ungodly unjust and full of tyranny the most part that were sent over thither being broken Merchants lost and undone men Roagues and Whores who must make their fortunes by the Portugal made the Portugal dispair of ever being well ruled by such a Rabble and caused them to revolt against the Hollander having most just cause so to do And it is not to be omitted how justly God hath punished the West Indie Company in Holland who are brought to nothing and what supplies soever to their infinite great charges have been sent thither they have either miscarried been beaten or lost one way or other And the places aforesaid taken from the Portugal by treachery are in the Portugals hands again so that God seems to have blown upon that Company and Design The Portugal Ambassador could never obtain any satisfaction or so much as reason from the Hollanders for what they had done My third Instance shall be Sweden According to the Treaty between the King of Denmark and the Emperor Charles the Fifth as Earl of Holland and Zealand made at Splers 1554. and according to the ancient custome the Dutch were to pass the Sound onely paying a Rosenoble the ships being then never known to be visited or searched and this was paid because of the Lights Tuns and marks at sea preserved by the King of Denmark which Treaty after the separation of the United Provinces from Spain the King of Denmark observed not making what rules and exactions he pleased breaking them when he would searching the ships also through which many came to be confiscated for having contraband goods or any commodities that they gave not account of to his Officers in the Sound and as the Dutch were strong or weak in their Convoyes the Customes or Toll was increased or diminished and sometimes they past free the Swede alwaies The Dutch being no longer able to controle the King of Denmark being the onely King at Peace then in Europe they send three Ambassadors to the King of Sweden who at the onely request of the States General made a League of Allyance with the said States in the same year and confirmed it again in the year 1645. being by them called a League Guarantie purposely to keep the Dane in awe being besides the League of Commerce The Queen of Sweden in the year 1643 and 1644. entred Denmark and made war against it The Dutch according to their League which was to assist one another in case the Dane should assault either of them with 4000 men or ships to the proportion of the charge of so many men sent relief to the Queen of Sweden or rather 50 ships into the Sound and at the same time an Ambassy viz Schaep Zoneck Andree to let the Dane know si tu non vis hic faciet The Dane not knowing how to turn himself in dealing with them both entred into a Treaty as well with Sweden as the States of the United Provinces The Queen of Sweden had full satisfaction given her but the States of Holland by reason of the practise of the Prince of Orange who was allyed to the King of Denmark by his marriage of the King of Englands daughter could not obtain their full liberty for their passage of their ships through the Sound nor have the Treaty of Spiers made good to them though the Queen of Sweden advised them to stand to the Treaty of Spiers and she would maintain them in it yet they obtained a reasonable rate and that their ships should not be visited shewing their Passes from the Admiralty and by word of mouth telling what they had in their ships with which the Dane was forced to be content and never could afterward cause the Dutch ships to be visited whereby the Hollander had a great advantage and paid no more then he had a minde unto The King of Denmark being by this means brought somewhat low and the Queen of Sweden high having made peace with him and the Emperor Vlefelt an Ingenuous man and able to raise and restore the Kingdom of Denmark gave the Dunish King direction that henceforth instead of curbing and slighting the Hollander he should court and cajole them by giving them hopes of gain and profit whereupon the King of Denmark honoured the four Earls of Nassaw the Rheynegrave and the Lord of Bredero with the order of the Elephant Vlefelt going to Holland about this Errand courted them much represented how formidable Sweden was and that they did endeavour to undoe their trade in the East Sea though there was little likelyhood of this in regard the Hollanders were great husbands and managers of their affairs and by their money had known how to set forth Monopolies Sweden having little trade in comparison But notwithstanding all the foresaid respect and love of the Queen of Sweden in entring into a League Defensive against Denmark on the Hollanders score and at their request as aforesaid whereby the States had their oportunity of making their tearms of advantage for the Sound as aforesaid She wishing them to stand to the Treaty of Spiers and she would mrintain them and contrary to the League Guarantie wherein the States General are bound to assist the Swede against the Dane with 4000. men ships proportionable to that charge and to maintain the Queen of Sweden free of the Sound so far as those men or proportions would reach she being then free of the Sound and the League of Commerce the said States General in the years 1649. and 1651. have made and concluded a League Defensive and a Treaty of Redemption with the King of Denmark by which the Dutch are obliged to assist the King of Denmark against Sweden or any other Prince or State so far as 4000 men or their proportionable charge in Shipping will extend and whereas the Queen was before free from paying of Toll she must pay the old Toll if she trade that way to Holland the Dutch having hired the Sound for some certain years of the Dane at 140000 Pattacoons or Dollors per annum as aforesaid and is engaged during that time to let it to none other at that rate all this expresly against their Leagues with Sweden in the years 1640 and 1645. wherein they promise Sweden the same thing Ex quibuscunque causis bello involvatur Of which the Swedish Ministers have made several complaints to the States Generall I shall add no more but what our own experience of their carriage to England doth afford us and that onely in a few words leaving the full disquisition thereof and of their carriage horrible cruelties in the East Indies chiefly under Coene as extortions imprisonment killing c. upon the innocent inhabitants besides the English to some other Pen it being so well known to us whom this concerns and I having been necessarily so large already in other particulars What England hath been to them and how they have requited it is afore discoursed Many complaints were made against
