Sir THOMAS OVERBURY HIS OBSERVATIONS IN HIS TRAVAILS UPON THE STATE OF THE XVII. PROVINCES AS THEY STOOD ANNO DOM. 1609. The Treaty of Peace being then on foot  
Printed. M.DC.XXVI.   
SIR THOMAS OVERBVRY'S OBSERVATIONS IN HIS TRAVELS UPON THE STATE of the 17. Provinces as they stood Anno Dom. 1609. the Treaty of Peace being then on foot.  

And first of the PROVINCES United.  
ALL things Concurred for the rising and maintenance of this State▪ the Disposition of the people, being, as mutinous, so industrious and frugal; the Nature of the Country, every where Fortifiable with water, the Situation of it, having behind them the Baltique Sea, which yields them all materials for Ships, and many other Commodities, and for Men, hard before them, France, and England, both fearing the Spanish greatness; and therefore, both Concurring for their Aid; the remoteness of their Master from them; the Change of Religion falling out about the time of their Revolt, and now the Marquis of Brandenburg, a Protestant, like to become Duke of Cleve. The discontentments of the Low-Countries did first appear, soon after the going away of the Kings of Spain, while the Duchess of Parma Governed; to suppress which beginnings, the Duke of Alva being sent, inflamed them more, upon attempting to bring in the Inquisition and Spanish Decimation, upon the Beheading Count Horn, and Count Egmont, persecuting those of the Religion, and undertaking to build Citadels upon all their Towns, which he effected at Antwerp, but enterprising the like at Flushing, that Town revolted first and under it began the War.  
But the more general revolt of the Provinces happened after the Death of Don Lewis de Requiesens, and upon the coming down of Don john of Austria, when all the Provinces, excepting Luxenburgh, upon the sack of Antwerp and other Insolences, Proclaimed the Spaniards Rebels and Enemies to the King; yet the abjuring of their obedience from the Crown of Spain was not in a year or two after.  
Holland and Zealand, upon their first standing out, offered the Sovereignty of themselves to the Queen, than the Protection, both which she neglected, and that while the French sent greater aid, and more men of quality than we; but after the Civil War began in France, that kept them busy at home, and then the Queen, seeing the necessity of their being supported, upon the pawning of Brill and Flushing, sent Money and Men; And since that, most part of the great exploits there have been done by the English, who were commonly the third part of the Army, being four Regiments, besides eleven hundred in Flushing, and the Ramekins, and five hundred in the Brill. But of late the King of France appearing more for them then ours, and paying himself the French that are there, they give equal, if not more Countenance to that Nation. But upon these two Kings they make their whole dependency, and though with more respect to him that is stronger, for the time, yet so as it may give no distaste unto the other.  
For the manner of their Government; They have upon occasion, an assembly of the general States, like our Parliament, being composed of those which are sent from every Province, upon summons; and what these Enact stands for Law. Then is there beside, a Counsel of State, residing for the most part at the Hage, which attends daily occasions, being rather employed upon affairs of State then of particular justice.. The most potent in this Counsel was BARNAVILL, by reason of his Advocates of Holland. And besides both these, every Province and great Town have particular Counsels of their own. To all which assemblies, aswell of the general States, as the rest, the Gentry is called for order sake, but the State indeed is democratical, the Merchant and the Tradesman being predominant, the Gentry now but few and poor; and even at the beginning the Prince of Orange saw it safer to rely upon the Towns than them: Neither are the Gentry so much engaged in the cause, the people having more advantages in a free State, they in a Monarchy. Their care in government is very exact and particular, by reason that every one hath an immediate interest in the State; Such is the equality of justice, that it renders every man satisfied; such the public regularity, as a man may see their Laws were made to guide, not to entrap; such their exactness in casting the expense of an Army, as that it shall be equally far from superfluity and want, and as much order and certainty in their acts of War, as in ours of Peace, teaching it to be both Civil and rich, And they still retain that sign of a Commonwealth yet uncorrupted, Private Poverty and public Weal: for no one private man there is exceeding rich, and few very poor, and no State more sumptuous in all public things. But the question is; whether this, being a free State, will aswell subsist in Peace, as it hath done hitherto in War, Peace leaving every one to attend his particular wealth, when fear, while the War lasts, makes them concur for their common safety; And Zealand, upon the least security, hath ever been envious at the predominancy of Holland and utrich, ready to Mutiny for Religion: and beside, it is a doubt, whether the same care and sincerity would continue, if they were at their Consistence, as appears yet whiles they are but in rising. The Revenue of this State ariseth chiefly from the Earl of Holland's Demaynes, and Confiscated Church livings, the rising and falling of Money, which they use with much advantage, their Fishing upon our Coasts, and those of Norway, Contribution out of the Enemy's Country, Taxes upon all things at home, and Impositions upon all Merchandizes from abroad. Their expenses upon their Ambassadors, their Shipping, their Ditches, their Rampires and Munition, and commonly they have in pay by Sea and Land 60000. men.  
