Duke of Aquitain Holland and that part of East-Friezland from Dockum to Laâ—vin to defend and protect them from the Invasions and Devastations of the Danes and Normans who notwithstanding their general opposition at his entrance for they were then impatient of Government their joynt Conspiracy against him six years after his settlement when the Pope intimating how he should govern them by cutting the top of his Garden-Plants as he walked there with his Embassadors bestowed that Country upon him a second time by a breve as Lewis of Germany did Zealand by a Royal constitution left it to his son Thierry the Second who subdued the Frizons after two rebellions in behalf of their Liberties granted them as they pretended by Charti magni to entire obedience in such sort as he constrained them to make their doors and entries so low that they must bend their backs and stoop very much in sign of humility before they could enter and committed them upon his death to his second Son Arnold as he did Holland and Zealand to his eldest Son Egbert having entred to a Monestery at Triars by whom a Revolt was made from his bounden duty to the French to a submission to the Empire of whom he would needs hold his Earldom in Fee which lost him his life in a Battel against the Friezlanders who opposed that dishonourable submission and with the assistance of the French and the conduct of their Protestat or Governor defeated him in open field whose Son and Successor Thiery the 3d dissembling the affront a while until â—he had conquered the stout Bishop of Vtrecht who would needs maintain that Holland belonged to his Bishoprick his Vtrecht being in old time as he urged what with his Army and what with his Reason the Capital City of Holland and relieved the German Auxilianies revenged his Fathers death and settled the Countrey on his younger son Floris who his elder Brother Thiery being slain at a Tournament at Leige say some 1048 or as others by the Marquesse of Bradenburgh's Forces who came to revenge the Germans disgrace at that Tournament as far as Dort which by Treason or a Popular Tumult he surprized and kept till Earl Floris hearing of the League between the Marquesse of Bradenburgh Count Albert of Lovain Wickard Advocate General of Gelders and Hermar Earl of Curike gathered the whole Countrey to Dort to make Ditches and Pit-falls along South-Holland wherein the Enemies fell in heaps submitting at last to his mercy whose Family yet he leaving an Infant behind him was dispoyled of the Earldom of Holland by the Bishop of Dort's application to the Emperour H. 4 who resenting the late Onslaught of the Germans gave the Reverend Father his claimed Earldom which he colluted on Godfrey the 9th Earl thereof who yet lost it to Thierry the 5th whom the Friezlanders helped to his Predecessors honour in Holland as he did afterwards himself when they would neither acknolwedge him nor obey the Bishop to be Seigneory over them as his Heir Thoris the Second and the Earl did when they would needs bid him Battel to try as they said for their Liberties to whose Son and Successor Thierry the 6th Lothiar the Emperour restored Oastergoe and Westergoe in Friezland formerly given 1080. by H. 4 to Conrade Bishop of Vtrecht notwithstanding the rebellious attempts of the Frizons against it and the fatal Divisions made by that unhappy people between him and his Brother whom at last after six bloody Battels the Emperour reconciled settling Friezland and Holland anew upon his Son Floris the 3d who married Ada Daughter to the King of Scotland and had the Isle of Walâ—â—rin where they built Dur by accord with Philip Earl of Flanders for the Land of Waes in whose Reign the Hollanders set up the first Herring-fishing in the Mase and the Brittish-Seas along the Coast of Holland Zealand and Friezland in small Barkes called Subards those of Zerexes being the first that did fish and pack them up in Barrels Those of Bieruliel a small Isle on the Coast of Flanders the better to preserve them being salted invented the way to Gill them and pull out the Garbage Thierry the 7th his Son succeeded him and brought the Flemmings to an accord about Trade and the Frizons to Reason when they were in the mood to acknowledge no Soveraign but the Emperour and being reconciled to the Earl of Gelders joyned with him against the troublesom Bishop of Vtrech and his Brother William Earl of Friezland succeeded him likewise deposing his Daughter from Holland and reducing the Zealanders both which Provinces he left to his Son Floris the 4th whose Daughter Margaret Countess of Hennebergh had 365 Children at a Birth that is to say for so many dayes in the year After him was William the Second Earl of Holland of that name and King of the Romans who enlarged his Earldom towards â—landers in a Quarrel with Margaret Counâ—â—ss of Flanders who in vain sought the Pope and St. Lewis of France his aid while Earl William was alive who died unfortunately in Ice in an onset upon his restless Subjects of Friezland which was reduced by Floriâ— 5th who after the allaying of the Factions raised in Holland during his minority built four Castles that utterly subdued that Countrey made a League with Flanders that brought within his Earldom Amstel and Worden threatned a War with Scotland in right of his Grandmother Ada that with King Edward of England mediation was accorded in a marriage between his son Iohn and Elizabeth the Daughter of that Kingdom whence arose a great friendship between England Scotland and Holland