to the Council of State whereunto if the rest complied not of themselvs Holland and Zealand would stand to it by themselvs Those of Drent sought and sollicited lately again by their Deputies Schickard and Strâ—ick respective Recorder and secretarie of the land of Drent in all the assemblies of the particular Provinces their former pretence pressed these many years of beeing a Member of the State as having signed together with the rest from the beginning of the Union and having their peculiar Stadholder and Government And after they had sufficiently prepared the same in particular they craved Audience in the great Assemblie and had it Martii 2 o upon the Letters of Credence from the Drost and Deputie of the foresaid Countrie whereupon having wished their Hi. Mi. God's gracious and blessed assistance for their present important Deliberations They desired that according to their Summons of Novemb. 6 last they would bee pleased to receiv them into their Assemblie and to shew and appoint the places where they the Commissioners should in the name and behalf of the said Land of Drent have their Ordinarie Session at and together with the rest of the Provimces as also That the Deputies of the said Countrie should bee allowed Session likewise in all the Courts of the Generalitie Hereupon it was found good that the Retro-acta of and in regard to such matters and propositions formerly past in the Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. touching the said Countrie should bee searched into It was strange to see that there was a Summons past as from their Hi. Mi. dated Novemb. 6 signed by the then Lord President and addrest by the Secretarie to those of Drent whereby they were as well invited to com to the Great Assemblie and to bring in their advices as the seven other Provinces And thereupon was it that the Deputies thence desired the Session as was said before The then Lord President beeing desired to shew how that abuse came hee was able to say nothing els to it but that such kinde of dispatches depend upon the direction notice-taking and fidelitie of the secretarie having all the Registers and Original Acts in his keeping and it beeing impossible for a President to collation every thing that is brought him for to sign with the Registers or to look after it whether all bee well don there beeing somtimes twentie thirtie and more things sent in together at one time to bee signed in hast However this abuse profited those of Drent nothing but they were silently kept without the Assemblie for all that That which the Deputies of the Countrie of Drent produced and presented in writting to the Lords of the great Assemblie in grounding and justifying their Demands is to bee seen by that which followeth formerly exhibited by them High Mightie Lords THe Gentrie and Free-holders of the Countrie of Drent having understood that your Hi. Mi. were pleased of late to issue Writ's to the Lords the States of the respective Provinces that by occasion of the instant Treatie of Peace or Truce at Munster and Osnabrug they would deliberate and resolv upon the necessarie means such as should bee found fitting and requisite for the maintenance of the State of their Countries and in particular for a renewed confirmation of the common Union of Utrecht in such sort as the same was made and kept in former times and yet not any Notice or Writ beeing issued or sent from your Hi. Mi. unto the Countrie of Drent in that behalf notwithstanding that the same is known to bee a fellow-member of the said Union They have therefore in their latest Land-day and States-Assemblie found good and necessarie to present their just complaints or grievance in that behalf unto your Hi. Mi. and in that regard appointed and charged mee that after presentation of their humble service and wishing your Hi. Mi. a long and prosperous Government I should with all due respect and reverence summarily again propound unto you that which heretofore hath been so often represented here and clearly verified by sufficient demonstrations viz. That the said Countrie of Drent hath been of old and still continueth an entire formed Province by it self and separated from others having ever had and still having their own peculiar perfect Members Governments Prerogatives Rights Immunities high and low Jurisdictions Magistrates Name Arms Seal Treasurie Laws and Customs altogether distinct and apart from other Provinces That the said Countrie likewise even under the Soveraigns of these Countries as well by the Government of the Bishops of Utrecht as that of the Hous of Burgundie was never held otherwise but as one of their Neighboring Provinces Not onely in the point of a peculiar homage and reciprocal promises and confirmations of their Rights and Privileges And in the Contributions for the common Charges whereunto the said Countrie was alwaies prai'd and entreated apart and had thanks returned them accordingly for their voluntarie consents although the same did many times com far short of the summons petitioned or praâ—'d for But likewise in the Case of summoning the Lords the States-General together when any weightie and difficult matters touching the common-weal of the Provinces required their assembling whereunto the States of the Countrie of Drent were constantly no less called and invited by Writs then the States of any other Countrie As the same appeared notably among other instances at the time of the solemn Transport of these Netherlands by the Emperor Charls to his Son King Philip in the year 1555. at Brussels Unto which Act the States of the Countrie of Drent were summoned and invited by the said Emperor Charls and King Philip apart and accordingly made their apperances and likewise upon the desire of the Emperor they yielded their consent to the said Transportation and beeing thereupon peculiarly discharged of the Oath formerly made to the Emperor and anew engaged to King Philip they received likewise on the contrarie peculiarly for themselvs from the said King the Oath and confirmation again of their Rights Freedoms and Possessions The same Countrie likewise afterwards when these Netherlands came to bee engaged in War with the King of Spain and by the Union of Utrecht into an nearer alliance one with another beeing no less acknowledged but alwaies invited and summoned by Writ for to assist all affairs of the Countries and to advise and deliberate together with the rest even before such time as they were receiv'd into the said Union it beeing a matter so known and manifest that the said Countrie was of it self qualified and privileged to repair to and appear in the Assemblie of the States General and that by virtue of the 3 d Article of the Pacification of Ghendt The Convocation of the States General was to bee don in the same form and manner as it was used when the Emperor Charls transported these Countries to his Son King Philip where the States of the Countrie of Drent were likewise summoned apart and appear'd as well as the