For the strength; The nature of the Country makes them able to defend themselves long by land, neither could any thing have endangered them so much as the last great Frost, had not the Treaty been then on foot, because the Enemy being then Master of the field, that rendered their Ditches, Marshes, and Rivers as firm ground.  
There belongs to that State 20000. Vessels of all sorts, so that if the Spaniard were entirely beaten out of those parts, the Kings of France and England would take as much pains to suppress, as ever they did to raise them: For being our Enemies, they are able to give us the Law at Sea, and eat us out of all trade, much more the French, having at this time three Ships for our one, though none so good as our best.  
Now that whereupon the most part of their Revenue and strength depends, is their Traffic, in which mystery of State they are at this day the wisest; for all the Commodities that this part of the world wants, and the Indies have, as Spice, Silk, jewels, Gold, they are become the Conueyers of them for the rest of Christendom, except us, as the Venetians were of old; And all those Commodities that those Northern Countries abound with, and these Southern stand in need of, they likewise convey thither, which was the ancient Trade of the Easterlings: And this they do, having little to export of their own, by buying of their Neighbour-Countries the former, and selling them again what they bring back at their own prizes, and so consequently live upon the idleness of others. And to this purpose their Situation serves fitly; for Rivers of the Rhine, the Maze, and Skeld end all in their Dominions; and the Baltike Sea lies not far from them: All which afford them whatever the great Continent of Germany, Russia, and Poland yields; then they again lying between Germany and the Sea, do furnish it back with all Commodities foreign.  
To remember some pieces of their Discipline as patterns of the rest; The Watches at night are never all of one Nation, so that they can hardly concur to give up any one Town. The Commissaries are no where so strict upon Musters, and where he finds a Company thither he reduceth them, so that when an Army marcheth the List and the Poll, are never far disagreeing. Their Army is ever well Clothed, well Armed, and had never yet occasion to mutiny for Pay or Victuals. The Soldiers commit no where fewer Insolences upon the Burghers, fewer Robberies upon the Country, nor the Officers fewer deceits upon the Soldiers. And lastly, they provide well that their General shall have small means to invade their liberties: For first their Army is composed of many Nations, which have their several Commanders, and the Commands are disposed by the States themselves, not by the General. And secondly he hath never an implicit Commission left to discretion, but, by reason their Country hath no great bounds, receives daily Commands what to do.  
Their Territory contains six entire Provinces, Holland, Zealand, Virick, Groninghen, Oueriscell, and Ariezland, besides three parts of Gelderland, and certain Towns in Brabant and Flanders; the ground of which is for the most part fruitful; the Towns no where so equally beautiful, strong, and rich, which equality grows by reason that they appropriate some one Staple Commodity to every Town of note; only Amsterdam not only passeth them all, but even Seville, Lisbon, or any other Mart Town in Christendom, and to it is appropriated the trade of the East Indies, where they maintain commonly forty Ships, besides which there go twice a year from it, and the adjoining Towns, a great Fleet to the Baltique Sea: Upon the fall of Antwerp, that rose rather than Middleborough, though it stand at the same River's mouth, and is their second Mart town, to which is appropriated our English Cloth.  
