that they had taken from us but added to their Insolencies there their strict Orders against all free Trade to Flanders which they Monopolized to themselves even during their War in that Countrey and indeed where ever they have seen any advantage as by Cunning Force or Fraud they have been able no consideration of Right Friendship Leagues Humanity or Religion have held them from endeavouring the accomplishing of the same CHAP. VII Their Perfidiousness to all Nations FOr they are observed by all Nations to be a wretched sort of people not to be trusted in any Leagues or Treaties they being the sad souls that entred into a League Offensive and Defensive with Lewis the 13th of France 1630 upon condition he made no peace with Spain without them notwithstanding which they endeavoured a Peace or Truce with Spain without either his advice or consent as appeared by several passages of under hand dealâ—ngs of the Dutch with the Spaniards in a complaint made by the French Embassador to the States Yea when another League Offensive and Defensive was concluded Feb. 8. 1635 between France and Holland and a War with Spain commenced thereupon these Posterity of Judas that will sell their God for three pieces of Silver denying their Religion as familiarly in Heathen Countreyâ— for Trade as they do their words in their own for Interest went so far underhand in their overtures of Peace with the Spaniards that their Attorney General Musch was dispatched to Don Martine Axpe the King of Spain Secretary about them though they denyed it to the King of France who told my Lord Paw their Embassadour that these secret proceedings did contradict their solemn Treaty and differed much from the justice his Majesty had used towards them The same League being continued from 1636 to 1642 in the year 1640 they treat again with the Spaniard against the French Declaration that intimated their Non-ability to Treat with pain without the concurence of his Majesty of France Yea a peace was negotiated by several Letters intercepted to the Cond Pinneranda and shewed the States by the French Embassadour at the Hague at the very same time when 12000 French ventured their lives and fortunes for them against Dunkirk and Flanders which peace was concluded at Munster though confessed by Her van Nederhurst one of the Plenipotentiaries there to be contrary to the agreement between France and them and declared so by a Manifesto of the King of France They that durst deal thus with the French deal worse with the Portugals with whom when they revolted from Spain as they had done before they entred into a firm League at Lisbone and the Hague 1640 with mutual clearness as to outward appearance on both sides But see the craft of these people They insert in their Articles of peace that it should not begin beyond the Line till a year after In the mean time adsing their men at Brazile and elswhere to take all they could get from the Portugoze as they did Aâ—gola Mallacca and Brazile Embassadours were sent from Portugal to demand these places the Hollanders produced the said clause of the Truce which was all the Portugez could get of the Hollander for said they There is no wrong done in regard that in that clause its said That each side should hold and keep what he can take and in such a time Whereupou the Portugal Embassadour said to them very well That that must be understood Bonâfide viz That which should be taken without having any knowledge of the Truce Neither have they been more faithful to the â—wede whom they engaged to assist them against the Dane and in the middest of that service deserted him making conditions of peace for themselves and retyring Not much unlike their dealing with the King of Great Brittain 1664 whose ayd they craved against the Algier men which was no sooner granted Sr John Lawson attending their service and the Interest of Christendom then they diserted him without any notice of their departure and made as fast as they can to Guinny to fight against His Majesties Subjects there while His Subjects assisted them in the Streights CHAP. VIII How unable they are to deal with us A Man would think that these Hogens had a vast Power that durst indulge themselves these practises against great Monarchies and Kingdoms when alas if we consider their humours how mutinous are they and uncertain If we reflect upon their Countrey A little Marsh consisting of 7 Provinces viz The Dutchy of Gelderland the Countreys of Holland and Zealand the Lordships of Vtrecht Friezland Overystel and Groninghen threatened every day from Germany Eastward alarmed by the ea Northward and watched by Brabant Flanders and the other 10 Provinces Southward If we regard the Scituation of it it may be drowned by 2000 men as Count Mansfield offered in a wet Winter so easie a thing it is to overthrow their Earth Ramports and Banks which are but 25 Ells broad and 10 long in the most remarkable places and yeelds very often to the strength of the Sea it self it may be overrun by 6000 men in a frosty Winter the great frost 1607 being the great reason they would hearken to a Truce that year If we look upon their Rivers 1. The Mase running from Lorrain to Bredâ— 2 The Sheld flowing from Picardy a little above Antwerp And the Rhine arising in the Alps and falling to Amsterdam also easily blocked up and so usually frozen If we observe their Taxes upon every thing that a man eats drinks or enjoyeth so burthensom to the Commonalty If we weigh their Interest abroad which through their ungratefulness infidelity with Spain Portugal France Germany and Sweden and usurpations is so inconsiderable If we respect their people so diminished by a sad Plague that they are not able to inhabit and people their Country If we cast our eye on their Trade all Nations having learned their Methods and Inventions now dead If we mind their shipping upon their misunderstanding with the Northern Kingdoms that supplyed them with Timber and Cordage now decayed If we animâ—dvert the condition of Eriel Flushing and other Port Towns that command the passage to Delph Rotterdam Dort Gertenburgh and the capacious Bay of the Texel now weak If we survey their Government their Stat-holder mistrusting them and they him the Provinces being all absolute and Independant one drawing one way and another another and every one forgetting the Publick good in pursuit of a Private Interest Holland being ambitious over the rest and the rest envious at it Their Military Power invested in the Prince of Orange being disobliged by the Civil and their Civil Power afraid of the Military now much shattered nothing more unseasonable than a War with England especially if we add to all this their Fortune in the last War Viz Holland was united by its own Interest and His Majesties and England was nothing else but the poor remainders of a Civil War and a Faction when the
had not Sr William Russel supplyed it with Provision when all the seven Provinces could not do it Being now intent upon the settlement of their State-General out of the Particular Deputies of the several Provinces the Earl of Leicester being called home and they hearing of a Spanish Armado knowing not what to do but to importune her Majesty of England that she should make no peace without them Now she was in treaty with the Prince of Parma which she waves though privately willing enough to reconcile their private differences which was the greatest Motive she had to abandon them It being not likely they should do any good themselves especially since there was such jealousies and mistrusts among their chief Officers who could never have been united but by the vast Armado of the common Enemy which awed both sides to so much moderation that they settle the Government in the States reduce all Parties into one Oath and submission reconcile Vtrech to Holland pay their Souldiers very punctually establish Prince Maurice in the Admiralty and Prince William in the Government of Friezland They defeat the Marquess of Varumbon with Sir Francis Vere's assistance take the Antwerp Convoy raise jealousies between the Inhabitants of Groening and their Governour maintain Liberty of Conscience nourish the French differences get 125 26l a month of the Queen of England They surprize Breda engage the Electors and get the Prince of Parma off to the siege of Paris Blackinbergh Collenbergh the Fort before Zuphten Holt Nymighen Grumbergh Geertrudenbergh Seenwye and other places are recovered by the Valour and Conduct of the English particularly Sir John Norris Sir Roger Williams and Sir Henry Vere An Edict is made concerning Printing a War is contrived between France and Spain the United Provinces and the Estates under the King of Spain treat for peace Philip William eldest son to William Prince of Orange is released from his 35 years Imprisonment whereto he was confined since he was taken in Leyden as we have formerly intimated Prince Maurice and Sir Francis Vere Sir Robert Sidney's overthrow Cardinal Albertus his Army Wan 1577 whereupon Embassadours are sent to the States from the Empire from Peland and from other parts whom they remitted to the Queen of England as being able to do nothing without her In the mean time they prevailing under her protection set up the India trade assisting their Merchants with Artillery and Ammunition so as four ships were set forth to destroy the Countrey and bring away some Inhabitants against another Voyage where 8 ships ventured that way from Amsterdam as did many more from other places in the East and West Indies to Guine besides others to Syria and Greece 1578. But the poor States being left out of the peace between France and Spain are at a loss till the Queen of England sends to them that if they resolved for a War they should inform her what provisions they had towards it and rest assured of her utmost assistance So they forbade Traffique with Spain and entertained some overture afresh in order to an offensive war towards which she sent 2000 souldiers more under Sr Th. Knowles besides 6000 men she procured from the Circles of the Empire several Forts are set up by her directiōs the Contributions are mitigated in Zealand now ready to mutiny by her Order the offensive War in Flanders began by her intimation 2800 sail of ships Rendesvouzed in the the Sea-towns of Holland Zealand and Friezland Grave Oastend and Newport are besieged and the Arch-Dukes Army is defeated Chimney-money and Excise is imposed the United States and the States-General Treat In the mean time the Arch Duke Albertus his Forces mutiny and are entertained by the United Provinces The Hollanders and the English engage the Spaniards at Sea the King of England that succeeded the Queen March 24. 1603. promising them fair in general termes whereupon Oastend and Sluce are taken and the States refuse all intercessions for peace especially since they defeated Spinola by Land and the Spanish Gallies by Sea After which the Arch-Duke Albert and his Wife Isabella in the name of the King of Spain declared them Free-states and in that capacity offered to Treat with them upon peace all the Princes of Christendom offering their Mediation onely the King of Spain's Aggreation as they call it was not clear and the 62 Articles containing their Priviledges were not moderate enough to be the ground either of a Treaty of peace or a Truce In fine These people being very intent upon the preservation of their Liberties and most prone to jealousie motion and surprizes being agitated by others passion and their own for those two great Dianaes Priviledges and Liberty of Conscience high-flown upon the Battel of Newport gotten by Sir Francis Vere refused Reason Notwithstanding the peace at Verven between the King of France and Spain which cut off half their assistance the difference between Embden and the Governour of Friezland that disturbed their Union the taking of Oastend Rhainbergh Grelen after three years siege and Sir Francis Vere's great endeavours to preserve it that weakned their Interest being grown great with the private Alliance of France and that more open of England their Trade to the Indies and their Piracies upon Spain until Spinola humbled John May the Provincial of the Franciscans perswaded and what is more then all this the King of Englands inclination to a good understanding with Spain frighted them into a twelve years Truce in a Treaty begun at Antwerp 1607. No sooner are they at peace without but having recovered the Cautionary Towns from the English by old Barnavel's cunning who as King Henry the 4th said was the ablest Statesman in Europe as far as his money went but their humours began to work among themselves Rebels are as troublesom to themselves when they have defeated their Soveraign as they were to him before their Predestination Points and the nicities of Priviledges engaging them to the great danger of the whole Government had not King James by his Embassadour Sir Ralph Wenwood very effectually interposed The King of Spain finding the observation of a great Lord upon the Truce true That assoon as the common Enemy was over they would fall by themselves set the Arch-Duke upon offering them the confirmation of the Truce into a Peace in case they would accept of his Soveraignty An overture they scorned so far that the Embassador in his way through Delph was almost stoned by the dregs of the people and assoon as the Truce was over utterly denying the prolongation of it they besieged Gulicke spoiled Brabant invited Mantsfield into East-Friezland and shrouded themselves in a League against the house of Austria with France England and Denmark c. making the Interest of Europe their security in defence of the lower Circle of the Empire took the Plate-fleet and what promised Wonders there being men in it that could dive under water and flie in the Air the Fleet of