And the Flemings suddenly breaking their League by a Surprize of Zealand by the Isle of Welchrin he subdued them so farr with the loss of so many Knights that he made 40 to possess and maintain his Conquests which yet prospered not when he for deflouring Count Gerund's Lady was murthered in a Ditch and the Frizons sent to the King of Denmark to be their Protector especially when upon Count Iohn's absence in England Floris his son and now the 20th Earl of Holland reigning the Government of Holland was divided between the Faction of Count Hedier of Clevis who governed North-Holland of Guy the Earl of Henaul's Brother who possessed South-Holland and of Berfold Surrogate to Zirich Bishop of Vtrich who revived the old Quarrel about Holland till King Iohn with a mighty Fleet of his Father in Laws the King of Englands 1297 defeated the Frizons twice with the Bishop that had preached a 1000 years Pardon to every Person that could kill a Hollander rased Mour Mount and settled the Faction at Dort But dying suddenly 1300 and leaving his Wife childless who returned to England and married the Earl of Oxford Gillis Brecht of Amstel seized and fortified Amsherdam The Factions of Scheirlingen and Ven Coopen brake out in Friezland and both maintained their Franckises and Liberties against the Emperours Lieutenant Albert D. of Saxony who came
and that the Conscience should be free 2. That Religion consisted not in outward Ceremony but in the inward Perswasion 3. That the King should hear every mans perswasion and endeavour to convince them 4. That the Scripture should decide Controversies 5. That every peaceable man should be allowed free exercise of Religion whatsoever might be his perswasion because all the World could not hinder a Religion that is of God 6. That several abuses in the Church whereat the people were offended should be reformed 7. That the King should think none could be true to him that was not faithful to God 8. That the Masters of the most useful Trades and most large Stocks in the Nation would desert it upon the first settlement of the Ecclesiastical Government to enjoy the Liberty of their Consciences and go to Embden France and England with whom likewise â—the best Souldiers and Gentlemen would take this occasion to withdraw 9. That the strength of Kings is the love of their Subjects whereof the most considerable are they of the Religion for Birth Interest Parts Estates Prudence and Learning 10. That it is no new thing to tolerate divers Religions the danger of a Countrey proceeding not from private Opinions but from secret Passions and Interests which together with the noise made of trouble and War which they pretended most to fear who most promoted them put the discontented Nobility assembled at the Prince of Parmai's marriage at Brussels And afterward at St. Tradon after a Declaration how much pity it was that so populous a Countrey should be ruined by evil Counsellors upon a resolution to Petition his Majesty in the name of the people for their ancient Rights and Liberties and for the further prosecution of the affairs to enter to mutual Oaths to stand by one another that what wrong was done to any one should be done unto all a Confederacy that gratified the Hopes of many improved the Fears of more and disturbed the Minds of all men altering the very Face of the Government the King and Church being awaked to a resolution and Rigour on the one hand and the People to a Fury and Madness on the other it being among other matters bruited abroad that the Duke of Brunswich should Levy 10000 German Horse to reduce them to subjection which together with the French suggestion of their approaching desolation and the German Princes aggravation of their Slavery when all their neighbour Countreys were free and they were themselves Members of the Empire and so should enjoy the priviledges of the Pacification at Passau adding that their Kingdom was Elective and that upon six such Articles as their King had broken That by the Feodau Law that King their Lord had forfeited his Right to his Fee by fellonious actings on their goods and lives and many more unseemly allegations in Private discourse and Publick Pasquils encouraged the Contrivers of this disturbance to Commissionate Agents to remonstrate the case of the Provinces in the Imperial Diet then at Ausburch before Maximilian the Emperour and when the Governess had offered so much reasonable moderation as prevailed with the more modest part of the Knights of the Order and other Noblemen interceding likewise very zealously with his Majesty of Spain for the confirmation of it the People are taught to protest against their Governours proceedings as to compliance with the Governess and his Majesty in their four seditious Petitions to the King and State which were no more than so many sawcy Menaces what would follow if they were not gratified in their Propositions that were not so much vouchsafed the honour of a perusal as were not the other unmannerly Remonstrances of Gaunt Bruges Ypre Hondschoon about the decay of Trades and Handicrafts and those of Flanders about Liberty of Religion carried on in a most Tumultuous and Riotous manner by a Rabble of Geux or Beggars as my Lord Barlement called them upon which appellation they coyned Meddals with the Kings Picture on the one hand a Wallet and a Dish on the other with this Inscription Faithful to God and the King even to bear the Wallet and presented a rebellious Petition by the Lord of Brederode to which the unquiet people