the Romans the title of companions seeming not kind enough since the Countrey was over-run by the Danes and Normans who were long masters of it but in the time of Pepin King of France they recover'd their liberties CHAP. II. Therry of Aquitain the First Earl THe most receiv'd opinion of the learned Antiquaries is That Thyerry or Childeric Duke of Aquitain was made Earl of Holland by Charles the ball'd Emperour and King of France He took possession of it in the year 863 and tam'd the fury of the Frizelanders his Subjects growing weary of the long peace which he did politickly keep with all his neighbours conspir'd against him and drive him out of Holland but by the assistance of the Emperour's Forces he subdued them and punished the authors of the rebellion His Wife was Jane daughter to King Pepin of Italy Having reigned forty years in Holland he dyed peaceably leaving his State to his Son Thyerry the Second Succeeding his Father married Hulgard Daughter to Lewis King of France He overcame the Frizelanders in two pitch'd Battels and re-built the Monastery of Egmont which they had burn'd He died after he had governed eighty eight years and lyes buried at Egmont Arnulph or Arnout the Third This Earl maintain'd a long War against the Frizelanders in which he was at last kilâ—'d and buried at Egmont having reign'd five years Thyerry the Fourth Thyerry the third was preferr'd to the dignity of Earl of Holland before his elder Brother and married the Daughter of the Emperour Otho In his time there appeared a Comet which seem'd to prognostick the War that happen'd with the Bishop of Utrect after the loss of much Nobâ—lity the said Bishop was taken and kept prisoner for a long time because he did obstinately refuse all conditions of peace This Duke to revenge his Fathers death over-ran and ruin'd most of East-Frizeland and at last gave it to Florent his younger Son After this he undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and died coming back Thyerry the Fifth Thyerry the fourth of this name and Earl of Holland being gone to Leege to a publick Turnament and having in it kill'd the Bishop of Cullen in revenge thereof was pursued to Dort and there kill'd Florent the Sixth Florent the first of this name succeeded in his Brothers place who died without issue he forsook Frizeland to come and govern Holland he had Wâ—r with the Archbishop of Cullen the Bishop of Leege and the Earl of Louvain whom he defeated luckily by a stratagem invented by an old man who advis'd him to cause deep Ditches to be made upon his enemies way and to cover them over with straw and hay this design succeeded and his enemies falling in great numbers he charg'd them so smartly and at such an advantage that he obtain'd a great victory the Archbishop nevertheless having rallied his scattered Army came again into Holland and was again defeated A little after the Earl Florent was treacherously kill'd Gertrude of Saxony the Seventh This Princess took the reins of the Government in hand after the death of her Husband and during the minority of her Son She was married a second time to Robert of Frizeland and died having govern'd in great tranquillity She left divers Children by both her Husbands Robert of Frizeland the Eighth This Prince is reckoned amongst the Earls of Holland though he were but Guardian to the young Thyerry he acquitted himself with much integrity and honour of this his employment but he was driven out of his State by Godfrey of Lorrain who by the strength and assistance of the Bishop of Utrect possest himself of his Countrey Godfrey the Ninth Godfrey being in possession of Holland built the Town of Delft subdued the Frizelanders and after a happy Reign was at last treacherously murdered Thyerry the Tenth This Prince the true and lawfull Heir having at last recover'd his own made it his business to clear his Countrey of the Bishop of Utrect's Forces which he did by making peace with him after which he set upon the Frizelanders and having pass'd his Army over the Ice he encountred theirs and kill'd four thousand upon the place nevertheless they rallied and coming up with new Forces challenged the Earl and his Army which he bore so impatiently that immediately charging them with all fury he routed them and in pursuit of his victory spar'd neither man woman nor childe This bloody execution made them promise obedience After which the Earl died in 1091. having reigned fifteen years his Wâ—fe was of the House of Saxony Florent the Fat the Eleventh This Floâ—ent govern'd Holland for thirty one years being a very tall corpulent man his inclination was peace and was very charitable He left four Children by his Wife Petronella of Saxony Sister to the Emperour Lotaire He died in the flower of his age and left the administration to his Wife during the minority of his Children All his Subjects had a great respect and veneration for his piety Thyerry the Twelfth Thyerry the sixth of that name was married to Sophia Daughter to Otho Count Palatine by whom he had four Sons and three Daughters He chastized the Frizâ—landers but they rallying again fell stoutly upon North-Holland and burnt the Town of Alcmaer being in a way to make their anger still more sensible to his State if he had not resolutely opposed them A little after hearing that his Brother-in-law was taken prisoner by them and that his Forces were also defeated by the Bishop of Utrect he immediately led his Army and sate down before the Town with so much resolution that he had undoubtedly taken it had not the Bishop for a last shift put on his Pontificall habit and come out with the rest of his Clergy to excommunicate the Count. Thyerry then fell upon his knees and to avoid the excommunication asked pardon and raised his siege He was at lâ—st kill'd by the Frizelanders having reign'd forty five years Florent the Thirteenth Florent took place after Thyerry and