first is That the very grounds of their Taxes fail them The second is That the Measure of them breaks their People Gent. As how Trav. Thus Their Taxes are either Those by Sea or Those by Land 1. Those by Sea must needs fall to the ground in this manner 400000l a year besides the tenth fish and the wastage of what was spent in Holland or transported to any other Countrey which together with the benefit of allaying the Coyn taken in those Countreys amounted to an infinite Treasure for Herring and other salt-fish now forbidden them on our Coasts is lost or at least much diminished 2. Licenses Pasports Customs since Trade is much deaded by their late Sickness and more by their present War wherein their Merchants lose their Principal and therefore Rationally they cannot expect their Interest 3. Their Prizes and Auxiliary Aides reckoned in the Spanish War a part of their revenue fall within a narrow compass 4. Their Imposts upon French Wines Vinegar Coals will be very short till they have cleared the Coast between Burdeaux and New castle and the like Judgement is to be made of their Tribute 1. Of assurance of Westlebank and Factorien in this great stop of Trade 2. Those by Land if it be possible to raise them in these Islands without free trade at Sea are so grievous that the third part of them cost the King of Spain his Dominion and these with the least defeat to improve the discontent of the people may cost the States the Republick Hear them and bless God heartily that you are an Englishman born 1. Polt-money i. e. 4s for every Head called by them Hooft-ghelt 2. Chimney-money called Scoorsteen-ghelt 1s 6d a Chimney 3. De twee Honderste Penningh i. e. The 200l penny of every mans Estate 4. Sout-ghelt or the Tribute for Salt 6d a Bushel 5. Tribute on Ale and Beer 3s a Barrel strong Beer and 12s small 6. Tribute on Victuallers a half penny a Meal 7. Tribute of Butter and Candles 1d a Pound 8. Den Impost van de ronde Maeten or an Impost on whatever is measured with a round Measure 9. The Impost on Turffs Wood Cloths sowed Grounds Waggons Boats Houses Pictures Books Ships and all immoveable Goods 10. Four shillings for every Man-servant and Maid servant with many more that would tyre the patience of a better humoured people Gent. Indeed when I consider that the two Supports of that Countrey are 1. Merchandize 2. Manufacture And withall reflect what little freedom there is for the trade of the one and how little vent for the Workmanship the other I am very apt to believe their Counsel of the Treasury have as in that for Trad though I admire not so much their buses are so low now as that ever they could be so high Trav. Indeed 1. The Scituation of their Rivers running through each part of their Countrey and conveying thither the Wealth of the German the British and the Meditaranian-Sea 2. Their Excise rising with their charge the most idle sloathful and improvident Souldier that selleth his blood for drink and his flesh for bread serves at his own charge for every pay-day he payeth his Father and he the Common purse 3. The Coyn of Nations hoarded in their Banks for their Commodities which as the Carriars of Christendom they convey from one Nation to the other 4. Their trading every where upon the freest Conditions 5. Their encouraging of Merchants and Artists 1. By freedom from Imposts 2. By due limits of every one in his own way as the Hamburgh and Dansick Merchants in their way the East-Indians in theirs and the West Indians in theirs 3. By their Respects towards them and the Priviledges allowed them 4. By taking care that neither Merchant nor Artizan that is expert in the secrets and Mysteries of his Profession go out of their Dominions 6. The concernment of each Person in the state of the Publick 7. Their prudence in committing all Accounts to Merchant Commissioners 8. Their fundamental constitution for a yearly estimate of all Estates and Persons 9. The very necessity of being industrious in a Countrey where Nature can do nothing without Art 10. The Peoples humour to maintain their Liberty which cannot be without Arms as Arms cannot be supported without Stipends nor Stipends without Impositions which are the easier raised the more lively apprehensions those people have of Danger and the easier paid because they appoint 40 days to every Souldiers month Gent. Besides there is a world of money raised under pretence of Repairing the Publick Banks and maintaining the common Cause called Quota insensibly from this free State But are you able to make out how much their Treasure falls short by reason of this War Trav. Besides the fore-mentioned Argument on that Subject I shall add another by way of Instance in particulâ—â— Provinces 1. Holland which ballanceth the rest of the Provinces in Expences and Counsels depends in its Revenue on 1. Weaving and making of Cloth as at Harlem and Leyden which a restraint on Spanish and English Wool besides our skill therein stoppeth 2. on Merchandize and Navigation as at Amsterdam and Rotterdam which this War baffleth 3. In the vent of Cheese Butter French-Wines and Beer as at Delph and Dort which this Quarrel forbids 4. The sale of Salt and Salt-fish throughout the Countrey which they owed to our Indulgence 2. Zealand on the Wines of France the Wines and Allum of Spain the Spices and Gold of India hitherto with our leave onely carried to Prusia Liefland Denmark and other Northern Ports 3. Friezland on Horses Bulls Turff and Onions commodities sold among themselves not likely to support so vast a charge as a War with Great Brittain and Ireland may amount onely Embden Port must not expect its usual confluence of English Danish Nind Norway ships nor its wonted vent for Milk Barley and Beans to Cermany To say no more A War with a potent Nation at Sea doth what they complained of in Spain Imprison them in a poor home that hath onely Ayr and that none of the best to breath in The Dutch present Condition in respect of Government Gent I Am very well satisfied with respect to the present state of affairs together with the strict Acts of State in most Kingdoms against the Exportation of Coyn and Bullion in what condition our Neighbours are in point of Treasure will you be pleased to proceed to the point of Government Trav. Their Government to use a Fellow-Travellors words is a Democracy and there had need be many to rule such a Rabble of rude ones tell them of a King in jest and they will cut your throat in earnest the very name carryeth in it more Odium than Image to a Jew Old Age to a Woman or a Surplice to a Non-con or mist made up of these parts viz 1. A Stadt-holder or General whose Power is not to decree any thing but to Advise not to order any matter though of the
AN EXACT SURVEY OF THE AFFAIRES Of the United NETHERLANDS Comprehending more fully than any thing yet extant all the Particulars of that Subject In Twelve HEADS mentioned in the Address to the READER Ictus Piscator sapit LONDON Printed by Thoâ— Mabb for Thomas Johnson at the Golden Key in Cannon-Alley over against the great North-door of Saint Pauls Church Anno 1665. The Preface to the READER THese discourses now in hand are published with no further care of their reception and entertainment than the consequence of them may deserve whereof the Readers not the Publishers must be Judges And we need not be moved with the common Passions of such as make Epistles and Prefaces conceiving our trust very well discharged when we have given the Reader the usefull Contents of the Book which contains I. An exact History of the Dutch since they inhabited that Countrey An. 700 to this present year 1665 with a continued and close succession p. 1. II. A very particular account of their Revolt from the King of Spain's subjection and their being declared a Free-state at the Hague 1608 and confirmed so at Munster 1648. III. An impartial view of the assistances by Councils countenance 60000 men and 3 mâ—llions of Money afforded by Q Elizabeth K. James K. Charles the first of Famous memory upon their humble Petition when the Distressed States that they might live under our Protection IV. A faithful Narration of such affronts and injuries as they have offered us in Europe Asia Affrica and America particularlarly in Amboyna V. A compleat Recapitulation of the seven Advantages they make of our Fishing and Royal favours of his most Sacred Majestie 1. In their shipping and their Mariners 2. In Trade 3. In Towns and Fortifications 4. In their Power abroad 5. In publick Revenue 6. In private wealth 7. In all manner of Provisions and store of things necessary amounting to 24 Millions yearly by His Majesties gracious permission at home and abroad VI. How unable they are in that and 16 other respects to engage with England and that point made out VII In a very punctual relation of the last Dutch War from its rise when it began 1650 1651 throughout its whole management to the years 1652 1653 when it was ended with the virtues of that Peace VIII A prudential survey of the present State of the united Netherlands in regard of the Sâ—iâ—uation of their Countrey and in respect of their Neighbours IX A satisfactory consideration of their present State in point of Interest throughout the World and their dealings with every Prince particularly X. Very curious reflections on their present State in point of Government and that not only in the States General but in every one of the 7 Provinces and the Towns belonging to them apart XI Choice Observations on the present state of the Dutch 1. In point of Government 2. In matters of Religion 3. In the particulars of their strength by Sea and Land XII An exact account of the state of the present Controversie between England and the Vnited Netherlands in the three great points 1. Of Trade 2. Of Fshing 3. Of Pretensions Claims affronts and Wrongs And all this directed to no other end than the framing of right and clear Apprehensioâ—s touching the present affairs in those mens minds who are very many that are therein concerned in point of Interest or in those who are almost all who concern themselves therein in point of Discourse Consideration and Observation for whose accommodation these Discourses are contrived Close and not Tedious Real and not Wordy justly entred in the List of those Writings that express more than they promise and Intimate more than they do Express Books lately Printed A Disswasive from Popery By the Right Revereud Father in God Jeremy Taylor L. Bishop of Down and â—onner A Vindication of the Lords Prayer as a formal Prayer to be used by Christians as a Prayer By Meric Casaubon D. D. The History of the French Academie erected at Paris By Card Richleiu consisting of the most refined Wits of that Nation The lives of the two most Illustrious Princes Henry Duke of Glocester and Mary Princess of Orange Sir Walter Raleigh's Maxims and Aphorisms of State published by John Milton Esquire The Mystery and Iniquity of Non-coaformity In an Historical account of the Designes and Practises of the Non-conformists against Church and State Instructions for Jury-men on the Commission of Sewers Delivered in threee several Charges at several â—essions of Sewers at Spalding in Lincolnshire A Treatise of Spiritual Infatuations the Present visible distemper of the English Nation By Dr. William Stamp Trigonometrâ— or the Doctrine of Triangles â—y the Famous