most Potent Prince Philip the fourth King of Spain c. on one side and the High and Mighty Lords the States Generall of the United Provinces of the Low-Countries on the other IN the Name of God Be it known to all that after the bloody Wars that have for so many years afflicted the people and Subjects of the obedience of the King of Spain and the States Generall they the said King and States being moved with Christian compassion and being desirous to put an end to all the calamities and deplorable consequences which the farther continuance of the Wars of the said Low-Countries might produce and to change them into the rest and tranquillity of a firm peace have to compass so good an end Deputed and Commissioned fit persons on both sides viz. on the side of the said Don Philip the fourth King of Spain Don Gaspar de Bracamonte Y de Guzman Count of Pigneranda Lord of Aldea seca de la Frontera Knight of the Order of Alcantara perpetuall Administrator of the Commandery of Damyel of the Order of Calatrava Gentleman of his Majesties Bed-Chamber of his privy Counsell and his Embassador Extraordinary towards his Imperiall Majesty as also first Plenipotentiary for his Majesty in the Treaty of the generall Peace Monsieur Aâ—tony Brnn Knight and Counsellor for his Majesty in his supream Counsell of State for the Low-Countries and his Plenipotentiary in the generall Peace On the sides of the States Generall Bartold de Gent Lord of Looven and Meynerswicke Senechal and Diikgrave of Bommel Fieler and Brommelerweerden deputed by the Nobility of Gueldres in the Assembly of the States Generall Jean de Mateness Lord of Mateness Riviere Opmeer Souteveen and Deputy in the ordinary Counsell of Holland and West-Frieze as also Deputy in the States Generall from the Nobles of the said Province Councellor and Heemrade of Shieland Adrian Paw Knight Lord of Heemsteed Hogersmilde and first President Counsellor and Master of the Accounts of Holland and West-Frieze as also Deputy in the Assembly of the States Generall by the said Provinces Jean de Knuâ—t Knight Lord of Old and New Vosmar representing the Nobility in the States in Counsell of Zeeland as in the Admiralty first Counsellor of his Highness the Prince of Orange Deputy in the Assembly of the States Gâ—dart de Râ—â—de Lord of Nederhorst Uredelant Cortchoâ—f Over-meer Horstwaert c. President in the Assembly of the Nobles of the Province of Utrect and by them Deputy in the Assembly of the States Generall Francis de Doma Lord of Hinnâ—ma Hiclsum Deputy in the Assembly of the States Generall by the Province of Frizeland William Riperda Lord of Hengeloo Boxbergen Boculoo and Sussenbergh Deputy by the Nobility of Overyssel in the Assembly of the States Generall All Extraordinary Embassadors in Germany and Plenipotentiaries of the said States for the Treaty of the generall Peace All being sufficiently impowr'd and assembled in the Town of Munster in Westphalia have by common consent and in vertue of their respective powers receiv'd from the said King and the Lords the States Generall Concluded and Agreed upon these following Articles 1. The said King does Declare and Acknowledge that the said Lords the States Generall of the United Provinces and their Provinces Countrey-Towns Lands and Appurtenances are free and Soveraign States Provinces and Countries upon which nor upon their Towns c. the said King neither doth nor shall henceforth or his Heirs and Successors pretend any thing And that in consequence of this his Declaration he is content to treat with the said States as he does by these and conclude a perpetuated peace with them upon the Conditions here following 2. To wit that the said peace shall be firm and inviolable and that all acts of hostility of what kinde soever shall cease both by Sea and by Land in all the Kingdomes and Countries of the obedience of the said King and the said States as also between all their Subjects of what quality soever they be without exception of places or persons 3. Each shall remain in peaceable possession and shall keep and enjoy all the Countrey-Towns Lands Places and Lordships that he now enjoyes and that without being any wayes molested directly or indirectly And in this is comprehended the Burroughs Villages and Countrey appertaining and belonging to that which each shall possess and by consequence all the Mayorship of Bosleduke as also all the Lordships Towns Castles Burroughs Villages and Champain thereunto belonging the Town and Marqueship of Bergues upon Zoom the Town and Barony of Breda the Town of Maestrict and the extent of its jurisdiction the County of Groonhoff the Town of Grave and the Countrey of Luychuist and the Bayliship of Hulst and Hulster-Ambact and Ambact as also the Forts which the said Lords the States do possess now in the Countrey of Waes and all other Towns and places which the said States do hold in Brabant Flanders or any where else shall remain in the power of the said States with all the Right of Soveraignty in the same manner as they hold the United Provinces but all the rest of the said Countrey of Waes except the said Forts shall remain unto the said King of Spain As concerning the three places on the other side the Meuse viz. Falquimont Dalem and Rodeleduc they shall remain in the condition they are now in and in case of dispute the business shall be decided in the Chambre mipartic to be mentioned in the following Articles 4. The Subjects and Inhabitants of the Countries of the said King and States shall live in good union and correspondency together without any resentment for past injuries and they shall have liberty to go and stay in the Territories of each other and to exercise their Trade and Commerce in all surety both by Sea and Land 5. The Navigation and Trade to the East and West-Indies shall be maintain'd in conformity to those Grants or Patents given or to give by the States for surety whereof shall serve this present Treaty and the ratification of it and under this Treaty shall be comprehended all Potentates Nations and Peoples with whom the said States or the East and West-India Companies in their name within the limits of their Patent are in amity or alliance And the said King and States shall respectively remain in possession of all those Lordships Towns Castles Fortresses Commerce and Trade in the East and West-Indies as also upon the Coasts of Brasil Asia Africa and America that the said King and States do now hold And in this Article are particularly comprized all those places and Forts that the Portugueses ever since 1641. have taken from the States as also are comprehended all those places that the said States shall hereafter take conquer and possess without infraction of the present Treaty And the Curators or Directors of the East and West-India Companies of the United Provinces as also the Officers Agents Souldiers Mariners being at prefenâ— at the
whatsoever 55. There shall be no new Forts made in the Low-Countries of neither side neither shall there be made any new Channels or Trenches by which any of the parties may be dammageed 56. The Lords of the House of Nassaw as also the Count John Albert of Solms Governor of Maestric shall not be pursued nor molested neither in their persons nor Estates for any Debts contracted by the late William Prince of Orange 1667. to his death nor for any Arrears due during the confiscation of such Lands as were charged with the said Debts 57. If there be any infraction made in the Treaty by private persons without the Authority of the said King or States the dammage shall be immediately repair'd in the place where the offence was committed if the persons be there taken or in their Domicile but it shall not be lawfull to pursue them else-where either in their persons or Estates or to take Arms and break the peace but in case of deniall of justice to proceed by Letters of Reprisall 58. All Exheredations made by reason of the War and aversion of parties are made void and in this are comprehended all Exheredations made for such causes as were causes of the War 59. All prisoners of War shall be deliver'd on both sides without distinction of persons and that without ransome 60. The payment of the Arrears of Contributions on both sides shall be decided by the Supervisors of the said Contributions 61. All that during this Negotiation shall be said or alledged either by word of mouth or by writing shall not be a prejudice to the Authors but the said King and States and all the Princes Counts Barons Gentlemen Citizens and all Inhabitants shall enjoy the benefit of this Treaty 62. The Subjects of the said King and States respectively shall enjoy the benefit of the 15th Article of the Truce of 12. years and of the 10th Article of the Agreement that followed the 7th of January 1610. and that because that during the time of the said Truce the parties did not enjoy the effect of those Articles 63. The limits in Flanders and other places shall be set out so that the parties may exactly know under what jurisdiction they are 64. On the side of the said King of Spain shall be demolish'd near the Sluce these following places and Forts viz. the Fort of St. Job St. Donas the Star-Fort the Fort St. Terese St. Frederick St. Isabella St. Paul the redoute Papemâ—ts And on the side of the States Generall shall be demolish'd the following Forts the two Forts in the Island of Lasant call'd Orange and Fredericke the two Forts de Pas both upon the River of Scheld on the East-side except Lillâ— and the Fort a Kieldrect call'd Spinola touching which Demolition it shall be agreed between the parties to set out an Equivalence 65. All Registers Charters Letters and Papers concerning Law-Suits or otherwise that do any wayes regard or concern any of the United Provinces their Towns and Members being in the Courts and Chambers of the obedience of the King of Spain shall be deliver'd bonâfide to such as shall have commission from the Provinces to receive them And the same shall be done by the States for the Provinces and Towns that are under the said Kings obedience 66. The jurisdiction of the Water shall be left to the Town of Sluce as it has of right belonged to it 67. The Digue traversing and stopping up the River Zout near the Fort Donas shall be taken away by making a Zas touching the Garde of which Zas it shall be agreed upon as touching the Demolition of the Forts 68. In this present Treaty of peace shall be comprehended such as before the exchange of ratifications or three moneths after shall be nam'd on both sides in which time the said King shall name those that he shall think fit but by the States are nam'd these following the Prince Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel with his Countrey-Towns c. the Count of Oostfrieze the Town of Embden the County and Countrey of Oostfrieze the Anseatick Towns and particularly Lubec Bremen Hambourg And the said States do reserve to themselves to name such others as they shall think fit in the time prescribed 69. As for the pretension of Count of Flodrof touching the restitution made to him of the Castle of Leat and its Dependances and all other Villages that may depend on it and were seized by the said King the said restitution is confirm'd to him with this reserve that it shall be resolv'd between this and the conclusion of the Treaty about the entertaining of a Garrison for the said King or demolishing the Fortifications made since that the Castle was taken 70. As for all that was agreed upon the 8th of December 1646. between the Plenipotentiaries of the said King and States touching Roger Huygens in the name of his Wife Anna Margarita de Stralem it shall have its effect and be of force as if it were here set down word for word 71. And to the end that this present Treaty be the better observed the said King and States do promise to employ all their power and force to make all passages free and all Seas and Rivers navigable and safe against the inrodes of Pirats and Theeves and to punish them severely if they can take them 72. They do promise besides to do nothing contrary to this present Treaty nor to suffer that any thing should be done either directly or indirectly and if any thing be done to repair the offence and dammage without delay To the observation of all which they do here binde themselves and the more to strengthen the Obligation do renounce all Laws and Customes contrary to this promise 73. This present Treaty shall be ratified and approved by the said King and States and the Letters of ratification shall be deliver'd and exchanged on each side within the term of two moneths and if the said ratification do come before-hand then all acts of hostility shall cease without staying for the end of the two moneths Still it is meant that after the conclusion and signing of this Treaty hostility shall not cease till the ratification of the said King of Spain be deliver'd in good form and exchang'd with the ratification of the States 74. So that affaires on both sides shall remain in the same posture and condition as at the conclusion of this Treaty they are and this till the ratifications be exchang'd 75. This Treaty shall be publish'd in all places that shall require it incontinent after the exchange of the ratifications and then all acts of hostility shall cease The Treaty of Navigation and Commerce Concluded at the Hague in Holland the 17th of December 1650. between Messire Antony Brun Extraordinary Embassador for the King of Spain on one side and the Deputies of the Lords the States Generall of the United Provinces on the other side WHereas since the conclusion of the peaee at Munster between
the King of Spain and the States Generall there has happened some disputes about the true sence of the separate Article concluded the 4th of February 1648. in the said Town touching Navigation and Commerce the said King and States have thought fit for the more sincere and perfect observation of the said Treaty of peace to give a better explanation of their meaning to which end the said King has on his side Deputed and Commission'd Messire Antony Prun Counsellor in his High Councill of State for the Low-Countries near his person and his Plenipotentiary at the Treaty of Munster as his Ordinary Embassador to the said States who on their side have likewise Commissioned these following Rugzer Huygens Knight Banninck Cock Knight Lord of Purmerlant and Apendam Bourgemaster and Counsellor of the Town of Amsterdam Cornelius Ripera Bourgemaster Regent of the Town of Horne James Vâ—th Counsellor and Pensioner of the Town of Middlebourg in Zeeland Giisbert de Hoolk old Bourgemaster of the Town of Utrect Joachim Andree first ancient Counsellor in the Provinciall Court of Friâ—zeland John de la Beech of Dorvick and Crystenburgh Bourgemaster of the Town of Deventer Adrian Dant a Stedum Lord of Nittersum all Deputies of the body of their Assembly The said Embassador and Deputies having held many Assemblies and Conferences have at last in the name of the said King and States agreed upon and concluded this present Treaty all its Articles and Conditions 1. The Subjects and Inhabitants of the United Provinces may with safety and liberty trade with all those Kingdoms States and Countries that are or shall be in peace amity or neutrality with the said States of the United Provinces 2. And they may not be molested or troubled in this freedom by the Ships or Subjects of the King of Spain by reason of the hostilities that are or may be hereafter between the said King and the said Kingdomes States c. that are in peace c. with the said States 3. This shall extend it self as to France for all sorts of Commodities that were used to be transported before the said Kingdome was in War with Spain 4. Yet shall not the Subjects of the United Provinces furnish France with such Merchandizes as come from the States of the said King of Spain and may serve the French against him and his States 5. And as for other Kingdomes States c. that may be in War with the said King of Spain and are in neutrality or friendship with the States their Subjects shall not carry to those Kingdomes c. any forbidden Goods or Merchandizes of Counterband which to hinder the said States shall forbid it by express prohibitions 6. Besides to prevent the dispute that might arise concerning the Merchandizes that are of Counterband and those that are not it is agreed that under that name and quality are understood these following all fire-Arms and things belonging to them as Canons Musquets Mortar-Peeces Petards Bombes Grenadoes Cereles Squibs Carriages Forks Powder Match Salt-Peter Bullets All other Arms likewise offensive and defensive as Pikes Swords Casques Helmets Back and Breast-pieces Halberds Pertuiscens and other such Besides under the same name are understood the transport of Souldiers Horses Harness Metall Pistols Belts and all other Implements of War 7. Further to avoid all dispute it is agreed that under that name of forbidden Merchandize are not comprehended Wheat and all sorts of Grains Salt Oyl Wine nor in generall any thing that is nourishment and sustentation to mens bodies which shall be free as all other Goods and Merchandizes not specified in the fore-going Articles and may be carried to all Towns except to such as are besieged and blocked up 8. And the better to hinder that the said forbidden Merchandizes do not pass into the hands of the enemies of the said King and that under pretext of hindring the said transportation the safety and liberty of Trade and Navigation be not hindred it is agreed that the Ships belonging to the Subjects of the United Provinces being entred in any Port of the said Kings Dominions and being from thence bound for the Ports of his enemies shall be obliged only to produce and shew to the Officers of the said King their Pasports containing the particulars of their lading seal'd and sign'd by the Officers of the Admiralty of such places as they come from with declaration of the places they are bound for the whole in ordinary form after which they shall not be molested searched nor detained under any pretext whatsoever 9. Likewise the Ships of the States Subjects being at Sea or coming into some Bay without entring the Harbour or coming in without unlading shall not be bound to give an account of their lading except they be suspected to carry Merchandizes of Counterband 10. And in case of a violent suspition they shall only be forced to shew their Pasports as has been said 11. If they are met at Sea or near the Shore by any Ships or Privateers of the said King then to avoid disorder and plunder the said men to War may send their Boat with two or three men in it aboard the Ship of the States to which men shall be shewed by the Master the Pasport above-mentioned with a particular Letter shewing the quality and place of residence of the owner of the Ship and Master in the said United Provinces and to these shall be given credit without further enquiry but that there be no counterfeit Letters the said King and States shall agree of particular marks not easily to be imitated 12. And in case there should be found in the Ships belonging to the States Subjects by the foresaid means some of those Merchandizes call'd of Counterband they shall be seized upon and confiscated before the Judges of the Admiralty or other competent ones but the said Ship and the rest of the lading shall no wayes be detained or seized upon 13. It has been agreed besides that all Goods whatsoever that the Subjects of the States shall lade in the bottoms of the said Kings enemies shall be confiscated without reserve or exception 14. But also all that shall be found in the bottoms of the Subjects of the said States though part or all of it do belong to the enemies of the said King yet it shall all be free and not seized upon except they be Merchandizes of Counterband 15. The Subjects of the said King shall enjoy all the same liberties in Trade and Navigation as is by this Treaty accorded to the Subjects of the United Provinces with the same equality and though some Kingdomes or States should have friendship or neutrality with the said King though they were enemies of the States yet shall his Subjects enjoy all the benefit granted in the like case to the Subjects of the United Provinces 16. This present Treaty shall be as an explanation to the particular Article concluded at Munster the 4th day of February 1648. 17. This present Treaty shall have
