Duke of Aquitain Holland and that part of East-Friezland from Dockum to Laâ—vin to defend and protect them from the Invasions and Devastations of the Danes and Normans who notwithstanding their general opposition at his entrance for they were then impatient of Government their joynt Conspiracy against him six years after his settlement when the Pope intimating how he should govern them by cutting the top of his Garden-Plants as he walked there with his Embassadors bestowed that Country upon him a second time by a breve as Lewis of Germany did Zealand by a Royal constitution left it to his son Thierry the Second who subdued the Frizons after two rebellions in behalf of their Liberties granted them as they pretended by Charti magni to entire obedience in such sort as he constrained them to make their doors and entries so low that they must bend their backs and stoop very much in sign of humility before they could enter and committed them upon his death to his second Son Arnold as he did Holland and Zealand to his eldest Son Egbert having entred to a Monestery at Triars by whom a Revolt was made from his bounden duty to the French to a submission to the Empire of whom he would needs hold his Earldom in Fee which lost him his life in a Battel against the Friezlanders who opposed that dishonourable submission and with the assistance of the French and the conduct of their Protestat or Governor defeated him in open field whose Son and Successor Thiery the 3d dissembling the affront a while until â—he had conquered the stout Bishop of Vtrecht who would needs maintain that Holland belonged to his Bishoprick his Vtrecht being in old time as he urged what with his Army and what with his Reason the Capital City of Holland and relieved the German Auxilianies revenged his Fathers death and settled the Countrey on his younger son Floris who his elder Brother Thiery being slain at a Tournament at Leige say some 1048 or as others by the Marquesse of Bradenburgh's Forces who came to revenge the Germans disgrace at that Tournament as far as Dort which by Treason or a Popular Tumult he surprized and kept till Earl Floris hearing of the League between the Marquesse of Bradenburgh Count Albert of Lovain Wickard Advocate General of Gelders and Hermar Earl of Curike gathered the whole Countrey to Dort to make Ditches and Pit-falls along South-Holland wherein the Enemies fell in heaps submitting at last to his mercy whose Family yet he leaving an Infant behind him was dispoyled of the Earldom of Holland by the Bishop of Dort's application to the Emperour H. 4 who resenting the late Onslaught of the Germans gave the Reverend Father his claimed Earldom which he colluted on Godfrey the 9th Earl thereof who yet lost it to Thierry the 5th whom the Friezlanders helped to his Predecessors honour in Holland as he did afterwards himself when they would neither acknolwedge him nor obey the Bishop to be Seigneory over them as his Heir Thoris the Second and the Earl did when they would needs bid him Battel to try as they said for their Liberties to whose Son and Successor Thierry the 6th Lothiar the Emperour restored Oastergoe and Westergoe in Friezland formerly given 1080. by H. 4 to Conrade Bishop of Vtrecht notwithstanding the rebellious attempts of the Frizons against it and the fatal Divisions made by that unhappy people between him and his Brother whom at last after six bloody Battels the Emperour reconciled settling Friezland and Holland anew upon his Son Floris the 3d who married Ada Daughter to the King of Scotland and had the Isle of Walâ—â—rin where they built Dur by accord with Philip Earl of Flanders for the Land of Waes in whose Reign the Hollanders set up the first Herring-fishing in the Mase and the Brittish-Seas along the Coast of Holland Zealand and Friezland in small Barkes called Subards those of Zerexes being the first that did fish and pack them up in Barrels Those of Bieruliel a small Isle on the Coast of Flanders the better to preserve them being salted invented the way to Gill them and pull out the Garbage Thierry the 7th his Son succeeded him and brought the Flemmings to an accord about Trade and the Frizons to Reason when they were in the mood to acknowledge no Soveraign but the Emperour and being reconciled to the Earl of Gelders joyned with him against the troublesom Bishop of Vtrech and his Brother William Earl of Friezland succeeded him likewise deposing his Daughter from Holland and reducing the Zealanders both which Provinces he left to his Son Floris the 4th whose Daughter Margaret Countess of Hennebergh had 365 Children at a Birth that is to say for so many dayes in the year After him was William the Second Earl of Holland of that name and King of the Romans who enlarged his Earldom towards â—landers in a Quarrel with Margaret Counâ—â—ss of Flanders who in vain sought the Pope and St. Lewis of France his aid while Earl William was alive who died unfortunately in Ice in an onset upon his restless Subjects of Friezland which was reduced by Floriâ— 5th who after the allaying of the Factions raised in Holland during his minority built four Castles that utterly subdued that Countrey made a League with Flanders that brought within his Earldom Amstel and Worden threatned a War with Scotland in right of his Grandmother Ada that with King Edward of England mediation was accorded in a marriage between his son Iohn and Elizabeth the Daughter of that Kingdom whence arose a great friendship between England Scotland and Holland And the Flemings suddenly breaking their League by a Surprize of Zealand by the Isle of Welchrin he subdued them so farr with the loss of so many Knights that he made 40 to possess and maintain his Conquests which yet prospered not when he for deflouring Count Gerund's Lady was murthered in a Ditch and the Frizons sent to the King of Denmark to be their Protector especially when upon Count Iohn's absence in England Floris his son and now the 20th Earl of Holland reigning the Government of Holland was divided between the Faction of Count Hedier of Clevis who governed North-Holland of Guy the Earl of Henaul's Brother who possessed South-Holland and of Berfold Surrogate to Zirich Bishop of Vtrich who revived the old Quarrel about Holland till King Iohn with a mighty Fleet of his Father in Laws the King of Englands 1297 defeated the Frizons twice with the Bishop that had preached a 1000 years Pardon to every Person that could kill a Hollander rased Mour Mount and settled the Faction at Dort But dying suddenly 1300 and leaving his Wife childless who returned to England and married the Earl of Oxford Gillis Brecht of Amstel seized and fortified Amsherdam The Factions of Scheirlingen and Ven Coopen brake out in Friezland and both maintained their Franckises and Liberties against the Emperours Lieutenant Albert D. of Saxony who came
