinthia Earl of Flanders Artois with many other Marquisates and Principalities to which he added Millain Overyssel Gruningen Cambray and Cambresis his Grandfather Maximilian the Emperour being his Guardian and his Aunt Margaret Dowager of Savoy his Governess under whom Ann of Burgundy that had recovered and walled in many lost Islands in Zealand dying Budwyen was taken and razed the Geldrois Groeningois with the Earl of Embden are conquered Prince Charles taking the Netherlands into his own hands from the Dutchess of Savoy and the Duke of Saxony by the assistance of the Lord of Iselsteen under whom he constituted 7 Governours of Justice in Friezland when he went to Spain for that Crown upon Ferdinand of Arragon his Grandfather by his Mother side death and to Germany for that Empire upon his Grandfather Maximilianâ—s decease settling Margaret of Austria Widow of Castile and Dowager of Savoy the 37th Governess of the Low Countries whose Hâ—rring-busses being seized by the Danes they mutiny seize Newport distract Friezland pretend Religion and fly to the Duke of Gelders until the Imperial Forces came down and awed them insomuch that Groningen yeelds to the Emperour as did Dam Weddra Coeuoelden Huttem Megen Vtrecht and most other places the Gelders being not able to hold out against the Power of Spain and Germany Upon the Dowager of Savoy's death Mary Dowager of Hungary and Sister to Charles the 5th is the 40th Governess of the Low-Countries under whom the new Chanel was made between Brussels and Antwerp the Anabaptists were discovered and banished the War betwixt the Lubeckers and the Hollanders was managed by Vander-burch van Comper and the new Haven at Middleburgh was begun 1536 and the notable surprize upon the French ships was acted in this manner There being a War between the Hollanders and the French some French ships rid along their shore snapping up their Vessels and themselves somtimes in bed whereupon 50 tall Dutchmen well Armed hearing of these ships went in a Hoy lying under Hatches and covered with Sacks of Wool out of the Mase towards them who boarded it but when they were busie about the Sacks of Wooll they were entertained so rudely by those 50 men with Fire-works and Granadoes that they all fled and left 6 ships Prizes to one Hoy to be carried to Delph and sold Now likewise the Emperour brought the Geldrois to a muteny that dismantled their Towns razed their Forts and laid the Faction open to their Soveraigns Power who spoiled the Abetters Abeâ—ters of their Conspiracies the French at Sea and brought this unquiet People that rebelled every year for 527 years together to so good a temper that they presented him at Genoa with 15000 Florens of Gold a Province and quietly submitted to the Resignation he made of those Provinces to his Son at Brussels who now by the name of Philip the 2d of Spain and Lord of Austria by Emanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy his Viceroy demanded of the Netherlands Supplies for the payment of his Fathers debts who would allow him none unless forsooth he allowed a Convocation of their general States and then but a moyety neither of what he demanded and was necessary for his settlement And not onely so but notwithstanding that he honoured their chief Nobility as the Lord Horn William of Nassau the Earl of Egmont with the order of the Golden Fleece at Brussels they created such fears and jealousies between the King and the Noblemen that it was reported who were upon the refusal of the Tax designed for the Block who for the Rack and who for perpetual Imprisonment insomuch as that there was a perpetual Feud between the Court and the Nobility till the Government was dissolved all things being represented to the worst especially the Earls of Egmont and Lornes carriage at the Truce between France and Spain at Bruges and at the Treaty between the same two Crowns at Cambray Their King was yet so intent upon obliging them that he appointed them a Council of State for matters of importance as Peace War and Treaties with forreign Princes A Privy-Council for Lawes Pardons Justice c. and a third Council for the Treasury of which Councils they themselves were the major part their most eminent Nobility being advanced as the Earl of Egmoâ—â— Governour of Flanders and Artois The Prince of Orange Governour of Holland Zealand Vtrech and afterwards of Burgundy Jo. de ligni Earl of Arenbergh Governour of Friezland Overyssel Groning and Leagen Charles de Bunen Governour of Gelderland and Zuphten the Mâ—â—morencies and Hornes of their respective Provinces all subject to Margaret of Austria Dutchess of Parma and Sister to the King of Spain when the very first instance of the ungrateful mens Power is a Petition to their Soveraign a Spaniard himself to remove all Spaniards from the Netherlands A Petition the good King easily granted though to the displeasure of many of his Courtiers that had quitted their whole fortunes for employments there diverting his very Army which should have kept them in better obedience to his War in Barbary And when they had prevailed in that they give out that the Spanish Courtiers would be revenged of them and that the chief Nobility of the Netherlands the Subscribers to that Petition were designed
Army was so likely to moulder away for want of pay that she thought fit to intercede for the distressed States with his Majesty of Spain and Don John by the Lord Cobham and Sir Fracis Walsingham and when that failed a Religious Peace as they called it which the States-General consented to was settled which bred great jealousies in the Provinces where many were still stiff for Popery especially at Gaunt till the Queen of England declared against them and promised notwithstanding that Duke Casimer and the D. of Anjou retired in discontent to stand by the Protestant States to the utmost as she did effectually having brought the Estates first to stricter Union and Alliance at Vtrech 1579 than that before at Gaunt and afterwards to erect a Council of State for the management of affairs whose very first debate was a Consultation about the alteration of Government to shorten the War and engage some Person in their defence The next was the taking and demolishing of several strong Holds that had been too serviceable to the King of Spain But their affairs not prospering they resolve upon the Duke of Anjou as their Soveraign upon 27 Articles signed on both sides with Medals coyned whereon were these devices Leonem loris mus li erat Liber revinciri Leo pernegat Pro Christo grege lege Religione justitià reduce vocato ex Gulliâ pacatâ duce Andegariensi â—elgiae Libertatis vindice vos terrâ â—go excubo ponto 1580 Si non nobis saltem posteris And that being dispatched they agree upon Martial Discipline and relieve Steenwich under the conduct of Sir John Norris who victualled it and raised the Siege having given notice of it in Letters which he shot in his Bullets The States-General in the mean time answering the King of Spain's Proscription against the Prince of Orange and providing against the insolences of the Papists by a restraint upon the exercise of their Religion at Brussels and Antwerp declare thus The States General of the United Provinces Guelders Holland Zealand Zuphten Friezland Overysel and â—roeninghen having declared Prince Philip of Austria second of that name King of Spain fallen from the Sigâ—ioâ—y of the said Provinces by reason of his extraordinary and too violent Government against their Freedom and Priviledges solemnly sworn by him having by the way of Right and Armes taken upon us the Government of the publick State and of the Religion in the said Provinces An 1581 having by an Edict renounced the Government of the K. of Spain breaking his Seals Counter-seals Privy-signets for new ones made by them in their stead and entertaining the Duke of Anjou nobly attended from England by the Lord Willoughby Sheffield Windsor Sir Philip Sidney Shirley Parrat Drury and the Lord Howard's son and recommended by the Queen who avowed That what service was done him she esteemed as done to her self and commended to him this one good Rule to be sure of the hearts of the People who invested him Duke of Brabant and Earl of Flanders wherein Dunkirke did import him much to keep a Passage open from Flanders into France as the refusal his Brother made of succour and his entertainment of French Nobility to the discouragement of