was their due and what was forced from him that concern'd their Liberty and that he might recover all that the People of England had got of their own of him and his Predecessors at once by the Sword he set up his Standard at Nottingham bidding thereby defiance to the Parliament and the Laws of England whereupon the flames of War broke forth in every part and nothing but the levying of Arms and the sad calamities of War abounded in all parts of this Nation When the Parliament were thus enforced to wrastle with the powers of the King the Malignity and opposition of most of the Nobility and Gentry the whole Prelaticall and Atheisticall party the Court and Monopoly Dependants the name of a King which had then some awe amongst the people the Treachery and apostacy of many of their Members and Officers in Civil and Military Imployments The War of Ireland and the Powers of forraign Kingdoms who in point of Interest might be expected to ingage against them and that through the blood of the People and the hazards of War they were constrained to proceed for the obtaining of that Liberty which the King was in duty to have preserved From whom could they expect any affections but from the Dutch who in point of Interest being themselves a Commonwealth but even now torne out of the Jawes of Monarchy through a sea of Blood and millions of Treasure In point of preservation we being the Generations of those who took their Cause out of the dust and set it in the Throne and who ballanced always the late Kings envy and malice to that State themselves also having the designes of the Prince of Orange in their own Bowels working up towards the height of that Tyranny which the Enemies sword would have set up in England And in point of gratitude to those people who had chosen the Neatherlanders before their own safety in theirs and the Neatherlanders greatest times of danger were so deeply engaged One would think that their affections their bowels their money their force and their very souls should have been ready to be powred out for the Parliament whom God made formerly the very Instruments of their beeing and upon whom they might write the Foundation under God of their Prosperity at least that they should not maligne their Cause or advantage their Enemy But instead thereof their Envy to our Nation Malignity to our Cause assistance to our Enemy affronts and scorns to us and our friends in the day of our calamity have exceeded Shall I say any nay all our neighbours round about they became our enemies Treasury for Money their Magazine for Armes and Ammunition their Arsenall for Artillery and warlick provisions both by Sea and Land their refuge and shelter their place for counsell and advice and no doubt had publickly asserted our enemies interest had not the consideration of their great advantage in getting the Trade and Riches of England into their hands by our wars perswaded a seeming Newtrality Nor did these things satisfie them as if they thought they could never shew respect enough to our enemies and enmity to us Borrel and Raynswoold their Ambassadors in the year 1645. coming into England upon pretence of recōciling our differences besides other disservices in the then House of Commons assigned the Justice of the quarrel on the Kings side an unparaleld affront and every way unfit to be given by any especially by Forreigne States who were not concerned in our civill differences and which the Lords and Commons in Parliament then took notice of in their Declaration to the States Generall of those Provinces Afterwards Mr. Strickland our Agent had the Door of the States Generall shut against him for the space of about one year and a halfe and never admitted audience though at the same time Macdowell Agent for the King of Scots had admittance to whom when Dr. Dorislans was added he was assassinated in their Provinces and to this day not so much as a Warrant sent forth by the States General for the apprehending of those murtherers nor have they proscribed them their Dominions nor any thing done by them whereby their abhorrency of the Murther of a publick Minister might appear Nor have things rested here but when the Lord Saint Joh◠and Mr. Strickland were lately sent over Ambassadors after the death of the Prince of Orange upon whom as a cause some of the former injuries against us were laid how were they affronted and endeavoured to be mischieved by Prince Edward who called them Doggs to their faces and Apsley who designed to strangle the Lord Saint John in his chamber to say nothing of all the abuses attempted upon them by the ungoverned multitude on their followers and the assaults on their houses and though they were some days in their power after complaints and demands of justice made yet were not secured and brought to justice or proscribed to this day which being added to the former affronts and injuries and the delayes in the treaty though it provoked not the Parliament to a demand of present reparation so tender have they alwayes been of a breach with them yet they so ill resented it that it was one reason wherefore they recalled those Ambassadors It will be too long to reckon up the severall supplies of Officers Souldiers Arms Ammunition Artillery Money Ships and Provisions that have been issued from those Countries for the assistance of the late King and the then King of Scots his son in their warres against the Parliament of England in England Scotland and Ireland particularly the 20000 Arms 26 Field Guns and 250 Barrels of powder shipt aboard two ships at Amsterdam for England when the King of Scots was lately at Worcester with his Army and at the said Kings desire Likewise the many intollerable injuries depredations and Murthers committed on severall of the English Nation as in the case of Amboyna sufficiently known to the world which was perpetrated even when the people were alive that saw what the English had done for them in the dayes of Queen Elizabeth and soon after a solemn Treaty and Agreement made of all differences between the Nations in those parts The many high Insolencies and affronts given this Nation at Sea in dragging the Colours of England under the Sterns of their ships after they had most injuriously taken their ships and goods from them and caneing the Seamen for being as they call'd it against their King some of this practised on severall English but the last Summer and the robbing of the English Merchants of their ships and goods at Sea to very great values Such things being fitter for a Volume then a few sheets of paper It will take up too much time also to particularize their late securing our ships and goods severall times that were within their coasts there being no cause given by us for such proceedings The marching of their Forces to their frontier Towns beating up of Drums for