would take no answer but an allowance for all their factious Assemblies for the time past and a full Liberty to their Consciences for the time to come with â—ecurity that all matters should be hereafter transâ—cted with the consent of the Estates Yea and notwithstanding as can did and satisfactory a return as could be expected the Gentlemen of the Confederacy as they were called fearful of the consequences of their Seditions and Mutinies exasperated the people with strange Letters bearing Date An. 1615 which they discovered threatning them and their Adherents with extremities intimating the mighty Sea and Land preparations which enflamed the Countrey into a general sedition and combustion that provoked the Government to Rigour on the one hand and incensed the Populacy to Tumults on the other The chief Conspirators judge the humour so high that they might work upon it and to that purpose order an Assembly amongst themselves for the Government An Assembly I know not whether more rediculous as wherein some were attired in Fryars Gray others carried Foxes-tailes in their Hats others carried Dishes and goods like Beggars their servants crying God save the Beggars Or more dreadful all being rude and unruly which yet the Princess invited civilly to Arschor and Duffel the one 6 Leagues the other 3 from Antwerp where a daring Petition is delivered to the Earl of Egmont and other Grandees who under pretence of acting for the Governess betrayed her insisting on the very same things in their Hâ—rangâ—es that the Rabble did in their Petitions yea and enrolling underhand formidable Levies under pretence of their securities about Villevoord while Antwerp was in a Combustion by the Faction of Brederode who raised Forces for the Liberty of the Subject on the one hand as the Earls of Megen and Arembergh drew up Forces for the Kings Prerogative on the other The Prince of Orange taking this opportunity to seize the Government of the Place as Seditious Preachers did to usurp the Pulpits of it the Magistrates being jealous and distrustful of the Populacy and the Populacy of the Magistracy and all afraid of the 1200 newly levyed there Which general distemper being not a little improved by the approaches of the Duke of Brunswick's Army to the Borders they rescue some Prisoners in a Mutiny and create such fears and jealousies touching the Confederate Gentlemen as they were termed that they insist upon Assurance and Security The Ministers dissenâ—ions and disputes come to Tumults the Sectaries under which name all discontents were shrowded preach and hear in Armes upon pretence of Letters intercepted that the Droissard had 3000 men inrolled with Cartloads of Arms to Massacre all those of the Reformation upon the Ringing of a Bell A suggestion that enraged the Multitude to cast off the
leave upon pain of death 10. He that sleeps at a Watch or bewrayeth the watch-word must dye 11. Mutineers and unlawful Assemblers shall dye 12. None shall Quarrel with a Souldier or lift up a sword against an Officer on pain of death 13. He that leaves his Post and Breach dieth 14. He that deserts his Captain or serveth under two shall be imprisoned during pleasure 15. He that imbezleth his Armour Provision or Furniture is discharged 16. He that steals any Souldiers Furniture fore-stalls any Victuals Exacts on the people abusâ—th Tradesmen shall dye 17. He that resist a Proclamation assists any Mâ—lefactor disturbs any Quarters sets on fire any Building within the Camp or without makes any false Alarms knavishly shall dye 18. No man shall neglect an Alarm entertain a stranger converse with Trumpeters or Messengers of the other side loyter with the Carriages or Forrage abroad without leave upon pain of suffering what the Marshal or chief Commander pleaseth 19 No Captain shall undertake any Enterprize or be absent from the Watch without Order from the General 20. Neither Souldier nor Captain shall dismiss sell or ransom any Prisoner or Booty beâ—ore he hath presented him or it unto his immediate Officer 21. Every Souldier shall stand by his Ensign day and night till ordered to depart and observe and learn the sound of Drums Fifes and Trumpets 22. No Beast shall be garbaged no Easement made but at a distance appointed from the Camp 23. Whosoever delivereth any place left to his charge or keeping flieth to the Enemy or passeth any other way either in Town or Camp but at the ordinary Gates without Order shall dye 24. No man shall as they March make any cry at all at the putting up of any hair c. All other offences that may tend to disorders not comprimised in the foresaid Rules shall be punished as the chief Commander shall think fit These are the several Particulars whereby they rose to this Grandeur and opulency whereof some have failed and the rest are not able to bear up that Government which they altogether erected Gent It being so obvious from these reflexions to conclude their weaknesse it were necessary their present Case and Controversie should be favourably staâ—ed to their Neighbours for compassion or assistance Trav. They are more unhappy in the ground of this present Quarrel than in any of the fore-mentioned particulars Gent. As how Sir Trav. Why first In reference to trade and Fishing in the narrow Seas The present state and Controversie between us and the Dutch ALl the world know that we have Right to the Narrow-Seas for the Seas that surround our Island whither the Scottish the British the Irish or German were possessed and secured by the