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
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
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
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
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
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
Princes and the Earl of Egmont's Government who indeed underhand encouraged them to break Images and all Church Utensils to counterfeit and act the Preachers to disturb all Church-meetings with their Tumultuous cry Vive le Gueux which so lighted the Governess to deal plainly with his Majesty That the Prince of Orange the Earls of Egmont Horne and Hoochstrate had betrayed the Government which nothing but his Presence and an Army could settle Though in the mean time she was so much a woman as to dissemble her fears and enter to a â—â—â—emn promise of Protection of the Conâ—ederates which had accorded the differences for the present but that the Prince of Conde Admiral Coligni and other noble Protestants of France interposed their jealousies of that accord with fair overtures of assistance Whereupon the Seditious keep in and engage some of the Kings Forces whom the Earl of Egmont sent on purpose to widen the difference to an irreconcilableness to provoke them upon pretence of secret Instructions they said were given to the Kings Officers to murther them at the League and turn the Provinces to an absolute Monarchy in two most bitter Letters of Francisco de Allanas the Spanish Agent in the Court of France to the Lady Governess directing the cutting off of the Kings leaders of the Sedition meaning Orange Egmont c. one by one very privately and so examplarily that the Rebellion it self may be odious to all Christendom And concluding that the Riot could not be without the Intelligence and Supports of some Great men and namely of those three that carries so good a shew meaning Orange Egmont and Horne Passages da ed Aug. 1566 which with the intimation of seizing the Marquess of Berghes and the Baron of Montigny in Spain of chusing De Alva Governour and many more sent to Egmont from his Brother Montigny then in Spain amazed the Nobility into an Assembly Oct. 3. at Duremond where the Resolutions were so high for a Defensive War and the natural way of opposing Force with Force that they break up in discontent Arm themselves seize several strong Holds and upon assurance of the Warlike Preparations in Spain Alarm the excellent Governess to Arms. CHAP. III The Hollanders War against their own Sovereign begins VAlenciens of Henault a place very Zealous for the free exercise of Religion Cambresa Haysel Mastricht and many other Towns refused the Kings Garisons till forced by a greater Power after the Decollation of the Herlins Father and Son with other Ring-leaders of the Revolt the reducing whereof staggered the Faction to humble supplications to his Majesty who by the mediation of some Princes of Germany for liberty of Conscience for which fears and jealousies upon their late defeats having divided their Leaders they offered three Millions of Florens an ostentation of their riches as the Spanish Council judged it rather than an Argument of their submission But in vain the Dutchess forbidding the Confederates any approach to her Court and attaching all Passes Forts strong Holds while the Reformers spend 6 Months in Petitions Remonstrances Replies and Protestations watching a fair opportunity to appear especially against the new Oath upon that occasion introduced which they had upon the Edict That the Confederates and all their Adherents should appear before the Governess within â—0 dayes upon pain of being declared Rebels when those that fled not to England took the Field in Troops now desperate under the Seigniour of Tholouse who hovered about Antwerp but disowned by the Prince of Orange till he was surprized at Austerweel where 1590 were slain and excluded the Town of Antwerp being it self in an uproar for two days but with so little success that the Confederacy seemed to be broken the Lord of Brederode and his followers being commanded 5 miles out of Amsterdam with a severe injunction to behave himself there so as to give the Governess or his Majesty no further cause of discontent an injunction the Burgemasters of Amsterdam took so ill that they guarded their dear Lord by Hundreds protested against the present proceedings especially when the Prince of Orange with a formidable retinue of Gentlemen retyred in discontent first to besiege his Town of Breda and then to his County of Nassau advertising the confederate Gentlemen to prepare themselves for â—light or resistance and leaving this with the Earl of Egmont who met him to take his leave at Willebrouke viz That seeing he would not resolve with him and others to stop the entry of the Duke of Alva into the Netherlands as it had been propounded in their Assembly at Druremond he should be the Bridge whereon the Spaniards would first march to plant their Tiranny in these parts With which words Brederode whose word was God save my soul and my Honour with the other Confederates retyred into forreign Parts save that a Party made Head at Vianen two or three days where they and all their Confederates were defeated Antwerp Amsterdam and all other places yeelding to Mansfield and his Walloons who Levelled their Gates and reduced them to an absolute subjection to the King of Spain and Ferdinando de Alvarez Duke of Alva not a Confederate appearing but either in Prison on the Scaffold or in Beggars habit truly Geux now so dreadful a thing it is to meddle with them that are given to change for suddain is the ruâ—ne of them both He that is of a rebellious spirit a cruel Messenger shall be sent to him And such was the Duke of Alva with 8638 Foot and 1200 Horse mustered June 2. 