a conclusion of a strict Union gives us just ground so to understand them and we wish that the serious reflects on what their carriage hath been to other States in this particular mentioned in the later end of this discourse at large besides our own experience to say no more gave us not fair warning how we trust those who when they speak of Peace have War in their hearts If their former ill Offices to this State had been reflected on as they did deserve there would have been occasion enough wherefore this State should have refused any treaty with them til satisfaction had been first given and security But notwithstanding all the Parliament hoping that their own former actions had reproved them and being willing to take all opportunities to continue friendship between them and us as they had alwayes done heretofore past over all other considerations and having given their Ambassadors honorable and friendly Entertainment ordered the Councel of State to treat with them in which there was an uninterrupted proceeding till by the late hostile assault of our Navy by Van Trump themselves cut the Cords thereof and gave us to understand what dealing we were to expect at their hands Notwithstanding when a little after the said assault the Lord Pauw came over to England as an extraordinary Ambassador pretending that he had full power to accommodate all things The Parliament gave his Lordship honorable Entertainment and the Councell of State notwithstanding their other great occasions were rather before hand then otherwise in the management of the Treaty desiring if it might have been rather an accommodation then a warre Yet during the space of almost three weeks the time that he was here he neither agreed with the Parliament in the matter of Fact of the late Assault nor proposed any thing in way of satisfaction nor in compliance with that one Demand of the Parliament viz. To have satisfaction for their extraordinary charge they had been put to by their late Preparations and Assault Nor produced full power to conclude what should be agreed upon But desired that the matter of the Assault might be past over or put into examination And that there might be a cessation of Arms whilst those things were treated on though when the Spanish Plenipotentiaries at Munster did earnestly desire a cessation of acts of Hostility both by Sea and Land whilst the late Treaty was at Munster The States Plenipotentiaries particularly the Lord Pauw himselfe answered That it was not usuall for States to make any Cessation of Arms during a Treaty and was utterly against it Though that cessation was desired by the King of Spain whose Government the States had shaken off and the war was on that Foot And the cessation which the Lord Pauw desired of us was in the name of that State whose Navy in the time of Amity and Treaty had endeavoured to have surprized our Fleet at our doors And when he heard that our Fleet was set sail June 26. It staying in the Downs all that time he had been here expecting what conclusion should be made the next day he desired a Passe and safe convoy for himselfe and the rest of the Lords States Ambassadors because as he said a cessation of Armes was not granted though the Parliament put the cessation onely upon the paying or giving them security for the extraordinary charge they had been put to by them as aforesaid as the Parliament Declaration mentions at large And having taken their leave of the Parliament on the Wednesday after they departed towards Gravesend and so for Holland Now let all Europe judge between us and the Neatherlanders what could we have done more for them then we have done or hath any Nation done so much for a Forraign people The Loan of hundreds of thousand pounds the Blood of thousands of English men Love Tenderness Bowels Affections the Espousing their Quarrels undertaking their Protection when they were at the lowest and like to be swallowed up quick even then when our outward condition was seemingly weak being newly come out of Papacy torne with intestine tumults engaged in War with other Nations govern'd chiefly by a Woman and all this when no tye of League or Friendship required any such thing or former Civilities This hath been the dealing of England towards them not for a year but for a score of years not with the affections of Friends only but with the love of Brethren not for our advantage to give Law to them possess their Towns and Riches or to add them to the Territories of England but to enable them to give Law in their own Borders to possess their Habitations and Estates in safety and to make them not only distinct from their Enemie but entire strong and absolute in their own Jurisdiction we picked no Quarrels or made pretences to keep their Cautionary Towns no we delivered them though all our money is not paid to this very day We made not our selves a third party to serve our selves upon them or have we joyned with their Enemie We envied not their Prosperity or Riches but rejoyced in their good condition We wished not them broken that we might be replenished nor hath so much as a thought to destroy them come into our hearts we have not beat the Drum or sounded first the Alarm of War to them or made the first preparations thereunto though we have been thus ill requited by them for all our Love Money our powring forth of our Blood for them and hazarding thereby our own beeing though we have been thus maligned and hated even beyond the measure of the Cavaliers hatred Envy and Malignity Thus endeavoured with the exercise of our Religion Lives Liberties Wives Children Estates and all that 's pretious and dear to us in the world to be delivered into the bloudy power of that Tyrannicall King who had wanted not a will to betray even themselves to the Spaniard as he did those Nobles of Flanders who had sent to him for protection and whose heads the King of Spain cut off Thus affronted in Parliament by their Ambassadors in the year 1645. who to their faces gave the Justice on the Kings side Thus shut out of dores when our Agent Strickland could not have audience with the States General though he waited for it a year and a half Thus murthered barbarously when our Resident Dorislaus was assassinated in their Territories Thus scorned abused and assaulted by the uncommanded Rabble cursed by Prince Edward to our Ambassadors faces and designed to be strangled by that vile Apsley when our Ambassadors were last there And this notwithstanding all our former Injuries we were treating with them for a more strict Union Thus slighted in that slow Treaty to no purpose and the plain Declaration of their looking for a Scotch line to measure our Ruins before they would measure our Peace Thus tortur'd and barbariz'd in those of Amboyna kick'd out of dores in being dispossest of those Islands