Brittains who fished so much upon them that they furnished the Hilts of their Swords with such fishes teeth as they took and traded so considerably that none came amongst them but Merchants Those Seas were by them transmittâ—d with their countreyes to the Romans upon the Conquest who as they managed the Government of the Land by Presidents so they did that at the Sea by an Archigubernacy or chief Governour and Admiral who seâ—ured Commerce took Prizes looked on the Coasts of Spain Italy and Affrica it self After the Romans the Saxons succeeded to this Right and Dominion and commâ—nded the Sea under a Count of the Saxon shore i. e. whatever Pava ollus saith to the contrary the Sea-shore Octa and Ebista under Vortigerne and Hergist commanding these Seas the Saxons and Danes keeping a numerous Navy to that purpose by such Tributes and Duties as they imposed upon their Vassals particularly Dane-ghelt for the Guard of the Sea Edgar and Canutus styling themselves Soveraigns of the Sea The Right and Dominion of the Seas passed with this Nation to the Normans as appears 1. From their Government the custody of the Seas being under an Admiral by Commissions from the several Kings maintained by Tributes paid in consideration of the said custody 2. From their Right in all the Islands lying on the Sea before the French shore 3. From leave asked alwaies and granted to Forreigners by the English to pass thâ—se â—eaâ— And those that asked leave were the Kings of Denmark and Sweden the Hans Towns in Quern Elizabeths time Hollanders and Zealaâ—â—ers themselves not daring to fish before they asked leave of Scarborough and Kâ—ng James proclaiming May 6. 1610. That none fish upon the English or the Irish Sea without leave obtained and every year at least renewed from the Commissioners appointed for this purpose at London But 4. Our Right to the Sea appears from the Limits we set to such Forreigners as Moderators of the Sea as 〈◊〉 at enmity with one another and at amity with the English 5. From the Publick Records wherein the Dominion of the Sea is ascribed to the Kings of England by the King himself and the Estates of Parliament with very great deliberation and in such express words as these Lords of the English Sea on every side all people accounted us Soveraigns of the Seas That our Soveraign Lord the King and his Illustrious Progenitors being Lords of the Seas would impose a Tribute upon all strangers the Kings of England have by right of their Dominions been Lords of the Sea these are the words of all Europeâ— by their Commissioners at Paris and made Laws Statutes and Restraints of Arms upon them together with Admirals that they should preserve their Superiority over the same 6. From the Laws and most received Customs of England that make the Seas the Patrimony of Eng. and the King by the old custom of Engl. Lord of the Narrow-â—eas and his Soveraignty there so ancient that they make the four Seas to be equivalent with those words within or without the Kingdom De mer Apourtenant au Râ—â—d ' Angleterre The Sea belonging to the King of England 7. From the Coyn called Rose-nobles of which its said four things our Nobles sheweth to our King Ship Sword power of the Sea 8. From the custom of striking sail on our Coast time out of mind 9. From the Licenses granted upon their humble supplications to the French and Flemings with limitted number of Boats to fish upon our Coastâ— 10. From the Prerogative whereby all wrecks and Royal fishes as Whales Sturgeons c taken in our Seas are due to the King of England onely or unto such to whom by special Charter he grants the same Stat. Edw 3. 17. The state of the Controversies in point of Injuries and Affronts with the Vnited Netherlands Trav HOw they forced us to trade at second hand 1. In Ternata under their Fort Tabuche 3 In Motir 3. In Tidore 4. In â—alvan Hillo Amboyn 5. At Bunda 6. Poleway 7. The Coast of Cormandel near their Arsenal at Jacatra 8. Their chief places Bantham Japan Jamby though we directed them to all these places How they represented us as Pyrates there and when they had done any mischief said they were Englishmen untill for our safety we were fain to distinguish our selves from them by the solemnity of Novemb. 17. and 5. How they contrived to blow up our Warehouses forbad us all Commerce upon Queen Eliz. her death made all Christians so odious that the first Question asked in those parts was Are you Flemmings How they seized our Yards Wharfs c. giving order to kill every Englishman that would not swear fealty to them upon the erecting of their Fort at Banna intending to put all English in an old ship and blow it up How they search and stop our ships give out that they are under a King Make us pay them Custom at Bantham How they seized our ships at Poâ—eway though the Island was given our King leading our men about streets with Halters about their necks and an Hour glass before them intimating that after that ran out they should be hanged How though the Mogul would not look on them till Sir Tho. Roe assured him they were our Friends they seized our Poleroon 1617 suborning the Slaves to burn our ships loading our men with Irons dismembring some setting others in their wounds in hard Grates wherein their Legs swelling so that they could go neither in nor out without a Carpenter pissing over their heads in Dungeons every morning and allowing them but a half-penny loaf and a pinte of water a day How it was proved at Jacatra that the States were seven years a plotting a War between