Reduction in his Government but to await the further Order of their Hi. Mi. Hereupon it was found good that Instructions should bee drawn up by the Council of State for the said Commissioners The former Proposition beeing forthwith printed and published there came out soon after these ensuing observations Som needful Animadversions upon a certain Proposition made in June 1650. within the Cities of Holland I. IT was not enough to make a Proposition to the Corporations or Councils of those places they visited but the same was likewise printed and thereby really insinuated and presented to all the Commons nay to all the world That which is spoken to every one may bee answered by any one Take it not amiss then I pray that in the behalf of the honest Commons of Holland I do say and maintein That none indeed is better able to foresee disorder and disturbance whereof the first member of the Proposition speaketh then hee that maketh and causeth the disorder and disturbance himself All the strangers Germans Brabanders French English coming into this Countrie wonder at the good order and policie that is in Holland and if that next to the blessing of God had not been the Land had been lost long ago and unless there bee yet order setled and mainteined especially in the Treasurie this good Province and Millions of Widows Orphans and other honest Inhabitants that have their monies out in publick stocks will bee undon This is so well known to all the Cities and members of Holland that it need 's no proof Sure in all Kingdoms Cities and Countries Peace is mainly made for that end to eas and disburthen the Commons How shall they bee eased or disburthen'd if that bee not taken off which the peace it self take's off and make's to ceaâ— The neighbor-Provinces especially Friesland Groninghen and the Omlands they know how to eas their Commons to som purpose The want hereof must needs draw along with it a decreas and diversion of Trade and people That the Cashiering made by the Lords of Holland happened not without foregoing and for above a twelv-month-continued communication advice and debate with his Highness with the Deputies of other Provinces with his Excellencie the Stadtholder and the Council of State the manifold Resolutions Negotiations Messages Letters and other Acts can testifie That the power of levying and disbanding or reducing of Forces should bee given up to the Council of State the same is contrarie to the first Article of the Union where every Province declare's they will keep and maintein each one's respective Soveraigntie and contrarie likewise to the 32 Article of the Instruction of the Council of State set down hereafter II. And therefore that is untrue which is said in the second Section III. It is no change then no breach nor dissolution but a punctual observing and mainteining of the Union Artic. 5. what the Lords of Holland have don Under the very Kings and Monarchs their Subjects much more the States and Parlaments have and maintein a proprietie still and a free disposing of of their purses goods and possessions If the King would have ought of the Inhabitants it must bee don by way of entreatie not threats and forcing The very word Beden used in Braband plainly implie's thus much it happeneth frequently nay every year in Brâ—band Flanders and other Spanish Countries that the King praying in that kinde is paid with a flat and down-right denial In Braband it is a thing known in the streets how much more then in these Provinces where the States themselvs are Soveraigns now ought it to remain in their free power to consent and yield or not what is prayed in the Councils Petition who themselvs are in Service Commission and swoâ—â— to them there is no year but the States are prayed and entreated for the continuance of the State of war that is to say of all the Armie And verily in the midst of war the States had power and freedom to continue or discontinue the same as likewise several other incidents of Leaguer-charges of Subsidies to the West-Indie-Companie of casting Ordnance of lodging-monie of buying ammunition paying for Fortification c. In the midst of war many thousands have now and then by greater and lesser parties in Regiments and Companies been discontinued Holland as more interessed in it alone then all the rest hath alwaies brought in the weightiest portion and therefore most concerned in the good order and managing thereof as also beeing here in loco and best acquainted with the affairs of the Generalitie hath alwaies been the readiest and forwardest to observ and shew what charges were useless and fit to bee forborn The like Disbandings and Reductions or Discontinuations have been practised in the very height of our wars as immediately after the loss of Breda 1625. and afterwards after the Reduction of the Bosch in 1629. and of Mastricht and further in the years 1640. 1642. 1647 though I say wee were in war still Holland going before the rest of the Provinces followed not as if Holland thereby sought or arrogated a special Prerogative unto her self above or over the rest but onely doing that which all the others might have don viz discontinuing their consent beeing commonly the first for that they are in loco and can alwaies bee the readiest and this condition of theirs beeing wholesom and advantagious for the other Provinces Holland in all reason should have heartie thanks rather However if the other Provinces are pleased to continue charged it was left to their freedoms although it was never seen but the rest of the Provinces would alwaies in this point follow the laudable pattern of Holland and hitherto it succeeded well Beeing now in peace what reason is there that wee should not discharge things useless and unnecessarie I see no need wee have of continuing entertainments to Governors Colonels and a numberless companie of other Camp-Officers There is no need of it That Captains Commanders c. go all bedaubed and besmeared with gold and silver upon their clothes whilest the poor Commons are glad to feed on a piece of drie bread and must often carrie their children supperless to bed It can bee no good advice to entertain strange Forces or Troops and Souldiers of Forein Nations When Kings and Princes bring in such it is a shrewd sign they intend to tyrannize or to introduce an absolute arbitrarie Government Do not wee see now at this time that Scotland though threatned and in danger by England yet will not suffer their King to bring in there any strange Forces and so it is likewise every where els Nevertheless for such Supernumerarie and Forein Souldier's sake at Utrecht Reenen Wagoningen Arnheim Campen Deventer Swoll Dort Delft Rotterdam Shiedam Tolen Ziricksea der Goes Lewarden Franecker Harlingeen Bolsweert Sneeck and many other places for the great entertainments sake of Colonels Lievtenant-Colonels c. which were not in use in the hottest times of all the war for it
the foresaid Persons beeing culpable even to definitive Sentence which shall stand and bee made effectual without any further appeal thence to our selvs or any Court whatsoever XXXIV All Commissions Orders Instructions Letters and Dispatches shall bee under written by the name at length of the Council's President and beeing thus underwritten shall further bee signed by one of the Provincial Governors or by som other member of the Council and that in case the same shall bee judged needful by the Council for the importance of the marter and by the Secretarie of the Council without letting the same com into any other hands or communicating it with any besides those of the Council and the Secretarie shall keep good and exact Registers or Record-books of all the Resolutions and Determinations of matters and affairs treated and concluded at the the said Council at leastwise of all such as shall bee of any importance and notable consideration and the businesses and matters beeing concluded and agreed on by common or most voices all the members of the said Council indifferently whether they were present or absent of the same or a contrarie opinion shall jointly without any further contradiction contribute all endeavors towards the well-managing effecting and maintaining the foresaid Conclusions and Resolutions XXXV The Council of State shall have power to summon the States General of the United Provinces necessitie requiring the same to certain commodious and safe places of the United Provinces who shall make their appearance there without prejudice nevertheless of their Privileges not to bee called or summoned forth the Provinces XXXVI The Residence of the foresaid Council shall bee kept in a commodious and safe place of the United Provinces without beeing tied to remain precisely in one place but they may assemble at any place where the service and common good of the land and especially the Direction of the affairs of War shall require it XXXVII The Entertainment of the Counsellors shall bee 1500 pounds Flemish a piece by the year to bee paid them by the Province by whom they are appointed from three months to three months whereupon they shall maintein themselvs honorably befitting their state without nevertheless bringing any extraordinarie charge upon the Land other then Convoys and transportation and what shall further bee ordered in that behalf and if any of the Council com to deceas or resign his place the Province by whom hee was appointed shall nominate another fit person acceptable to the States General to bee admitted by them XXXVIII Besides this Council there shall bee entertained a Treasurer and Receiver-general for to accommodate them with their Salaries XXXIX The Secretaries Entertainment shall bee of 800 pounds Flemish a year and that upon such instructions as the States General with advice of the Council of State have made already or shall make hereafter XL. The Dispatches of such businesses as according to this Instruction are at the foresaid Council's disposal beeing of that importance and consideration that touching matters of War they issued forth in former times in the Name of the Princes of these Countries they shall go forth now in the Name and under the Seal and Counter-seal and Signet of the States General of the United Netherlands by advice of the Council with this subscription In relation of their Council of State XLI And such Dispatches as are not of that great consideration and importance they shall issue forth in the Name of the Council of State of the United Provinces howbeit under the Seal Counter-seal and Signet of the States General afâ—resaid XLII The Seal shall bee kept by one of the Counsellors to bee appointed thereunto who shall bee answerable for it and not suffer in no wise to let it com into any other hand and shall keep a good Register and Counterroul of all Dispatches past the Seal and bee paid according to the Tax set by the States General or to bee set yet and the profits thence arising shall bee disposed for the paying of the Officers of the foresaid Council and other necessarie Expences at the Council's Disposal XLIII The foresaid States General understanding all this so that for the conservation of the Right of the United Countries in general and particular they do not at all by this Instruction or appointment of a Government and Council of State abdicate or resign the Power and Right of the States General or the States of the Provinces in particular each one as much as appertain's to him in times of necessitie or when the affairs of the Countrie shall require the same themselvs to appoint and exercise orders and directions of militarie affairs by Sea and Land for the service of the Countrie otherwise by them committed to the disposal of the foresaid Council together with all such things as have relation thereunto especially also the musterings keeping of militarie discipline and punishing of all exorbitancies And as for all other matters concerning the state policie and justice of the foresaid Countries Cities and members thereof in general and in particular not expressly committed to the disposal of the Council they shall remain at the disposal of the States General the States of the particular Provinces the Magistrates of the Cities and other lawful Superiours respectively and the States of the respective Provinces do reserv unto themselvs the right of giving of Patents to the Train-bands if at any time of need it shall bee requisite for the service of the Land to lead and employ them forth their own Cities without any intermedling of the Council in giving of any such Patents XLIV The Members of the Council of State aforesaid shall at the beginning of their service purge themselvs and declare by Oath that for the obteining of the said Emploiment they neither gave nor promised any monie or monie-worth nor any thing whatsoëver nor shall give or promiss ought in that kinde directly or indirectly and moreover promiss and swear into the hands of the States General or their Deputies to bee true and faithful to the said States General of the Provinces which shall remain in the Union and maintenance of the true Christian Religion and renounce by Oath all particular Correspondencie with either Provinces Cities or private and particular persons so far forth namely as the same shall bee prejudicial to the common interest and that without any by regard to the Provinces or Cities where they are born or chosen or to any particular profit from thence or any other having nothing before their eies but the Honor of God and the welfare and preservation of the foresaid Countries and the Common Interest and that they will reveal nothing of the Communications Deliberations or Resolutions which ought to remain secret and and that forth the Council they shall commune with no bodie about the same and especially with no Ministers of Forrein Kings Princes States and Common-wealths in what companie and with whomsoëver unless it were with som of the said Council of
and divided within themselvs and one from another Then was made the Pacification of Ghendt viz. in the year 1576 whereof the States of Braband were the first and principal Autors on the one side not onely by the Deputies of the Prelates Nobilitie Cities and Members of Braband Flanders Arthois and Henioult but also by particular Cities and Countries of their own accord as by the Cities of Valencien and Dormick the land of Turnetis those of the Cities of Ryssell Douny and Orchies and those of the Citie of Mechelen representing the States of those Provinces Cities and Countries and on the other side by the Deputies autorized by the Prince of Orange the States of Holland and Zealand and their Associates And there was concluded by the parties and Countries aforesaid an Everlasting Firm Peace Confederacie and Union to the end that the Inhabitants of all the Netherlands beeing united together by indissoluble Friendship and Agreement should at all times and upon all occasions assist each other with Counsel Aid Goods and blood and especially for to expel out of these Countries and to keep out of them all Spanish and other forrein souldiers and their adherents and to restore unto them the use of their own Rights Privileges Customs and Liberties According to which the said States compelled the Germane forces to abandon the Cities of Ziericksea Berg op Zome Steenberghen Stolen the Bosch Breda Grave Campen Deventer and made themselvs masters of and demolished the Castles of Utrecht Antwerp and Groninghen But whereas it was found that since the foresaid Pacification the Spaniards with Don John sought all means whereby to reduce the Countries under their slaverie and both by force of arms and practises to divide and dismember the Provinces and to nullifie the Union made by the foresaid Pacification therefore the Nobilitie of the Principalitie of Gelders and Countie of Zutphen the States of Holland Zealand Utrecht and Friezish Omlands betwixt the Ems and Lawers did for the eschewing of further separation among the foresaid Provinces and particular Members thereof enter in a streighter and more particular League Union and Confederacie for ever to remain in all manner and condition as if they were all of them but one Province without ever separating or suffering themselvs to bee separated for any caus whatsoëver engaging themselvs one to another to maintein and protect each other 's special and particular privileges with bodie and goods against all and every one that should make or attemt any actual breach therein and against all forrein powers which should go about to offer them any wrong or violence or make war upon them either in general or particular Which foresaid nearer Union beeing made at Utrecht and published there from the Town-hous Januarie 29 1579 was likewise approved and signed by divers of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities which were not qualified for to represent the States of their Provinces as among many others by the Prince of Orange and the Citie of Breda who had their Deputies there at the Assemblie of the States General of the United Netherlands as may bee evidenced by many and divers Writs of Summons and Commissions But within a little while after the said Union was likewise accepted of and entred into in the name and behalf of the States and Provinces of Braband and the same beeing published in a special manner with the Citie of Bosch the said States according to the antient custom sent their Deputies to the Assemblie of the forementioned States General and thereby the foresaid particular Deputation began to surceas But admit the Province of Braband had not accepted of the Union afterwards the Prince of Orange and Citie of Breda c. would undoubtedly have remained particular Members of the said Union and kept their place and voices in the same The Condition of affairs beeing changed truly since the foresaid Prince and his Illustrious Successors have together with the Cities of Berg op Zome and Willemstadt hitherto assisted the said Union with all means possible and constantly adhered thereunto and â—ince the Cities of the Bosch Breda Grave Steenberghen beeing forcibly withdrawn from the Union and reduced under it again by the arms of their Confederates the said Cities ought not therefore contrarie to the express sens of the common Union bee excluded from the same The rather for that the said Cities stand as to this in the same degree with divers others which at present have part and share in the General Government The Illustrious Hous of Nassaw is next God Almightie a principal means of the preservation and recovered Libertie of the United Countries Nor hath any of the foresaid Braband-Cities ever purposely separated from the common Bodie of the United Provinces contrarie to the contract made with them and solemnly confirmed but they were all of them rent away from the same by the Power of the Enemie or the Treacherie of others without any fault of their own nay to their great grief and sorrow and therefore they have no waies merited to bee proscribed or outlawed by the States of the United Provinces so as those of Brug or Bruges and the land Van Vrye were in the year 1584 and those of Venlo in the year 1586. Unto whom nevertheless as well as to the other revolted Provinces and Cities it was offered by the Treatie made not long ago with France That in case any Provinces Cities Princes or Lords came to join themselvs for the establishing of a Peace and their Freedoms the said King and States would take them into protection and Confederacie and make a League with them Offensive and Desensive and in case three or four Cities surrendred themselvs together the same should have power to make a free bodie of State apart The State of Braband were they which together with those of Gelders and Zutphen Holland Zealand Mechelin and Utrecht for the protection and safegard of their mutual and common Rights Privileges and Customs and the freedom of their Native Countries made that solemn Decree of Julie 26 1581 whereby the King of Spain was declared to have forfeited the Sovereigntie of the foresaid Netherlands and ordeined in conformitie to the Union of Utrecht that instead of the King's Seals there should henceforward bee used the Great Seal counter-seal and signet of the States General of the United Provinces in matters touching the Politick administration of justice and other particular affairs in each Province apart there should bee used by the Provincial and other Counsels the Name Title and Seat of the Countries respectively where the matter happen's to bee don and no other all upon pain of all such Letters Judgments or Dispatches Nullitie which shall bee expedited or sealed contrarie to the waie prescribed As the Treatie of the States of Braband Gelderland Flanders Holland and West-Friesland Zealand Zutphen Utrecht Friesland and Mechelin with the king touching the Transportation or surrender of the Soveraigntie the States propounded to the King in the