married with great transport of joy the Daughter of the King of Scotland which Wibold Abbot of Egmond had brought to one of the Sea-Towns He had by her four Sons and four Daughters He chastized the Frizelanders who had once again burnt Alcmaer and died gloriously at Antioch after he had seen the Sarrasins defeated and driven out of the holy Land Thierry the Fourteenth Thierry succeeded and had by his Wife Alide of Cleves two Daughters whereof one was married to Henry of Gueldre and the other to the Earl of Loen He made War in Brabant and took Boisteduc but was at last taken prisoner by the Duke of Lorrain Ada the Fifteenth Ada Countess of Holland and Daughter to Thierry did not govern long for being married to the Earl of Loen whom most of the neighbouring Princes did envy there were many seditions fomented in her State which at last broke out with great effusion of blood William the Sixteenth William the first of the
name succeeded his Brother Thierry and his Neece Ada. He had War with the Bishop of Utrect and on both sides the Countrey was much ruin'd but by agreement at last he was to pay to the Bishop a thousand Talents Upon the news of the death of his Uncle the King of Scotland he immediately rigg'd out a great Fleet to put himself in possession of that Kingdome which he thought was his right and in pursuance of his design landed in Scotland and took divers Towns but hearing the Earl of Loen his Nephew was come into Holland with an Army he forsook the uncertain for the certain He had two Wives Alide of Gueldres by whom he had three Sons and two Daughters and Mary Daughter to the Duke of Lancaster who had no Children He died in the year 1223. having reign'd nineteen years Florent the Seventeenth Florent the fourth Son to William was married to Matthild Daughter of the Duke of Brabant who had two Sons William and Florent and two Daughters Alide Counâ—ess of Hainaut and Matthild Countess of Heneberg that had at one birth as many Children as there are days in the year This Prince was extream valiant which was the cause of his death for the Countess of Clermont having heard much of his valour was so desirous to see him that she entreated her Husband to publish a solemn Turnament Florent fail'd not to be there and by his noble carriage so charm'd the Countess that she could not hold praising of him before her Husband who thereupon conceiv'd so much jealousie that he caused him to be barbarously murder'd in the flower of his age His Body was transported into Holland and buried at Rinsburg William the Eighteenth William the second being yet under age succeeded to his Father under the Guardianship of his Uncle the Bishop his Wife was Elizabeth of Brunswick by whom he had Florent This Prince was of a very warlike temper and by reason of his valour was chosen King of the Romans at the age of twenty years He first held a Court at the Hague to hear the complaints of the Hollanders and Zelanders in the protection of whom he sent his Brother with an Army against the Flemmings who were entred the Island of Walkeren in Zeland There was so stout a â—encounter between the two Armies that the ground for a great space was all covered with the blood of the Flemmings The King upon the news â—astened into Zeland and sav'd the lives of the rest of the Flemmings but sent them away stark naked After this he went into Germany where he was receiv'd with great honour and joy coming back he overcame the Frizelanders in one Battell and a little before the second he was kill'd having govern'd twenty one years It was he that founded the Colledge of the Heemrades where a Diikgrave presides Florent the Nineteenth This Prince was two years under the Guardianship of his Uncle and his Aunt Alide Countess of Hainaâ—t To make up the difference between the Hollanders and Flemmings he married Beatâ—ix of Flanders by whom he had five Sons and three Daughters the youngest of which Margaret was Queen of England To revenge his Fathers death he fell upon the Frizelanders whom he worsted and recover'd the dead Body of his Father which he caused to be buried with royall obsequies In his old age he corrupted the Wife of one Gerard de Velsen a Gentleman of his Court whom he had much lovâ—â— and it was rather to affront him than out of a desire to satisfie his lusts but Gerard and Herman de Vourd his Father-in-law resolv'd to be reveng'd and by conspiracy seized the Earls person and carried him to the Castle of Mude where hearing of the Preparations made in Holland against them they made the Earl get on Horseback thinking to convey him into England but being too hotly pursued Gerard gave him twenty two wounds with his Sword and left him dead in a Ditch This murder remain'd not unrevenged for some Authors write that Gerard being taken was put into a Hogshead full of sharp nails and so rolled up and down the Streets at Leyden till he died John the Twentieth John the first of that name being in England at the time of his Fathers death there was some trouble in Holland which was soon appeased by his presence He married Elizabeth Daughter to Edward King of England by whom he had no Children In his time there was a Giant in Holland nam'd Nicolas to whom other men compared were but Dwarfs his Shooe was so wide that four men together could set all their feet in it The said Earl John died at Harlem having reigned three years and made room for the House of Hainaut CHAP. III. The House of Hainaut John of Hainaut the Twenty first JOhn the second of this name Son to Alide Countess of Hainaut Sister to King William succeeded his Cousin-german in 1299. and took in marriage Philippine Daughter to the Duke of Luxemburg by whom he had three Sons and four Daughters He was five years Earl of Holland and did defend with much vigour his Brother who was Bishop of Utrect against those who endeavoured to deprive him of his Bishoprick It is said that in those