the English and the Dutch at the Indiâ—s threatning likewise to land 60000 men in 24000 Flat-boats in England How they carried us in Cages from Port to Port boasting that our King was their Vassall How though between 1577 when we assisted them first in their Indian trade and 1625 they got 1500 Tuns of Gold in Private hands besides 400 in Common they used us in Amboyna They disputed our Right to the Sea stopped our entrance to and Trade at Bantham Scanderooâ— Guinee Angola c. burned â—â—ur Factories at Jambee How they surprized us at Guinee abused us in the restoring of the Island Polaroon which they have promised from time to time since 1622. How they gave us Law in the New Netherlands a spot of ground they held of us by curtesie How they put our men in nasty Dungeons at Castledelmina to lye in their own Excrements having not bread and water enough to sustain Nature leaving the living and the dead after exquisite tortures to lye together Injuries these with Infinite more of the like nature to the value of 600000l in goods being aggravated with their preparations for War to maintain them even when His Maâ—esty for three years together solicited them to justice and peace that make it evident to the World that War which is defined The state of two Parties contending by publick force about right and wrong is become necessary to us since equity is denyed and that we must put our affairs to the order of force when they dare not come to the Test of the Law Insomuch that I conclude That as few will pity this ill-natured and unhappy People at the end of the War as incourage them in the beginning of it FINIS
that they had taken from us but added to their Insolencies there their strict Orders against all free Trade to Flanders which they Monopolized to themselves even during their War in that Countrey and indeed where ever they have seen any advantage as by Cunning Force or Fraud they have been able no consideration of Right Friendship Leagues Humanity or Religion have held them from endeavouring the accomplishing of the same CHAP. VII Their Perfidiousness to all Nations FOr they are observed by all Nations to be a wretched sort of people not to be trusted in any Leagues or Treaties they being the sad souls that entred into a League Offensive and Defensive with Lewis the 13th of France 1630 upon condition he made no peace with Spain without them notwithstanding which they endeavoured a Peace or Truce with Spain without either his advice or consent as appeared by several passages of under hand dealâ—ngs of the Dutch with the Spaniards in a complaint made by the French Embassador to the States Yea when another League Offensive and Defensive was concluded Feb. 8. 1635 between France and Holland and a War with Spain commenced thereupon these Posterity of Judas that will sell their God for three pieces of Silver denying their Religion as familiarly in Heathen Countreyâ— for Trade as they do their words in their own for Interest went so far underhand in their overtures of Peace with the Spaniards that their Attorney General Musch was dispatched to Don Martine Axpe the King of Spain Secretary about them though they denyed it to the King of France who told my Lord Paw their Embassadour that these secret proceedings did contradict their solemn Treaty and differed much from the justice his Majesty had used towards them The same League being continued from 1636 to 1642 in the year 1640 they treat again with the Spaniard against the French Declaration that intimated their Non-ability to Treat with pain without the concurence of his Majesty of France Yea a peace was negotiated by several Letters intercepted to the Cond Pinneranda and shewed the States by the French Embassadour at the Hague at the very same time when 12000 French ventured their lives and fortunes for them against Dunkirk and Flanders which peace was concluded at Munster though confessed by Her van Nederhurst one of the Plenipotentiaries there to be contrary to the agreement between France and them and declared so by a Manifesto of the King of France They that durst deal thus with the French deal worse with the Portugals with whom when they revolted from Spain as they had done before they entred into a firm League at Lisbone and the Hague 1640 with mutual clearness as to outward appearance on both sides But see the craft of these people They insert in their Articles of peace that it should not begin beyond the Line till a year after In the mean time adsing their men at Brazile and elswhere to take all they could get from the Portugoze as they did Aâ—gola Mallacca and Brazile Embassadours were sent from Portugal to demand these places the Hollanders produced the said clause of the Truce which was all the Portugez could get of the Hollander for said they There is no wrong done in regard that in that clause its said That each side should hold and keep what he can take and in such a time Whereupou the Portugal Embassadour said to them very well That that must be understood Bonâfide viz That which should be taken without having any knowledge of the Truce Neither have they been more faithful to the â—wede whom they engaged to assist them against the Dane and in the middest of that service deserted him making conditions of peace for themselves and retyring Not much unlike their dealing with the King of Great Brittain 1664 whose ayd they craved against the Algier men which was no sooner granted Sr John Lawson attending their service and the Interest of Christendom then they