contrary to League and Agreement Plundred and robb'd in the taking of our ships and goods that traded that way and to other places to great values Trod underfoot in their disgracefull dragging our English Colours after their Sterns when they had robb'd our ships Thus dared by the Commonaltie beyond measure in their belching out of Oaths Curses Slanders and by their Masters in preparing Fleets to infest our Coasts beating up of Drums for Voluntiers and endeavoured to be destroyed in Trump's late assaulting our Fleet in the time of Treaty and whilst there was Amity between us Greater Love and Assistance then by the English to them hath not been shown to a People Never was love so ill requited and abused never was patience so much provoked nor ever had people a juster ground to look them in the face in case of Engagement which they have now forced the righteous God will judge between them and us The People and Cause of God in this Nation is Holynesse to the Lord All that devour it shall offend Evill shall come upon them Scotland hath found it so with a witness Even the People of God amongst them who endeavoured its destruction Ireland is yet paying dear for it and upon France are the Vials powring out those of our own Nation that assisted this Cause in the beginning and were eminent therein in Godliness and honesty falling upon this stone afterwards have been broken in pieces so tender hath it been in the sight of God Even as the apple of his Eye Oh thou Belgia what will become of thee in the day when thy rage thy cruelty they malice thy scorne thy ingratitude thy opposition to this hallowed thing shall come into remembrance and is not that day already begun When every crying a aha every b clapping of thy hands every stamping with thy feet Every rejoycing in thy heart with despight every of thy taking c vengeance and revenge for the old hatred every of thy saying she is d broken she is turned unto me I shall be replenished she is laid waste Every of thy taking them up on the e Lips of talkers and making them the infamy of the People Every of thy f Blasphemies in saying they are laid waste they are given us to consume g when as the Lord was there Every of their h Reproaches and Revilings shall be remembred and carry with it a weight of vengeance for Recompence Every i evil neighbour will be visited in the day that God doth k avenge the Controversie of his Cause what then will become of you that have done more against it then all the ill Neighbours He hath begun it already the Kings and great ones of England Scotland and Ireland have drunk deeply of the l Cup they are become a desolation and their Cities shall not return The People have wallowed in their blood have m cursed their God and their King and looked upwards Even Godly men that have walked in this n craoked Path God hath led them forth with the workers of Iniquity God hath been o jealous for it with a great jealousie and out of the p mouth of the Lyon and the jaw of the mighty hath he pluck'd it and set it up on q high He hath lift up his r Banner upon it and advanced it as a Å¿ signe to the Kingdoms of the Earth whoever will not bow down unto it we may rationally expect according to the precedent series of divine Providence must be broken in pieces And who are you oh yeNeatherlanders that dare to set your selves against the Lord against what he hath done and is doing in these Nations to endeavour to strike out all the glorious Characters of his footsteps and presence what his Arm hath brought to pass for him and his mighty Power establish'd in these Dominions Who are you that dare to think that you can root out this Cause and give the lye to all the appearances of God the Prayer the Faith the Prayses of his Saints in these Nations Who are you that say their t Gods are Gods of the Hills therefore we will fight with them in the Valleys They stood against their own Forces but they shall not against ours The Land is given them in possession but the deep is ours and we will swallow them up as in the belly of Hell Our God is the same and so is our Cause on the Sea as well as the Land Spain found it so in the year 1588. and All others have since our late Wars and Troubles Take heed least Divine Power work revengeingly there as it hath begun upon you already and burie your Carcasses in the mighty waters and take heed least that though we would pass by yet God will not pardon what you have done against his Cause and us What is it that hath turned your hearts against your friends and set you to so ill requite their Love their bloud their hardships for you What is it that hath made you to affect and assist that cursed thing of Monarchy in these Nations which you before us saw to be a Plague and adventured your All to be rid of it and which hath confounded all its supporters and which God hath made to appear to be an accursed thing as clear as the Sun at noon day What is it that makes you retrograde to your Principles of a Free State that having known the benefit of Freedom through the Bloud of England you should endeavour the slavery of England Why should you be angry that we stand upon our Legs and honestly proceed to serve the advantage of our impoverish'd Countery and to improve what God in nature Providence and by the dreadfulness of War hath handed to us Why should you covet our Trade and Riches and not rather be contented with what God gives you though it were with a sparing hand Why should you rather delight to see us in our Blood our Cities and Habitations laid waste Our Bodies Wives Virgins prostituted to the mercy of the Bloody Enemies of God and us and rather then fail endeavour it with your own hands then that you should be disappointed of the sweetness of that gain you got by our Losses and Ruines Why should you be grieved at the heart that you did not fully assert the King of Scots interest when as you see God is against him and against his bloudy House And the Lord knows how much you are under vengeance for what you have done for him already Would you be thus measured to your selves Doe you think that the Cause here which hath in its weakest condition born down all before it like a mighty Torrent will not quit it self against your unrighteous Attempts Think you that this State who to do their People Right have not spared King nor Constitution Friend or Brother but have travelled through ten years bloudy Wars waiting upon God for such a day as this Even