Army was so likely to moulder away for want of pay that she thought fit to intercede for the distressed States with his Majesty of Spain and Don John by the Lord Cobham and Sir Fracis Walsingham and when that failed a Religious Peace as they called it which the States-General consented to was settled which bred great jealousies in the Provinces where many were still stiff for Popery especially at Gaunt till the Queen of England declared against them and promised notwithstanding that Duke Casimer and the D. of Anjou retired in discontent to stand by the Protestant States to the utmost as she did effectually having brought the Estates first to stricter Union and Alliance at Vtrech 1579 than that before at Gaunt and afterwards to erect a Council of State for the management of affairs whose very first debate was a Consultation about the alteration of Government to shorten the War and engage some Person in their defence The next was the taking and demolishing of several strong Holds that had been too serviceable to the King of Spain But their affairs not prospering they resolve upon the Duke of Anjou as their Soveraign upon 27 Articles signed on both sides with Medals coyned whereon were these devices Leonem loris mus li erat Liber revinciri Leo pernegat Pro Christo grege lege Religione justitià reduce vocato ex Gulliâ pacatâ duce Andegariensi â—elgiae Libertatis vindice vos terrâ â—go excubo ponto 1580 Si non nobis saltem posteris And that being dispatched they agree upon Martial Discipline and relieve Steenwich under the conduct of Sir John Norris who victualled it and raised the Siege having given notice of it in Letters which he shot in his Bullets The States-General in the mean time answering the King of Spain's Proscription against the Prince of Orange and providing against the insolences of the Papists by a restraint upon the exercise of their Religion at Brussels and Antwerp declare thus The States General of the United Provinces Guelders Holland Zealand Zuphten Friezland Overysel and â—roeninghen having declared Prince Philip of Austria second of that name King of Spain fallen from the Sigâ—ioâ—y of the said Provinces by reason of his extraordinary and too violent Government against their Freedom and Priviledges solemnly sworn by him having by the way of Right and Armes taken upon us the Government of the publick State and of the Religion in the said Provinces An 1581 having by an Edict renounced the Government of the K. of Spain breaking his Seals Counter-seals Privy-signets for new ones made by them in their stead and entertaining the Duke of Anjou nobly attended from England by the Lord Willoughby Sheffield Windsor Sir Philip Sidney Shirley Parrat Drury and the Lord Howard's son and recommended by the Queen who avowed That what service was done him she esteemed as done to her self and commended to him this one good Rule to be sure of the hearts of the People who invested him Duke of Brabant and Earl of Flanders wherein Dunkirke did import him much to keep a Passage open from Flanders into France as the refusal his Brother made of succour and his entertainment of French Nobility to the discouragement of the Netherlands did him much harm especially since most of his Followers were either men of Spoil or secret Pensioners to the King of Spain and he by their advice lost himself in his Enterprize upon Antwerp so far that had not her Majesties Authority reconciled them the States and he had broken irrecoverably though indeed they never after peiced For the Duke thereupon delivers all the Towns he had taken to the States retyring himself to Dunkirke while the Ganthoes and other troublesom men of the Innovation declared against him and for Duke Casimir And all the Estates humbly beseeched the Queen of England by General Norris to have mercy upon them in this woful juncture especially when the wise Prince of Orange was murthered by a fellow recommended to him by Count Mansfield and serving him three years to await this opportunity having time to say no more but Lord have mercy upon my soul and this poor People And the Spaniards during the States differences and the youth of Grave Maurice of Nassau who succeeded his Father carrying all before them insomuch that the King of France was so afraid to take the Netherlands into his Protection that he sent Embassadors to the Duke of Parma to remove the very suspition of it Especially when the Guisian League brake out upon him and the poor States had now none to trust to but the Queen of England who during their Treaty with France had made them gracious promises by Secretary Davison by whom by the Respective Deputies of their Provinces June 9. 1585 they absolutely resigned the Government to her Majesty who upon sundry great considerations of State refused that yet graciously sent them 4000 men under General Norris 184600 Guilders upon the security of either Ostend or Sluce and promised 5000 Foot and 4000 Horse under a General and other Officers of her own with pay For which the States stood bound giving Flushing Ramekins Briel and the two Sconces thereunto belonging into her hand for security and taking in her Commander in chief with two persons of Quality more of her Subjects by her appointment into their Council of State According to which Contract Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester is made Governour of the Low-Countreys for the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Queen of England to whom the whole Countrey did Homage receiving him as their absolute Governour though the Queen disavowed that as being likely to engage her too farr in the Quarrel and the States humbly submitted to her pleâ—sure in which capacity he set out Edicts for Discipline for the Treaty and Traffique which these troublesom people upon pretence of Liberty and Priviledg mutinied against to the great hinderance of the