dayes there was seen in the Air an arm'd Knight who with a loud voice animated the people to War and that the Sea also was seen full of Ships which vanished before the eyes of them that curiosity had brought upon the shore These apparitions were taken as prognosticks of the War that a little after happened between the Hollanders and Flemmings in Zeland in which the Flemmings were defeated by the valour of William Son to the Earl John but he outliv'd his victory a very small time and lies buried at Valenciennes William sirnamed the Good the Twenty second William the third by reason of his good nature and vertuous disposition was call'd the Good He had divers Children by his Wife Jane of Valois viz. William Lewis John Margaret Dutchess of Bavaria and Empress Jane Countess of Juliers Philippine Queen of England and Elizabeth In his time Holland was much affâ—â—cted with plague and famine In the year 1328. Philip King of France gave a great overthrow to the Flemmings being assisted by the Forces of this Earl He reign'd thirty three years William the Twenty third This young Prince led an Army into Spain to assist that King against the Infidels and got much honour in that War Being come back into Holland he besieged Utrect and being ready to take and sack the Town he was prevail'd upon by the Gentry to give the Citizens their lives upon condition that five hundred of the best qualified should come bare-foot and bare-head and fall down upon their knees before him and crave his pardon for their faults After this he went against the Frizelanders where fighting too boldly he was kill'd near Staveron He left no Children by his Wife Jane of Brabant Margaret August Countess the Twenty fourth This Princess
was Daughter of William the Good and Wife to Lewis of Bavaria Emperour She came with a great retinue into Holland and having took possession gave the Government to her Son William reserving for her self a Pension every year She sold all the Estates the Frizelanders had in Holland to revenge her Brothers death She died in the year 1355. and in her ended the House of Hainant CHAP. IV. The House of Bavaria William of Bavaria the Twenty fifth VVIlliam the fifth Duke of Bavaria and Son to the Empress Margaret govern'd three years and had no Children by his Wife who was of the House of Lancaster He ran mad and kill'd a Gentleman of great quality whereupon his Subjects gave him a Guardian who was Albert the Twenty sixth Albert his Brother govern'd as Guardian for the space of thirty years after which time the right fell to him and he reign'd sixteen more He had by his first Wife William Albert and John afterwards Bishop of Leege Katherine Dutchess of Gueldres Mary of Burgundy Jane of Austria and Jane Queen of Bohemia In second marriage he took the Daughter of the Duke of Cleves The Frizelanders felt the effects of his just anger William the Twenty seventh William the sixth Son to Albert was twice married first to the Daughter of Charles King of France who died without issue secondly to the Daughter of Philip the bold Duke of Brabant by whom he had a Daughter call'd Jacqueline He made War with the Duke of Gueldres but after he made not only peace but friendship with him A little before he died he made an assembly of the States in which his Daughter was by common consent proclaim'd his Heiress He died in the same year which was the thirteenth of his Reign Jacqueline the Twenty eighth Jacqueline being sixteen years old was married to the Dolphin of France Son to Charles the sixth who died the first year of their marriage and left her at liberty to marry John Son to the Duke of Brabant but this marriage being void by reason of the proximity of blood they being Cousin-germans before the cause could be decided at Rome she went into England and there was married anew to Humphrey Duke of Gloucester Brother to King Henry but this marriage being likewise made void by the Pope she married Francis de Borsales who was taken prisoner by the Duke of Burgundy In her time there were many civil Wars and by her death her State fell to Philip of Burgundy and in her ended the House of Bavaria CHAP. V. The House of Burgundy Philip the Good the Twenty ninth PHilip of Burgundy Son to John of Burgundy and Margaret Daughter of Albert Duke of Bavaria added this noble accession to his Dutchy He had three Wives the first Michelle Daughter to Charles the sixth King of France who died without Children His second was Claudina Daughter to Robert Earl of Heu who was also barren His third was Isabelle of Portugal by whom he had three Sons who died young and the fourth nam'd Charles Earl of Charoloâ—â— lived He govern'd thirty four years he was a vertuous witty Prince One day some body telling him that the inhabitants of Gâ—â—nt did much court his Son Charles he answer'd that they were much given to love their Masters Son but that they would hate him when he should be their Master He receiv'd some injury from the King of England and in revenge besieged Calais with a prodigious Army but the inhabitants of Ghent and Bruges forsaking his Army because he did not act according to their hasty expectations were the ruine of his design This Prince was the first that instituted at the Hague the Order of the Golden Fleece and it has been since transferr'd to the House of Austria His ordinary stay was at Bruges in Flanders where he died Charles Earl of Charolois the Thirtieth Charles sirnamed the Warrier succeeded to his Father By his first Wife Katherine of France he had no Children but by his second Elizabeth of Bourbon he had the Princess Mary War was this Princes inclination which he begun against the King of France Lewis the eleventh He chastized the inhabitants of Liege and caused the Town to be laid waste He was still out-witted by Lewis though he were assisted by the Constable de St. Paul whom Lewis beheaded He drove the Duke of Larrain out of his