Mr. William Oughtred both in Latine and English either with the Tables of Logarithms or without And there is now in the Press ready to be published â—n ingenuous Discourseâ— written by a Persâ—â— of quality Intituled Europae Modernae Speculum Or a view of the Empires Kingdoms Principalities Seigniories and â—ommon wealths of EUROPE in their Present State their Government Policy different Interest and mutual Aspect one towards another from the Treaty at Munster Anno 1648. to this present 1665. All to be sold by Thomas Johnson at the Golden Key in Cannon-Alley over against the great North door of Saint Pauls Church The Original and whole History of the Hollanders In an exact Succession from the year 700 to this present year 1665. CHAP. I. SECT 1. THE Hollanders being a People that seemed born to fill the last Age of the World with Disturbance and this with Noise I was as restless as they are till I could find the Original of those Bustlers Power whereof as old as I am I am likely to see an end The men are the old Hirmodures that were lodged by Nature in no more benign an Habitation than the dreadful distance between the Hercyâ—ian-Forest â—nd Sâ—ythia and they retain this of their Wilderness that they would have still all things in Common whence upon a quarrel about the Salt-pits of Sala as unreasonable as that since about the salt waters of the Ocean the Caths Cerusieâ—s and Ligiens chased those troublesom Neighbours to Cat senel boggen a Port of Fessen an Earldom which the House of Nassau claims but that of Fessen enjoyeth and thence Battus and Zelandus the two Principals of the Nation falling out 〈◊〉 came with his Train to Holland called from him Batavia and Zealand to Zealand called so from him Holland and Zealand it seems were divided in their Founders the one building Bata vâ—durum or Wychterduyrstede a famous Town 800 years ago of three miles compass some three Leagues from Vtrecht now a small Village and the other Arm Viden and Gumpuere but both subject to the Gaules or French who thereupon have a Right to Holland § 2. For Charles the bald King of France 863 at a general Assembly of his Princes and Barons at Bladell in Brabant of Champeigni upon some Lords motion bestowed upon Thierry
Princes and the Earl of Egmont's Government who indeed underhand encouraged them to break Images and all Church Utensils to counterfeit and act the Preachers to disturb all Church-meetings with their Tumultuous cry Vive le Gueux which so lighted the Governess to deal plainly with his Majesty That the Prince of Orange the Earls of Egmont Horne and Hoochstrate had betrayed the Government which nothing but his Presence and an Army could settle Though in the mean time she was so much a woman as to dissemble her fears and enter to a â—â—â—emn promise of Protection of the Conâ—ederates which had accorded the differences for the present but that the Prince of Conde Admiral Coligni and other noble Protestants of France interposed their jealousies of that accord with fair overtures of assistance Whereupon the Seditious keep in and engage some of the Kings Forces whom the Earl of Egmont sent on purpose to widen the difference to an irreconcilableness to provoke them upon pretence of secret Instructions they said were given to the Kings Officers to murther them at the League and turn the Provinces to an absolute Monarchy in two most bitter Letters of Francisco de Allanas the Spanish Agent in the Court of France to the Lady Governess directing the cutting off of the Kings leaders of the Sedition meaning Orange Egmont c. one by one very privately and so examplarily that the Rebellion it self may be odious to all Christendom And concluding that the Riot could not be without the Intelligence and Supports of some Great men and namely of those three that carries so good a shew meaning Orange Egmont and Horne Passages da ed Aug. 1566 which with the intimation of seizing the Marquess of Berghes and the Baron of Montigny in Spain of chusing De Alva Governour and many more sent to Egmont from his Brother Montigny then in Spain amazed the Nobility into an Assembly Oct. 3. at Duremond where the Resolutions were so high for a Defensive War and the natural way of opposing Force with Force that they break up in discontent Arm themselves seize several strong Holds and upon assurance of the Warlike Preparations in Spain Alarm the excellent Governess to Arms. CHAP. III The Hollanders War against their own Sovereign begins VAlenciens of Henault a place very Zealous for the free exercise of Religion Cambresa Haysel Mastricht and many other Towns refused the Kings Garisons till forced by a greater Power after the Decollation of the Herlins Father and Son with other Ring-leaders of the Revolt the reducing whereof staggered the Faction to humble supplications to his Majesty who by the mediation of some Princes of Germany for liberty of Conscience for which fears and jealousies upon their late defeats having divided their Leaders they offered three Millions of Florens an ostentation of their riches as the Spanish Council judged it rather than an Argument of their submission But in vain the Dutchess forbidding the Confederates any approach to her Court and attaching all Passes Forts strong Holds while the Reformers spend 6 Months in Petitions Remonstrances Replies and Protestations watching a fair opportunity to appear especially against the new Oath upon that occasion introduced which they had upon the Edict That the Confederates and all their Adherents should appear before the Governess within â—0 dayes upon pain of being declared Rebels when those that fled not to England took the Field in Troops now desperate under the Seigniour of Tholouse who hovered about Antwerp but disowned by the Prince of Orange till he was surprized at Austerweel where 1590 were slain and excluded the Town of Antwerp being it self in an uproar for two days but with so little success that the Confederacy seemed to be broken the Lord of Brederode and his followers being commanded 5 miles out of Amsterdam with a severe injunction to behave himself there so as to give the Governess or his Majesty no further cause of discontent an injunction the Burgemasters of Amsterdam took so ill that they guarded their dear Lord by Hundreds protested against the present proceedings especially when the Prince of Orange with a formidable retinue of Gentlemen retyred in discontent first to besiege his Town of Breda and then to his County of Nassau advertising the confederate Gentlemen to prepare themselves for â—light or resistance and leaving this with the Earl of Egmont who met him to take his leave at Willebrouke viz That seeing he would not resolve with him and others to stop the entry of the Duke of Alva into the Netherlands as it had been propounded in their Assembly at Druremond he should be the Bridge whereon the Spaniards would first march to plant their Tiranny in these parts With which words Brederode whose word was God save my soul and my Honour with the other Confederates retyred into forreign Parts save that a Party made Head at Vianen two or three days where they and all their Confederates were defeated Antwerp Amsterdam and all other places yeelding to Mansfield and his Walloons who Levelled their Gates and reduced them to an absolute subjection to the King of Spain and Ferdinando de Alvarez Duke of Alva not a Confederate appearing but either in Prison on the Scaffold or in Beggars habit truly Geux now so dreadful a thing it is to meddle with them that are given to change for suddain is the ruâ—ne of them both He that is of a rebellious spirit a cruel Messenger shall be sent to him And such was the Duke of Alva with 8638 Foot and 1200 Horse mustered June 2. 1567 at a place called Rhethees in Piemont between Germany France and Spain and Marched in three Squadrons into Holland where the report of them no sooner arrived than the French the Switz and the Genevians were by the Confederates allarmed to a dreadful posture of defence Especially considering that the Duke advanced his Power and his March both together improving his 8000 to 32000 men and as the Confederates gave out looked sternly on all even moderate Persons saying upon the approach of Egmont as they reported Behold that great Lutheran A word that was laid hold of to enjealous the whole Nation quartering his Souldiers round about him as one that designed that disorder a fair occasion to make the Netherlands an absolute Monarchy setting up a Council of Twelve instead of the Council of State and acting with a full power to dispose of all places Civil and Military to judge of all Cases Publick or Private no respect being had to the Priviledges Customs Lawes Jurisdictions or Appeals of that Countrey in former times which he managed so severely that Executions and Banishments swept away half the Countrey the Keys of most Towns were taken the Gates of several Cities were taken down the Earls of Egmont and Horne the most eminent subscribers of the late undutiful Petition were Imprisoned Count Charles of Mansfield and many others escaped the former Garrisons were displaced New Citadels were built whereof the most eminent at
with 30 and being assisted from England and France entred Lavere chased 7 Spanish ships thence to Tergoes and with one ship kept 6 Middleburgh Boyers or little ships in their Harbour Count Lodowick of Oraney prospering no less with his French Malecontents by Land surprizing many in Henault in this manner Twelve of his men as Merchants lodging in Town and finding that the Porter would open the Gates for money at any time of Night went out at 1. a Clock in the Morning killed the Porter seized the Keys let the Prince who attended without into Town crying out Liberty liberty is given you by the P. of Orange to free you from the 10th peny and from all the D of Alva's exactions shutting up Middleburgh taking 30 Boats at Broome-Creek forcing the Island Zuytbeacland attempting most of the great Towns of Flanders seizing all ships whatever Especially the Duke of Medina Celie's great Navy wherein he came to assist and succeed the Duke De Alva working upon the humours of the Sea-faring men of Enchuese a well-peopled and a conveniently scituated Town belonging to West-Friezland upon the South Sea to withstand the Spaniards and defend their Town by their own Burgers where Johnson and Peterson were so stubborn and troublesom that they said it should cost them their black heads before any Spaniard there become a hated name should enter there with his Ten peny Order and one Bieriche a Brewer did the feat beating a Drum so long in the King of Spain's name that they had got strength enough to exclude him the pretence of opposing Spanish Garrisons took in the Towns of Alâ—mor Horne Edam and Medembly and in a manner all Holland possessed by the Earl of March Dotkom Dousburgh and all Zuphten by the Earl of Sheerenbergh with Hardâ—rwicke Elbruch and Hattem in Gelders Goot Oldeel and Campen in Overysel Speuke Bolswort and Franeker in Friezland and the jealouses raised between De Alva and the Duke of Medina Coeli weakned all undertakings onely the Government had this advantage that the Seditious were raw and undisciplined the Multitude fickle and unsettled the French succours heady and in controllable Mons and other places were untenable wherefore notwithstanding the Prince of Orange his plausible Declaration for the natural necessity of self-defence in the preservation of their Religion and Liberty His Army mouldereth away in discontent 1200 Landtskneghts 500 Reisters 2500 Burgers onely resolving to stand by him in the defence of Mechlin the Prince being afraid every minute of being delivered up by his Followers Mons yeelds upon Articles Maklyn is sacked and ransomed as was Zuphten Nairden Parendam and Harlem all deserted by the Confederates now amazed and retyring to Germany and other places upon the Duke D' Alvae's success at Mons and his severity in other places onely at Sea they did great mischief burning ships in Middleburgh and most other Havens and blocking up the Spanish Power within their Land his Sea-Forces being so battered that he was forced to lie at Anchor before Antwerp most part of the year 1573 and look on his undutiful Subjects Lording no less at Sea than he himself at Land spoiling many passages with sunk Boats full of Stones building strong Holds upon the Mear of Harlem whereabout sailed an 100 sail of ships borrowed by the Prince of Orange from England France Sweden and Holland to three and thirty men of War and three Galliasses the Amsterdam men had equipped