1567 at a place called Rhethees in Piemont between Germany France and Spain and Marched in three Squadrons into Holland where the report of them no sooner arrived than the French the Switz and the Genevians were by the Confederates allarmed to a dreadful posture of defence Especially considering that the Duke advanced his Power and his March both together improving his 8000 to 32000 men and as the Confederates gave out looked sternly on all even moderate Persons saying upon the approach of Egmont as they reported Behold that great Lutheran A word that was laid hold of to enjealous the whole Nation quartering his Souldiers round about him as one that designed that disorder a fair occasion to make the Netherlands an absolute Monarchy setting up a Council of Twelve instead of the Council of State and acting with a full power to dispose of all places Civil and Military to judge of all Cases Publick or Private no respect being had to the Priviledges Customs Lawes Jurisdictions or Appeals of that Countrey in former times which he managed so severely that Executions and Banishments swept away half the Countrey the Keys of most Towns were taken the Gates of several Cities were taken down the Earls of Egmont and Horne the most eminent subscribers of the late undutiful Petition were Imprisoned Count Charles of Mansfield and many others escaped the former Garrisons were displaced New Citadels were built whereof the most eminent at
in their Usurpations Pyracies Depredations and Surprizes in Affrica and America How ready to deliver the Pepper Islands and what pretences from year to year to keep it How earnest in soliciting a War with the Turks in Algiers yet how treacherous in deserting it How importunate in their addresses for peace yet how diligent in their preparations for War How ready to make satisfaction for old injurâ—es when the mean time they offer new ones How respectful of His Majesly in their Embassies yet how abusive of his Person Government and Relations in their licensed Libels and Pictures What Civility what Kindness pretended yet how barbarous to our Prisoners at home How severe to our Merchants abroad Should I I say recollect more particularly their several Transactions with England from the year 1665 to the year 1665 that is for an Hundred years together it might be interpreted my Spleen rather than my History and the gratification of my own Interest than the information of your Judgement 4. With Denmark they made a League wherein among other things it was provided they should pay a Rose-Noble for every ship that passed the Sound which yet they payed or denyed as the King of Denmark Remonstrated onely according as their Convoys were either weak or strong sometimes â—â—â—pâ—ting his very Dominion in the 〈◊〉 and threatning the â—rade of the Baltick-Sea 5. Yet when Swedeland upon their instance 1640 1643 1644 1645 entred into a League Guarantine and in pursuance thereof began a War in Denmark the very same poynt of time they sent 50 ships to the Sound and three Embassadours to Copenhagen representing the formid able Power of the Swedes in the East-Sea and entring into a League Defensive with the Dane not onely without the Queen of wedens consent but with a promise of 4000 men against her yea and an Article wherein she is obliged to pay Toll to the Dutch for the Sound they having hired it during some years for 140000 Pattacoons or Dollars per annum Of which matters the Swedish Ministers have made loud Remonstrances to the States General and to the World 6. Neither have they any more Credit with the Portuguez with whom they ordered a Cessation of Hostility upon the alteration there 1640 conducing so much to the Spaniards weakning and their own establishment yet cunningly inserting this Clause viz That the Truce should not begin in the East-Indies till within a year nor in Braziel till within half a year after the ratification thereof and as cunningly by vertue thereof giving order to their men to take what they could in the mean time as they did at Angola Marinsan and St. Thome which they surprized being admitted by the innocent Portuguez to them under the colour of that League and Truce the Mighty States making this unworthy Allegation to the Portuguez Embassadour in behalf of that action viz That there was no wrong done in regard that in that Clause its said That each side should hold and keep what it can take in such a time Whereunto the Embassadour generously replyed That That must be understood Bonâfide viz That which should be taken without having any knowledge of the Truce 7. Nay in the 11th Article of the Union at Vtrecht An. 1579. it s promised That no Member thereof should be neglected in fuâ—ure Treaties and proceedings yet how Antwerp Gaunt and Brussels though involved therein were deserted in the Truce 1607 and the peace 1648 as well as in the War 1625 when the Prince having taken the Castle of Teemche and the French Dunkirk Antwerp might have been easily rescued is as well known to the World as the Reason of it viz because Antwerp being reduced would have drawn to it self its antient and great Trade which Holland and Zealand enjoyed as long as Antwerp and the Shilds were dammed up Gent. These passages with 1. The Amboyna action within two years after a solemn Treaty begun at London 1613 continued at the Hague 1617 and finished at London 1619. 