Concerning the people, they are neither much devout, nor much wicked, given all to drink, and eminently to no other vice; hard in bargaining, but Just, surly and respectless, as in all Democracies, thirsty, industrious and cleanly, dishartened upon the least ill success, and insolent upon good; Inuentive in Manufactures, cunning in Traffic, and generally for matter of Action, that natural slowness of theirs suits better, by reason of the advisedness and perseverance it brings with it, than the rashness and changeableness of the French and Florentine wits, and the equality of spirits which is among them and the Swissers, renders them so fit for a Democracie, which kind of Government, Nations of more stable wits, being once come to a Consistent greatness, have seldom long endured.   

Observations upon the State of the Archduke's Country, 1609.  By Sir THO. OVERBURY. 
AS soon as I entered into the Archduke's Country (which begins after Lillow) presently I beheld works of a Province, and those of a Province distressed with War; the people heartless, and rather repining against their Governors, then revengeful against the Enemies, the bravery of that Gentry which was left, and the Industry of the Merchant quite decayed; the Husbandman labouring only to live, without desire to be rich to another's use; the Towns (whatsoever concerned not the strength of them) ruinous; And to conclude, the people here growing poor with less taxes, than they flourish with on the State's side.  
This War hath kept the King of Spain busy ever since it began (which some 38. years ago) and spending all the Money that the Indies, and all the Men that Spain and Italy could afford, hath withdrawn him from persevering in any other Enterprise; Neither could he give over this, without foregoing the means to undertake any thing hereafter upon France or England, and consequently the hope of the Western Monarchy. For without that handle the Ours of Peru, had done little hurt in these parts, in comparison of what they have. The cause of the expensefulnes of it, is the remoteness of those Provinces from Spain, by reason of which, every Soldier of Spain or Italy, before he can arrive there, costs the King an hundred Crowns, and not above one of ten that arrives proves good; beside, by reason of the distance, a great part of the Money is drunk up betwixt the Officers that convey it and pay it. The cause of the continuance of it, is, not only the strength of the Enemy, but partly by reason that the Commanders themselves are content the War shall last, so to maintain and render themselves necessaries, and partly because the people of those Countries are not so eager to have the other reduced, as willing to be in the like state themselves.  
The usual Revenue of those Provinces which the Archduke hath, amounts to 1200000. Crowns a year, besides which, there come from Spain every Month to maintain the War, 150000. Crowns. It was at the first 300000. Crowns a month, but it fell by fifties to this at the time when the Treaty began▪ Flanders pays more toward the war then all the rest, as Holland doth with the States. There is no Spaniard of the Counsel of State, nor Governor of any Province, but of the Counsel of War, which is only active; There they only are, and have in their hands all the strong Towns & Castles of those Provinces, of which the Governors have but only the Title.  
The Nations of which their Army consists, are chiefly Spaniards & Italians, emulous one of another there, as on the other side the French and English, and of the Country, chiefly Burgundians and Walloons. The Pope's Letters, and Spinola's inclination keep the Italians there, almost in equality of Command with the Spaniard himself.  
The Governors for the King of Spain there successively have been the D. of Alva, Don Lewis de Requiesens, Don john d'Austria, the Prince of Parma, the Archduke Ernestus, the Cardinal Andrew of Ostrich, and the Cardinal Albert, till he married the Infanta.  
Where the Dominion of the Ach-Duke and the State's part, there also changeth the nature of the Country, that is, about Antwerp: For all below being flat, and betwixt Meadow and Marsh, thence it begins to rise and become Champion, and consequently the people are more quick and spiritful, as the Brabanter, Fleming, and Wallon.  