THE PRESENT STATE OF THE United Provinces OF THE LOW-COUNTRIES AS TO THE Government Laws Forces Riches Manners Customes Revenue and Territory OF THE DUTCH IN THREE BOOKS Collected by W. A. Fellow of the Royall Society LONDON Printed for John Starkey at the Mitre betwixt the Middle Temple Gate and Temple-Bar in Fleet-Street 1669. THE PREFACE THe Netherland-Provinces have rendred themselves so conspicuous and considerable amongst the other States of Europe that the sole mentioning of them might suffice to awaken the attention and invite the regards of all persons whose more elevated Genius leads them to the contemplation of the rise growth and grandeur of States and Empires which affording the greatest instances of humane wisdome and industry as well as they are the most remarkable Theatres of divine providence are certainly the most adaequate objects for rational and considering men For which reason possibly few Books less needed a Preface than that which is now in the Readers hands and The present State and Government of the Netherlands in the Title-page may seem to carry invitation enough with it to render all other superfluous Scarce any Subject occurres more frequent in the discourses of ingenious men than that of the marvellous progress of this little State which in the space of about one hundred years for 't is no more since their first attempts to shake off the Spanish yoke hath grown to a height not only infinitely transcendnig all the ancient Republicks of Greece but not much inferior in some respects even to the greatest Monarchies of these latter Ages Nor is the wonder inconsiderably augmented in that the lesser Moiety hath farre exceeded even the Whole it self and seven Provinces are become greater than seventeen with a manifest verification of that Aenigmatical Aphorisme Dimidium plus Toto To which it may likewise be added that for above sixty years of that above-mention'd hundred they were continually engag'd in a Warre against the greatest King of this Western World besides what contests they have since had with other Neighbours and nevertheless that difficult exercise of their nonage not only promoted their growth by necessarily exciting the industry natural to that Nation but likewise contributed to rènder the Constitution of the State it self more robust and athletick 'T is the Portraiture of this flourishing Common-wealth which is here presented to the Ingenious drawn by the elegant Pen of a Virtuoso of the Royall Society who the more to gratifie the Reader and compleat his Work hath collected out of severall Authors a summary Account of the Lives of the Earls of Holland down to the alteration of Government which commenc'd about the year 1567. which Lives compose the first Book order of time requiring the same to be prefix'd before the Description of the Confederate Commonwealth or Government of the States Generall whereunto is particularly annex'd that of the States of Holland and Zeeland as examples of the rest The third and last Book exhibits the extent and nature of the Soyl of Holland the Manners Customes and Trade of the Inhabitants together with particular Descriptions of all the considerable Cities and Towns of that Province and an Appendage of divers Treaties of Alliance made between this and other neighbouring States Besides all which the Reader will finde variety of Politick Reflexions and Discourses interspers'd throughout the whole Work which concurre to the accomplishment of the same in reference to the two principall ends of Books Instruction and Divertisement THE FIRST BOOK Containing the HISTORY OF THE EARLS OF HOLLAND CHAP. I. What pass'd before the Earles of Holland THere is all the probability in the world that this fair Province of Holland has not alwayes been as rich and as populous as we now see it but quite contrary it was a kind of a Desert once and full of great Forrests The first People that inhabited it were a Colony of Germans which came out of their Countrey some time before the Birth of our Saviour and it is from thence that it has the name of Batavia if we believe the Roman History and particularly Tacitus lib. de moribus Germanorum There is no doubt but the Batavi are the chief in strength and valour among the Germans and that this Nation which was formerly called Cattes and which upon a sedition at home invaded these Islands which the Rhene makes and are now become Subjects of the Roman Empire are the noblest portion of the German State since History makes so much mention of them and that it appears so in their humours customes and manners of which the chiefest are these following 1. That they pay no tributes 2. That they are free from all contribution towards the War 3. That they are alwayes reserv'd for the War 4. That they have the most honourable rank in the Army as being esteem'd the best Souldiers and the best skill'd in lancing their Javelots 'T is by their help sayes Tacitus that the Romans have extended their Empire beyond the Rhene The Romans in truth did think themselves happy to have them for friends and companions not that I deny but that they were in some way conquered by the same Romans whom they assisted much in their Wars against the Brittains or English witness the Brittain Castle built by the same Romans for as Tacitus sayes it was only by the force of the Batavi and the Tongri that the Romans did overcome the Brittains besides the Emperours were so convinced of their fidelity that they us'd them as guards to their persons but because the Romans did begin to oppress them they revolted from them as it is reported by Tacitus in the fourth Book of his History in these words The Batavi having been us'd in the Wars of Germany did furnish the Empire with arms and men their principall leaders were Julius Paulus and Claudius Civilis of the Royall Bloud Paulus being accus'd of rebellion was kill'd and Claudius put in prison but set at liberty by Galb 〈…〉 Civiiis being a man of parts took notice of the disorder the Empire was in and observing the natural aversion the Bataves had for the Romans because that in raising of Souldiers among them they aim'd more to satisfie their avarice and foul luxury than to supply the legions he fomented under hand at first their discontent then appearing openly exhorted them to recover their liberty and cast off the yoke of slavery We are not said he treated like companions but like slaves remember the glory of your Ancestors and look upon the disorders of the Empire and the Gaules your neighbours who will joyn with you in the design of recovering your liberty Thus it appears by this Writer that the Batavi were to have been the Romans companions and that it was for the breach and non-performance of that promise that they revolted and maintain'd a bloody War in which were perform'd many noble actions The end of this War was a peace in which the Batavi were caâ—l'd the brothers and friends of
King and Commonwealth of Poland particularly for the great quantities of Corn that come from thence though the Imposts be there likewise very high and such as have often made the Hollanders think of changing their Market and buying in Muscovy which they would have compass'd by this means The Countrey people in Muscovy are such slaves their Duke being the Proprietary of all their Lands that they never trouble themselves to plough or sow more Land than just as much as will make such a product as can find them and their Families food Thence it happens that huge Fields of good ground lie wast Now the Hotlanders design was to perswade the Duke of Muscovy to force his Subjects to Till more ground and so he would be able to drive a great Trade and to further this they offer'd to leave Overseers that should direct the work While this was a treating the Poles fearing the consequence bated their Imposts and Customs and so things remain as they were In the Year 1615. there was a Treaty made likewise with the King of Swedeland and Traffick was the ground of it A little before the said King fell upon Germany the amity was renewed and it was agreed that the United Provinces should give the said King 400. pound a moneth as long as the War should last between him and the House of Austria but since these few years the succour that has been given to the Danâ—â— and the interruption of Trade in that Kings Dominions have almost chang'd this Friendship into War There has been likewise a very good Treaty for Trade made with the Duke of Muscovy where mongst other things liberty is granted to levy Souldiers here in his Name and to transport Ammunition for War into his Dominions Trade has also made the States make Treaties with the Emperor of the Turks the Sophy of Persia and the Pirates of Thunis and Algier In Italy the States have no Alliance but with the Venetians which is yet maintain'd for the Honour of these two Commonwealths which are the only flourishing ones in Europe and for certain reasons the Venetians do give five hundred pound a moneth to the Hollanders towards the maintenance of the War with the Spaniards as also the Hollanders have promis'd the like succour to Venice if it should be attaqued by the Spaniard In the first birth of the Common-wealth there was a most advantagious Treaty made with the English under the reign of Queen Elizabeth who maintain'd this reeling State by the succours of Men and great sums of Money which she sent over to them though in such a way that the Hollanders were bound to respect her as if they had been her Subjects Now that the Peace is made with the Spaniards there remains nothing of this Alliance but the liberty of Trade and Commerce and the use of the English Ports There has been likewise many Treaties with the King of France and the States of the United Provinces have receiv'd from him great sums of Money towards the carrying on of the War CHAP. XVIII Of the Admiralty and care that is taken to maintain a Sea-strength SInce it is true that a State is maintain'd by those means by which it is first acquir'd the United Provinces ought not to neglect their Maritine affairs because they have and do really get all their subsistance out of the Sea This Sea-strength consists in a number of Men of War parâ— whereof belong to the States and part to particular men and are call'd Privateers The first are set out at the charges of the publick the other borrow only the States Banner and Commission though to encourage them the States have propos'd to them a set price according to the value of the thing they take from the Enemy The Men of War of the States serve to convoy Merchant-men to and fro and preserve them from danger of Pirates and Enemies The Privateers are most imployed to give chase to and take the rich India Ships of the Spaniards coming from the West-Indies The High Admiral who at present is the Governour General of the States commands over all Ships of War but he seldom goes in person because his presence is necessary at home his room is supplyed by a Vice-Admiral The Great Council call'd the States Gâ—neral being as well oblig'd to look after the Maritine affairs as the Land business and yet finding themselves over-burden'd with business they have discharg'd that care by choosing some others to compose a Body or Council which shall order all Sea-affairs in the Name of the States There are divers of these Assemblies and particularly in those three Provinces which are near the Sea viz. in Holland at Amsterdam Roterdam and Horne this last is sometimes transported to Enchusen which is a Town of North-Holland in Zeeland at Middlebourg and in Friezeland formerly at Doâ—cum but is now transported to Harlingue Each of these Assemblies consists of seven Counsellors or Senators who being chosen by the Members of each Province are delegated and impower'd by the States General they have a Secretary and a Treasurer The Governour General is the head of all these Assemblies as High Admiral the Vice-Admiral represents him in his absence these Deputies did formerly use to meet at the Hague twice a year and do still meet there when the affairs require a conjoynt deliberation with the States about the necessary means of securing the Sea and furthering Commerce They have a Treasury particular to themselves and the Money which is in it is gather'd from the Money that their own Merchants and Strangers pay for Convoys and likewise from the Imposts laid upon Commodities that are transported from one Harbour to another There is likewise brought into this Treasury all the Money that is rais'd by giving licenses to transport Commodities to the Enemies The Deputies of these Assemblies are bound to give an account every quarter of all their expences and receipts to the Commissioners from the States General They have also the power of naming Captains to the Men of War but then the Admiral chooses out of those that they have nam'd In a word their charge is so to secure the Sea as there be no interruption neither from Pirates nor Enemies of any other sort in Trade and Navigation to judge and determine all causes between Seamen and Officers and that Soveraignly and without appeal provided the summe in dispute exceed not fifty pounds observing exactly all brevity and expedition not suffering long harangues in any Cause or giving leave to the parties to reply more than once or twice and that because ordinarily Sea people have occasion of departing upon long Voyages and cannot come again suddenly Last of all it belongs to them to see that the States be payed their proportion of what is taken The fifth part of all prizes belongs to them the tenth to the Amirall and the rest to those that have set out the Privateer as also to the Captain and Sea-men This is only
service of the said Companies oâ— having been formerly employed by them and all such as being now out of their service do live within the jurisdiction of the said Companies shall remain free and unmolested in all places under the obedience of the said King in Europe and may travell trade and frequent in all places as all other Inhabitants of the States Besides it has been Stipulated and Agreed that the Spaniards retain their Navigation to the East-Indies in such manner as it is now for this present time without the liberty of extending themselves any further As also the Inhabitants of these Provinces shall abstain from frequenting the places that the Castilians do possess in the East-Indies 6. And as for the West-Indies the Subjects and Inhabitants of the Kingdomes and Countries of the said King and States shall respectively abstain from Navigation and Trade in all the Harbours places Forts Castles possess'd by either to wit that the Subjects of the said King shall not navigate nor trade in those that belong to the States nor the Subjects of the States in those that belong to the said King And in the places of the States shall be comprehended all those that the Portugueses since 1641. have taken in Brasil upon the said States and all those that they now possess as long as they shall remain in the possession of the said States In all which there is nothing contrary to the precedent Article 7. And because a long space of time is necessary for the giving notice to those that are now abroad with Ships and Forces that they may defist from all acts of hostility it hath been Agreed that within the limits of the Patent granted or to be granted by continuation to the Company of the East-Indies of the United Provinces the peace shall begin no sooner than a year after the date of the present Treaty And as for the limits of the Patent granted heretofore by the States Generall or to be granted by continuation unto the Company of the West-Indies the peace shall not there begin till six moneths after the date of the present Treaty Provided still that if the notice of the said peace be arriv'd by publick Order of each side to the said limits before the said time be expir'd that then immediately all acts of hostility shall cease And that if after the term be expir'd there be yet committed some acts of hostility the dammages shall be repair'd without delay 8. The Subjects and Inhabitants of the Countries of the said King and States trafficking in one anothers Countrey shall not be forc'd to pay any greater Impositions or Customes than their own Subjects respectively so that thereby the Subjects of the said States shall be freed and exempted from the Imposition of 20. per cent or any other whatsoever which the said King did levy during the truce of 12. years or would hereafter raise directly or indirectly upon the Inhabitants of the said States or any wayes charge them further than his own proper Subjects 9. The said King and States shall not raise any Contributions or Imposts out of their limits respectively upon any Merchandize passing either by Land or Water 10. The Subjects of each shall respectively enjoy all freedome of Peages that they were in possession of before the beginning of the War 11. The Trade Commerce and Frequentation shalâ— not be hinder'd between the Subjects of the said King and States and if it should chance to be obstructed any wayes the obstacle shall immediately be taken away 12. And after the day of the conclusion and ratification of this peace the said King shall no longer enjoy upon the Rivers of Rhene and Mouse those Customes or Peages which before the War were under the jurisdiction of any of the United Provinces particularly the Peage of Zeeland which shall not be levied for his Majesty neither in the Town of Antwerp nor any where else upon condition that from that day forwards the States of Zeeland shall take upon them to pay the annuall Rents to those to whom the said Peage was morgaged before the year 1572. which also shall do the Proprietors of all other Peages if they be charg'd with annuall Rents 13. The white boyl'd Salt coming from the United Provinces into those of his Catholick Majesty shall be receiv'd and admitted without any higher Impost than upon Bay-Salt and likewise the Salt coming from his Majesties Countries shall be admitted in those of the States upon the same conditions 14. The Rivers of Scheld as also the Channels of Zas and Zwin and other entries into the Sea thereabouts shall be shut up by the States Generall on their side 15. The Ships and Goods coming in and going out of the Harbours of Flanders shall be taxed at the same rate as the Ships and Goods going upon the Scheld and the Channels nam'd in the above-written Article and it shall be agreed of the proportion between the parties hereafter 16. The Anseatick-Towns with all their Citizens and Inhabitants shall enjoy as to Navigation and Trade in Spain and all the Kingdomes and States thereof all the Priviledges and Immunities granted at present or that shall be hereafter given to the Subjects of the United Provinces And reciprocally all the Subjects of the said Provinces shall enjoy the same Rights Franchises Immunities Priviledges and Capitulations as well for the establishing of Consuls in the capitall Towns or Sea-Ports of Spain as for their Merchants Factors Masters of Ships Mariners or others and that in the same manner that the said Anseatick-Towns in generall or in particular have heretofore practis'd or obtain'd and shall hereafter obtain for the safety and advantage of Navigation and Trade of their Towns Merchants c. 17. Likewise the Inhabitants of the Countries of the said States shall have the same liberty in the said Kings Dominions that the Subjects of his Majesty of Great Britain do enjoy by the Articles in the last Treaty of peace made in secret with the High Constable of Castile 18. The said King shall as soon as possible assign a place for the honourable burying of the bodies of such of the States Subjects as shall die in his Dominions 19. The Subjects and Inhabitants of the said Kings Dominions coming into the Territories of the States shall as to the publick exercise of Religion comport themselves with all modesty without giving any scandall or proffering any blasphemy and the same shall be observ'd by the Subjects of the United Provinces 20. The Merchants Masters of Ships Pilots Mariners their Ships Goods and other things belonging to them shall not be arrested nor detain'd by vertue of any Order either generall or speciall nor for any cause of War or otherwise nor under the pretext of using them for the preservation of the Countrey Hereby nevertheless are not meant all seisings and arrests of Ships by the ordinary proceedings of justice by reason of Debts Obligations and Contracts of those whose Goods are seised who