pleased to frame by the joint Consent of the Confederates or of the Council of State upon the like Instruction to bee voted by Provinces not heads XII So that whatsoëver and as often as any Change of Garrison is to bee made the same shall bee made known by Letters unto the Provinces Cities and places respectively where the said Companies are to march through or to assemble to the end that the same Provinces and Cities respectively may take good order accordingly for these marches and campings XIII Provided withal that the particular Government in the respective Provinces shall have libertie when need require's to transferr Companies within their Province from one place to another by Patents or Commissions of their own saving the Frontier-places hereafter to bee expressed And the Officers of the said Companies shall likewise bee bound to obey them and present advertisement shall duely bee given thereof unto their Hi. Mi. XIV As further also the Companies presently lying in the respective Garrisons and hereafter to bee laid there shall bee obliged to make oath to the Lords the States Magistrates of the Provinces respectively according to the seventh Article of the Union in conformitie to the form alreadie made and yet to bee made that which shall likewise bee performed in the Countrie unto the Chief Officer thereof if need should require at any time to lay any Companies there whether for the securing of the streams and Rivers or for other causes XV. The secret Correspondencies or Intelligencies both within and without the Land to continue with the Lord s the States General or Council of State with instructions to bee given them such as shall bee agreed on by the joint Confederates and to bee managed by such persons as they shall finde requisite in most secret manner to the best advantage of the service of the Countrie and with as much frugalitie as may bee Nevertheless if the Council of State shall bee thought fit to bee authorized with the foresaid Intelligence that their Instruction in that behalf shall not bee Voted by the heads but by the order and Session of the United Provinces XVI Giving their H. M. further to consider whether they shall not finde it necessarie and useful for this State to charge all Militarie Officers of hors and foot out of hand to repair to their respectively appointed Garrisons there to wait upon and exercise their respective charges and offices according to their several Commissions as also to frame convenient Orders against the foresaid Officers absenting themselvs from their respective Garrisons for time to com XVII Conceiving that the Garrisons of the Frontier-Towns and Forts ought to bee furnished with Companies of different Repartitions or Provinces and that they are to bee changed from time to time so as the same shall bee found requisite to bee most serviceable and advantagious for the Land according to the several occasions and occurrences of affairs XVIII That there ought likewise Orders to bee made that the Captains keep their Companies compleat and give the Souldiers their full pay care beeing had that the Captains also themselvs bee precisely paid and freed from unnecessarie charges XIX Giving moreover unto their H M. to consider whether in these occurrences it were not fit to renew the Oath formerly taken by those of the Militia or Souldieris XX. Lastly their N. M. should also encline and hold it very necessarie that by occasion of this Assemblie of the Confederates good Orders were settled for the maintenance subsistence and redress of the West-Indie Companie judged to bee one of the principallest Pillars of this State XXI All which foresaid proposals here presented beeing the Considerations and Inclinations of the Lords the States of the Land of Utrecht and made without prejudice to any other their N. M. do reserv to themselvs the power and freedom of adding hereunto or taking from or altering in it what they shall hold needful and expedient XXII Judging likewise that the Conclusions of this present General Assemblie ought according to the 24 Article of the Union to bee solemnly sworn by the respective Confederates for the more engaging of them to observ and keep the same Those of Holland seeing their Proposition travers'd in several points by the Considerations of the other Provinces especially by those of Friesland and Groninghen with the Omlands they held themselvs obliged to justifie their Aslertions the which they endeavored to make the more savorie by particular Conferences and Addresses here and there In the Great Assemblie they caused a certain long Deduction to bee produced and read and the same to bee elucidated at intervalls by word of mouth chiefly concerning the Militia shewing what power was given from the beginning to the Council of State then to the Captain General of all the Provinces and also of every Province apart alleging to this end sundrie Instructions as of the Captains-General so also of the Council of State and the Commissioned Counsellors of the respective Provinces Holland's intent was to prove thereby that the State in general and the Provinces in particular especially Friesland and the Citie and Lands had still been very warie and careful from the beginning to preserv their Freedom and not absolutely to part with the sword out of their fist for to give it to another They might easily have said in plain and down-right terms Wee are Sovereign in our Province and over our purs if heretofore wee yielded somthing to our Stadtholder or Captain General that is past and gon wee reassume it now to our selvs it is escheated back again unto us by Death which paie's all God Almightic hath return'd it into our own hands And if the Danish High-Steward Ulefield beeing at the Haghe in the year 1649 had reason to say When our King is dead wee have not onely power to chuse whom wee will but likewise to chuse none at all and to remain Musters our selvs Holland had far better ground to say so Nevertheless they made use of no such argument contenting themselvs with allegations of the old and former waies and manner of Government kept and used in these Countries since the Change Here follow 's the Deduction of Holland presented Januarie 30. A Deduction presented in the name and behalf of the States of Holland at the General Assemblie of the States of the United Provinces extraordinarily met at the Haghe serving for to justifie their N. Gr. M. Assertion in the point of the Militia and matters depending thereon formerly made known to the foresaid Assemblie Their Assertion beeing comprehended in these following Articles FIrst That their N. G. M. considering that of old and from the beginning of the Wars the governing or managing of all Militarie affairs concerning the Generalitie was referred and committed to the Council of State they are of opinion the same Government and the disposing of the Souldierie ought to bee left unto them they following their Instruction as the same lie's before them
to the said Provincial Government privative absolutely and so far forth that the Countrie hath enjoin'd their Deputies not onely to exercise and maintain the same right but also in case any Souldiers came marching into the same Province upon any other Order to keep off and hinder them de facto To this same end serv also the 5. 11. and 17. Articles of the Instruction whereupon Prince Maurice of immortal memorie in the year 1590. item the 11. 17 Artic. whereupon Prince Henrie in the year 1625. were received Stadt-holders of the foresaid Province wherein there are especially observable the said 11 th Articleimporting That the Stadt-holder bee not permitted to put any Garrison into the Cities without the fore-knowledg and consent of the respective Magistrates and the said 17 th Article ordaining that if his Excellencie shall not bee within the Countrie the Government shall bee exercised by the Landship or Land Deputies to whom the Souldierie shall bee bound to yield as perfect obedience as to his Excellencie himself As for the Provinces of Holland and Zealand over and above that which hath been amply deduced in this behalf out of their fore-cited Resolution of Feb. 6. 1587. there is a very pertinent passage in the instruction for the Commission'd Counsel of their N. Gr. M. made in the year 1590 and contained in the 38 th Article thereof where it beeing first ordained in general that the said Commissioners should issue forth all their Dispatches or Orders under the Title of the Commissioners of Holland and West-friesland there are afterwards by waie of Exception subjoined these following words safe notwithstanding the Dispatches and Commands to the Souldierie which they shall issue forth in the Name of his Excellencie with advice of the Commission'd Counsel aforesaid As likewise in the later Instruction of the foresaid Commission'd Counsel of the year 1623. Artic. 