The most remarkable place in that side is Antwerp (which rose upon the fall of Bruges) equally strong and beautiful, remaining yet so, upon the strength of its former greatness; twice spoilt by the Spaniard, and the like attempted by the French. The Citadel was built there by the D. of Alva, but renewed by the Prince of Parma after his 18. months besieging it, the Town accepting a Castle rather than a Garrison to mingle among them. There are yet in the Town of Citizens 30000. fight men, 600. of which kept Watch nightly, but they allowed neither Cannon upon the Rampire, nor Megazins of powder. In the Castle are 200. pieces of Ordnance, and commonly seven or eight hundred Soldiers. Flanders is the best of the seventeen Provinces, but the Havens thereof are naught.   

Observations on the State of France, 1609. under Henry the Fourth.  By Sir THOMAS OVERBURY. 
Having seen the form of a Commonwealth and a Province, with the different effects of Wars in them, I entered France, flourishing with Peace, and of Monarchies the most absolute, because the King there, not only makes Peace and Wars, Calls and dissolves Parliaments, Pardoneth, naturalizeth, Innobleth, Names the value of Money, Presseth to the War; but even makes Laws, and imposes Taxes at his pleasure: And all this he doth alone: for as for that form that his Edicts must be authorized by the next Court of Parliament, that is, the next Court of sovereign justice; first the Precedents thereof are to be chosen by him, and to be put out by him; and secondly, when they concur not with the King, he passeth any thing without them, as he did the last Edict for the Protestants: And for the assembly of the three Estates, it is grown now almost as extraordinary as a general Counsel; with the loss of which their Liberty fell, and when occasion urgeth, it is possible for the King to procure, that all those that shall be sent thither, shall be his Instruments: for the Duke of Guise effected as much at the assembly of Bloys.  
The occasion that first procured the King that Supremacy, that his Edicts should be Laws, was, the last Invasion of the English, for at that time they possessing two parts of France, the three Estates could not assemble, whereupon they did then grant that power unto Charles the Seventh during the War; And that which made it easy for Lewis the Eleventh and his Successors to continue the same, the occsion ceasing, was, that the Clergy and Gentry did not run the same fortune with the people there, as in England; for most of the Taxes falling only upon the people, the Clergy and Gentry being forborn, were easily induced to leave them to the King's mercy. But the King having got strength upon the Peasants, hath been since the bolder to invade part of both their liberties.  
For the succession of this Monarchy, it hath subsisted without intermission these 1200. years, under three Races of Kings. No Nation hath heretofore done greater things abroad in Palestine and Egypt, besides all parts of Europe; but for these last 400. years, they have only made Sallies into Italy, and often suffered at home.  
Three hundred years the English afflicted them, making two firm Invasions upon them, and taking their King prisoner; the second greatness of Christendom, next the Emperor, being then in competition betwixt us and them; And to secure themselves against us, rather than the House of Austria, as it then stood, they chose to marry the Heir of Bretaigne before that of Burgundy. And for this last hundred years, the Spantard undertaking them, hath eaten them out of all but France, and endangered that too. But for this present, France had never, as France, a more entire greatness, though it hath often been richer. For since the War the King is only got afore hand, the Country is but yet in recovering, the War having lasted by spaces 32. years, and so generally, that no man but had an Enemy within three miles, and so the Country became Frontier all over. Now that which hath made them, at this time, so largely great at home, is their adopting into themselves the lesser adjoining Nations, without destruction, or leaving any mark of strangeness upon them, as the Bretons, Gascoignes, Provincalls, and others which are not French; towards the which Unions, their nature, which is easy and harbourous to strangers, hath done more than any Laws could have effected, but with long time.  
