to bee much admyred Being well prouided of money he bought a fayre house in the towne and a Castle called Benningen halfe a league out of the towne dwelling sometimes in the one and sometime in the other To augment his loue and reputation with the Cittizens hee matcht some of his children with the principall of the towne endowing them very ritchly still aduancing and teaching in priuate his most damnable heresie confirming those that were absent by letters and bookes which hee caused to bee printed in his Castle of Beningen Hee dyed in the sayd towne of Basil in the yeare of our Lord 1556. for meere greefe that one of his followers was reuolted fearing that by his meanes hee might be discouered and so punished Before his death his disciples that thought him to bee God seeing him draw towards death hee resolutely sayd vnto them bee not amazed I goe to beginne to shew my power Christ my predecessor to shew his power rose again the third day and I to shew my greater glory will rise againe at three yeares O horrible blasphemy The Magistrate beeing throughly informed of his life and doctrine caused his processe to be drawn after his death by a sentence his body was taken out of the ground and iustice done as if he had bin aliue his goods being confiscated his books burnt some of his followers acknowledged abiured their errors and imbracing again the reformed religion were with al courtesie and gentlenesse pardoned and the whole history of it set forth in print both in lattin and dutch to the view of the world In opposition to this wicked monster the town of Delf hath brought forth many excellent person ages among the rest Ioos Salsbout an excellent Poet and Chancellor of Gelderlād Arnoult his son who succeeded his father in the same office of Chancellor and since President of the priuy Counsell at Brussels and from that to be President for the affaires of the Netherlands in Spaine Cornelius Musa Prouost of S. Agatha a man of rare vertue and knowledge a great Diuine an excellent Poet. who was vniustly put to death by the Earle of March about thirty-fiue yeares since Leyden THere hath bin much dispute and great diuersity of opinions about the deriuation of this name of Leyden but I will content my selfe that Ptolemy called it Lugdunum Battauorum Antoninus in his Itinerary or guide for waies to Rome cals it Lugdunum Caput Germanorum the head citty of the Germaines or the first Citty of the Romaine Empire from it beginning his Iourney to Rome concerning the lattin and dutch woord of Leyden I will content my selfe with the antient vse for that many learned lattin Authors haue also called it Leyda bee it as it may yet this is most certayne that it hath beene here-to-fore a towne of great importance for the Romain Praetor that gouerned that quarter kept alwaies his residence and garrison in that towne and the historyes of Holland recount that from the first Earles and long after it was called the chamber of Holland It is seated in a low and euen country full of ditches and chanels beutified with farmes gardens and other delights round about It incloses in it selfe thirty one Isles passing from the one to the other in boates besides nineteene more that haue bridges to passe ouer To conclude there are in this towne 145 bridges an hundreth and foure built of free stone and the rest of wood It is one of the six chiefe townes of Holland and the fourth in preheminence and suffrage It is the cheefe for that quarter of Rind-Land hauing vnder it 49. townes and villages the most part of which bring their commodities thether as butter milke cheese lard foule fruites and other necessaryes to bee sold in the Market abounding in all thinges else that the earth may bring forth and sufficiently stored with fish the Sea being not aboue a league from it and compassed with many fresh waters It is likewise so stored with sundry kinds of fowle that it is incredible but to them that know it This town is fairly seated in a delicate prospectiue euen in the heart of Holland neatly built and fit for the muses to dwel in for which cause the Sates of Holland in the yeare of our Lord 1575 after they were released of their long and dangerous siege erected an vniuersity there furnishing it with professions in all languages giuing them good and sufficient stipends drawing to them the sufficients men in all professions that can be found in Christendome as at this day the Seignior of L'escale Clusius Baudius and others professing Phylosophy Physicke and the lawes They want not also most excellent and learned Diuines hauing within this tenne yeares lost three as rare ones as any were in Christendome to wit the Lord of Saint Aldegond D. Francis Iunius and Trelcatius◠professors in the greeke and lattin tongues and in Diuinity In the middest of this towne there is an old Castle seated vppon a higher mote in the which there is a great large and deepe Well all of stone but now dry there is not a house in this Castle to dwell in but compassed about the more and aboue with some trees and although it bee of no vse yet