Countrey who recover'd it again by the assistance of the Swissers against whom by his fault he lost a great Battle and in the hopes of revenge having engaged them with a new Army he lost above sixteen thousand men And at last his ill fortune still pursuing him he went to besiege Nancy and was there betrayed by an Italian whom he loved and trusted too much his Army defeated and himself kill'd upon the place It is thought that his design was to have extended his Dominions as far as Italy by Lorrain and the Swissers and that he had often desir'd the Emperour to erect his States into a Kingdome Never Prince was more courted by forreign Powers than he for he had one only Daughter extream handsome and who was to inherit all his Dominions he promis'd her to none but gave fair words to all His death was much resented by his Subjects and hardly beleev'd by the Hollanders Lewis King of France was very glad of his death for he stood much in awe of his power and 't is thought that he prevailed with money upon this Italian to betray him Mary Countess of Charolois Dutchess of Burgundy and Countess of Holland the Thirty first The loss of this great Warriour brought a great consternation amongst his people and made them assemble the generall States at Louvain to take care for the safety of those Provinces and their Mistress This young Lady was then about fourteen years old when the tragick news of her Fathers death reach'd her ears The Emperour Ferdinand did desire her for his Son Maximilian and Lewis of France for his Dolphin Charles and it seem'd that the Ladies inclinations were more inclin'd o the French but they too hasty to seize the prey having entred Artois with an Army the States gave her to Maximilian the Emperours Son the Countess of Meguen her Governant having boldly said that the Princess was of age to bear a man and therefore they should not give her a childe such as the Dolphin of France was The French upon this marriage were so incensed that they laid wast all the Countrey of Artois and from thence fell upon Hainaut They tryed also to annoy these Provinces by Sea but were beaten by the Hollanders This excellent Lady having liv'd some years in admirable union with her Husband fell one day as she was a hunting and broke two ribbs whereupon a Feaver citing her she died in the year 1482. She left a Son call'd Philip and Margaret her Daughter CHAP. VI. The House of Austria Maximilian the Thirty second THis Imperiall Prince having married the Princess Mary at
Religion John Calvin likewise writ against the Church of Rome and his books met with as favourable a reception in Holland as Lutheâ—s did in Germany The Emperour endeavoured by strict Edicts to stop the course of this change and recommended to his Son Philip to do so likewise Philip the second King of Spain and Earl of Holland the Thirty fifth In the year 1556. Philip took in hand the reins of Government in the Low-Countreys and made Philibert Duke of Savoy a great and stout Prince his Lieutenant and Governour in all the Low-Countreys The truce that was between France and Spain being broken by reason of the succour which the French sent the Pope Queen Mary of England declar'd War likewise against the French at the instigation of her Husband King Philip. The Duke of Savoy comes into Picardy and defeats entirely the French Army upon St. Laurence day with so great a slaughter of Nobility and Gentry that it astonish'd the whole Kingdome Paris it self being forsaken by its inhabitants was in danger of being lost had the conquerour followed his victory But the Duke of Guise coming out of Italy soon recruited and set a new Army on foot took Caâ—ais in seven dayes time which had been so many hundred years in the power of the English Fortune continuing still averse to the French they received another overthrow in Flanders where the Earl of Egmont behav'd himself as nobly as he had done in the first battell of St. Laurence and was the cause of the winning of the day 'T is true that ten English men of War which happened by chance to be near the shore play'd with their great Guns upon the French Army and much disorder'd it After this Queen Mary of England dying left Philip a widower and he took to his second Wife Isabelle of France Philip before he embarqued for Spain being desirous to provide for the peace and tranquillity of the Low-Countreys made Margaret of Austria Dutchess of Parma and bastard Daughter to Charles the Emperour his Regent and Governess over all the Low-Countreys The Earl of Egmont was made Governour of Flanders and Artois the Duke Mansfield of Luxemburg the Earl William of Nassaw Prince of Orange was made Governour of Holland and Zeland CHAP. VII Containing the memorable Passages under the Government of Margaret of Parma KIng Philip having install'd and setled this Princess in the Government of the Low-Countreys left her at Brussels with an ample power and embarqued at Flushing for Spain After his departure that peace and tranquillity which he left things in lasted not long for what with the discontent of great ones who thought themselves neglected and the jealousies of the people who were afraid of being oppress'd by the Inquisition all men were ready and dispos'd for tumults Adde to this the non-performance of that promise which the King had made at his going away which was to recall all Spanish and forreign Forces out of the Low Countreys The first appearance of sedition was a Petition presented to the Princess by five hundred Gentlemen dress'd like beggars To content them the Spanish Forces were with-drawn and not long after Cardinal Granvell whom they much envied was recall'd But still in every place there was execution done upon those whom they call'd hereticks who by their constant sufferings so animated the people that at last they would no longer endure they should be put to death but rescued them out of the hands of the