diserted him without any notice of their departure and made as fast as they can to Guinny to fight against His Majesties Subjects there while His Subjects assisted them in the Streights CHAP. VIII How unable they are to deal with us A Man would think that these Hogens had a vast Power that durst indulge themselves these practises against great Monarchies and Kingdoms when alas if we consider their humours how mutinous are they and uncertain If we reflect upon their Countrey A little Marsh consisting of 7 Provinces viz The Dutchy of Gelderland the Countreys of Holland and Zealand the Lordships of Vtrecht Friezland Overystel and Groninghen threatened every day from Germany Eastward alarmed by the ea Northward and watched by Brabant Flanders and the other 10 Provinces Southward If we regard the Scituation of it it may be drowned by 2000 men as Count Mansfield offered in a wet Winter so easie a thing it is to overthrow their Earth Ramports and Banks which are but 25 Ells broad and 10 long in the most remarkable places and yeelds very often to the strength of the Sea it self it may be overrun by 6000 men in a frosty Winter the great frost 1607 being the great reason they would hearken to a Truce that year If we look upon their Rivers 1. The Mase running from Lorrain to Bredâ— 2 The Sheld flowing from Picardy a little above Antwerp And the Rhine arising in the Alps and falling to Amsterdam also easily blocked up and so usually frozen If we observe their Taxes upon every thing that a man eats drinks or enjoyeth so burthensom to the Commonalty If we weigh their Interest abroad which through their ungratefulness infidelity with Spain Portugal France Germany and Sweden and usurpations is so inconsiderable If we respect their people so diminished by a sad Plague that they are not able to inhabit and people their Country If we cast our eye on their Trade all Nations having learned their Methods and Inventions now dead If we mind their shipping upon their misunderstanding with the Northern Kingdoms that supplyed them with Timber and Cordage now decayed If we animâ—dvert the condition of Eriel Flushing and other Port Towns that command the passage to Delph Rotterdam Dort Gertenburgh and the capacious Bay of the Texel now weak If we survey their Government their Stat-holder mistrusting them and they him the Provinces being all absolute and Independant one drawing one way and another another and every one forgetting the Publick good in pursuit of a Private Interest Holland being ambitious over the rest and the rest envious at it Their Military Power invested in the Prince of Orange being disobliged by the Civil and their Civil Power afraid of the Military now much shattered nothing more unseasonable than a War with England especially if we add to all this their Fortune in the last War Viz Holland was united by its own Interest and His Majesties and England was nothing else but the poor remainders of a Civil War and a Faction when the
make an Interest yet in the divisions of Europe Trav. It s possible but very improbable since they have lost their Reputation which is the bottom of their Interest and you will fide none will heartily close with them because none can really trust them Gent. Potentates without Integrity are the same thing with Tradesmen without Credit for suspicion is irreconcileable and it s said of Rome that Favendo piet ati fideique ad tantum fastigii per venerit And if you can make this good the Low-countreys have seen their best days Trav. I wish them no more harm than that your inference be not as fatally just as the premises are irrefragably true and easily evidenced to be so by as notorious an Induction as is this day Registred in Europe Gent. As how Trav. 1. In reference to Spain Then they petition against strangers declare for Liberty and Religion when they had newly taken the Oath of Allegiance made their Soveraign a Present of 120000l and insinuated their chief Demagogues to the places of greatest Honour and Trust in the Countrey Then they surprize Mecklenburgh Enchusen c. when they treated at Brussels Then they subscribed themselves Vassals to Franâ—e when they had senta Petition to Spain In a word Whatever was the ground of these mens revolt from that Kingdom their conduct in it had nothing of Honour or clearness as wholly suiting a Popular and Plebeian humour 2. In reference to France Not to mention the affront they put upon Mounsier 1578 when they entertained him for Protector yet obliged themselves to whence upon his exclusion Q. Eliz from Amsterd the Hierogliphick that represented them was a Cow fed by Q. Eliz. stroaked by the Prince of Orauge and held by the tayl by D. Francis till it bewrayed him or any other sleights before they came to a consistency which may be reckoned as their necessity rather then their fault 1627. When they were High and Mighty a strictly mutual Consederacy and Alkance Defensive and Offensive for 17 years with a mutual Engagement not to treat with Spain on either side without consent was agreed on Aug. 28. between Lâ—wis 13th of France and the States of the United Provinces ratified June 30 1630 and pursued on the French side with a Million of Lieurs i. e. 100000l sterling besides 10000 Foot and 1500 Horse fallen into Artois and Henault notwithstanding all which particulars they endeavoured a Truce with Spain and the States of Flanders without the advice or consent of France as appears by several underhand dealingâ—s of the Dutch with the Spaniards couched in the French Embassadours memorial to the States 1634. With whom I mean Mounsier de Charness by name when their â—reaties with Spain proved fruitless Feb 8. 