The King (as I said) enjoying what Lewis the 11. did gain, hath the entire Sovereignty in himself, because he can make the Parliament do what he please, or else do what he please without them. For the other three Estates; The Church is there very rich, being estimated to enjoy the third part of the Revenue of France, but otherwise nothing so potent as elsewhere, partly because the Inquisition is not admitted in France, but principally because the Pope's ordinary power is much restrained there, by the Liberties which the French Church claimeth; Which Liberties do not so much ensranchize the Church itself, as confer the Authority the Pope looseth upon the King, as first fruits, and the disposing of all Spiritual preferments. And by reason of this neutrality of Authority, the Churchmen suffer more there, then either in England, where they wholly depend upon the King, or in Spain and Italy, where they wholly subsist by the Pope; because the Pope is not able totally to support them, and the King takes occasion ever to suppress them, as being not entirely his Subjects: and to him they pay yearly both the tenth of all their Tithe, and of all their Temporal land.  
The Gentry are the only entire Body there, which participate with the Prerogatives of the Crown; for from it they receive Privileges above all other men, and a kind of limited Regality upon their Tenants, besides real supply to their estates, by Governments and Pensions, and freedom from Tallies upon their own Lands; that is, upon their Domains, and whatsoever else they manure by their Servants; but so much as they let to Tenants is presently Tallie-able, which causeth proportionable abatement in the Rent; and in recompense of this, they owe to the King the Ban and the Arriereban; that is, to serve him and his Lieutenant three Months within the Land at their own Charges. And as in War they undergo the greatest part of the danger, so then is their power most perremptorie above the rest, whereas in time of Peace, the King is ready to support inferior persons against them, and is glad to see them to waste one another by Contention in Law for fear they grow rich, because he foresee, that as the Nobility only can do him service, so they only misapplyed can do him harm.  
The ancient Gentry of France was most of it consumed in the Wars of Godfrey of Boulogne, and some in those of Saint Lewis, because upon their setting out they pawned all their Feifs to the Church, and few of them were after redeemed; by reason whereof the Church possesseth at this day the third part of the best Feifs in France; and that Gentry was after made up by Advocates, Financiers, and Merchants ennobled, which now are reputed ancient, and are daily eaten out again and repaired by the same kind of men.  
For the people; All those that have any kind of profession or Trade, live well; but for the mere Peasants that labour the ground, they are only Sponges to the King, to the Church and the Nobitie, having nothing to their own, but to the use of them, and are scarce allowed (as Beasts) enough to keep them able to do service; for besides their Rent, they pay usually two thirds to the King.  
The manner of Government in France, is mixed, betwixt Peace and War, being composed as well of Military Discipline, as Civil justice, because having open Frontiers and strong Neighbours, and therefore obnoxious to sudden Invasions, they cannot (as in England) join ever Peace & security together.  
For the Military part, there is ever a Constable and a Marshal in being, Troops of Horse and Regiments of Foot in pay, and in all Provinces and places of strength, Governors and Garrisons distributed, all which are means for the preferment of the Gentry; But those as they give security against the enemy, so when there is none they disturb the enjoying of Peace, by making the Country's taste somewhat of a Province. For the Gentry find a difference betwixt the Governors' favour & disfavor, and the soldiers commit often Insolences upon the people.  
The Governments there are so well disposed by the King, as no Governor hath means to give over a Province into the Enemy's hand, the Commands thereof are so scattered: for the Governor Commands the Country, and for the most part the chief Town; then is there a Lieutenant, to the King, not to him of the same, and betwixt these two there is ever jealousy nourished; then hath every Town and Fortress particular Governors, which are not subaltern to that of the Province, but hold immediately from the Prince, and many times the town hath one Governor and the Castle another.  
The advantages of Governors (besides their pay from the King) are Presents from the Country, dead pays, making their Megazins' of Come and powder more than they need at the King's price, and where they stand upon the Sea, overseeing of unlawful goods: Thus much in Peace: In War they are worth as much as they will exact. Languedoc, is the best, than Bretaigne. Province is worth by all these means to the D. of Guise 20000. Crowns a year; but Province only he holds without a Lieutenant.  