hang-men by force The King having notice of all order'd that the Councell of Trent should be publish'd in the Low-Countreys the execution of which caus'd more troubles and gave occasion to the Count Egmont to take a journey into Spain there he was very well receiv'd by the King soon dispatch'd and in his return home he brought with him Alexander Prince of Parma Son to the Princess Regent Prince Maurice of Nassaw was born in this year 1565. in which was fram'd the league or confederation of the Nobility which was followed by the revolt and rising of the meaner sort who broke down Images and Altars invaded Monasteries and Nunneries and at last attak'd Towns But their fury was stop'd by the Countrey people called Wallons who fell upon them and routed them The Confederates made a new Assembly at Leege and there the Regent sent to them the Prince of Orange and the Count Egmont to desire them to forbear all new designs They sent her another Petition which she defer'd to answer till the generall Assembly of the Knights of the Golden Fleâ—câ— should be holden In this very year the Prince of Orange the Count Egmond Count Lewis of Nassaw and Horne met at Dondermond to consider whether it were safe for them to let the King who did threaten to appear with an Army come peaceably in or oppose his passage by main force Upon this Consultation the Gentry and the Merchants joyn'd with them and all resolv'd to maintain by force that which they had obtain'd by Petition from the Princess The Prince of Orange his Brother and Hogestract met at Breda and writ to Fgmont to know whether he would joyn with them but he refus'd it In 1567. was struck the first stroke of War between Beauvor for the Princess and the Lord of Tholoze for the Confederates who were routed and their leader kill'd in the sight of the inhabitants of Antwerp who stood upon their Walls and looked on for a while till at last seeing their party worsted they ran to their Arms but were appâ—ased by the Prince of Orange The Princess taking heart at this propos'd a new Oath of Allegiance but it was first refus'd by Brederode and Horn and then by the Prince of Orange himself who forsook all his employments and charges and retir'd with his Brother into Germany Before he went he had a meeting with the Count Egmont and he told him in the presence of Count Mansfield I foresee said he that thou wilt be the Bridge over which the Spaniards will march into the Low-Countreys This departure of the Prince of Orange and his friends did for a time so â—â—artle most of the Towns that they began to ask pardon and submit The small Army which Brederode had gather'd together was routed and dispersed and he forced to fly with his Family into Friezeland This made Holland and Zeland receive Garrisons and drive away the Protestant Ministers insomuch that all was setled again and obedience restor'd to the Prince Hereupon the Princess writ to the King to come in person and by his presence heal up a wound which else might open afresh but Philip glad it may be of this occasion of diminishing the priviledges of his Low-Countrey Subjects sent the Duke of Alva with an Army to execute his commands The Princess soon perceiv'd that the severe proud nature of the Duke would undoe all that her milde temper had made up In effect as soon as he came he clap'd up the Earls of Horn and Egmont
whereupon the Princess desir'd leave to be gone for Italy Before her departure she took her leave by Letters of most of the Cities and the Nobility shewed their respects in waiting upon her to the borders of Germany where she left them to their great sorrow for the loss of so wise and moderate a Princess CHAP. VIII Containing the Government of the Duke of Alva THe Duke D'alva having pass'd by Savoy and Lorrain with an Army of 10000. Spaniards and Italians all old Souldiers he was sent by the King to punish and chastize all those that had any hand in pulling down Churches and Monasteries or that had any way favour'd the former Confederations This he executed by a Court of twelve who were to judge soveraignly and without appeal of all Delinquents This was call'd the Councell of blood and so frighted the people that thousands of them fled with their Families into neighbouring Countreys to the great detriment of those Provinces as the Princess Margaret had well fore-seen The Prince of Orange and they that were with him had wisely avoided this storm which they fore-saw but Henry of Erederode the Earls of Hooghstract Culemburg and Bergue were cited before this Councell but they ran into Germany and implor'd the succour of the Princes there In the mean time the Duke of Culemburghs house was razed to the ground and Philip his Son taken from Louvain and sent into Spain to be bred By this time the Princes had got an Army and Hooghstract fell upon Artois and was there defeated by Davila Lewis of Nassaw with his brother Adolfe invaded Friezeland and routed the Earl of Aremberg who oppos'd them the Earl and Adolfe were both kill'd D'alva hearing this resolv'd to meet â—hem in person but before he undertook his journey he made nineteen Gentlemen be publickly executed and a little after caused the Earls of Horne and Egmont to be beheaded no prayers nor entreaties made in favour of so great a Warriour being able to prevail with his fierce temper He valued as little the threats of vengeance that were made after their deaths but in pursuance of his design went and fought the Army of Lewis which he utterly ruin'd and immediately turn'd head to the Prince of Orange who was got into Brabant with another considerable Army him he overcame by policy for he refus'd to fight knowing that the Princes Army for want of pay would soon disband which accordingly fell out After this he demanded the tenth penny through the whole Low-Countreys and that was the apple of division which separated and divided the Low-Countreys and made two