States General And however hitherto the Government of Braband since the loss of Antwerp hath been exercised in the Name of the States General nevertheless the same is don onely by waie of provision for that time without impairing and under protestation of not prejudicing the Right and privileges belonging to the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Braband as was formerly demonstrated And whereas the Wars through God's blessing are brought to an end now and the King of Spain doth by the Treatie of Peace concluded at Munster declare and acknowledg That the States General of the United Netherlands and respective Countries Cities and appertaining Lands are free and Soveraign Cities Provinces and Countries whom and their Associated Countries Cities and Lands the foresaid King shall neither now nor ever pretend the least unto neither for himself nor his Successors and Posteritie Therefore the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Braband do confidently perswade themselvs beeing in the Union and Associates That according to the forementioned Concordates Confederacies Unions Treaties Promisses and Acknowledgments of Kings yea of the King of Spain himself They shall bee held by the United Provinces Confederates Sworn Allies Associates and Free States and not conquered invaded and subdued ones in wors condition then the Spanish Netherlands To their Hi. Mi. Lords the States General of the Vnited Netherlands THe Nobilitie Gentrie and Cites of Braband holding the side of the Union shew and desire That forasmuch as the war through God's blessing is com to an end now They Exhibitors may as Associates and Confederates of the common Union have Session and Voice in the Generalitie like other Provinces and that for the reasons alleged in the annexed Deduction Or in case That your Hi. Mi. could not as yet yield thereunto wee beeing perswaded they may That at leastwise the Exhibitors may without prejudice of the Rights of Braband govern their Province particularly contributing for the common welfare and Defens together with other Provinces such a Rate as by mutual agreement and equitie shall bee found fitting which doing c. High Mightie Lords THe Commissioners of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Braband holding the side of the Union presented in April 1646 unto the high mightie Lords the Deputies at the Generalitie a certain Remonstrance and Deduction hereunto annexed and thereby attentively concluded either to obtain Session and Voice in the General Government like other Provinces or at leastwise that without prejudice to the Rights of Braband they might Govern their Province particularly contributing to the common welfare and Defens such a Rate or Tax as according to the condition of the Countries should by mutual accord bee held fitting in equitie Whereupon there having been no Resolution taken by your Hi. Mi. the Exhibitors addressed themselvs to the No. Gr. Mi. Lords the States of the respective Provinces and propounded the same alternative conclusion to them who most of them after enquirie and mature Deliberation sufficiently agreed that the second member of the foresaid conclusion could not bee denied unto the Exhitors autorizing thereupon their Deputies at the Generalitie that they might treat with the Deputies there from the other Provinces about it And foresmuch as the United Provinces ate now extraordinarily met in a grand States-assemblie to deliberate about the most important Points for the establishing of this State and especially about the maintenance and full settlement of the Union The Exhibitors present themselvs with all due respect unto this most honorable Assemblie to reiterate the foresaid Conclusion grounded upon the Union and represent thereupon unto your Hi. Mi. That the Exhibitors have been and were every where without contradiction acknowledged Associates and Confederates of this State and members of the common Union as well by virtue of the Pacification of Ghendt de Anno 1576. whereof they of Braband had been the first Autors as especially of the neerer Union of Utrecht de Anno 1579. signed by them of Breda at Utrecht publisht in the Bosoâ— and by the rest of the Cities embraced and followed in States-manner That likewise None of the Exhibitors ever abandoned the Union but that the Cities of the Bosch Breda Grave and Steenberghen were by force of arms or domestick oppression and treacherie rent from the same with the good parties loss of goods and blood Berg op Zome and Willemstadt having alwaies remained in the Union as is more largely deduced in the annexed information That the forementioned Four withdrawn Cities have been delivered and reduced again to the Union by the help of the Confederates in conformitie to the Pacification and Union aforesaid And whereas the Foundations of the whole State doth mainly consist in the foresaid mutually made and firmly concluded Union and everlasting Confederacie And that consequently the same beeing aequo jure entered into the Members are bound not onely to assist one another with goods and blood but also if need bee to restore them in their antient Rights Liberties and Privileges whereunto it would bee è diametro repugnant that one Member should take upon him to exercise Superioritie and Domination over the other Therefore the Exhibitors negociating at present for such a considerable number of Cities and great district of Countrie conteining in ground more then the Moitie of all Braband offering to contribute according to their abilities to the common welfare ought not to bee excluded in any wise but fully to enjoie the effect of the Confederacie like unto the other United Members thereof The Exhibitors undertaking beside that by their direction the Means of Braband shall undoubtedly bee brought in to the best advantage and behoof of the Generalitie All this nevertheless notwithstanding beeing the Exhibitors are held and treated no better then invaded and conquered places suffering sufficient prejudice generally in all their Rights and Privileges as well in regard of administring Justice without their Countrie as the direction of their Civil Government and incoms They are confident your Hi. Mi. will for the reasons succinctly here alleged and more largely deduced in the Papers adjoined restore the said Exhibiters highly-wronged Right in best sort and manner or at leastwise let them enjoie the effect of the second Member of their conclusion Further Deductions and Informations of the Right of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities holding the side of the Vnion IT is universally known that the supreme power of the Serenissime Republick of the Netherlands consisteth in the States General of the United Provinces so called after the General Uniting of Ghendt and nearer Union of Utrecht whereon the same is founded For the preservation of good Unitie in the State upon the old and laudable principles and foundations of the first Government the Great Mightie States of all the Provinces caused to bee enâ—egistred Novemb. 16 1646 for an everlasting Remembrance That they were resolved to keep and maintein the foresaid Union among the Provinces as also the associated Countries Cities and Members thereof and now lately again at
to declare that his intention was no other then hee professed before and doth herewithall humbly desire and beseech their N. Gr. M. not to construe his actings and sayings any otherwise and that accordingly they will bee pleased to comprehend him together with all other Militarie Officers and inhabitants of this Land which were imploied in that Expedition in the General Amnestia or Act of Oblivion which hee understood was in agitation among the Provinces And afterwards hee presented the ensuing Petition To the Noble Great Mightie Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland THe Lord van Sommersdyck sheweth with all reverence his beeing so unhappie that notwithstanding his uttmost endeavor of giving satisfaction to their N. gr M. by an upright and respectful Information touching his Employ in the Amsterdam Expedition hee understands their N. gr M. do still remain unsatisfied in that behalf Hee doth therefore once again most humbly beseech your N. gr M. seriously to consider the strict obligation and forcible tie of his Militarie Employment most submissively praying that in regard thereof they will bee pleased to comprehend him in the Amnestia now in agitation promising that in acknowledgment thereof hee shall evermore bee and remain Their No. gr M. most humble and most obedient Servant and Subject signed van Aerssen van Sommersdyck Whiles thus on the one side inquisition was made about such as had lent their helping hand to the Princes Designs last year it was found good on the other side to justifie the Actions and Resolutions of the Lords of Holland and accordingly there came in from the respective Cities of Dort Haerlem Delâ—t Amsterdam Horen and Medenblick as also by the N. gr M. Lords the States of Holland themselvs these ensuing Acts of Justification Act of Justification of the Citie of Dort WEe Burgomasters Senators Counsellors old-council and commons of the Citie of Dort make known by these our open Letters to all and every one to whom they shall bee presented That the Lord Jacob de Witte old Burgomaster of this Citie at present Commission'd Counsellor and Deputie from this Citie at the Assemblie of Holland hath advised nothing touching the new State of War and the Cashiering and reducing of the Militia but that which our Deputies there were charged to do and this beeing anew examined in our full Assemblie and all the Acts and Resolutions concerning that matter renewed Junii 10. last the same is found in truth to bee so and that for all this thanks were and yet are returned to him by these wherewithal is comprehended the report of a certain Letter from their Hi. M. to the Commissioned Counsellors bearing date April 16. last past That the same Lord old Burgomaster de Witte hath been of the same advice together with the other Lords concerning what last time was conferr'd of here with his High s in particular and yielded to and promised by word of mouth with our Consent to the content of his High â— according to the written advice presented in our behalf to the foresaid Assemblie of Holland That besides the Lord de Witte hath endeavored to the utmost together with other Deputies that the conciliatorie advice of 16. July last might first among the Deputie-Members of their great Might and afterwards here in our Assemblie by their Nob. gr M. bee settled and for that and other continued services had together with his fellow-Commissioners thanks given him by us and wee thank him to this daie by these and whereas all the foresaid affairs and advices were don and performed by his Honor with our full knowledg order and autorisation therefore wee declare by these that wee do commend approve and ratifie the same together with the advices grounded thereupon promising to his Honor and to his Children also that whatsoever in regard and by reason hereof shall further com or is alreadie com upon or don to him to hold the same as if it were com upon or don to Us in general and to every one of Us in particular and personally and to help the same to bee repaired with all vigor aad to keep his Honor harmless and indamnified under the obligation of our Citie and all the goods thereof recoverable by any Lords Courts Laws Judges and Judicatures Actum August 2. 1651. and the foresaid Act beeing read over again in our Assemblie Aug. 5. next ensuing the extent thereof hath been approved and wee Burgomasters Senators Counsellors Old-Council and Commons abovesaid do caus this to bee sealed with the Citie Seal in behalf thereof Underneath stood In absence of the Secretarie signed by H. Roosboom where under stood the Seal exprest in green Wax covered over with white paper Register-Notes taken by occasion of his High s the Prince of Orange his arrival at Dort together with Lords van de Capelle van Aersberghen Marignault Rhynswoude Claut of the Assemblie of the Lords the States General and the Lords van Asperen Lucas and Treasurer General Brasser of the Council of State all in qualitie of Deputies from the Generalitie about the point of Reducing and Casheiring of the Militia by the Lords the States of Holland aud West-Friesland resolved in June 1650. Thursday June 9. 1650. ADvertisement beeing given the daie before by the Commission'd Counsellors of the arriving of his High s and the foresaid Deputies of the Generalitie after that the Lords Burgomasters of this Citie accompanied with divers Lords of the Government had waited till ten a clock at night for the said arrival of his High s for to receiv the same according to the accustomed order by causing a considerable number of Citizens to attend in arms and that the said Burgomaster seeing it grow so late and doubting of his High s arrival that night had dismissed the foresaid Lords of the Government together with the Citizens this morning earlie the said Burgomasters were desired in his High s behalf who was com to town yet last night about eleven that the Assemblie of the Senators Counsellors Old-Council and Commons might bee gathered that forenoon yet for to have Audience there together with the foresaid deputed Lords from the Generalitie whereupon the foresaid Burgomasters accompanied as before beeing gon to his High s lodging for to bid him welcom and desired by him to assemble the Old-Council apart returned answer to his High s that they the said Burgomasters would at the desire and for the respect to his High s onely gather the foresaid Old-Council and admit of the said Audience under protestation nevertheless this beeing an innovation and beside the Order of Government to laie no ground of prejudice thereby to the Eminence Prerogative and Soveraigntie of the Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland nor to the freedom of their Deliberations in their State-Assemblie about it Where after his High s beeing conducted to the foresaid Audience attended by the forenamed Deputies of the Generalitie there were read by the Lord vand der Cappelle som Propositions and papers in
other but themselvs when as otherwise it might frequently com to pass that upon any Discoverie of the condition within and without of one or other Frontier of greatest importance the same may by such means bee made bare or deprived of a good part of their Officers and consequently of their principal securitie and direction against which the alleged Article of the foresaid Act cannot avail in asmuch as in the first place the said Act was decreed by them the Ordinarie Assemblie of the Generalitie not by the joint Provinces met in states-Assemblie or summoned together upon precedent intimation of certain points to bee determined and therefore might as justly for pregnant reasons bee streightned enlarged or changed by themselvs the Ordinarie Assemblie which could in no wise bee disputed by them that had no other Right but what that Act afforded them besides that it is observable that notwithstanding the said Articles the Captains General had during that time by little and little taken that right for the most part to themselvs insomuch that of the forecited Possession the said Council would bee able to shew and produce very little or nothing unless it were the same happened peradventure now and then for a small time by reason of the absence sickness or other the like accidents or impediments of the Captains General But as for their maintaining that the foresaid Right and Possession was not taken from them by the joint Confederates in the great Hall and that therefore it ought to bee continued to them to the solution of this besides the motives and reasons alreadie alleged serveth especially the 50 th Article of their Instruction renewed July last 18. importing That all things not expresly set down in the said Instruction to bee at the disposition of the said Council should remain at the disposition of the States General the States of the particular Provinces the Magistrates of the Cities and other lawful Superiors each within their own jurisdiction and limits Now it is plain enough that in the foresaid Instruction there is not the least mention made of the foresaid Leav-giving much less the same referr'd to the Council and consequently might not bee exercised by them but that the same doth appertain to them the Ordinarie Assemblie of the States General even by virtue of the said Article and likewise by the foresaid Resolution of July 18. and from the nature of the business it self for the reasons abovesaid which may yet further bee confirmed by the last Resolution at the Close of the foresaid Assemblie in the great Hall taken August last 19. whereby all other businesses and affairs not determined there should bee left to them the Ordinarie Assemblie and none els For which reasons and arguments they had judged it requisite to desire the Provinces that they would grant no Annexions to any other Leavs but such as should bee granted by them the Ordinarie Assemblie saving the Right nevertheless of the particular Provinces of granting or refusing their foresaid Annexions to the Leavs thus obtained according to the Exigencie of affairs Septemb. 30. The old Instruction for the Generalities Chamber of accompts was enlarged with the points declared in the new Instruction for the Council of State since July last 18. touching the said Chamber of Accounts and sworn to by those of the said Chamber of Accounts in manner as followeth Points and Articles serving for Enlargement of the Instruction past Jan. 21. 1632. for the Generalities Chamber of Accounts to bee observed and performed in all the parts thereof I. See Artic. 18. of the Instruction of the Council of State above IN the first place The Commissioners of the Generalities Chamber of Accompts shall take special care and industriously look to it that all Accountants of the Generalities means whether of Farmings in Cities or Countrie Redemption of means Contributions Oppignerations Ecclesiastical goods the Seal Domains Rogations as also of Provisions and Ammunition for War and of all other Revenues and Incoms none excepted do com yearly to the said Chamber of Accompts and deliver up three several Accompts the one for the Council of State the second for the said Chamber and the third for the Receiver joining thereunto all the original bills and documents and other requisites relating thereunto that being heard and determined by the foresaid Chamber Coppies may bee delivered forth thereof as before and that for the preventing of abuses II. Turn to Artic. 20. of the foresaid Instruction THey shall have an eie upon it That the respective Provinces do monthly paie the Companies their full wages and without any defalcation or surcharging of them by means of Solicitors Clarks Cash monie New-years-gifts or any other waie whatsoever directly or indirectly prejudicing their full paie aforesaid III. Turn to Artic. 21. as before THey shall give good heed that unto all requests for Orders presented to the Council of State there bee joined with the same all the bills particulars and other evidences concerning the matter for which the said Orders are desired and having viewed examined and cleared the same as also well considered whether the Land doth stand engaged or not for the satisfying of such particulars shall return the same to the said Council of State for to grant Orders thereupon accordingly which beeing first registred folio tali shall bee signed by the Lord President and two other Lords of the said Council beeing all of them of several Provinces besides the Treasurer and the Secretarie of the said Assemblie and then the said Orders shall bee returned again together with the Requisites to the foresaid Chamber for to bee re-examined there whether they bee given according to the Lands order and beeing found answerable thereunto shall there likewise at the Chamber of Accompts bee registred folio tali insomuch that no order wanting these conditions shall bee accepted or paid by the Receiver General upon pain of disallowance IV. Turn to Artic. 22. of the foresaid Instruction THey shall further take care that the Convoys bee uniformly given and executed according to the Consents and Lists made and to bee made in that behalf by the States General and the Licences in like manner according to the List drest or to bee drest in their behalf V. Turn to Artic. 23. THey shall let the Cities enjoie their Custom for in time of need and when the matter can suffer no delaie to arm by Sea and set out men of War at the charge of the Land provided onely they give immediate advertisment thereof to the Generalitie for to bee satisfied out of the means aforesaid VI. Turn to Artic. 32. THey shall pass no Pensions or Benefits at the Land's charge without the same bee granted by their High Migh VII Turn to Artic. 33. THey shall allow of no Remission given to any Farmer or other Debtor of the Land but with the foreknowledg and consent of the Ordinarie Assemblie of their High Might VIII Turn to Artic. 34. THey shall take good heed
out of the adjoined Bills whether the works were put out publickly and that the said Bills and particulars bee annexed to the Orders as likewise look to it that no continuation of undertaken works bee yielded unto and that no Orders of what kinde soêver shall bee otherwise issued but to the Receiver General who shall accommodate the owners of the said Orders at their desire with assignations upon the subordinate Receivers at the places of their Residence or where it may bee most convenient for them IX Turn to Artic. 49. THere shall likewise account bee rendred of the Rights of the Seal according to the Tax ordained or to bee ordained by the States General whereof good and exact Registers and Counter-rolls are to bee kept Nevertheless the same may bee converted to the paying of the Officers and other necessarie expences of the Council of State And so likewise was the Instruction of the Receiver General enlarged with these two Articles I. IN the first place the Receiver General shall hold no Orders valid nor make any paiment thereupon unless they bee given by the Council of State and signed by the Lord President and two other Lords of the said Council together with the Treasurer and Secretarie of the same upon precedent registring thereof folio tali and having annexed to it all the bills and requisites about the particulars for which the respective Orders were granted and having been likewise viewed examined and cleared that they were given according to the Land's Order with the inscription of Registrata folio tali made by the said Chamber without all which the Receiver is to make no paiment upon pain of disallowance II. Nor shall any Orders of what name or kinde soëver bee issued or charged but upon the Receiver General who shall accommodate the owners of the said Orders at their desire with Assignations upon the subordinate Receivers at the places of their aboad or where it shall bee most convenient for them There was likewise consultation held several times about dressing of the List of the Companies as well for besetting the Frontiers as for better Execution of the civil commands in every Province which continued yet in December as likewise the deliberations and considerations about the settling of the State of War The Council of State was also summoned again and again for to com and take their Oath upon the new Instruction past Julie 18. But by reason that through the absence of many the Council was very thin and uncomplete they excused and declined it still until Decemb. 1. they brought in their Considerations upon the said Instructions shewing that som points thereof were not practicable according to the letter as also that thence would follow much remissness or slow proceeding in the affairs and therefore no small disservice to the Land Wherefore they desired that before the passing of their Oath they might enter into conference with Commissioners of their Hi. Mi. about those difficulties But receiving no answer hereupon and beeing pressed anew with the soonest to com and take the Oath they judged it necessarie to draw up in writing the Considerations which in presence of his Excell cie Count William of Nassaw Stadtholder they had observed upon several Articles of the said Instructions wherein they found it too difficult for them to yield performance accordiâ—g to the letter without knowing the true sence of them by further interpretation protesting beforehand that they were sorrie they must represent it in this manner beeing constreined to it for the quiet and satisfaction of their mindes which indeed might well have been prevented if so bee that according to the 24 Article of the Old Instruction the alteration or change thereof had been made with the knowledg and advice of the Council of State according to the plain words of the said Article but now the Council beeing past by contrarie to the plain text of the foresaid old â—worn Instruction they found that without scruple they could not safely swear nor duly execute the said New Instructions They said the Second Article required That the Lords of the Council should have their firm Residence at the place of their Assemblie this the Council held serviceable indeed for the State if it could bee put in practice by the Lords but som declared they had taken the Commission upon them on other terms and those which were sent hither from the Provinces but for the space of one or two years beeing absent now they would finde themselvs put to a great deal of inconvenience to quit therefore their habitation in the Provinces and to transport their whole families hither for so small a time To the Third Article of gathering in the fore and afternoon and that the Counsellors should still bee ready at hand where the Council is emploi'd they said they held it sufficient to keep to the old practice and such as their Hi. Mi. themselvs do gathering namely in the forenoon in ordinarie and besides that at any time when the Lord President shall finde it requisite for the service of the Countrie To Article 15 That is was known the Council had no disposing of the common means within the respective Provinces but onely in the places without the Provinces resorting under the Generalitie where the equalitie would bee observed well enough but that it was requisite there should first som resolution bee taken about the difference which was in the common means of the Bosch with other places of Braband for which advice was given a good while ago and that the Lists of Braband and Flanders may likewise bee looked into as not well agreeing yet They declared they could not perform the 19 Article according to the letter beeing the paiment of the Souldierie was not made by them but the same and the charges of War beeing charged by Repartition upon the respective Provinces they had the disposition over the paiment and the managing of their means themselvs The Generalities means were emploied by the Council upon the undivided Interests running upon the account of the Receiver General and all other emergent occasions necessities and charges incident and incumbent to and with the Assemblies of the Generalitie As for the necessarie Mustering and Discipline over the Souldierie the Council would take care for well enough but the paying them by Pole or by the head was never practised yet and beyond the Council's abilitie To the 20 Article the Council said it was not in their power to provide for that beeing every Province did therein every one as they found good and som did practice the contrarie causing the Companies to bee charged som also not paying precisely so that without redressing first the one and other exorbitancie in the Provinces and reducing all to an Uniformitie it was in vain precisely and duly to effect the rest upon or against the Souldierie To the 21 where is said how the Orders ought to bee signed they observed there was omitted that the Secretarie of the Council