Concerning the Civil justice there, it is no where more Corrupt nor expenseful. The Corruptness of it proceeds, first by reason that the King sells the places of justice at as high a rate as can be honestly made of them; so that all thriving is left to Corruption, and the gain the King hath that ways, tempts him to make a multitude of Officers, which is another burden to the Subject. Secondly, the Precedents are not bound to judge according to the written Law, but according to the Equity drawn out of it, which Liberty doth not so much admit Conscience, as leave wit without limits. The expencefulnesse of it ariseth from the multitude of Laws, and multiplicity of forms of Processes, the which two both beget doubt, and make them long in resolving. And all this Chiquanerey, as they call it, is brought into France from Rome, upon the Pope's coming to reside at Avignion.  
For the strength of France, It is at this day the greatest United force of Christendom; The particulars in which it consists are these: The shape of the Country, which being round, no one part is far from succouring another; The multitude of good Towns and places of strength therein are able to stay an Army, if not to waste it, as Metz did the Emperors; the mass of Treasure which the King hath in the Bastile; The number of Arsenals distributed upon the Frontiers, besides that of Paris, all which are full of good Arms and Artillery: And for ready men, the 5. Regiments bestowed up & down in Garrisons, together with the 2000 of the Guard; the Troops of ordinary and light Horse, all ever in pay; besides their Gentry all bred Soldiers, and of which they think there are at this present 50000. fit to bear Arms: And to Command all these, they have at this day the best Generals of Christendom, which is the only commodity the Civil wars did leave them.  
The weakness of it are, first the want of a sufficient Infantry, which proceeds from the ill distribution of their wealth; for the Peysant, which contains the greatest part of the people, having no share allowed him, is heartless and feeble, and consequently unserviceable for all Military uses, by reason of which, they are first forced to borrow aid of the Swissers at a great Charge, and secondly to compose their Armies for the most part of Gentlemen, which makes the loss of a battle there almost irrecoverable. The second is the unproportionable part of the land which the Church holds, all which is likewise dead to Military uses. For, as they say there, The Church will lose nothing, nor defend nothing. The third is the want of a Competent number of Ships and Galleys, by reason of which defect, first the Spaniard overmasters them upon the Mediterranean, and the English and Hollander upon the Ocean, and secondly it renders them poor in foreign Trade, so that all the great actions of Christendom for these fifty years, having been bend upon the Indies, they only have sat idle. The fourth is the weakness of their Frontiers, which is so much the more dangerous, because they are possessed, all but the Ocean, by the Spaniard: for Savoy hath been always as his own for all uses against France. The last is the difference of Religion among themselves, which will ever yield matter of civil dissension, and consequently cause the weaker to stand in need of foreign succours. The ordinary Revenue of the King, is, as they say now, some 14. Millions of Crowns, which arise principally from the Demaines of the Crown, the gabelle of Salt, tallies upon the Country, Customs upon the Merchandise, sale of Offices, the yearly Tithe of all that belongs to the Church, the rising and falling of Money. Fines and Confiscations cast upon him by the Law; but as for Wardships, they are only known in Normandy. His expense is chiefly Ambassadors, Munition, Building, Fortifying, and maintaining of Galleys. As for Ships when he needs them, he makes an Embark; In Pay for Soldiers, Wages for Officers, Pentions at home & abroad, upon the entertaining his House, his State, and his private pleasures. And all the first, but the Demaynes were granted, in the beginning, upon some urgent occasion, and after by Kings made perpetual, the occasion ceasing; and the Demaynes itself granted, because the King should live upon their own without oppressing their Subjects. But at this day, though the Revenue be thus great, and the taxes unsupportable, yet do they little more than serve for necessary public uses. For the King of Spain's greatness & Neighbourhood, forceth the King there to live continually upon his Guard; and the treasure which the Spaniard receives from his Indies, constrains him to raise his Revenue thus by Taxes, so to be able in some proportion to bear up against him, for fear else he should be bought out of all his Confederates and servants.  