it is reserued for the antiquity of it Ianus Douza a learned Gentleman and Poet of Leyden hath written of it in these verses Putatur Engistus Brittanno orbe Redux posuisse victor T is held victorious Hengist builded me At his returne from conquered Britanie SInce called Bourg of which came the name of Burgraue which is as much as to say an Earle of a Towne which wee call Viscounts the title remained long in the Noble family of the Lordes of Wassenare who held the Viconty of Leyden and the Iurisdiction of Rhyn-landt with the Dependances both of it and Ter-goud vntill the yeare of our LORD 1251. after the death of Vicont Iames his daughter Christienne beeing vnder the protection of the Earle of Holland who vtterly spoyled it yet the possession thereof was deliuered againe by the Countesse Iaqueline vnto the sayd family of the Wassenares but Philip Duke of Burgondy succeeding in the said County tooke it away againe where-vppon Viscount Iames the sonne of Henry in a full assembly of the Estates contested against the Duke demaunding againe his antient patrimony but his meanes beeing too weake against so puissant a Prince hee was constrayned to cease his title and to content him-selfe with what it pleased the Duke to giue him which was but the bare title of Viscount There are in this Towne three parish Churches in Saint Pancratius there is a company of Chanoins and in Saint Peeters there is a lofe of bread turned to a stone safely kept in a place yrond about for a perpetuall remembrance of the strangenesse of the accident and this it was In the yeare of our Lord 1316. a great famine happening in the towne a poore woman went to her owne sister that
V ertutis decus ac munus spectabile Iussit M ateriem at linquo soribendi vatibus aâ—plaâ— A showre of gold fell once from Ioue men say M any commend Rhodes wealth Sicilia S ay diuers was the Store-house vnto Rome T rue once but Ceres now is hether come E uen she and all the Deities haue laid R itches on me Be euer ritch they said D rown'd is my seate thereof in fenny strand A nd on wood-piles doe all my buildings stand M y walls are washt with waues that ebbe and flow B ut from those waues doth mine aduancement grow E ach quarter of the world sends ships to me L aden with waues of worth for vse for eye G reat is my gaine by trades but greater yet I s that which by my vent of Corne I gette A ffrica Sicilia and the Idaean field S et paralels with me for that must yeeld S uch is my state recorded by fames hand T o be the Store house of all Netherland O f all things man doth need nay rathermore R itch needy here may all haue choyce and store E uen as the stomachs sole digestion H elps Mans whole forme with growth of flesh bone O ur worth thus tryde made Caesar set a Crowne V pon our sheeld as badge of due renowne S tay now no more but leaue against our will E ternâ—ll matter for a purer quill They of Amsterdam made a great present of money to the Emperor Maximillian the first of that name for the which hee graunted them leaue to beare an Imperiall Crowne vppon the Armes of their Citty a dignity neuer granted to any Towne before There is yet to bee seene in a glasse window of the old Church certaine purses painted with their mouths downeward scattering gold and siluer signifying this liberallity of the Amsterdammers All sorts of people of most nations haue recourse and free leaue to dwell in this towne as French GermaÌ„ Italian Spaniard Portugesse English Scottish Cymbrian Sarmatian Sueden Dane Norweghian Liflander and other of the Septentroniall parts At the same time or shortly after that the Anabaptists domineerd in Munster there was a commotion of the same kinde of people in this towne who one night after they had beene at their priuate assembly tooke armes and possest them-selues of the Market place and the Magistrates house killing some Burgesses and among the rest one Burguemaister but they were repulst and caused to flye some here and some there by Boates into Freezeland and other places Some of them both men and women as they ranne vppe and down the streetes all naked were taken and executed after diuers and sundry fashions An antient Cittizen of this towne hath also made these verses follow ing in honour of his country Haec illa est Battauae non vltima gloria gentis Amnis cui nomen cui cataracta dedit Dicta prius Dammum raris habitata colonis Cum contenta casis rustica vita fuit Hinc Amsterdamum iam facta celebrior atque Fortunae creuit tempore nomen item Vrbs bene nota prope atque procul dictant bus oris Dotibus innumeris suspicienda bonis Diues agri diues preciose vestis et auri Vt pleno cornu copia larga beet Quod Tagus atque Hermus vehit et Pactolus in vnum Verê huc congestum dixeris esse locum Belgiaes bright glory we this towne may call Which had the last name from the riuers fall VVhilom the name was Dam the people such As had they meat clothes thought they had much Hence hight it Amsterdam and with the name The Fortune hath increased and the fame T' is known vnto far Coastes and Continents And may be well so for