interpreted to the prejudice of the foresaid Cities and Inhabitants beeing guiltless of any such transgression or neglect nor they deprived of their Interest in the said rights and privileges but for their own Delinquencie Ninthly and most principally the same is ungainsaiably plain by the oft foresaid grand Charter given to those of Flushing and Veer respectively by Prince William of happy memory in the year 1574. The same first being not granted by or in the behalf of the Lord who then was the King of Spain but by his Excellencie in the Name of the said King as Earl of Zealand and the Earldom it self And secondly given not to the Lord nor in respect of him but onely upon request for the common good of the foresaid Citties in regard of their particular members And especially in the third place That it might serv them for a permanent law and constitution whereby the government of the said City should thenceforward be regulated and as neer as was feasible equalized as well in respect of divers freedoms and prerogatives as in regard of of the form of Government with the old free and privileged Cities of the Earldom The truth of which threefold qualification lying so evidently plain throughout the whole text and disposition of the oft-said Charter that none of any sound Judgment can at first view remain ignorant thereof much less contradict the same The rather for that his Excellencie as well in the Proêm and beginning as the upshot of all very plainly avoweth that hee doth it in the Name and behalf of his Majestie v z as Earl of the Land and in that Qualitie beeing his Stadtholder within this Province Without making any mention of the Right and qualitie which the foresaid King was then invested with in regard of these places beeing their particular Fief-Lord As likewise that Qualitie could then not well have been made use of not onely by his foresaid Excellencie without special Order and Commission from the King as Lord wherewith it is known hee was not instructed then but also much less by the said King himself in regard that in the foresaid qualitie and simply considered as Vassals of the Earldom hee was well known to want the Qualification of any such Privileges which apperteined onely to the Prince or States of the Land or to such as by them are lawfully and solemnly commissioned and autorized thereunto The like power and autoritie was never committed to the Lords of Flushing and Veer in their Letters of investiture which readily appear's in the perusing of them Therefore wee see likewise that in divers other Privileges and Elections wherewith it pleased Prince William of happie memorie in those times to gratifie divers other Cities also both in this and som neighboring Provinces his Excellencie every where made use of the Name and Title of Stadtholder and as exercising the function of the Supreme Autoritie Whereunto is very appliable that his said Excellencie in the Proëme of the foresaid Charter saith withall to have don this with the Advice of the Council assisting him as also with the consent of the Rulers and Governors of the Cities which at that time chiefly represented the Sovereign Government of this Province and that in the Name onely of the Earldom And so likewise the Conclâ—sion at last whereby all high and low Judges and Officers are charged effectually to maintein the foresaid Magistrates and Inhabitauts according to the content and purports of the said Graces and withall that there is added at the close for such is Our pleasure which could bee used by none but the Sovereigns and States of the Land and can in no wise bee attributed to the power of any Vassal of the Earldom bee hee never so great and eminent Besides that the advantages and prerogatives themselvs also conteined in the said Privileges in the judgment of all understanding States-men are most of them of such a nature that they cannot directly flow from any other source but from the Earldom beeing so inseparably fastned to the disposition of the Sovereign Government that they shall never bee found to have been communicated by any Letters of Investiture to any Vassal from the Earldom As there are among other things Promises of immediateness protection confirmation of the antient Privileges Concession of Execution under caution of all sentences both interlocutorie and definitive beeing repairable and not exceeding a certain Summe the right of appealing omissio medio to the great Council the right of Calauge and Execution in matters of Justice as well Criminal as Civil to bee don by the Burgomasters in the absence of the Officers the erection of the Countrie 's Quadripartition under the managing of the Scout or Sheriff and Senators to bee appointed by the foresaid Cities Dismembring of the high Jurisdiction having apperteined of old to the cognizance of the Renomasters at Westerschelt freedom from Tolls and execution of Confiscations besides the Right of returning som of their Porteers which may bee elswhere criminally impeached and sundrie other prerogatives and examinations recited there at large And principally indeed that both the said Cities are thereby made and created integrating members of the Sovereign Government of this Province representing together with the other the States of the Land both of Zealand in general and of Walcheren in particular in that efficacie that they must be called to all Assemblies Communications Account-audites and all other transactings and affairs concerning the said States respectively and beeing present there have their Votes and Voices like the rest and as other States are wont to have Which singular and great Priveleges without all controversie not onely can bee communicated to the foresaid Cities from none other but the special free concession of the Earldoms autoritie the qualification and power of the Lord coming not into any consideration in these matters but likewise are granted to the said Cities in particular and peculiarly without any respect communication and interest of their Lords As the same doth evidently appear as well by the Text of the foresaid Charter throughout and the known practice ensued as from the presuppositions and intentions whereupon the foresaid concession by Prince William of happie memorie is said to bee made originally Considered that if thereby it might bee understood the same was granted them for the supplying in the States-Assemblie the vacant places of the Abbot and Prelate at Middleburg which nevertheless is constantly mainteined by the other Members of the Earldom that it could not bee or that the same was don in respect of their Contributions and the main interest which they together with other Cities of Zealand have in the conservation of their common weal yet neither of these considerations can bee made relative or applied to the intention of the Lords of these places so as to infer thence that in the granting af the foresaid Graces or Privileges there was som regard or reflection had to their Persons or condition For besides that in
unto his High â— Whereupon and a civil friendly leav taken of etither side the said Deputies returned to their Principals and his Excellencie retired further off to Oudekerk But within the Citie the Drums beat up and down and men were taken on in service at 10 stivers an English shilling a daie and som Vessels of War laid upon the Ye They write to the Cities of Holland desiâ—ing them to send their Commissioners and to remove the Assemblie to Aâ—sterdam This beeing that Saturdaies passage at and before Amsterdam in the Hagh the Proceedings were as strange that daie Early in the morning som Lords were sent for to his Highness which otherwise is usual enough These were the Lords de Wit of Dort de Wael and Reuyl of Haerlem Duyst Van Voorhout of Delâ—t Keyser of Horen and Aâ—llingwerf of Medenblick The same beeing let in one after the other through the Anti chamber into the Presence where his Highness usually gave Audience they found there the Lievtenant Colonel of the Guard Meteren who told them one after the other his Highness had charged him to seis and arrest their persons and so committed them each with three Souldiers in a chamber apart lockt upon them This feat beeing dispacht twixt 8 and 9 of the Clock his Highness sent for the Counsellor Pensionarie Cats who coming to Court found the Prince with a sword at his side telling him with som distemper My Lord Cats You will strange at what I did and now am about to tell you I was not able anie longer to endure that a few ill-affected members should to the disservice of the Land nourish and foment the discord and differences betwixt the Province of Holland and the rest I have got here pointing up towards the Chambers where they were kept six of the principal of them and I have sent Count William with hors and men to reduce Amsterdam Go and acquaint here below the Assemblie of Holland with it and that I am going now my self for Amsterdam The Lord Cats was not a little astonished at all this and enquired after the names of the persons seized and saying hee knew not whether by reason of his weak memorie hee should bee able to remember them the Prince bad him to write them down going himself into the Gallerie for to fetch pen and ink In which interim the Lord Cats making use of a looking-glass there recovered his color and countenance somwhat and after hee had written the names asked Upon what ground and with whose knowledg or communication â—ee had don this to whom hee gave no other answer but that hee refâ—rred himself to the Resolution of 5 o Junii and the Contents of the Union The Lord Cats thus withdrawing again communicated all the passages to the Assemblie of Holland who immediately thereupon not without great fear and amazement separating themselvs went every one to their respective Cities with resolution to return again on mundaie following Soon after the Lord Bronckhorst beeing President at their Hi. Mi. Assemblie repairing to his Highness according to custom hee desired him to make the like Communication or report these thus namely That his High â— by virtue of their H. M. Resolution Junii 5 o last upon several and weightie grounds had seized som few Lords of Holland and sent his Excellencie the Stadholder with a good number of hors and men toward the Citie of Amsterdam whereof his Highness intended to declare the circumstances and reasons more fully unto them in Writing for which end their Hi. Mi. were desired to assemble again to morrow after sermon at eleven of the clock In the mean time the whole Guard under pretext of going to shoot in the downs met in arms and beset all the gates of the Court very strongly Four Colonel's-Companies of the French English and Scottish Nation came about noon from Delft Schiedam and likewise into the Haghe together with two Troops of Hors This mightily revived the courage of all militarie Blades who for a while had gon drooping much like an Ox before the Ax on the contrary others mourned and muttered and most States-men except such as wish'd Holland ill were sorrie to see such exorbitancies Now it appear's said they to what end som flatterers ever sought to aggrandize the the Stadtholders so much from time to time still adding to theirs and detracting from the State 's Autoritie See how they have possess d this Prince with Tibi Roma subegerit Orbem all for Him what e're wee win It was not our Freedom and Libertie that wee fought for all this while but onely the Question Whether the King of Spain or the Prince though hee never had nor moov'd the least imaginable pretence or claim to the State or Sovereigntie thereof should bear sway and reign over us That under the Earls of Holland themselvs the States never suffered such indignities That all State 's Assemblies were now in vain and as good as dissolved beeing they can neither meet nor Vote freely any more On the other side it was said There was an everlasting Covenant between the seven provinces That the Act of separate Disbanding or Cashiering of Forces was against all antient custom and order of Government That it was not all Holland but som few Bell-weathers that had caused all this stir and variance That those few ones beeing once removed out of the way theâ— Province no question would soon return into it and minde their Devoir That to Extremities of Diseases there must bee applied Extremities of Remedies That this very State found no harm by the like application of such in like cases in the year eighteen but was rather extraordinarily blest since in might in means and all manner of prosperitie the like issue might now also well bee exspected upon the present application Next daie the Lord Bronckhurst President at the Assemblie acquainted the same in discharge of his yesterdaies promiss from the Prince that as yet hee had not received that writing of his Highness of further deducing the circumstances and reasons of his undertaking adding that his Highness intended that day to go in person towards the Forces at or about Amsterdam to puâ— all things in order that there may arise no Troubles nor Disturbance there which taken into Deliberation their Hi. Mi. resolved to accept of this for a Notification and to exspect the promised Reasons and Motives upon which his Highness grounded the arresting of the foresaid Members of the Assemblie of Holland and the sending of Forces Hors and Foot under the conduct of Count William the Stadtholder towards and about the Citie of Amsterdam as hee the Lord President had intimated yesterday upon his Highness desire at the Assemblie Hereupon the Extraordinarie and Ordinarie Deputies of Holland caused to bee Registred that in lieu of their assent they constantly adhered to their formerly entred respective Protestations and obtestations of Octob. 26. 1649. 9 and 10 of April 5 6 7 of June last His High s
manage the business so that it was not read in the Assemblie much less Copies given of it but lock'd up under Seal which yet came to light at length as shall bee shewed in due place After all this August 13 the Lords of Holland came to the Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. in presence of his High s his Excellencie the Stadtholder and the Council of State declaring That in the name and behalf of their Principals there had been oft times before motions made about reducing of the Souldierie and matters depending with arguments taken from the condition of their exhausted Treasurie caused by the late long and heavie War but having since considered that the rest of the Provinces shewed themselvs unsatisfied as judging the State of these Countries would not bee safe enough if the forces were reduced according to the project and proffer of their Principals they had therefore thought good now to meet their Confederates in this matter as far as might bee and to put them out of all doubts and perplexities consented and agreed to the Proposition made by the Council of State July 15 last past in terminis as it lie's fully confiding and seriously recommending that the Provinces as good Confederates will on their side in recompence of this their undergoing again so heavie a charge to pleas and complie with the other Provinces undertake now for the good of the State to improve their best endeavours That the means of the State may bee well and duely managed and advantaged That the Navie-affairs may seriously bee taken to heart That the Liquidations between the Provinces may at length bee taken in hand and really performed That the business of the West-Indie-Companie may vigorously bee relieved That the Ratification of the Treatie and Contract made with the King of Denmark and matters coïncident may bee fully concluded and settled Whereupon after som Deliberation it was found good according to the Proposition and Modification which his High s his Excellencie the Stadtholder and the Council of State had brought in and presented to the Generalitie July 15 by reason of the Differences arisen then about the State of War with joint consent of all the Provinces to accept of and confirm the State of War as the same was projected by his Highness his Excellencie and the Council of State and sent unto the Provinces and that the Disbanding and Reduction therein mentioned should bee made by his Highness his Excellencie and the Council of State according to the Order of the Land provided that the 4 troops of hors and a 1000 foot shall bee entertained and paid till the Provinces shall bee wholly agreed touching the same whereunto the Provinces were desired to accommodate themselvs and to bring in their Conferences and Advices at furthest within the space of 5 or 6 weeks the Provinces undertaking in the interim to paie all Souldiers wages entertainments and other defrayments of War according to the old State of War Further it was resolved and agreed that henceforward there shall no separate Cashiering or Reducing of Forces bee undertaken or practised by any Province of their own Autoritie and in case any Province should attempt the like the same shall forthwith bee addressed and remedied by the General Autoritie as a Contravention of the Union and Order of Government Nevertheless the Provinces were pleased to declare hereupon that these matters abovesaid should as yet bee held onely as projected Resolutions The 15 of August the Lord Reynswoude then President propounded and communicated to their Hi. Mi. that his Highness had put into his hands shut and sealed with his Signet the Reasons and Motives of his seizing the six Members of the Provincial Assemblie of Holland in persuance of their High Mi s. Act Jun. 5 0 last past which beeing taken into Deliberation it was agreed that the foresaid shut and sealed Reasons should as yet bee laid by and put into the Secretarie's Cabinet The Deputies of Holland caused to bee enter'd hereupon that they would make report hereof to their Principals The same Lord President likewise then by Order from his Highness communicated to their Hi. Mi. that the Governors of the Citie of Delft as also the kindred of the Lord Jan Duyst van Voorhout had sought to his Highness for his freedom and releas of his Restraint at Laeuvenstein under condition and offer That the said Governors at the request of the said Jan Duyst van Voorhout himself would discharge him from the Employment Commission and Oath wherewith hee was engaged to the said Citie without ever reassuming or taking him in again and yet so nevertheless as that it should bee no blot to his good Name and Fame and that this might bee taken for satisfaction which his Highness by Virtue of their Hi. Mi. Act of Authorization of July 5 last past had granted and accordingly released him and their Hi. Mi. upon deliberation found good to accept of this as a Notification The Holland Deputies entred hereupon that they would make report hereof to their Principals The like Notification in the same manner was afterwards presented for the rest also till they were all released As for the State of War abovesaid the Resolution and establishment thereof was by reason of its importance reassumed August 18. when after further Deliberation upon the Contents of the New State of War as the same was projected by his Highness his Excellencie Stadtholder and the Council of State and formerly sent to the respective Provinces as likewise upon the modification in the proposition of accommodation presented at the Assemblie by his said Highness his Excellencie and the Council of State dated July 15. It was found good and agreed to with common Consent and advice of all the Provinces herewithal to accept of and to establish the foresaid State of War as the same was projected and framed by his Highness his Excellencie and the Council of State and sent to the Provinces formerly under and with the foresaid modification in the proposition of July 15 and that the Disbanding and Reduction of Forces hors and foot to bee made in pursuance thereof shall bee performed by his Highness his Excellencie and the Council of State according to the Order of the Land provided nevertheless that the 4 Troops of hors and 1000 foot about whom there were som Differences yet should in regard of the Advices of som Provinces and the foresaid modification bee entertain'd and paid provisionally until the Provinces shall have brought in their Provincial Resolutions in that behalf within the space of 5 or 6 weeks at furthest and the same not coming in within that time that after the Expiration thereof the foresaid Disbanding and Reduction shall bee put in effect without further delaie also the Provinces have undertaken to proportion all Souldiers-wages Entertainments Arrears and other charges comprehended in the State of War of the year 1621. as also the Forces hors and foot comprehended in the respective more particular