c. with all the Fruits Revenues Rents and Profits of them And those that have so hid the said Estates Rights c. shall not be any wayes molested by the Treasury but shall enjoy and dispose of them as of their own 36. The Trees cut down after the day of the conclusion of this Treaty or such as shall be cut down the day of the conclusion and those not being cut down are nevertheless bargain'd for shall remain to the Proprietary notwithstanding the sale of them 37. The Fruits Farms Rents Leases Tenths Fishing-Houses c. of such Estates as according to this Treaty shall be restor'd to the right owners if they fall after the conclusion of this Treaty shall remain for the whole year to the Proprietaries and their Heirs c. 38. All Farms and Leases of confiscated Estates though made for many years shall nevertheless expire and be at an end in the year of the conclusion of this Treaty and the Farms or Leases falling after the day of the conclusion of this Treaty shall belong to the Proprietaries with this caution that if the Farmer of the said Estates has employed any of his stock towards the said years crop he shall be re-payed by the Proprietary as the Judges of the place shall value the said disbursement 39. All sale of confiscated Estates made after the conclusion of this Treaty is void as also the sale made before the conclusion if it be against the Capitulations and Agreements made particularly with certain Towns 40. The Houses of particular persons that are or shall be restor'd shall not be made Garrisons on neither side neither shall they pay any higher Taxe or Contribution than the Houses of other Inhabitants 41. None on either side shall be hindred directly or indirectly from changing the place of his abode so he pay the ordinary Taxes 42. If any Fortifications or Works have been made on either side by Authority in such places as are to be restored the Proprietaries shall be content to value them at the rate the Judges of the place shall put upon them as also the Proprietaries shall receive satisfaction for so much of their Estates as shall have been made use of either in Fortifications publick Works or pious uses 43. As for Church-Revenues Colledges and other pious places situated in the United Provinces which were members and dependances of the Benefices Colledges c. now under the obedience of the King of Spain so much of them as has not been sold before the conclusion of the present Treaty shall be restor'd and the owners may take possession of it by their own Authority but for those that have been sold or otherwise disposed of they shall receive a yearly Rent to the value of them after the rate of 8. in the 100. The same shall be observ'd on the side of the said King 44. As for the pâ—eâ—ensions and interest that the Prince of Orange may have in such things which he is not in possession of there shall be made a Treaty by it self to the satisfaction of the said Prince But as for the Lands Goods c. that the said Prince is in possession of by the gift of the said States in Bay 〈…〉 f ship of Hulster-Ambacth and elsewhere they shall all remain in his free possession as his own excluding hereby all pretensions to the contrary by this Treaty or any other 45. Touching certain other ' points which besides the contents of the preceding Article have been agreed upon and signed in two different Writings one of the 8th of January the other of the 27th of December 1647. in the name of the said Prince of Orange the said Writings shall be observ'd accomplish'd and executed according to their contents just as if all the said points in particular were all inserted into this present Treaty and this notwithstanding all Clauses or Articles of this Treaty any wayes contrary for if there be any such they are declar'd void in that point by this present Article 46 Those to whom confiscated Estates are to be restor'd shall not be bound to pay any Arrearages Rents Charges c. specially assign'd upon the said Estates for the time they did not enjoy them and if any pursuit or molestation do befall them they shall immediately be relieved 47. Judgements given upon confiscated Estates between parties that did acknowledge the power of the Judges shall hold only the condemn'd parties may seek relief by the ordinary course of justice 48. The said King does quit and renounce all pretensions of Redemption or other upon the Town of Grave the Countrey of Luych its Appurtenances Dependances and the ancient Barony of Brabant engaged heretofore to the Prince of Orange and which has been since converted as propriety to the use of Prince Maurice of Nassaw in December 1611. by the States Generall as Soveraigns of the said Town of Grave and Countrey of Luych In vertue of which concession the Prince of Orange that now is his Heirs c. shall enjoy for ever the propriety of the said Town of Grave c. with all its Dependances c. 49. The said King does also renounce to all Right Claims c. either of propriety or cession c. to the Town County and Lordship of Lingen and the four Villages and other its Dependances as also to the Towns and Lordships of Bevâ—rgarde Cloppenberge that they may remain for ever to the said Prince of Orange his Heirs c. confirming by this Treaty all the said Princes other Titles to them 50. The said King and States shall each of them separately and for themselves place Judges and Officers in such Towns and strong places as by this Treaty are to be restor'd to the Proprietaries 51. The high part of Gueldres shall be changed for an Equivalence which if it cannot be agreed upon in this Treaty shall be decided by the Chamber of equall number of Judges on both sides and that in the time of six moneths after the ratification of the Treaty 52. The said King does oblige himself to procure effectively the continuation of the neutrality friendship and good neighbour-hood of his Imperiall Majesty and the Empire with the States to the observation of which the States do likewise oblige themselves and the confirmation of the said neutrality shall be made in the space of two moneths by his Imperiall Majesty and in the time of a year by the Empire after the ratification of this Treaty 53. The Fruits Moveables confiscated and receiv'd before the conclusion of this Treaty shall not be subject to be restor'd 54. They that during the War were retir'd into Countries that did stand neuters shall enjoy the benefit of this Treaty and may stay where they please or return to their ancient homes there to live in all quiet and tranquillity in the observation of the Laws of their Countrey without danger of having their Estates or Chattels seized on by reason of the stay they make in any place
the Romans the title of companions seeming not kind enough since the Countrey was over-run by the Danes and Normans who were long masters of it but in the time of Pepin King of France they recover'd their liberties CHAP. II. Therry of Aquitain the First Earl THe most receiv'd opinion of the learned Antiquaries is That Thyerry or Childeric Duke of Aquitain was made Earl of Holland by Charles the ball'd Emperour and King of France He took possession of it in the year 863 and tam'd the fury of the Frizelanders his Subjects growing weary of the long peace which he did politickly keep with all his neighbours conspir'd against him and drive him out of Holland but by the assistance of the Emperour's Forces he subdued them and punished the authors of the rebellion His Wife was Jane daughter to King Pepin of Italy Having reigned forty years in Holland he dyed peaceably leaving his State to his Son Thyerry the Second Succeeding his Father married Hulgard Daughter to Lewis King of France He overcame the Frizelanders in two pitch'd Battels and re-built the Monastery of Egmont which they had burn'd He died after he had governed eighty eight years and lyes buried at Egmont Arnulph or Arnout the Third This Earl maintain'd a long War against the Frizelanders in which he was at last kilâ—'d and buried at Egmont having reign'd five years Thyerry the Fourth Thyerry the third was preferr'd to the dignity of Earl of Holland before his elder Brother and married the Daughter of the Emperour Otho In his time there appeared a Comet which seem'd to prognostick the War that happen'd with the Bishop of Utrect after the loss of much Nobâ—lity the said Bishop was taken and kept prisoner for a long time because he did obstinately refuse all conditions of peace This Duke to revenge his Fathers death over-ran and ruin'd most of East-Frizeland and at last gave it to Florent his younger Son After this he undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and died coming back Thyerry the Fifth Thyerry the fourth of this name and Earl of Holland being gone to Leege to a publick Turnament and having in it kill'd the Bishop of Cullen in revenge thereof was pursued to Dort and there kill'd Florent the Sixth Florent the first of this name succeeded in his Brothers place who died without issue he forsook Frizeland to come and govern Holland he had Wâ—r with the Archbishop of Cullen the Bishop of Leege and the Earl of Louvain whom he defeated luckily by a stratagem invented by an old man who advis'd him to cause deep Ditches to be made upon his enemies way and to cover them over with straw and hay this design succeeded and his enemies falling in great numbers he charg'd them so smartly and at such an advantage that he obtain'd a great victory the Archbishop nevertheless having rallied his scattered Army came again into Holland and was again defeated A little after the Earl Florent was treacherously kill'd Gertrude of Saxony the Seventh This Princess took the reins of the Government in hand after the death of her Husband and during the minority of her Son She was married a second time to Robert of Frizeland and died having govern'd in great tranquillity She left divers Children by both her Husbands Robert of Frizeland the Eighth This Prince is reckoned amongst the Earls of Holland though he were but Guardian to the young Thyerry he acquitted himself with much integrity and honour of this his employment but he was driven out of his State by Godfrey of Lorrain who by the strength and assistance of the Bishop of Utrect possest himself of his Countrey Godfrey the Ninth Godfrey being in possession of Holland built the Town of Delft subdued the Frizelanders and after a happy Reign was at last treacherously murdered Thyerry the Tenth This Prince the true and lawfull Heir having at last recover'd his own made it his business to clear his Countrey of the Bishop of Utrect's Forces which he did by making peace with him after which he set upon the Frizelanders and having pass'd his Army over the Ice he encountred theirs and kill'd four thousand upon the place nevertheless they rallied and coming up with new Forces challenged the Earl and his Army which he bore so impatiently that immediately charging them with all fury he routed them and in pursuit of his victory spar'd neither man woman nor childe This bloody execution made them promise obedience After which the Earl died in 1091. having reigned fifteen years his Wâ—fe was of the House of Saxony Florent the Fat the Eleventh This Floâ—ent govern'd Holland for thirty one years being a very tall corpulent man his inclination was peace and was very charitable He left four Children by his Wife Petronella of Saxony Sister to the Emperour Lotaire He died in the flower of his age and left the administration to his Wife during the minority of his Children All his Subjects had a great respect and veneration for his piety Thyerry the Twelfth Thyerry the sixth of that name was married to Sophia Daughter to Otho Count Palatine by whom he had four Sons and three Daughters He chastized the Frizâ—landers but they rallying again fell stoutly upon North-Holland and burnt the Town of Alcmaer being in a way to make their anger still more sensible to his State if he had not resolutely opposed them A little after hearing that his Brother-in-law was taken prisoner by them and that his Forces were also defeated by the Bishop of Utrect he immediately led his Army and sate down before the Town with so much resolution that he had undoubtedly taken it had not the Bishop for a last shift put on his Pontificall habit and come out with the rest of his Clergy to excommunicate the Count. Thyerry then fell upon his knees and to avoid the excommunication asked pardon and raised his siege He was at lâ—st kill'd by the Frizelanders having reign'd forty five years Florent the Thirteenth Florent took place after Thyerry and married with great transport of joy the Daughter of the King of Scotland which Wibold Abbot of Egmond had brought to one of the Sea-Towns He had by her four Sons and four Daughters He chastized the Frizelanders who had once again burnt Alcmaer and died gloriously at Antioch after he had seen the Sarrasins defeated and driven out of the holy Land Thierry the Fourteenth Thierry succeeded and had by his Wife Alide of Cleves two Daughters whereof one was married to Henry of Gueldre and the other to the Earl of Loen He made War in Brabant and took Boisteduc but was at last taken prisoner by the Duke of Lorrain Ada the Fifteenth Ada Countess of Holland and Daughter to Thierry did not govern long for being married to the Earl of Loen whom most of the neighbouring Princes did envy there were many seditions fomented in her State which at last broke out with great effusion of blood William the Sixteenth William the first of the
was Daughter of William the Good and Wife to Lewis of Bavaria Emperour She came with a great retinue into Holland and having took possession gave the Government to her Son William reserving for her self a Pension every year She sold all the Estates the Frizelanders had in Holland to revenge her Brothers death She died in the year 1355. and in her ended the House of Hainant CHAP. IV. The House of Bavaria William of Bavaria the Twenty fifth VVIlliam the fifth Duke of Bavaria and Son to the Empress Margaret govern'd three years and had no Children by his Wife who was of the House of Lancaster He ran mad and kill'd a Gentleman of great quality whereupon his Subjects gave him a Guardian who was Albert the Twenty sixth Albert his Brother govern'd as Guardian for the space of thirty years after which time the right fell to him and he reign'd sixteen more He had by his first Wife William Albert and John afterwards Bishop of Leege Katherine Dutchess of Gueldres Mary of Burgundy Jane of Austria and Jane Queen of Bohemia In second marriage he took the Daughter of the Duke of Cleves The Frizelanders felt the effects of his just anger William the Twenty seventh William the sixth Son to Albert was twice married first to the Daughter of Charles King of France who died without issue secondly to the Daughter of Philip the bold Duke of Brabant by whom he had a Daughter call'd Jacqueline He made War with the Duke of Gueldres but after he made not only peace but friendship with him A little before he died he made an assembly of the States in which his Daughter was by common consent proclaim'd his Heiress He died in the same year which was the thirteenth of his Reign Jacqueline the Twenty eighth Jacqueline being sixteen years old was married to the Dolphin of France Son to Charles the sixth who died the first year of their marriage and left her at liberty to marry John Son to the Duke of Brabant but this marriage being void by reason of the proximity of blood they being Cousin-germans before the cause could be decided at Rome she went into England and there was married anew to Humphrey Duke of Gloucester Brother to King Henry but this marriage being likewise made void by the Pope she married Francis de Borsales who was taken prisoner by the Duke of Burgundy In her time there were many civil Wars and by her death her State fell to Philip of Burgundy and in her ended the House of Bavaria CHAP. V. The House of Burgundy Philip the Good the Twenty ninth PHilip of Burgundy Son to John of Burgundy and Margaret Daughter of Albert Duke of Bavaria added this noble accession to his Dutchy He had three Wives the first Michelle Daughter to Charles the sixth King of France who died without Children His second was Claudina Daughter to Robert Earl of Heu who was also barren His third was Isabelle of Portugal by whom he had three Sons who died young and the fourth nam'd Charles Earl of Charoloâ—â— lived He govern'd thirty four years he was a vertuous witty Prince One day some body telling him that the inhabitants of Gâ—â—nt did much court his Son Charles he answer'd that they were much given to love their Masters Son but that they would hate him when he should be their Master He receiv'd some injury from the King of England and in revenge besieged Calais with a prodigious Army but the inhabitants of Ghent and Bruges forsaking his Army because he did not act according to their hasty expectations were the ruine of his design This Prince was the first that instituted at the Hague the Order of the Golden Fleece and it has been since transferr'd to the House of Austria His ordinary stay was at Bruges in Flanders where he died Charles Earl of Charolois the Thirtieth Charles sirnamed the Warrier succeeded to his Father By his first Wife Katherine of France he had no Children but by his second Elizabeth of Bourbon he had the Princess Mary War was this Princes inclination which he begun against the King of France Lewis the eleventh He chastized the inhabitants of Liege and caused the Town to be laid waste He was still out-witted by Lewis though he were assisted by the Constable de St. Paul whom Lewis beheaded He drove the Duke of Larrain out of his Countrey who recover'd it again by the assistance of the Swissers against whom by his fault he lost a great Battle and in the hopes of revenge having engaged them with a new Army he lost above sixteen thousand men And at last his ill fortune still pursuing him he went to besiege Nancy and was there betrayed by an Italian whom he loved and trusted too much his Army defeated and himself kill'd upon the place It is thought that his design was to have extended his Dominions as far as Italy by Lorrain and the Swissers and that he had often desir'd the Emperour to erect his States into a Kingdome Never Prince was more courted by forreign Powers than he for he had one only Daughter extream handsome and who was to inherit all his Dominions he promis'd her to none but gave fair words to all His death was much resented by his Subjects and hardly beleev'd by the Hollanders Lewis King of France was very glad of his death for he stood much in awe of his power and 't is thought that he prevailed with money upon this Italian to betray him Mary Countess of Charolois Dutchess of Burgundy and Countess of Holland the Thirty first The loss of this great Warriour brought a great consternation amongst his people and made them assemble the generall States at Louvain to take care for the safety of those Provinces and their Mistress This young Lady was then about fourteen years old when the tragick news of her Fathers death reach'd her ears The Emperour Ferdinand did desire her for his Son Maximilian and Lewis of France for his Dolphin Charles and it seem'd that the Ladies inclinations were more inclin'd o the French but they too hasty to seize the prey having entred Artois with an Army the States gave her to Maximilian the Emperours Son the Countess of Meguen her Governant having boldly said that the Princess was of age to bear a man and therefore they should not give her a childe such as the Dolphin of France was The French upon this marriage were so incensed that they laid wast all the Countrey of Artois and from thence fell upon Hainaut They tryed also to annoy these Provinces by Sea but were beaten by the Hollanders This excellent Lady having liv'd some years in admirable union with her Husband fell one day as she was a hunting and broke two ribbs whereupon a Feaver citing her she died in the year 1482. She left a Son call'd Philip and Margaret her Daughter CHAP. VI. The House of Austria Maximilian the Thirty second THis Imperiall Prince having married the Princess Mary at