35. the same is ordained more streightly yet even with Exclusion of the Governor of the Province That namely the Dispatches and Commands to the Souldierie shall bee issued in the name of the L ds the States with reference to the Commission'd Counsel It beeing also given in charge to the respective Stadt-holders of Holland and Zealand by the States of the said Provinces in their Instruction Artic. 6. together with the Deputie Counsel to look to all the needful Garrisons securitie and protection of the foresaid Countries Cities Forts Ports Waters and Rivers thereof All which is yet further confirmed by the contents of the 5. 31. 35. Artic. of the former-cited Instruction of the Commission'd Counsel and those of the 5. 28. 32. Artic. of their later last cited Instruction In conformitie whereof also the Patents within the Province of Holland were given and dispatcht in the former times by the foresaid Commission'd Counsel and confirmed with their Seal and Secretaries Signature in the Name of the Stadt-holders and Governors with these express words inserted with advice of the Commission'd Council whereof for example there shall bee a copie set down here of a Patent given and dispatched by the said Commission'd Council April 17 0. 1595. word for word as followeth Maurice born Prince of Orange Earl of Nassaw c. Marquis of Vere Flushing Governor and Captain General over Gelderland Holland Zealand West-Friesland Zutphen Utrecht Over-Yssell c. Admiral and General By the advice of the Commissioned Council of the States of Holland and West-Friesland chargeth and ordaineth by these Captain Strackman to transport himself to the Citie of Goude and there to abide for a certain short time till further order from his Excellencie Don at the Haghe under the Seal of the forementioned Commission'd-Council underneath stood By his Excellencie according to the ordinance of the Commission'd Council of the States of Holland and West-friesland and was signed C. de Rechtere And although for som years hitherto the last Stadt-holders may have past and given som Patents of themselvs without the knowledg of the Commission'd Council it is considerable nevertheless that the same beeing don by them as Stadt-holders and Governors particular of the said Province and consequently in the Name of the same Province in particular and not in the Name of the Generalitie the Right of the Province is no whit impaired thereby Coming now to the Citie Towns and Lands of Utrecht there are divers pertinent passages in the Instruction for their Stadt-holders or Governors to prove what hath been said before and particularly the passage of the 11 th Article thereof importing that if it bee found needful any Garrison should bee put into the foresaid Citie or Towns the same shall not bee don but by the Patent of the Governor with consent of the States or their Deputies under a certain restriction about the same Governor's absence set down there more at large As the same is yet further elucidated in the 13. and 14. Articles of the foresaid Instruction The States of the Province of Friesland speak very clearly in the Instruction framed for their Deputie-States and especially in the 33. Article of the same in these words Whereas the Plenipotentiaries are assured that the Garrisons have generally been transplaced and changed by the sole command of his Lordship the Governor and never with the advice of the Lords Deputies and the Plenipotentiaries judging that the said transplacing of the Garrisons is a principal point of the Government of this Countrie Note that here the transplacing of the Garrisons is said to to bee a principal point of the particular or Provincial Government of Friesland therefore they the Plenipotentiaries do ordain their Deputies to suffer no more henceforward any transplacing of Garrisons to bee made otherwise then with express consent and advice of the said Deputies c. It beeing very pertinent withal to this purpose what is said in the end of the 31. Article of the foresaid Instruction namely That the Captains and Commanders having Companies under them shall stand engaged to bee readie for the service and protection of the Countrie in all places and quarters where the same shall bee appointed them by the Governor and Deputie-States to pass by divers other places of the same Instruction applicable to this purpose which their N. Gr. M. judg needless notwithstanding here to enumerate Onely for further Confirmation thereof let the 8 th Article speak of the Instruction whereupon his Lp Count Henrie of Nassaw whilom in the year 1632 and afterwards his Excellcie Count William received the Government of the foresaid Province it beeing therein ordained That the Stadt-holder shall govern himself according to the foresaid Instruction of the Deputie-States for so much as the same concern's his Person especially about placing of Garrisons in which regard they must precisely observ the foresaid 33 Article of the Instruction for the Deputies provided alwaies that in the absence of the L d Stadt-holder the Government of the foresaid Countrie shall remain in the sole disposition or administration of the said
which Officers and Souldiers in militarie matters may commit among themselvs and no further so that all other matters whether Criminal or Civil shall make the Souldierie or Militarie persons lyable to bee aprehended indited sentenced and executed by the Civil or Criminal Judges whose sentences bee they about matters of debts or otherwise shall in default of other satisfaction bee put in execution according to the order of the Land The Governors in the Cities and places having no voices in the State as at Sluys Berghen of Zoom Hulst Breda the Bosch Willemstadt Mastricht and Wessel shall bee appointed by the Provinces and that with the usual Commissions the Commanderies of other such like places by the States General The Majorships by the Council of State The Militarie Officers to bee admitted hereafter ought all of them to profess the Reformed Religion As for the giving of Patents or Commissions and transplacing of Garrisons gathering of Camps and Leaguers or sending forth considerable troops or squadrons to places and upon occasions where the service of the Land requireth it the same shall bee and remain in the disposition of the States General with advice of the Council of State And their Hi. M. are to conclude and determine therein by the pluralitie of voices provided that if any alteration com to bee made the same bee made known to the Provinces Cities and places where the Companies are to bee sent to or taken forth As likewise timely notice is to bee given by Letters to the Provinces where the said Companies are to pass or randevouz that orders and courses may bee taken about their marchings and quarters provided that the Governments of the Respective Provinces shall have libertie also to send Companies from one place to another for the securitie thereof and the Officers of the said Companies bee bound to obey them they giving immediate advertisement thereof to their Hi. Mi. And that furthermore all such Companies as are any where in Garrison now or may bee put in hereafter shall bee obliged to swear to the respective Cities according to the 17 th Article of the Union and the form alreadie made or to bee made or to the chief Officers in the open Countrie in case Necessitie should require to put any Companies there for the keeping of Rivers or otherwise The Cities antiently exempted and privileged of beeing molested with any Garrison against their will they shall remain in their old right and possession thereof and not bee prejudiced therein at all As for Secret Correspondencie both within and without the Land the same shall bee kept and continued with their Hi. Mi. and the Council of State by such persons and in such order as their Hi. Mi. and the Council of State shall think fitting and requisite for most service of the Land and most secret managing thereof with the least chargeableness that may bee the monies for it beeing to bee furnished from the Treasurie by the Receiver-General Besides all these foresaid Inclinations and Considerations the present Lords of the Province of Over-Yssell reserâ— to themselvs the libertie of taking off or adding what they shall judg fit and requisite for most service of the Countrie Upon Februarii 13 o there beeing com in now the Inclinations and Considerations of all the Provinces upon the Overture and Proposition made by and in behalf of Holland Januar. 