the good it vents T is ritch in Corne in Coyne in Flesh in Fish And all aboundance that the world can wish Breefely it is so ritch it seemes to hold All Tagus Hermus and Pactolus gold Goude ALthough the Historiographers do dispute much about the name of this town some saying that it came froÌ„ a Lady so called heretofore inheritrix of it others from the golden leaues where-with the Steeple of their church was couered to shew their ritches and magnificence for Goude in the dutch tongue signifies gold yet it seemes to me most probable that it is deriued froÌ„ a certain water called Goude beginning from the sluce of Goude neere vnto Alphen where heretofore the Romains had their abode calling it Castra Albiniana running euen to the riuers of Yssule vppon the which at the entry of that water is the said town built It is a strong town populous and pleasant enuironed with goodly feelds farmes strong wals and deep ditches and within beautifully furnished with faire houses but especially vppon both sides of the hauen and the Market place Abounding in all sorts of victuals by reasoÌ„ of their commodious situation and the continual passing of such infinite number of shippes whereby they haue this aduantage by reason of their riuers and chanels that they may victual theÌ„-selues and serue the Prouinces of Holland Zealand Brabant others the greatest part of their wealth coÌ„ming in by that meanes The aire by reason it is far from the Sea is more healthsome then any other part of the Prouince there runs a chanell of fresh-water through euery streete of the towne by reason whereof here-tofore there hath beene in this towne 305. Brewers who serued all the rest of the Prouinces their beere being called for the goodnesse of it the renenew of Goude but the neighbour townes notwithstanding the goodnesse of it haue taken that commodity from them It hath a faire and spatious Market place in an Ouall forme and in the middest thereof a great and magnificent State-house which the Lady Iaquelin Countesse of Holland caused to be built when at the pursuit of Phillip Duke of Burgondy being abandoned by almost all the townes of Holland shee was forced to retyre to the Castle of this towne yet notwithstanding it seemes this State house was finished after her death in the yeare of our Lord 1440. I haue seene at the Hage a chaire of wood vpon the backe whereof their were two A. A. in gold and these words Trou aen din. These two A. A. signifie Gouda which is in Dutch A. of gold Trou aen din. faithful to thee which was the deuise of the said Countesse confessing that they of Gouda had beene alwayes faithfull and true vnto her vnder the State-house is the Shambles of the towne curiously seated vppon pillars not wrought by the hands of a simple Architect and on the backe part is a high place built vppon the like pillars which is the place of execution be it either beheading by the sword or otherwise The parish-Church of this towne is very magnificent esteemed to be greater then any one in the Netherlands exceeding both in length and greatnes the Archiepiscopal Church of Cologne passing al beleefe in the beauty of glasse windoes made
by two brothers borne in this towne whose equals in this art of painting haue not to this houre bin found The 12. of Ianuary 1552. the steeple of this Church was burnt by thunder and lightning of the date whereof D. Adrians Iuuius in his Batauia hath made this distique LVX bIssena fVIt IanI hora vespere nona CVM sacra IohannIS VVLCano CorpVII aedes The tWeLfth of IanVarâ—e SaInt Iohns SpIre At nIne a cLoCk was MVCH Impaird with fire The which mischieuous fire burnt nothing but the said steeple and a part of the church notwithstanding that it was enuiron'd with houses But about an hundreth yeares before in the yeare of our Lord 1438. the 18. of August vpon Saint Lewis his day the towne was wholy burnt except three houses vpon the Hauen the old ruines of them being yet to bee seene At this time the old charters and priuiledges of this towne were burnt wherevpon this distique was made FLetIbVs Id dIaICI qVIa GoVda Cre Mat LVdoWICI Sorrow allowde with sighes proclaimes That Lodowicks Goude is all on flames It is not long since that about halfe a league from the said towne were found diuers peeces of siluer with this circumscription on the one side HLVDOVICVS IMP. and on the other CXRISTIANA RELIGIO which seeme to haue beene coyned in the time of the Emperor Lewis the Debonaire the sonne of the Emperor Charlemaine and the Father of the Emperour Charlâ—s the bauld who after he had setled Christian religion in those parts gaue the Earldome of Holland to Thierry of Aquitaine the first of that name There is mention made in the ancient charters and priuiledges of this towne how Florentius the fift of that name Earle of Holland told a Knight called Nicholas van Cats that this towne had beginning in the yeare 1272. Others and among the rest Doctor Adrianus Iunius 1262. notwithstanding that the said towne hath beene knowne to haue beene long time before whereof many Gentlemen haue