the Netherlands did him much harm especially since most of his Followers were either men of Spoil or secret Pensioners to the King of Spain and he by their advice lost himself in his Enterprize upon Antwerp so far that had not her Majesties Authority reconciled them the States and he had broken irrecoverably though indeed they never after peiced For the Duke thereupon delivers all the Towns he had taken to the States retyring himself to Dunkirke while the Ganthoes and other troublesom men of the Innovation declared against him and for Duke Casimir And all the Estates humbly beseeched the Queen of England by General Norris to have mercy upon them in this woful juncture especially when the wise Prince of Orange was murthered by a fellow recommended to him by Count Mansfield and serving him three years to await this opportunity having time to say no more but Lord have mercy upon my soul and this poor People And the Spaniards during the States differences and the youth of Grave Maurice of Nassau who succeeded his Father carrying all before them insomuch that the King of France was so afraid to take the Netherlands into his Protection that he sent Embassadors to the Duke of Parma to remove the very suspition of it Especially when the Guisian League brake out upon him and the poor States had now none to trust to but the Queen of England who during their Treaty with France had made them gracious promises by Secretary Davison by whom by the Respective Deputies of their Provinces June 9. 1585 they absolutely resigned the Government to her Majesty who upon sundry great considerations of State refused that yet graciously sent them 4000 men under General Norris 184600 Guilders upon the security of either Ostend or Sluce and promised 5000 Foot and 4000 Horse under a General and other Officers of her own with pay For which the States stood bound giving Flushing Ramekins Briel and the two Sconces thereunto belonging into her hand for security and taking in her Commander in chief with two persons of Quality more of her Subjects by her appointment into their Council of State According to which Contract Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester is made Governour of the Low-Countreys for the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Queen of England to whom the whole Countrey did Homage receiving him as their absolute Governour though the Queen disavowed that as being likely to engage her too farr in the Quarrel and the States humbly submitted to her pleâ—sure in which capacity he set out Edicts for Discipline for the Treaty and Traffique which these troublesom people upon pretence of Liberty and Priviledg mutinied against to the great hinderance of the Earls proceedings insomuch that after he had born up their Interest as his entrance into the Government just ready to sink and taken Daventer Zuphten and other places he resigned his Government to the Council of State leaving a Meddal behind him on the one side whereof was engraven his Picture with these words Robertus â—omes Leicestriae in Belgia Gubernator 1587. And on the other side a flock of sheep scattered and before them an English Dogg with these words Non gregem sed Ingratos invitus desero Whereupon Deputies of Estates attended him with a Present a Cup as big as a Man and an humble supplication to the Queens most Excellent Majesty not to forsake them now in their low Estate so low that the King of Denmark thought fit to intercede for them to their own Leige the King of Spain while they in extremity devolve their affairs upon young Grave Maurice and declaring against the Earl of Leicesser's proceedings incensed the Queen so far that she called home General Norr is though yet Sluce had ben lost
make an Interest yet in the divisions of Europe Trav. It s possible but very improbable since they have lost their Reputation which is the bottom of their Interest and you will fide none will heartily close with them because none can really trust them Gent. Potentates without Integrity are the same thing with Tradesmen without Credit for suspicion is irreconcileable and it s said of Rome that Favendo piet ati fideique ad tantum fastigii per venerit And if you can make this good the Low-countreys have seen their best days Trav. I wish them no more harm than that your inference be not as fatally just as the premises are irrefragably true and easily evidenced to be so by as notorious an Induction as is this day Registred in Europe Gent. As how Trav. 1. In reference to Spain Then they petition against strangers declare for Liberty and Religion when they had newly taken the Oath of Allegiance made their Soveraign a Present of 120000l and insinuated their chief Demagogues to the places of greatest Honour and Trust in the Countrey Then they surprize Mecklenburgh Enchusen c. when they treated at Brussels Then they subscribed themselves Vassals to Franâ—e when they had senta Petition to Spain In a word Whatever was the ground of these mens revolt from that Kingdom their conduct in it had nothing of Honour or clearness as wholly suiting a Popular and Plebeian humour 2. In reference to France Not to mention the affront they put upon Mounsier 1578 when they entertained him for Protector yet obliged themselves to whence upon his exclusion Q. Eliz from Amsterd the Hierogliphick that represented them was a Cow fed by Q. Eliz. stroaked by the Prince of Orauge and held by the tayl by D. Francis till it bewrayed him or any other sleights before they came to a consistency which may be reckoned as their necessity rather then their fault 1627. When they were High and Mighty a strictly mutual Consederacy and Alkance Defensive and Offensive for 17 years with a mutual Engagement not to treat with Spain on either side without consent was agreed on Aug. 28. between Lâ—wis 13th of France and the States of the United Provinces ratified June 30 1630 and pursued on the French side with a Million of Lieurs i. e. 100000l sterling besides 10000 Foot and 1500 Horse fallen into Artois and Henault notwithstanding all which particulars they endeavoured a Truce with Spain and the States of Flanders without the advice or consent of France as appears by several underhand dealingâ—s of the Dutch with the Spaniards couched in the French Embassadours memorial to the States 1634. With whom I mean Mounsier de Charness by name when their â—reaties with Spain proved fruitless Feb 8. 1635. they renewed the former League upon the very same terms of No peace with Spain without mutual consent and in pursuit of it fell with joynt forces upon Tienen Loven Skinchen-Schons yet the Province of Holland suspecting France no less than Spain in the very heat of this War wherein the French were engaged on their account so good are these Watermen at Rowing one way and Looking another their Attorney General Musch is secretly dispatched to Don Martin Axpe Secretary to the King of â—pain about a Treaty which the States solemnly denyed to Carnasse and yet their Embassador Paw when the French King told him That these secret proceedings did contradict their solemn Treaty and how much it differed from the justice his Majesty used towards them said they had communicated it to Charnesse 1641 1642 1643. Yea though Anno 1635 1636 1637 1638 there were notwithstanding these underminding several ratifications passed of these Treaties and 1644 a League Guarantin entered into Yet as Mounsier de la Thuillerâ—es averred to their Faces not a Month in these years passed without overtures between them and the Spaniards which brought on the Treaty at Munster without and against the French Kings consent even when he was in the field on their behalf at Dunkirk Stechen Loqueren c at the rate of 18 or 20000 Foot and four or 5000 Horse to no purpose the Dutch slurring him in most undertakings as particularly at Antwerp which did as good as offer up it self to their Army Nay which was more the intercepted Letters of Count de Pennerandâ—â— made it evident That The peace at Munster was agreed on without any regard to the French Interest which was not so much as named by the Dutch And though the other Provinces were against it yet because Holland was for it they would soon bring the other Provinces to a complianâ—e Only honest Heer van Nederhurst refused to sign so perfldious a Treaty against not only the Honour but the very Interest of his Countrey of which I may say as the Greek Orators of Sparta No