Earls proceedings insomuch that after he had born up their Interest as his entrance into the Government just ready to sink and taken Daventer Zuphten and other places he resigned his Government to the Council of State leaving a Meddal behind him on the one side whereof was engraven his Picture with these words Robertus â—omes Leicestriae in Belgia Gubernator 1587. And on the other side a flock of sheep scattered and before them an English Dogg with these words Non gregem sed Ingratos invitus desero Whereupon Deputies of Estates attended him with a Present a Cup as big as a Man and an humble supplication to the Queens most Excellent Majesty not to forsake them now in their low Estate so low that the King of Denmark thought fit to intercede for them to their own Leige the King of Spain while they in extremity devolve their affairs upon young Grave Maurice and declaring against the Earl of Leicesser's proceedings incensed the Queen so far that she called home General Norr is though yet Sluce had ben lost
had not Sr William Russel supplyed it with Provision when all the seven Provinces could not do it Being now intent upon the settlement of their State-General out of the Particular Deputies of the several Provinces the Earl of Leicester being called home and they hearing of a Spanish Armado knowing not what to do but to importune her Majesty of England that she should make no peace without them Now she was in treaty with the Prince of Parma which she waves though privately willing enough to reconcile their private differences which was the greatest Motive she had to abandon them It being not likely they should do any good themselves especially since there was such jealousies and mistrusts among their chief Officers who could never have been united but by the vast Armado of the common Enemy which awed both sides to so much moderation that they settle the Government in the States reduce all Parties into one Oath and submission reconcile Vtrech to Holland pay their Souldiers very punctually establish Prince Maurice in the Admiralty and Prince William in the Government of Friezland They defeat the Marquess of Varumbon with Sir Francis Vere's assistance take the Antwerp Convoy raise jealousies between the Inhabitants of Groening and their Governour maintain Liberty of Conscience nourish the French differences get 125 26l a month of the Queen of England They surprize Breda engage the Electors and get the Prince of Parma off to the siege of Paris Blackinbergh Collenbergh the Fort before Zuphten Holt Nymighen Grumbergh Geertrudenbergh Seenwye and other places are recovered by the Valour and Conduct of the English particularly Sir John Norris Sir Roger Williams and Sir Henry Vere An Edict is made concerning Printing a War is contrived between France and Spain the United Provinces and the Estates under the King of Spain treat for peace Philip William eldest son to William Prince of Orange is released from his 35 years Imprisonment whereto he was confined since he was taken in Leyden as we have formerly intimated Prince Maurice and Sir Francis Vere Sir Robert Sidney's overthrow Cardinal Albertus his Army Wan 1577 whereupon Embassadours are sent to the States from the Empire from Peland and from other parts whom they remitted to the Queen of England as being able to do nothing without her In the mean time they prevailing under her protection set up the India trade assisting their Merchants with Artillery and Ammunition so as four ships were set forth to destroy the Countrey and bring away some Inhabitants against another Voyage where 8 ships ventured that way from Amsterdam as did many more from other places in the East and West Indies to Guine besides others to Syria and Greece 1578. But the poor States being left out of the peace between France and Spain are at a loss till the Queen of England sends to them that if they resolved for a War they should inform her what provisions they had towards it and rest assured of her utmost assistance So they forbade Traffique with Spain and entertained some overture afresh in order to an offensive war towards which she sent 2000 souldiers more under Sr Th. Knowles besides 6000 men she procured from the Circles of the Empire several Forts are set up by her directiōs the Contributions are mitigated in Zealand now ready to mutiny by her Order the offensive War in Flanders began by her intimation 2800 sail of ships Rendesvouzed in the the Sea-towns of Holland Zealand and Friezland Grave Oastend and Newport are besieged and the Arch-Dukes Army is defeated Chimney-money and Excise is imposed the United States and the States-General Treat In the mean time the Arch Duke Albertus his Forces mutiny and are entertained by the United Provinces The Hollanders and the English engage the Spaniards at Sea the King of England that succeeded the Queen March 24. 1603. promising them fair in general termes whereupon Oastend and Sluce are taken and the States refuse all intercessions for peace especially since they defeated Spinola by Land and the Spanish Gallies by Sea After which the Arch-Duke Albert and his Wife Isabella in the name of the King of Spain declared them Free-states and in that capacity offered to Treat with them upon peace all the Princes of Christendom offering their Mediation onely the King of Spain's Aggreation as they call it was not clear and the 62 Articles containing their Priviledges were not moderate enough to be the ground either of a Treaty of peace or a Truce In fine These people being very intent upon the preservation of their Liberties and most prone to jealousie motion and surprizes being agitated by others passion and their own for those two great Dianaes Priviledges and Liberty of Conscience high-flown upon the Battel of Newport gotten by Sir Francis Vere refused Reason Notwithstanding the peace at Verven between the King of France and Spain which cut off half their assistance the difference between Embden and the Governour of Friezland that disturbed their Union the taking of Oastend Rhainbergh Grelen after three years siege and Sir Francis Vere's great endeavours to preserve it that weakned their Interest being grown great with the private Alliance of France and that more open of England their Trade to the Indies and their Piracies upon Spain until Spinola humbled John May the Provincial of the Franciscans perswaded