taken their names and chiefly among the rest Thiery Vander Goude one of the priuie councell to Earle William King of the Romaines and the priuiledges granted to them of Vtrecht in the yeare 1252. shew the like A quarter of a league out of the towne is yet to be seene the place where the Church stood and is commonly called the old Church-yard where during the Romish superstition they vsed to goe on procession in Rogation weeke and likewise a way called the old Goude But for that this place was too farre from the riuer of Issell the Inhabitants for their more commodity remooued from their former dwellings to the place where the Towne now stands The freedome and iurisdiction of this Towne at the beginning was no more then the compasse of it within the portes and walls with very little land without but was afterward in the yeare of our Lord 1484. much amplified by the Emperour Maximillian the first and the Arch-duke Philip his sonne with at least a league of land in compasse on both sides the riuer of Yssell The gouernment of this towne appertained heretofore to the Earles of Blois Lords of the same and was seated in the center or middest of the sayd Countie Iohn of Beaumont Earle of Blois by his wife was made Lord of it and Schoonhouen with their dependances by his brother William the Good Earle of Holland to augment his reuenews in the yeare 1306 who by the consent of his brother instituted the first payments and rights of customes with the houses and sluces where hee receiued his right hee inlarged and much beautified the Castle of the sayd towne the which long time after was chosen by the Estates of Holland as a place very strong for the keeping of the charters priuiledges and lawes of their Countie which Castle except the Tower where their charters were kept was in the yeare 1577. demolished at which time there were many others throwne downe in the Low-countries Iohn of Beaumont Lord of Blois died in the yeare 1456. leauing one onely sonne likewise named Iohn who being a Knight of the Teutonique or Dutch order went into Prussia against the Infidels and there died leauing two sonnes Iohn and Guy Earles of Bloys and of Soyson Iohn of Chastillon Lord of Goude riche and strong issued by his father from the Earles of Holland and by his mother from the Kings of France married Madam Mathilda Dutchesse of Gelders and Countesse of Zutphen at that time when the houses of Bronchorst and Heeckers assaied to shutte out the sayd Lady from her patrimoniall inheritance To remedie the which the Earle of Blois came into Geldres accompanied by many Lords and Knights and a good troope of souldiers besieging Wagheningen and Groensvoerdt which he tooke and afterwards in the right of the Lady his wife was receiued into Arnhem and acknowledged for Lord and Prince This Lord and Lady as Dukes of Gelders gaue priuiledge to the Citizens of Goude to saile with their Marchandize through-out the Dutchie of Geldres and Earledome of Zutphen freely without eyther taxe or toll This priuiledge was giuen in the towne of Arnham in the yeare of on Lord 1372. Iohn of Chastillion dyed in the yeare 1381. without children leauing all his goods to his brother Guy of Blois who married Mary the daughter of the Earle of Namur by whom hee had one sonne called Lewis Earle of Dunois who dyed young at Beaumont the two and twenty of December 1397. After whose death the right line of Iohn of Blois was extinct so that the Signeuries of Goude and Schoonhouen with their dependances which were called the Baliage of the countie of Blois returned to the country of Holland in the time of Albert of Bauaria notwithstanding Guy of Blois left a bastard called Iohn of Blois Lord of Treslon and Henault who as the historâ— of the Netherlands makes mention had by his wife six sons It is apparent that the townes of Goude Dordrecht Harlem Delft and Leyden with the Knights and nobles of the country represented the Estates of Holland and Westfreezeland long before the towne of Amsterdam was receiued for a member as it appeareth by diuers records and letters of state past vnder the seales of the said fiue townes together with the iniuries that they of Amsterdam haue done to them of Goude vpon the same The said towne of Goude for the good order which they haue alwaies held in discipline and Scholasticall instruction hath brought forth many great learned personages to their eternall fame as Henry and Iohn of Goude whom Trithemius Abbot of Spanheim puts in ranke of the rarest writers William Herman of Goude whom Erasmus Roterodamus in his Epistles calls his delight a most excellent Poet and Historiographer Hermanus Goudanus a great Diuine Iacobus Goudanus a famous Poet Thâ—odorus Gerardi Reinerius Suoy a Phiâ—â—ion and historiographer who haue all written learned workes worthy to be consecrated to posterity But Cornelius Aurelius likewise borne in this towne surpast them all in