places committed to their trust against any stirs or attemts that might arise by occasion hereof whether from without or from within carrying and discharging themselvs faithfully according to the Oath made by them to this State at the undertaking of their respective Commissions of which Oath there were sent Copies to them to refresh it in their memories And then the Council of State was desired to inform their Hi. Mi. with all speed of the true state and condition of the Garrisons in all the Frontier-Towns and places of this State that accordingly such order might bee taken and provision made as should bee found expedient and requisite for most safetie of the State Advertisement was likewise given to the reduced Cities of Brabant and Flanders apart To the Forrein Ambassadors and Residents residing at the Haghe intimation was given of this Accident by som Deputies of their Hi. Mi. and by the Agent Verburgh The Corps was not shewed in publick as his Fathers Uncles and Grandfathers had been partly for that the face was much altered and disfigured by the small Pox and partly to avoid further disturbance of the Princess Roiall by too much stir and nois there shee beeing great with childe which was the caus likewise that shee never saw the Prince in all his sickness as also they would have kept his departure from her knowledg the first night but that shee perceived it well enough by the much running out and in and hearing the whole Court alarm'd with it The King of Spain his Ambassador sent immediately to impart unto her his condoling and for leav that hee might com to perform it in Person which was don next morning as likewise that of the States General and inferior Courts or Assemblies both to her and to the Princess Dowager and the Q. of Bohemia The Princess Dowager sent that daie by Seig r de Willem and Secretarie Busero to get the Lord van Wimmenum to represent unto the Assemblie that there was a certain Treatie agreed upon between the Spanish Ambassador and the late Prince about an Equivalence for the not surrendring of the Marquisate there wanting nothing to it but the Subscription and fearing the winde might get in between beeing the Ambassador was upon his departure for Brussels and therefore her High s desired their Hi. Mi. would bee pleased to induce the Ambassador to the accomplishment They sent and pressed it but the Ambassador said Hee was charged to get the Treatie sign'd by the Princes own hand The same now beeing dead hee must and would write for further instruction and somtime after returning again to the Haghe hee declared himself ready for to conclude that Treatie as soon as the Wardship of the young Prince should bee settled The Death of the Prince did much perplex and afflict all those that together with and by him had agitated the proceedings against Holland Som Ministers also both in the Pulpit and otherwise in companies and meetings exclaimed and lamented that now the State was Headless that there was no King now in Israël that the State must needs fall into Discord Confusion and Ruine But among those of the Government of Holland and every where among such whose hearts stood more for Libertie then Court dependance you might have seen immediately a very great Alteration and Reviving The news ran nimbly by 3 in the morning it was alreadie at Amsterdam The Alms box fared well by it the people really glad would bee really thankful and liberal for their libertie One among the rest putting in a good quantitie of Gold in the Deacons purs at Sermon had featly wrap'd it up and added a Note to it with words to this purpose in Ryme The Prince his death Make 's my gift great No gladder nâ—ws these hundred years Upon the Letters from the Holland Deputies at the Generalitie the States of Holland met presently and after som preparatorie business with their Commission'd Members they caused to bee presented in writing to the Generalitie That their N. G. M. do judg the Unitie of the Provinces to bee the onely Foundation for to make the State subsist and that therefore Declaration was hereby made unto the Provinces that the sincere intention of their N. G. M. is constantly to improve maintain and evermore holily and inviolably to keep and cultivate the Unitie Love Friendship and good Correspondence with and among the Provinces without ever to recede therefrom and that they are readie to shew forth the same not in words onely but by real effects also upon all occasions Furthermore that their N. G. M. are firmly resolved to uphold and maintain Religion according to to the Synod of Dort and as the same is taught at this present in the publick Churches of these Countries That the Union shall bee kept faithfully so as it was concluded on in the year 1579 at Utrecht and that the Souldierie for the service of the State shall bee entertained according to the Resolutions formerly taken upon the preliminar points for the Treatie of Peace That the Provinces may bee desired to appoint a General Assemblie of all the States in the Hagh and to take care that they may com every one duely and sufficiently instructed for a work of so great importance and general concernment That they had found good to send unto all the several Provinces for this end and purpose That the Deputies of the other Provinces are earnestly desired to second the good intention of Holland by serious Letters to their Principals That in the mean time all States-affairs may bee left and proceeded in according to the accustomed Cours and fundamental Order of this Government The Courts or several Councils as also the chief Militarie Officers remaining in their respective Commissions and Instructions until such time as further Order shall bee taken upon the whole frame of the said affair by the Provinces In the first draught the words of this Claus â—un thus Until such time as her Royal High s shall bee delivered of the Fruit shee yet doth go with But least that might have caused a Construction of som Engagement it was alter'd as above Holland studied and endeavored much how they might draw Zealand in at least to side with them hoping that thereby they should bee able so to shut their Fence and to bee in that posture as that they should not need to fear to have a Captain General or a Stadtholder forced upon them And yet they ever shewed themselvs very Civil in their expressions of thankfulness to the Hous of Orange and Nassaw declaring they would gladly forget and laie aside all what was past and live and die with the Provinces in all Love Unitie and Concord Before their intended sending to the Provinces could bee dispatched the Princess Royal was delivered of a Son upon Mundaie Novemb. 14. betwixt 8 and 9 of the clock at night Whereupon the Assemblie presently met and notice was given of it to the Provinces and congratulations made to
Audience in the Assemblie of the States of Holland there passing abundance of Complements and shews of much affection and friendship with readiness of contributing whatsoeÌ„ver might tend and conduce to the maintenance of the everlasting Union and faithful correspondence one with another Therefore did they of Holland in Bodie or one of every Member the Lord van Opdam still beeing the chief for that the Lord Beverweert first nominated for that purpose had excused himself meet with these of Zealand making an Assemblie together apart at the New Doel where they had sevâ—ral Conferences They of Zealand spake in the beginning of the young Prince that special regard ought to bee had of him and at the least hee might bee nominated Stadt-holder and have a Lievtenant join'd to him in which particular the Princesses also both Mother and Grandmother took much pains both personally and by theiâ— well affected friends and dependants But Holland replied it was too too soon and uncertain what hee might grow and bee brought up to Possibly indeed hee might prove a good and fit Prince but hee might likewise as â—asily â—iscarrie As som of late reported of the present Queen of Sweden beeing wished to marrie that shee answered her States J hold it better to design you a Successor that is fit alreadie and known to bee a good Prince then to marrie for â— may as easilie bring forth a Nero as an Augustus and so might this young Prince of Orange as easily bee bred to follow the exorbitant footsteps of his Father Prince William such as hee made last Summer against the Citie of Amsterdam and the Assemblie of the States of Holland and Prince Maurice before him in the year eighteen as other Qualities and Virtues of his Predecessors That likewise the appointing of a Lievtenant or Deputie Stadt-holder might prove dangerous as well for the young Prince himself as for the State for the same might during the Princes Minoritie so settle and establish himself that neither the Prince full grown nor the State should bee able afterwards to make him resign and give up the place And the young Prince besides having now such an honor conferred upon him would never con the States any thanks for it but rather grow up in an opinion that hee had it by inheritance and that hee could not bee past by Whereunto came further the secret considerations of his near and great Alliances with France Spain England and Denmark join'd with his gâ—eat and mightie possessions in the Land it self making him formidable to the State that these were dangerous Entertainments for a Republick and no sure means of maintaining Libertie The Ostracismus and Petalismus were used in the Grecian Republicks against fellow-Citizens if they grew once too potent in autoritie the same was much more to take place against a Prince whose Father and predecesâ—or evidently shewed that under the Name of Governor they levell'd at the Soveraigntie which yet in effect as well for Autoritie and Direction both of State and Militia they enjoyed alreadie more absolutely and powerfully then the Souveraigns of the Land had don before Those of Geldâ—rland and Utrecht came likewise in the later end of December and were welcom'd and complemented in like sort by them of Holland as the Zealanders were before Those of Friesland of Groninghen and the Omlands arrived in Januarie and though they of Over Yssel had first onely autorized their Ordinarie Deputies yet they sent Extraordinarie after viz. those of Zealand Twent and Vollenhove as many of the Gentrie as would go at their own charges and from Deventer two of the Magistrates there from Campen came onely their Ordinarie Commissioner from Swoll no bodie by reason of their instant Election They of Holland saluted and welcom'd them all in particular and held particular and preparatorie Conferences with all respectively for to impart to and receiv back from them their particular inclinations and considerations upon the three main points that were to bee treated of in the Grand Assemblie The States of Holland finding the Chamber of the Ordinarie Assemblie was not large enough for the Number of this Extraordinarie meeting of all the Provinces they caused the great Hall of the Court of Holland to bee fitted for their Session remooving all the Booksellers and other shops quite thence and setting up convenient seats and benches on both sides rising up by degrees one behinde the other in manner of an Amphitheatre to place the Provinces in their Order and each according to the number of their Commissioners apart by themselvs Between both sides there was a prettie space left and in the midst thereof a square long Table placed at the upper end whereof was to sit the President and right over against him at the other end the Secretarie The Walls Benches and Table were all hung with green cloath to shevv the State vvas not in mourning And becaus the talk vvent that Holland intended by this opportunitie in favor of Spain to remove and take avvay out of the said great Hall all the Colors Cornets Standarts and Flags formerly taken from the Spaniards both by Sea and Land and hung up there in abundance they contrarily caused them all to bee vvell brushed over and made more conspicuous adding many more that never vvere there before but kept elswhere hitherto that it made a very gallant shew Wednesday Januarie 18 o. the Session began and the Lords of Friesland in their turn sitting President having made the Introduction with convenient terms of welcoming this Grand Assemblie and praying God to assist and bless their Consultations they desired the Lords of Holland to make Overture of the chiefest points for which they had desired this solemn meeting Whereupon the Lord Cats by word of mouth made this ensuing Proposition and delivered it next daie unto the Assemblie in writing High Mightie Lords GOd Almightie bee ever blest and praised that this Grand and Solemn Assemblie may bee kept now in the very place where heretofore the King of Spain was Abjured his Yoke cast off and the Foundations laid of these Countrie 's Libertie whereof the Trophies and Bliss-tokens of Victorie from time to time most graciously bestow'd upon this State by God are waving over every one of our heads here This same God now let us pray unto from the bottom of our hearts to continue his Governing hand over this State from age to age and more and more to multiplie his Grace and Mercie upon us After that through the incomprehensible Judgments of Almightie God Prince William of Orange of immortal memorie was suddenly and unexspectedly taken away from this world without leaving any issue of his bodie visible however afterwards through God's blessing a young Prince was happily born The State of these United Netherlands was found to bee reduced into such an estate and condition the like it never had been in from their Foundation viz. at that point that there is none left of the Hous of ORANGE fit and
second desire of the Council of State the Companies shall bee yielded Provided that the Companies which stand upon the repartition of the same Province where they lie they may not bee removed out of it without express consent of the said Province or their Commission'd Council and that the same shall likewise bee followed and observed in regard of Quarter marches and Randevouzes That as much as shall bee seasible the Companies may bee put in Garrisons within the same Province or in the Frontiers about them from whence they have their paie and that for this end there bee by Common Consent of the Members of the Union certain Frontier-places assigned for every Province That the Council of State shall have power to place and displace the Companies in the respective assigned Frontiers and that the same also may bee don in time of need and the service of the Countrie requiring it by the States of the Province to whom the said Frontiers are assigned or by their Commission'd Council abiding within the bounds of their assigned Frontiers and the jurisdiction of their Province and giving immediate advertisement thereof to the Council of State That the Council of State intending to take forth any Companies out of the assigned Frontiers shall intimate their desire to the States or Commission'd Council of the Province to which the said Frontiers are assigned sending Commissions for that purpose with vacant spaces for the Names to bee fill'd up by the foresaid States or their Commission'd Council or returning reasons of their difficulties to the Council of State to bee considered and judged of and the reasons not beeing found sufficient that then at a second desire of the Council the Companies shall bee yielded That as to the bestowing of the Chief Militarie Charges of Governments and Commanderies together with their appurtenances and condependencies coming to bee void and vacant they shall bee in the power and gift of the Province to whose repartition or allotment and Territorie the same belong and such as belong to the Territorie or repartition of the Generalitie in the power and gift of their Hi. Mi. the States General So also That all the Soulderie shall bee engaged by Oath as to the Generalitie so also to the Provinces in Particular At this present to pass to an Election of a New Governor and Captain General their N. gr M. judg it too considerable Minding rather or wishing for such a frame of Government in Militarie matters as is exemplified by the oldest Republick that ever was known in the World to wit that of the Hebrews God's own people who from the time they went forth out of Egypt until the Kings came in for the space namely of about 450 years never had any settled Governor or Captain General notwithstanding their continual Wars but onely chose themselvs a Head or Chieftain for every Expedition respectively and som of the most learned Writers judg that Republick to agree very much with this our State for sundrie reasons deduced by them as likewise their manner of proceeding hath been much followed in former times by the wisest Nations and is at this daie as formerly by Romans the Athenians and the Lacedemonians and in our times by the Venetians Swissers Genues and others at this very moment Besides this their N. G M. are of opinion that the chusing of such a General now cannot but bee prejudicial in sundrie respects 1. In regard of the persons it self that might bee chosen or designed now for it 2. In regard of the Lievtenant or provisional keeper of the place of General 3. In regard of the State it self as may easily bee gathered from the Nature of the thing it self and the reasons and consequences of it If in the mean time any Instructions for the Council of State the Fieldmarshal or other Councils or Persons might bee fit to bee altered or new ones made the some may bee don conveniently now with the advice and consent of all the Provinces They of Friesland propounded whether it would not bee fitting to adjourn the Assemblie for som daies and to give time to the Provinces in the interim to draw up their Considerations and to bring them in But by reason that som had alreadie before had preparatorie Conferences with them of Holland it was held best to continue the Assemblie in Action Januarie 20 o were brought in by those of Gelderland the ensuing Considerations notwithstanding that the Quarter of Zutphen dissented from the other two and divers also of both the Nimeghen and Valaw Quarters were but little enclined to the Maxime of Holland and therefore pressed hard for the Election of a Captain General and Stadtholder But the Cities in both the Quarters of Nimeghâ—n and the Valaw together with som of the Gentrie prevailed and out-Voted the rest Considerations and Inclinations of the Province of Gelderland In the first place Concerning the Ordering of the Militia or Armie I. THat the Supreme Autoritie of the United Provinces remaining entire the Direction of the Militia shall bee in the disposal of the Assemblie of the States General by advice of the Council of State and that in the Name of all the Confederates who shall beforehand fit them with exact and uniform Instructions to bee sworn to and punctually followed II. And if in time of War or other emergent necessitie a Captain or Lievtenant General shall bee requisite for the conduct of the State 's Forces then the respective Provinces shall every one by themselvs an Instruction for that Charge beeing agreed upon before hand advise and resolv thereupon as they shall finde most conducing for the service of the Land in General and caus the result to bee brought in at the Generalitie there to bee concluded by one common consent and no otherwise III. All the great Militarie Charges which formerly were in the disposing of the States General or his High s unto the Charge of Collonel exclusively shall henceforward remain in the disposition of the United Provinces who shall bring in their advices concerning the same by their Commissioners at the Assemblie of the States General IIII. All other Militarie offices of Collonels Lievtenant Collonels Serjeant-Majors Captains of hors and foot and lesser Charges which his High s absolutely disposed of without any Nomination they shall hereafter all of them bee they of forain or native relations bee given and bestowed by the United Provinces and equally shared amongst them V. But as for the Companies of hors and foot and other Militarie offices whereof his High s had the choosing heretofore upon the Nomination of the respective paymasters they shall absolutely henceforward remain to the choice of the respective paymasters to whom they are assigned VI. As for the Commanders and Majors of the Cities and Forts of the Provinces having voice in the State their places beeing void and necessarie they shall absolutely bee disposed of by the respective Provinces by Commission of the States General or Council of State provided
behalf may bee executed according to the form and tenor thereof and withal that there bee a Temperament and Order devised to refrain the over-free coming in of the popish Clergie without nevertheless impairing the Treatie of Peace Read and presented thus in the Grand-Assemblie of the United Provinces at the Haghe on Januarie 10 20 1650. Signed J. Singendonck H. Verstegen Secretarie That same daie Jan. 20 o. they of Zealand made the ensuing Proposition by the mouth of their Pensionarie Adrian Vett and delivered it in writing upon the 22. High Mightie Lords AFter the sudden and remarkable Alteration happen'd in the chiefest parts of the Government through the deplorable Death of his High s of immortal memorie the Lords the States of Zealand were very glad to understand First the provisional Order that was taken by the Ordinarie Deputies of the Provinces for Direction of the Militia or Armie and Secondly that their Hi. Mi. were pleased to convocate this Grand and Solemn Assemblie for to consider together either of som Person on whom the Eminent Administrations his High s whilom was invested with might securely and safely bee conferred or of som other waie and order whereby the affairs of the Common Union both within and without the Land might best bee regulated and managed And that the rather for that the same Convocation was made in such a manner as never or seldom was don before that your Hi. Mi. were pleased to repair hither with such a numerous presence and by the respective States-Assemblies Whereby the said Ordinarie Deputies in the Generalitie made known that one the one side they apprehended as they ought the present perplexed constitution of time and affairs and on the other wished that with all possible acceleration care and courses might bee taken for settling of the Government and timely obviateing of all attempts that might bee practised against it Once more it is said your Hi. Mi. were assembled before and in the same manner and in the same place whenas viz. in the year 1582. the King of Spain was declared to have forfeited his Right and Dominion over these Countries and all Princely Autoritie ceasing in him thereby was consolidated into the power of the States and the whole Souveraigntie devolved to the States of the respective United Provinces from whom the said Princely autoritie originally was sprung and derived at which time also the State of these Countries orderly returned to that form wherein it consisted before the Creation of Hereditarie principals in the daies when the Dutch Nation in general and ours also among the rest were governed in the waie of Republicks And as then for the reasons aforesaid the Caus of your Hi. Mi. assembling was very important so it is likewise of no less weight at present whenas the Government doth finde it self at an instant and so unexpectedly bereft of its principal Director born of the Illustrious Hous of Orange which had obliged this State with so many notable services and deserts and deceased without leaving anie of that Houses posteritie fit and capable in person to put his hand to the rudder of the Ship Forasmuch then that your Hi Mi. are met here upon this occasion for to consult and advise together what may bee most requisite for the Common good and interest The States of Zealand wish their H. M. may undertake the same with the same Love Unitie and Confidence wherewith their respective Predecessors made the Union at Utrecht and proceed likewise with as much Zeal and Courage as made our Fore-fathers nothing daunted at the King of Spain so mightie a Prince to stand it out against him and set up the present frame of Government to strengthen and maintain the same by all means to this conjuncture Not onely becaus all good Governments are ever wont heartily to minde and effect the Government that is in beeing but also for that the same which is set up among us is grounded upon such laudable and stedfast maximes that there can bee no better nor safer devised as that wherein there is nothing administred or managed by any Superioritie and which is even from the bottom to the top altogether representative As now this Grand Assemblie of your Hi. Mi. is composed of Seven Members or Provinces who though free and Soveraign each one within their limits are nevertheless for their common preservation so streightly allied and confederated as if in effect they were but one Province Those same Provinces again consist of several Members and Towns such as were never subdued to slaverie by any ones arms but were of old free and privileged members and Cities which are governed respectively by such persons who at the entrance of their functions must make Oath to watch with all conscionableness and according to their best knowledg for the safetie and welfare of the Land Out of which advices and deliberations are framed afterwards in each Province the Resolutions of the States and the same Resolutions are orderly transmitted and communicated to the Assemblie of the Confederates Whence it appear's and follow 's undisputably that this Common Government set up for the affairs of the Union beset with so many Provincial Orders and fences and represented by such an authoritative Assemblie consisting of the prime ablest and faithfullest persons in the Land is not onely in reason to bee esteemed by all men understanding and versed in divine and humane affairs but really and experimentally the most pleasing most honorable and most safe Government that can bee imagined here on earth As beeing further also commended by the Example not onely of the Common wealth of the Hebrews instituted according to the prescript of God Almightie himself which ought to bee of great weight and moment among all Christians but of many other civilized Nations lâ—kewise under the same forms of Government both of old and later times in neighbor and remoter Countries especially the great Assemblies of the Grecians called Amphyctiones composed of divers Cities who though every one apart was free and Soveraign within themselvs were nevertheless confederated and United together against the power of the Medes and Persians And as the histories inform us that as long as they cleaved to this alliance and remained in this Union they could not bee overcom by all the power of the Persians so experience hath shewed likwise what this State through the Members unitie and confiding one in the other was able to do against the King of Spain and how the same by that means hath waded and got through all the obstacles and difficulties of 80 years war to this prosperitie and height wee see it in at present Wherefore wee have great caus to praie to God Almightie that hee would bee pleased to preserv the Republick in Unitie and Concord that wee may bee able to transmit the same as pure and undefiled to our posteritie as wee received from our forefathers settling and governing the same upon those good and wholsom Laws and Maximes that were