18 o. The Lords of Holland propounded by word of mouth and delivered in writing their further considerations for contracting the affairs of the Great Assemblie in manner as followeth The Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland have brought into the Assemblie and made overture of their further Considerations for dispatching the affairs of this great Assemblie by distinguishing things purely provincial concerning which they have likewise declared themselvs in manner as will bee shewed by and by and things properly to bee deliberated by this Assemblie containing in effect That the said Lords the States of Holland and West-Friesland having perused and examined the respective Considerations served in by the Provinces at the said great Assemblie they judged thereupon that the matters contained in the said Considerations are som of them purely Provincial and do not belong to the Deliberation and Ordering of the said Assemblie but wholly and solely to the managing of the Respective Provinces and others som belong purely to the managing of the Common Union and consequently to the Deliberation of the foresaid great Assemblie That the things which their No. Mi. judged to bee provincial and wholly and solely to belong to the managing of the States of the Respective Provinces are these following I. The appointing of Stad-holders or forbearing it at the States pleasure in every Province II. The disposing of the Commanderies and Major-ships in the Cities and Forts within the respective United Provinces together with their Condependencies III. The keeping of the keies by such Cities as have voices in the State and the giving of the watch-word by the Magistrates of the said Cities IV. The jurisdiction over the Militia in all things which are not purely Militarie V. The disposing of the Collonel-ships Captain-ships and lesser charges of their own Repartition VI. The transplacing of the Garrisons within the respective Provinces with the condependencies VII The swearing of the Souldierie by the States of the Province and Magistrates of the Cities where any Souldierie is put in Garrison besides the oath which the said Souldierie is bound to make to the Provinces upon whose Repartition they stand That their No. Mi. conceiv the foresaid matters ought wholly and solely to remain in the Disposing of the States of the Respective Provinces every one apart declaring withal that their N. M. intending to make use of this Right within their own Government they shall bee well content that the Provinces and members of them shall as they think good make use of and improve the same Right and therefore they hold it expedient That the Officers Militarie may bee written unto from this Board in that behalf for to submit themselvs in what is said before to the States of the respective Provinces and Members thereof and to obey the same therein That the matters which their N. M. judged to belong properly to the managing of the Common Union and consequently ought to bee deliberated in this Assemblie are I. Whether in the General Direction and Disposition of Militarie affairs and the Armie or Souldierie by common advice of the Confederates formerly referred unto the Council of State it will bee thought good to make any alteration therein II. By whom and in what manner the Patents or Commissions shall bee given to such of the Armie as are without the limits of the United Provinces III. In what manner the voicing Provinces and the Cities thereof shall receiv Garrisons and give waie to Marches and Randevouzes IV. In what manner any Souldierie shall bee drawn forth out of voicing Provinces and the Cities thereof V. To whom it shall bee
the King of Spain nevertheless alwaies with this express reservation and limitation that the same land and each Province apart should remain and bee maintained in their own peculiar Policie Rights and liberties wherein they had continued from all antiquities so that the one Countrie or Dominion should pretend no Right or Seigniorie over the other to disposess the same in any kinde of it's Rights and liberties but they should bee obliged and engaged each to other in concord and equal Degree By the Union of Utrecht the Countries engaged themselvs together as if they were but one Province namely in that they might not bee separated but wâ—re bound to help and assist one another without inâ—ringing or impairing nevertheless the special and particular Privileges Liberties Exemtions Rights Statutes laudable and well-maintained Customs Uâ—ances and any other peculiar advantages of any one of the Provinces or particular Cities Members and Inhabitants thereof Now where there is such an Union it may well bee questioned whether the one Member ought to exalt it self over the other by reason of his prosperitie and power They make up all but one Bodie to the preservation whereof each Member hath chearfully contributed its part for if one hath afforded more means the other hath protected and defended the Rivers and passages the third hath hazarded his Countrie and lost his Cities with standing it out to the utmost against the Common Enemie The Illuâ—trious Princes of Orange of happie Memories they have contriâ—uted thereunto their wise and couragious direction and Conduct and hazarded their persons lives and estates thereby and thus every one hath brought and contributed somthing of that which was requisiâ—e and necessarie for the forming and framing of the Common State The War never bâ—gan betwixt the Netherlanders but was undertaken by the Netherlanders against the Spaniards This is that the Letter of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Holland written to the States General of the Provinces assembled at Brussels under Date of Sept. 12 1573 drive's at saying Wee do hope that you shall never bee able to forget the chearful and friendlie faithfulness which in former times wee alwaies did and still do bear one to the other iâ— beeing our dutie before both God and Men and wee for our parts beeing still resolved and ready for it Do but remember it beeing the very truth that wee do not wage War the one against the other for wee never offended one another neither in great nor small concernments but all our strife and War is onely and mâ—erly against the Government of forrein Nations The Confederacie of the Union of the Netherlands is Offensive and Defensive for ever and alwaies against al and every one who or how qualified soëver they may bee that shall attemt actually to infringe the special and particular Privileges of the Countries insomuch that the chiefest condition of the Union among the rest to maintein the Countries in their Rights one of which without all peradventure must bee the Government for the Union was made for their advantage and not for their dammage The King of Spainâ— caused offers to bee made at the Treaties at Breda of Cullen and at all others since That hee would keep and maintein the Countries both in general and in particular in all their Privileges Rights Laws and Customs so as the same had been before the Troubles and if any thing were changed and impaired the same should bee restored beeing made known In prosecution of which ground the States of the United Netherlands have often and at several times summoned the States of the Countries subject to the Spanish Government and among the rest in a certain Letter of theirs dated June 7. 