2. The 20 ships lent against their antient friends the French Protestants 1625. 3. The little satisfaction we have for our losses at Amboyna notwithstanding the special promise of Reparation before the year 1625 together with the 326 particular injuries done our Merchants and Countrey within these 145 years amounting to 958646l where it s not unknown to the World nor to themselves though they would willingly forget it what their condition was when England first undertook their Protection what kindness Blood and Treasure from England set them up in Queen Elizabeths days what Power and interposition from Great Brittain had them declared a free State in King James his time what Indulgence and condescention to let them pass trade and fish on our Seas upon the civil condition onely of striking sail to our ships and Castles in acknowledgment of our Soveraignty have satisfied me That the Dutch having been so careless of that Grand thing Reparation that they are as unlikely to make an Interest in Europe for the future as they are unable for the present And now they are to stand upon their own bottom will you vouchsafe to shew me their Strength and that first in point of Money the Sinnews of Warr The Dutch present Condition in reference to Money and Treasure Trav. HAving of late years Engrossed most of the Trade in the Baltick sea i. e. the East-land Trade the Trade of Sweden liefland Prusia Poland Pomerania Silesia for Masts Pitch Cables Iron Copper Brass Clapboard Tar c. the Sound being let them 1651 at so low a rate as 140000 Pattacoons or Dollars Monopolixed the Spice Gold Pearl and other Trades in the East and South so that all the World traded upon second-hand from Holland then the Emporium of it passed and fished without controul upon our Coast these 30 years It s not unlikely but that they have amassed a considerable Treasure but now the French King and all Europe pursue so vigorously the design of free Trade now the King of Denmark prepares so considerably for the maintenance of the Sound now the Swedes have a mighty Navy to restore their Northern Trade now the Portuguez devolve their Interest upon the King of Great Britain and that mighty Prince checks their Usurpations and Monopolies abroad and forbids their Trade and Fishing at home that Bank must sink and their great Charge and little Trade must eat out the principal Stock beyond all recruit amongst themselves whose 7 Provinces not so big as 7 of our Shires the great Quagmire of the South cannot maintain the 7th part of their Inhabitants at the rate of a Chelsey-Prisoner who lived always upon Neighbours eat their Bread wear their Cloth grow rich on their pay and sterve at their displeasure Gent. I but they have infinite Methods of Imposts and Taxes Trav. They have more wayes indeed to raise Money than to earn it But in their Taxes there are two things that portend their Ruine Gent. I pray what are they Trav. The
least moment but see their Orders executed 2. The States General called Hoegh Moeghend or High and Mighty consisting 1. Of Delegates chosen by the seven Provinces somtimes for three years somtimes for more never for life 2. Of a President changed every eighth day 3. Secretaries removed every three years all paid by their respective Provinces a constant stipend and when sworn not to regard so much the Interest of their particular Provinces as of the Union trusted 1. With the choice of Cenerals not so much to Command as Oversee 2. With the Oaths and other Disciplines of War by Sea and Land 3. With the answering of Embassadours 4. With the Accounts of the resective Governours and States of Provâ—nces and all other affairs They may be at leisure for 5. Onely all these affairs must be offered first to the States of every Province and thence imparted to the States General by the major part of whom all things are ratified unless in case of Taxes War Peace c. And such things as concern the Constitution of the Republick 3. A Council of State called by them Den Raet van Staten out of the States-General whose care is the Discipline and Provision of the Militia with the Execution of such Orders of the States-General as concern the Union and the whole Common-wealth 4. Upon Extraordinary occasions a General Assembly of the States called De general vergadering made up of more Delegates than ordinary are convented to treat of Offensive and Defensive Wars of Truce Leagues unaccustomed Taxes c. Affairs so managed with such unanimous consent that they cannot proceed till the dissenting Provinces be by Delegates sent to that purpose from the Assembly satisfied 5. The Council of the Admiralty consisting of Merchants and Sea-men whereunto their Maritine Revenue is brought with their Deputies changed every year whereof there are three appointed to reside in Holland the first at Amsterdam the second at Rotterdam and the the third at Hoorn One in Zealand and that at Middleburgh and one in Friezland and that at Harlem consisting of seven Senators one Secretary and one Treasurer of the Navy 6. The Council of the Treasury or the Committee of all Accounts new every 2 years to which all their taxes are paid in consisting of Merchants and Vsurers Gent. I do not clearly apprehend what judgment to make of their present state from their Government the least light in this particular will be a very great favour Trav. Briefly thus 1. While a Monarch acts these great Councils debate while he is at their door they demur either the quarrel as Vtrecht and its Deputies or the Method as Zealand or the charge as