of severity and mildness he had without doubt better fitted the humour of the Nations he had to do with He is to this very day in great aversion among the Hollanders who call all cruell men by his name It is said of him that he bragg'd he had brought above 18000. to their end by the hand of justice I know not whether it be true but I know that the States have founded the justice of their pretensions upon his cruelties He govern'd six years and left no body afflicted for his depart It was said and well said that either King Philip should never have sent him or never have recall'd him CHAP. IX The Government of Don Lewis and the great Councell of State LEwis of Requesens high Commander of the Kingdome of Castilia was sent in the place of the Duke and his famous Statue which he had caused to be set up in Antwerp was pull'd down by his order to the great satisfaction of the States His first care was to set out a Fleet to succour Mondragonius a brave Captain who had defended Middleburgh almost two years but he was ignorant that the Sea was the Throne these Nations intended to settle their Empire in The Earl Bossu had been beaten the year afore by the Hollanders and now the Zelanders burn'd and destroyed this Fleet in the presence of Don Lewis and took Middleburgh The Count Lewis of Nassaw had worse fortune for having brought a brave Army out of Germany he was met at Nimmiegue by Davila and entirely defeated himself and his Brother slain This victory was followed by a sedition in the Spanish Army which much weakened their power but being appeas'd were sent before Leyden in hopes of having the pillageing of that Town but being there shamefully repulsed their indignation fell upon their Generall whom they detained in prison till they had received their full pay After that they took Oudewater and Schoonhof Many Propositions and Treaties were advanced but none taking effect Don Lewis fram'd that famous enterprize by many thought impossible of besieging Ziriczee This Island was in the Confederates hands and the Royalists waded through the Sea up to the neck to go and besiege it 't is true there was no hopes of a return the Sea being encreased by the flowing water Ziriczee held out nine moneths after which it yeelded Vitellio a great Captain died during that siege and Don Lewis followed him shortly after By his death the Authority came into the hands of the Couâ—cell of State who for want of union ruin'd the Kings affairs and gave occasion to a fourth sedition of the Spaniards A little after followed the pacification of Gand and the alliance of the Provinces against the Spaniards who seeing themselves generally hated and that the inhabitants of Antwerp were about to divide the Town from the Cittadell by a Trench agreed at last with the Governour Davila and sallying out plunder'd the Town for three dayes together which was a most barbarous and detestable action CHAP. X. The Government of Don John of Austria and of the Prince of Parma DOn John of Austria was receiv'd Governour upon condition that he should subscribe to the pacification of Gand which he did but finding himself without Authority he surprized Namur whereupon the States proclaimed him as an enemy and raised an Army He was a Bastard of Charles the fifth and had made himself famous by that immortall Battle of Lepanto against the Turks in which he was Generall The States chose in the mean time the Archduke Matthias Brother to the Emperour Rodolf for their Governour Then having assembled their Army at Gemblours they faced Don Johns Forces who couragiously engaging them obtained the victory but liv'd not long after it declaring Alexander Prince of Parma for his successour This was that famous Alexander who by his valour and conduct reduced all Artois Hainaut Flanders and Brabant to their obedience who took Antwerp Malines Ipres Brussels and many other Cities and at last he had brought the Confederates to the necessity of submitting to some forreign Prince for protection if God had not raised up Prince Morrice to defend them In the mean time the Archduke Matthias finding that the States had a mind to be rid of him and were ready to call the Duke of Alencon and make him Duke of Brabant left the Low-Countreys The Duke of Alencon went first into England in hopes of being married to Queen Elizabeth but the match being deferr'd he went into Brabant and took possession of the Dutchy In the year 1582. the Prince of Orange was shot in the face with a Pistoll which made the people take some jealousie of the French and threaten to cut their throats and their new Dukes He on his side did complain that all the Authority was in the Prince of Orange his hand and thereupon fram'd a design upon Antwerp but fail'd when it came to the execution so that they were forced to leave the Town and soon after Alexander made them quit the Countrey in which he did still advance having taken Tournay Oudenard and Breda defeated Biron and taken Dunkirk All this while William Prince of Orange was seriously employed in framing and giving Laws to this new Commonwealth but being wakened by the progress of Alexander Duke of Parma he made a Remonstrance to the United Provinces that now there was but two wayes left to provide for their safety the one was to submit and patiently yeeld to the Spanish domination the other to declare the King of Spain to be fallen from and to have lost his right to the said Provinces and thereupon choose another Prince mentioning the Duke of Alenson The last of these was followed and in a generall Assembly at Antwerp King Philip was depriv'd of his right and power in those Provinces and the Duke of Alenson as it has been said before chosen in his place It is to the great wit and prudence of this Prince of Orange that Holland owes its liberty but he liv'd not to enjoy the fruit of his labour for he was assassinated at Delft the same year and day that the Duke of Alenson died at Chasteaâ— Thyerry Alexander having reduced Ipres and Bergue resolv'd against the opinion of all to besiege Antwerp and though he met with inconceivable difficulties in the execution yet he atchiev'd his enterprize with great glory But his noble actions and the brave resistance of the United Provinces with all the series of the long War they have maintain'd for the defence of their liberties have been eloquently written by divers good Authors to whom we refer the Reader our scope in this short Narration being only to instruct him how Holland and the other Provinces were govern'd before their union which having perform'd we now come to our main design which is to give a particular Account of this Union of the Conditions upon which it was concluded and by which it yet stands as it follows in the Second Part of this Book
particularly when Zeeland joyns with it But that which is worth observation and contrary to the opinion of some strangers is that though the Provinces be very unequall in strength and dignity and that some contribute four times as much in peace and war towards the publick yet have they all equall right in deliberations and none has an authority over the other Between the Deputies they observe the order that is receiv'd in their respective Provinces for their precedency In Guâ—ldres the Gentry goes before the Deputies of the Towns and the Deputies of Nimegue precede all the others In Holland the Deputies of Towns yeeld to the Deputies of the Nobles In Zeeland the Deputy of the Marquess of Terveer and of Flushing precede all the others as representing the Nobility In the Diocess of Utrect the Deputies of the chosen or Eleuâ— have precedency before the Nobility and before the Deputies of the Town of Utrect it self In Friezeland the Deputies of the Countrey call'd Goon ende Wolden do precede the Deputies of Towns In Overissel the Nobles Deputies carry it before the Deputy of the three great Towns and the same precedency that Groeningue has upon Omland its Deputy has upon the Deputy of the other These things deserve to be taken notice of because it is ordinarily the first Deputy that presides and he being absent the next takes his place but the same does not preside alwayes in this great Assembly for the president is changed every week and the Deputies of the Provinces take it by turns Some strangers have been grosly mistaken to write that the Governour Generall was the perpetuall President of this Assembly which is so far from being true that he has not so much as the liberty of giving his Vote It cannot be denied indeed that the States do often ask his advice and hear his Propositions and by a receiv'd custome the President does every day see him to know whether he has any thing to propose When the President takes the Votes he begins by Gueldres and goes on to Holland Zeeland c. and having the opinion of all he concludes according to the plurality of Votes except it be an affair of great consequence and that the Deputies desire to have time to advise with the States of their Provinces The Clerk or Secretary does at the same time draw up the resolution of the company which the President signs and the Secretary after him CHAP. VII Of the Orders that the States of Holland and West-Friezeland give to their Deputies in the States Generall and of the Oath they take SInce that the Government of Holland shall be hereafter propos'd as a pattern of the other Provinces it will not be amiss to produce here the Orders that the States of Holland and West-Friezeland gave upon the third of March in 1643. to the Deputies they sent to the States Generall 1. There shall be sent on the behalf of Holland and West-Friezeland none but capable and sufficient men that shall not be before-hand engaged in another employment by Oath or Pension 2. It is not lawfull for the Deputies to go beyond the terms of the Treaty of union at Utrect and the Commands of their Provinces They shall let pass nothing that shall be contrary to the priviledges immunities and customes receiv'd by our Ancestours without a speciall Order from their States 3. The said Deputies shall not neither in this Assembly nor out of it treat of peace nor war nor grant Patents or Priviledges that might be damageable to Holland or West-Friezeland nor levy or cashier Souldiers nor change the current Coyn nor forgive traytors but whensoever things of that nature shall be afoot they shall give notice to the States of Holland and West-Friezeland or in their absence to the Councell of State 4. They shall neither sell nor alienate the Dominions Rights and Priviledges belonging to the publick by vertue of their publick union without a particular and speciall consent of the Provinces 5. All the revenues and prerogatives that belong to the publick by vertue of Treaties and Agreements made with forreign powers shall be applied to the benefit of the publick union and shall be put in the hands of the Treasurer and the Councell of State and the States Generall shall not dispose of them 6. The Deputies shall not neither by themselves nor by others exercise any sort of Judicature upon any cause but shall send the parties either to the Councell of State or to the Admiralty according as the affair is but they may pronounce sentence upon such Law-Suits as are subject to be re-viewed 7. They cannot by their Authority hinder and suspend the execution of any sentence given by any Court whatsoever either in criminall or civill matters 8. As soon as the States of Holland and West-Frieze shall meet they shall immediately send them all the Deliberations made in the States Generall 9. They shall communicate the affairs and concerns of these Countreys to none but their States or in their absence to their Councell of State and if there fall out any thing that may concern North-Holland they shall immediately give notice to the Deputies of that place 10. The Councell of State and the Colledge of the 〈…〉 iralty shall leave that very thing 〈◊〉 the order so prescrib'd and shall not change either by themselves or others any part of these Instructions 11. They shall not dispose of the pri 〈…〉 pall military and pol 〈…〉 ck Offices without the particular consent of the States of Holland neither shall they make such presents as might lessen the revenue of the publick 12. They shall have six shillings a day allowed them for their wages 13. The Deputies shall swear to observe all these Articles of which the States of Holland and West-Friezeland do reserve to themselves a more ample interpretation This Order has been made and confirm'd by the said States the ninth of March in the year 1643. Here follows the Formulary of the Oath I A. B. do promise and swear perpetuall fidelity to the States of Holland and West-Friezeland as being the Soveraign Lords of the said Provinces and that I will not assist neither by counsell nor by deed or any manner in any thing that shall be prejudiciall to the aforesaid Authority and that if I perceive any such thing doing by others I will immediately give notice of it to the States or in their absence to their Councell likewise that I will defend to my utmost the prerogatives and honour of the said Countreys as likewise the Reform'd Religion as it is now taught in those Provinces In a word that I will further and advance as much as in me lyes the interest of the said Provinces both in the States Generall and abroad as far as it stands with the benefit of the publick union I do likewise promise to keep secret all things that shall require to be so kept that I will receive no forbidden presents and that I will do all
hitherto communicated all their designs and counsils with the three Princes of Orange that have succeeded one another as also the President of the States General has alwayes used to wait upon his Highness before the sitting of the Company besides by reason of the great Estates they possess in Zeeland and other Provinces they enjoy peculiar Priviledges and have in that consideration and others many advantages which the Provinces may either amplifie or restrain at their pleasure But leaving all this aside and considering barely what belongs to the Office of a Governour we may particularly stay upon these six points 1. The Governour General may pardon and forgive all capital crimes that deserve death this Prerogative is call'd trech van pardonneren 2. In those Provinces that have Courts of Judicature he is alwayes the President of them and his Name and Titles are in the front of all their Acts and Decrees 3. In certain places where that custom is receiv'd he names the Magistrates either out of a certain number proposed to him or absolutely as he pleases It is thus practis'd at Nimmegue every where in Holland except at Horne Enchuse Edam and Monchendaâ— in Zeeland every where except at Tergoes in Utrect every where in Friezeland the Governour does the like This Priviledge is extended even to the nomination of amptmans or drostampen of the dignity of Patricians or raâ—ts heers-ampten and many other which would be too long to name here 4. He may send Ambassadors to Foreign Princes for his own particular concerns and give private Audience to the Ambassadors of Foreign States that are sent to the States General 5. It is his duty to see the States Orders executed in those Provinces in which he is Governour 6. By the 9th and 14th Articles of the Union of Utrect he is made Umpire of such contests as should arise between the Provinces or between any Members of one Province or even between the States and some of their Subjects touching all which he alone can pronounce a Soveraign and definitive sentence and if the affairs be of very great consequence then he may joyn with him some Counsellors of State without exception of persons and it is expresly enjoyn'd to all parties to acquiesce and submit to his Aâ—bitration We shall speak elsewhere of the other attributes of Governour that have â—elong'd to him as General by Sea and Land for these two great charges are not as some Strangers do to be confounded and he that is Governour of the Provinces is not alwayes General of their Forces CHAP. XIV Whether or no the United Provinces can subsist without a Governour SInce we have numbred up the Governours of the United Provinces and declar'd freely what is their Authority and Power it is now fit to consider whether they are so necessary to the States as to make them incapable of subsisting without them Many Strangers are of opinion that these Provinces cannot be without a Governour General and the same opinion has taken root in the hearts of many Natives who are not able to discern those things in the Treaty of Utrect which are essential from those that are mutable and may