1635. they renewed the former League upon the very same terms of No peace with Spain without mutual consent and in pursuit of it fell with joynt forces upon Tienen Loven Skinchen-Schons yet the Province of Holland suspecting France no less than Spain in the very heat of this War wherein the French were engaged on their account so good are these Watermen at Rowing one way and Looking another their Attorney General Musch is secretly dispatched to Don Martin Axpe Secretary to the King of â—pain about a Treaty which the States solemnly denyed to Carnasse and yet their Embassador Paw when the French King told him That these secret proceedings did contradict their solemn Treaty and how much it differed from the justice his Majesty used towards them said they had communicated it to Charnesse 1641 1642 1643. Yea though Anno 1635 1636 1637 1638 there were notwithstanding these underminding several ratifications passed of these Treaties and 1644 a League Guarantin entered into Yet as Mounsier de la Thuillerâ—es averred to their Faces not a Month in these years passed without overtures between them and the Spaniards which brought on the Treaty at Munster without and against the French Kings consent even when he was in the field on their behalf at Dunkirk Stechen Loqueren c at the rate of 18 or 20000 Foot and four or 5000 Horse to no purpose the Dutch slurring him in most undertakings as particularly at Antwerp which did as good as offer up it self to their Army Nay which was more the intercepted Letters of Count de Pennerandâ—â— made it evident That The peace at Munster was agreed on without any regard to the French Interest which was not so much as named by the Dutch And though the other Provinces were against it yet because Holland was for it they would soon bring the other Provinces to a complianâ—e Only honest Heer van Nederhurst refused to sign so perfldious a Treaty against not only the Honour but the very Interest of his Countrey of which I may say as the Greek Orators of Sparta No League no subsistance no Faith no League 3. Should I re-capitulate their strange dealings with England how they solicited our Queen and yet dealt with the French King How they promised us free Trade yet stopped our ships How they borrowed our money to buy a peace with Spain How they admitted our Embassadors to their supream Senate yet because he should not understand all Debates they presently set up a secret Council How they intreated the Q. to send over the Earl of Leicester yet abused him so far that he left behind him a Meddal whereon there was engraven a Dog and a flock of Sheep with this Inscription Non Oves sed Ingratos How they depended on our Field Officers and yet enjealousied them one against the other How they delivered us the Caution Towns we had taken yet were never quiet till they had trucked for them How they owned King James their Protector yet set up a blasphemous Reader I mean Vorstius in competition with him What earnestness they used to disswade him from Alliance with Spain when they had a correspondent there How they complemented King Charls the first of blessed memory when they disputed his Right to his own Seas How they protest their Obligations to him yet cheat us of the Impost upon their Herring fishing and presume to fight with Oquendo the Spanish Admiral in our very Havens How they had their Agents here during our Civil War under pretence of mediating our Peace observing the advantages they might make of our War How affectionately they there embraced the Kings Interest and yet how suspiciously their Embassadour faultered about his death How zealously they espoused his Majesties Interest that now is while hopefull 1649 1650 1651 1652 for a pretence to hide their design of quitting the Homage they owed to England and engrossing its Trade and when that was done how like themselves that is Cunningly they deserted it from 1653 to 1660 How eager they were to entertain His Majesty though not till they had assurance of his Restauration and yet how unkind to his Excellent Sister and her Son How instant for Peace at White-hall and yet how unreasonable
least moment but see their Orders executed 2. The States General called Hoegh Moeghend or High and Mighty consisting 1. Of Delegates chosen by the seven Provinces somtimes for three years somtimes for more never for life 2. Of a President changed every eighth day 3. Secretaries removed every three years all paid by their respective Provinces a constant stipend and when sworn not to regard so much the Interest of their particular Provinces as of the Union trusted 1. With the choice of Cenerals not so much to Command as Oversee 2. With the Oaths and other Disciplines of War by Sea and Land 3. With the answering of Embassadours 4. With the Accounts of the resective Governours and States of Provâ—nces and all other affairs They may be at leisure for 5. Onely all these affairs must be offered first to the States of every Province and thence imparted to the States General by the major part of whom all things are ratified unless in case of Taxes War Peace c. And such things as concern the Constitution of the Republick 3. A Council of State called by them Den Raet van Staten out of the States-General whose care is the Discipline and Provision of the Militia with the Execution of such Orders of the States-General as concern the Union and the