1602 â—used these words Onely wee do still most friendly desire exhort and entreat you seriously to reflect upon the prais-wâ—rthie reputation which you and your forefathers have gotten to themselvs for som hundred of years and left the same to us upon record for a rule that still wee should bee upright Defenders and Protectors of the Rights and Freedoms of the Netherlands in general and of the Countries or Provinces the Members Cities and Inhabitants thereof in particular By waie of distinguishing the Provinces and Cities on this side joined together by a Common Union the Provinces and Cities of the Netherlands beeing under Spain are by this State called the Invaded Countries In the reduction of the Cities of Braband to the Union it was especially conditioned and promised that the Cities and Inhabitants thereof should be mainteined in their Rights Privileges and immunities The States General of the United Netherlands declared but lately by their Letter of March 14 last year to all the Cities of the Union That they had appointed his High s Prince William of Orange Captain and Admiral General over the people of War in service of this State for the maintenance of the Union the Right and Privileges of the Land the members and Cities thereof The States of Holland declared Febr. 19 of the same year concerning the Union That the Provinces are bound to assist one the other with life and goods and to abide together not suffering themselvs to bee divided and if this bee to bee understood of such which desired to bee under the Union and continue to desire the same The Nobilitie Gentrie and Cities of Braband have alwaies desired the same and declare hereby that they are constantly and extremely desirous of it By deputation of the States in the year 1586 Febr. 1. the Earl of Leicester was appointed Governor and Captain General of the United Provinces to wit of Gelderland Zutphen Flanders Holland and Westfriesland Zealand Utrecht Friesland together with their Associates And by the Act of that daie there were put into the hands of the said Earl the General Means of Consumtion or Revenues of Gelderland Flanders and associated Cities of Braband And in pursuance of the foresaid Commission the Earl made Oath to the States of the United Provinces and their Associates and the States reciprocally to the Earl in the name both of their own respective Provinces and the said Associates The States General of the United Provinces do address the Inscription of their Letters for publick Bid and Fasting daies and other things concerning the common affairs and and interest to the Cities of Braband on this side under the name of Associates And divers Cities of the United Provinces in their particular Letters to the Cities of Braband do design themselvs their Confederates Nay The Treatie between France England and the States General concluded ult Octob. 1596. import's expressly That the Ambassadors do in the name and behalf of the King of France and Queen of England and their Successors receiv and associate with the States General of the United Netherlandish Provinces to wit Gelderland and Zutphen Holland and West-Friesland Zealand Utrecht Friesland Over-Yssell Groninghen and Omlands together with the Gentrie Cities and Forts of Brabaâ—d those that were United then with the
1624. to June 5. 1625. there perished above 5000 Inhabitants within the Citie by the war plague and famin and the Citie was deserted after the surrender by more then three fourth parts of the Citizens till the reduction of the Citie followed in the year 1637. Those of the Citie of Grave have likewise shewed themselvs very zealous and resolute in the late wars against the Enemies of the Common Fatherland for not long after the Pacification of Gbendt they took their Spanish Governor prisoner and what with monie what by force and the loss of manie Citizens in the Enterprize got and drove out the Spanish and high-Dutch Garrisons altogether Afterwards Maie 4 th of the year 1586. all the Inhabitants thereof engaged themselvs by Oath to make utmost resistance against the common Enemie of the Land the King of Spain and his Adherents and that they would in no wise listen to any offer of agreement or reconciliation with the foresaid Enemies Within a short time after This same Citie beeing forced from the Union and subdued by the Enemie they remained in a sad condition till the Citie was reduced again to the United State in the year 1602. by Prince Maurice Steenberghen a very antient Citie of Braband beeing freed of the High-Dutch Garrison in the year 1577. it vvas subdued again by the Spaniards both in Anno 1582. and 1622. and tvvice also reduced by the Arms of the Confederates viz. in the years 1591. and the said 1622. It is remarkable that vvhilest the Spanish held this Citie in possession the same vvas so deserted of Citizens and made so desolate that there vvas not left nor kept any Judgment-Seat or administration of Justice there By all which it plainly appear's That none of the foresaid Cities of Braband ever endeavored to join or agree with the Spaniard or their Associates against the Union and Oath taken without extreme necessitie and consequently never sought of their own accord or wilfully to disjoint themselvs from the United State but they were all of them forced and rent away from the same by the force and povver of the Enemie destitute of succor or betray'd by others vvithout any fault of their ovvn nay to their ovvn great grief and undoing The Cities of Bruggen vvith the Land Van Vrye and Venlo they are the onely places vvhich for the said Crime of Desertion vvere publickly declared Enemies and consequently had forfeited their Rights and pretentions vvhich by virtue of the Union they might have claimed othervvise In all publick Acts Those of Braband are by the States of the United Provinces called indeed their Associates but in Truth they are dealt vvith as a people purely conquered For proof vvhereof vvee shall produce among many but these 3 points First for matter of Administration of Justice the Court or Council of Braband doth sit without the Province contrarie to the known Privileges and Charters of the Land sworn to by all the Dukes besides that the said infringement draw's the good inhabitants into excessive troubles charges and inconveniencies Secondly in regard of Government There is introducing a new waie of naturalizing strangers in Braband for the suppressing and excluding of the Natives as well from beeing employ'd in their own Province as they are sufficiently excluded from offices and Emploiments in others contrarie to their express privilege quod competit universo populo Brabantiae which is the peculiar privilege of the people of Braband conditioned for with the Prince and sworn to by the Prince This Privilege was never violated in Braband before the Troubles and remaineth pure and uncorrupt even under the Spanish Government to this very daie Thirdly touching the Revenues and Contributions there have been new burthens imposed all along upon those of Braband and they are threatned with more heavie ones to bee imposed at pleasure without any of their consent nay without so much as hearing them Which is repugnant not onely against the Privileges of the Countrie but likewise particularly against the promisses of the States General of the year 1600 alleged in the former Deduction Wee shall not insist here on the opposition of the States of Holland against Emperor Charles for the