arriue was made in the time of the Count William when there was not water inough without the Sluce of Horne but that the great shippes of Denmarke and Hambourge were forced to stay at the sea ditch and therefore they caused a little long ditch to bee made which they called the New Dam beginning at the great ditch a good distance from the mouth of the sea from whence they brought their horses and oxen to the towne All this is now within the towne fairely built and called the New Damme In the yeare of our Lord 1350. Duke William of Bauaria the sonne of the Emperour Lodowick and Marguerite Countesse of Holland gaue to the Burgeses of Horne as large and ample priuiledges as they had giuen to them of Medenblick which to this day they enioy There is a streete in the said towne called Heer Gerits Landt so called of Gerard of Hemskerke who caused a faire house to bee built in a large garden now full of houses the which Gerard died in the sayd towne in the yeare of our Lord 1398. after hee had serued Duke Albert in his wars against the Frisons In the time of the Lady Iaqueline Countesse of Holland c. certaine townes of West-Freesland rebelled against her and called in Philippe Duke of Burgundie the Sonne of her Aunt vnwilling to bee gouerned any longer by a woman wherevpon grew great warres the Kennemers taking part with their Princesse and making warres against the Waterlanders and East Frisons the Hornois by reason of their ritches and great traffick that they had from North to South being growne proud It happened at this time that a young man of the said towne the sonne of one of the cheefest marchants called Ian Lambrechts Cruyf being in the towne of Goude where the Countesse Iaqueline kept her residence seeing the said Countesse passe by said without thinking any hurt It is great pitty and shame to vse so noble a Dame in this sort as if she were a common woman These words were worse taken then they were meant Where-vpon â—hee was committed to prison Lambert Cruyff hearing of his sonnes restraint posted thether with a good summe of money to redeeme him Hauing treated with the Iudges and presented this money they gaue him good words telling him that his sonne should not dye but should be onely lead to the place of execution Whereas the executioner drawing out his sword the Countesse should crye out which should cause the heads-man to staye and so his sonne should bee freed The father was somewhat comforted with this answer and seeing there was no other meanes hee recommended the cause vnto God The sonne being vpon the Scaffold and the eâ— ecutioner hauing drawne his sword the Countesse made no shew of crying out so as this poore young man was vniustly executed wherewith the father being much moued he sayed vnto himselfe being vnderstood by some other Thou shalt not remaine Contesse of Holland neither shalt thou hereafter enioâ—e that Country in peace And therevpon he returned with his money to his owne house Beeing come to Horne hee acquainted the Magistrates and the Bourgers with the wrong which the Contesse had done vnto his sonne in the towne of Goude wherevpon a councell was held of all the chiefe of the towne who concluded ioyntly neuer more to acknowledge her for their Princesse and to fortefie themselues against her The father of this young man that was executed full of discontent and desire of reuenge did giue or lend a great sum of money to beginne the fortification of the towne And this beeing in the yeare 1427. they began to compasse in this towne with goodly walls and deepe and large ditches Doctor Adrianus Iunius a curious sercher out of Antiquities as appeeres by his history of Battauia was borne in that town sonne to Peter de Iouge a Bourguemaster This towne abounds with all sorts of victualls halfe of it all along the sea is defended with good palissadoes and banks made of a small grasse which they call Vlyer in Latin Alga wherewith most of the bankes in that quarter of Westfrisland are armed for that it settles close together and doth not rot in a long time and being rotten it becomes firme earth They gather shippes ladings of this grasse in a certaine season of the yeare in the sea about the Island of Wyeringhe from the which it is named and they keepe great heaps thereof in store to repaire their bankes at neede when as they are any way decaied It is strange that is reported of this herbe that wild swannes at a lowe water pull it out of the botome of the sea the which floting vpon the water staies in a certaine place whereas they goe to gather it This Island of Wyeringhe is not farre from that of Texel nor consequently from Enchuysen Medenbilck nor Horne the which besides all other delights which it yeelds brings forth aboundance of great Skirrit rootes as delicate a meate as can bee presented before a King wherein Plinie reports that the Emperor Tiberius did so delight as hee caused them to bee brought out of Germanie to Rome ALCMAR THis towne is three leagues distant from Horne where ends the iurisdiction of the Canenefates or Kennemers in the countrie language It is in a manner enuironed round about with diuers great Lakes the which are made by the brookes which fall from the sandie Downes so as in my