League no subsistance no Faith no League 3. Should I re-capitulate their strange dealings with England how they solicited our Queen and yet dealt with the French King How they promised us free Trade yet stopped our ships How they borrowed our money to buy a peace with Spain How they admitted our Embassadors to their supream Senate yet because he should not understand all Debates they presently set up a secret Council How they intreated the Q. to send over the Earl of Leicester yet abused him so far that he left behind him a Meddal whereon there was engraven a Dog and a flock of Sheep with this Inscription Non Oves sed Ingratos How they depended on our Field Officers and yet enjealousied them one against the other How they delivered us the Caution Towns we had taken yet were never quiet till they had trucked for them How they owned King James their Protector yet set up a blasphemous Reader I mean Vorstius in competition with him What earnestness they used to disswade him from Alliance with Spain when they had a correspondent there How they complemented King Charls the first of blessed memory when they disputed his Right to his own Seas How they protest their Obligations to him yet cheat us of the Impost upon their Herring fishing and presume to fight with Oquendo the Spanish Admiral in our very Havens How they had their Agents here during our Civil War under pretence of mediating our Peace observing the advantages they might make of our War How affectionately they there embraced the Kings Interest and yet how suspiciously their Embassadour faultered about his death How zealously they espoused his Majesties Interest that now is while hopefull 1649 1650 1651 1652 for a pretence to hide their design of quitting the Homage they owed to England and engrossing its Trade and when that was done how like themselves that is Cunningly they deserted it from 1653 to 1660 How eager they were to entertain His Majesty though not till they had assurance of his Restauration and yet how unkind to his Excellent Sister and her Son How instant for Peace at White-hall and yet how unreasonable
had not Sr William Russel supplyed it with Provision when all the seven Provinces could not do it Being now intent upon the settlement of their State-General out of the Particular Deputies of the several Provinces the Earl of Leicester being called home and they hearing of a Spanish Armado knowing not what to do but to importune her Majesty of England that she should make no peace without them Now she was in treaty with the Prince of Parma which she waves though privately willing enough to reconcile their private differences which was the greatest Motive she had to abandon them It being not likely they should do any good themselves especially since there was such jealousies and mistrusts among their chief Officers who could never have been united but by the vast Armado of the common Enemy which awed both sides to so much moderation that they settle the Government in the States reduce all Parties into one Oath and submission reconcile Vtrech to Holland pay their Souldiers very punctually establish Prince Maurice in the Admiralty and Prince William in the Government of Friezland They defeat the Marquess of Varumbon with Sir Francis Vere's assistance take the Antwerp Convoy raise jealousies between the Inhabitants of Groening and their Governour maintain Liberty of Conscience nourish the French differences get 125 26l a month of the Queen of England They surprize Breda engage the Electors and get the Prince of Parma off to the siege of Paris Blackinbergh Collenbergh the Fort before Zuphten Holt Nymighen Grumbergh Geertrudenbergh Seenwye and other places are recovered by the Valour and Conduct of the English particularly Sir John Norris Sir Roger Williams and Sir Henry Vere An Edict is made concerning Printing a War is contrived between France and Spain the United Provinces and the Estates under the King of Spain treat for peace Philip William eldest son to William Prince of Orange is released from his 35 years Imprisonment whereto he was confined since he was taken in Leyden as we have formerly intimated Prince Maurice and Sir Francis Vere Sir Robert Sidney's overthrow Cardinal Albertus his Army Wan 1577 whereupon Embassadours are sent to the States from the Empire from Peland and from other parts whom they remitted to the Queen of England as being able to do nothing without her In the mean time they prevailing under her protection set up the India trade assisting their Merchants with Artillery and Ammunition so as four ships were set forth to destroy the Countrey and bring away some Inhabitants against another Voyage where 8 ships ventured that way from Amsterdam as did many more from other places in the East and West Indies to Guine besides others to Syria and Greece 1578. But the poor States being left out of the peace between France and Spain are at a loss till the Queen of England sends to them that if they resolved for a War they should inform her what provisions they had towards it and rest assured of her utmost assistance So they forbade Traffique with Spain and entertained some overture afresh in order to an offensive war towards which she sent 2000 souldiers more under Sr Th. Knowles besides 6000 men she procured from the Circles of the Empire several Forts are set up by her directiōs the Contributions are mitigated in Zealand now ready to mutiny by her Order the offensive War in Flanders began by her intimation 2800 sail of ships Rendesvouzed in the the Sea-towns of Holland Zealand and Friezland Grave Oastend and Newport are besieged and the Arch-Dukes Army is defeated Chimney-money and Excise is imposed the United States and the States-General Treat In the mean time the Arch Duke Albertus his Forces mutiny and are entertained by the United Provinces The Hollanders and the English engage the Spaniards at Sea the King of England that succeeded the Queen March 24. 1603. promising them fair in general termes whereupon Oastend and Sluce are taken and the States refuse all intercessions for peace especially since they defeated Spinola by Land and the Spanish Gallies by Sea After which the Arch-Duke Albert and his Wife Isabella in the name of the King of Spain declared them free-Free-states and in that capacity offered to Treat with them upon peace all the Princes of Christendom offering their Mediation onely the King of Spain's Aggreation as they call it was not clear and the 62 Articles containing their Priviledges were not moderate enough to be the ground either of a Treaty of peace or a Truce In fine These people being very intent upon the preservation of their Liberties and most prone to jealousie motion and surprizes being agitated by others passion and their own for those two great Dianaes Priviledges and Liberty of Conscience high-flown upon the Battel of Newport gotten by Sir Francis Vere refused Reason Notwithstanding the peace at Verven between the King of France and Spain which cut off half their assistance the difference between Embden and the Governour of Friezland that disturbed their Union the taking of Oastend Rhainbergh Grelen after three years siege and Sir Francis Vere's great endeavours to preserve it that weakned their Interest being grown great with the private Alliance of France and that more open of England their Trade to the Indies and their Piracies upon Spain until Spinola humbled John May the Provincial of the Franciscans perswaded and what is more then all this the King of Englands inclination to a good understanding with Spain frighted them into a twelve years Truce in a Treaty begun at Antwerp 1607. No sooner are they at peace without but having recovered the Cautionary Towns from the English by old Barnavel's cunning who as King Henry the 4th said was the ablest Statesman in Europe as far as his money went but their humours began to work among themselves Rebels are as troublesom to themselves when they have defeated their Soveraign as they were to him before their Predestination Points and the nicities of Priviledges engaging them to the great danger of the whole Government had not King James by his Embassadour Sir Ralph Wenwood very effectually interposed The King of Spain finding the observation of a great Lord upon the Truce true That assoon as the common Enemy was over they would fall by themselves set the Arch-Duke upon offering them the confirmation of the Truce into a Peace in case they would accept of his Soveraignty An overture they scorned so far that the Embassador in his way through Delph was almost stoned by the dregs of the people and assoon as the Truce was over utterly denying the prolongation of it they besieged Gulicke spoiled Brabant invited Mantsfield into East-Friezland and shrouded themselves in a League against the house of Austria with France England and Denmark c. making the Interest of Europe their security in defence of the lower Circle of the Empire took the Plate-fleet and what promised Wonders there being men in it that could dive under water and flie in the Air the Fleet of