states of them one part remaining under the Spanish domination and the other making up that powerfull body of the United Provinces now acknowledg'd by Philip the fourth to be Soveraigns All the people were very much shaken in their affection to Spain by the former causes but this last did as it were precipitate them into war and discord which have at last by the exactness of their discipline produced that incomparable fruit of peace and tranquillity This tenth penny was a new tribute upon all merchandises besides there was a twentieth upon immoveables and a hundredth part upon all for once But the people concern'd in this demand chose rather to put hands to their swords than to their purses and yet by a strange but necessary effect of their resolution they have been forc'd to lay much heavier burdens upon themselves to enable themselves to maintain the War but the desire of liberty made them endure joyfully that which they were so much afraid of from anothers hand In the mean time the Councell still proceeded to execution upon the guilty and those that refus'd to pay this new imposition and though the States did represent what damage would befall the Countrey by the removall of Mark-lands yet he being jealous of his Authority made them go on But there happened an accident which much vexed the Duke which was that Queen Elizabeth of England stop'd in her harbours divers Ships loaden with money destin'd to pay his Army and caus'd it to be transported into the Tower of London where iâ— remain'd never to be repayed This disappointment cool'd the Dukes heat a little and made him publish a solemn pardon for the following year but in vain for by this time he was become so odious that all the people forsook and turn'd to the Prince of Orange as it appear'd not long after About All-Saints day there hapned an unlucky presage of the following calamities and which was indeed a great one it self for the Sea having broken the dikes and sluces over-flowed almost all Friezeland with a great part of Holland and Zeland they say that above 20000. persons perished in Friezeland alone This great misfortune made them represent to the Duke the impossibility of paying the Taxe he requir'd who little satisfied with their Remonstrances was upon the point of dealing severely with some Citizens of Bruxels when the news came that the Gueux d'eau or water Gueux or Beggars had surprized the Bril upon Palm-Sunday The chief of this Faction was the Earl of Lumee who being cast there with his Fleet by a storm found occasion of surprizing the place and there discharg'd upon the Church-men the hatred he owed the Spaniards The Count de Bossu hastening to its relief was beaten off and then seeking to secure Dort he was refus'd entrance Upon this news all the Towns of Holland cast off the yoke and joyn'd with the Prince of Orange except Amsterdam and Schorhof Flushing in Zeland followed the example of the rest being animated to it by a Priest The Province of Overissel chang'd likewise but nothing so much troubled the Duke as the taking of Mons in Hainaut by the French under the conduct of Lewis of Nassaw For fearing lest Charles of France should take this occasion of invading the Low-Countreys he immediately turn'd all his Forces that way which gave time to the Hollanders to frame their small Commonwealth and give it some foundation He besieged Mons by his Son at first and at last came himself and took it in spight of Lewis and his Army who endeavouring to succour the place were beaten and forc'd to a retreat Mons being recover'd many other Towns yeelded and Malines for having receiv'd a Garrison from the Prince was sacked The Dukes Son Frederick following his Fathers foot-steps recover'd Overissel and Friezeland from thence passed into Holland and by the bloody action he committed at Naerden he fastened an indeleble hatred upon his Nation Harlem also was taken but Alcmaer stood out and much fortified the Confederates The year 1573. was famous by the Duke of Alvaes leaving the Low-Countreys He was recall'd by Philip who thought his absence might bring a calm in this troubled Sea but the agitation was too great to be so soon layed He was a cruell proud man a very good Souldier but inexorable in his chastizings if he had made a mixture
of severity and mildness he had without doubt better fitted the humour of the Nations he had to do with He is to this very day in great aversion among the Hollanders who call all cruell men by his name It is said of him that he bragg'd he had brought above 18000. to their end by the hand of justice I know not whether it be true but I know that the States have founded the justice of their pretensions upon his cruelties He govern'd six years and left no body afflicted for his depart It was said and well said that either King Philip should never have sent him or never have recall'd him CHAP. IX The Government of Don Lewis and the great Councell of State LEwis of Requesens high Commander of the Kingdome of Castilia was sent in the place of the Duke and his famous Statue which he had caused to be set up in Antwerp was pull'd down by his order to the great satisfaction of the States His first care was to set out a Fleet to succour Mondragonius a brave Captain who had defended Middleburgh almost two years but he was ignorant that the Sea was the Throne these Nations intended to settle their Empire in The Earl Bossu had been beaten the year afore by the Hollanders and now the Zelanders burn'd and destroyed this Fleet in the presence of Don Lewis and took Middleburgh The Count Lewis of Nassaw had worse fortune for having brought a brave Army out of Germany he was met at Nimmiegue by Davila and entirely defeated himself and his Brother slain This victory was followed by a sedition in the Spanish Army which much weakened their power but being appeas'd were sent before Leyden in hopes of having the pillageing of