be otherwise disposed of as the circumstances of time do vary But since the Soveraign Power has never been entirely resigned into the hand of any one Governour though some have had very many of the Prorogatives belonging to it it is evident that they in whom the Soveraign Power remains can perform by themselves those Offices which they are pleas'd to trust a Governour with therefore if a Governour does nothing but by Commission and that because of the absence of those who impower him to act for them why shall not they if they be present take upon them the execution of those things that were before committed to anothers care And though Governours be often nam'd and mention'd in the Treaty of Utrect yet was it not intended for a Governour General for even at that time Utrect had its particular Governour and some years after it was govern'd by the same Governour that Holland and Zeeland was 'T is to as little purpose that some pretend that it is necessary that each Province should have its particular Governour who may in fit season prevent and calm all occasions of Civil commotions as the Dictators did in Rome but in vain for who sees not but that as hitherto the way of determining those contests has been by referring them to the Governour and some Deputies of another Province so they may if they please leave out the Governour and refer their debates to the Deputies of other Provinces alone particularly considering that it has been hitherto observ'd that no Governour ever undertook the person of an Umpire before he had consulted with the States Generall who being above any inferiour Province have the power of hindring the progress and encrease of any dissention CHAP. XV. Of the Riches by which the United Provinces do maintain themselves BY the Treaty of Union made at Utrect it was ordained that there should be raised an equall summe of Moneys in every Province but experience hath taught us that such an equality was very unjust For for example is it fit that there should be no more laid upon an acre of Land in Holland which is very rich and yeelds twice as much as in any other place than upon an acre in Gueldres which is poor and yeelds not half the revenue The same difference is to be observ'd in all other things It has therefore been judg'd by common consent more just and profitable for each Province to make a new Order every year in which each should be taxed according to the then abilities of the said Province and according to the publick exigencies So for example if there be necessity of raising 10000. pound Holland alone shall furnish 4000. five hundred of it Zeeland and Friezeland a 1000. a piece Gueldres Utrect and Groeningue 3500. and Transisulania or Overissell the rest This order being once agreed upon it belongs to the States of each Province to consider how it shall be levyed and this is the true reason why the Taxes and Imposts are so different in the Dominions of the States Generall These Levyes thus order'd are not alwayes receiv'd in money and return'd to the publick Treasury of the States Generall but are distributed by Tallies in the Province it self to those to whom the States do owe which is a very wise caution for it is certain that money still lessens as it passes through the hands of many receivers 2. Among these Levyes it was thought fit from the very beginning to give leave to all to transport certain merchandize into the neighbouring Low-Countreys still remaining under the Spanish jurisdiction but there was and is an impost laid upon them for the receit of which there are Officers and seachers upon the Frontier But to the end this licence might be no wayes prejudiciable to the affairs of this rising Commonwealth they
forbid the transport of Arms or Ammunition under pain of death Yet at last when victuals and necessaries for life grew dear among their enemies and that there was an evident advantage for the Confederates to furnish them with those things licence was granted and they drove such a trade with their enemies as made themselves grow rich and powerfull 3. There is likewise a great summe of money rais'd upon the granting of Passports to those in the Spanish Dominions who desire to transport themselves into the Territories of the States for every Passport costs fifty shillings of English money And yet lest this also should prove prejudiciall to the State they seldome grant any to those amongst their enemies who are either in military or politick employments and to any others they scarce grant them for longer than the time of six moneths 4. The Contributions that are levyed upon those Villages and that part of the Countrey which lyes between the enemy and them make another part of their supplyes for these Bourghs pay as much to the States as to the Spaniards and there are Treasurers upon the Frontier for the receit of it 5. The Imposts payed in the conquer'd Towns of Brabant and Flanders make another part of their revenue for there is excise upon Wine and Beer and Salt A Tax upon Houses and upon Lands 6. They receive a part of the plunder made by the Souldiers upon the enemy 7. They have hitherto had from the French and the English great summes of money as long as they have had War with the Spaniards The French to make diversion did maintain in the service of the States a body of 6000. Foot and 2000. Horse at their own charges for many years The serene State of Venice in vertue of a Treaty made in 1622. did promise 4000. pound a moneth in time of War 8. They have money at use that is they keep a bank of such moneys as are lent the State by particulars and pay use for it five in the hundred is the use the State payes All these great summes of money are by the Order of the States committed to the care of a particular Councell call'd A General Directory for the Treasury which is composed of the Deputies of each Province CHAP. XVI Of the principall Forces which do maintain the Commonwealth of the United Provinces THe greatest internall or defensive strength of these Countreys does lye in their situation which makes all their Towns easily to be fortified As for the externall it consists in their Leagues and Alliances with Foreign Princes Let us speak first of the situation That situation which is advantagious for the defence of a Countrey the exercising of commerce and consequently growing rich must needs proceed from the neighbourhood of the Sea and the affluence of great Rivers and Channells thence comes the Proverb The Hollanders are born for the Sea and the Sea for them of which they are well convinc'd and consequently spare no cost nor industry to be the masters upon this Element having long ago graven upon their Coyn this Motto Imperator maris est terrae Dominus If the Spaniards had been so wise as to have spent that treasure in hindring the Hollanders trade and navigation that he layed out upon attaking their Countrey he had undoubtedly ruin'd them and he now perceives it and does endeavour by all means though too late to obstruct their commerce Besides the Sea there are the Rivers of Rhene Meuse and Jud that do make the Countrey almost inaccessible Besides if any enemies be taken on this side these Rivers there is a Law which is exactly observ'd which commands to hang them up immediately The strong Towns are upon the Borders not only in Brabant Flanders Gueldres and Friezeland but also upon the Confines of Germany as Rhinbergue Wesel and divers places bordering upon the Dutchy of Cleves The reason whereof is this the War being kindled between the Spaniards and the United Provinces the Spaniards did first begin to seize and put themselves in possession of the Towns of the Dutchy of Cleves and of the Electour of Cullen that they might the better annoy the Hollanders who fore-seeing the mischief like to arise from thence sent an Army and seized as many of these Towns as they could put Garrisons into them and nevertheless still preserv'd the Inhabitants in all their propriety liberty and priviledges Hereupon arose great contests between the Emperour the Duke of Cleves and the Electour of Cullen on one side and the Hollanders on the other but the Hollanders kept possession Besides the Garrisons they maintain in all Frontier Towns they have also two Magazines in each one with Ammunition for War the other with provisions for life A Governour commands the Garrison they that command in small Frontier Towns are call'd Commanders and they that command in great strong Towns are qualified Governours And for the greater safety of the said Towns the Keys are partly in the Governours partly in the Bourgmasters hands The Civill and Military powers are likewise so distinct that the Governour has nothing to do with the Inhabitants nor the Judges of the place any power over the Souldiers As for the Land-Forces they consist of Strangers and Naturals but the Strangers do exceed the Naturals in number who are more enclin'd to long Voyages and Trade than to Warre Neither is the State endanger'd by putting the force and military power in Stangers hands for they being of different Nations as English Scotch French c. have different inclinations and aversions and so will hardly conspire to oppress their Masters who do alwayes mingle them in their strongest Towns It is believ'd that the number of Souldiers paid by the States and sworn to them does come very near one hundred thousand The Companies are for the most part of a hundred men some few excepted who are either stronger or weaker as necessity requires The Regiments are of ten twelve fourteen sixteen eighteen Companies Each Regiment is commanded by a Collonel The Horse is much inferiour in number to the Foot because that in these Countreys the greatest employment for Souldiers is besieging and defending of Towns in which the Horse are not so necessary as in set Battles There are two sort of Horsemen distinguish'd by their Arms viz. Cuirasseers that wear iron breast and back-pieces and Arquebusiers that carry short Guns on Horseback Their Horses ought to be sixteen handfull high measuring from the hoof of the fore-foot to the top of the shoulder The Infantry has about four shillings and six pence a week pay and the Horse about fifty shillings a moneth They that are payed by the States money are soon and exactly payed but they whose payment is assign'd upon the money that comes from France wait a little longer for it It is very observable in these Provinces that though there be no Money in the Treasury yet the Souldiers receive their pay every week or moneth for every Regiment
chooses an Agitatour who resides near the States to sollicite the payment of those he represents and when there is no Money in the publick Treasury he may confidently and does borrow and take up Money for the present necessity and it is repaid him again with interest by the States order The hopes of the great profit there is to be made engages these Sollicitors to do thus for when they advance their Money it is at the rate of 10 per Cent. gains which they tâ—â—e upon the arrears which the State owes to the Officers But this produces another inconvenience which is that the Officer being forc'd to give so much to the Sollicitor out of his pay endeavours to recover it again upon the States and musters more men in his Company than he really pays Besides their pay the Souldiers have likewise their Lodging free and the States do pay to the Inhabitants of all Towns upon that score six pence a week for each Souldier they lodge and this is call'd Service-Money If the Enemies besiege a Town and that the Money laid up in it for the paying of the Souldiery come to fail they make Money of Tin Brass Leather or Pastboard which the Magistrates set a price upon and such a one as exceeds very much the price of the matter of which such Money is made In the mean time the Souldiers take it freely for the siege being raised or the Town yielded up there comes a Treasurer who gives them currant Money for their other All sorts of Provisions that are brought to the Armies are free from all Imposts and Tributes in favour of the Souldiers In the siege of Towns the Souldiers have likewise gratuity given them some Provisions for their diet out of the publick Magazines The Souldiers and inferiour Officers being made Prisoners are at liberty in paying their ransom which by agreement between the States and the Spaniards is a moneths pay of the Prisoners The Inhabitants or Citizens are not so mildly dealt withall for they are constrained to pay whatsoever the Enemy demands or to rot in Prison till there be a general exchange made of Prisoners which is once or twice a year The Women and Children under twelve years old are not to be taken So much for the Forces in ordinary In extraordinary dangers there are extraordinary Forces rais'd which they call Waertgelders to encourage them the more the States do promise them Ten pence a day but because that many in hopes of so great a pay do forsake the ordinary Companies and take imployment in these new ones it has been often thought fit to command out instead of these Waertgelders the Train-bands of every Town and to mingle with them some old Souldiers and so make them fit for service Every Souldier as well in the Army as in Garrison is subject to the Jurisdiction of a Council of War which is compos'd in the Field of the General and some high Officers and in a Garrison of the Governour and his Captains they judge according to the Articles of the Formulary prescribed and printed by the States order The pay of Souldiers on Ship board is 12 s. and 6 d. a moneth besides which they have their diet which he that commands the Ship is bound to find them and receives from the States 6 d. a day for each man At Sea there is no such custom as the ransom at Land nay at first all Prisoners were bound hand and feet and thrown over-board but because so great a cruelty displeased both Spaniards and Hollanders they agreed there should be quarter given but not at such easie rates as at Land The Spaniards reason for this his so great a severity was that he might deterr the Hollanders from venturing to Sea but it produced only this that it made them defend their Ships with more courage and successe than before Ostend and Dunkirk were the places from whence they made most incursions upon the Hollanders which made them every year put a Fleet to Sea and come and besiege the Ports of these two Towns CHAP. XVII Of the Alliances of the United Provinces with Foreign Princes THe external Forces of the United Provinces are their Alliances which they maintain either by their Ambassadors or by their Agents They allow their Ambassadors ordinarily a thousand pound only he that is in this quality at Constantinople is allowed more that he may maintain the glory of his Nation to the eyes of that ambitious people Let us consider these Alliances one after another With the Emperor of Germany there is no Alliance but only a Friendship observ'd since these many years in appearance though not in reality for the Emperor has often sent great succours to the Spaniards under-hand and the Hollanders have done the same to the Princes of France and Germany Yet the Emperor has by divers Embassies press'd the United Provinces to declare themselves Members of the Empire as their Princes were formerly writing to them in the stile of Faithfull and Well-beloved But the States have been so far from consenting to such a Proposition that they have often order'd that such Letters should be sent back again to the Emperor without being opened saying that theirs was a free absolute State which had never yielded to pay homage to any Prince In the mean time there passes between them all Commerce and offices of Friendship There was likewise a League and Union made between the United Provinces and the Princes of Germany to protect them from the oppression which threatned them from the great Power the Emperor was got into and in this they did nothing but what the care of their Liberty did force them to for had those Princes been over-power'd the Low-Countries might have feared the same fate Above two hundred years ago there was an Alliance between the Anseatic Towns and the Low-Countries and there happening to be amongst the United Provinces some of these Towns as Amsterdam Middlebourg Dort which now make a part of the Common-wealth it was thought fit to renew the Alliance which was accordingly done in 1614. by a new Treaty in which the States oblige themselves to maintain the Rights and Priviledges of the said Anseatic Towns This the Emperor took so ill that he endeavour'd to make those Anseatic Towns that were in the Empire liable to the crimes of Treason and Rebellion against his Imperial Majesty but by their Ambassadors they proved that time out of mind they had the right and priviledge of making such Alliances The Treaty of Alliance made formerly with the King of Denmark concerns nothing but a reciprocal liberty for Traffick and Commerce and yet these States have often been forc'd to complain to their Ambassadors of the excessive Rates and Customs they did pay in passing the Sound But the necessity they stand in of venting their Commodities makes them undergo this hardship and has produced of late a more strict Alliance for the maintaining of Trade They are likewise in Friendship with the