opinion this name was giuen it by reason of the multitude of these Lakes the which in the Cymbrians tongue they call Meerâ—n as if they would say Almeer and some in Latin call it Almeria There are tenne of these Lakes the which by Sluses and Mills to draine out the water vpon hope of greater profit haue beene laide drie partly at the charge of the Lords of Brederode and Egmont as also by Thierry Teyling a Receyuor and other good Bourgers of Alcmar the names of which Lakes thus recouered were Bergen conteyning 1200. Acres of ground Daele Veronne Suyn Bouckler Heyuluen Grobber Temple Argillar and the Lake behind There are yet fiue remayning that of Diepee Voere Scherme Byems and that of Waerd the which they haue no meaning to lay dry by reason of their depth and the benifit they reape by the fresh water-fish which they yeelde They say that this towne was first founded by Adgill King of Frisland a Godly man nothing resembling his impious father Radbod who mocking at the Saints in Paradise hauing demanded what was become of his predecessors which had dyed Infydells and answere being made him that they were in hell going to the Font to bee baptized by the Bishoppe of Soissons hee retired backe saying that after his death hee would goe where his Parents were Of whome these rough verses were made O' Iocus ò dirum et tibi formidabile semper Elogium Radbode tuum post tristia fata O ieast and dismall memory withall Radbode for thee and thy dire funerall This Adgill raygned in Frisland in
wrath retyred into Freezeland and there without his priuity he marryed the Potestats daughter of the country by whome hee had two sonnes Thierry and Simon Being afterwards reconciled to his Father he had certaine land alotted him for his portion which was measured by the great rod the which in the country language is Brederode fâ—om whence they tooke their name His father gaue him also the Castle and Territory of Theylingen the which Zyphard at his death disposed to his two sons to Thierry he gaue Brederode and to Simon Teylingen from whence are issued the two families of Brederode and Teylinge the which ended by the death of two bretheren who were slaine with their Prince VVilliam King of Romans in the warre against the Frisons As for that of Brederode we haue seene foure bretheren of the right lyne dye also in the warres against the French in few yeares so as it fell by a collaterall line vnto VValrauen Lord of the said Brederode Vianen Ameyden c. who hauing not any children and not likely to haue any by reason of his age and his wiues all must returne to Floris of Brederode his Brothers sonne who may raise vp the house being now halfe extinct The beginning of the house of Egmont is doubtfull for the Lordes thereof cannot truly shewe a continuance of their descent for three hundred yeares yet they say they are issued from Radbod I know not which King of the Frisons but I thinke it would bee a tedious thing to finde out this pedigree Such as contradict it say that they are descended from a Receiuer of the Abbay of Egmond which Office had beene called Aduoe and vnder this title hauing inriched them-selues with the goods of this Abbaie by little and little they attained to great wealth and thereby to great allyances which haue augmented their house as well in possessions as degrees of honour so as in the end they marryed a daughter of the famous house of Arckel the which was heire to the Dutchie of Geldres Whereas Arnold of Egmond the first Duke of that house had one sonne called Adolph who did much trouble his father yea hee detained him in prison vntill that Charles Duke of Burgongne sette him free Adolph retyring into France marryed a Lady of the house of Bourbon who hauing one son named Charles hee was afterterwards slaine being Generall of the Ganthois before Tournay After whose death the Emperour Charles the fift vnder coullor of some transport which hee pretended that Duke Arnold had made vnto duke Charles of Burgongne beeing in dislike with his son hee seazed vppon the whole Duchy but Charles of Egmond sonne to Prince Adolph for he was neuer Duke with the helpe of the Princes of the house of Bourbon who stirred vp the French King returning into his Countrie hee was receiued and acknowledged for Duke in many townes the Emperors men chased away Afterwards being of a turbulent spirit hee had great warres so as in the end hee dyed about the yeare 1536. without any children and in him failed the distrect lyne of this house of Egmond The Seignieury of Egmond falling to the yonger house who was father to Iohn the first Earle of Egmond which Iohn had one brother MaximliaÌ„ of Egmond Earle of Buren Lord of Iselsteine whose daughter being issued of a Lady of the house of Launoy and the onely heire marryed with William of Nassau Prince of Orange so as the possessions of these two houses of Buren and Launoy are discended to Prince Philip eldest son to the deceased Prince of Orange as wel by his grandfather as by his father Some do account next among the most ancient and Noble families that of Vander