and what is more then all this the King of Englands inclination to a good understanding with Spain frighted them into a twelve years Truce in a Treaty begun at Antwerp 1607. No sooner are they at peace without but having recovered the Cautionary Towns from the English by old Barnavel's cunning who as King Henry the 4th said was the ablest Statesman in Europe as far as his money went but their humours began to work among themselves Rebels are as troublesom to themselves when they have defeated their Soveraign as they were to him before their Predestination Points and the nicities of Priviledges engaging them to the great danger of the whole Government had not King James by his Embassadour Sir Ralph Wenwood very effectually interposed The King of Spain finding the observation of a great Lord upon the Truce true That assoon as the common Enemy was over they would fall by themselves set the Arch-Duke upon offering them the confirmation of the Truce into a Peace in case they would accept of his Soveraignty An overture they scorned so far that the Embassador in his way through Delph was almost stoned by the dregs of the people and assoon as the Truce was over utterly denying the prolongation of it they besieged Gulicke spoiled Brabant invited Mantsfield into East-Friezland and shrouded themselves in a League against the house of Austria with France England and Denmark c. making the Interest of Europe their security in defence of the lower Circle of the Empire took the Plate-fleet and what promised Wonders there being men in it that could dive under water and flie in the Air the Fleet of
That their Expences must be intollerable 5. That Holland would enjealous the rest of the Provinces or surprize them all which are now their confessed case Their Case in a War with us made out from the Causes moving the Queen of England to give Aâ—d to the defence of the peâ—ple Afflicted and Oppressed in the Low-Countreys 1. THe Natural Sâ—ituation of the Realm â—f England and the Low-Countreys one directlâ— opposite to the other and by reason of the ready crossing of the Seas â—nd multitude of large and Commodious â—avens an our side a constant Ira â—â—ck and Commerce between the people of England and the Low-Countreys continued in all antient times when the several Provinces were under their respective Lords 2. Such hath been the devendâ—nce of these poor people upon England that their Prelates Noble-men Citizens Burgesses and other Commonalties of their Port-towns entred into Obligations and Stipulâ—tions under their particular Seals from time to time to the good people of England for â—avours Affections and friendly Offices shewed towards them 3. Such was the necessity of Commerce between these two People that they have remonstrated to their Governours at several times That they could not subsist without a Commerce with England â—s to Philip Duke of Burgundy in H the 6th his time to his Son Duke Charles and Arch-Duke Philip in H. H. 7th his time and to Charls the 5th in King H. the 8th his time 4. Upon the often and continual Lamentable Requests made by the Universal States of the Countries of Holland Zealand Gelders and other Provinces for Succours in their Extreamityes we thought at to Aid those poor and distres-People Gent. How is it then things being so that they have been able to do so well hitherto as they have done SECT 4. The things that formerly advanced the Netherlands Trav. 1. EVrope hath been ever sâ—nâ—e a most Constâ—â—â—ly embâ—â—â—â—ed 2. They have had a Regular wâ—y by themsâ—lves of â—ax I mâ—an their Excise whereby the more they pâ—y â—he more they receive â—or what the souldiers receive in pâ—y they pay in â—rinkâ— theâ—r veâ—y Enemies though they hate the States yet love their Lâ—qâ—or and pay Excise Yea the most â—dle sloathfull and improvident that selleth his blood for drink and his flesh for bread serves at his own charge for every pay day he reckoneth with his Father and he with the common Purse 3. Pyracies whereby they have those Commodities in time of War in Gross which they have onely in time of Peace by Retail 4. They have formerly checked the Austrian power which is now low 5. They go out with less charge than other Nations their ships requiring fewer men and those men all sharing in the Design are contented with courser farâ— flesh among them being kept hot more dayes than a Pigg in Pye-corner it being their own case they go through all difficulties with patience so they husband all Expences with thrift 6. They eugrossed the Coyn of Europe carrying the Commodities of one Countrey into another 7. They have been hitherto allowed in England Denmark and Muscoâ—y to trade upon the best and sreest conditions 8. They kept in with England and its Protestant Allies 9. They have imployed all the poor that could work and provided for those that could not 10. They have had formerly Lombards or Loan houses where the poor have money upon any Pawn for a Reasonable Rate viz 6. in the 100. with Reasonable time of payment 11. Their Diet was course and of every mans own providing 12. They spent money formerly but now their time in drinking 13. They Trafficked for others superfluities but not their own 14. Their Apparel was plain and their Ambition onely upon Realities and Solidities 14. Their Lawes were strictly executed and no forfeitures left to the corrupt disposals of an Officer but all bestowed upon the Publick 15. Usury was a stranger to them every man laying out his Estate upon the Publick-traffick 16. No idleness there and therefore no thievery a fault more effectually restrained there by Whipping than here by Hanging 17. If any man gained there extraordinarily by money the tenth of his gain was the Common-wealths Usurers escaping not there as here 18. One undone by casuality they set up one cast to Prison the Creditor maintains one troubled with a shifting Adversary a quick tryal relieves 19. All men debated and all contributed to the Publick affairs as concerned both by advice and purse 20. Their Resolutions were secret and sudden 21. Their Industry hath been great and their Expences small they maintaining it for a Maxime That a thing lasts longer mended than new 22. Their Recreation hath been Warlickâ— and they have been to be souldiers before they were men 23. They have been a hardy and a head-strong people and you might sooner convert a Jew