Friezland or the Command and Conduct as Holland 2. Each State and Province pretending to an equal Power they are so long in perswading dissenters by Delegates to Reason that they lose both their Votes and the very designes of them 3. Particular Piques and Animosities shall hazard a Publick Interest and some great ones will chuse to betray the State rather than gratifie an Adversary 4. Nay such are the disorders of a Common-wealth that when they should fight an Enemy they are scuffling among themselves and when the people expect effectual Orders in their Defence they are throwing Ink-horns at one anothers heads 5. The Deputies of each Provinces are ingaged to particular Interests when the whole lyeth at stake and the Question is Whether Zealand shall yeeld to Holland at that very instant when it s a question too Whether both are not swallowed by the first Invader 6. The temporary Grandees of a free State have a private fortune and a Posterity to provide for upon the Publick Stock when the Hereditary Princes of a Kingdom are secured for both and De Wit shall design onely the erection of a Family when King Alphonso the 4th aymes at the free Trade of EVROPE 7. And a Pension shall buy the best Vote in the Senate where is a man but would rather be a Duke under a Soveraign than Burgemaster among the Rabble 8. Besides that a sudden advancement of a Boor from his shop to the Senate not for his Wit God knoweth but for his Money is as much to seek in the affairs of War and Peace as myn Heer vander Meer who would needs make his son Admiral because he had one day ventured in a Caper from the Weiling to Burdeaux 9. Among which ignorant and unskilful multitude to be Eminent is to be dangerous and to deserve well of the Government and Countrey looks like a design to surprize it an instance whereof is old Barnevelt who after 40 years incomparable services was allowed no other Recompence than the loss of that head for out-witting his Countrey men which had so often over-reached their Enemies as likely to betray that State which he had so often supported 10. Neither is this the onely inconvenience of their backwardness and bangling in State-matters though its very sad that excellent persons dare not oblige their Countrey and its safer there to miscarry than go through an Enterprize for besides this they are forced to keep so many Forreigners in Pension during life as well when they have occasion to use them as when not lest they should be surprized in their ignorance or weakness as put them to the charge of a War in the calmest and best settled peace 11. What a peevish thing a Free-state is when the people want Trade or Work and those people are many in a narrow compass where they with much ease and privacy Meet Debate Complain Contrive yea and Remonstrate too is upon no Ground better known than in Holland and the United Provinces 12. And when all this is done they are so much puzzled about the choice of Officers and Commanders that to pitch upon a Commander when all cannot enjoy what every one desires in Chief is to hazzard a Revolt and to decide a Competition is to lose a Province where however the rejected Party will be able to undo in Private whatever his Competitor may undertake in Publick not heeding the Quarrel so much as the men that manâ—ge it 13. Neither is this all the mischief of that Government the nicities of Priviledges and Liberty Propriety and the Fundamental shall buzze the people in the greatest dangers to Mutinies against any trespassers against these sacred Rules that are within either their Malice or Revenge 14. Nay to see the ambitious Heads that aym at Power and Advantage by the disorders of the Publick affairs engaging 1. The simple and the sloathful 2. The I and no men and Blanks 3. The Contrivers and Speakers 4. The Sticklers and Dividers by Menaces Flattery Pretences Money or Preferment to move to press to quit divert and put off Debates in such season and order as may best comport with their Design and Advantage what fair dresses and cleanly couching of Proâ—ects what suitable ways of working they have upon the humours of their Fellow Burgemasters as their Fear their
Anger their â—loath their Neglect their Formality Vanity Caution Inclinations Profit or Pleasure to connive the pinch of Disputes to scruple nothing to divert or neglect the best Vote in nature What care to oblige the Rabble with Nods Smiles and what they most esteem a redress of Grievances which yet the very Patriots themselves it may be contrived themselves they being a people that will â—ontrive things a miss rather than want somthing that they may mend What generous entertainments to cashiered Officers broken Merchants discontented Counsellors and Advocates I What sullen Retirements from the State with untoward Looks Garb and Language How cunningly the Factious relieve the present necessities with lasting inconvenience How sliely they engross the Publick Treasure into Private Hoards What correspondents they keep in the Admiralties and Treasuries What Advocates and Dependants in the particular States and Councils What irregular and wiâ—d Resolves I say To reflect on these and other Particulars of that Government cannot chuse but convince a man how deplorable a thing it is to be governed by a Rabble that are more addicted to Appearances than capable of comprehending the Reasons of Things among whom in all cases determinable by Plurality of Voices the greater number of Fools weigheth down the more prudential Councils of fewer Wise-men Nay which is most ridiculous and miserable but that in popular