Merwue as descended from Merouee King of France in honour of whome some beleeue that in that place the riuer of Wahall was changed into Meruwe but this Original is farre fetcht There is yet some remainder of a Tower in the midst of Meruve which in old time was the place where they payed toll the which is now receiued in Dordrect whereas the Baron of Meruve who is also Lord of Aspren hath one day in the yeare all right of superiority and power to pardon murthers and al other offences The house of Arckel did for a long time command insolently in the Earldome of Teysterbandt betwixt the Wahal and the Leck the which the riuer of Linge doth crosse and passing through Gorichom it fals into the Meruve In this County there are many other Townes then Gorichom with the Castle as Leerdam Henkelom Haerstricht Aspren Euersteyn Hagesteyn and Gasprien wherof the three last and Haarstrecht haue beene burnt and ruined It seemes that all the neighbour Princes haue conspired against this house for their great pride For Frederick Bishop of Vtrecht hauing taken Gaspren Hagestein and Euersteyn he ruined them quite The Lord of Vianen wrested Rhynstein from him Arnold Duke of Geldres tooke Leerdam and Steenvoerd Albert Duke Bauaria Earle of Holland took Haestrecht from him and ruined it Afterwards the said Duke bought of Iohn the last Lord of so many townes and Seigieuries that of Gorichom with consent of his sonne and vnder his hand writing who notwithstanding soone after disavowed the contract the which hee brake after his fathers death and found meanes to surprize the said towne The Countesse Iaqueline went thether with an armie besieged it and took it by assault whereas the said young Lord receiued the reward of his disloyalty for he was slain there These Lords of Arckel were so mighty as besides the County of Teysterband in the which are the townes aboue mentioned they had liuing in Brabant Lembourg Bar Vtrecht Geldre Holland and Zeland which possessions made them proud arrogant hatefull vnto their neighbours ouer whom they did insult vntill they came to the end which we haue spoken of The house of Batenbourg is without al question one of the most ancient taking their name from Prince Batto from whome Battauia is come whereof there were of great fame for their vertue some fiue hundred yeares since Albert Rodolphus and Thierry Lordes of Battenbourg as of late Thierry Gâ—sbercht and VVilliam who beeing Lieutenant to the Prince of Orange leading an army to victuall Harlem beseeged by the Duke of Alua was defeated by the Spaniards This Towne of Battenbourg was afterwards burnt and the Castell held long by the Spaniardes The sayd Ghisbrecht had besides William three other sons wherof one was traiterously slayne at Collogne Ghisbrecht and Thierry beeing taken prisoners in the Warre by the Earle of Arembergh hee deliuered them to the Duke of Alua who caused their heades to bee cutte off at Brusselles with other Gentlemen of their religion But it was not long before this Earle receiued his due punishment for before a yeare past hee was slayne in Battaile in the same Countrie where hee falsified his faith to these two young Barons The race of the Lordes of Harlem is also very ancient and noble who they say
succeeded him named VVilliam the first who had Dibauldi Dibauld had VVilliam the second who had Elim hee dyed without heires male and in him fayled the lyne of this Thierry Hauing before his death adopted Beroald beeing but seauen yeares old the son of Richold the second of that name the third King of Frisland so as al these Dukes of West-Frisland successiuely raigned two hundred thirty three yeares fiue and twentie yeares after the death of Elim in the yeare of Christ fiue hundred thirty three Beroald after the death of Richold his father did inherit the Realme of East Frisland Thus were the two Frislands vnited together the which Beroald inioyed sixtie yeares whereof he was afterwards depriued and of his life also by Clotaire the second of that name King of France father to Dagobert Notwithstanding Adgill the second succeeded him and after him Gombauld then Radbod the second whome Charlemaigne vanquished and freed the Frisons from the yoake of Kinges restoring them to their liberty to whome hee gaue goodly priuiledges the which they haue long maintained with the prise of their bloods Since the Frisons were long vnder an Aristocraticall Gouernment sometimes vnder Potestates whom they did chose them-selues and not able to agree vppon the election by reason of dangerous factions the Earles of Holland hauing in succession of time and long warres seazed vpon that part which they now call West-Frisland and Waterlandt the which the Hollanders will haue but the Inhabitants of the country cannot indure it called Northolland On the other side the dukes of Brunswicke the Hans townes of Breme and Hambourg the Earle of Oldenbourg Schowenbourg and Embden haue vsurped much of East Frislād euen vnto the Territory of Groning the which although it be an Estate territory apart is cōprehended notwithstanding