to Christianity turn an old Puritane than convince a Dutchman of Reason 24. Not a man of them but might have been a Statesman for they have all this gift not to be too nice-conscienced 25. They were seldom deceived for they trusted no body though every body must trust them 26. They love none but those they profit by 27. Complement is an idleness those brutish people were never skilled in they are half marred being Saylors and being Souldiers they are quite spoiled for there saith my Authour they would let a Jew build a City where Harlem-Mear is and after that couzen them of it 28. They have had a Religion and a Liberty of both which they were very zealous formerly and are as careless now 29. They have enjoyed the Easterlings trade in the North and ours in the East 30. Their watches were seldom of a Nation so that they could seldom concur to deliver up one Town 31. They were very strict upon Musters the list and the pole seldom disagreeing 32. Their souldiers are well Cloathed Armed Disciplined and paid the souldiers seldom any where committing fewer insolencies upon the people or the Officers fewer deceits upon the souldiers 33. Their General could not betray them his Army being composed of many several Nations his Officers not at his own but at the States disposal and his Commission never Implicitly left to his discretion but by reason their Countrey hath no great bounds he receives daily commands what to do 34. Discipline was thus Their Military Rules and Orders 1. THat no man shall swear or blaspheme upon pain of 5s the first offence five days imprisonment the second and a disbanding the third 2. That they shall pray prayers twice a week 3. That they play not at either Cards or Dice upon pain of two days imprisonment 4. That no Women follow the Souldiers but Wives Nurses and Landresses upon pain of Whipping 5. That none lay violent hands on Women with childe Virgins Babes or old Persons without Order 6. That Drunkards shall be discharged 7. Concealers of Treasons shall be racked 8. Correspondents with Enemies shall dye 9. None shall leave his Rank or File without
leave upon pain of death 10. He that sleeps at a Watch or bewrayeth the watch-word must dye 11. Mutineers and unlawful Assemblers shall dye 12. None shall Quarrel with a Souldier or lift up a sword against an Officer on pain of death 13. He that leaves his Post and Breach dieth 14. He that deserts his Captain or serveth under two shall be imprisoned during pleasure 15. He that imbezleth his Armour Provision or Furniture is discharged 16. He that steals any Souldiers Furniture fore-stalls any Victuals Exacts on the people abusâ—th Tradesmen shall dye 17. He that resist a Proclamation assists any Mâ—lefactor disturbs any Quarters sets on fire any Building within the Camp or without makes any false Alarms knavishly shall dye 18. No man shall neglect an Alarm entertain a stranger converse with Trumpeters or Messengers of the other side loyter with the Carriages or Forrage abroad without leave upon pain of suffering what the Marshal or chief Commander pleaseth 19 No Captain shall undertake any Enterprize or be absent from the Watch without Order from the General 20. Neither Souldier nor Captain shall dismiss sell or ransom any Prisoner or Booty beâ—ore he hath presented him or it unto his immediate Officer 21. Every Souldier shall stand by his Ensign day and night till ordered to depart and observe and learn the sound of Drums Fifes and Trumpets 22. No Beast shall be garbaged no Easement made but at a distance appointed from the Camp 23. Whosoever delivereth any place left to his charge or keeping flieth to the Enemy or passeth any other way either in Town or Camp but at the ordinary Gates without Order shall dye 24. No man shall as they March make any cry at all at the putting up of any hair c. All other offences that may tend to disorders not comprimised in the foresaid Rules shall be punished as the chief Commander shall think fit These are the several Particulars whereby they rose to this Grandeur and opulency whereof some have failed and the rest are not able to bear up that Government which they altogether erected Gent It being so obvious from these reflexions to conclude their weaknesse it were necessary their present Case and Controversie should be favourably staâ—ed to their Neighbours for compassion or assistance Trav. They are more unhappy in the ground of this present Quarrel than in any of the fore-mentioned particulars Gent. As how Sir Trav. Why first In reference to trade and Fishing in the narrow Seas The present state and Controversie between us and the Dutch ALl the world know that we have Right to the Narrow-Seas for the Seas that surround our Island whither the Scottish the British the Irish or German were possessed and secured by the Brittains who fished so much upon them that they furnished the Hilts of their Swords with such fishes teeth as they took and traded so considerably that none came amongst them but Merchants Those Seas were by them transmittâ—d with their countreyes to the Romans upon the Conquest who as they managed the Government of the Land by Presidents so they did that at the Sea by an Archigubernacy or chief Governour and Admiral who seâ—ured Commerce took Prizes looked on the Coasts of Spain Italy and Affrica it self After the Romans the Saxons succeeded to this Right and Dominion and commâ—nded the Sea under a Count of the Saxon shore i. e. whatever Pava ollus saith to the contrary the Sea-shore Octa and Ebista under Vortigerne and Hergist commanding these Seas the Saxons and Danes keeping a numerous Navy to that purpose by such Tributes and Duties as they imposed upon their Vassals particularly Dane-ghelt for the Guard of the Sea Edgar and Canutus styling themselves Soveraigns of the Sea The Right and Dominion of the Seas passed with this Nation to the Normans as appears 1. From their Government the custody of the Seas being under an Admiral by Commissions from the several Kings maintained by Tributes paid in consideration of the said custody 2. From their Right in all the Islands lying on the Sea before the French shore 3. From leave asked alwaies and granted to Forreigners by the English to pass thâ—se â—eaâ— And those that asked leave were the Kings of Denmark and Sweden the Hans Towns in Quern Elizabeths time Hollanders and Zealaâ—â—ers themselves not daring to fish before they asked leave of Scarborough and Kâ—ng James proclaiming May 6. 