suffrages it must be so his Vote many times casts a Kingdom that hath not brains enough to rule his private Family deciding the Question without understanding the Debate Gent. Indeed when I consider how slow their Debates must be when managed by so many divided Heads and how low their Treasure when passed through so many private hands when I reflect on the several obstructions in their many Admiralties and the indirect proceedings in their numerouâ— Councils for the Treasury I wonder much how they maintain a War more how they conduct it But Sir I observe Religion was their great friend in former Wars SECT 3. Their present state in point of Religion Trav. IT was so indeed when Queen Elizabeth pittied the French Protestants relieved and the German Princes assisted them upon the bare account of their being Professors of the Gospel besides that that Notion extraordinarily inspired their Populacy nothing rendring men more daring in this World than their Engagements for another when that which restrains and moderates Passions inflames them I. But 1. Since the Dutch have never been esteemed really devout and now think it not worth their while to pretend it and are only Jewes of the New-Testament that have changed only the Law for the Gospel since they are so much Christians as to tolerate Jewes and banish Catholiques and so much Protestants as to silence Arminians and indulge twelve sorts of Anabaptists the common saying being that A man may be what Devil he will there so he pusheth not against the States II. Since the Quarrel is not Religion so much as Trade so much their Faith as their Interest and they can clap a League with the Turk that they may invade an Ally and the best Protestant Prince in the World III. Since the veâ—y variety of their Religions endanger their Countreymen with seditions than any Enemy yet hath done by Invasions to instance no further than the Remonstrant and Anti-remonstrant controversie which if not seasonably allayed by the grave Councils and potent Engagement of King James of blessed memory 1617 1618 1619. had taken away their very Place and Nation Every ambitious or discontented Person having the opportunity of making himself the Head or at least of a dissenting Party into whose Consciences by the fundamental constitution of the Government no man dares look untill they grow so prevalent that none can controul their Practices Schism being established there by a Law and their Government made precarious and contemptible as exposed to the restless Importunity of every Sect and Opinion yea and of every single Person who shall presume to dissent from the Publick who finding that by being troublesom to the Government that they can arrive to an indulgence will as their numbers increase be more troublesom that so at length they may arrive to a general toleration and at last cry for an establishment besides that the variety of Religions when openly indulged doth directly distinguish men into Parties and withal gives them opportunities to count their numbers which considering the animosities that out of a Religious Pride will be kept on foot by the several Factions doth tend directly and inevitably to open disturbance when there is no security that either the Doctrine or the Worship of the â—everal Parties who are all governed by a several Rule shall be consistent with the peace of the State whereof there are these four degrees Ministers Doctors Elders and Deacons IV. Since the Ministers cannot at all in this or any other case assist the Government being 1. Poor and stipendiary being allowed seldom above 50l a year 2. Chosen and settled with the consent of the people about which matter there are not there a few Blastings and Factions about 1. The Right of Presentation 2. The Examination of the person presented 3. The Contract between him and his Patron 4. The time of Presentation 5. The Orthodoxness and Piety of the man Presented 6. The Churches Right of refusing their Presented Minister or to turn him out c. 3. Unlearned there being no encouragement to be Excellent the Pedant and the Doctor sitting together at the Ordinary right at the rate of an Equall Common-wealth after they have performed their Sermon and Common-place and with Prayer and fasting are sent abroad with the laying on of the hands of the Presbitery and the lifting up of the hands of the people V. Since they have such clashings among their Ruling Elders and such ado with their 1. National Synod 2. Their Ecclesiastical Senate 3. Their Provincial Conventions twice a year And 4. Their Ecclesiastical Conventicles whereof 16. in a Province once a month VI. Since a man knoweth Sunday amongst them by no other Token than by their Playing and Mustring since God may be more safely offended there than the States-General their Republick being to them more than Heaven Liberty is their God War their Heaven Peace their Hell the Spaniard their Devill Custom their Law and their Wills their Reason Since when they must in Heathen Kingdoms part with their trade or Religion they will say they are no Christians but Hollanders VII Since its the Protestant States and Princes that they have most disobliged I mean Sweden Denmark and England VIII Since they have so little regard to Religion that when the Christian Ministers in Turkey were sent for to consult about Moses his Body the Dutch Merchants said they had none These Particulars being warily put together I may conclude that they have lost their Interest in point of Religion Gent. Nay when they pretend to no more Religion there than 1. To Pray 2. Read 3. Preach 4.