beeing themselvs also without the Government and therefore unprejudiced might best bee able to judg of them or if this should bee excepted against that there might bee called and Commissionated som of the ablest most experienced and discreetest States men who beeing well acquainted with Questions daily arising in Government and knowing that in matter of State and Policie the waie of Accommodation is usually more safe and expeditious then that of rigor in Law they might per-adventure bee emploi'd thereabout more fruitfully or if these persons also as having som part or share in the Government either directly or indirectly cannot bee held impartial and free of prejudice that the Differences bee submitted to som of the friends and Allies of the State such as are most concerned in the preservation thereof Desiring that upon all these proposals they may distinctly understand your Hi. Mi. wise considerations and that by this solemn convocation effectual order may bee settled in this behalf Touching the third point viz that of Religion the States of Zealand assure themselvs your Hi. Mi. will evermore continue holily and sincerely to maintein that precious pledg by God Almightie put into the hands of this State from Heaven and by their common Forefathers and Successors hitherto with the hazzard and loss of so much blood and treasure preserved among us Nevertheless their N. M. most affectionately desire your Hi. Mi. would bee pleased upon this occasion anew to declare That they are resolved not onely to maintein the true Christian Reformed Religion so as the same is taught now in the publick Churches of this Land and hath been elucidated by the Synod held at Dort But likewise never to suffer any alteration to bee made therein and that the said Religion shall bee protected and vindicated by the armed powers of the Lands as in every Province apart by themselvs so by the Generalitie in the Quarters resorting under their Command against all disorders or offences whatsoëver That likewise for the further preventing of all considerable prejudices the Sects and Separate people in Religion which are secluded from the publick protection and onely connived or wink 't at shall bee kept in good order and quietness and limited against all exorbitancies and under express caution and clauses that they shall bee tolerated no where els but in those places where now they are at present That for refraining of the publick Exercise of the Romish Superstition and remooving of whatsoever hath dependance thereon the publick Ordinances of the Land shall bee executed punctually without any composition or connivence forasmuch as experience hath made it manifest that for want of such prompt and readie Execution whether it came through remissness of the Officers or otherwise not onely the Government it self hath suffered much in their Honor and Reputation but the diseas also is grown from ill to wors so that the libertie of the Papists which according to the privileges of the Land cannot bee denied them in what concern's and regards their Consciences and Opinions in matters of Religion that therein they may not bee questioned nor any waies molested is by little and little degenerated into an open licentiousness and stoutness insomuch that they are not shie to set up formal Hierarchies and actually by concurs of armed men to oppose the lawful endeavors of the officers of Justice in the very face of Justice and the Higher Powers of the Land themselvs to the great prejudice of the true Reformed Religion the sad grief of all the upright professors thereof and the joie and exultation of all disaffected thereunto which might at last occasion very troublesom effects and what advantage may thereby bee given in particular to all that are ill-affected to the State for attempts upon it your Hi. Mi. are best able to judg the consequences thereof would prove so much the sadder and more dangerous in that they would light upon none more heavily then the best Patriots that is to saie those of the Reformed Religion on whose faithfulness this State reposeth with most securitie Wee are not ignorant neither Hi. Mi. Lords that many Princes and Common-wealths are allied together for mutual protection notwithstanding their manifest difference in Religion And that likewise the discrepancie therein doth not hinder their living together in confident Unitie But as there is no sure arguing from the Examples or natural constitutions and humors of one Nation to the other so doubtless though the same may safely bee practised with other confederates and is at this present yet here in this Countrie it is not onely unprofitable but prejudicial and ruinous in the highest degree beeing that the most principal Bond of this Government is the foresaid Reformed Religion the Flower of the Inhabitants thereof to wit all the persons making profession of and beeing well-affected to the said Religion are thereby inseparably enclined and engaged to mutual Unitie and to the common interest of the State And whereas likewise Hi. Mi. Lords it is evident that the Number and Boldness of the said Papists doth very much encreas by means of the bad Instructions and impressions which the good and plain Inhabitants of this State are possest withal by Popelings Priests and other pretended Ecclesiastical persons which daily in great numbers arrive into these parts out of the King of Spain his Territories The States of Zealand are desirous that Provision bee made against it as well as may bee For although it is agreed unto of this side by the Treatie of peace that the Subjects of the said King in General may convers and negotiate in these Countries the same seem's nevertheless not applicable to the foresaid ecclesiastical persons or Clergie-men First by reason of the Resolution taken upon the preliminar points to bee observed during that peace wherein it is plainly set down that the Ordinances made against the Papists should bee executed according to their form and contents in which Ordinances there is an express penal prohibition of the coming of such Ecclesiastical or Clergie-persons into this Countrie Secondly becaus that the said pretended Ecclesiasticks generally do maintain as the Plenipâ—tentiarie Ambassador of the King of Spain at Munster themselvs alleged that they are none of the said Kings Subjects nor subjected to any secular power but onely to the Pope of Rome wherefore also the Provision of the foresaid Treatie of free resort howëver couched in general terms cannot bee extended to their advantage As likewise in the third place the same is evinced by the interpretation and practice of several other Princes and Potentates who notwithstanding their friendship and alliance with the said King whereby his Subjects in general are denied no access nor commerce in their Countries yet suffer no known Clergie of his to com and covers there which interpretation agree's likewise with the Declaration of the Lords the Ordinarie Deputies of the Generalitie plainly expressed in a Certain Ordinance of theirs made for that very purpose and observed to
honorablest justest and most acceptable but also the most advantagious and necessarie actions that can here bee treated of and is worthie the Deliberation of this Assemblie As whereby the whole Commonaltie shall bee freed from all manner of exactions oppressions and outrages Justice every where and alwaies administred fairly and uprightly the Government esteemed according to its worth and merit the Governors kept in their bounds and duties according to their Oaths and Instructions and every one in obedience to the Laws without contradiction and generally the State of the United Provinces maintained in its Autoritie and Reputation both at home and abroad And therefâ—re also wee read that the Emperor Justinian in his time having after serious Deliberation settled Orders and Directions for the suppressing of the foresaid Corruptions which had mightily infected and overspread his Dominions did not onely in most solemn manner and pregnant terms give thanks for it to Almightie God but streightly likewise charged all his subjects to do the like together with him as having thereby precured for them as â—ee judged three special things First That thereby every one henceforward could rest secure and quiet in his own Countrie Secondly safely enjoy the possession of their means and goods and lastly bee assured of faithful and upright administration of Justice And in the histories it is observed That divers other wise and pious Kings and Potentates having effectually considered the same they were perswaded they had thereby don acceptable service to God and procured for themselvs first the Testimonie of a chearful Conscience and after that the recompence of a better and unfading State of Glorie the foresaid evil beeing indeed a Concatenation or linking together of a world of scandalous abuses and enormities which supprest once doth lay a solid foundation of a happie Government Nor can wee see H. M. Lords how in default of necessarie Remedies against this Evil any Courts or Cours either of Justice and Government or Treasurie and Militia can subsist For if Unrighteousness and Iniquitie bear swaie in the High Courts of Justice who can look for any Justice from the subordinate ones or froâ— particular persons If those that sit at the helm or stern of the Supreme Autoritie bee not shie nor scruple to defile and contaminate themselvs with such baseness of taking bribes and presents who shall wonder at it in inferior Magistrates and Governors How I pray shall They make Orders and take Courses against Oppressions and Exactions of officers Civil or Militarie which are guiltie of the same crimes how shall they look to the fair managing and good improoving of the publick Treasurie which are the onely caus of wasting and exhausting it putting it into confusion and thereby seeking and raising their own profit how I say shall those bee able to take a right care of the common stock the Means and Revenues of the Land who make no Conscience thereby to enrich themselvs And lastly how is it possible that such as are every waie base and catching and griping should bee fit or able to tax rebuke and curb the malversation of others and then what place can bee secured what Bullwark can bee imagined strong enough against such corruptions when wee see how they invade and break through the Highest Courts from whence they cannot but distil downward and penetrate and spread through all even the least and meanest parts and members of the whole Bodie Now if ever it was useful and expedient H. M. Lords to take a vigorous cours against this scandalous Evil it must needs bee of special use and advantage in this Conjuncture of time and in the present constitution of Government which beeing for the greater part Aristocratick and Popular in som part the said diseas is of more dangerous Consequence under it then under a Monarchie for many reasons which might bee deduced by Polititians unless it were more experimentally discernable and known to them what sure and wholsom Orders for preventing thereof the Senat and Republick of Venice have settled of old among themselvs whereby they had the happiness to subsist a Common-wealth for these twelve-hundred years in a constantly flourishing and puissant Condition Which blessing wee longing for together with your H. M. to see imparted likewise to this our dear Father-land and famous Republick Wee do most humbly desire that this Point may speedily and vigorously bee look d too The rather for that otherwise it will bee impossible to turn away from these Countries the just wrath and indignation of God which wee have caus to fear may bee kindled alreadie against it by reason of the foresaid too too common base and foul practices and will undoubtedly burst out once into a fearful embrazement if it bee not atoned by a readie meeting and resolute redress of those whom hee hath entrusted with the power to remedie the same and of whom hee will likewise demand a strict account that having either well acquitted themselvs of their endeavors they may inherit bliss and glorie or beeing found faultie suffer not onely the lash of their own conscience and the opprobrious prejudice of all men against them here but hereafter also the terrible doom of the Just Judg of all the World to their everlasting confusion and destruction Let us but my Lords the better to consider of it View our selvs in other Republicks which whiles their Governors continued Virtuous and uncorruptible remained flourishing for many ages but afterwards corruption seizing on them weere soon brought to decaie and ruine and among them especially That of the Romans which in this point degenerated so far from their former integritie that their own Historie-writers balked not to saie All was exposed to sale there wanted but a Chapman Venalem fuisse si reperîsset emtorem And if your H. M. would make use of our Considerations upon this point and were desirous to know what remedies wee conceived most fit to bee applied against this Evil wee should bâ— your permission applie nothing of what hath been decreed against it in other Countries and Republicks but onely that which according to the written Laws in use and cours here among our selvs and upon like occasions in these Countries hath been enacted against it And in the first place wee should under Correction hold it needful that all such persons as shall bee called to any Office or Employ in any of the Courts of the Generalitie shall before their admittance bee bound besides the requisite and accustomed Oath to swear likewise that for the getting and obtaining of the said office they never offered promised or gave nor ever would promise or give any thing directly or indirectly Secondly That they shall neither directly nor indirectly themselvs their wives children familie or any having relation to them receiv enjoy or improve any gifts offers or presents of any thing what or how small soëver no not so much as any meat or drink from any bee they Cities Courts publick or private
comprehend how either by the Text of the Union or any Arguments thence deduced or by any other pretended necessities it is or ever can bee proved That the Provinces should bee bound to choos Stadtholders or the interest and service of the Common League should require the same for it is a thing past all dispute and asserted by the presented Considerations of the Provinces themselvs That the States of the respective United Provinces every one apart are Soveraign States That the Union made between them expressly condition'd it that every Province notwithstanding the same should not onely remain unprejudiced in their freedoms and prerogatives so as that none should trouble or molest the other about it but on the contrarie by all means due and possible yea with body and goods to help assist maintain strengthen and protect one another therein to the utmost against any whomsoëver and whereas among all the foresaid privileges the greatest and most considerable point is the Free and Soveraign Government therefore the Provinces had no intent nor desire to bound and over-rule one another therein in their Respective Jurisdictions but have left one another as to that in their perfect freedom for to administer all the parts of Soveraigntie in policie Justice and otherwise by themselvs or som of them in their name by others And verily the Confederates could have no such particular intent at the time of making the Union as to oblige or engage one another to the appointing of Stadtholders forasmuch as at that time they had not yet renounced the Dominion of the King of Spain and consequently were not qualified to appoint any Stadtholders and therefore it will follow so much the less that by the 10 Article of the Union the States should have obliged themselvs to the continuance of appointing Stadtholders they having then made no beginning yet and the Stadtholders which then were having the King's Commission besides that by the foresaid Article such questions as might arise about the matters there mentioned are not absolutely referred to the Stadholders but onely provisionally neither at all to the office of Stadtholdership but onely to the persons in office and place then insomuch that the foresaid provisional Order not beeing discontinued or altered in the life time of the Stadt-holders then in beeing the foresaid submission must needs bee ended with the deceas of the said Stadt-holders as beeing fastned by the said Confederates to the Elected persons of those Stadt-holders And by adding of the words now beeing clearly shewed that they meant not their Successors should pretend to the same right unless it were that the same by a later Resolution should bee referred unto them which the Lords of Holland do not finde was ever don since beeing the words of the foresaid Article cannot possibly bear any such interpretation as the Lords of Friesland do hold forth namely That the submission should not bee provisional but that the sentence or doom of the Stadt-holders should have provisional Execution so much the less beeing this is directly opposite to the 16 Article of the Union expressly importing That the sentence of the Stadt-holders ought to bee followed and yielded unto without any further demur or other proviso of right by way of appeal relief review nullitie or any other exception whatsoëver which doth not agree with a provisional Execution presupposing a further demur or appeal whereby the sentence may com to bee altered as also the words now beeing cannot bee referred to the United Provinces becaus that thereby the Stadtholders of the Provinces which thereafter might have joined themselvs to the Union would have remained excluded from the foresaid Umpirage or arbitrarie Decision and those Provinces should have been fain to submit themselvs to the judgment and decision of the Stadtholders of the other Provinces which would have made an inequalitie amongst the Members of the Union and in no wise advantaged the Union or encouraged other Provinces to enter into such an one Much less yet can it bee inferred from Artic. 24 of the said Union That the Provinces should bee bound to the appointing of Stadtholders for that it is said there That the Stadholders then in beeing or afterwards coming in should bee sworn to the observance of the Union and the Articles thereof for although these words shew what the Stadtholders which may happen to bee chosen are bound to do they do in no wise prove that the Provinces shall ever bee bound to chuse Stadtholders and the Lords of Holland do not think neither that the office of Stadtholdership should bee absolutely necessarie for the voiding of differences and that the same should serv as the uttermost remedie of removing controversies for besides that on the one hand it would bee unreasonable that the Provinces onely for deciding of Differences should bee necessitated to chuse Stadtholders though otherwise full sore against their wills who afterwards besides the foresaid Decision should do whatsoëver otherwise ordinarily belong d to the conduct of Stadtholders and on the other side it would bee as ill-beseeming that the Stadt-holder's Commission should bee altogether impaled with the foresaid Decision And the ninth Article it self shew's that our forefathers foresaw the Stadholders might not prove such of whom the said Decisions could bee exspected forasmuch as they beeing engaged every one to stand for his own Province and thereby bound to the interests thereof will hardly bee perfectly neuter and impartial wherefore it is said that when they shall not bee able to agree among themselvs they shall assume to themselvs som unpartial assessors or adjuncts which make's the Lords of Holland to think and conceiv that the Union remaining together with the Obligation of the Provinces thereby one to another in terms and manner as it is laid down if som difference should happen which might must be determined by decision som such expedients might then be taken follow'd as are propounded by the Lords of Zealand Gelderland and Utrecht respectively those of them which shall bee judged the best and most convenient according to the condition and exigence of times and affairs hoping nevertheless that God Almightie shall bless the State with so much prudence wisdom and Unitis that it shall bee needless to have ever recours to any Decision of Differences whereunto the Lords of Holland and West-Friesland shall evermore bee readie to contribute not onely all good will and readiness but likewise the real and upright effects desiring that this their Declaration as proceeding from upright hearts may bee received accordingly my Lords of Holland and West-Friesland reserving to themselvs the Libertie to make such further Declaration upon the said and other Articles of the Union as it shall pleas them to agree upon At last there came in likewise the inclinations of Over-Yssell touching the 3 important points of the great Assemblie High and Mightie Lords AS on the one side the State hath great reason of beeing greived at the last departure of his
Article as also the Oath of the Stadholders for observing and keeping the Articles of the Confederacie and causing them to bee observed and kept Article 24 together with the mainteining of the Train-bands in Cities and Towns and sealing of the Writs in that behalf expressed more at large Article 25 and 26 of the foresaid Union All which precautions foundations and remedies were devised established and by waie of Contract admitted and yielded unto in behalf of all the Confederated Provinces in general and consequently by the whole State for the conservation thereof whence it doth necessarily follow that not any nor most Members of the Union may varie or alter the disposition thereof in opposition to one two or three Provinces but are bound according to the examples of the Provinces conforming herein to the Union to chuse likewise Stadholders for themselvs to make all Provinces by that means partakers of the enjoiment of the effects and benefits abovesaid Nam quemadmodum qui ad finem obligatus est obligatus quoque est ad media Sic in hoc casu Provinciae quae obligatae sunt ad Unionem conservandam Discordias tum praecavendas tum sopiendas obligatae sunt ad Media ad istum finem ducentia maximè quia illa semel communi Foederatoum placito specificè formaliter recepta ac approbata sunt which cannot bee altered but by common advice and consent of all the Confederates as is notably set down in terms concerning the Stadholders in the 11 21 Articles of the foresaid Union and reiterated Artic. 22 in general from the nature propertie and efficacie of all contracts that there may bee no alterations made of any points or articles but by common advice and consent of the Confederates additis verbis taxativis and not otherwise Beyond all this there ought to bee considered the great Diversitie of opinions and enormous lingring of Resolutions in Polyarchical Government as a most peculiar propertie of it which in Plutarch are aptly represented speaking of the Samnites in these words Consilia vestra longa sunt effectus lenti ac saepè nulli which slackness and remissness is notably corrected by the vigilancie credit autoritie and dexteritie of a Stadholder and reduced to expedition consent and unitie whereby it com's to pass Ut Consiliorum fiat Conclusio Executio which is that whereof Politicians speak Polyarchicum Statum eatenus esse laudabilem quatenus in se habet fimilitudinem representationem Monarchiae atque adeò quatenus illi plures qui imperant reducuntur ad unitatem it beeing very remarkable what Bodine saith in a certain place Si plurium Imperia memoriâ recolamus inveniemus eos aut cum civibus internum aut cum hostibus externum bellum perpetuò gessisse quanquam faverent Polyarchiae non plurium sed sapientissimi cujusdam Civis Imperio nutu ac Consiliis quasi Regiâ quâdam potestate gubernatos ac moderatos fuisse And daily experience shew's what hinderance inconvenience and prejudice is brought upon the rest of the Provinces yea to the whole Union by the irresolution of but one Member insomuch that the Confederates are highly concerned and interessed the one in the other's expedite Deliberation Resolution and Execution and have great reason very seriously to press and desire that in this regard likewise the No Mightie States of all the Provinces would bee pleased with unamous resolution to accommodate themselvs to the choosing of a Stadholder or Stadholders for that wee see how it hath pleased God Almightie to bless and prosper the said form of Government hitherto to the admiration of all the world and it beeing much to bee feared which God in mercie prevent Nè mutatione Reipublicae fortuna Belgici Nominis mutetur Tacitus hunc metum instillat dum inquit Scito super omnibus negociis meliùs atque rectiùs olim provisam quae convertuntur in deterius mutari Vulgus hoc non ignorat qui saepè experitur quòd dum vitia quaedam vitare studet in contraria mulâ—óque majora deteriora ac periculosiora incurrat Quare sanctissimum est Alcibiadis apud Thucydidem judicium dicentis Eos tutissimè agere qui Rempublicam administrantes in regimine legâ—bus minimum variant To pass by Quòd autoritas Regiminis quam Lipsius definit impressam subditis exteris opinionem reverentem de Reip. Staâ—u à constanti Reip formâ pendeat per innvoationem ac muâ—aâ—ionem valdè accidatur ac ubique vilescaâ— Lastly there is so often made mention in the Instruction of the Council of State as Artic. 1 â— 6 20 34 and others made in the year 1588 of the Stadholders or Governors as de partibus integrantibus Statnum that thereby also it doth sufficiently appear that our Forefathers held the Office of Stadholders very necessaire in all the respective Provinces Against which it is to no purpose what is alleged for the Sovereigntie of each Province the Majestie whereof is nothing impaired restreined or lessened by Contracts or Covenants for els all Kings and States should com to lose their supreme autoritie as often as they do binde themselvs to make no peace nor truce with the Common Enemie the one without the other which beeing absurd the foresaid assertion of like nature must needs bee as impertinent Quid multis Why should the Sovereigntie bee more prejudiced by the necessitie of choosing Stadholders then by the Obligation of making no Truce or Peace beginning no War imposing no Taxes entering into no Confederacies with any neighbor-States or Princes making no alteration in the cours of Coins which nevertheless are the most principal marks of Supreme Autoritie Quâ—madmodum igitur libertatem non afficit nec alterat siquis lege prohibeatur quid facere sic Majestatem non afficit yel imminuâ—t si conventione vel foedere impediatur hoâ— vel illud agere vel cogatur ad aliquid faciendum vel pâ—aestandum Besides it is of strange consequence that it is so positively affirmed it should not have been lawful or allowable at the time of making the Union to have appointed Stadholders the King of spain his Dominion beeing then not abjured yet and the Stadholders then in beeing having had their commissions from the King c. For by this argument you may aswel condemn all the Acts of this State against the King of Spain or his Ministers before the abjuring of Holland and Zealand in the year 1580. and of Friesland 1581. nay the very Union it self to have been unlawful and to bee of no validitie Besides that it is true de facto that Count John of Nassaw of famous memorie was called by the States General to bee Stadholder of Gelderland at the desire of the said Province and had no commission from the King at all and that all the Provinces beeing provided with Stadholders at the time of making the Union they could have no thoughts then of framing a Government at any time without Stadholders And