Dutch were flush with a Ten years free Trade and we spent with as many years Rebellion when we were the â—dium of Mankind and they at least upon the account of that Quarrel the Darlings of Europe a handful of our meanâ—st and most inconsiderable of our People durst Vote That no Goods should be Iâ—ported or Exported into or out of England but in English Bottoms And when the Lords States forsooth took that in Dudgeon our bold fellows the King Lords and Commons standing by and not concerned Vote their Embassadoâ—r the Lord Joachim away out of England Octob 6. 1650 within a month at his peril at whose return the High and Mighty draw in their Money sink their Bank mistrust one another break all to pieces raise Fortifications cast Ordinances provide new Artilleries Yards Rendezvouz Militiaes and withdraw 200 Families at least to Hamburgh and the other Hans-Towns of Germany Yet so much Courage they had left as to scorn the pretended Embassadours our Mock-Governours sent thither insomuch that one Dorisla by name lost his life there and another Strickland was weary of it strike to his Majesties concerns as he was King of Great Brittain in most of their Treaties with France Portugal Denmark Sweden c. though yet in their General Meetings Jan. 20. 1651. they Voted our Tom Thombs a free State forsooth and Common-wealth and that they would transact with their new-coyn'd Honours about a Truce and that too by old Joachim who was sent packing but two Months before the Province of Holland having cast the charges of a War and considered that half the money might advance it to a Seignory over its Sister Provinces And all the Provinces being amazed at the Tempest that broke the two Dikes St. Anthonies and the Harlem-Dike to the ruine almost of Gelders Zuphten Overystel Friezland and Holland Upon the least suspicion of War up came Chimney-money Poll-money Excise on Salt Beer Vinegar Wines Butter Oyl Candles all Grains Seeds Turff Coals Lead Brick Stone Wood Linnen and Woollen Clothes Silks Silver Gilt Wagons Coaches Ships and other Vessels Lands Pastures Gardens Nurseries Houses Servants Immovable Goods all Seals They forbid all affronts to their Lordships forsooth Strickland and St. John They drink and that was a great Argument of the High and Mighty States good affection in continuationem prosperitatem Reip Angliae Notwithstanding all which complyance the paltery thing called Our Parliament stayed a Fleet of theirs in the Downs forsooth till further Pleasure because there was Cordage Powder and Ammunition in them under the Corn. Whereupon His Majesty prospering in Scotland and a Peace being made with France the Mighty make bold to tell Sir John That they cannot answer his Proposition touching a League Offensive and Defensive under four Months for that they must send to all the Provinces for their advise and consent in a business of so high a concernment and our High and Mighties take snuff and call their Messengers home to the no little trouble of their Brethâ—en who beseech and intreat their stay but to no purpose the young Usurpers being intollerable when ever intreated to be kind and when that would not do pass this Vote The States General of the Netherlands having heard the Report of their Commissioners having had a Conference the day before with the Lords Embassadors of the Common-wealth of England do Declare That for their better satisfaction they do wholly and fully condescend and agree unto the 6 7 8 9 10 and 11 Propositions of the Lords Embassadors as also to the 1 2 3 4 and 8 Articles of the year 1575 made between H. 7th and Philip Duke of Burgundy Therefore the States do expect in the same manner as full and clear an Answer from the Lords Embassadors upon the 36 Articles delivered by their Commissioners 24th of June 1651. And not only so But they nominate the Heer Bever of Dort and the Heer Vell of Zealand with old Joachimi for Agents to the Common-wealth forsooth of England remembring the old Motto in Queen Elizabeths time Si Colâ—idimur frangimur Especially when the men at Westminster gave Letters of Mart to several Merchants to make themselves satisfaction for the losses they had suffered by Pickeroons belonging to the Netherlands Whereupon they filled up their Embassy with min Heer Schaep delaying the matter till the Kings Majesties business was decided Their 11 East-India ships worth a Million were put to sale an 160 sail arrived from Bourdeaux Mounsier Borreel could not prevail in France and the bold ones at Westminster make an Act as they called it for Increase of shipping the improvement of Trade the encouragement of Fishing and Navigation so prejudicial to the Cities of the Rine which together with the surprize of so many Amsterdamers awaked them so farr that Van Tromp with 36 sail in three Squadrons was ordered to Sea first to the Straights and then to the Downs to secure their Monopoly of Wine and Currans and Agents dispatcht to Denmark Sweden Portugal and France to strengthen the War in behalf of it altering their Embassadors for England whither they send the cunning Head-pieces mine Heer Catz and min Heer Scaep the last whereof in the mean time treats with France about Dunkirk and with Sweden about Neutrality The English men discourse of 100000 for Amboyna the Herring-fishing free passage through the Shee ll and the cautionary Towns frighting them to a resolution with 152 sail to commence a War eight Dutch ships being taken by the English as they came from New found-land and the Swedish Embassador Speering dealing under-hand with the English insomuch that they forbid any ship to stir from either the Mase or Texel and Amsterdam offereth an no sail as Zealand doth 40 on condition its Petition be granted about Letters of Mart the States fortifying Briel and Flushing prohibiting the Exportation of any Warlike Provisions and making a stay of all English ships In the mean time a certain Faction crept in that disturbed their Publick Peace at Middleburgh and Dort because they mentioned not the Prince of Orange in levying Souldiers till Trump departed in July with resolution to find out the English Yet espying Sir George Aiscue in the Downs with a Squadron was not able to bear up with him because of a Calm wherefore he addresseth himself against Blake in the North attending some Indian Vessels and taking the Dutch Herring-Busses from whom a Tempest parted him to his loss as the night did De Ruyter from Aiscue onely he met with Captain Badileyes 4 ships in the Straights and took the Phaenix which was re-gained by Captain Cox in Portologn upon a Dutch festival night when during the heat of the Holland Carouses he stole upon it in a Boat in the habit of a Dutchman which success was indeed allayed by Captain Appleton's weighing Anchor out of Legorn Mole sooner than he should and so falling into the hands of 22 Dutchmen of War before Captain Badiley could come