Congie-monie nor of the Citie of Brussels against Archduke Albert for a small impost upon pears but touch in a word onely that in Spain England and Germanie it hath ever been and is the observance in cours as likewise is shewed by Philip Comines in the States of France under Charles the eight assembled at Tours That no Prince hath power to laâ—e Impositions upon his Subjects nor Right to give theâ— Laws without their Consent The Societie which the Cities and Countries of Braband have in that kinde with the other Confederates may well bee miserable and deplorable even as in the benefit of cessio bonorum among the Lawyers whereof wee may take up the old complaint Sub umbrâ foederis servitutem nos pati neque â—nim Societatem ut olim sed tâ—nquam mancipia haberi That under the color of Covenant wee are reduced to slaverie wee beeing not entreated like Associates but like Bondmen Love indeed is the onely firm foundation of Government and according as a Wiseman said once That kinde of Republick fare's best and last's longest which all the parts are in love with and wish it lasting By the foreâ—aid Common Union the Netherlands engaged themselvs together for ever without impairing the special privileges of the particular Provinces Cities Members and Inhabitants thereof wherein they not onely may do one another no prejudice or hindrance but are bound likewise to help and protect one another therein by all means possible with advice and aid goods and blood against any one that shall attemt or go about to wrong them therein so that among the conditions of the Union this appeareth to bee the principal To maintein the Countries Cities Members and Inhabitants thereof in their particular Privileges amongst which without all controversie Government is one too Wherein of old not onely the chief Cities but even the smaller ones in Braband did share and participate For information whereof may serv That among the Cities of Braband there was no certain order kept heretofore as appear's by the engagements of the Cities in the years 1354 1370 1426 the Charters of Corteberg of 1312 and of the Ladie Johanna of 1385 and the privileges of Duke John the IV th of the year 1422. And that the foresaid Cities of Braband were antiently summoned to and sate in the Assemblie of the States of Braband is a thing too well known to bee doubted of Where it is observable yet that to the Pacification of Ghendt and Union of Utrecht there were not onely invited and called in the great or chief Cities of the Provinces but indifferently all the Cities and Members thereof and who know's not the practice since therupon throughout all the United Provinces By the foresaid Common Union the Countries and Cities are equally engaged in one
in the Execution of their Civil Commands which number shall not bee lessened but in time of necessitie and with express consent of the States of that Province or their autorized Commissioners so as that the necessitie beeing past the said Companies bee returned again to their former Garrisons or others instead of them VII That no Companies bee laid into any Voicing Province but with the foreknowledg advice and consent and Patent likewise of the States of that Province or their autorized Commissioners VIII That no Forces shall pass through any Voicing Province before timely advertisement given thereof to the States of that Province or their autorized Commissioners to the end that Orders may bee taken for their passage and that no Companies or Souldiers at Sea or Land shall march through any walled towns of the said Provinces without leav of the respective Magistrates thereof but that the same shall tarrie without the foresaid Cities and give notice of their arrival to the said Magistrates who shall thereupon as soon as may bee give order that the said forces may pass either through or about the said Cities so as they shall finde good to appoint which order the Souldierie shall bee bound to follow precisely IX That the States in the respective Provinces or such as shall bee especially autorized by them shall have libertie to transplace the Companies within their Province by Patents from one place to another and that the Officers of the said Companies shall bee bound likewise to obey the same provided there bee forthwith notice given thereof unto their Hi. Mi. and to the Council of State As also the States of the Respective Provinces or their autorized Commissioners shall bee enabled in case of sudden need and when the Patents from the Generalitie cannot bee staid for to send forth Companies lying in their own Province upon their particular Patents into their Province into the endangered Cities and Forts resorting immediately under the Generalitie provided alwaies that thereof there bee present advertisement given to the Lords the States General and the Council of State with addition of the reasons thereof which said Companies sent forth as said is the States of the said Provinces or their autorized Commissioners shall have power to command back again upon their own Patents into their said Province when need shall require it giving advertisement thereof as before provided that the same shall have no place in regard of the Companies above the ordinarie Number of the determined Garrison when and if so bee that the same shall have received contrarie Order from the Generalitie before the foresaid Revocation X. That the Souldierie shall bee bound besides the general Oath to the Generalitie to make Oath likewise in particular to the Province wherein they shall bee laid together with that under whose Repartition or paie they stand as also to the Magistrates in the Cities of the Voicing Provinces where they are put in Garrison according to the Form agreed upon and established together with this as it follow 's annexed word for word at the â—nd of these their H. M. Resolutions Which Oath shall likewise bee made to the Chief Officers of the open Countrie or the Representer thereof if so bee that necessitie require the putting of any Companie there either for the keeping of the Streams and Rivers or otherwise XI That the Garrisons of the Fontier-Towns and Forts shall likewise bee changed from time to time so as it shall bee found requisite for the most service and welfare of the Land according to occasions and emergencies of affairs XII And that therewithall there shall bee kept an exact List of the garrisoning of all the Cities Forts and places so as the same shall bee conditioned from time to time and that copies thereof shall bee communicated to the respective Provinces at their desire at all times to bee there preserved and Registred And of this their H. M. Resolution an Extract shall bee sent to the Council of State to serv for information and direction to them to steer by as much as may concern them Here follow 's the Instructions mentioned above Artic. 