another way to work and employed the Portuguesses whose interest was very strong with most of the Indian peoples and Princes they endeavoured by all means to make the Dutch so odious to those Nations that they should abstain from all Trade and Commerce with them representing them as Pirates and Rebels to their King But the States Generall being inform'd of this hard measure given them by the Portuguesses gave order to all their Subjects to assault and take all Ships that should any wayes strive to oppose their navigation to the Indies Thus they struggled pretty well with this great obstacle But the Merchants themselves being divided into different Companies and not acting all unanimously did spoil one anothers Trade for either they would all come to one Port of the Indies and so enhance the price of the Natives Commodity and debase their own or commit some other errour which made most of their Ships return with much less profit than might have been otherwise expected The States considering these inconveniencies resolv'd to make up one certain Company of all the different Adventurers that would come in and to grant to them alone the priviledge of trading to the Indies under certain Conditions This Order of the States being publish'd many out of hopes of gain others out of love to their Countrey put in different summes which all together made up six hundred thousand pound the first stock upon which this Company has built its prodigious Encrease All those that had conributed were call'd Partners in Dutch Participanten because they had part in all the profit and loss of the Company But all those that had contributed more than six hundred pound were call'd head-Partners hooft-Participanten and out of these alone were and are to this day chosen the Curators or Directors of the Company with a very large power All these head-Partners together have the priviledge of naming out of their own number the Curators and then in some places the States of the Province in others the Magistrates of Towns are to choose them out of those that are nam'd The Curators are bound to give an account of all incomes and expences once a year to the head-Partners They manage all the business of the Company and are continued in their employment all their life-time or at least for one and twenty years They hold their Assemblies in the most convenient places of each Province and their Assemblies are call'd Chambers In each of these Chambers there are a set number of Curators at Amsterdam there are twenty in Zeeland twelve upon the Meuse fourteen and fourteen in West-Friezeland Besides these ordinary Assemblies there are setled in each Province some extraordinary ones upon occasion to which the Chambers send their Deputies and all the Chambers of that Province are bound to stand to the Deliberations of this that is made up of them all This Chamber is setled at Amsterdam for Holland and at Middlebourg for Zeeland This extraordinary Assembly consists of seventeen Deputies call'd de Vergaderinge van Seventien Each Chamber knows the number of Deputies that it must send to this Assembly some more and some less proportionably still to the first money that they put in This is the form of Government that this Company lives under within the States Territories and amongst all its Constitutions this is the principall that the Curators shall employ with all care and speed the summes that shall be furnish'd to them for the setting out of a strong Fleet well arm'd to drive the Portuguesses and Spaniards out of those Forts and strong places which they hold and in buying those Manufactures and Wares which we exchange with the Indians giving a yearly account of their receits and expences that out of the product something may still be layed aside whereby to confirm and advance the Companies Trade and Settlement in those parts that the rest shall be equally distributed to all the sharers to every one according to the proportion of the money first put in by them And this Distribution is commonly call'd Uytdeâ—linge This noble establishment thus begun fail'd not of a very happy success for now all interests being united as well as strengths the work was carried on unanimously and by the exchange of some things of small value with us as Looking-Glasses Feathers Chrystall and Glass Rings Bracelets Babies and other such bables made at Nurembergue in Germany the Company receiv'd from the silly Indians Silk Stuffs Pearls all sorts of aromatick Druggs of great value and things of that nature To this adde the taking of divers strong places and Forts from the Portuguesses and Spaniards who at first little dreamed of being invaded so far off by those whom they thought they did put so much to it at home By these means in six years time viz. from the year 1602. to the year 1608. the Company came to see their capitall summe of six hundred thousand pound encreas'd to almost three millions of English money besides all the gain that had been distributed among the partners And besides their Conquests are such and their Dominions so enlarged in the Indies that they have under their power or protection divers great Kingdomes and Countreys besides many others who have granted to them alone exclusively to the Spaniards and Portuguesses the liberty of Trade amongst them Things being brought to this flourishing condition it was thought fit to lay the foundation of a new Common-wealth and for this purpose they chose a Town which they call'd Batavia which is so well fortified and encompass'd with a strong Wall of Bricks that it was able these late years to hold out before all the Forces of the great Emperour of Java who besieged it with an Army of two hundred thousand men It was order'd that the Governour General of the Indies for the Company should here reside and keep a Royal Court where he enjoyes the same power that the Governour General does in Holland he keeps a greater equipage and marches with more state than some Kings of Europe that he may the more be respected by his own Subjects and the barbarous Nations round about At first this dignity was for life but because it seem'd dangerous to let so much power reside in one man so long it was resolv'd to follow the Spaniards custom and limit the time of their Government to three years In this Town are likewise establish'd two Soveraign Courts in one whereof fits the Governour with his Associates to treat of the publick affairs of the Society as Peace War Alliances Trade c. the other is a Court of Justice where causes are tryed between particular men Besides this there are in all Provinces and Islands depending upon the Company two Soveraign Magistrates one of which commands the Militia which is quarter'd in different places to be in a readiness to keep the Natives down and the other has the care of all that concerns Trade and to the end that they may not behave themselves dishonestly there are
adjoyn'd to them certain Officers call'd Censours who keep a Register of all Occurrences and give account of them every quarter to the Governour and his Council Out of these Registers the Council picks the condition and posture of the Companies affairs and having drawn it up sends it into Holland and the Curatours thereby know how to govern themselves in their supplyes At the same time there was some project made for the better multiplying of this Colony that so at last they might equal the Indians in number and not need to drain Europe every year for men To further this they built a publick house in which were maintain'd at the publick charge great numbers of young Maids brought from Holland and the Souldiers and Seamen had liberty to make their addresses and marry them But this did not succeed for it was found by experience that the children born of Dutch Parents in the Indies were not so lusty nor so long liv'd as those that were born of a Dutch Father and an Indian Mother The Trade to the Indies is driven with ready money or with Exchange the Japponeses take ready money all the Indians exchange their Commodities for ours which at first were of so small a value and theirs so rich that for every five pounds worth of ours we had a hundred pounds worth of theirs Some of these Nations have given to the Hollanders alone the priviledge of Trading with them for example they alone can buy Pepper and by consequence set what price they please upon that Commodity Every year in certain seasons the Fleets set sail for Holland and every year new Fleets go from Holland for the Indies The Merchandizes brought from India to Holland are publickly exposed to sale and the money produced distributed among the Sharers so for a hundred pound which a particular man shall have put into the common stock he shall have rarely twenty sometimes thirty and most commonly fourty pound profit so that the annual rent comes almost to half the Capital This distribution is made either in Money or Merchandize the truth is that heretofore they did seldom use to deliver out any Merchandize but of late some Nations of Europe having gone about to set up the same Trade to the Indies the Hollanders to discourage and break them at their first beginings did think fit to make a distribution of Merchandize Whereupon there coming abroad at once so much the price of all could not choose but fall and so make these Strangers not able to afford them at such easie rates 'T is true that this did the Company themselves much prejudice but still it was a less loss to them for the greatest mischief that can befall them is that other Nations find the way to the Indies There is besides this considerable advantage that all the Sharers do not only make a vast interest of their money but their Capital encreases every day as the Companies stock encreases So if he that has put in at first 400 pound will sell which they seldom do his right to another he will without difficulty get 1800 pound for it and it is to be hoped that at last the very annual distributions will be worth the Capital every year Some years ago the Company of the West-Indies was establish'd after the same model and a purpose to cross its settlement the King of Spain demanded a Truce of twelve years from the States one of the Articles of which was that the Hollanders should undertake no Navigation to the West-Indies he obtain'd it and all that while the design was crush'd but shortly after the Truce expir'd it was again set a foot with more eagerness The Capital of this Company was seven hundred thousand pound and the Curatours having set out a brave Fleet the Town of St. Sauveur otherwise call'd baia de todos los Santos was carried and taken from the Spaniards but shortly after it was unfortunately lost again In the mean time the booty made by taking and plundering the Spaniards and Portuguâ—ses Ships was so rich that the Sharers of the Company receiv'd five and twenty per Cent. at the first distribution A little after the Spaniards Silver Fleet valued at twelve hundred thousand pound having been taken the Sharers had half their Capital refunded to them but experience soon made appear that in this the Curatours were rather prodigal than liberal because that the Company having then no setled establishment in the West-Indies it had been better to have imployed that money towards a further confirmation of their affairs particularly having undertaken so smart a War against the Spaniards and Portugueses For this reason their Capital being exhausted by following misfortunes the Curatours were fain to exact a new Contribution from the Sharers viz. the moiety of what they had given at first which made up twelve hundred thousand pound to which were added four hundred thousand pound more and resolution was taken to pay interest of six per Cent. for all the money advanc'd to the Company Their Treasury thus recruited gave them courage to undertake a new Expedition upon the great Town of Fernambove after this they invaded some borders of Africa from whence having driven the Portugueses they got into possession of the Trade with the Africans who sell their young Negroes This is the sinew of the West-India Trade for they being of a strong robust constitution are able to endure those hardships in the Sugar Mills and Mines that no Indians or Europeans are able to undergo Though things have since succeeded pretty luckily yet have not the Curatours made any dividends amongst the Sharers not but that they have brought from thence twice or thrice every year vast quantities of rich Ladings which they have well sold but because they have alwayes been forced to maintain War till the Portugueses revolted from the Spaniards The Orders and Constitution of this Company are conformable to those of the East-Indies except that there are alwayes some Deputies from the States General that do preside in their extraordinary Assemblies and this because the States have contributed a great sum of money towards their first establishment The Soveraign command both by Land and Sea is in the hands of a Captain General that resides in Brazeel it is now Prince Maurice of Nassaw There are added to him as his Councel two or three of the Curatours of the Company there is also a Soveraign Court of Justice to hear and determine causes between particular men This Company has other designs and does not resolve to keep within the streight limits of Brazeel but endeavours to open a passage to those rich Mâ—nes of Silver which the Spaniards and Indians are at present in possession of this enterprize seems likely enough to succeed particularly since the Chilians an Indian Nation that inhabits the Sea-side is in War with the Spaniard and wants nothing but Armes and Discipline which the Hollanders will be easily induced to furnish them with it being
so much their own advantage The Souldiers of this Company and Officers are sworn not only to the Curatours but also to the States General and to the General of the Army because it is not safe that private men should have an Army at their command These two Companies have the priviledge of Trading alone into both the Indies not for ever but for twenty or thirty year more or less And it was wisely order'd so for two reasons First because it may be the necessity of affairs might have been such as to have oblig'd the States to make Peace or Truce with the Spaniards which it may be would not have been obtain'd without relinquishing the Trade to the Indies which they could not do had they granted a perpetual priviledge to these Companies Secondly that whensoever they demand the renewing of their Priviledges the Commonwealth may take occasion to demand a round sum of money in acknowledgement of the favour they receive In a word these two Companies are so well establish'd as to be upon all occasions a very great prop to the State for they are a Nursery of Souldiers and Seamen out of which in time of War the States may upon a sudden be provided with Ships Armes and some thousands of Men and by which in time of Peace many thousands got a very handsom livelihood CHAP. XXII What Judgement may be made of the lasting or decay of this Commonwealth CArdinal Bentivoglio who was for some time the Popes Nuncio in the Low-Countries has writ the History of their Wars and in his Book has given me occasion of adding here this Chapter For he has propounded the same Question and after he has brought some Reasons which seem to conclude in favour of the perpetuity of this Commonwealth he does produce some others to shew that a contrary opinion is more likely 'T is certainly a great vanity to go about to dispute about futures yet the Form and Government and present felicity of a State may give us leave to give a guess at its future happiness And first if we consider the cause of the founding of this State we cannot think that it will ever be dissolv'd For that was the recovering of lost Liberties and the preservation of them when recovered two things mightily priz'd by all mankind but particularly by the Northern Nations of the world Besides not only by this the Liberties of all its Subjects are secur'd but none of the neighbouring Nations can stand in fear of losing theirs by the increase of this so that it will be no bodies Interest to procure a change for the people cannot be more easie than they are already adde to this the mutual aversion between the Spaniards and the Hollanders that it is natural to fear and not to trust those that we have offended Besides let any body cast back their eyes upon the first change and they shall find it such as no body is offended at 'T is most certain that when in Government men pass from one extremity to the other there are many whom a desire of the first Government does sollicite and possess but here it was not so for except the change that was made of the person of the King of Spain for the States General there was no change made in the Laws Constitutions and Customs of these Provinces Since therefore that the antient Laws and Magistrates and all other Priviledges do remain it is easily agreed that the change was scarce sensible to the Inhabitants And upon this we may found this maxim that Those States that have suffer'd least in their change are like to last longest The inequality of strength and riches in these Provinces is one of the tyes of their perpetuity though ordinarily it be the cause of ruptures and fallings out in these cases If we consider the riches of these Provinces and the industry of the Inhabitants to acquire them we may certainly conclude that they will not be wanting to themselves in their Government besides without doubt as long as the Spaniards power shall give occasion of jealousie to Europe England and France will never forsake the protection of Holland If we consider also the example of some Commonwealths of our time as of the Swizzers who do not only maintain themselves free from neighbouring Princes by the natural situation of their Countrey but are a terrour to many of them These are our reasons but Cardinal Bentivoglio brings some against them as follows Liberty begets license that begets inequality inequality begets Monarchy so the Romans having driven out Kings gave themselves up to the enjoyment of their Liberty after that they fell out by the inequality of Charges and Honours and at last fell under the domination of Emperors To this is answer'd that it is in vain that this example is alleadged because the change proceeded from the oversight in the constitution of the Roman Government in which it was not provided against inequality but it is not so with the Hollanders As for what he sayes that the Authority of the Governour General is too great we do confess it yet the Authority of the States is above it for in him lies only perswasion in them the power of commanding If it be objected that the charges of a War are here incredible and excessive and that the Treasury must needs be exhausted I shall answer that our Enemies are not in a better condition but there is this difference between us that our Enemies grow Beggars and we grow rich under this oppression If it be further urged that one Province Holland is much superiour to the others in strength and riches and so may usurpe the domination over the rest I shall answer that in this inequality of power all the Provinces are equal in Authority and do not meddle with one anothers affairs As for the diversity and plurality of Religions it is so far from being an apple of discord that it is a tye of union and concord every one being pleas'd with the liberty he has to enjoy the freedome of his conscience CHAP. XXIII An Abridgement of the State of the United Provinces by Paul Merle GErmany which is one of the noblest parts of Europe is divided into two parts high and low It is not our design to say any thing of the higher Germany The lower call'd the Eye of the North by reason of its excellency is compos'd of seventeen Provinces Those of them that lye upon the banks of the River Rhin towards the North were us'd to be reckoned among the Lordships of the upper Germany and the others upon the banks of the same River towards the East were anciently esteem'd dependances of Gallia Belgica Each of them have been govern'd till within these few years by their particular Princes and Princesses The Provinces of Brabant Limbourg Luxembourg and Gueldres were govern'd by Dukes Flanders Artois Hainaut Zeeland Holland Namur and Zutphen by Earls Antwerp which bears the title of the Marquessship of the holy