1610. That none fish upon the English or the Irish Sea without leave obtained and every year at least renewed from the Commissioners appointed for this purpose at London But 4. Our Right to the Sea appears from the Limits we set to such Forreigners as Moderators of the Sea as 〈◊〉 at enmity with one another and at amity with the English 5. From the Publick Records wherein the Dominion of the Sea is ascribed to the Kings of England by the King himself and the Estates of Parliament with very great deliberation and in such express words as these Lords of the English Sea on every side all people accounted us Soveraigns of the Seas That our Soveraign Lord the King and his Illustrious Progenitors being Lords of the Seas would impose a Tribute upon all strangers the Kings of England have by right of their Dominions been Lords of the Sea these are the words of all Europeâ— by their Commissioners at Paris and made Laws Statutes and Restraints of Arms upon them together with Admirals that they should preserve their Superiority over the same 6. From the Laws and most received Customs of England that make the Seas the Patrimony of Eng. and the King by the old custom of Engl. Lord of the Narrow-â—eas and his Soveraignty there so ancient that they make the four Seas to be equivalent with those words within or without the Kingdom De mer Apourtenant au Râ—â—d ' Angleterre The Sea belonging to the King of England 7. From the Coyn called Rose-nobles of which its said four things our Nobles sheweth to our King Ship Sword power of the Sea 8. From the custom of striking sail on our Coast time out of mind 9. From the Licenses granted upon their humble supplications to the French and Flemings with limitted number of Boats to fish upon our Coastâ— 10. From the Prerogative whereby all wrecks and Royal fishes as Whales Sturgeons c taken in our Seas are due to the King of England onely or unto such to whom by special Charter he grants the same Stat. Edw 3. 17. The state of the Controversies in point of Injuries and Affronts with the Vnited Netherlands Trav HOw they forced us to trade at second hand 1. In Ternata under their Fort Tabuche 3 In Motir 3. In Tidore 4. In â—alvan Hillo Amboyn 5. At Bunda 6. Poleway 7. The Coast of Cormandel near their Arsenal at Jacatra 8. Their chief places Bantham Japan Jamby though we directed them to all these places How they represented us as Pyrates there and when they had done any mischief said they were Englishmen untill for our safety we were fain to distinguish our selves from them by the solemnity of Novemb. 17. and 5. How they contrived to blow up our Warehouses forbad us all Commerce upon Queen Eliz. her death made all Christians so odious that the first Question asked in those parts was Are you Flemmings How they seized our Yards Wharfs c. giving order to kill every Englishman that would not swear fealty to them upon the erecting of their Fort at Banna intending to put all English in an old ship and blow it up How they search and stop our ships give out that they are under a King Make us pay them Custom at Bantham How they seized our ships at Poâ—eway though the Island was given our King leading our men about streets with Halters about their necks and an Hour glass before them intimating that after that ran out they should be hanged How though the Mogul would not look on them till Sir Tho. Roe assured him they were our Friends they seized our Poleroon 1617 suborning the Slaves to burn our ships loading our men with Irons dismembring some setting others in their wounds in hard Grates wherein their Legs swelling so that they could go neither in nor out without a Carpenter pissing over their heads in Dungeons every morning and allowing them but a half-penny loaf and a pinte of water a day How it was proved at Jacatra that the States were seven years a plotting a War between the English and the Dutch at the Indiâ—s threatning likewise to land 60000 men in 24000 Flat-boats in England How they carried us in Cages from Port to Port boasting that our King was their Vassall How though between 1577 when we assisted them first in their Indian trade and 1625 they got 1500 Tuns of Gold in Private hands besides 400 in Common they used us in Amboyna They disputed our Right to the Sea stopped our entrance to and Trade at Bantham Scanderooâ— Guinee Angola c. burned â—â—ur Factories at Jambee How they surprized us at Guinee abused us in the restoring of the Island Polaroon which they have promised from time to time since 1622. How they gave us Law in the New Netherlands a spot of ground they held of us by curtesie How they put our men in nasty Dungeons at Castledelmina to lye in their own Excrements having not bread and water enough to sustain Nature leaving the living and the dead after exquisite tortures to lye together Injuries these with Infinite more of the like nature to the value of 600000l in goods being aggravated with their preparations for War to maintain them even when His Maâ—esty for three years together solicited them to justice and peace that make it evident to the World that War which is defined The state of two Parties contending by publick force about right and wrong is become necessary to us since equity is denyed and that we must put our affairs to the order of force when they dare not come to the Test of the Law Insomuch that I conclude That as few will pity this ill-natured and unhappy People at the end of the War as incourage them in the beginning of it FINIS