3. of the foresaid established Resolution Instruction for the Lords Commissioners at the Assemblie of their Hi. Mi. the States General of the Vnited Netherlands by which they are to regulate themselvs in giving of Patents or Commissions to the Souldierie and in providing for the Frontiers of this State I. THe foresaid Commissioners shall take â—are with the advice of the Council of State that the Frontiers of the State in general bee beset with sufficient garrison of several Nations and provided with necessarie Ammunition and Provision by the Council of State and that the rest of the Souldierie bee as much as may and occasions permit distributed and disposed of in the neerest and most convenient places about the said Frontiers for to bee readie at hand at all times in case of Sudden need whether from within or from without II. They shall give no Patents or Commissions to the Souldierie but after advice had from the Council of State and the said advice beeing heard and approoved of The Patents to bee issued shall bee attested by the Lord President for the time beeing in the said Assemblie of their H. M. and signed moreover by two Deputies of the next succeding Provinces beeing present together with the subscription of the Secretarie and sealed with the Seal of their H. M. and the Patents thus attested signed and sealed as before shall bee sent to the Council of State for to bee there likewise attested by their President signed by their Secretarie and sealed with the Seal of the said Council and thus with all speed to bee dispatched III. And if it shall bee found requisite to take forth any Companies out of a Voicing Province in that Case they shall desire the States of that Province or their autorised Commissioners to give waie for the taking forth of so many Companies as shall bee thought necessarie adding therewithal the reasons thereof and sending the Patents a long to the said States or their autorised Commissioners with vacant spaces of the Names to bee inserted by either of them with the addition of their Provincial Patents IV. Nevertheless they shall not have power to take forth so many Companies out of the said Provinces as might lessen the Number which was found good or may bee found good hereafter to bee left within each Province for the besetting of the Cities and Forts of the same and for assisting of the Magistrates in executing of their civil Commands unless case of great necessitie should require the same and the States of the said Province or their autorised Commissioners do give their express consent unto it and in that case the danger beeing past the foresaid Companies or som others in their stead shall bee returned to their former Garrisons V. They shall not have power to laie any Companies in any Voicing Province but with the foreknowledg advice
Ordinarie Deputies at the Generalitie desiring their advice about transplacing or sending forth of any Companies and giving of Patent to the same to supplie the desired advice to the said Assemblie with all expedition IX And besides that likewise to inform and advertise the said Assemblie of the Ordinarie Deputies at the Generalitie from time to time of the true State and condition of the foresaid Frontiers and necessitie of changing som of the Companies as often as the same shall judg that the service of the Land requireth it X. And to the end that the before-mentioned Patents may bee duly expedited according to the minde of the joint-Confederates and as much as may bee don care had that no Companie shall march into any Voicing Provinces to bee put in Garrison there but with permission and particular Patent of the States of that Province or their autorized Commissioners as likewise that no Companies shall bee removed or drawn forth out of the Voicing Provinces whereby the prescribed Number agreed upon or hereafter to bee agreed upon with common advice of the respective Provinces to bee left in each Province respectively for garrison in the Cities and Forts thereof and for assisting the Magistrates in the executing of their civil command may com to bee lessened the foresaid Council shall review and carefully observ the Patents after their advice transmitted unto them by the Assemblie of the Ordinarie Deputies at the Generalitie whether the same Patents bee attested by the President at the Generalitie and signed by two Deputies of the two succeeding Provinces present subsigned by the Secretarie and sealed with the Seal of their Hi. Mi. XI And if at any time any Patents shall serv to make any Companies to march into a Voicing Province then the said Council shall observ further whether the Claus bee inserted therein whereby the Officers are warned and charged by their Oath that they will not march with their Companies into any such Province ere and before they shall have got permission and particular Patent from the States of that Province or their autorized Commissioners And if so bee the Patents shall serv thereby to draw forth any Companies out of a Voicing Province the foresaid Council shall take care that in the same Patents there bee blanks left or open spaces for the names of the Officers which are to lead the said Companies to bee filled up by the States of the Provinces out of which the said Companies are desired or by their autorized Commissioners according to occasions and the Orders agreed upon between the Confederates in that behalf XII And finding that the said Patents are attested signed subsigned and sealed in manner abovesaid and contein the foresaid claus of any Companies designed for marching into any Voicing Province for Garrison and having blanks for names of Officers to lead the Companies upon certain occasions and to draw them forth out of a Voicing Province then and not otherwise shall the foresaid Council likewise attest the said Patents by the President in the Council and sign them by the Secretarie and seal them with the Seal of the Council thus without any further delaie to bee forthwith dispatcht and sent away XIII Moreover the foresaid Council wherever the States of a Voicing Province or their autorized Commissioners shall bee desired in time of need by the Generalitie to yield to the drawing forth of som companies out of their Provinces whereby the number to remain within the Province according to the fore-cited agreement to the ends aforesaid com's to bee lessened shall to their uttmost take care and endeavor that the Need or Necessitie which caused the drawing forth of the said Companies beeing past over the foresaid Companies bee readily returned to their former Garrisons or others in their stead XIV The said Council shall likewise take care from time to time that the Frontiers of the State in general bee duely provided with needful ammunition provision and other requisits of War XV. The said Council shall endeavor That the General means for the common defens of the Land throughout all the United Provinces the associated Countries the Cities and Members thereof together with the Quarters resorting under the Generalitie particularly agreed or yet to bee agreed upon and referr'd or yet to bee referr'd to their Disposition by the consent of the Provinces may every where bee well and equally levied and that the Farmers and Collectors thereof bee maintained in the inning and executing of what is let out or given in charge to collect and that the transgressions of the Ordinances made or yet to bee made in that behalf bee punished without any connivance And in these matters concerning the foresaid means or the Questions and Differences thence arising the Council of Braband and Flanders shall not meddle at all XVI And in the levying of the said General means they shall follow and caus to bee followed such Instructions as are or shall bee made by the States General XVII And in the inning and executing of ihe said common means and other consents or subsidies of the Provinces and in that manner as they shall bee born The foresaid Council shall proceed against the Debtors Farmers and Collectors as also against the Subjects or Inhabitants of the Provinces Cities and places defective or failing therein in the same manner as was used in these Countries about Princes sutes or monies and according to the Warrants exsecutorie to bee issued in that behalf Provided that none shall bee called forth out of the Province where hee inhabits without the consent of the States of the said Province XVIII They shall take care and seriously endeavor that all accomptable Persons of the Generalities means the farmings both in Cities and Countrie the redemtion of means Contribution Mulcts Ecclesiastical goods the Seal of Domaines pourvaying of Provision and Ammunition for the Armie and all other incoms and revenues none excepted shall at the years end bring into the Generalities Exchequer a threefold acount viz. one for the Council a second for the Exchequer and a third for the Receiver or Surrenderer adjoining all the Original Documents and requisites thereof for to bee audited in the foresaid chequer-chamber whereof coppies shall bee returned as formerly and that for to prevent abuses XIX The monies proceeding of the foresaid consented means and subsidies shall bee converted and emploi'd to the paiment of the Souldierie and other Necessaries of War in conformitie to the agreements of the respective Provinces or so as in general shall bee ordained by the Provinces for most profit of the Land and above all there shall bee settle dorder for Mustering and Militarie Discipline over the Souldierie and that they may bee paid by the head as neer as possibly may bee XX. They shall take care that the respective Provinces do paie the Companies their full wages without any abatement or charge of Sollicitors Clarks cash-monies New years monie or any other whatever it may bee called directly or indirectly