June 1630. between Monsieur de Beangy Ambassador of the King of France and the Commissioners of the Lords States of the United Provinces and ratified to continue for the space of seven years being occasioned by several offers of the King of France both of men and money in case the Dutch should continue the War with Spain and not to make a Peace or Truce without the consent of the King of France viz. 1 A million of Livers to the Dutch yearly whilst it continued as aforesaid 2 That in case he came to break with Spain he would enter the Low-Countries with a powerful Army which the Dutch should reinforce with 10000. Foot and 1500. Horse and should make on their side a powerful onset on the place agreed on with 30000. Foot and 4000. Horse 3. That if good Considerations move the States to continue the war that he would give them a greater sum of money then a million as long as the war should last The Lords Commissioners of the States in answer proposed that the King of France should break with Spain and fall into the Country of Artois and Henault with 40000 men and that they would then fall upon him with all the power they could make That till such time that as the King of France did fall into open war into Artois c. the Lords States should be free to make a Truce or Peace with Spain but after they are joyntly entred into a war neither shall make Peace or Truce without they other That if the Lords States shall not think fit to yeeld to a Peace with Spain the King of France shall give them two millions French money to be paid at London or Venice But the States having a minde to continue war with Spain struck up immediately into an Alliance as aforesaid Notwitstanding which the States did endeavour to make a Peace or Truce with Spain and the States of Flanders without the advice or consent of France as appears by several passages of the underhand dealing of the Dutch with the Spaniards in a Complaint made by the French Ambassador to the States It is true this Treaty with the Spaniard took no effect because they could not get their ends of the Spaniard and the State of Flanders though they had been contriving to make a Peace with Spain two years together When the said Treaty was broken off the States of the United Provinces began presently to treat with Monsieur Charnasse Ambassador for France about a League Offensive and Defensive which though the Province of Holland liked not because being rid of the Spaniard they expected the French as a more powerful Enemy and therefore protested against it yet that prevailed not but at the Hague April 15. 1634. an Offensive and Defensive League was concluded on wherein no Peace was to be made with Spain entring upon war conjoyntly And that the present Treaty shall no waies prejudice that which was made the 17th of June 1630. but to remain in full force and power in all things And this Treaty was made for the space of seven years to begin from the day agreed on as also the preceding Treaty of the year 1630. shall continue for the time that is therein agreed on and that this Treaty shal be renewed at the end of seven years if both parties were willing to it as by the 6 7 and 10th Article of the said Treaty doth appear Signed and sealed by Charnasse and the Lords Commissioners of the States In the year 1635. February 8. A League Offensive and Defensive was concluded and ratified by Lewis the 13th and the States General of the United Provinces where the ninth Article saith expresly That in case after the signing sealing and ratifying of this Treaty for a breach with Spain either Party should come to make a Peace Truce or Suspension of Arms that then this shall not be done but by a conjoynt consent of the King of France and the Lords States of the Vnited Provinces likewise both Parties are obliged to break conjoyntly and to enter into a War against the Spaniards and their Adherents as often as they happen to break or to violate any of the Conditions agreed on in the Treaty of Peace or Truce which shall be made without which neither Party can afterwards make any new Treaty of Peace or Truce then conjoyntly or by common consent conditionally that if it come to be violated his Majesty and the Lords Estates shall enter conjoyntly into open war against those that are the brekers thereof An in the 14. Article it is agreed on both sides That this present Treaty shall no waies derogate from any thing that was agreed on in the former Treaties of the 15. April 1634. maâ—e at the Hague which shall remain in full power and entire to be executed in all points Presently after this Treaty both Armies joyned hard by Maestricht and took Tienen and besieged Loven and the State lost Schenchen Schans to recover which both Armies came and incamped and it was retook afterwards by the Dutch Notwithstanding all this presently after the ratifying of this solemn Treaty and that the war was already begun with Spain and the French had entred into it partly for their sakes there were more Overtures made by the Spanish side concerning a Peace with the Dutch who presently began to enquire after them so far as that the Prince of Orange and the States General sent their Atturney General Musch to Craneberg to speak with Don MartÃn Axpe Secretary to the King of Spain about it and this without the consent of the French who coming there found that this Secretary had no sufficient procuration from the King to Treat besides the Spaniards were too strange and exorbitant in their demands that there was no hope of gaining any thing whereupon Musch returns and makes report of it to the Prince of Orange and the States General whereupon this Treaty was broken and the war carried on very fiercely but the Dutch would never confess any of this to the French Ambassador Charnasse when he told them of it but denied it saying there was no such thing and this was told the Lord Pauw who presently after went Ambassador into France by the King of France who likewise denied it there the King told him plainly That these secret proceedings did contradict their solemn Treaty and how much it did differ from the justice his Majesty had used towards them The Dutch to excuse themselves said That they had communicated it to Charnasse but it was after they had notice given them that their design would not take and that the Spaniard stood too much on Tipto This League Offensive and Defensive concluded in the year 1635. was renewed in the year 1636. where in the tenth Article it is expresly set down that this present Treaty shall no waies derogate from the former Treaties made beween the King of France and the said States dated at the Hagne September 6. 1636.