that Town but being there shamefully repulsed their indignation fell upon their Generall whom they detained in prison till they had received their full pay After that they took Oudewater and Schoonhof Many Propositions and Treaties were advanced but none taking effect Don Lewis fram'd that famous enterprize by many thought impossible of besieging Ziriczee This Island was in the Confederates hands and the Royalists waded through the Sea up to the neck to go and besiege it 't is true there was no hopes of a return the Sea being encreased by the flowing water Ziriczee held out nine moneths after which it yeelded Vitellio a great Captain died during that siege and Don Lewis followed him shortly after By his death the Authority came into the hands of the Couâ—cell of State who for want of union ruin'd the Kings affairs and gave occasion to a fourth sedition of the Spaniards A little after followed the pacification of Gand and the alliance of the Provinces against the Spaniards who seeing themselves generally hated and that the inhabitants of Antwerp were about to divide the Town from the Cittadell by a Trench agreed at last with the Governour Davila and sallying out plunder'd the Town for three dayes together which was a most barbarous and detestable action CHAP. X. The Government of Don John of Austria and of the Prince of Parma DOn John of Austria was receiv'd Governour upon condition that he should subscribe to the pacification of Gand which he did but finding himself without Authority he surprized Namur whereupon the States proclaimed him as an enemy and raised an Army He was a Bastard of Charles the fifth and had made himself famous by that immortall Battle of Lepanto against the Turks in which he was Generall The States chose in the mean time the Archduke Matthias Brother to the Emperour Rodolf for their Governour Then having assembled their Army at Gemblours they faced Don Johns Forces who couragiously engaging them obtained the victory but liv'd not long after it declaring Alexander Prince of Parma for his successour This was that famous Alexander who by his valour and conduct reduced all Artois Hainaut Flanders and Brabant to their obedience who took Antwerp Malines Ipres Brussels and many other Cities and at last he had brought the Confederates to the necessity of submitting to some forreign Prince for protection if God had not raised up Prince Morrice to defend them In the mean time the Archduke Matthias finding that the States had a mind to be rid of him and were ready to call the Duke of Alencon and make him Duke of Brabant left the Low-Countreys The Duke of Alencon went first into England in hopes of being married to Queen Elizabeth but the match being deferr'd he went into Brabant and took possession of the Dutchy In the year 1582. the Prince of Orange was shot in the face with a Pistoll which made the people take some jealousie of the French and threaten to cut their throats and their new Dukes He on his side did complain that all the Authority was in the Prince of Orange his hand and thereupon fram'd a design upon Antwerp but fail'd when it came to the execution so that they were forced to leave the Town and soon after Alexander made them quit the Countrey in which he did still advance having taken Tournay Oudenard and Breda defeated Biron and taken Dunkirk All this while William Prince of Orange was seriously employed in framing and giving Laws to this new Commonwealth but being wakened by the progress of Alexander Duke of Parma he made a Remonstrance to the United Provinces that now there was but two wayes left to provide for their safety the one was to submit and patiently yeeld to the Spanish domination the other to declare the King of Spain to be fallen from and to have lost his right to the said Provinces and thereupon choose another Prince mentioning the Duke of Alenson The last of these was followed and in a generall Assembly at Antwerp King Philip was depriv'd of his right and power in those Provinces and the Duke of Alenson as it has been said before chosen in his place It is to the great wit and prudence of this Prince of Orange that Holland owes its liberty but he liv'd not to enjoy the fruit of his labour for he was assassinated at Delft the same year and day that the Duke of Alenson died at Chasteaâ— Thyerry Alexander having reduced Ipres and Bergue resolv'd against the opinion of all to besiege Antwerp and though he met with inconceivable difficulties in the execution yet he atchiev'd his enterprize with great glory But his noble actions and the brave resistance of the United Provinces with all the series of the long War they have maintain'd for the defence of their liberties have been eloquently written by divers good Authors to whom we refer the Reader our scope in this short Narration being only to instruct him how Holland and the other Provinces were govern'd before their union which having perform'd we now come to our main design which is to give a particular Account of this Union of the Conditions upon which it was concluded and by which it yet stands as it follows in the Second Part of this Book