Empire by a Marquess Friezeland Utrect Overyssell Malines and Groeningue by Bishops and particular Lords The Emperor Charles the fifth was the first Soveraign of all these rich Provinces to the possession of which he attain'd by being Heir to the Branch of Burgundy and the Houses of Spain and Austria Philip his Son was his Successor in his time The exorbitant punishments inflicted on those that professed Protestant Religion with the intolerable severity of the Inquisition the breach of the peoples priviledges made them revolt and endeavour to maintain by force that which tyranny would extort from them Their Enterprize has been bless'd with success for seven of these Provinces have cast off the yoke of obedience due unto him and have made an Union and League together for their defence whence they are call'd the United Provinces and are Gueldres Zutphen Holland Zeeland Frieze Utrect Overyssell and Groeningue These are the Provinces for whose service that incomparable Hero Morice of Nassaw Son to William Prince of Orange has waged and managed a War against the most powerfull Prince in Europe with a success worthy his prudence and courage He was so accomplish'd a Prince that it is better to be silent than to go about to praise one whose merits can never be equall'd with words but they are written in the hearts of all the Nations he so highly obliged by his singular valor and conduct The Provinces above-mentioned having occasion to treat of their publick concerns send their Deputies to the Hague some one some two or more according as their rank and priviledge is They are ordinarily chosen among the most sufficient able and pious men and such as deserve to be admir'd for their experience They are commonly call'd the States Generall and have the power of treating and concluding the most important affairs of the Commonwealth as Peace War c. In a word their duty is to answer all the ends of Government that they may preserve the Commonwealth flourishing and safe But I have undertaken to give a particular account of the Government of the Hollanders and I think fit to give the Reader notice that whatsoever is said of them may be applyed to the other Provinces only things are done in Holland with a greater apparatus and more solidity Thyerry of Aquitain was the first Earl of Holland thirty Earls or Countesses have succeeded him in this dignity all upon condition to preserve the priviledges and immunities of the people which having been exactly observ'd by them all were first violated by Philip the second King of Spain for which he was deposed and from that time forward the Soveraign Power devolv'd to the States The States are a publick Assembly of the Nobles and the Deputies of Towns The Brederodes have the first rank among the Nobles the Wassenars were more ancient the Egmonts the powerfullest the Scages follow the Brederodes then the Assendelf the Douses the Warmonts the Podgeests the Matenesses and others The Reader must forgive me if I am mistaken in this account Three Nobles and no less are us'd to sit in the States of Holland The Towns that send Deputies never send fewer than two There are six principall Towns who have this right Dort Harlem Delf Leyden Amsterdam Tergou There are also some others as in South-Holland Rotterdam Gorchum Schiedam Schoonhoove the Brill in North-Holland Alcmaer Horn Enchuse It is likewise practis'd to call the Nobles to ordinary Assemblies but when there is an extraordinary Deputation for making of Peace or War c. then the other smaller Towns may likewise send their Deputies The States of Holland meet ordinarily every quarter once and sometimes between while and that at the Hague as the States of Gueldres at Nimmegue or Zutphen The Provinciall Advocate presides in these Assemblies and takes care that they be held with order and things manag'd with prudence He resides ordinarily at the Hague and does no other Office but this he is to shew himself impartiall and just even to the least Borrough or Corporation he must take care that nothing pass that is contrary to the Customes and Priviledges of the Province The first day of the Assembly he is to perform the Office of Speaker and to break the matters to the Deputies to ask their advices and take their Votes and declare for those that are the major part He is also to keep a Register of all that is done and to send a Copy of it to all the Nobles and Towns within eight dayes after the rising of the Assembly The States being solemnly assembled and having all taken an Oath of fidelity and secrecy do deliberate about the Propositions made by the Advocate which are ordinarily reduced to heads Their ordinary matters are Subsidies Contributions c. Changes in State and Government Peace War Leagues of alienating giving and otherwise disposing of things belonging to the Province of granting Priviledges Patents and many other things which for brevity I omit As for the order observ'd in giving their Votes the Nobles begin then the Towns follow in the order they are set down above every one says his opinion and reasons with leasure and quietly no body interrupting him and that which the major part carries is the Law The States as it has been said meet but once every three moneths therefore because there may be extraordinary business they choose certain Deputies who sit alwayes to deliberate of such matters as happen between the Meeting times and which cannot be deferr'd By the care of these all Land and Sea-affairs are govern'd and all ministred The Deputies are call'd Collegues and they that take care of the Sea-affairs Counsellors of the Admiralty They are six in the Colledge of Deputies and are most commonly chosen for one year out of the Nobles and Citizens of Towns and are bound by Oath to observe carefully and without interest all that shall be commanded them to take neither bribe present nor pension from any person or persons They are to confer Notes with the Governour of the Province and to give him good and faithfull counsell They are also to take great care that the Resolves and Orders of the last Assemblies be put in execution to deliberate of all such things as are not left to the Governours care to call together the States upon such occasions as will admit of no delay They are also to provide that the Towns and Villages of the Province do live in peace and union one with another and that there be no violation of the States Orders either by force or fraud to sollicit punishment against riotous Souldiers and Officers that commit Exactions and Extortions They are also to keep a Register of the Arms that are in the Magazines that the ordinary proportion of Ammunition be deliver'd to the Garrisons that from time to time there be made Fortresses and Forts in Holland and those kept in repair It is not to be forgotten that it is to them at last that comes all Exchequer
awe 'T is thought that the Company payes above 10000 men the places and employments are much valued and not to be come by but by the intercession of some great friend Every Summer about August there comes in an East-India Fleet of ten or twelve Ships which is esteem'd to bring in the value of above a million of gold The prohibitions that Philip King of Spain made to the Hollanders from trading in his Countrey were the cause of this Enterprize 'T is said that the Veâ—etians did counsell and further it for a design which succeeded otherwise than they expected and to their own loss The Ships that go for the Indies are of extraordinary bulk Every one that has put in a thousand pounds may be a Director and every one that has a hundred pounds there may have three hundred for it and every hundred yeelds forty and forty five sometimes more sometimes less The riches of this Company are inestimable and to go about to describe them were to desire credit to a thing which to most people would seem fabulous though they are very reall in themselves All the Channels render themselves into Lakes and they into the Sea There are two chief overtures to the Ocean the first is the mouth of the River Meuse which is at the Brill and Gâ—ree the other from Amsterdam and the Towns of North-Holland to the Texel CHAP. VI. Of the Imposts and Customes THough Holland be both naturally and by the greatness of its commerce aboundant in all things yet every thing is extream dear and that for two reasons first because of the greatness of the Consumption caus'd by the affluence of people from all parts the other because of the Excise which is upon every thing almost and which is easily supported by the Inhabitants by reason of the great gains every one is able to make in his profession These Imposts are so layed and gather'd that they are willingly payed though there be nothing free from them The Money that is thus rais'd comes to a vast summe which added to the situation of the Countrey has made all the King of Spain's endeavours vain But to shew the greatness of this Tribute I will give only this example A Cow of nine years old if it be sold for five pound will have payed above six pound to the States There is never a Dish comes to Table but has payed excise above twenty times The States seeing the necessity of having money to defend their liberties did by little and little and not all at once settle these Excises so that the people bear it chearfully enough In the time of the War every one pay'd the two hundredth penny of their Estates they only that were not worth two hundred pound principall were exempted from this contribution There are many other Imposts which may be all seen in the Second Part of this Book in the Chapter of Imposts All that is wonderfull is to consider that that very thing for the fear of which these Nations revolted from the Spaniards has been put in execution in a higher manner upon themselves by their own consent and prov'd the means of their preservation Let us now come to the description of particular Towns and let us begin by Leyden which is to the rest as the Spring is to the other seasons of the year the gayest and most pleasant Towns in other Countries are subject to the injuries of time and revolutions but here they spring up encrease and grow bigger every day This Town amongst the rest has had the good fortune to be one of the most flourishing of the Low Countreys The Ocean is on the West-side of it and within twelve miles Harlem on the North within fifteen and Amsterdam within one and twenty Utrect within thirty towards the East Delft and the Hague on the South and South-West and within nine miles distance CHAP. VII Of Leyden in Latine Lugdunum Batavorum THis Town the greatest and most pleasant that is in Europe if we consider the magnificence of its Buildings the breadth of its Streets the conveniencies of its Channels and the pleasing shade of the Trees planted on each side the Channels is situated upon the ancient River of Rhene which goes through it makes many Islands and then joyns in one bed at the white Gate It is almost in the Center of Holland and from it we will draw lines to the rest of the Cities which are as it were the circumference It is a very ancient City as appears by the Burg built either by the Romans or Saxons whence many derive the word Leyden from Legio there being there a Roman Legion in quarters The opinion of some is that it was built by an English man in the year 1050. Plutarch and Ptolomy mention it and Antonine calls it the Capital of the Germans The Burg-graves of Leyden have taken their name from this Burg which is round and high and from it one may discover all the adjacent Meadows the sandy Downs and the Sea of Harlem The ascent to it is by steps and round about it as well as within are Fruit-Trees in abundance It has about a hundred and fifty foot in compass and within these few years there has been bred up Hedges all trimm'd and cut into Labyrinths which in a short time will make it a very recreative place In the year 1121. the great Church was consecrated to St. Peter 't is one of the finest Churches in Holland having three ranks of Pillars on each side without the Quire It is said that there was a high Tower which serv'd as a Light-House to those that were at Sea and pass'd before Catvic but it fell down in the year 1509. In the year 1344. the Church dedicated to St. Pancratius was bless'd it is a stately Building so much of it as is done It is now the Church of the French and Walloons the great Scaliger lyes buried in it In the year 1573. the Spaniards having taken Harlem after a long and tedious siege went and sate down before Alcmaer but being forc'd to raise the siege of that place they came before Leyden but hearing of Count Frederick de Nassaw his coming they retir'd A little after having recruited their Army they came again under the conduct of their Generall Baldese who judging that it would be a hard matter to take the Town by force resolv'd to starve them to a surrender The Inhabitants endur'd all the extremities of famine and at last the banks that kept in the Rivers Meuse and Issel being broke on purpose by the Hollanders the Spaniards were forced to forsake their Trenches The first relief came into the Town the third of October which is still made an anniversary day of Thanksgiving Every year there is a Play made in representation of this siege which draws great numbers of people to see it and the money gather'd is given to poor Orphans In the middle of the famine a troop of Citizens being come to the door
preserv'd for the owners but if all be drown'd then what the Sea casts up belongs to the Countrey It happens often likewise that after a great storm a sort of Whales call'd by the Inhabitants Potwisch are found sticking upon these Sands these likewise belong to the County and I saw one that was sold for 50. pounds they make Oyl of the Flesh and use the Bones for other uses The Sea likewise does cast up great quantities of Cockle shells which are gather'd to make a sort of Quicklime much whiter than that of France but not so good to make Morter with Sometimes there are some very fine sorts of Shells but seldome for those which are kept as rarities come most from the Indies You may see in your way Egmond a Village from which came the noble Family of Egmond All these sandy Hills from the Honsbos to Beer are full of Rabbits which you may see in thousands it is forbidden to kill or take any of them under a certain Fine and to hunt them you must have leave from the high Huntsman of Holland or be one of the Nobles of the Countrey There you may see Eagles that endeavour to prey upon the Connies The Peasants hard by have a pretty way of catching them undiscover'd which is that in Winter the poor Beasts finding no green thing upon the ground to eat all being cover'd with Snow draw near the Houses in most of which there is a little hole that goes into the Cellar in which are green Cabbage-leaves the Rabbits emboldened by hunger creep in by a board set there on purpose and no sooner are they entred but the Peasant pulls away the board and the Rabbit falls into the Cellar But the Peasant does not brag of his good fortune nor invite his Neighbours to the good cheer These Duâ—es or sandy Mountains are full of physicall Herbs which the Students of Leyden do much seek after particularly in the Spring-time in the company of their Professors and such Plants as cannot endure the cold are transplanted into a Gallery which looks to the South in which are three Stoves for their conservation all Winter long This Academy has also another Gallery in which are many curiosities as Pagans Idols Indian Serpents skins little Chips and Cloths and Shooes of the Indians The Gardener gives to the curious a little Paper in which is contain'd the explication of all these and the Book-binders sell a little Book in which are all the names of the Plants that are in the said Garden This Academy was formerly a Nunnery out of which the Nuns being driven by the great revolution of Europe for Religion had each of them a small Prebendary for their life assigned to them and I remember two that did use to come from Boyslednke to Leyden to receive their Sallary In the Divinity-School are kept all publick acts and all Degrees are taken They that take them publickly are honour'd with the Magistrates Presents who ordinarily send them in some Presents of Wine after the custome of Germany then they make a Feast to the Professors and are very merry They that cannot afford to be at so much charge are receiv'd privately and under the Chimney as the Proverb sayes The Commencements are ordinarily in Summer about the Dog-dayes Upon the said Academy is built a high Tower on purpose for Astronomers to make observations There are likewise many rare Instruments of a new invention serving to the same end here being excellent Professors in all the parts of the Mathematicks The Princes House is upon the Rappeâ—bourg and has a fine square Court with a Garden It was a religious House for Women who 't is said had purchased the place the House stands on with spinning The lower part of the Church is a magazine for Ammunition and the upper a Store-house for Corn. This I have added as omitted in the first Description of Leyden with which I have perfected my intended Account of the Cities Towns and Villages in Holland Now I will say something of their Religion CHAP. XXIV Of the different Religions in Holland I Will not here undertake to dispute which is the best of all those Religions that are here tolerated knowing that it is too ticklish a matter to be handled without giving offence to some body I shall only relate barely how many sorts of Religions there are within the limits of the United Provinces They being at their first revolt opposite to Spain in all things resolv'd to give as much liberty as that King would deny and to tolerate all Religions because he would suffer but one In order to this the State thriving in their Wars took upon them to drive out the Priests Monks and Nuns as so many Emissaries of Rome and stiff maintainers of one only Religion The chief Model and Reformation was made according to the Churches of Geneva and the high Palatinate and to this day they that pretend to any Charge or Office must be of this Religion if they desire to be admitted They that follow the Doctrine of Martin Luther have all freedome in Holland and liberty to build Churches among the Houses to distinguish them from the other Reform'd The Anabaptists have likewise theirs and are divided into divers Sects They that have the great Assembly are call'd Drec Wagens And I will say this to their praise that in their Meetings they expound Scripture without making any invectives or railing upon any body else In the beginning those of the Reform'd Religion in Holland were call'd Geux or Beggars as in France Huguenots a name which the vulgar yet retain with joy bragging that they were neither Papists nor Martinists but Geux This was the occasion of their being thus nam'd In the beginning of the troubles 500. Gentlemen being come to Brussels to present a Petition to the Princess of Parma then Governant came of a sudden into her Palace she being at the Window talking with the Earl of Varlemont was frighted with so sudden and so great an appearance and asked him if he knew what it mean'd who answered Madam Do not trouble your self they are but Beggars Ce ne sout que des Geux This being told these Gentlemen at Supper they all agreed to dress themselves in Beggars Cloaks and take wooden Dishes in their Hands with this Motto We are all the Kings faithfull Servants even to Beggary We must not forget the Arminians who have made a Schisme among the Reform'd about Predestination The Gomarists or Counter-Remonstrants opposed the said Articles of Predestination they were thus nam'd from their two Heads who were both professors of Divinity in Leyden Arminius and Gomarius Their Division had such influence among the people that the Towns did already begâ—n to take in Garâ—â—sons to maintain each their opinion by force Prince Maurice by the Order of the States applied a remedy to these Disorders Barnevelt was taken and beheaded some Magistrates of Towns deposed and many Ministers of the Arminians imprisoned their