AN EXACT SURVEY OF THE AFFAIRES Of the United NETHERLANDS Comprehending more fully than any thing yet extant all the Particulars of that Subject In Twelve HEADS mentioned in the Address to the READER Ictus Piscator sapit LONDON Printed by Thoâ— Mabb for Thomas Johnson at the Golden Key in Cannon-Alley over against the great North-door of Saint Pauls Church Anno 1665. The Preface to the READER THese discourses now in hand are published with no further care of their reception and entertainment than the consequence of them may deserve whereof the Readers not the Publishers must be Judges And we need not be moved with the common Passions of such as make Epistles and Prefaces conceiving our trust very well discharged when we have given the Reader the usefull Contents of the Book which contains I. An exact History of the Dutch since they inhabited that Countrey An. 700 to this present year 1665 with a continued and close succession p. 1. II. A very particular account of their Revolt from the King of Spain's subjection and their being declared a Free-state at the Hague 1608 and confirmed so at Munster 1648. III. An impartial view of the assistances by Councils countenance 60000 men and 3 mâ—llions of Money afforded by Q Elizabeth K. James K. Charles the first of Famous memory upon their humble Petition when the Distressed States that they might live under our Protection IV. A faithful Narration of such affronts and injuries as they have offered us in Europe Asia Affrica and America particularlarly in Amboyna V. A compleat Recapitulation of the seven Advantages they make of our Fishing and Royal favours of his most Sacred Majestie 1. In their shipping and their Mariners 2. In Trade 3. In Towns and Fortifications 4. In their Power abroad 5. In publick Revenue 6. In private wealth 7. In all manner of Provisions and store of things necessary amounting to 24 Millions yearly by His Majesties gracious permission at home and abroad VI. How unable they are in that and 16 other respects to engage with England and that point made out VII In a very punctual relation of the last Dutch War from its rise when it began 1650 1651 throughout its whole management to the years 1652 1653 when it was ended with the virtues of that Peace VIII A prudential survey of the present State of the united Netherlands in regard of the Sâ—iâ—uation of their Countrey and in respect of their Neighbours IX A satisfactory consideration of their present State in point of Interest throughout the World and their dealings with every Prince particularly X. Very curious reflections on their present State in point of Government and that not only in the States General but in every one of the 7 Provinces and the Towns belonging to them apart XI Choice Observations on the present state of the Dutch 1. In point of Government 2. In matters of Religion 3. In the particulars of their strength by Sea and Land XII An exact account of the state of the present Controversie between England and the Vnited Netherlands in the three great points 1. Of Trade 2. Of Fshing 3. Of Pretensions Claims affronts and Wrongs And all this directed to no other end than the framing of right and clear Apprehensioâ—s touching the present affairs in those mens minds who are very many that are therein concerned in point of Interest or in those who are almost all who concern themselves therein in point of Discourse Consideration and Observation for whose accommodation these Discourses are contrived Close and not Tedious Real and not Wordy justly entred in the List of those Writings that express more than they promise and Intimate more than they do Express Books lately Printed A Disswasive from Popery By the Right Revereud Father in God Jeremy Taylor L. Bishop of Down and â—onner A Vindication of the Lords Prayer as a formal Prayer to be used by Christians as a Prayer By Meric Casaubon D. D. The History of the French Academie erected at Paris By Card Richleiu consisting of the most refined Wits of that Nation The lives of the two most Illustrious Princes Henry Duke of Glocester and Mary Princess of Orange Sir Walter Raleigh's Maxims and Aphorisms of State published by John Milton Esquire The Mystery and Iniquity of Non-coaformity In an Historical account of the Designes and Practises of the Non-conformists against Church and State Instructions for Jury-men on the Commission of Sewers Delivered in threee several Charges at several â—essions of Sewers at Spalding in Lincolnshire A Treatise of Spiritual Infatuations the Present visible distemper of the English Nation By Dr. William Stamp Trigonometrâ— or the Doctrine of Triangles â—y the Famous Mr. William Oughtred both in Latine and English either with the Tables of Logarithms or without And there is now in the Press ready to be published â—n ingenuous Discourseâ— written by a Persâ—â— of quality Intituled Europae Modernae Speculum Or a view of the Empires Kingdoms Principalities Seigniories and â—ommon wealths of EUROPE in their Present State their Government Policy different Interest and mutual Aspect one towards another from the Treaty at Munster Anno 1648. to this present 1665. All to be sold by Thomas Johnson at the Golden Key in Cannon-Alley over against the great North door of Saint Pauls Church The Original and whole History of the Hollanders In an exact Succession from the year 700 to this present year 1665. CHAP. I. SECT 1. THE Hollanders being a People that seemed born to fill the last Age of the World with Disturbance and this with Noise I was as restless as they are till I could find the Original of those Bustlers Power whereof as old as I am I am likely to see an end The men are the old Hirmodures that were lodged by Nature in no more benign an Habitation than the dreadful distance between the Hercyâ—ian-Forest â—nd Sâ—ythia and they retain this of their Wilderness that they would have still all things in Common whence upon a quarrel about the Salt-pits of Sala as unreasonable as that since about the salt waters of the Ocean the Caths Cerusieâ—s and Ligiens chased those troublesom Neighbours to Cat senel boggen a Port of Fessen an Earldom which the House of Nassau claims but that of Fessen enjoyeth and thence Battus and Zelandus the two Principals of the Nation falling out 〈◊〉 came with his Train to Holland called from him Batavia and Zealand to Zealand called so from him Holland and Zealand it seems were divided in their Founders the one building Bata vâ—durum or Wychterduyrstede a famous Town 800 years ago of three miles compass some three Leagues from Vtrecht now a small Village and the other Arm Viden and Gumpuere but both subject to the Gaules or French who thereupon have a Right to Holland § 2. For Charles the bald King of France 863 at a general Assembly of his Princes and Barons at Bladell in Brabant of Champeigni upon some Lords motion bestowed upon Thierry
to ruine a Counseâ—lor of Spain it should seem a Pensioner of Holland coming in great hast to the Earl of Egmont thâ— Lord Horn and others at Chest in Gaunt with news that all those that consented to the Petition for the removal of the Spaniard the great Patron of the peoples Liberty should be put to Death when yet his Majesty parted from them friendly 26 Aug. 1357. recommending to them the maintenance of Religion that general stay of Government the finishing of the new River from Antwerp to Brussels for the conveniency of Trade the erection of Doway University for the propagation of Orthodox Learning and the impression of the Complutensian Bible for the â—dvancement of Religion four excellent Designes but so far envyed by these undutiful people that they suspected the last as a Plot as if the Printing of the Bible were a stratagem against Religion and cryed out against the third as a breach of their Liberties CHAP. II. The Revolt of the Hollanders from their natural Allegiance 1564 and the management of that Revolt till they became a Free State FOr you must know that about this time these good People weary of their ancient Government began to search for their old Charters Priviledges Bulls of favour Customs of which they pretended one was That no Popish Seminaries such as Doway was should be built upon their Frontiers another That they should suffer no violence forsooth their Kings must wear a Sword in vain a third That no persons should be admitted to Office unless he swore to be faithful to the Prince and people and a fourth That they might meet and act without their King but he could do nothing without them and that if he presumed to do any thing otherwise they were discharged of their Alleigance These and other Moth-eaten Liberties belonging to the Dutchy of â—rabant if to any at all since the Contract with Maximilian May 16. An. 1488 together with the jealousies about Religion and the murmurings about the tenth Peny when their King was onely intent upon the settling of their Government by that Tax and the prevention of Anabaptistical outrages such as that in Munster by his Proclamation against turbulent Innovaters were alledged first against the Inquisition which yet Mary Dowager of Hungary lately regent graciously suspended upon their Petition at Antwerp That she should not spoil their Trade by her overmuch zeal for Religion And now they had got that surmize of the Inquisition into the