i. e. Men's manners humors and condition Do follow their Sun's disposition And if any such great assemblie do happen to end peaceably and with one consent the same must bee ascribed onely to the goodness and blessing of Almightie God There have been transacted here according to the constitution of aflairs manie difficult and different matters consisting especially in three Capital points viz. the Religion the Union and the Militia and things depending thereon as likewise an Amnestia or Act of oblivion of several very troublesom accidents happened heretofore and such an intricate business as that was and all the toilsomness and tediousness of it was wrapt in hath nevertheless been overcom in friendship and loving affection and all is terminated and concluded now with concord and content and therefore your Hi. Mi. justly found good that not onely here in this place there should bee a thanksgiving celebrated to God Almightie whereunto should bee called likewise all the Courts of Government residing here but likewise that throughout all the United Provinces and associated Countries a certain day should bee set apart for a general Thanksgiving-Sermon and Prayers fitted to the occasion for to give God the honor of this High and unestimable mercie For who els should have the prais returned to him but that good God who hath so bountifully poured forth his spirit of concord over this Illustrious Assemblie and conducted all to this happie Issue Especially in the point of the Amnestia Hee that reflect's upon the business as it stood a twelvmonth ago would hardly see any grounds but such as were laid for an everlasting quarrel nay even at the beginning of this very Assemblie there fell things out and continued during the same which might have turned all upside down and produced a clean contrarie disposition to what now wee see To forgive forget and never to remember wrongs is no common practice or easie work it is a thing above Nature and the finger of God Honored and praised bee all those which contributed their good thoughts and endeavors this way Now for us to keep in fresh memorie all the memorable things transacted here in this Illustrious Assemblie the verge Localitie a means of antient observation of this place that is the Situation and structure thereof may bee of singular use unto us Those which are conversant about the Art of Memorie or Remembrance for to strenghthen the same that many things may firmly bee retained by it they use to make impressions into their scholars by a representation of imaginarie pictures placing the same upon the walls windows or doors where the scholars are practising as divers L ds here in the assemblie may know and remember by their own former experience If therefore wee will carry home with Us what good our Good God hath in this place bestowed upon this State let us but imprint in our memories the structure and Situation of this Building and carrie that along with us For comming to it from without and drawing near the entrance of this great Hall You have on the one hand a Hous devoted to God's Worship viz. a Church where the word of God is dayly taught the impression of which sight will present to your minde beeing never so far off what hath been treated and concluded here for the good of the true Reformed Religion by their H. M. in this place Beeing entred into the Hall You meet there on the one side an ascent to the place where the Assemblie of the Lords the States General is wont to bee kept and by that every one shall bee able to refresh his thoughts with what was transacted here for the good of the Union and concerning the State-affairs of the United Provinces On the other side there are the steps and passage to the place where usually the Court Provincial is seen to exercise it's function in matters of justice whereby wee may bee put in minde what was resolved and found good by this Assemblie for the furtherance and maintenance of justice On the other end there is the way or entrance into the chamber of accompts and chamber of feudarie matters which will prompt to your memorie what was wrought here at the Assembly in the behalf of the Treasurie and the dutie of vassals and other subjects of this State The Colors Standards Flags and Cornets waving over our heads here are so many Bliss-tokens of the victories vouchsafed unto this State by God Almightie minding every one of us at any distance with what heedfulness things concerning Militarie matters and functions together with their dependencies were here debated and concluded on by the Assemblie for common securitie which may likewise rouz up every one to true thankfulness due to Almightie God for the manifold mercies by him bestowed upon us Casting our eys up to the very arched roof of this Stately fabrick wee cannot spie upon any of the beams rafters laths and other Carpenters-work all along there the least webb of any Spider the nature of the pure materials enduring no such vermin The spider is an insect having a vast bellie and long rakers using to spread their net abroad at large to catch all they can Your Hi. Mi. have taken very notable resolutions against all Baseness and corruptions used heretofore about the Administration of Government and justice The remembrance whereof will bee renewed as often as wee think upon the cleanness of this fabrick All this then beeing past thus through God's gratious blessing and so great a work brought to an unanimous conclusion Their N. G. Mi. my Lords the States of Holland and West Friesland return most serious and serviceable thanks to this whole Illustrious Assemblie and to every member thereof that upon their desire and friendly invitation their N. M. were pleased to repair to this place for the good of our common Fatherland and this day to assist so manie weightie consultations about it Their N. G. Mi. most earnestly desiring all and every Member of this present Assemblie to part hence and return home with as good and sincere an intention as their N. G. M. had before their eyes and in their hearts at the undertaking of the Work Giving thanks at last to the onely good and merciful God for his gracious blessing abundantly powred forth upon the whole emploiment of this great Assemblie which Thanksgiving they exspect will bee performed more at large anon by M r Streto one of the Ministers of the Word of God here in the Haghe this forenoon yet in this very place as will likewise bee don throughout all the Provinces at the daie appointed The same Thanksgiving Sermon and a devout praier thereupon performed in the place aforesaid by M r Streto and in their Hi. Mi. behalf one thousand Rixdollers brought by Secretarie Ruysch to the Deacons of the Haghe for the poor thereupon the great Assemblie parted and in the evening all the Bells were rung and all the Canons discharged in token of rejoicing as also on the