for the King of Spain Which going to strengthen Middleburgh were sorely battered between the Ramkins and Flushing at the same time that the Zealanders made 1300 men to surprize and burn the Castle of Sâ—abergh between Flushing and Middleburgh with the Island and Town of Tolon by the intelligence conveyed by two â—ame Pigeons A success that lasâ—ed not long the Princes mixed Fleet being defeated the 28th of May with the loss of one and twenty ships and the Sluce Mase Harlem Meer and all the Coast being so entirely subject to the Spanish Navy that it gave Law to all English French and Dutch ships on that Coast Till free Trade being Proclaimed by the Prince of Orange for French English Scottish Germanes and Easterling Merchants and the Flushingers being told that they must fetch their pay out of the Spanish Prizes in the Road of Armuyden several Biscay ships and Convoys between Amsterdam and Vtrech were seized the Artillery on the Dike of Ramekins was surprized and the Dike it self between Flushing and Ramekins being of great conveniency was fortified while alass Ramekins likewise being taken in the 〈◊〉 time the Prince his long-promised 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 and the Harloâ—â— after 31 weeks hardship yeeld to the mercy of their Besiegers against whom these Watermen were most fortunate at Sea being better acquainted with those untoward Coasts than their Enemies and likewise more vigilant active and industrious and much assisted from Germany France and England and the Merchants of Holland whence the Proverb That the Duke of Alva during his Government had made the Merchants and Mariners of Holland Soldiers The Neat-heards of Spain Hidalgos i. e. Gentlemen The German Soldiers Bribers The Walloons Theeves who were wont to be good men Gentlewomen and honest Virgins Strumpets and Whores and Bawds Ladies and Gentlewomen Insomuch that refusing the Emperours mediation for peace they surprized Geertruydenbergh Rally the ships of West-Friezland Enchuysen Monykindam and the Waterlands to defeat the thirty ships of Amsterdam and lodge some French and English between Delph â—otterdam the Hague and Leyden to succour those places and the Maseland sluice to countenance the erection of a Fort at the Head of the Chanel of Middleburgh and take in Komerswael Which Particulars with the Mutinies begot by the Hollanders the best at it in the World in his Army forced the D. Alva and his Son to Spain Doâ— Lewis de Requiescens succeeding in his charge and misfortunes and seeing Middleburgh and the great Fleet appointed to relieve it vanquished before his eyes being then upon the great Dike of Berghen by the miscarriage of his Letters and directions which yet was recompenced with the overthrow of Count Lodowick of Nassau and his motley Troops of English French and German male-contents among whom was Christopher the Elector Palatine's Son at Monkerbeyd after they had raised the Siege of Leyden Which was no sooner over than Champigni with some other Dutchmen raised a muteny among the Spaniards which neither Priests nor Jesuites could pacifie they crying as the Landtskneghts used to do That they would have Ghelt Ghelt and no Preachment upon the Electors Interest and Todo Todo Dineros y non Pulabras That is Money they meant their Arrears for the dead and living and no words And Dineros Todo i. e. Money and at a Mutiny that cost Antwerp 400000 Gilders while the Zealanders took 15 men of War before their very faces while the Spaniards were intent upon the two Forts they designed upon either Bank of the River Mase beneath
Army was so likely to moulder away for want of pay that she thought fit to intercede for the distressed States with his Majesty of Spain and Don John by the Lord Cobham and Sir Fracis Walsingham and when that failed a Religious Peace as they called it which the States-General consented to was settled which bred great jealousies in the Provinces where many were still stiff for Popery especially at Gaunt till the Queen of England declared against them and promised notwithstanding that Duke Casimer and the D. of Anjou retired in discontent to stand by the Protestant States to the utmost as she did effectually having brought the Estates first to stricter Union and Alliance at Vtrech 1579 than that before at Gaunt and afterwards to erect a Council of State for the management of affairs whose very first debate was a Consultation about the alteration of Government to shorten the War and engage some Person in their defence The next was the taking and demolishing of several strong Holds that had been too serviceable to the King of Spain But their affairs not prospering they resolve upon the Duke of Anjou as their Soveraign upon 27 Articles signed on both sides with Medals coyned whereon were these devices Leonem loris mus li erat Liber revinciri Leo pernegat Pro Christo grege lege Religione justitià reduce vocato ex Gulliâ pacatâ duce Andegariensi â—elgiae Libertatis vindice vos terrâ â—go excubo ponto 1580 Si non nobis saltem posteris And that being dispatched they agree upon Martial Discipline and relieve Steenwich under the conduct of Sir John Norris who victualled it and raised the Siege having given notice of it in Letters which he shot in his Bullets The States-General in the mean time answering the King of Spain's Proscription against the Prince of Orange and providing against the insolences of the Papists by a restraint upon the exercise of their Religion at Brussels and Antwerp declare thus The States General of the United Provinces Guelders Holland Zealand Zuphten Friezland Overysel and â—roeninghen having declared Prince Philip of Austria second of that name King of Spain fallen from the Sigâ—ioâ—y of the said Provinces by reason of his extraordinary and too violent Government against their Freedom and Priviledges solemnly sworn by him having by the way of Right and Armes taken upon us the Government of the publick State and of the Religion in the said Provinces An 1581 having by an Edict renounced the Government of the K. of Spain breaking his Seals Counter-seals Privy-signets for new ones made by them in their stead and entertaining the Duke of Anjou nobly attended from England by the Lord Willoughby Sheffield Windsor Sir Philip Sidney Shirley Parrat Drury and the Lord Howard's son and recommended by the Queen who avowed That what service was done him she esteemed as done to her self and commended to him this one good Rule to be sure of the hearts of the People who invested him Duke of Brabant and Earl of Flanders wherein Dunkirke did import him much to keep a Passage open from Flanders into France as the refusal his Brother made of succour and his entertainment of French Nobility to the discouragement of the Netherlands did him much harm especially since most of his Followers were either men of Spoil or secret Pensioners to the King of Spain and he by their advice lost himself in his Enterprize upon Antwerp so far that had not her Majesties Authority reconciled them the States and he had broken irrecoverably though indeed they never after peiced For the Duke thereupon delivers all the Towns he had taken to the States retyring himself to Dunkirke while the Ganthoes and other troublesom men of the Innovation declared against him and for Duke Casimir And all the Estates humbly beseeched the Queen of England by General Norris to have mercy upon them in this woful juncture especially when the wise Prince of Orange was murthered by a fellow recommended to him by Count Mansfield and serving him three years to await this opportunity having time to say no more but Lord have mercy upon my soul and this poor People And the Spaniards during the States differences and the youth of Grave Maurice of Nassau who succeeded his Father carrying all before them insomuch that the King of France was so afraid to take the Netherlands into his Protection that he sent Embassadors to the Duke of Parma to remove the very suspition of it Especially when the Guisian League brake out upon him and the poor States had now none to trust to but the Queen of England who during their Treaty with France had made them gracious promises by Secretary Davison by whom by the Respective Deputies of their Provinces June 9. 1585 they absolutely resigned the Government to her Majesty who upon sundry great considerations of State refused that yet graciously sent them 4000 men under General Norris 184600 Guilders upon the security of either Ostend or Sluce and promised 5000 Foot and 4000 Horse under a General and other Officers of her own with pay For which the States stood bound giving Flushing Ramekins Briel and the two Sconces thereunto belonging into her hand for security and taking in her Commander in chief with two persons of Quality more of her Subjects by her appointment into their Council of State According to which Contract Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester is made Governour of the Low-Countreys for the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Queen of England to whom the whole Countrey did Homage receiving him as their absolute Governour though the Queen disavowed that as being likely to engage her too farr in the Quarrel and the States humbly submitted to her pleâ—sure in which capacity he set out Edicts for Discipline for the Treaty and Traffique which these troublesom people upon pretence of Liberty and Priviledg mutinied against to the great hinderance of the Earls proceedings insomuch that after he had born up their Interest as his entrance into the Government just ready to sink and taken Daventer Zuphten and other places he resigned his Government to the Council of State leaving a Meddal behind him on the one side whereof was engraven his Picture with these words Robertus â—omes Leicestriae in Belgia Gubernator 1587. And on the other side a flock of sheep scattered and before them an English Dogg with these words Non gregem sed Ingratos invitus desero Whereupon Deputies of Estates attended him with a Present a Cup as big as a Man and an humble supplication to the Queens most Excellent Majesty not to forsake them now in their low Estate so low that the King of Denmark thought fit to intercede for them to their own Leige the King of Spain while they in extremity devolve their affairs upon young Grave Maurice and declaring against the Earl of Leicesser's proceedings incensed the Queen so far that she called home General Norr is though yet Sluce had ben lost
Shallops 1631. And now Gustavus Adolphus held the house of Austria in play and Cardinal Richlieu set all Europe together by the ears especially engaged Spain their Enemy with the power of France Now Catalonia and Portugal begin to revolt and the French fall into Flanders notwithstanding the loss of Crun and Schenke and their defeat of Hulst being healed by the taking of Breda and the success at Lentz never hearkned to peace till they were acknowledged a Free-state at Munster 1648 where the peace was concluded Jan 8. which was confirmed at the Hague March 26 and published throughout this Republick June 5. 