In the year 1637 there was another Treaty where the 7th Article saith that it shall not derogate from the former Treaties but shall all remain in force and vigour to be Religiously observed and effected on both sides In the year 1639 where in the 7th Article it is expressed that it shall no ways derogate from the things concluded on in the former Treaties but shall remain in their full force and vigour to be religiously kept on both sides Made at St Germains 26 April 1639. Nevertheless the Dutch Treat again with the Spaniard whereupon in the year 1640. Monsieur de la Thuillerie was sent Ambassador into Holland to let the States know that they could not conclude a Peace with Spain but conjoyntly His Commission being to hinder a Peace or Truce without France to tell them that they were not capable to make a Peace or Truce without his consent that it would be quite contrary to their Treaties Honour and Interest and that if he perceived any such inclination in them to protest against them for breach of Leagues and Covenants Whereupon in the year 1641 was made another Treaty the 6 Article of which saith that it shall no ways derogate from any thing that hath been formerly agreed on all which shall remain in their full force and vigour to de Religiously observed on both sides Made at Paris Feb. 14. 1641. In the year 1642. there was another Treaty made where in the 6th Article you have the same as is mentioned before in the sixt Article 1641. made at St Germains Jan. 7. 1642. In the year 1643 there was another Treaty in the sixt Article of which is expresly set down as in the forementioned 1642. made at Paris March 3 1643. The King hapning to die in May following his son Lewis 14th succeeding him this Treaty was reconfirmed by him August 30. 1643. In this year 1643 the Lords States of Holland began to consult of sending to Munster to treat of a Peace with Spain without the consent of France at which the other States were offended and Monsieur de la Thuillerie was no ways backward to perswade them from making a Peace but pari passu according to the Treaties Therefore whilst the Lords States were busie in sending Plenipotentiaries to Munster there was a Treaty made in the year 1644. called Ligue Guarantie In the third Article of which Treaty are expresly the words of the ninth Article of the Treaty made with Lewis thirteenth and the sixth Article saith that this Treaty shall no ways derogate from any thing that hath been concluded on in former Treaties which are to be vigorously and religiously observed by both parties made at the Hague March 1. 1644. and the 1 2 3 4 6 7. Articles speak expresly that no Peace shall be made directly or indirectly without the consent of both in very full and Emphaticall expressions which I forbear to mention because of brevity In the year 1645. another Treaty was made for the carrying on of the War conjoyntly and not to make any peace without the consent of each other abrogating nothing that concern'd former Treaties but all those things remaining in full force and vertue The King of France understanding that the States of the United Provinces were resolved to make a Peace with Spain in the year 1646. offered the Dutch a greater summ of mony and more men then ever was agreed on formerly in case the Dutch would stick to their Treatie of Ligue guarantie in the year 1644. and that neither party should make peace without the consent of the other conformable to these Articles 1. That the King should assist during that year the States General with 1200000 livers for no other use then to maintain an extraordinary supply of Souldiers whereupon the States do promise faithfully and Religiously to assault their Enemies with all their force and power 2. That the King of France shall give assignations for the said money to be paid all of it before the end of October following 3. In consideration whereof the States do oblige themselves to raise a strong Army and to bring them in the field and to make some considerable enterprize the King of France also promiseth the same in the Low Countreys to disadvantage his enemies as much as lyes in his power 5. This Treaty shall no ways derogate from the former Treaties which shall be faithfully and religiously observed and effected Signed and Sealed at Paris April 6. 1646. In explanation of the third Article the King of France was to bring an Army into the field of 18 or 20000 foot and 4 or 5000 horse by the fourth of May following The States obliged to set to sea 30 men of war of 2 3 4 and 500 tuns to hinder the enemy from entring into Flanders by Sea and to invest such Towns by sea as the King of France shall besiege by land hindring relief to such Towns either from the King of Spain or any other also to keep their Armie in the field so long as the good of the common Cause shall require it and the season of the year will permit According hereunto both armies drew into the field but the Dutch held the French in suspence appearing well in the field with their armie but when they were desired to undertake some notable Enterprize they put the French off with delays of which the French King complains but to little purpose for not long after the Dutch begin to treat with the Spaniard without the consent or advise of the French which was chiefly set on by Holland Then comes the Marquiss de Castel Rodrigo from Brussels to the States with a full power to treat the same was confirmed from Munster the Earl Penneranda sends word of it by his Secretary to the States Ambassadors at Munster and Monsieur Le Brun the King of Spains Ambassador came personally to the Hagte and shewed the Originall Copie of the said power to the States dated June 7. This stir'd up many to conclude the Peace suddenly The French Ambassador made several complaints hereof to the States also that the Catholick Religion was not permitted at Hulst according to the Treaty in the year 1635. desired their resolution in writing for the tolleration of the Catholick Religion in those Towns that should be taken that Summer Then Monsieur le Thuillerie went to Breda to consult about marching of the armies which was carried on but coldly though there seemed great advantage to offer it self and all likelyhood to carry Antwerp which France urged very much The Prince of Orange replyed That they had not men enough secondly he knew not in case the Town should be taken how to satisfie France in point of Religion France willing to give them any content thereby to take them off from making Peace with Spain freely offered them a supernumerarie of 3000 horse provided that upon reducement of Antwerp the Catholique Religion might there be tolerated Signed D' Estrades at Breda