whole Common-wealth 4. Upon Extraordinary occasions a General Assembly of the States called De general vergadering made up of more Delegates than ordinary are convented to treat of Offensive and Defensive Wars of Truce Leagues unaccustomed Taxes c. Affairs so managed with such unanimous consent that they cannot proceed till the dissenting Provinces be by Delegates sent to that purpose from the Assembly satisfied 5. The Council of the Admiralty consisting of Merchants and Sea-men whereunto their Maritine Revenue is brought with their Deputies changed every year whereof there are three appointed to reside in Holland the first at Amsterdam the second at Rotterdam and the the third at Hoorn One in Zealand and that at Middleburgh and one in Friezland and that at Harlem consisting of seven Senators one Secretary and one Treasurer of the Navy 6. The Council of the Treasury or the Committee of all Accounts new every 2 years to which all their taxes are paid in consisting of Merchants and Vsurers Gent. I do not clearly apprehend what judgment to make of their present state from their Government the least light in this particular will be a very great favour Trav. Briefly thus 1. While a Monarch acts these great Councils debate while he is at their door they demur either the quarrel as Vtrecht and its Deputies or the Method as Zealand or the charge as Friezland or the Command and Conduct as Holland 2. Each State and Province pretending to an equal Power they are so long in perswading dissenters by Delegates to Reason that they lose both their Votes and the very designes of them 3. Particular Piques and Animosities shall hazard a Publick Interest and some great ones will chuse to betray the State rather than gratifie an Adversary 4. Nay such are the disorders of a Common-wealth that when they should fight an Enemy they are scuffling among themselves and when the people expect effectual Orders in their Defence they are throwing Ink-horns at one anothers heads 5. The Deputies of each Provinces are ingaged to particular Interests when the whole lyeth at stake and the Question is Whether Zealand shall yeeld to Holland at that very instant when it s a question too Whether both are not swallowed by the first Invader 6. The temporary Grandees of a free State have a private fortune and a Posterity to provide for upon the Publick Stock when the Hereditary Princes of a Kingdom are secured for both and De Wit shall design onely the erection of a Family when King Alphonso the 4th aymes at the free Trade of EVROPE 7. And a Pension shall buy the best Vote in the Senate where is a man but would rather be a Duke under a Soveraign than Burgemaster among the Rabble 8. Besides that a sudden advancement of a Boor from his shop to the Senate not for his Wit God knoweth but for his Money is as much to seek in the affairs of War and Peace as myn Heer vander Meer who would needs make his son Admiral because he had one day ventured in a Caper from the Weiling to Burdeaux 9. Among which ignorant and unskilful multitude to be Eminent is to be dangerous and to deserve well of the Government and Countrey looks like a design to surprize it an instance whereof is old Barnevelt who after 40 years incomparable services was allowed no other Recompence than the loss of that head for out-witting his Countrey men which had so often over-reached their Enemies as likely to betray that State which he had so often supported 10. Neither is this the onely inconvenience of their backwardness and bangling in State-matters though its very sad that excellent persons dare not oblige their Countrey and its safer there to miscarry than go through an Enterprize for besides this they are forced to keep so many Forreigners in Pension during life as well when they have occasion to use them as when not lest they should be surprized in their ignorance or weakness as put them to the charge of a War in the calmest and best settled peace 11. What a peevish thing a Free-state is when the people want Trade or Work and those people are many in a narrow compass where they with much ease and privacy Meet Debate Complain Contrive yea and Remonstrate too is upon no Ground better known than in Holland and the United Provinces 12. And when all this is done they are so much puzzled about the choice of Officers and Commanders that to pitch upon a Commander when all cannot enjoy what every one desires in Chief is to hazzard a Revolt and to decide a Competition is to lose a Province where however the rejected Party will be able to undo in Private whatever his Competitor may undertake in Publick not heeding the Quarrel so much as the men that manâ—ge it 13. Neither is this all the mischief of that Government the nicities of Priviledges and Liberty Propriety and the Fundamental shall buzze the people in the greatest dangers to Mutinies against any trespassers against these sacred Rules that are within either their Malice or Revenge 14. Nay to see the ambitious Heads that aym at Power and Advantage by the disorders of the Publick affairs engaging 1. The simple and the sloathful 2. The I and no men and Blanks 3. The Contrivers and Speakers 4. The Sticklers and Dividers by Menaces Flattery Pretences Money or Preferment to move to press to quit divert and put off Debates in such season and order as may best comport with their Design and Advantage what fair dresses and cleanly couching of Proâ—ects what suitable ways of working they have upon the humours of their Fellow Burgemasters as their Fear their