1648. CHAP. V. Their dealings towards the English BUt assoon as these ungrateful people had made an end of their War by the Truce 1607 and Commenced their Soveraignty they forgot their Protectors and did so much wrong to the English in the Indies where yet they had never traded had not we assisted them against the power of Spain then Lord of that Countrey in right of the first Discoverers of it amounted in the estimate of English Parliament 1606 to 1500000l sterling and had drawn out King James his sword which they painted nailed to a scabbard and provoke that Parliaments Resolve and Vote for a War or a Reprizal had not the High and Mighty humbled themselves and by all their Allies begged a Treaty that began to no other purpose but to busle and elude us at London 1613 ending a year after to as little purpose as it was begun had not their humble Petition renewed it 1615 at Londâ—n 1616 at the Hague 1619 at London where it was concluded with a general amnesty upon equal ballance of allowance for what was past and an exact Method of Trade for the time to come But how sincerely they observed either these Terms or their former Obligations to us is too evident from their Hostile attempts on Lantore Polleroon and other places in our possession by accord which they took razing our Forts there and behaving themselves Barbarously towards our people there both living and dead over whom they usurped Authority in all Controversies which they exercised most cruelly in Whipping Fining Imprisoning Sequestring and torturing them Besides that they forced them in Partnerships to be contented with their Accounts laying to their Bills what had been disbursed upon their private occasions it being indeed their business while we as the Subjects of a Noble Monarck contented with his own Dominions traded fairly there to invade Islands take and build Forts acquire Dominion and exclude all Partners Especially at Amboyna an Island fourty Leagues round near Surat where we traded for Cloves maintaining five Factors But these people setting up there four Forts with four Bulwarks belonging to each Fort and six great pieces of Ordinances mounted upon each Bulwark guarded by Dutch ships in the Sea round it did what they pleased a great while and at last torturing the poor Natives to allure the English of a pretended Plot and the English to charge the Natives where its not probable either would attempt so strong a place and people insomuch that CHAP. VI. Their Cruelty at Amboyna and the Judgement of God upon it FIrst * The Tortures at Amboyna They hoysed them up by the hands with Cords over a large Door made fast with two Staples of Iron at the top of the Door-posts as wide as they could stretch as they did their Legs too then binding a cloth about their necks and faces so close that little or no water could go by they poured the water softly on their heads till the cloth was full to the mouth and nostrils Insomuch that in drawing their breath they must of necessity suck in the water which with long continuance forced all their inward parts out of their Nose Ears and Eyes till they were almost stifled and choaked then would they take them down till they vomited the water and hoyse them up again till their bodies swelled to double their own proportion their eyes stand out of their heads setting burning Candles in the bottom of ther Feet while they thus hung till many times the fat dropped out the Candles as also under their Elbows in the palms of their Hands and under their Arm-pits till their very Inwards might be seen making the English believe the Japouers had accused them and the Japoners that the English had testified against them the poor Heathens crying O English where did we see you The English answered Why then did you accuse us And they replyed If a Stone were thus burnt would it not change its Nature How much more we who are but flesh and blood A cruelty unparalleld among Christians or indeed among men which therefore the God of both pursued with vengeance 1. In that King James and King Charles excepted the murders from the Indemnities that passed in their time between us and the Hollanders 2. In that a sudden Hurricano almost destroyed the Dutch ships in the Haven of Ambayna at the very hour of this â—orrid execution 3. In that the first Informer against the English fell down dead upon the very place where these men are buried rising again distrâ—cted in which condition he continued to his dying day 4. In that An. 1630 18 Dutchmen whereof three were guilty of the Massacre at Amboyna supping at Frankford in their way to Strasburgh boasted how they served our Nation in this place glorying in their shame which one in the Company noting and relating to two English Captains then in the Germane Wars whose Kindred had suffered there These two way-laying the Hollanders in a Wood with a Troop of Horse bid them stand willing them to prepare for death for they must dye The Dutch answered They hoped not so for all their money was at their dispose We seek not your money said the Captains but your lives for our Countrey men and Allies you murthered at Amboyna And so hanging up Johnson the chief Amboynist and giving the rest leave to throw Dice which of them should escape to bring the news of this to Holland they trussed up all but Jobs Messenger the odd man sent home to tell his Countrey-men that Doubtless there is a God that judgeth in the Earth Cruelty not to be paralleld among the Barbarous much less among Christians and especially between the Netherlanders and the English who when newly recovered from Popery and unsettled when engaged in Ireland and the Countreys about when governed by a Woman when threatned from Spain relieved the distressed Estates espoused their quarrel spent their lives and fortunes in their behalf So dear were those poor people to us that they seemed to be one Nation with us and their Cause and quarrel the same with ours being entertained by us with the affection of Brethren the love of Friends and the respects of Neighbours and Allies For which though they promised it before the year 1625 they never made any suitable satisfaction nor returned to us any of those Islands of Spices
Dutch were flush with a Ten years free Trade and we spent with as many years Rebellion when we were the â—dium of Mankind and they at least upon the account of that Quarrel the Darlings of Europe a handful of our meanâ—st and most inconsiderable of our People durst Vote That no Goods should be Iâ—ported or Exported into or out of England but in English Bottoms And when the Lords States forsooth took that in Dudgeon our bold fellows the King Lords and Commons standing by and not concerned Vote their Embassadoâ—r the Lord Joachim away out of England Octob 6. 1650 within a month at his peril at whose return the High and Mighty draw in their Money sink their Bank mistrust one another break all to pieces raise Fortifications cast Ordinances provide new Artilleries Yards Rendezvouz Militiaes and withdraw 200 Families at least to Hamburgh and the other Hans-Towns of Germany Yet so much Courage they had left as to scorn the pretended Embassadours our Mock-Governours sent thither insomuch that one Dorisla by name lost his life there and another Strickland was weary of it strike to his Majesties concerns as he was King of Great Brittain in most of their Treaties with France Portugal Denmark Sweden c. though yet in their General Meetings Jan. 20. 1651. they Voted our Tom Thombs a free State forsooth and Common-wealth and that they would transact with their new-coyn'd Honours about a Truce and that too by old Joachim who was sent packing but two Months before the Province of Holland having cast the charges of a War and considered that half the money might advance it to a Seignory over its Sister Provinces And all the Provinces being amazed at the Tempest that broke the two Dikes St. Anthonies and the Harlem-Dike to the ruine almost of Gelders Zuphten Overystel Friezland and Holland Upon the least suspicion of War up came Chimney-money Poll-money Excise on Salt Beer Vinegar Wines Butter Oyl Candles all Grains Seeds Turff Coals Lead Brick Stone Wood Linnen and Woollen Clothes Silks Silver Gilt Wagons Coaches Ships and other Vessels Lands Pastures Gardens Nurseries Houses Servants Immovable Goods all Seals They forbid all affronts to their Lordships forsooth Strickland and St. John They drink and that was a great Argument of the High and Mighty States good affection in continuationem prosperitatem Reip Angliae Notwithstanding all which complyance the paltery thing called Our Parliament stayed a Fleet of theirs in the Downs forsooth till further Pleasure because there was Cordage Powder and Ammunition in them under the Corn. Whereupon His Majesty prospering in Scotland and a Peace being made with France the Mighty make bold to tell Sir John That they cannot answer his Proposition touching a League Offensive and Defensive under four Months for that they must send to all the Provinces for their advise and consent in a business of so high a concernment and our High and Mighties take snuff and call their Messengers home to the no little trouble of their Brethâ—en who beseech and intreat their stay but to no purpose the young Usurpers being intollerable when ever intreated to be kind and when that would not do pass this Vote The States General of the Netherlands having heard the Report of their Commissioners having had a Conference the day before with the Lords Embassadors of the Common-wealth of England do Declare That for their better satisfaction they do wholly and fully condescend and agree unto the 6 7 8 9 10 and 11 Propositions of the Lords Embassadors as also to the 1 2 3 4 and 8 Articles of the year 1575 made between H. 7th and Philip Duke of Burgundy Therefore the States do expect in the same manner as full and clear an Answer from the Lords Embassadors upon the 36 Articles delivered by their Commissioners 24th of June 1651. And not only so But they nominate the Heer Bever of Dort and the Heer Vell of Zealand with old Joachimi for Agents to the Common-wealth forsooth of England remembring the old Motto in Queen Elizabeths time Si Colâ—idimur frangimur Especially when the men at Westminster gave Letters of Mart to several Merchants to make themselves satisfaction for the losses they had suffered by Pickeroons belonging to the Netherlands Whereupon they filled up their Embassy with min Heer Schaep delaying the matter till the Kings Majesties business was decided Their 11 East-India ships worth a Million were put to sale an 160 sail arrived from Bourdeaux Mounsier Borreel could not prevail in France and the bold ones at Westminster make an Act as they called it for Increase of shipping the improvement of Trade the encouragement of Fishing and Navigation so prejudicial to the Cities of the Rine which together with the surprize of so many Amsterdamers awaked them so farr that Van Tromp with 36 sail in three Squadrons was ordered to Sea first to the Straights and then to the Downs to secure their Monopoly of Wine and Currans and Agents dispatcht to Denmark Sweden Portugal and France to strengthen the War in behalf of it altering their Embassadors for England whither they send the cunning Head-pieces mine Heer Catz and min Heer Scaep the last whereof in the mean time treats with France about Dunkirk and with Sweden about Neutrality The English men discourse of 100000 for Amboyna the Herring-fishing free passage through the Shee ll and the cautionary Towns frighting them to a resolution with 152 sail to commence a War eight Dutch ships being taken by the English as they came from New found-land and the Swedish Embassador Speering dealing under-hand with the English insomuch that they forbid any ship to stir from either the Mase or Texel and Amsterdam offereth an no sail as Zealand doth 40 on condition its Petition be granted about Letters of Mart the States fortifying Briel and Flushing prohibiting the Exportation of any Warlike Provisions and making a stay of all English ships In the mean time a certain Faction crept in that disturbed their Publick Peace at Middleburgh and Dort because they mentioned not the Prince of Orange in levying Souldiers till Trump departed in July with resolution to find out the English Yet espying Sir George Aiscue in the Downs with a Squadron was not able to bear up with him because of a Calm wherefore he addresseth himself against Blake in the North attending some Indian Vessels and taking the Dutch Herring-Busses from whom a Tempest parted him to his loss as the night did De Ruyter from Aiscue onely he met with Captain Badileyes 4 ships in the Straights and took the Phaenix which was re-gained by Captain Cox in Portologn upon a Dutch festival night when during the heat of the Holland Carouses he stole upon it in a Boat in the habit of a Dutchman which success was indeed allayed by Captain Appleton's weighing Anchor out of Legorn Mole sooner than he should and so falling into the hands of 22 Dutchmen of War before Captain Badiley could come