June 22. The Lords Commissioners accepted with all humble acknowledgement the tender of 3000 Horse but withal desired the loan of 3000 Foot June 29 following The Duke of Orleans by Captain Remond sent this answer wherein he granted their desire both of 3000 Horse and 3000 Foot provided that the Catholick Religion be allowed as aforesaid Made at Breda July 4. 1646. Signed Remond Whereupon the Lords Commissioners promised to the King of France and Queen Regent that the Town of Antwerp falling into their hands they would leave there the exercise of the Catholick Religion free and publick Made at Breda the 11 July 1646. and signed by the Commissioners and in explication of the said agreement the Churches left for that purpose shall be four But that it may appear not onely how the Dutch did one while Treat with the French and make a shew of Friendship and that they would not break their Leagues with the French yet did deal under-hand with the Spaniard for the conclusion of a Peace as I have shewed already I shall now shew you how unhandsomely they served the French after the grant of these supplies and how they might have taken Antwerp if they had pleased Upon the ratification of the former things the Army of the Prince of Orange advanceth towards Antwerp and he was with his Army the 26 of July at Stechen then at Loqueren the French Supplies came according to Promise Teemche Castle lying by the Schelde beyond Antwerp was taken in the people of Antwerp did as good as offer up the Town to the Prince of Orange The French in the mean time had taken Dunkerk Antwerp would have followed with ease But the Prince of Orange left Teemche Castle assoon as he had taken it though that was the time to have taken Antwerp and never besieged or assaulted the said Town but the design thereof soon vanisht and the 6000 Auxiliaries not made use of to the great discontent and dammage of the French who by sparing such a number were disinabled to undertake any considerable thing that Summer and to the ruine of the poor Protestants there as I said before and the Treaty of Munster with the Spaniard went on without the notice or consent of the French And the French Ambassador told the States that some of the State-Plenipotentiaries at Munster had been with the Spanish Plenipotentiaries and assured them that although the Army of the States General should march into the field yet they should only lie still and effect nothing to the prejudice of the Spaniards Also the French Ambassadors shewed the States several Letters which they had received from France making mention of some Letters intercepted of Pennerandas wherein â—ee writes That the Peace was agreed on without having any regard to the French Interest which was not so much as named by the Dutch and though the other Provinces should hee against it yet because Holland was for it they would soon bring the other Provinces to a compliance as it did appear afterwards But to proceed the War being carried on against the Spaniard conjointly from the year 1635. to the year 1647. It brought the King of Spain very low Who thereupon sent his Ambassadors The Lords Conde De Penneranda and A Brun to sollicit the Dutch to a Treaty of peace who notwithstanding all the forementioned Leagues and Treaties to be faithfully and religiously kept that no Peace or Truce should be made with Spain without the consent of both parties having entred into a Ligue Guarrantie several times for that purpose the French being thereby deeply engaged against the Spaniard and having begun these Allyances and War upon the desire of the Dutch yet they entred upon a Treaty of Peace without the consent of the French and notwithstanding the several speeches of the French Ambassadors the Letters of the King and at last the Ambassadors Protest the 30 Januar 1648. A Peace was signed sealed and ratified at Munster between Philip 4. of Spain and the States of the United Provinces I shall only give you a touch of the proceeds of the French Ambassadors with the States during this Treaty and the States to him and so conclude this long yet necessary and pertinent story The States General having taken their final resolution for a Treaty of peace with Spain Monsieur de Thuillerie theFrench Ambassador Extraordinary the 15 November 1647 presented a paper to the said States wherein hee told them That he understood that they were upon the point to send their Plenipotentiaries to Munster to conclude their Negotiation with Spain and that nothing was wanting to be done but signing that he thought it convenient to minde them that hee had spoken with them concerning the reciprocal obligations that were between France and them which invited them to stand firm to what hath been formerly agreed upon to which he had received no answer it being requisite that hee should have one to give to the King and Queen Regent that they might give their Plenipotentiaries advice at Munster what they may expect especially since that at that time the Spaniard flattered himself of the hope he had to separate that State from the Crown of France Therefore he desired them earnestly to consider what had been formerly agreed on between them and that he had good hope of their great wisdome and wonted loyalty not to send their Plenipotentiaries to Munster otherwise then with Orders conformable to those obligations aforesaid and the Ancient friendship they had alwayes with France Hague 15 Novemb. 1647. Signed De la Thuillerie The States resolution being once for all confirmed they answered this Paper with silence The Heer Van Nederhorst was the only man of the Plenipotentiaries that scrupled the signing of the said Treaty and his reason was because their League and Covenants with the French King were not yet abrogated and that Oath of Agreement by which they were tyed to him not yet taken away who being one of the Plenipotentiaries feigning himself not well desired leave of the States for his healths sake to come home but the true cause why he desired to come away was to avoid signing it being against his Conscience for the reasons aforesaid The King of France understanding that the Treaty between the Spaniard and the Dutch was agreed on and signed sent a Letter to the States dated 14 Februar 1648. wherein hee tells them That he had heard with the greatest admiration what had past at Munster the 30 Januar. where the greatest part of their Ministers and Deputies had signed a particular Treaty with the Ministers of Spain that he could not imagine that their Ministers had acted therein according to their Intentions and that he doubted not but that assoon as they should be informed thereof they would give those necessary Orders whereby they will remedy all what hath been done to the prejudice of so many solemn Treaties agreed on at several times between that Crown and them which did hold forth expresly