multitudes heads every thing the King did was termed the introducing it for his Majesty no sooner observing that the four Bishops of Cambrey Arras Tournay and Vtrecht were unable to oversee effectually the 17 large Provinces of Belgium set up 14 new Bishops by the Pope Paul the Fourth's Order and Cardinal Granvill's solicitations than they declaim against them as so many new Inquisitors and their respective Prebends as so many assistants in Persecutions insomuch that the Earl of Egmont their Admiral finds out another Charter wherein it was declared That the Ecclesiastical estate could not be enlarged without their consent and dispatcheth some Burgemasters with complaints against dead Trade and new Bishops to Spain where observing the Kings resolution to assert his Government against these popular surmizes they remonstrate that his Majesty did ill to act without the concurrence of the Lords the States and at their return home raised such Tumults and discontents as might give opportunity to the Lords to meet an opportunity they imbraced wherein they unanimously agreed to a manifesto of the state of the Countrey to be delivered to Margaret Dutchess of Parma their Governess containing first That the King was misled by ill Councellors Secondly That Cardinal Granvill the principal Person the King relyed on should be removed as their Declarations sent by Montigni and others Aug. 16. 1562. March 11. 1563. into Spain out of their Assemblies which the Tumults made necessary for the good Governess to call too frequently out of which some Lords to palliate their Ambition desired to be dismist to which his Majesty returns gracious Answers whereat they pretended dutiful submission while they made their combination effectual which they had no sooner done than they tyre the Governess with her Assistant the Cardinal with their debates and divisions in all Meetings that he retyres to Spain and they raise Tumults at Harlem stop the Courts of Justice at Antwerp make a breach with England 1564 that made to the great prejudice of their poor people who improved the Commotions for a whole year together In a word such was the apprehensions and fears that were wrought in the people that Groningen Leeur-warden Duenter and Ruremond do violence to their Bishops and Clergy Ourwexgen Abbey is robbed all the Clergies Power and Jurisdiction is questioned matters are aggravated on both sides to dangerous debates notwithstanding the gracious Answer his Majesty vouchsafed Count Egmont Count Horne the Lord of Brederode and others upon their respective addresses to the Court of Spain in behalf of that unquiet people Whereupon his Majesty thought good to settle Religion as he did by his own and the Dutchess of Parmaes Letters which the Grandees opposed with the bare consideration of the present Commotions though all the World knew they were the Authors of those Commotions as appeared upon the very first publication of the Kings Letters touching the Council of Trent when there were Libels the fore-runners of Sedition contrived by a great Lord containing Complaints and Exhortations in the name of the people to the Noblemen about their Priviledge and the Kings breach of promise scattered up and down in three or four streets of Antwerp wherein amongst other things they directed the Grandees to cite the King to the Imperial Chamber about breach of Promise and the infringement of their Liberties This bold Libel and other false reports of which this one to incense and injealous the Nobility was most malicious viz. That the King of Spain should say that it was but folly to busie themselves with Frogs they must first fish for the great Salmos meaning Horne and Egmont brought the Netherlanders to an expostulation with their Soveraign why he should decree any thing concerning them without their consent And a popular Tumult against these four Points The Inquisition The new Bishops The entertainment of the Council of Trent and The decay of Trade Insomuch that most of the chief Noblemen the Prince of Orange the Marquess of Bergen the Earles of Egmont Horne Hockstrate the Lord of Brederode met with the Male-content Princes of France and Germany under the pretence of an entertainment at Breda and Hockstrate where they heightned one anothers animosities to that degree of discontent as produced a private League among themselves and a Publick Manifesto of the state of the Provinces by Francis Baldwyn an Outlawed but cunning Person they sent for and consulted out of France wherein among other matters it was expressed 1. That the Mind could not be forced
Gorrechom and lost in the Watry and Marsh-Countrey about After Delf Wormer Ryp Graft Purmerend and Vlpendam in West-Friezland and Waterland insomuch that the Spaniards seemed very inclinable to a peace as seemed by their overtures to the Prince of Orange Which yet the States refused as appears by their sawcy Petition becoming Subjects that submitted only with their swords in their hands and their cutting the Dike and raising all the Sluices saying that they had rather have a spoiled Countrey than have lost one to prevent the taking of Leyden after which many other Towns had followed with their resolution to live and die with the Prince of Orange With which resolution they kept Leyden in so great extremity as to coyn Paper-money upon which was inscribed Haec Libertatis ergo for 11 months defeating the Spaniards ships about Leydeâ— with stratagems and wiles and keeping the Passages open for Supplies till Octobâ— 3d. It was after a months famine strangely relieved and quitted by the Spanirds and the Prince coming thither himself to see it fortified charitably recruited it by the Neighbours collections as a place that had cost the Hollanders a Million of Gold the Prince of Orange's two Brothers and a Cosin all three Princes of the Empire Whereupon their Soveraign offered with the intercession of the Emperour Maximilian very gracious Propositions of peace which could not be accepted in regard as the Earl of Switzenburgh observed at Breda where they traded the Rebls could not trust their Soveraign as indeed no security can satisfie men guilty of Treason against their Prince and therefore he that draweth his sword against his Prince must throw away the scabbard and never be reconciled to him it being reasonable that a disloyal Person should not think his Soveraign would be true to him when he hath been so perâ—idious to his Soveraign But the Treaty at Breda 1575 was not a little reputation to the men of the Revolt who being hitherto esteemed but turbulent Boulfeus are now respected as just Enemies in which capacity to preserve their Lives Wives Children Goods and what was dearer than all these their Religion they are their own words they bethink themselves of a Protector and 1. They propound the Empire which they laid aside as too much divided in it self 2. France which yet they waved as perfidious to them of the Religion in the Massacre at Paris and exhausted by their own civil Wars In this extreamity the distressed States by five Commissioners humbly submit themselves unto the Q of Englands Protection Or if necessity so required to acknowledge her for their Princess and Soveraign issued from the Earls of Holland and Zealand by the Lady Philippa Daughter to William the third of that name Earl of Henault and Holland c. Which the wise Queen entertained not immediately to prevent the jealousies of Neighbour Princes but 1. Received their Exiles to her Harbour and Countrey 2. Mediated for peace with a Protestation that upon refusal she would succour them 3. Gave them leave to leavy men and buy Ammunition in England And 4. Supplyed them with money upon security while the Spaniards mutiny for want of it The King of Spain breaks in the Merchants debts 14 Millions of Duckets the Pope dispensing with and nulling all his Bonds and Obligations The chief Commander Don Lewis with his Marshal Vitells dye All the Countrey is up against the King of Spains intollerable Impositions surprizing the Council of State he erected upon his Governours death the hatred of the Spaniards being by the Dutch Artifices become universal and all places petitioning against strangers meaning Spaniards The Queen of England being somwhat cold and indifferent the Provinces invite the Duke of Anjou the King of France his only Brother to their Protection who dealing in the late mentioned Mutinies surprized the Cittadel of