at him A while after General Blake discovered the Dutch Fleet on the backside of Godwyn-sands being about 60 men of War under Vice Admiral Witti Wittison against whom Captain Young Reynolds and Chapman having humbled the Legorn Merchants and their Convoy he bore up and notwithstanding he was on a dangerous Sand called Kentish Knocke where the water was not three fathoms deep assuring his Souldiers vast encouragements he staid by the Dutch Fleet till night parted them And next day though the wind was low bore North and by West up to them being then two â—eagues North-east of the English who coming with much adoe within shot of them made them so afraid they should get within them that they run for it 10 Frigats chasing them till 6 a clock at night June 18 excusing themselves to Captain Bourn that cross Winds had blown them upon our Coasts against their wills Yet having with fair words collogued with our Dons so farr that they laid up half their Fleet in Harbour upon the loss of their Plate-Fleet which they pretended was the King of Spains but really was theirs they appear before Dover with 70 men of War and 10 Fire-ships forcing Blake with but 42 men of War and them ill manned and worse commanded to engage to an unavoidable loss Which yet was quickly recompensed when withdrawing to the Harbour and in spight of the Hollanders industry to hinder all Nations from bringing any Tar Pitch or Masts into England equipping 80 sail against the 18th day of Feb. 1653 upon which day the Dutch Fleet in number about 80 sail with an 150 Merchant ships from Rovan Nants and Bourdeaux were discovered between the Isle of Wight and Portland and about 8 in the morning the Headmost of the Enlish Fleet came up and engaged them I mean the Triumph wherein Blake and Dean were with 3 or 4 more the rest not being able to get up holding 30 Dutch ships in play till two a clock in the afternoon when half the Fleet came up and fought the Hollanders till night And next morning Feb. 17 chased them to the Leeward having 60 Merchants and 9 men of War in our hands and 2000 men dead on the shore insomuch that the Hogens intreat a Peace by a new Embassador the Lord Paw and their Merchants are forced the long and perillous Voyage round the North by Ireland and Scotland and before Norway as did the Rochel and East-India Fleet that belonged to the Baltick Sea not daring else to stir out of the Flye For though the Spanish the Italian the Levant and Indian Merchants 145 sail in number attended by 90 men of War for their Convoy yet the English Fleet consisting only of 65 men of War being at Anchor on the South side of the Gober discovering them about two Leagues to Leeward being about 100 sail together weighed and bore sail to them with so furious a charge that night and next morning that they tore quite away as fast as they could only the wind freshing Westward The English bore in so hard among them that 12 of our men of War sunk 6 of theirs and had done the whole Fleet had not night surprized them so near the Godwyn-sands where the Dutch decoyed them that they were forced to weigh Anchor while the shattered Dutch got into the Texel the Wieling and the Flye the English resolving to pursue them to their own Coast as near as they durst where they took Prizes in a manner every day and as it were blocked them up Till beating up Drums first in their own name and when the people fell to a Tumult at Enchuysen because it was not in the Princes name in the young Prince of Orange his name they reinforced another Fleet pro aris for is to relieve their Coasts and themselves both imprisoned by an English Power quartering a great Body of Horse in the mean time for fear they should land and sending four Commissioners to England with most humble Propositions of Peace During which Treaty July 27 the English Scouts discovered a Dutch Fleet from the Wiâ—lings of about 75 men of War Upon notice whereof the English Fleet made what sail they could after them which the Dutch discerning stood away yet by five a clock that evening were Engaged by 30 English Frigats so resolutely that they sent away some torn ships in the night and stole themselves too undiscerned by the English into a designed conjunction with 25 sail of stout men they expected out of the Texel with whom they fell furiously on the English next morning When after some success against the Garland the Triumph and the Andrew by their Fire ships they observing the declining of their fortune bore away towards the Texel whither the English durst not follow them for fear a cross wind should meet with them at that shore where they saw the Dutch led to Harbour having lost their Admiral Vaâ— Tromp thirty men of War and 6000 men A defeat that set the Hague Alchmuer and many other places in Holland in an up roar and being added to their loss of seven Braziel ships on Calice Road taken by Captain Reynolds Moullon and Cranâ—ley and of Braziel it self recovered during this War by the Portugez The taking of 9 ships upon the coast of France by Captain Pack Wright and Jordan in spight of the French Protection The jealousies between Van Tromp and De Witt since the first knock on the Godwyn-sands after their ranting in one Pamphlet of their Lyon and his Prey in another of Englands being possessed with a Devil and in a third That Hollanders are Angels a Dutch man in his double Jugg proportion with a box of Butter in the one hand and a pickled Herring in the other is a Pretty Cherubim and English men Devils Notwithstanding their Threats of combining with the World against us that brought them on their knees in reiterated Messages of Peace not scrupling the perliminary Points of satisfaction formerly so much boggled at in former Treaties And shall these unhappy people that were baffled by a poor Remnant of a Rebellion undertake the Generous Honestâ— and full Power of a Monarchy That they who withstood not the distracted ambition of a few Out-lawes that were almost lost in the pursuit of other mens Estates and Powers presume against the settled authority of a Prince whose onely business is to preserve his own who frights none and is afraid of none having no Enemies because owning no undoing thought against any but such for whose ruine a true and satisfactory Reason may be given to the World In vain do they vapour against a Nation whose Government is fixed since they fell before it when it was loose alteration of Interests was their Hope then the sixedness of it must be their Fear now Then they had to do with many Factions now with one Interest Then with a Power that mistrusted it self whence they knew how to â—â—jole the Council of State against a Parliament as
they called it and a General with his Army against both now the Military Power is all one with the Civil the Council with the Parliament the Lords with the Commons the Temporality with the Spirituality because all influenced by one Head and acted by one Interest the Honour of His Majestly the freedom of Trade together with the Râ—ghts and Priviledges of three great Nations to be generously asseâ—ed against all Usurpations whatsoever Did they stoop to a self-seeking Rabble and dare they look in the face of a Publick-spirited Prince Did they yeeld to oppressed and cross Crest-fallen and will they ingage a Free-born and Magnanimous People Did they submit to a dissolute Faction and will they contest with a well-regulated Power Will they Conquer us fighting against our Freedoms and Liberties when they were Conquered by us in fighting for them Were they humbled when the Vote of the most and best of the Nation was for them and do they now swell when the Universal Vote is against them And we can scarce agree so well in the acknowledgment of a God as in an inclination to a Dutch War the onely Point to which there are no Non conformists It s to little purpose to attempt a Nation restored to its Virtues Severities Orders and Lawes since they failed against it when sunk in Licentiousness and Barbarisms will they venture a War that is the Peoples own act and choice after that unsuccesful one which was but their necessity and Fate Were the English so valliant in serving others Lusts and will they be less in carrying on their own Interest Did they Wonders when ruined with ten years woful War and can they do less when refreshed with five years blessed Peace Did the English prosper when they ingaged for other mens Ambition and will they not succeed when obliged by their own Countrey Did they Conquer when they dreaded their Victory as likely to be overcome themselves as soon as they overcame their Enemies and can they be Conquered when they passionately wish it as the security of their livelihood and and liberty and where Defeats raise not Despair Tumults and Riots as in pretended Free-States where the people think their Governours are accountable to them but just resentments and resolutions as in Monarchies where Princes are accountable onely to their Reason and Honour The Dutch would do well to consider that they have not to do now with the confusion of Levellers but the Order of Government not with the Raw undertakings of Mechanicks but with the staid and sage Experience of Statesmen nor with the Tumultuous Discontents and Divisions surviving a Civil War but the calm sedateness and tranquillity attending a well settled Peace Not with those Free-State jealousies that made it dangerous for any man to be Eminent but with those Royal magnificent confidences that make it shameful to be mean England is not now a Wilderness of wilde unconstant and ungrateful Creatures but a Kingdom of Sober men The Advantages that the Dutchâ— make by Fishing on the Coasts of Great Brittain which by the War they are like to lose THe Brittish Seas especially towards our own Coasts are so exceedingly productive of Multitudes or great sholes of good substantial and useful Fish as Ling â—od Herrings Pilchers c as that it would seem incredible should I relate what vast quantities of them are yearly taken by the Dutch and somtimes with what ease and speed But the continual experience and testimony of Eye-witnesses is ground sufficient to confirm the truth thereof And hereby they not onely supply themselves with the greatest part of their subsistance and food but reap such other General and National advantages as are equal to the Revenue of a Crown and may Rationally be assigned as the chief and principal Cause next to the favour and assistance of the English in their Infancy of their present strength and Mightiness Which the better to evince I shall both use the Authority and follow the Method of that knowing and curious Observer Sir John Burroughs who in a small Tract of his written 1633 hath judiciously disposed those fore-said Advantages into seven Heads or Particulars viz 1. Increase of Shipping and Seamen 2. Traffique 3. Strong Holds and Fortifications 4. Power abroad 5. Publick Revenue 6. Private or particular Estates 7. Provisions and store of all things conducing either to their Subsistance or Greatness 1. Increase of hipping and Seamen ANd here this ingenious Gentleman hath by clear evidence demonstrated That Holland which is not above 28 Dutch miles long and three broad nothing so large as one single County of England a Countrey that hath of its own growth and within it self nothing considerable either of Materials Victuals or Merchandize for setting forth of ships doth yearly imploy and maintain by Fishing upon our Coasts besides 3000 Vessels imployed in fishing on their own Coasts 7 or 8 thousand ships Herringbusses and other Fishing-boats wherein are set at work above 140000 Fishermen and Mariners who are hereby bred and inured to the Sea and fitted for manning and sailing their other shipping into remote Parts and other services besides the many thousands of Tradesmen Women and Children which have their dependance on and subsistance from this Trade and all this by the indulgence favour and sufferance of the English 2. The increase of Trade The Dutch being by this Fishing-trade as it were born and bred upon the Sea cannot or hardly do live elsewhere but disperse themselves in trading Voyages throughout the whole World And our Fish especially our Herring being approved and of general use for food throughout Europe is the onely Commodity whereby they furnish themselves with the richest Merchandizes yea and Coyn to boot of all other Countreys Nay t is no small summe of money that they yearly carry out of England it self for this its own Commodity a thing shameful to the English Nation and not to be excuâ—ed That when God and Nature hath offered them so great a Treasure even at their own door they notwithstanding for want of Industry to say no worse neglect the benefit thereof and by paying money to strangers for the Fish of their own Seas impoverish themselves to make them rich and so the more dangerous Neighbours 3. Strong Holds and Fortifications By this their greatness of Trade and the dependency of the whole people upon that onely their Cities and Towns which are for the most part Maritine and conveniently seated for Commerce are by a continual Concourse exceedingly populated and which is consequent much enlarged and beautified in their Buildings and as all great moneyed mens houses strongly fortifyed for the defence of themselves and substance from the violence of Neighbours This we find confirmed by the late enlargment of Leyden Middleburgh and Amsterdam by the Strength Conveniency and Costliness of their Ports and Havens by the strong and regular Fortifications of all their Towns but especially by the late Magnificent and Sumptuous Piles at Amsterdam 4.