to the Council of State whereunto if the rest complied not of themselvs Holland and Zealand would stand to it by themselvs Those of Drent sought and sollicited lately again by their Deputies Schickard and Strâ—ick respective Recorder and secretarie of the land of Drent in all the assemblies of the particular Provinces their former pretence pressed these many years of beeing a Member of the State as having signed together with the rest from the beginning of the Union and having their peculiar Stadholder and Government And after they had sufficiently prepared the same in particular they craved Audience in the great Assemblie and had it Martii 2 o upon the Letters of Credence from the Drost and Deputie of the foresaid Countrie whereupon having wished their Hi. Mi. God's gracious and blessed assistance for their present important Deliberations They desired that according to their Summons of Novemb. 6 last they would bee pleased to receiv them into their Assemblie and to shew and appoint the places where they the Commissioners should in the name and behalf of the said Land of Drent have their Ordinarie Session at and together with the rest of the Provimces as also That the Deputies of the said Countrie should bee allowed Session likewise in all the Courts of the Generalitie Hereupon it was found good that the Retro-acta of and in regard to such matters and propositions formerly past in the Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. touching the said Countrie should bee searched into It was strange to see that there was a Summons past as from their Hi. Mi. dated Novemb. 6 signed by the then Lord President and addrest by the Secretarie to those of Drent whereby they were as well invited to com to the Great Assemblie and to bring in their advices as the seven other Provinces And thereupon was it that the Deputies thence desired the Session as was said before The then Lord President beeing desired to shew how that abuse came hee was able to say nothing els to it but that such kinde of dispatches depend upon the direction notice-taking and fidelitie of the secretarie having all the Registers and Original Acts in his keeping and it beeing impossible for a President to collation every thing that is brought him for to sign with the Registers or to look after it whether all bee well don there beeing somtimes twentie thirtie and more things sent in together at one time to bee signed in hast However this abuse profited those of Drent nothing but they were silently kept without the Assemblie for all that That which the Deputies of the Countrie of Drent produced and presented in writting to the Lords of the great Assemblie in grounding and justifying their Demands is to bee seen by that which followeth formerly exhibited by them High Mightie Lords THe Gentrie and Free-holders of the Countrie of Drent having understood that your Hi. Mi. were pleased of late to issue Writ's to the Lords the States of the respective Provinces that by occasion of the instant Treatie of Peace or Truce at Munster and Osnabrug they would deliberate and resolv upon the necessarie means such as should bee found fitting and requisite for the maintenance of the State of their Countries and in particular for a renewed confirmation of the common Union of Utrecht in such sort as the same was made and kept in former times and yet not any Notice or Writ beeing issued or sent from your Hi. Mi. unto the Countrie of Drent in that behalf notwithstanding that the same is known to bee a fellow-member of the said Union They have therefore in their latest Land-day and States-Assemblie found good and necessarie to present their just complaints or grievance in that behalf unto your Hi. Mi. and in that regard appointed and charged mee that after presentation of their humble service and wishing your Hi. Mi. a long and prosperous Government I should with all due respect and reverence summarily again propound unto you that which heretofore hath been so often represented here and clearly verified by sufficient demonstrations viz. That the said Countrie of Drent hath been of old and still continueth an entire formed Province by it self and separated from others having ever had and still having their own peculiar perfect Members Governments Prerogatives Rights Immunities high and low Jurisdictions Magistrates Name Arms Seal Treasurie Laws and Customs altogether distinct and apart from other Provinces That the said Countrie likewise even under the Soveraigns of these Countries as well by the Government of the Bishops of Utrecht as that of the Hous of Burgundie was never held otherwise but as one of their Neighboring Provinces Not onely in the point of a peculiar homage and reciprocal promises and confirmations of their Rights and Privileges And in the Contributions for the common Charges whereunto the said Countrie was alwaies prai'd and entreated apart and had thanks returned them accordingly for their voluntarie consents although the same did many times com far short of the summons petitioned or praâ—'d for But likewise in the Case of summoning the Lords the States-General together when any weightie and difficult matters touching the common-weal of the Provinces required their assembling whereunto the States of the Countrie of Drent were constantly no less called and invited by Writs then the States of any other Countrie As the same appeared notably among other instances at the time of the solemn Transport of these Netherlands by the Emperor Charls to his Son King Philip in the year 1555. at Brussels Unto which Act the States of the Countrie of Drent were summoned and invited by the said Emperor Charls and King Philip apart and accordingly made their apperances and likewise upon the desire of the Emperor they yielded their consent to the said Transportation and beeing thereupon peculiarly discharged of the Oath formerly made to the Emperor and anew engaged to King Philip they received likewise on the contrarie peculiarly for themselvs from the said King the Oath and confirmation again of their Rights Freedoms and Possessions The same Countrie likewise afterwards when these Netherlands came to bee engaged in War with the King of Spain and by the Union of Utrecht into an nearer alliance one with another beeing no less acknowledged but alwaies invited and summoned by Writ for to assist all affairs of the Countries and to advise and deliberate together with the rest even before such time as they were receiv'd into the said Union it beeing a matter so known and manifest that the said Countrie was of it self qualified and privileged to repair to and appear in the Assemblie of the States General and that by virtue of the 3 d Article of the Pacification of Ghendt The Convocation of the States General was to bee don in the same form and manner as it was used when the Emperor Charls transported these Countries to his Son King Philip where the States of the Countrie of Drent were likewise summoned apart and appear'd as well as the
the King of Spain nevertheless alwaies with this express reservation and limitation that the same land and each Province apart should remain and bee maintained in their own peculiar Policie Rights and liberties wherein they had continued from all antiquities so that the one Countrie or Dominion should pretend no Right or Seigniorie over the other to disposess the same in any kinde of it's Rights and liberties but they should bee obliged and engaged each to other in concord and equal Degree By the Union of Utrecht the Countries engaged themselvs together as if they were but one Province namely in that they might not bee separated but wâ—re bound to help and assist one another without inâ—ringing or impairing nevertheless the special and particular Privileges Liberties Exemtions Rights Statutes laudable and well-maintained Customs Uâ—ances and any other peculiar advantages of any one of the Provinces or particular Cities Members and Inhabitants thereof Now where there is such an Union it may well bee questioned whether the one Member ought to exalt it self over the other by reason of his prosperitie and power They make up all but one Bodie to the preservation whereof each Member hath chearfully contributed its part for if one hath afforded more means the other hath protected and defended the Rivers and passages the third hath hazarded his Countrie and lost his Cities with standing it out to the utmost against the Common Enemie The Illuâ—trious Princes of Orange of happie Memories they have contriâ—uted thereunto their wise and couragious direction and Conduct and hazarded their persons lives and estates thereby and thus every one hath brought and contributed somthing of that which was requisiâ—e and necessarie for the forming and framing of the Common State The War never bâ—gan betwixt the Netherlanders but was undertaken by the Netherlanders against the Spaniards This is that the Letter of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Holland written to the States General of the Provinces assembled at Brussels under Date of Sept. 12 1573 drive's at saying Wee do hope that you shall never bee able to forget the chearful and friendlie faithfulness which in former times wee alwaies did and still do bear one to the other iâ— beeing our dutie before both God and Men and wee for our parts beeing still resolved and ready for it Do but remember it beeing the very truth that wee do not wage War the one against the other for wee never offended one another neither in great nor small concernments but all our strife and War is onely and mâ—erly against the Government of forrein Nations The Confederacie of the Union of the Netherlands is Offensive and Defensive for ever and alwaies against al and every one who or how qualified soëver they may bee that shall attemt actually to infringe the special and particular Privileges of the Countries insomuch that the chiefest condition of the Union among the rest to maintein the Countries in their Rights one of which without all peradventure must bee the Government for the Union was made for their advantage and not for their dammage The King of Spainâ— caused offers to bee made at the Treaties at Breda of Cullen and at all others since That hee would keep and maintein the Countries both in general and in particular in all their Privileges Rights Laws and Customs so as the same had been before the Troubles and if any thing were changed and impaired the same should bee restored beeing made known In prosecution of which ground the States of the United Netherlands have often and at several times summoned the States of the Countries subject to the Spanish Government and among the rest in a certain Letter of theirs dated June 7. 1602 â—used these words Onely wee do still most friendly desire exhort and entreat you seriously to reflect upon the prais-wâ—rthie reputation which you and your forefathers have gotten to themselvs for som hundred of years and left the same to us upon record for a rule that still wee should bee upright Defenders and Protectors of the Rights and Freedoms of the Netherlands in general and of the Countries or Provinces the Members Cities and Inhabitants thereof in particular By waie of distinguishing the Provinces and Cities on this side joined together by a Common Union the Provinces and Cities of the Netherlands beeing under Spain are by this State called the Invaded Countries In the reduction of the Cities of Braband to the Union it was especially conditioned and promised that the Cities and Inhabitants thereof should be mainteined in their Rights Privileges and immunities The States General of the United Netherlands declared but lately by their Letter of March 14 last year to all the Cities of the Union That they had appointed his High s Prince William of Orange Captain and Admiral General over the people of War in service of this State for the maintenance of the Union the Right and Privileges of the Land the members and Cities thereof The States of Holland declared Febr. 19 of the same year concerning the Union That the Provinces are bound to assist one the other with life and goods and to abide together not suffering themselvs to bee divided and if this bee to bee understood of such which desired to bee under the Union and continue to desire the same The Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Braband have alwaies desired the same and declare hereby that they are constantly and extremely desirous of it By deputation of the States in the year 1586 Febr. 1. the Earl of Leicester was appointed Governor and Captain General of the United Provinces to wit of Gelderland Zutphen Flanders Holland and Westfriesland Zealand Utrecht Friesland together with their Associates And by the Act of that daie there were put into the hands of the said Earl the General Means of Consumtion or Revenues of Gelderland Flanders and associated Cities of Braband And in pursuance of the foresaid Commission the Earl made Oath to the States of the United Provinces and their Associates and the States reciprocally to the Earl in the name both of their own respective Provinces and the said Associates The States General of the United Provinces do address the Inscription of their Letters for publick Bid and Fasting daies and other things concerning the common affairs and and interest to the Cities of Braband on this side under the name of Associates And divers Cities of the United Provinces in their particular Letters to the Cities of Braband do design themselvs their Confederates Nay The Treatie between France England and the States General concluded ult Octob. 1596. import's expressly That the Ambassadors do in the name and behalf of the King of France and Queen of England and their Successors receiv and associate with the States General of the United Netherlandish Provinces to wit Gelderland and Zutphen Holland and West-Friesland Zealand Utrecht Friesland Over-Yssell Groninghen and Omlands together with the Gentrie Cities and Forts of Brabaâ—d those that were United then with the
the sending of Holland to the Six other Provinces they unanimously testified they had no other resolution and intention then to observ and maintein the foresaid Union holily and indissolubly The States of Braband were the first and chiefest Autors of the Union of Ghendt The nearer Union of Utrecht was signed originally by the Citie of Breda published within the Bosch and embraced by the other Cities of Braband in State's-manner Hereupon is principally grounded the desire of the Lords Gentâ—ie and Cities of Braband who beeing Members of the foresaid Common Union ought to enjoie the effâ—cts thereof and not to be treated contrarie to promisses and subscriptions by their own Confederates By the Tenor of the Union it appeareth that between the Netherlands there was concluded an everlasting firm Peace Covenant and Unitie for the expelling of the Spaniards and their Adherents and to restore the Inhabitants again to their antient Rights Privileges Customs and Liberties so that the aim of the Common Union was the delivering of the Countries and the restoring every one into his Privileges and Rights In all publick Writings those of Braband are termed no otherwise then Associates but by many in their discourses they are against all right and reason term'd Conquered Whereas the word of Conquest and conquering can have no place among Confederates and Associates who are reciprocally engaged one to another according to the Unions Therefore the States did rightly term the Deliverances and Restitutions of the Cities forced from the Union in their Capitulations and otherwise Reductions and not Conquests There must bee a distinction made betwixt Cities and Countries of the Enemies own won from him by War in which case the Laws allow that hee that wageth the war doth get the proprietie of the goods taken and such Cities and Countries as formerly belonged to our Friâ—nds and Associates and were delivered and recovered out of the Enemie's hands they in that case ought to beâ— restored to the first owners Thus in former times were Arras Dornick and other Cities of Arthois Flanders and Luxenbâ—rg recovered from the French and reduced to the State of the Netherlands And thus hath the King of Spain during these Civil Wars restored the Provinces and Cities maâ—tered by him iâ—to their former state and Government In conformitie hereof were likewise the Cities of Zutphen Haerlem Ziericksea Amerâ—ort Deventeâ— Campen and divers others beeing retaken from the Spaniards and their Adherents restored by their Confederates to the usâ— and exercise of their former Rights and Freedoms Nay divers Cities which were forced and compelled to forsake the Spanish partie as Nimmighen Amsterdam Schonhoven Middleburg Goes Tolen Utrecht Groninghen were not therefore held as conquered places in regard that in the foresaid Cities there was a good partie still well-affected to the State who were so long kept under by an ill-affected partie until they were delivered by the Confederates and reduced to the Union Now to shew what the present Braband-Cities of the Union have don for the common good during the Netherlandish troubles and wars both in acting and suffering it will appear by this short ensuing survay First of all the Cities of Berg op Zome and Willemstadt which remained still united to the State of the Union it is sufficiently known to every one how worthily they have ever acquitted themselvs upon all occasions and by all means defensive and offensive against the Common Enemies Those of the Bosch were the first which in the beginning of the troubles shewing their Zeal to the true Reformed Religion by open preaching vigorously opposed themselvs against the Spanish Council and arrested the Chancellor of Braband and Lord of Petersheim coming from the Governess to hinder the same and covertly to bring in som Companies of Souldiers for which caus also they were proscribed by the King by open Proclamation March 18 1567. and block'd up until the Prince of Orange his departure when as the good partie were fain to abandon the Citie and depart the Land as likewise happened generally then throughout all the Netherlands After which time the Citie beeing overmastered the same was continually kept under by force of arms and pittifully handled by the Spaniards Italians and other forrein Nations till in the year 1577. their Confederates rescued the Citie from the High Dutch In the year 1576. the foresaid Citie signed and sealed the Pacification of Ghendt In the year 1578. shee swore to the peace of Religion and in the year 1579. embraced and published the Union made at Utrecht For the maintenance whereof the good partie within that Citie adventured life and goods laboring continually how they might bee supported by the Confederates with men and ammunition according as they had offerd and promised them by the Deputies within a little while after the foresaid publication and the whole Government of that Citie had thankfully accepeted of it with protestation they were resolved never to separate from the Generalitie whereunto they were engaged and confederated by solemn Vow and Oath But when the Confederates afterwards contrarie to the foresaid presentation foreslowed the sending of succor and the Prince of Parma after the subduing of Mastricht drawing neer to the said Citie of the Bosch caused the same to bee summoned to surrender then the good partie unable to make resistance both to the ill-affected within with whom they had strugling enough before to bring them to som communitie and to the puissant Leaguer of the foresaid Prince of Parma without was constrained to abandon the Citie with all their families som thousands of them and to leav all their welfare behinde Which Citie beeing afterwards reduced again to the Union by the arms of the Confederates in the year 1629. it ought likewise to bee restored to their antient Rights and Privileges As for the faithful services of the Citie of Breda for the Common Libertie there is much of it upon publick Record in the Netherlandish Histories For a taste whereof wee shall onely touch here That the Companie of the withdrawing partie from Breda did many notable services against the Spaniards before Berghen in Heinout Harlem vvithin Zirick-Sen and elswhere The inland wars lighted more heavie and smart upon this Citie then any of the Netherlands besides For beeing taken into Confiscation by Duke D' Alva in the year 1568. it was thereafter most extremely overburthened with heavie Garrisons both hors and foot until the Citie was beleaguered and delivered again by the Earl of Hohenloe in the year 1577. Afterwards Jun. 28. 1581. the Citie beeing bare of Garrison was surprized again by the Spaniards through the Castle by force of arms and barbarously plundred notwithstanding the manful resistance made by the Citizens and especially by the young men of the Citie who were most of them slain in the Defens thereof In the year 1590. the 4 th of March the Castle was surprized again by Prince Maurice with a Turf-boat During the Spanish Siege before it from August 27.