Doctrine being condemn'd by the Synod of Dort But the Arminians have never been at quiet till they have obtain'd a free exercise through most Towns of Holland as Amsterdam Rotterdam and the Hague it self but not at Harlem nor Leyden in the last of which places they have often met in the open Streets sung their Psalms and preached but have still been disturbed by the Magistrate At last seeing they could not gain a Church in the Town they have been glad to obtain leave to meet at Warmont a Village hard by it which the Lord of the place has willingly granted for the benefit that arises to his Village by it The Jews are publickly tolerated and have their Synagogues in Amsterdam The Catholicks are the only excluded from this liberty though they be in great numbers and most of them naturall Hollanders whose Ancestors have contributed both their bloods and money to the driving out of the Spaniards but all that is forgotten and they enjoy nothing but a liberty of conscience in which they rest quietly Many Politicians of our Age have thought that the reason why they are thus kept under was because the King of Spain the profess'd enemy of the States was of their Religion and that if peace were once concluded there would be more indulgence shewed But I think our Politicians mistaken in their conjecture and do rather look upon the Hollanders as people that have imitated the Romans who having once driven out the Tarquins and tasted the sweetness of liberty did not spare Collatin himself who had been one of the great opposers of tyranny not because there was cause but because he was of the Royall Race So I do not dispute whether the Papists have given Subject to distrust them but I say they have given occasion to fear them because they are of our enemies Religion 'T is true that in some Towns where the memory of the actions perform'd by the Catholicks in order to the publick liberty is yet preserv'd they have the freedome of meeting in private Houses The Countrey people do persevere very constantly in the said Religion and are not so constrained as in the Towns though they are derided by all Sects whatsoever Their Ceremonies in Burying are the same all over Holland and since ' â—is a Religious Worship we shall here describe the form of it The Catholicks and Lutherans suffer not their Dead to be buried any where but in Churches and Church-yards The Reform'd are not so scrupulous and say that one Earth is not holier than another neither do they use much Ceremony As soon as the person is dead the Neighbours sewe the Body up in a Winding-sheet and they are treated with a Collation and a Cup of Sack then they make a Note of the names of those they intend to invite The day appointed being come they meet about Two of the Clock in the Afternoon in the House of the deceased there their names are call'd over and they go out two by two the Kindred next the Body and the Friends after them every one according to his quality The Body being buried they come back to the House where he that goes first invites the company in then they are presented with Wine and every one drinks as much as he pleases and goes away when he thinks fit The richer sort are buried in the Church and the company has Rhenish Wine given them The poor give Beer The young Men and Maids are carried by young people The Body is all cover'd with Flowers and the Bearers have a branch of Laurell or Rosemary in their Hand If it be a person of quality all the Bearers are presented with a summe of Money which they go and spend in a treating-House There is alwayes a certain summe to be given to the purse of the Neighbourhood And such as have not a burying place in the Church must pay very dear for it if they intend to have one They for whom the biggest Bell rings pay â—0 shillings at least The Papists are very observant of that Ceremony but the Reform'd laugh at it as a piece of Superstition and instituted for the Churches profit However these Buryings without Prayers or Ceremony cost as much as the Obsequies of the Catholicks in France After the burying of a Professor there is a Speech made in honour of him If the Body be not in the Church at half an hour past two there is a Fine of 20. shillings to be payed if it be not there till after three then there is the double due Some are so ill-bred as to drink themselves drunk at these Buryings and when they go home in their long Cloaks you shall finde them in the mire but the people of quality come not to that extremity but after two or three Glasses of Wine return quietly Besides all these Religions there is a certain Assembly held at Rinsbourg ten or twelve times a year where every one that will has the liberty of making an Exhortation it is call'd the Assembly of the free-minded There are many others that sit at home reading the Scripture and never come to any Church except it be out of curiosity The Arianisme has those that profess it In a word any body may follow his own opinion but not profess it with a publick Worship There are Atheists enough too CHAP. XXV Of the Nobility HOlland has for Arms a with this Motto for Liberty It is observable that almost all the Provinces of the Low-Countries have a Lion for their Arms which made Charles their Duke desirous to make one Kingdome of them call'd the Kingdome of the Lion but while he was adding to it Lorrain and the Swizzers he died and left the title of Duke only to his Successors The Emperor Charlâ—s the fifth had the same design but he met with so much opposition in the priviledges and the diversity of humours and tongues in the different Provinces that he was fain to give over the design of it he being besides busied with continuall Wars There are also many Gentlemen in the Low-Countries that bear a Lion in their Coat But since my design is only to speak of Holland I shall mention no other than the Nobility of that Province as well to publish their antiquity as to stop the mouthes of some Strangers who either by an absurd ignorance or maliciously do publish that there are no Gentlemen in Holland 'T is true that the length of the Civill Wars has been the death of many of that couragious Nobility who seeking Honour have died in the bed of it and so some Families of ancient extract are quite extinguish'd But there are yet many remaining who may contend for antiquity and splendor with most Families in Europe 'T is commonly said that the Italian Nobility do not scruple to trade The French indeed are nicer and think it a degenerating from their birth yet do they not make any difficulty of marrying a Citizens Daughter if she be rich and can by
shall be left to the course of the Law 21. There shall be fram'd a Court of equall number of Commissioners on both sides who shall sit in such places in the Low-Countries as shall be thought fit sometimes under the obedience of one and sometimes under the obedience of the other State as it shall be agreed by common consent and according to their Commission which they shall be sworn to observe they shall take care to maintain a good correspondency on both sides shall also have a regard to the Taxes and Impositions laid on both sides upon Merchandize and if they perceive that on either side there be excess committed they shall immediately redress it Besides the said Judges shall examine all questions touching the non-observancce of this Treaty of peace as also the contraventions or failings against it not only here but in distant Provinces and Kingdomes of Europe and shall decide them by a short way The Sentences and Decrees of which Judges shall be put in execution by all under-Officers living upon the places against the person of the transgressors as necessity shall require and the said subordinate Officers may by no means fail in this at their perill 22. If any Judgement or Decree should pass between persons of different parties either in civill or criminall matters they shall not be put in execution neither against the Goods nor against the persons of the said parties and no Letters of Reprizall shall be granted but with cognizance of cause and according to the Imperiall Constitutions and the Order by them establish'd 23. It shall not be free to enter or stay in the Harbours Ports Bayes and Rodes of each other with men of War or arm'd Ships in such numbers as may give occasion of jealousie to any without the leave and permission of that State to whom the said Ports c. do belong except in case of a storm or that there were some other necessity of avoiding danger at Sea 24. They whose Estates have been seized upon and confiscated by reason of the War or their Heirs Executors c. shall enjoy the said Estates and may enter into possession of them by their own authority by vertue of this present Treaty notwithstanding all Alienations Incorporations into the publick Treasury Gifts Treaties Agreements and Transactions whatsoever though they contain Renunciations of the parties to whom the said Estates do belong And all such Estates once restored may be sold by the Proprietors their Heirs c. without a necessity of a further or more particular leave And in consequence of this the Proprietaries of such Rents as shall be constituted by the Treasury in lieu of the said Estates thus sold may dispose of the propriety they have in them by Sale or otherwise as of any part of their Estate 25. This shall take place to the profit of the Heirs of the deceased Illustrious Prince William Prince of Orange even for the right they have in the salt-Wells of the County of Burgundy which shall be restored to them as also the Woods that do depend on them that is so much as shall not be found to have been bought and payed for by his Catholick Majesty 26. In which are also comprized the Estate and Lands lying in the Counties of Burgundy and Charolois and all which has not been restor'd as it ought to have been by the Treaties of the ninth of April 1609. and the seventh of January 1610. These I say shall be restor'd to the Proprietaries their Heirs c. 27. As also are hereby understood such Lands and Rights as after the expiration of the Truce of 12. years were by sentence of the Council of Malines judged in favour of the Count John de Nassaw which Sentence by vertue of this Treaty is made void and any other acquisition of possession is also annull'd 28. And as for the Suit in Law about Castle Beliu begun in the life of the late Prince of Orange against the Attorney-Generall of the King of Spain Since the said Cause has not been determined in the time of a year as it was promis'd by the fourteenth Article of the Truce for 12. years it has been agreed that immediately after the conclusion and ratification of the present Treaty the Treasury shall desist from all demands touching the said Suit in Law and that the Prince of Orange and his Heirs shall freely enjoy without molestation the Lands and Chattels in question as his own for ever upon condition likewise that the Treasury shall not be forced to refund for the past possession of them 29. If in any place there arise difficulties touching the restitution of Land and Rights the Judge of the place shall without delay cause the execution and in this shall proceed the shortest way work 30. The Subjects of the said King and States may reciprocally in the Dominions of each use such Lawyers Attorneys Sollicitors c. as they shall think fit 31. If the Treasury has caus'd any confiscated Estates to be sold those persons to whom they belong shall be content to receive the payment of them at 16. years purchase to be payd them every year or else they shall have liberty to distrain upon the Land in what hands soever they finde it Provided they have Patents from the 〈◊〉 to serve them for a title with the Assignation of the annuall payment upon some receiver of the Kings Revenue in that Province in which the thing shall have been sold which receiver shall also be nam'd in the Patent and the price of the thing sold calculated and summ'd up according to the first publick sale of it the first year of which payment shall end a year after the ratification of this present Treaty 32. But if the sale was made for good and lawfull Debts of those to whom the said Estates did belong before the confiscation it shall be lawfull for them or their Heirs to redeem the said Estates paying the price of them in a year after which time they shall be excluded from this priviledge but having once redeem'd they may sell and dispose of such Estates as they please 33. Yet under this are not understood such Houses as have been sold in Towns for by reason of the many changes and reparations made in them it would be too hard a matter to settle and determine their just value 34. And as for all reparations and improvements made in all other redeem'd Estates the Judges shall examine them and have a regard to them yet shall it not be lawfull for the possessors to retain those Estates till they be re-imbursed but such Estates shall be bound and morgaged for their payment 35. All Estates Claims Rights c. that have been kept hidden all Moveables Immoveables Rents Actions Debts c. which shall not have been seized upon by the Treasury with good cognizance of cause before the day of the ratification of this Treaty shall remain in the free disposition of the Proprietaries their Heirs
furnish it with rare Plants at great charges But let us leave Amsterdam for fear we lose our selves in the confusion of so many remarkable things and come and rest our selves at Leyden the Garden of Holland Our nearest way will be by the Lake of Harlem for with a fair Winde we may arrive in four hours but if the Winde be contrary we may go by Harlem in two hours by the Channell and then take a Chariot for six and twenty pence which will carry us in two hours more to Leyden When the Winde is strong and contrary the way by the Sea of Harlem is troublesome for it makes those sick that have often been upon the Sea without inconvenience and though in many places it has not above six foot Water yet not long ago a Boat with Passengers was over-turn'd and they drown'd Though there be many tempests and storms upon it yet within this 25 years I do not remember any ill accident but this I have now mention'd and that great misfortune which befell the unfortunate Queen of Bohemia when she receiv'd the terrible news how the King her Husband had sav'd himself with swimming but that her eldest Son was drown'd in this unmercifull Element The King had left Harlem in November 1629. towards the evening the night proved very dark and tempestuous and the Lake much agitated by great Windes when unfortunately in the obscurity another Boat fell foul of his and sunk it immediately The poor young Prince was heard to cry out Ab Sir dear Father pray save me but all in vain for the darkness of the night hindring the distinguishing of objects it was impossible to relieve him and so he perish'd in the flower of his youth to the unspeakable affliction of all that were acquainted with his forwardness in all Arts and Sciences The two famous Cities of Holland are Leyden and Amsterdam one is the Market of all foreign Commodities and the other of Manufactures of all sorts Neither is there any City that has so great a Revenue next to Amsterdam as Leyden as it appears by the last years Excise only upon Beer Corn and Cattle which came to 50000. pound There is wanting to Leyden a good Harbour to the Sea without passing by other Towns and it has been proposed to make one at Caetvic which is but two leagues from it Nay the Mathematicians and Engineers having been advised with do say the thing is feasible others say that it cannot be and that either the Sea would choak up the Harbour with Sand or it may be if let in drown all the Countrey To which it is answered that the securest way would be to go by Wassâ—naer and make the overture between two Mountains but this design is now buried in oblivion Being one day in the company of a Mathematician at Catvic he told me that the Sea being calm is about half a foot higher than the Meadows about Leyden so that if in the Spring-tides or a storm the Sea should make way through those Mountains of Sand infallibly the Countrey would be all lost The most dangerous Winde for Holland is a North-West-Winde towards the Equinox with a storm but God Almighty by his providence hinders these three so dangerous enemies from assailing us all at one time Holland is so populous that you can hardly go a stones cast without meeting with Houses or Villages The Hollanders Diversions are these In Summer a Citizen shall hire a Boat for himself and his Family to go and eat fresh-Water Fish In Winter he shall hire a Sledge upon the Ice They are not given to gaming at Dice or Cards but will play at Bowles and Tables They are not quarrelsome nor apt to strike but will scold and call one another all to naught before they come to blowes Towards Autumn and in Winter the Students pastime is to go and shoot at the wilde-Ducks and Geese and if they shoot at the Countrey-peoples as they will often out of roguery then follows a scuffle in which the weakest goes to the Wall Their industry is most admirable for inventing and improving other peoples inventions witness Printing and Telescope-Glasses The Art of Navigation is better understood here than in any place of the World so is Fortification and all military Discipline in so much that a Low-Countrey Souldier when he comes to another Kingdome is presently made much of and advanced The Hollanders are the best in the World at Draining witness what they have done in England and France at Bourdeaux and in Britany But their Fishing is a thing which in â—ll manners deserves admiration But they have one odd diverting way of it which I shall here relate There are three Islands which serve as a bar to the Ocean The first is the Texel where are made excellent Cheeses The second is the Ulic where are taken great quantities of Muscles The third is Schelling the Inhabitants of which last are much given to Fishing and the way that they use to catch the Fish which they call a Sea-Dog is very pleasant They disguise themselves like Beasts and at certain hours that these Fishes are us'd to come out upon the shore they leap and dance before them and by a thousand antick tricks make them follow them and leave the shore in the mean time those that are in Ambushcade set their Nets then the dancers throw off their Masks and taking their humane shape upon them come upon the poor Sea-Dogs who endeavouring to re-gain the Sea are entangled in the Nets and made a prey to those that had diverted them The Hollanders transport salt-Fish all the World over There is not any season in the year that does not produce some particular pleasure For what is more pleasant than to see the Meadows cover'd with Flowers all the Spring and Summer Autumn produces an abundance of Fruits The Winter is more pleasant here than any where else for in so sad a season the diversion of the frozen Channels full of people sliding upon them is no small one Wood is not dear here and you shall have more for 10. pound at Amsterdam than at Paris for 15. If the Water be not to be drunk in recompence there is very good â—eer to be had 'T is true that the Windes and the Rain are very frequent by reason of the Neighbourhood of the Sea but the inconvenience is recompenced by the convenience of travelling for if the wayes be broke and bad you may go by Water A Merchant never misses of an opportunity of transporting himself and his Goods the Channels being loaded night and day with an infinite number of Boats But as there is nothing absolutely perfect Holland has its Cloudes its North-Windes its Rains and its foggy Mists which do much bate of the beauty and pleasantness of this fam'd and renowned Province The Treaty of Peace Concluded the thirtieth of January of the present year 1648. in the Town of Munster in Westphalia between the most Illustrious and