Dutch were flush with a Ten years free Trade and we spent with as many years Rebellion when we were the â—dium of Mankind and they at least upon the account of that Quarrel the Darlings of Europe a handful of our meanâ—st and most inconsiderable of our People durst Vote That no Goods should be Iâ—ported or Exported into or out of England but in English Bottoms And when the Lords States forsooth took that in Dudgeon our bold fellows the King Lords and Commons standing by and not concerned Vote their Embassadoâ—r the Lord Joachim away out of England Octob 6. 1650 within a month at his peril at whose return the High and Mighty draw in their Money sink their Bank mistrust one another break all to pieces raise Fortifications cast Ordinances provide new Artilleries Yards Rendezvouz Militiaes and withdraw 200 Families at least to Hamburgh and the other Hans-Towns of Germany Yet so much Courage they had left as to scorn the pretended Embassadours our Mock-Governours sent thither insomuch that one Dorisla by name lost his life there and another Strickland was weary of it strike to his Majesties concerns as he was King of Great Brittain in most of their Treaties with France Portugal Denmark Sweden c. though yet in their General Meetings Jan. 20. 1651. they Voted our Tom Thombs a free State forsooth and Common-wealth and that they would transact with their new-coyn'd Honours about a Truce and that too by old Joachim who was sent packing but two Months before the Province of Holland having cast the charges of a War and considered that half the money might advance it to a Seignory over its Sister Provinces And all the Provinces being amazed at the Tempest that broke the two Dikes St. Anthonies and the Harlem-Dike to the ruine almost of Gelders Zuphten Overystel Friezland and Holland Upon the least suspicion of War up came Chimney-money Poll-money Excise on Salt Beer Vinegar Wines Butter Oyl Candles all Grains Seeds Turff Coals Lead Brick Stone Wood Linnen and Woollen Clothes Silks Silver Gilt Wagons Coaches Ships and other Vessels Lands Pastures Gardens Nurseries Houses Servants Immovable Goods all Seals They forbid all affronts to their Lordships forsooth Strickland and St. John They drink and that was a great Argument of the High and Mighty States good affection in continuationem prosperitatem Reip Angliae Notwithstanding all which complyance the paltery thing called Our Parliament stayed a Fleet of theirs in the Downs forsooth till further Pleasure because there was Cordage Powder and Ammunition in them under the Corn. Whereupon His Majesty prospering in Scotland and a Peace being made with France the Mighty make bold to tell Sir John That they cannot answer his Proposition touching a League Offensive and Defensive under four Months for that they must send to all the Provinces for their advise and consent in a business of so high a concernment and our High and Mighties take snuff and call their Messengers home to the no little trouble of their Brethâ—en who beseech and intreat their stay but to no purpose the young Usurpers being intollerable when ever intreated to be kind and when that would not do pass this Vote The States General of the Netherlands having heard the Report of their Commissioners having had a Conference the day before with the Lords Embassadors of the Common-wealth of England do Declare That for their better satisfaction they do wholly and fully condescend and agree unto the 6 7 8 9 10 and 11 Propositions of the Lords Embassadors as also to the 1 2 3 4 and 8 Articles of the year 1575 made between H. 7th and Philip Duke of Burgundy Therefore the States do expect in the same manner as full and clear an Answer from the Lords Embassadors upon the 36 Articles delivered by their Commissioners 24th of June 1651. And not only so But they nominate the Heer Bever of Dort and the Heer Vell of Zealand with old Joachimi for Agents to the Common-wealth forsooth of England remembring the old Motto in Queen Elizabeths time Si Colâ—idimur frangimur Especially when the men at Westminster gave Letters of Mart to several Merchants to make themselves satisfaction for the losses they had suffered by Pickeroons belonging to the Netherlands Whereupon they filled up their Embassy with min Heer Schaep delaying the matter till the Kings Majesties business was decided Their 11 East-India ships worth a Million were put to sale an 160 sail arrived from Bourdeaux Mounsier Borreel could not prevail in France and the bold ones at Westminster make an Act as they called it for Increase of shipping the improvement of Trade the encouragement of Fishing and Navigation so prejudicial to the Cities of the Rine which together with the surprize of so many Amsterdamers awaked them so farr that Van Tromp with 36 sail in three Squadrons was ordered to Sea first to the Straights and then to the Downs to secure their Monopoly of Wine and Currans and Agents dispatcht to Denmark Sweden Portugal and France to strengthen the War in behalf of it altering their Embassadors for England whither they send the cunning Head-pieces mine Heer Catz and min Heer Scaep the last whereof in the mean time treats with France about Dunkirk and with Sweden about Neutrality The English men discourse of 100000 for Amboyna the Herring-fishing free passage through the Shee ll and the cautionary Towns frighting them to a resolution with 152 sail to commence a War eight Dutch ships being taken by the English as they came from New found-land and the Swedish Embassador Speering dealing under-hand with the English insomuch that they forbid any ship to stir from either the Mase or Texel and Amsterdam offereth an no sail as Zealand doth 40 on condition its Petition be granted about Letters of Mart the States fortifying Briel and Flushing prohibiting the Exportation of any Warlike Provisions and making a stay of all English ships In the mean time a certain Faction crept in that disturbed their Publick Peace at Middleburgh and Dort because they mentioned not the Prince of Orange in levying Souldiers till Trump departed in July with resolution to find out the English Yet espying Sir George Aiscue in the Downs with a Squadron was not able to bear up with him because of a Calm wherefore he addresseth himself against Blake in the North attending some Indian Vessels and taking the Dutch Herring-Busses from whom a Tempest parted him to his loss as the night did De Ruyter from Aiscue onely he met with Captain Badileyes 4 ships in the Straights and took the Phaenix which was re-gained by Captain Cox in Portologn upon a Dutch festival night when during the heat of the Holland Carouses he stole upon it in a Boat in the habit of a Dutchman which success was indeed allayed by Captain Appleton's weighing Anchor out of Legorn Mole sooner than he should and so falling into the hands of 22 Dutchmen of War before Captain Badiley could come