Cambray and upon Don John of Austria the next Governours unpleasing carriage made up of stâ—atagems and threats joyned Brabaâ—t in a strict League with Holland and Zealand against the Spaniards and their Tyranny joyning his Interest with the Prince of Orange for leavies in Germany and assistance from England From the last of which upon their promise to maintain their Religion and Allegiance they are assured of men and money by their Orator the Lord of Swevenghen and Captain Horsley it being her Interest rather to engage the Papists there than in her own Dominions with whom Secretary Wilson and Mr Wendebank went and payed the money receiving the States Obligation with the security of Brussels Gaunt Bruges Dunkirk Newport and Middleburgh where with free passages were made by raising the Sluices according to the Queens direction in several places of the Country for fear the Spaniards might prevail at Sea And the union was effected upon the Mutinies of Groninghen and Zuphten between the States for the expulsion of Spaniards with an acknowledgment of their Allegiance to the King of Spain By virtue of which Colonel Balâ—our and his Englâ—sh having brushed the Spaniards the States capitulated with Don of Austria whose vain conceits of Conquering England lost the Netherland and would have agreed with him could they have had any assurances for performance of Articles at the great conferences between his Deputies and the Prince of Orange at Gertrudenbergh May 22 1577 which failing his practises were discovered in setting the Provinces at variance among themselves that he might govern them all by his Letters to Spain intercepted and his vain attempt upon Antwerp Which made all the Provinces revolt from Don John some to the States-General at Brussels that declared onely for Liberty and Priviledges and others to the Prince of Orange with the States of Holland and Friezland that declared also for Religion CHAP. IV. How the English assisted the Hollanders and made them a Free State ESpecially when her Majesty the Queen of England the onely succour of the distressed States declared for them by Mr Wilkes whereupon Leeuwarden mutined and yeelded to them Antwerp is dismantled Germany sends in Aides â—reda is delivered up Groninghen is Tumultuous the Prince of Orange is invited to be Rovard or Governour of Flanders Don John of Austria is declared Enemy to the States notwithstanding his Army of 16000 Foot and 2000 Horse The Nobility revolt Amsterdam asserts its Liberty the pacification at Gaunt so much insisted on by the Queen is confirmed the Duke of Anjou offereth his assistance and marcheth to distresse Henault The case of the afflicted Netherlands is taken into consideration upon St. Aldegon's motion at the Imperial Assembly at Wormes whence the Duke of Anjou had 12000 men towards his relief of the Low-Countreys under the notion of the Defenders of the Liberty of the Provinces against the Spaniards and their Adherents Colonell Norris Stuart Captain Bingham and Candish saved the States whole Army by a brave Retreat they maintained for four miles with three Regiments in their shirts by Rymenant The Queen seasonably assisted them with 30000l when their
Shallops 1631. And now Gustavus Adolphus held the house of Austria in play and Cardinal Richlieu set all Europe together by the ears especially engaged Spain their Enemy with the power of France Now Catalonia and Portugal begin to revolt and the French fall into Flanders notwithstanding the loss of Crun and Schenke and their defeat of Hulst being healed by the taking of Breda and the success at Lentz never hearkned to peace till they were acknowledged a free-Free-state at Munster 1648 where the peace was concluded Jan 8. which was confirmed at the Hague March 26 and published throughout this Republick June 5. 1648. CHAP. V. Their dealings towards the English BUt assoon as these ungrateful people had made an end of their War by the Truce 1607 and Commenced their Soveraignty they forgot their Protectors and did so much wrong to the English in the Indies where yet they had never traded had not we assisted them against the power of Spain then Lord of that Countrey in right of the first Discoverers of it amounted in the estimate of English Parliament 1606 to 1500000l sterling and had drawn out King James his sword which they painted nailed to a scabbard and provoke that Parliaments Resolve and Vote for a War or a Reprizal had not the High and Mighty humbled themselves and by all their Allies begged a Treaty that began to no other purpose but to busle and elude us at London 1613 ending a year after to as little purpose as it was begun had not their humble Petition renewed it 1615 at Londâ—n 1616 at the Hague 1619 at London where it was concluded with a general amnesty upon equal ballance of allowance for what was past and an exact Method of Trade for the time to come But how sincerely they observed either these Terms or their former Obligations to us is too evident from their Hostile attempts on Lantore Polleroon and other places in our possession by accord which they took razing our Forts there and behaving themselves Barbarously towards our people there both living and dead over whom they usurped Authority in all Controversies which they exercised most cruelly in Whipping Fining Imprisoning Sequestring and torturing them Besides that they forced them in Partnerships to be contented with their Accounts laying to their Bills what had been disbursed upon their private occasions it being indeed their business while we as the Subjects of a Noble Monarck contented with his own Dominions traded fairly there to invade Islands take and build Forts acquire Dominion and exclude all Partners Especially at Amboyna an Island fourty Leagues round near Surat where we traded for Cloves maintaining five Factors But these people setting up there four Forts with four Bulwarks belonging to each Fort and six great pieces of Ordinances mounted upon each Bulwark guarded by Dutch ships in the Sea round it did what they pleased a great while and at last torturing the poor Natives to allure the English of a pretended Plot and the English to charge the Natives where its not probable either would attempt so strong a place and people insomuch that CHAP. VI. Their Cruelty at Amboyna and the Judgement of God upon it FIrst * The Tortures at Amboyna They hoysed them up by the hands with Cords over a large Door made fast with two Staples of Iron at the top of the Door-posts as wide as they could stretch as they did their Legs too then binding a cloth about their necks and faces so close that little or no water could go by they poured the water softly on their heads till the cloth was full to the mouth and nostrils Insomuch that in drawing their breath they must of necessity suck in the water which with long continuance forced all their inward parts out of their Nose Ears and Eyes till they were almost stifled and choaked then would they take them down till they vomited the water and hoyse them up again till their bodies swelled to double their own proportion their eyes stand out of their heads setting burning Candles in the bottom of ther Feet while they thus hung till many times the fat dropped out the Candles as also under their Elbows in the palms of their Hands and under their Arm-pits till their very Inwards might be seen making the English believe the Japouers had accused them and the Japoners that the English had testified against them the poor Heathens crying O English where did we see you The English answered Why then did you accuse us And they replyed If a Stone were thus burnt would it not change its Nature How much more we who are but flesh and blood A cruelty unparalleld among Christians or indeed among men which therefore the God of both pursued with vengeance 1. In that King James and King Charles excepted the murders from the Indemnities that passed in their time between us and the Hollanders 2. In that a sudden Hurricano almost destroyed the Dutch ships in the Haven of Ambayna at the very hour of this â—orrid execution 3. In that the first Informer against the English fell down dead upon the very place where these men are buried rising again distrâ—cted in which condition he continued to his dying day 4. In that An. 1630 18 Dutchmen whereof three were guilty of the Massacre at Amboyna supping at Frankford in their way to Strasburgh boasted how they served