Expound 5. Catechise 6. Baptize 7. Receive the Communion the first Sundayes in April July October and January after 18. dayes warning 8. To marry a Widow within six months a Maid at 14 with an Exhortation 9. To make a sick mans Will 10. To go before a dead body without either Prayer Sermon or so much as the tinkling of a Bell. 11. To admonish suspend excommunicate 1. By praying for the guilty person 1. On Sunday without naming either him or his fault The 2d Naming him The 3d. Naming him and his fault for which he is excluded till he confesseth it before the Congregation and the Pulpit And all these things with that indifferency that if men will they may use them and submit to them if not they may let them alone Insomuch as there is not a more ridiculous Meeting in the World than their Parochial Sunday meetings where they do what they please indeed for an hour or two and the people do what they please all the Week I think we may wave that Point and see what is Their present Condition in point of Land-Forces Trav. VVHâ—n 1. They are â—orced to maintain so many thousands in time of Peace on purpose that they may be ready against a War 2. When their Weesvaders for the Orphans of their souldiers when their Easthuysen for maimed souldiers when their Aelmoestiniers for old servants and Officers when their Die huyse sitten de Armen and other Wase-houses Guest-houses Du houses and most prudent provisions for those persons that fail in their service stand them in 364547l 16s 4d Amsterdam alone maintaining 113764. with weekly accommodations 3. When at their last year Estimates as the custom is of States and Persons they sunk almost half in half besides that so many served forreign Princes without leave against the fundamental constitution of their Government 4. When in the greatest danger of the Countrey they will stand upon this Punctillio of their Magna Charta that none should be forced to serve out of his own Province 5. When so many excellent persons especially almost all their Commanders must either quit their service or their own Allegiance 6. When the Coyn of each Nation is by strict Lawes kept there and the States must spend upon the common stock 7. When the Lord of the Sea in Right and Power forbids the Importation of any Bullets Match Powder Armes Ammunition or any other Contraband Goods from any part of the World into Holland upon pain of forfeiting the Goods and Vessels too 8. When the gross Inhabitants are so unweildy that they can do nothing but sit on their Breeches in a ship 9. When they are as much at a loss for Men to their Arms as they may be for Arms to their Men in a very short compass of time should a mighty Prince who is Lord of the Sea in Power as well as Right continue that severe Edict whereby all Nations are advertised That what Powder Ammunition or other Contraband Goods soever they shall Import to the Lands Territories Plantations or strong Holds belonging to the Estates of the Vnited Netherlands shall be judged Prize-goods and forseited accordingly And consequently the Dutch stores being likely to supply at least 40000 men by Sea and Land without any hoped recruit the Countrey must needs be lost as Amsterdam was once for want of Ammunition Besides that they will be as much to seek for Provision as for Men the Pestilence preceding their War not more fatally sweeping away â—the one a third part being missed in Holland than the Famine following it cuts off the other the Market is already improved a moyety and when the Baltick-sea is commanded by Sweden and Denmark the Mediterranian awed by the Turk and French and the Brittish-coasts over-ruled by their Soveraign Holland will not be said so properly to be overcome as to be starved it being not likely that the King of England should be guilty of the King of Spain's oversight Princes seldom erre twice which cost him those Provinces and as much money as would have bought as much Land thrice over and rendred them as considerable as it made him despicable that is ly pelting at their impregnable Townes when he may swallow their whole Common-wealth and take that pedling Countrey quickly by the Wholesale that cost others so much by the Retail It s true their Towns are strong but Factious driving at their particular Interests to the prejudice of the general States and ready to submit to any new Masters rather than Truck under Amsterdam Antwerp chose rather trade under Spain than Liberty under the free States each Governour pursuing his own design as vigorously as the High and Mighty do theirs Neither is there a Garrison there wherein the Governour is not engaged against the Burgemasters and they inveterate against him wherein the Townsmen would not betray the Souldiers or the Souldiers sell away the Townsmen Besides as an Agent who doth there more service than an Army may order the affair such may the misunderstanding be between the respective Provinces that they had rather as the Duke De Alva observed be ruined by themselves than saved by one another though indeed as they are hardly attempted by reason of the narrowness of their ways and frequency of their Dikes so they are more hardly relieved a 1000 well-encamped men being not to be attempted there by 10000 to which may be added That as strong soever their Towns may be by Land they lye open by Sea and so no longer tenable against us then their Masters are Lords of the Brittish-coasts But suppose their Forces by Land most considerable yet you must suppose withall Commanders to those Forces who being of necessity Forreigners men of fortune and it may be persons of various apprehensions never likely to close in a common Quarrel or Action unanimously or honestly Yea let me tell you their very strong Holds are their weakness as to which they trust so much that they could never yet look an Enemy in the face in the Field nor perform any thing resolute or honourable Not to mention their pay which must as duly be paid as the Usurers Mortgage-money in the very time and place or else the Countrey may be over-run while they lay down their Arms and cry Ghelt ghelt as they did in the very first action of the Prince of Orange towards their freedom to the loss of 5000 men and three Counts of the Empire at Steinbocke Neither is it the least consideration That the Scene of a Land-war must be the very bowels of their own Countrey they not daring to look beyond their Cantons by Land for fear of their friends nor by Sea for fear of their enemies Not to aggravate the affair with this unhappy reflection That 2000 Horse eats up their Countrey in Summer and must be eat up themselves for want of Butter and Cheese in Winter Yet the worst is to come viz an untoward Oath was put upon so many expert valiant and deserving
Scots and Eng. which not only forfeits them these excellent Persons service in the instant they could worst spare them but likewise assists us with such Experience and Interests in their own Countrey as these Gentlemen cannot chuse but communicate to the great prejudice of their Cause and Government Nor needed they have been so Prodigal of the few Gentlemen they had from forreign parts who have scarce any of their own for among them a brave Courtly Gentile and Noble Person is like Merlin in the field among Crowes after Michaelmas which they wonder at envy but can neither use nor respect Their spirits are sunk as low as their Countrey and their blood runs as thick as their water Not an Order passing without a French Secretary nor a Muster without an English Commander nor an Embassy managed without an Italian Gentleman Men are like Wine not good before the Lees of Clownishness be settled nor when it s too windy and will flie out of the Bottle nor when it s too austere and sowre In a midling clarity and quickness it is best Gent. Indeed I look for little good in a Land-service from gross and unweil-Dutchmen But I hope they are considerable at Sea Trav. Indeed there 's not so Potent a piece of ground for the bigness of it in the World as Holland at Sea If 1. Their Timber were answerable at Land to their ships at Sea and they must not fight for their shipping as well as their trade being beholden to Swedeland Denmark and England for the very strength wherewith they must engage them If 2. They had either ships that according to the Automatical proposal made there last year could manage themselves and they were not as much to seek to let the world see they can furnish an 100 sail as they have been hitherto in perswading it they can build them it being one thing in Holland to set out 1000 Merchant-men and another 160 men of War their Plantations abroad having swept away those men that would maintain them at home they and their old Masters of Spain lying under one misprision and oversight viz That they enlarge the borders of their Dominions at the charge of the strength of them If 3. They could recruit their ships as well as man them and one Battel well followed without mercy or Quarter overthrew them not beyond recovery Holland as well as Spain were it not for want of men and bread would do wonders If 4. Their people would fight as well as debate and maintain a Quarrel as well as scan it and they were not the unhappy Common-wealth where not a man will strike longer than he seeth a Reason for it every fat Seaman out-staring his Master with a bold Cui â—ono to what end all this If 5. They were not so inured to slavery at home that they will yeeld in extreamity to a lasting captivity rather than expire in a bold resistance laughing in such cases at the English spirit that prefers an honourable death to a thralled life when at best Hollanders are but Prisoners at large If 6. Their constant dependance upon and late Bangs by the English hath not insinuated to them a Panick fear that nothing can inspirit but Brandy and impressed such a disorder upon their spirits that nothing rallieth them but Rhenish so dreadful are their apprehensions of England that when they would express a Momo they paint a grim Britton rouzing with-these words I am coming I am coming If 7. It were not the humour of most pot pular States as most common people of which sort they consist not to hold out beyond one event to give all over for lost after the first misfortune while the generous Members of a Monarchy take courage from defeats raise a resolution from Despair adding after an Overthrow the heat of a brave Revenge to that of a common Enmity their Anger quickning their Hatred and their Shame their Anger If 8. Their Losses did not impede their Successes and every Seaman almost went out with this sad Exclamation for the Herring-fishing the English Commerce the Mediterranian and Baltick-trade Well I am 40l a year the worse for this foolish War Those men will do little service against a Prince that hath their Money in his Purse their Meat in his own Stores their Corn in his own Ground their very Livelihood in his own Sea and their Estates at his Mercy If 9. Their Privateers did not overrule the Publick and while every man would set up for himself all failed not If 10. Their Provinces could agree at Sea any better than they do at Land and did not justle for Precedency when the question is their being If 11. They durst trust their Commanders with full Commission and they were neither restrained from their own defence without Order nor defeated of the best Advantages for want of Authority If 12. The proceedings of the several Courts of Admiralties and their respective Debates with their Particular States and the States-General spent not that time upon the very Method of Action till their Adversaries have cut off the very possibility of it If 13. They were secure in any neighbouring Harbour or in their own since the last are so dangerous and the first are either shut up by neutens or blocked by Enemies If 14. Antwerp were further off or stopped up and the blemings dad not an Amsterdam as well as the Dutch If 15. Holland were as able to subsist of it self as England and Dutchmen had homes to go to when they have lost their Navy Did a stop of trade put them onely to want Spice for Sawce as in England and not Meat Wines onely and not Bread Silks Laces and not Cloth Curiosities in fine and not Necessaries If 16. Their Schuttery as they call them I mean their Train-bands of Burgemasters were as good for service as they are for shew If 17. They had a Yeomandry to mantain their Seamen in War as well as they Inrich them in Peace In a word If 18. They could be at once Valiant and sober and it were not a sad necessity that a Dutchman must be either drunk or fearfull there being no remedy for Cowardize there but Madness The State of every Province Gent. GVicciardine Buxhornius Adrian Junius and Emmeius the first in this Italique description of Belgium the second and third in their Dutch Theatre of Holland and the last in his large account of Friezland say That Holland alone is more powerful at Sea than all the Princes of Europe put together What is it then in Conjunction with the rest against one King Trav. 1. As to Holland particularly so called when I consider the differences that are between the Delegates of its Nobility the Die Ridder scap ende Edelen as they call them and those of its Cities called Die Steden in most transactions 2. The Disorders among its Senators called Vroedt schappen in most Cities consisting of 20 30 or 40. 3. The private pikes among its Burgemasters the