at him A while after General Blake discovered the Dutch Fleet on the backside of Godwyn-sands being about 60 men of War under Vice Admiral Witti Wittison against whom Captain Young Reynolds and Chapman having humbled the Legorn Merchants and their Convoy he bore up and notwithstanding he was on a dangerous Sand called Kentish Knocke where the water was not three fathoms deep assuring his Souldiers vast encouragements he staid by the Dutch Fleet till night parted them And next day though the wind was low bore North and by West up to them being then two â—eagues North-east of the English who coming with much adoe within shot of them made them so afraid they should get within them that they run for it 10 Frigats chasing them till 6 a clock at night June 18 excusing themselves to Captain Bourn that cross Winds had blown them upon our Coasts against their wills Yet having with fair words collogued with our Dons so farr that they laid up half their Fleet in Harbour upon the loss of their Plate-Fleet which they pretended was the King of Spains but really was theirs they appear before Dover with 70 men of War and 10 Fire-ships forcing Blake with but 42 men of War and them ill manned and worse commanded to engage to an unavoidable loss Which yet was quickly recompensed when withdrawing to the Harbour and in spight of the Hollanders industry to hinder all Nations from bringing any Tar Pitch or Masts into England equipping 80 sail against the 18th day of Feb. 1653 upon which day the Dutch Fleet in number about 80 sail with an 150 Merchant ships from Rovan Nants and Bourdeaux were discovered between the Isle of Wight and Portland and about 8 in the morning the Headmost of the Enlish Fleet came up and engaged them I mean the Triumph wherein Blake and Dean were with 3 or 4 more the rest not being able to get up holding 30 Dutch ships in play till two a clock in the afternoon when half the Fleet came up and fought the Hollanders till night And next morning Feb. 17 chased them to the Leeward having 60 Merchants and 9 men of War in our hands and 2000 men dead on the shore insomuch that the Hogens intreat a Peace by a new Embassador the Lord Paw and their Merchants are forced the long and perillous Voyage round the North by Ireland and Scotland and before Norway as did the Rochel and East-India Fleet that belonged to the Baltick Sea not daring else to stir out of the Flye For though the Spanish the Italian the Levant and Indian Merchants 145 sail in number attended by 90 men of War for their Convoy yet the English Fleet consisting only of 65 men of War being at Anchor on the South side of the Gober discovering them about two Leagues to Leeward being about 100 sail together weighed and bore sail to them with so furious a charge that night and next morning that they tore quite away as fast as they could only the wind freshing Westward The English bore in so hard among them that 12 of our men of War sunk 6 of theirs and had done the whole Fleet had not night surprized them so near the Godwyn-sands where the Dutch decoyed them that they were forced to weigh Anchor while the shattered Dutch got into the Texel the Wieling and the Flye the English resolving to pursue them to their own Coast as near as they durst where they took Prizes in a manner every day and as it were blocked them up Till beating up Drums first in their own name and when the people fell to a Tumult at Enchuysen because it was not in the Princes name in the young Prince of Orange his name they reinforced another Fleet pro aris for is to relieve their Coasts and themselves both imprisoned by an English Power quartering a great Body of Horse in the mean time for fear they should land and sending four Commissioners to England with most humble Propositions of Peace During which Treaty July 27 the English Scouts discovered a Dutch Fleet from the Wiâ—lings of about 75 men of War Upon notice whereof the English Fleet made what sail they could after them which the Dutch discerning stood away yet by five a clock that evening were Engaged by 30 English Frigats so resolutely that they sent away some torn ships in the night and stole themselves too undiscerned by the English into a designed conjunction with 25 sail of stout men they expected out of the Texel with whom they fell furiously on the English next morning When after some success against the Garland the Triumph and the Andrew by their Fire ships they observing the declining of their fortune bore away towards the Texel whither the English durst not follow them for fear a cross wind should meet with them at that shore where they saw the Dutch led to Harbour having lost their Admiral Vaâ— Tromp thirty men of War and 6000 men A defeat that set the Hague Alchmuer and many other places in Holland in an up roar and being added to their loss of seven Braziel ships on Calice Road taken by Captain Reynolds Moullon and Cranâ—ley and of Braziel it self recovered during this War by the Portugez The taking of 9 ships upon the coast of France by Captain Pack Wright and Jordan in spight of the French Protection The jealousies between Van Tromp and De Witt since the first knock on the Godwyn-sands after their ranting in one Pamphlet of their Lyon and his Prey in another of Englands being possessed with a Devil and in a third That Hollanders are Angels a Dutch man in his double Jugg proportion with a box of Butter in the one hand and a pickled Herring in the other is a Pretty Cherubim and English men Devils Notwithstanding their Threats of combining with the World against us that brought them on their knees in reiterated Messages of Peace not scrupling the perliminary Points of satisfaction formerly so much boggled at in former Treaties And shall these unhappy people that were baffled by a poor Remnant of a Rebellion undertake the Generous Honestâ— and full Power of a Monarchy That they who withstood not the distracted ambition of a few Out-lawes that were almost lost in the pursuit of other mens Estates and Powers presume against the settled authority of a Prince whose onely business is to preserve his own who frights none and is afraid of none having no Enemies because owning no undoing thought against any but such for whose ruine a true and satisfactory Reason may be given to the World In vain do they vapour against a Nation whose Government is fixed since they fell before it when it was loose alteration of Interests was their Hope then the sixedness of it must be their Fear now Then they had to do with many Factions now with one Interest Then with a Power that mistrusted it self whence they knew how to â—â—jole the Council of State against a Parliament as