vnder the territory of that which hereafter we will simply call Frisland inclosed betwixt the Flye and Ems to distinguish it from East-Frisland held by the Earles of Embden and West-Frisland anexed to the county of Holland That then which we will simply call Frisland and the Inhabitants Frisons as Tolomcy and Tacitus tearme them saying that they are Germaines and people from beyond the Rhine whom Pliny calls Cauches the great and the lesse are Aborigines or originally come from that place who aboue all the people of Germanie retaine their ancient appellation keeping in their ancient and first seat hauing the same language they haue alwaies had True it is that in the chiefe townes they vse the Dutch-tongue but in the champian country they keepe their Frison language which the gentlemen take pleasure to entertaine in regard of the antiquitie Although I bee well acquainted with the high and low Dutch tongue yet I must confesse that in this ancient Frison language I vnderstand nothing Wee haue sayd before that the Frisons did for a time entertaine themselues vnder factions wee must therefore relate succinctly the beginning thereof which was that in the yeare of our redemption 1390. there did rise two factions in the country of Frisland the one Vetcoopers which signifies in their vulgar tongue marchants of grease that is to say marchants of fat oxen which they hold for an honest kinde of marchandise and of Schyeringers which are butchers and sellers of tripes which is a base kinde of trade which factions they say came from East and West Frisland The first spring and beginning thereof was that all these marchants of cattell and the butchers beeing togither at a publick banket according to their custome there was a guest to choose a Prouost a Deane or a King amongst them whose charge should bee to looke that no disorder should bee committed which might trouble the companie There was amongst them of either of these two companies one that exceeded the rest and both equall in wealth in respect and loue towards all the guests Whom both the one and the other partie contended to chose their Deane Prouost or King the one and the other maintayning that this dignity authority at the table was most befitting him that had the honestest trade Wherevpon a question grew among them which of those two marchandise was the honestest the one preferring the marchants of cattell the other the butchers Vpon which dispute their braines being het with wine in the end they fell from words to blowes one against an other party against party euery one with his Allies and Kinsmen meaning to maintaine the one quarrell or the other so as in the end there was a great fight in the which many were either hurt or slaine In reuenge whereof either party holding it selfe wronged they began to make factions and to bandie one against an other so as this canker eating more and more strangers who had no interest nor were any way wronged ingaged themselues vpon hope of bootie of the one or the other partie euerie one wresting what hee could from his Aduersarie without either lawe or iustice so confused were things then and full of disorder but such as they made by the sworde where as the strongest carried it The fruits of these factions were such as they not onely rained amongst priuate persons but amongst whole fam lies villages bourrougs and townes yea among whole Prouinces so as the whole country was ful of thefts and murthers and no man was free from their insolencies In like maner about that time Hollād was afflicted with the factions of Hoecks and Cabillaux that is to say the Hamesons and the Merlus wherof we haue made mentiō heretofore which was that the one party as the Merlus or Coddes bee fishes which prey did threaten to deuower the other and they of the Hamesons did threaten to take the others by the throat which to speake truth were quarrels scarce fit for children And at that time were the factions of Gelphes Gibelins in Italy Of the diuersity of colloured caps in Flanders of those of the starre in France al which were factions raised from the diuill This mischiefe proceeded so farre in Frisland as from the lesse it came to the greater and from Marchants and Bourgers to the Nobility and Clergie The gentlemen ruining the houses castles one of an other and the Abbots and Monks doing al the mischief they could one vnto an other So as to appease these factions and to reconcile the Noblemen the Emperor Maximilian the first sent Otto van Langen to perswade them to choose a Potestat amongst them which should gouerne the country according to their preuiledges vnder the authority of the Empire But their splene was so great as euery one seeking to choose one of their faction the sayd commissioner preuailed nothing but returned as hee came So as the Emperour to force them to an accord tooke occasion to giue the gouernment hereditary of all Frisland and Groning to the house of Saxony to hold it in fee of the Empire For the attayning whereof the Dukes of Saxony hauing spent a great part of their means with