being chosen King of the Romans to Hungary 1411 leaving Engelbert Earl of Nassau 4th Governour of the Netherlands whom the Emperour assists in the settlement of the Government the Pope seconding his Temporal Power with his own Spiritual who being hired by the distractions between Holland and Flanders about the Sea resigned his Charge to Albert Duke of Saxony who with his Master Maximilian the K. of the Romans went into Holland settling the Towns as they passed making a Peace between them and the Flemins and punishing the Mutiniers at Harlem and Alâ—mar Ruining the Factions by their own fears and jealousies keeping under the Frizons and Gelders by a new Protestate sent thither by the Emperour Maximilian untill Philip the 2d Arch-Duke of Austria was by his Father Maximilian possessed of the Netherlands 1494 under whom the Duke of Saxony defeated the Factions of Friezland by pretended kindnesses whereby he set them one against the other while both delivered to him their strong Holds which he made so good use of that they appeal from him and his Son George to the Emperour who yet stood by his Governour who in return for his Masters kindness brought them of Friezland after some redress of grievances by their Commissioners to pay his Master the 21th penny of all their Estates putting 6 men to govern there while he reduced the Groningois notwithstanding the Protection of the Earl of Embden and the followers of Col. Vyll about which time a child spake in Holland in the Mothers belly and Philip of Austria being now King of Castile dyed and left Charles the 2d of that name the 35th Earl of Holland and Zealand Lord of Friezland Duke of Burgundy and Lemburgh Luxemburgh Shiia Corinthia Earl of Flanders Artois with many other Marquisates and Principalities to which he added Millain Overyssel Gruningen Cambray and Cambresis his Grandfather Maximilian the Emperour being his Guardian and his Aunt Margaret Dowager of Savoy his Governess under whom Ann of Burgundy that had recovered and walled in many lost Islands in Zealand dying Budwyen was taken and razed the Geldrois Groeningois with the Earl of Embden are conquered Prince Charles taking the Netherlands into his own hands from the Dutchess of Savoy and the Duke of Saxony by the assistance of the Lord of Iselsteen under whom he constituted 7 Governours of Justice in Friezland when he went to Spain for that Crown upon Ferdinand of Arragon his Grandfather by his Mother side death and to Germany for that Empire upon his Grandfather Maximilianâ—s decease settling Margaret of Austria Widow of Castile and Dowager of Savoy the 37th Governess of the Low Countries whose Hâ—rring-busses being seized by the Danes they mutiny seize Newport distract Friezland pretend Religion and fly to the Duke of Gelders until the Imperial Forces came down and awed them insomuch that Groningen yeelds to the Emperour as did Dam Weddra Coeuoelden Huttem Megen Vtrecht and most other places the Gelders being not able to hold out against the Power of Spain and Germany Upon the Dowager of Savoy's death Mary Dowager of Hungary and Sister to Charles the 5th is the 40th Governess of the Low-Countries under whom the new Chanel was made between Brussels and Antwerp the Anabaptists were discovered and banished the War betwixt the Lubeckers and the Hollanders was managed by Vander-burch van Comper and the new Haven at Middleburgh was begun 1536 and the notable surprize upon the French ships was acted in this manner There being a War between the Hollanders and the French some French ships rid along their shore snapping up their Vessels and themselves somtimes in bed whereupon 50 tall Dutchmen well Armed hearing of these ships went in a Hoy lying under Hatches and covered with Sacks of Wool out of the Mase towards them who boarded it but when they were busie about the Sacks of Wooll they were entertained so rudely by those 50 men with Fire-works and Granadoes that they all fled and left 6 ships Prizes to one Hoy to be carried to Delph and sold Now likewise the Emperour brought the Geldrois to a muteny that dismantled their Towns razed their Forts and laid the Faction open to their Soveraigns Power who spoiled the Abetters Abeâ—ters of their Conspiracies the French at Sea and brought this unquiet People that rebelled every year for 527 years together to so good a temper that they presented him at Genoa with 15000 Florens of Gold a Province and quietly submitted to the Resignation he made of those Provinces to his Son at Brussels who now by the name of Philip the 2d of Spain and Lord of Austria by Emanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy his Viceroy demanded of the Netherlands Supplies for the payment of his Fathers debts who would allow him none unless forsooth he allowed a Convocation of their general States and then but a moyety neither of what he demanded and was necessary for his settlement And not onely so but notwithstanding that he honoured their chief Nobility as the Lord Horn William of Nassau the Earl of Egmont with the order of the Golden Fleece at Brussels they created such fears and jealousies between the King and the Noblemen that it was reported who were upon the refusal of the Tax designed for the Block who for the Rack and who for perpetual Imprisonment insomuch as that there was a perpetual Feud between the Court and the Nobility till the Government was dissolved all things being represented to the worst especially the Earls of Egmont and Lornes carriage at the Truce between France and Spain at Bruges and at the Treaty between the same two Crowns at Cambray Their King was yet so intent upon obliging them that he appointed them a Council of State for matters of importance as Peace War and Treaties with forreign Princes A Privy-Council for Lawes Pardons Justice c. and a third Council for the Treasury of which Councils they themselves were the major part their most eminent Nobility being advanced as the Earl of Egmoâ—â— Governour of Flanders and Artois The Prince of Orange Governour of Holland Zealand Vtrech and afterwards of Burgundy Jo. de ligni Earl of Arenbergh Governour of Friezland Overyssel Groning and Leagen Charles de Bunen Governour of Gelderland and Zuphten the Mâ—â—morencies and Hornes of their respective Provinces all subject to Margaret of Austria Dutchess of Parma and Sister to the King of Spain when the very first instance of the ungrateful mens Power is a Petition to their Soveraign a Spaniard himself to remove all Spaniards from the Netherlands A Petition the good King easily granted though to the displeasure of many of his Courtiers that had quitted their whole fortunes for employments there diverting his very Army which should have kept them in better obedience to his War in Barbary And when they had prevailed in that they give out that the Spanish Courtiers would be revenged of them and that the chief Nobility of the Netherlands the Subscribers to that Petition were designed
to ruine a Counseâ—lor of Spain it should seem a Pensioner of Holland coming in great hast to the Earl of Egmont thâ— Lord Horn and others at Chest in Gaunt with news that all those that consented to the Petition for the removal of the Spaniard the great Patron of the peoples Liberty should be put to Death when yet his Majesty parted from them friendly 26 Aug. 1357. recommending to them the maintenance of Religion that general stay of Government the finishing of the new River from Antwerp to Brussels for the conveniency of Trade the erection of Doway University for the propagation of Orthodox Learning and the impression of the Complutensian Bible for the â—dvancement of Religion four excellent Designes but so far envyed by these undutiful people that they suspected the last as a Plot as if the Printing of the Bible were a stratagem against Religion and cryed out against the third as a breach of their Liberties CHAP. II. The Revolt of the Hollanders from their natural Allegiance 1564 and the management of that Revolt till they became a Free State FOr you must know that about this time these good People weary of their ancient Government began to search for their old Charters Priviledges Bulls of favour Customs of which they pretended one was That no Popish Seminaries such as Doway was should be built upon their Frontiers another That they should suffer no violence forsooth their Kings must wear a Sword in vain a third That no persons should be admitted to Office unless he swore to be faithful to the Prince and people and a fourth That they might meet and act without their King but he could do nothing without them and that if he presumed to do any thing otherwise they were discharged of their Alleigance These and other Moth-eaten Liberties belonging to the Dutchy of â—rabant if to any at all since the Contract with Maximilian May 16. An. 1488 together with the jealousies about Religion and the murmurings about the tenth Peny when their King was onely intent upon the settling of their Government by that Tax and the prevention of Anabaptistical outrages such as that in Munster by his Proclamation against turbulent Innovaters were alledged first against the Inquisition which yet Mary Dowager of Hungary lately regent graciously suspended upon their Petition at Antwerp That she should not spoil their Trade by her overmuch zeal for Religion And now they had got that surmize of the Inquisition into the multitudes heads every thing the King did was termed the introducing it for his Majesty no sooner observing that the four Bishops of Cambrey Arras Tournay and Vtrecht were unable to oversee effectually the 17 large Provinces of Belgium set up 14 new Bishops by the Pope Paul the Fourth's Order and Cardinal Granvill's solicitations than they declaim against them as so many new Inquisitors and their respective Prebends as so many assistants in Persecutions insomuch that the Earl of Egmont their Admiral finds out another Charter wherein it was declared That the Ecclesiastical estate could not be enlarged without their consent and dispatcheth some Burgemasters with complaints against dead Trade and new Bishops to Spain where observing the Kings resolution to assert his Government against these popular surmizes they remonstrate that his Majesty did ill to act without the concurrence of the Lords the States and at their return home raised such Tumults and discontents as might give opportunity to the Lords to meet an opportunity they imbraced wherein they unanimously agreed to a manifesto of the state of the Countrey to be delivered to Margaret Dutchess of Parma their Governess containing first That the King was misled by ill Councellors Secondly That Cardinal Granvill the principal Person the King relyed on should be removed as their Declarations sent by Montigni and others Aug. 16. 1562. March 11. 1563. into Spain out of their Assemblies which the Tumults made necessary for the good Governess to call too frequently out of which some Lords to palliate their Ambition desired to be dismist to which his Majesty returns gracious Answers whereat they pretended dutiful submission while they made their combination effectual which they had no sooner done than they tyre the Governess with her Assistant the Cardinal with their debates and divisions in all Meetings that he retyres to Spain and they raise Tumults at Harlem stop the Courts of Justice at Antwerp make a breach with England 1564 that made to the great prejudice of their poor people who improved the Commotions for a whole year together In a word such was the apprehensions and fears that were wrought in the people that Groningen Leeur-warden Duenter and Ruremond do violence to their Bishops and Clergy Ourwexgen Abbey is robbed all the Clergies Power and Jurisdiction is questioned matters are aggravated on both sides to dangerous debates notwithstanding the gracious Answer his Majesty vouchsafed Count Egmont Count Horne the Lord of Brederode and others upon their respective addresses to the Court of Spain in behalf of that unquiet people Whereupon his Majesty thought good to settle Religion as he did by his own and the Dutchess of Parmaes Letters which the Grandees opposed with the bare consideration of the present Commotions though all the World knew they were the Authors of those Commotions as appeared upon the very first publication of the Kings Letters touching the Council of Trent when there were Libels the fore-runners of Sedition contrived by a great Lord containing Complaints and Exhortations in the name of the people to the Noblemen about their Priviledge and the Kings breach of promise scattered up and down in three or four streets of Antwerp wherein amongst other things they directed the Grandees to cite the King to the Imperial Chamber about breach of Promise and the infringement of their Liberties This bold Libel and other false reports of which this one to incense and injealous the Nobility was most malicious viz. That the King of Spain should say that it was but folly to busie themselves with Frogs they must first fish for the great Salmos meaning Horne and Egmont brought the Netherlanders to an expostulation with their Soveraign why he should decree any thing concerning them without their consent And a popular Tumult against these four Points The Inquisition The new Bishops The entertainment of the Council of Trent and The decay of Trade Insomuch that most of the chief Noblemen the Prince of Orange the Marquess of Bergen the Earles of Egmont Horne Hockstrate the Lord of Brederode met with the Male-content Princes of France and Germany under the pretence of an entertainment at Breda and Hockstrate where they heightned one anothers animosities to that degree of discontent as produced a private League among themselves and a Publick Manifesto of the state of the Provinces by Francis Baldwyn an Outlawed but cunning Person they sent for and consulted out of France wherein among other matters it was expressed 1. That the Mind could not be forced