that the Negotiation of Peace shall continually march hand in hand and that no Peace shall be agreed upon but by joint consent of both parties that for the farther manifesting thereof he had sent many particulars to his Ambassador Extraordinary to communicate to them on his behalf at that conjuacture of businesse of so great consequence to whom hee conjur'd them to give full credit Signed Lewis and then De Lomeine Paris 14. Februar 1648. The 3 March afterward Monsieur La Thuillerie had audience given him in the Assembly of the States where he made great complaints against their irregular proceedings in the Treaty of Peace with Spain against their own solemn Treaties with France That the King his Master did think himself highly injured by their breaking of their Vowes and Covenants which they had mutually promised viz. That they would never lay down their arms till they had wholly beaten the Spaniard out of the Low-Countries and not then neither but with the consent of both parties that the King his Master could not choose but protest against their unworthy dealing in forsaking them now on whom the French had built their strongest hopes and from whom they did expect in the like conjuncture in which they now were the reciprocal assistance which the French had given to the Dutch in their affairs both of Money and Men which they had spent to curb the ambition of Spain with whom the French were good friends but by their sollicitations the French had entred into that chargeable War whereby the burthen of the Dutch hath been lighter and those that were the Dutch's they had made their Enemies That they could not be ignorant in what state and condition the French were in the year 1634. how generously they declared War against the Spaniard in the year 1635 In which year was made that solemn Treaty never to make any Peace with Spain but with the mutual consents of both parties he called the world to judge how careful France had been to observe those Treaties and that the Plenipotentiaries of France were such Religious Observers of their promises that they staid twenty one moneths at Munster expecting the coming of the States Ambassadors before they would receive any one proposition from any Publique Minister whatsoever and withall if it were lawful for him to tell them that this one Action of theirs did very much eclipse the candor which that Commonwealth did profess That the King his Master could not believe that what was done was according to their Orders and that so many honest and Noble persons that did compose that body of State would break their solemn Leagues and Covenants which they had formerly made with the King of France therefore the King his Master did hope that they would not break so just and necessary a League I dare not say said he if you deal thus by us what other Princes will think of you that may have to deal with you Your Ratifications are not yet exchanged and you may refuse to deliver them to the Plenipotentiaries of Spain you are our Allies therefore more obliged to us then by words wherefore I doe maintain said he that you can goe no farther and that you and we have our hands tyed If so bee wee doe any thing that concerneth a peace with Spain if we doe it not with the consent of both parties Made at the Hague 3 March 1648. Signed De La Thuillerie Monsieur de la Thuillerie receiving no answer to this upon the 17 of March following demanded Audience where hee made another Proposition much like the former being resolved not to give over propounding till he had gotten an answer Who at length gave him this for answer That they were heartily sorry there could not bee the like Treaty of peace concluded on between the two Crowns of Spainand France as they had made with Spain That they had commanded their Plenipotentiaries to use their utmost endeavours to bring those two Crowns to a good agreement but all what they had done was labour lost to the great grief of the States That it was in vain to insist any longer on this point at Munster both parties being so unwilling to be reconciled And this was the Judgement of the Lords Mediators and others that have knowledge thereof Or else the States Generall would not have sent for their Ministers home That notwithstanding they were resolved to use all possible means to bring those two Crowns of Spain and France to an agreement and that there be a fair correspondence kept between the Crown ofFrance and the States of the Vnited Provinces and that they would send to their Plenipotentiaries to farther with all faithfulness an accommodation between Spain and France Monsieur de la Thuillerie perceiving the Dutch to be resolved to conclude the peace at Munster sent in this Proposition to the Assembly to let them understand how highly discontented the King his Master was with their proceedings in making a peace with Spain without his consent quoting their Leagues and that if they proceeded on in that Treaty as they had begun his Master would be inforced to let the world know how unhandsomely the Lords States have dealt with him and that he was obliged to take notice how they had dealt with the Spaniard to his prejudice contrary to the Treaty 1635. renewed 1644. where they were to proceed pari passu both in war and peace That if the Dutch had a mind to conclude a peace that they would communicate to the French Plenipotentiaries at Munster how farre they had proceeded in their Treaty with Spain which they had not performed all the while they had been at Munster according to agreement for the Treaty doth say expresly in one of the Articles That they shall communicate their proceedings conjointly if they enter into a Treaty of peace at any time with Spain which must be also with the consent of France Therefore he humbly desired them to write to their Plenipotentiaries to communicate their proceedings in writing to the French Plenipotentiaries as their loving friends and allies and also that his Master did desire them to desist from Treating according to former agreement aforementioned till both parties agree to carry on the Treaty again conjointly which the Lords Ambassadors of France had done being sent to by the Spaniard to Treat which they refused to doe because the Dutch had minded them of the agreement therefore his Master desired them to do the like by him All this said he was laid open to the Plenipotentiaries of this State at Munster by the French Plenipotentiaries notwithstanding the said Plenipotentiares came confidently the next day to the Plenipotentiaries of my Master and told them that they would proceed very speedily to the conclusion of their Treaty with the Spaniard whereupon the French Plenipotentiaries could do no less then protest against their proceedings who have formally declared at Munster that the Dutch have broken the Treaties made between them and