our Nation in this place glorying in their shame which one in the Company noting and relating to two English Captains then in the Germane Wars whose Kindred had suffered there These two way-laying the Hollanders in a Wood with a Troop of Horse bid them stand willing them to prepare for death for they must dye The Dutch answered They hoped not so for all their money was at their dispose We seek not your money said the Captains but your lives for our Countrey men and Allies you murthered at Amboyna And so hanging up Johnson the chief Amboynist and giving the rest leave to throw Dice which of them should escape to bring the news of this to Holland they trussed up all but Jobs Messenger the odd man sent home to tell his Countrey-men that Doubtless there is a God that judgeth in the Earth Cruelty not to be paralleld among the Barbarous much less among Christians and especially between the Netherlanders and the English who when newly recovered from Popery and unsettled when engaged in Ireland and the Countreys about when governed by a Woman when threatned from Spain relieved the distressed Estates espoused their quarrel spent their lives and fortunes in their behalf So dear were those poor people to us that they seemed to be one Nation with us and their Cause and quarrel the same with ours being entertained by us with the affection of Brethren the love of Friends and the respects of Neighbours and Allies For which though they promised it before the year 1625 they never made any suitable satisfaction nor returned to us any of those Islands of Spices
that they had taken from us but added to their Insolencies there their strict Orders against all free Trade to Flanders which they Monopolized to themselves even during their War in that Countrey and indeed where ever they have seen any advantage as by Cunning Force or Fraud they have been able no consideration of Right Friendship Leagues Humanity or Religion have held them from endeavouring the accomplishing of the same CHAP. VII Their Perfidiousness to all Nations FOr they are observed by all Nations to be a wretched sort of people not to be trusted in any Leagues or Treaties they being the sad souls that entred into a League Offensive and Defensive with Lewis the 13th of France 1630 upon condition he made no peace with Spain without them notwithstanding which they endeavoured a Peace or Truce with Spain without either his advice or consent as appeared by several passages of under hand dealâ—ngs of the Dutch with the Spaniards in a complaint made by the French Embassador to the States Yea when another League Offensive and Defensive was concluded Feb. 8. 1635 between France and Holland and a War with Spain commenced thereupon these Posterity of Judas that will sell their God for three pieces of Silver denying their Religion as familiarly in Heathen Countreyâ— for Trade as they do their words in their own for Interest went so far underhand in their overtures of Peace with the Spaniards that their Attorney General Musch was dispatched to Don Martine Axpe the King of Spain Secretary about them though they denyed it to the King of France who told my Lord Paw their Embassadour that these secret proceedings did contradict their solemn Treaty and differed much from the justice his Majesty had used towards them The same League being continued from 1636 to 1642 in the year 1640 they treat again with the Spaniard against the French Declaration that intimated their Non-ability to Treat with pain without the concurence of his Majesty of France Yea a peace was negotiated by several Letters intercepted to the Cond Pinneranda and shewed the States by the French Embassadour at the Hague at the very same time when 12000 French ventured their lives and fortunes for them against Dunkirk and Flanders which peace was concluded at Munster though confessed by Her van Nederhurst one of the Plenipotentiaries there to be contrary to the agreement between France and them and declared so by a Manifesto of the King of France They that durst deal thus with the French deal worse with the Portugals with whom when they revolted from Spain as they had done before they entred into a firm League at Lisbone and the Hague 1640 with mutual clearness as to outward appearance on both sides But see the craft of these people They insert in their Articles of peace that it should not begin beyond the Line till a year after In the mean time adsing their men at Brazile and elswhere to take all they could get from the Portugoze as they did Aâ—gola Mallacca and Brazile Embassadours were sent from Portugal to demand these places the Hollanders produced the said clause of the Truce which was all the Portugez could get of the Hollander for said they There is no wrong done in regard that in that clause its said That each side should hold and keep what he can take and in such a time Whereupou the Portugal Embassadour said to them very well That that must be understood Bonâfide viz That which should be taken without having any knowledge of the Truce Neither have they been more faithful to the â—wede whom they engaged to assist them against the Dane and in the middest of that service deserted him making conditions of peace for themselves and retyring Not much unlike their dealing with the King of Great Brittain 1664 whose ayd they craved against the Algier men which was no sooner granted Sr John Lawson attending their service and the Interest of Christendom then they diserted him without any notice of their departure and made as fast as they can to Guinny to fight against His Majesties Subjects there while His Subjects assisted them in the Streights CHAP. VIII How unable they are to deal with us A Man would think that these Hogens had a vast Power that durst indulge themselves these practises against great Monarchies and Kingdoms when alas if we consider their humours how mutinous are they and uncertain If we reflect upon their Countrey A little Marsh consisting of 7 Provinces viz The Dutchy of Gelderland the Countreys of Holland and Zealand the Lordships of Vtrecht Friezland Overystel and Groninghen threatened every day from Germany Eastward alarmed by the ea Northward and watched by Brabant Flanders and the other 10 Provinces Southward If we regard the Scituation of it it may be drowned by 2000 men as Count Mansfield offered in a wet Winter so easie a thing it is to overthrow their Earth Ramports and Banks which are but 25 Ells broad and 10 long in the most remarkable places and yeelds very often to the strength of the Sea it self it may be overrun by 6000 men in a frosty Winter the great frost 1607 being the great reason they would hearken to a Truce that year If we look upon their Rivers 1. The Mase running from Lorrain to Bredâ— 2 The Sheld flowing from Picardy a little above Antwerp And the Rhine arising in the Alps and falling to Amsterdam also easily blocked up and so usually frozen If we observe their Taxes upon every thing that a man eats drinks or enjoyeth so burthensom to the Commonalty If we weigh their Interest abroad which through their ungratefulness infidelity with Spain Portugal France Germany and Sweden and usurpations is so inconsiderable If we respect their people so diminished by a sad Plague that they are not able to inhabit and people their Country If we cast our eye on their Trade all Nations having learned their Methods and Inventions now dead If we mind their shipping upon their misunderstanding with the Northern Kingdoms that supplyed them with Timber and Cordage now decayed If we animâ—dvert the condition of Eriel Flushing and other Port Towns that command the passage to Delph Rotterdam Dort Gertenburgh and the capacious Bay of the Texel now weak If we survey their Government their Stat-holder mistrusting them and they him the Provinces being all absolute and Independant one drawing one way and another another and every one forgetting the Publick good in pursuit of a Private Interest Holland being ambitious over the rest and the rest envious at it Their Military Power invested in the Prince of Orange being disobliged by the Civil and their Civil Power afraid of the Military now much shattered nothing more unseasonable than a War with England especially if we add to all this their Fortune in the last War Viz Holland was united by its own Interest and His Majesties and England was nothing else but the poor remainders of a Civil War and a Faction when the