furnish it with rare Plants at great charges But let us leave Amsterdam for fear we lose our selves in the confusion of so many remarkable things and come and rest our selves at Leyden the Garden of Holland Our nearest way will be by the Lake of Harlem for with a fair Winde we may arrive in four hours but if the Winde be contrary we may go by Harlem in two hours by the Channell and then take a Chariot for six and twenty pence which will carry us in two hours more to Leyden When the Winde is strong and contrary the way by the Sea of Harlem is troublesome for it makes those sick that have often been upon the Sea without inconvenience and though in many places it has not above six foot Water yet not long ago a Boat with Passengers was over-turn'd and they drown'd Though there be many tempests and storms upon it yet within this 25 years I do not remember any ill accident but this I have now mention'd and that great misfortune which befell the unfortunate Queen of Bohemia when she receiv'd the terrible news how the King her Husband had sav'd himself with swimming but that her eldest Son was drown'd in this unmercifull Element The King had left Harlem in November 1629. towards the evening the night proved very dark and tempestuous and the Lake much agitated by great Windes when unfortunately in the obscurity another Boat fell foul of his and sunk it immediately The poor young Prince was heard to cry out Ab Sir dear Father pray save me but all in vain for the darkness of the night hindring the distinguishing of objects it was impossible to relieve him and so he perish'd in the flower of his youth to the unspeakable affliction of all that were acquainted with his forwardness in all Arts and Sciences The two famous Cities of Holland are Leyden and Amsterdam one is the Market of all foreign Commodities and the other of Manufactures of all sorts Neither is there any City that has so great a Revenue next to Amsterdam as Leyden as it appears by the last years Excise only upon Beer Corn and Cattle which came to 50000. pound There is wanting to Leyden a good Harbour to the Sea without passing by other Towns and it has been proposed to make one at Caetvic which is but two leagues from it Nay the Mathematicians and Engineers having been advised with do say the thing is feasible others say that it cannot be and that either the Sea would choak up the Harbour with Sand or it may be if let in drown all the Countrey To which it is answered that the securest way would be to go by Wassâ—naer and make the overture between two Mountains but this design is now buried in oblivion Being one day in the company of a Mathematician at Catvic he told me that the Sea being calm is about half a foot higher than the Meadows about Leyden so that if in the Spring-tides or a storm the Sea should make way through those Mountains of Sand infallibly the Countrey would be all lost The most dangerous Winde for Holland is a North-West-Winde towards the Equinox with a storm but God Almighty by his providence hinders these three so dangerous enemies from assailing us all at one time Holland is so populous that you can hardly go a stones cast without meeting with Houses or Villages The Hollanders Diversions are these In Summer a Citizen shall hire a Boat for himself and his Family to go and eat fresh-Water Fish In Winter he shall hire a Sledge upon the Ice They are not given to gaming at Dice or Cards but will play at Bowles and Tables They are not quarrelsome nor apt to strike but will scold and call one another all to naught before they come to blowes Towards Autumn and in Winter the Students pastime is to go and shoot at the wilde-Ducks and Geese and if they shoot at the Countrey-peoples as they will often out of roguery then follows a scuffle in which the weakest goes to the Wall Their industry is most admirable for inventing and improving other peoples inventions witness Printing and Telescope-Glasses The Art of Navigation is better understood here than in any place of the World so is Fortification and all military Discipline in so much that a Low-Countrey Souldier when he comes to another Kingdome is presently made much of and advanced The Hollanders are the best in the World at Draining witness what they have done in England and France at Bourdeaux and in Britany But their Fishing is a thing which in â—ll manners deserves admiration But they have one odd diverting way of it which I shall here relate There are three Islands which serve as a bar to the Ocean The first is the Texel where are made excellent Cheeses The second is the Ulic where are taken great quantities of Muscles The third is Schelling the Inhabitants of which last are much given to Fishing and the way that they use to catch the Fish which they call a Sea-Dog is very pleasant They disguise themselves like Beasts and at certain hours that these Fishes are us'd to come out upon the shore they leap and dance before them and by a thousand antick tricks make them follow them and leave the shore in the mean time those that are in Ambushcade set their Nets then the dancers throw off their Masks and taking their humane shape upon them come upon the poor Sea-Dogs who endeavouring to re-gain the Sea are entangled in the Nets and made a prey to those that had diverted them The Hollanders transport salt-Fish all the World over There is not any season in the year that does not produce some particular pleasure For what is more pleasant than to see the Meadows cover'd with Flowers all the Spring and Summer Autumn produces an abundance of Fruits The Winter is more pleasant here than any where else for in so sad a season the diversion of the frozen Channels full of people sliding upon them is no small one Wood is not dear here and you shall have more for 10. pound at Amsterdam than at Paris for 15. If the Water be not to be drunk in recompence there is very good â—eer to be had 'T is true that the Windes and the Rain are very frequent by reason of the Neighbourhood of the Sea but the inconvenience is recompenced by the convenience of travelling for if the wayes be broke and bad you may go by Water A Merchant never misses of an opportunity of transporting himself and his Goods the Channels being loaded night and day with an infinite number of Boats But as there is nothing absolutely perfect Holland has its Cloudes its North-Windes its Rains and its foggy Mists which do much bate of the beauty and pleasantness of this fam'd and renowned Province The Treaty of Peace Concluded the thirtieth of January of the present year 1648. in the Town of Munster in Westphalia between the most Illustrious and
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