well debated and weighed every thing in the Council their opinion and advice was That the Frontiers lying without the Voicing Provinces should not according to the present condition of the Forces now in Service bee left less provided and beset then is shewed forth by the List of Companies herewithal presented and that the rest of the Companies could bee left within the Voicing Provinces for the besetting of the Frontiers thereof and executing of their civil Orders and Commands as may bee seen by the other List made in that behalf and likewise presented here without drawing any forth thence but in case of necessitie and with consent of the Lords the States or the Commissioners of the Province and for the rest that the 6 and 9 th Article of the foresaid Resolution of June 16 ought to bee observed Nevertheless they represented also since daily there could happen occasions whereby the State might suffer prejudice from abroad or from within unless it were timely and readily look'd to and prevented that it would bee expedient the Hors should bee exemted from having any more but the Generalities Patent beeing to bee drawn forth out of any Province for the same beeing to bee emploied on a sudden to prevent any evil design against the common good if they should bee put to staie for the approbation and consent of the Provinces like unto the Foot Companies with putting in of names and adding their Provincial Patents they might easily com too late and the Land by that foreslowing to a great deal of inconveniencie therefore they were of opinion that the Patents for Hors ought onely to bee given by the Generalitie in the same manner as the Patents are given to the Companies for garrisoning of the Frontiers that so they may bee ready at hand upon any emergencie and troublesom accident and march away forthwith thus to obviate and prevent all disaster and mischief provided that the danger beeing past they bee returned again to their former Garrisons The List of such Garrisons as are fit to bee left within the Voicing Provinces  Foot-Companies Hors-Companies NImmeghen 10 4 Bommel 2 0 Thiel 2 0 Fort Nassaw on the Voorn 3 0 S. Andrews 1 0 Zutphen 5 3 Doesburgh 3 1 Groll 3 0 Foot-Companies Hors-Companies Breevâ—rt 3 0 Arnheim 1 2 Briel 10 0 The Hague 1 0 Amsterdam 2 0 Vianen 1 1 viz. Catabins of the Guard Gornichem 3 1 viz. The Cuirassiers of the Guard Worcum 2 0 Loevestein 1 0 Heusden with Hemert 12 2 Crevecoeur 1 0 Engelen 1 0 Ghertruydenbergh 6 1 Clundert with Nordam 3 0 Flushing 7 0 Vere 2 0 Ter Tolen 1 0 Axel 2 0 Ter Neuse 1 0 Biervlict 1 0 Lillo 2 0 Liefkens hoek 2 0 Utrecht 4 0 Amersfort 1 1 Rhenen 1 0 Lewarden 3 0 Franicker 1 0 Dockum 1 0 Harlinghen 2 0 Deventer 1 3 Zutoll 4 1 Hasselt 4 0 Steenwyck 1 0 Oldenseed 1 0 Enschede 1 0 Otnersum 1 0 Groninghen 10 2 Delf-Ziel 4 0  In all 131 Companies of Foot 21 Companies of Hors The List of the Garrisons or Companies fit to bee left without the Voicing Provinces in the Frontiers  Foot-Companies Hors-Companies EMbden 5 0 Leerort 4 0 Bourtang 3 0 Bellinwold 2 0 Langackersconce 2 0 Coevorden 6 1 Meurs 3 0 Cracau to bee Garrison'd by a Commanded partie out of Meurs   â—rsoy 8 1 Rhinberck 9 2 Wesell 15 4 Buderick 4 0 â—ees 7 1 The Fort 2 0 Emerick with the Fort 7 0 Schenckensconce 4 0 Gennep 3 0 Râ—vestein 3 1 Maestricht 40 7 Grave 8 1 Hertoghen-bosch and Forts 23 5 Breda 23 5 Two Forts 2 0 Willemstadt 2 0 Steenberghen 3 0 The Fortâ— 1 0 Berghen op Zome and Forts 21 2 Frederick-fort 1 0 Gross-sconce 1 0 S. Anna 1 0 Hulst and Forts 18 2 Sass van Gant and Forts 12 0 The Fort Morspuy and S t Mark 3 0 Philippine 3 0 Ysendyck 3 0 Opburgh and Forts 2 0 Sluys with the passes 19 0 Cassandria 4 0 Fort S t Katharine by Opburgh 1 0 Ardenburgh 6 0  In all 284 Companies of Foot 31 Companies of Hors IT was a great while and went hard beforethey could com to an agreement each Province conceiving themselvs prejudiced and to have too few allowed them for the executing of their Civil Orders and commands in the mean time every one grew wearie and tired with the slow progress of this great Assemblie for the compendisying whereof it was propounded by Counseller André that nothing should bee handled and resolved at the great Assemblie but the points following all the rest beeing remitted to the Assemblie in Ordinarie viz. how and in what manner the Differences arising between the Provinces may bee decided and determined for the future the keep ng of secret intelligence and correspondence the business of Mustering the framing of an Instruction for the Lords Commissioners at the Assemblie of the Generalitie the passing of the reformed Instruction for the Council of State the redressing of the respective Instructions for the Generalities Exchequer the Courts of Admiraltie the Treasurer General the Receiver General the Secretarie of the Council of State the Secretaries of the Exchequer of the Generalitie the Advocate Fiscal of the Generalitie and consequently the respective requisites of the said Courts of the Generalitie and lastly the Lists of Garrisons as well within as without the Voicing Provinces Next daie it was resolved That the following points onely should bee taken into deliberation here viz. How and in what manner the Differences arising betwixt the Provinces should bee composed and determined the keeping of Secret intelligence As for the Mustering the Council of State presented this following advice That they had for redress thereof examined the former Acts of Febr. 4 o. 1599 and of Jun. 7 o. 1623. and found both in the one and the other several good points from all which together there might bee framed a good Project accommodated for the present time and conjuncture leaving out such things as are not practicable or cannot bee introduced without offence So as it was seen in the year 1623 that immediately after the publishing of that Act there arose great alteration and distemper among the Souldierie whereby som places might easily have run great hazard had it not been prevented instantly at what time his High s Prince Henrie with som of the Lords of the Generalitie were fain to repair in person to Breda to settle the disorder by exemplarie punishment nevertheless it stuck there insomuch that they durst not urge the further strict observing of the said Act and indeed it could never yet bee brought or kept in practice This they thought themselvs obliged to represent unto their H. M. before the drawing up of another Act for redress in the point of Mustering which might easily caus new distemper or would hardly bee observed as was fitting and the executions of the punishments prove as difficult and dangerous not that they sought
Generalitie nor by such persons as are in service of the Generalitie Upon these foresaid respective Declarations to turn them into a due form of Ordinances it was ordered That the respective original Resolutions of the Commissions should bee annexed to the said Declarations and thus delivered into the Council of State by them to bee first viewed and examined from thence to bee transmitted to the Generalities Checquer-chamber to bee there likewise viewed examined and cleared and especially to see whether the Land was lyable to bee charged or not with the accounts brought in and then to bee returned back to the foresaid Council by them to bee past into Ordinances which Ordinances should bee signed by the Lord President besides two others Lords of the same Council beeing all of several Provinces together with the Treasurer and Secretarie of the said Assemblie the same beeing first registred folio tali And this beeing don those ordinances with the foresaid annexions should bee brought again into the foresaid Exchequer to see and examin whether the same was don according to the Order of the Land and after the examination past the said Ordinance should there likewise bee registred folio tali and all the Ordinances to bee past hereafter upon the respective Declarations should bee thus conditioned or els no monies paid upon them by the Receiver General As touching the precedent Remonstrance of the Synodical Ministers the Provinces declared unanimously Julie 17 o. that the Resolutions taken in point of Religion Januarie last 27 o. should by every one of them as much as concerned them effectually bee and caused to bee prosecuted and put in execution and as touching the Countries and Cities resorting under the Generalitie the Lords Commissioners at the Generalitie in Ordinarie were charged to take especial care and inspection that the publick Reformation both ecclesiastical and civil may bee accomplished with due zeal and seriousness the Acts and Ordinances strictly executed according to the tenor and content of them the boldness and insolence of the Sectaries duely restrained and every thing effected and executed conformably to the before mentioned Resolution As likewise the foresaid Lords Ordinarie Deputies had charge given them to make and publish due Acts and decrees against all gross sins Profanations of the Sabbath of the Lord Fighting of Duels publishing of Contentious writings betwixt Ministers and Divines printing of scandalous books Socinians writings and the like And of all these their H. M. Resolutions there were Extracts made and imparted to the foresaid Church-Deputies wherewith they were dismissed having thanks given them for their good endeavors zeal and pains shewed and undertaken in this behalf There was great endeavor made this week the Lord Scheel presiding for Over-Yssell to make an end of all and upon the proposition of Holland of the 15 th the same in a manner agreed on Yea so confident they were thereof that alreadie a project was made of coyning a certain Medail of Gold and Silver for a memorial of this famous Assemblie and to this end the Lords Cats and de Brun respective Counsellors and Pensioners of Holland and Zealand had made the ensuing Device That namely on the one side there should stand a Rock with seven hillocks as representing the seven Provinces and on the other the Assemblie with this respective inscription Dum totus miratur Orbis anceps exspectat quò res Foederati Belgii à morte Arausionensium Principis evasurae sint aliis alia pro moribus genio cujusque augurantibus Jani foribus pridem clausis magnâ Batavorum Aulâ ingenti Procerum Consilio apertâ Tandem annuente Deo Religione Foedere Militiâ sortiter assertis Sociis in Orbem datis acceptisque manibus aliis aliorum colla amplectentibus à se invicem dimissi Malorum spem ac vota egregiè fefellerunt Bonorum superârunt Whiles all the world stood amazed and doubtfully long'd what issue the affairs of the United Netherlands would take upon the Death of the Prince of Orange with various conjectures according to the varietie of each partie 's Conditions and Dispositions it pleased God Janus Temple beeing shut before that the Grand Court of the Batavian States was opened where at last through God's assistance after a couragious settlement of Religion Union and Militia the Confederates plighted their hands and troth each to the other and mutually embraced one another before they parted they notably thus disappointed the hopes and wishes of Malignants and surpassed those of the well-affected And about the Rock with the seven hillocks there should have stood these words Stant foedere juncti Ut rupes immota Dei sub Numine tuti By Covenant join'd they stand Rock like unshaken and safe under God's own hand But however The Ship of affairs instead of getting streight into the harbor as most had conceived was driven about again for a while by new cross windes arising out of the Debate touching the Amnestie or Act of Oblivion and withal it was advised by som that since the last years troubles proceeded mainly from and by reason of the excessive publick charges all courses of lavishing the same might bee eschewed to prevent clamoring among the people notwithstanding that those of the other Provinces beeing com hither upon the invitation of Holland and having spent much conceived it was the least this Province could do in civilitie to present each Deputie with such a gold Medail But there it stuck and never came further The Business of Religion beeing dispatched as was said the first daie of this Presidencie there was taken in hand the point of Secret Correspondence concerning which it was found good and decreed according to the report of the Conciliatorie Conferences That it was verie necessarie and expedient for this State to send and still to entertain publick Ministers abroad whether they bee Ambassadors Residents Agents or Commissioners at the respective Courts of the Emperor the Kings Spain Sweden c. at Brussells and elswhere where it should bee found requisite so much the better and more conveniently to consider and observ what might bee best for this State 's Interest as also that from time to time advertisement may bee had what is practising or passing there for either the advantage or prejudice of this State That likewise all particular secret Correspondences from the Respective Governors and Commanders of the Frontiers of this State shall bee continued in the same waie as before according to their Commissions The present Commissioners at the Assemblie beeing of opinion That during the peace this cours would bee provisionally sufficient for this State That the monies likewise appointed for secret Correspondences may provisionally bee converted to the entertainment and support of the foresaid respective Ministers That likewise all forrein Ministers of this State shall address their Letters immediately to the Ordinarie Assemblie of the States General and writing of things which ought to bee held secret that the same shall bee enclosed
in the Netherlandish French English and Scot's language whereby every one shall bee warned to beware of presenting giving or promising directly or indirectly any gifts or presents to any of the foresaid persons their Wives Children Families or any one in their behalf on pain of the fines and punishments exprest in the foregoing article as likewise the proctors attorneys sollicitors and others usually emploied before the foresaid Council shall upon the tuesday abovesaid or then absent at their first return to the Haghe make promiss to the Council by oath that they will not suffer themselvs to bee employ'd nor give nor caus to bee given advice to their Clients of presenting or promising ought in the manner abovesaid to any of the foresaid persons their Wives Children Families or any other in their behalf directly or indirectly but in case they should perceiv their Clients disposed to make or promiss any such presents to any of the said persons that they will dissuade them from it or in case they came to know they had already given or promissed the like that they will forthwith acquaint the Council with it as also they shall bee bound at the beginning of their emploiment by any faithfully to warn them that they give nor promiss nothing in that kinde to none of the persons aforesaid directly or indirectly and in case they had don it already to acquaint the Council with it themselvs on pain of incurring the censure and correction of the Council if they shall bee found to have don contrarie to the Orders aforesaid XXXIX And that the foresaid exorbitancies may duly bee found out and the guiltie punished according to desert the Fiscal of the Generalitie shall narrowly observ the action of the foresaid persons and if so bee that hee suspect any of the Substitutes Clerks Controllers of fortifications or inferior attendants of the Council hee shall by order of the Council inform himself against them summon them before the Council proceed against them and prosecute the business to definitive sentence and further afterwards to the execution thereof XL. And if so bee that suspicion fall's upon any of the Council the Treasurer General Receiver General or Secretarie of the Council then the Fiscal of the Generalitie and the Fiscal and Proctor General of the Province where the Council shall reside both together or suspicion falling upon the Fiscal of the Generalitie himself the Fiscal of the foresaid Province alone shall by Order of the highest Court of Justice there inform him or themselvs against the same summon them before the said Court of Justice make them Process state and order the same and if it concern the Treasurer General or Receiver General or Fiscal or Secretarie of the Council prosecute them before the said highest Court of Justice to the Definitive sentence and if the matter concern any of the Counsellors themselvs the Process beeing rightly stated and formed shall bee sent to the States of the Province to which hee belong's they having taken upon them themselvs there by ordinarie cours of Justice to determine the business according to the tenor of the foresaid Articles within six weeks after the receit and the sentences pronounced in the foresaid cases shall have their full cours and effect without allowance of appeal thence to our selvs XLI All Commissions Orders Discharges Instructions Letters and Dispatches shall bee attested with the full name of the Counsellor President and beeing attested thus shall bee signed by one of the Provinces or som other of the Council and all this on condition the said expeditions bee found of necessarie importance by the Council and afterwards subsigned likewise by the Secretarie of the Council without suffering the same to com into other hands or communicating them to others then those of the said Council and the Secretarie shall keep good and exact Registers or books of Remembrance of all Resolutions and Conclusions about matters and causes agitated and concluded in the said Council at least such as are of any importance and notable consideration with setting down the names of the Lords present and the matters and causes beeing once determin'd and resolv'd upon by common consent or most voices all those of the said Council indifferently whether they were present or absent of the same or a contrarie opinion they shall without any gainsaying apply themselvs to the well-managing effecting and mainteining of the foresaid conclusions and resolutions XLII The foresaid Council finding it needful at any time to summon or call the respective Confederates they shall communicate the same to the Assemblie of the Ordinarie Deputies at the Generalitie and desire such a call or summons to bee made inserting the points serving to that end and in case the said Deputies should happen to make difficultie thereof the said Council is autorized hereby to present their justification to the respective Provinces themselvs with the like insertion of the reasons and motives of their desire and in case of appearance it shall not extend to any prejudice of their privileges not to bee called or summoned forth of their Provinces XLIII The Residence of the foresaid Council shall with the good liking of the Ordinarie Assembly of the States General bee kept in a convenient and secure place of the United Provinces without beeing obliged to remain in a certain place precisely but still assemble there where the service and common interest of the Land and the special direction of the Militarie affairs require it and of the foresaid Council there shall at all times whiles divers may bee absent in Commission or otherwise remain in the place at the least five Counsellors of several respective Provinces that so the service of the Land may still bee duly attended XLIV The Entertainment of the Counsellors is left to the disposition of the respective Provinces whence they are sent wherewith they are to content themselvs without bringing any extraordinarie charge upon the Countrie besides Freights and Convoyes and such appointments as shall bee made and ordeined in that behalf And if any of the Council com to die or leav his place another able person and acceptable to the States General shall bee named by the Province whence hee was sent and taken in by Commission from the States General XLV Besides the Council there shall likewise bee enterteined a Treasurer and a Receiver General with certain wages for them XLVI And a Secretarie at 800 pounds Flem. per an and with such instructions as the States General by advice of the Council of State already made or shall make hereafter XLVII The Dispatches of matters belonging to the Disposition of the foresaid Council of State beeing of that importance and consideration that before the wars they were usually expedited in the Name of the former Princes of these Countries they shall bee made and issued in the Name under the Seal counter-Seal and signet of the States General of the United Netherlands by advice of the Council of State with this
subscription By Order of my Lords the States General of the United Netherlands with relation to the Council of State thereof XLVIII And the Dispatches beeing not of so great importance and consideration they shall bee issued in the Name of the Council of State of the United Netherlands but yet under the Seal Counter-Seal and Signet of the States General aforesaid XLIX The Seal shall bee kept by one of the Counsellors to bee appointed thereunto who shall bee responsable for it not suffering the same to com into any other hands in any wise and shall keep an exact Register and counter-rowl of all Dispatches and rights of the Seal and bee paid for it according to the tax ordained or to bee ordained by the States General and the profits coming in thereby shall bee converted and employ'd to the paying of the Officers of the foresaid Council and other necessarie occasions in matters of the said Councils Disposition L. And the joint foresaid Confederates declare herewithal for the Conservation of the Right of the United Lands in the general and in particular That by this Instruction they do not abdicate or renounce the Right and Power either the States General themselvs or the States of the Provinces in particular should not in time of need and when the affairs of the Land shall so require it each in as much concern's them themselvs to order appoint and execute what shall bee fitting for the service of the Land even in those very things which are by them referr'd to the disposition of the foresaid Council such as is the Direction of militarie affairs by Sea and Land with all things appertaining thereunto and in particular the keeping of Musters exercising of militarie discipline and punishments of all exorbitances and in all other causes They declare likewise That all things concerning the Civil State and Justice of the foresaid Countries Cities and Members thereof both in general and in particular not expressly referr'd to the disposition of the Council of State aforesaid shall remain in the disposition of the States General the States of the particular Provinces the lawful Magistrates of the Cities and other places each in their sphere and the giving of Patents to the train bands in case of necessitie and when the service of the Countrie shall require their marching forth out of their own Cities shall remain within the Provinces to the respective parts thereof without any of the Councils meddling therein LI. Those of the Council of State aforesaid shall at their entring or admittance to their charge clear themselvs by oath that for the getting of that place they neither gave nor promised any mony or mony-worth nor any thing els whatsoever nor shall give or promiss ought directly or indirectly or in any wise conceivable or unconceivable and shall further promiss and swear in the hands of the States General or their Deputies to bee True and Faithful to the said States General of the Provinces abiding in the Union and maintaining the true Christian Reformed Religion and shall renounce by oath to all particular Correspondencies with either Provinces Cities or private and particular persons so far forth as the same may proove prejudicial to the common good and that without regard had to the Provinces or Cities where they were born or chosen or to the particular profit and advantage of the same or of any other and have nothing at all before their eies but the Honor of God and the welfare and the conservation of the foresaid Countries and the publick affairs That they shall not reveal the Communications Deliberations or Resolutions which ought to remain secret and speak with no bodie about them besides those of the said Council and especially not with any Ministers of any forein Kings Republicks and States in whose or with what companie soêver unless it bee with those of the said Council seperated as apart from all other Item They may not bee engaged in any ones service nor receiv or enjoy any pensions neither may nor shall they partake or share directly or indirectly in any works put out or to bee put out upon the publick account nor in any Ecclesiastical goods lands domains c. which are or may bee farmed out for the publick nor in any Convoys Imposts or other common means nor in the furnishing of any powder shot artillerie arms corn rie butter chees beer oats or other provision or ammunition and necessaries of War whatsoever beeing to bee used for the benefit and service of the publick nor buy nor under any other title take upon them or let forth any orders granted at the charge of the Land in general or of any Provinces in particular neither by themselvs nor their wives children families nor by any other whosoever nor participate in the sale undertaking or letting out made by other directly or indirectly neither shall they by themselvs their wives children families nor by any other as before receiv or enjoy any gifts gratuities or presents nor take benefit by any thing how small soëver even to meat and drink from any either Cities or Courts publick or private persons whom they know to have any thing to do at the Council or likely to get any thing to do there and that as well before as after the business shall bee transacted and if so bee they should receiv any such gifts of any one not knowing the giver had any thing to do at the Council at the time of receiving the same or if afterwards the same should get any business with the Council that they shall give notice thereof unto the Council and that moreover they shall precisely regulate themselvs according to the contents of this Instruction and every Article thereof and do besides whatsoever good and faithful Counsellors of State are bound to do and all this provisionally LII If so bee that this Instruction shall bee found to have any obscuritie or need of any alteration contracting or enlarging the States General shall upon occasions with advice of the Council take notice thereof and provide accordingly as shall bee requisite Don thus and decreed in the Assemblie of the States General July 180. 1651. Note here That the one and twentieth Article beginning All Orders for payment was set down after as followeth FOr to reduce the Order for paiment into a due Form the respective Requests to that end presented to the Council shall bee accompanied with all the requisites bills and particulars belonging to the business wherefore the said respective Order shall bee desired and beeing viewed and examined by the said Council they shall bee transmitted to the Generalities Checquer chamber to bee there also viewed examined and cleared where special heed is to bee taken whether the Land is bound or not to the particulars therein specified and thence they are to bee returned to the Council again that by them there may bee past and granted Orders which Orders beeing registred folio tali are to bee signed by the Lord
the Entertainments of those whose emploiment by the foresaid alteration was eased of much pains charge and expences Now forasmuch as the said Officers beeing for the most part Militarie and relating to the Generalitie were by the Council of State brought in again with their full Entertainments at leastwise higher then wee judged fitting in the State of War for the year 1649. drawn up the whilest and according to the antient custom sent to the Provinces with desire to yield their consents to the particulars therein contained Wee for our part not able to consent in this manner did bring in at the Generalitie in writing our foresaid Resolution of saving charges of Octob. 19. 1649. as the Provisional advice of our Province upon the said projected State of war and urged therewithal that the Equivalent of certain 50 Companies taken on A. 1628. for the space of 6 months onely then to com and from time to time since by continuation surcharged upon us might now bee found by the discharge of 50. like Companies of forain Nations reserving to our selvs the remonstrating of such particulars and charges in the said projected State of War as wee should judg could well bee discharged and left out there without any special disservice of the Land and whereupon wee should not bee able by reason of the great decaie of our Treasurie to pass our Consents as to that very end wee had already before July 13. by express Resolution desired and charged our Commissioned Council beeing entrusted with the surintendance and care of our Treasurie upon their reiterated Remonstrances that though the foresaid projects of saving and retrenchments might actually bee brought to Execution nevertheless the yearly Ballance came evidently far short of adjusting the charges of the State with the Revenues thereof besides the great arrears yet of runing debts which ought to bee satisfied before all other That they should draw up their Considerations how and which waie any further means might bee found of disburthening our Treasurie and they likewise had accordingly made a proposition alreadie to that purpose the same consisting especially herein 1. That the paie for lodging Souldiers hitherto furnished by the State may bee retrenched under condition of prompt and readie paie of their wages 2. That the Companies of Cuirassiers bee changed into Carabins 3. That the Regiments of forein Nations in service of this State consisting som in 23 18 17 14 and som but in 10 Companies bee all reduced to an equalitie of the least proportion and 55 Companies of them disbanded 4. That of the Hors a considerable part bee disbanded in regard that in time of peace and by reason of the condition of these Provinces more foot-Souldiers are required for the besetting of the Frontiers then hors who nevertheless upon occasions may readily bee had in these Countries at all times they beeing less useful and exceeding chargeable and cumbersom to the State And however wee were mightily enclined for the easing of our burthened Treasurie forthwith to embrace the said Proposition and accordingly without more adoe to resolv upon the disbanding of 105 Companies of foot and half the Cavalrie reducing the same to 32 Companies at 60 hors a piece nevertheless wee found good before wee would proceed to a final Resolution to communicate all the foresaid affairs with his High s the Prince of Orange of immortal memorie for to understand his Considerations and Advice thereupon And his said High s was pleased after reiterated Remonstrances and further Discoveries of the state of our Treasurie both by our Deputies and especially our Commissioned Council made unto him at last on the 8. of Decemb. in the foresaid year 1649. to make and transmit unto Us in writing this following Proposition That for the finding of an Equivalent of the abovesaid 50. Companies taken on the year 1618. there should bee discharged one Companie of every small Regiment and 2 of all the great ones That in lieu of reducing and equalizing the forein Regiments to the least proportion the Inland Companies should bee reduced to 60 heads and the forein to 45. That instead of disbanding the one half of the hors twelv Companies onely should bee disbanded in all and the rest reduced to 45. That the alteration of Cuirassiers into Carabines should bee performed That the Services should bee lessened to a third part Now although according to this his High s Proposition it self there would have been discharged 175 foot-Souldiers more then by the foresaid 105 Companies which according to our meaning and the proposition of our Commissioned Council should have been dismissed and notwithstanding that both the foresaid projects touching the disbanding of the Hors differed in number but 420 hors and that consequently both according to the one and the other there was within a small matter in all comprizing hors and foot together a like number of Militia to have continued in the States service and that for the rest there was but very little discrepance in both side 's proposals or but of small moment and importance Nevertheless for two very Considerable Reasons wee were not able to condescend to that of his High s. First becaus that according to the Discharging to bee made after his waie the same would have lighted more nay in double proportion upon the Natives and Inhabitants of these Countries then upon the Forrainers And secondly thereby there would have been don most by Reducing and but little by Disbanding And although on the one side wee might easily calculate that his High s was drawn both to the one and other by som Considerations of his personal repute Yet wee on the other side took into our Consideration first that the States Securitie consistech especially that the Souldierie perform their duties not onely for the receipt of their wages but also out of love affection and natural proness to the State it self which without all question is alwaies more to bee exspected from the Natives then the Forreiners besides that it could not bee taken but for a singular ingratitude and unnaturalness of the Governors That the same passing by their Inhabitants and as it were their own native and legitimate children should prefer the Forreiners as adopted ones before them a thing never practised yet by any Kings Princes or States in their disbandings to this daâ—e And then secondly that the foresaid proposals of reduction however as manie or more forces then by our waie were thereby to bee substracted from the States Service yet there appeared no proportion at all therein with ours for the easing and sublevating our overburthened Treasurie when you observ that the said Reduction toucheth not the Captains and Officers but onely the private Souldiers whereas that which one Captain alone is wont to receiv by the State would finde and entertain a good number of common Souldiers And forasmuch as both sides proposals beeing counterballanced it is apparant that as well the securitie of the State on the one hand as the
general it cannot bee presumed the foresaid Prince beeing at that time so highly offended and persecuted by the King of Spain hee should have been disposed then to gratifie Him beeing the Lord of the places aforesaid with any particular advantages it cannot bee conceived in any case how the said King otherwise the First and representing the rest of the Nobilitie in the Assemblie of Zealand should besides that bee able to take Session there in the place of the Prela◠and having voted once in the Nobilities behalf among the States should afterward have power to vote again by means of those Cities in behalf of the Prelat which indeed without palpable contradiction and absurditie and the introducing of manifest confusion in matters of Government can bee mainteined by none Therefore and clearly do shew that the said prerogatives were granted without any regard had to the Lord and onely in the behalf and to the advantage of the foresaid Cities and their common inhabitants by reason of their particular and common interest it is said in express terms both in the Preface and conclusion of the same that they are granted upon the humble petition of the Burgo-masters and Governors and in the none and behalf of the said Cities and their Governors to com together with the common Porteers and inhabitants thereof And to what end namely for the furthering of good Government welfare and prosperitie among them and that they may bee relieved from under the great and heavie burthens which were fallen upon them partly by reason of the necessarie Sea-Works and great arrears of Rents and partly becaus of the warrs against Duke d' Alva and his adherents together with regard had to their good endeavors and faithful services performed by them in that War All which can have and yield no other reflection but to the commonalitie of the said Cities considered apart without admitting of any further extention and so that the same Cities as likewise was touched above cannot lawfully bee deprived of the same through any felonie neglect or delinquencie of their subaltern Lords Which ought to bee of so much the more validitie when reflection is made upon the direction intention and aim Prince William of happie memorie had in granting of the said Charters to the Cities aforesaid namely to compose and frame the Government and civil admin stration thereof as neer as might bee equal to the other Cities of the Earldom as among other appear's ungainsayably by the ensuing Arguments And First by this that there having been of old a Court in the foresaid Cities serving originally to the direction and administration of justice and the same in are likewise before the warr by contract made between the Lords and the said Cities for sake of their Government now by virtue of the express text of the foresaid privileges there is set up and instituted there respectively a formal Court of Common-Council or Citie-Council It beeing well known that as on the one side the Court of justice was formerly set up and emploied by order of the particular Lords according to their letters of investiture so on the other side the foresaid Erection of the Citie-Council there could not bee effected otherwise then with express consent and by the immediate Autoritie of the Earldom That same power beeing one of the most eminent and principal Roialties which belong's to the Princes or States of the land here As therefore wee see likewise that both in these Neighboring-Provinces not onely the Citie Councils themselvs could not bee erected without the special Grant from the Earldom but likewise not the Least amendment alteration or ampliation thereof could bee made without the like Grant and with Unanimous Consent of all the Members after the contents of them were first very ripely and seriously examined And that which is more the remonstrances to this end made by divers Cities are used to bee presented onely by the Burgo-Masters and Common-Council apart with preterition of the Counsellors Who in many places in this countrie have nothing to do with the Government but are onely employed about the exercise and administration of justice As in very truth also there hath ever time out of minde been a special difference in the Cities of this Province betwixt these two sorts of employments and the Common-Councils were originally introduced there distinguished from justice onely for the keeping of the rights and Privileges of the Cities whereunto likewise they are particularly sworn and as by the Lords the States it was very well said in the year 1587 to whom appertain's the power not onely to resolv but also to dispose of all things concerning the state of the Countrie and the Cities Which is the reason likewise Why the Burgo master of these Cities are wont and bound in all businesses of importance to understand the good opinion of the foresaid Common Councils as whereby the Cities and Commonalties for matter of civil Government are properly represented And for the same reasons also is the Election of the said Common-Council in most Cities both of this and Neighboring-Provinces left by Priveleges from the Earls or the State thereof unto the immediate disposition of the Cities themselvs even to the least inclusively Insomuch that it cannot bee shewed by any letters of Investiture or other Feodarie Acts that ever there was any thing of that nature transported or communicated to any vassals of the Earldom much less pretended to or practised by them in any of their Lordships Secondly the foresaid position viz. That it was the intention of Prince William of happie memorie by any means to equalize the two foresaid Lordships with the Cities of the Earldom is evidenced by this that although formerly the Courts of judicature and justice used to bee chosen simply without any Nomination ex arbitrio Dominorum at the pleasure of the Lords the same cannot bee don so now becaus of the foresaid privileges but upon a precedent presentation whether it bee that any Election shall bee needful for the yearly renewing of the Laws 〈◊〉 that the same must bee made by reason of the departure or Deceas of any of the Law-keepers for the supplying of the places which thereby is made vacant And thirdly that though the foresaid presentation and the ensued Election thereupon of the Counsellors may bee made there as well of persons which are of the Common Council of the said Cities as of any one from amid'st the Commonaltie nevertheless the Burgomasters thereof may not bee chosen but out of those which shall bee named of the said Common Councils they beeing the Head of the Government and therefore ought alwaies by known cours to bee of the number of the Common Council which in the Counsellors as was said even now it is not necessarie In regard that on the one side for the administration of good Justice in the general it sufficeth that there are chosen and appointed som understanding discreet and just men but on the other side for
never saw the Prince in all his sickness 117. The Spanish Ambassadors visit 117. His beeing prest to sign the Treatie made between the King of Spain and the Prince and his evasion ibid. The Prince his Death variously taken by Courtiers and Patriots 118. The carriage of som Ministers 〈◊〉 The advice of the States of Holland for a General Convocation of all the Provinces 118. Their aversness from having any Captain General of Stadtholder more 119. The young Prince of Orange born p. 119. The Lord Cats his comparison of Pillars and a Candlestick 120. Hollands Deputation to all the Provinces for a General Assemblie and three main points to bee treated of 1 Religion 2 the Union 3 the Milirid p. 121 c. The Provinces answer and readiness p. 124. The old Princess Dowager of Orange her address to the Provinces in behalf of the young Prince her grand-childe p. 125. Count William and Maurice and the Lord of Bredetode their address to the States General in their own behalf 126 127. Count William chosen Governor of Groninghen and the Omlands 127. Knuyt excluded from the Assemblie ibid. The six outed Members restored to their places and functions p. 128. Hollands provisional Government within themselvs p. 128. 129. Differences and jarrings about the Guardianship of the young Prince of Orange p. 130. The Princess Royal her memorandum and address to the States of Holland and West-Friesland p. 131. c. and 134. c. The Princess Dowager the grandmother her address to the States of Holland p. 137 c. 140. The Prince Elect. of Brandenburg his pretension p. 142. Ubi Cadaver ibi congregantur Aquilae 144. The States of Holland resolv That no Member of the Government shall bee employ'd in the Administration of this Guardianship p. 145. Lists of all the Companies hors and foot in the States paie and their wages p. 146. c. The Cities of Holland begin to chuse their own Magistrates which formerly was don by the Stadtholder p. 149. They of Zeland arrive the first to the great General Assemblie p. 149. An answer of the Queen of Sweden beeing advised to marrie applied to the doubtfulness what an Infant Stadtholder might proov in time and the danger of Lievtenants under him both to to the State and himself p. 150. c. The arrival of the rest of the Provinces all but Groninghen and Omlands p. 151. The beginning of the great Assemblie General p. 152 The Lord Cats his first Speech and Proposition there in behalf of the States of Holland p. 152. c. The Considerations of Gelderland p. 159 c. The Proposition of Zeland p. 166 c. The Remonstrance of the Synodical Ministers p. 177. c. Means of hindring the growth of papistrie in the Provinces propounded p. 182 c. Various Dispositions about matters of Religion and libertie of conscience p. 187. The Advice of Holland about the point of Religion generally assented to p. 189. The Minister's acknowledgment p. 191. The Considerations and Inclinations of Friesland touching Religion the Union and Militia p. 192. The Considerations of Groninghen and the Omlands p. 197. c. The Inclinations of Utrecht p. 204. c. The large Justification of Holland's proposition in point of the Militia p. 215 c. Provincial Considerations of Zeland about giving of Patents or Commissions and remooving or transplacing of Garrisons and conferring of Militarie Offices p. 242. c. Pensionarie or Advocate of Zeland De Vett his notable speech against Corruptions p. 245. The old Instruction for the Council of State of An. 1588. p. 260. c. Considerations of Holland about som Articles of the Union p. 281 c. The Considerations and Inclinations general of Over-Yssel p. 285. c. Hollands Proposition for expediting the affairs to bee debated by distinguishing matters meerly Provincial and General p. 290. Two main points propounded 1 the Direction of the Militia 2 the giving of Commissions p. 294. The Princess Dowager grandmother her Application to the great Assemblie for the young Princes succeeding in his Fathers charges p. 294. laid by p. 297. Further Advice of Holland about the Militia p. 297. of Zeland 299. of Gelderland 301. of Friesland p. 306. Over-Yssel p. 307. Frieslands Justification of their former Considerations about Stadtholders c. p. 309. c. Ambassadors and publick Ministers of State ordered to receiv no gifts c. p. 316. Groninghen and Omlands are desired to send in their Deputies p. 317. Several matters brought before the Great Assemblie besides the first intent as that of the West-Indies of Denmarck Sweden Spain and France p. 317. Those of Drent seek to bee re-admitted at the States of a peculiar Province p. 317. their Right and Claim deduced at large though all in vain p. 319. c. Commissioners appointed for a Conference Conciliatorie 3 for each Province to frame an unanimous advice from the respective considerations presented p. 329. Gelderland's motion of limiting the militarie Commanders in voicing Cities about the keies the word c. and about the several Oaths to bee taken by the Souldierie with the Resolutions thereupon p. 330. The manner of proceeding or voting in the Conference Conciliatorie p. 332. Holland's Considerations about the Souldier's Oath to the States of the Province and the Magistrates of the Cities p. 333 c. The forms of the said Oaths p. 337 338. The Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Braband under the Resort of this State their Address to have place again as equal Confederates and the first Members of the Unioâ— together with the Deduction of their plea at large p. 33â— c. Continuation of the Dfferences and Altercations betwixt 〈◊〉 Dowagers of Orange p. 363. The young Prince Christned notable circumstances and passages about it p. 366 c. His Father's Burial with the state and pomp thereof p. 369. c. Further strife and debates betwixt the Dowagers about the Guardianship 373. The Prince Elector of Brandenburgh his coming to the Hague divers animosities and contests as betwixt the said Elector and the Princess Roial p. 374. So especially betwixt him and the Lords Beverwert and Henvliet p. 375. The Princess Roial her Address thereupon to the States of Holland p. 376. Their Resentment and Resolution p 377. 378. More matter of contention about the Principalitie of Orange and the Cabinet 378. With much ado som Agreement is made among the parties by partnership p. 380. The Guardian 's further application to the Spanish Ambassador for concluding of the Treatie made betwixt his King and the late Princes by virtue of the Munster-Articles p. 381. The Spaniards Generositie ibid. Disadvantage of contentiousness ibid. The â—â—al conclusion and signing of the said Treatie p. 382. 383. Forrein affair transacted in the great Assemblie accidentally p 384. French English Danish Swedish Portugal Ambassadors p. 384. 385. Contentions betwixt the Spanish Ambassador and French Resident p. 386. Holland's Deputation into Zealand to prevent the choosing of a