For the Relation of this State to others, It is first to be considered, that this part of Christendom is balanced betwixt the three Kings of Spain, France, and England, as the other part betwixt the Russian, the Kings of Poland, Sweden, and Denmark. For as for Germany, which if it were entirely subject to one Monarchy, would be terrible to all the rest, so being divided betwixt so many Princes, and those of so equal power, it serves only to balance itself, and entertain easy War with the Turk, while the Persian withholds him in a greater. And every one of those first three, hath his particular strength, and his particular weakness: Spain hath the advantage of both the rest in Treasure, but is defective in Men, his Dominions are scattered, and the conveyance of his Treasure from the Indies lies obnoxious to the power of any Nation that is stronger by Sea. France abounds with Men, lies close together, and hath Money sufficiently. England being an Island, is hard to be Invaded, abounds with Men, but wants Money to employ them. For their particular weakness: Spain is to be kept busy in the Low-Countries: France is to be afflicted with Protestants, and England in Ireland. England is not able to subsist against any of the other hand to hand, but joined with the Lowe-Countries it can give Law to both by Sea, and joined with either of them two it is able to oppress the third as Henry the Eight did.  
Now the only entire body in Christendom that makes head against the Spanish Monarchy, is France; and therefore they say in France, that the day of the ruin of France, is the Eve of the ruin of England: And thereupon England hath ever since the Spanish greatness, inclined rather to maintain France rather then to ruin it; as when King Francis was taken prisoner, the King of England lent Money towards the payment of his Ransom: And the late Queen (when the Leaguers, after the Duke of Guise his death, had a design to Cantonize France) though offered a part, would not consent. So then this reason of State, of mutual preservation, conjoining them, England may be accounted a sure Confederate of France, and Holland by reason it partly subsists by it; the Protestant Princes of Germany, because they have Countenance from it against the house of Austria, the Protestant Swissers for Religion and Money; the Venetians for protection against the Spaniard in Italy: So that all their friends are either Protestants or enclyning, and whosoever is extreme Catholic, is their enemy, and Factors for the Spanish Monarchy, as the Pope, the Cardinals for the most part, and totally the Jesuits, the Catholic Princes of Germany, and the Catholics of England and Ireland. For the Jesuits, which are the Ecclesiastical strength of Christendom, France, notwithstanding the many late Obligations, hath cause to despair of them: for they intending, as one Pope, so one King, to suppress the Protestants, and for the better support of Christendom against the Turk, and seeing Spain the likelier to bring this to pass, they follow the nearer probability of effecting their end.  
No addition could make France so dangerous to us, as that of our Lowe-Countries: for so it were worse then if the Spaniard himself had them entirely. As for their hopes of regaining Italy, it concerns the Spaniard immediately rather then us.  
Concerning the state of the Protestants in France, during Peace they are protected by their Edict: For their two Agents at Court defend the General from wrong, and their Chambres-impartyes every particular person: And if troubles should arise, some scattered particulars might be in danger, but the main body is safe, safe to defend themselves, though all France join against them, and if it break out into Factions, the safest, because they are both ready and united.  
The particulars of their strength are, first their Towns of surety, two of which command the River of Loire.  
Secondly, their Situation, the greatest part of them lying near together, as Poictou, Zanningtonge, High Gascoigne, Languedoc, and Dauphin, near the Sea, so consequently fit to receive succours from abroad, and remote from Paris, so that the quality of an Army is much wasted before it can approach them.  
The third, is the sufficiency of their present Governors, Boulogne and Desdeguiers, and other second Commanders. And for the Princes of the Blood, whom the rest may, in show, without emulation obey, when they come once to open action, those which want a party will quickly seek them.  
The last, is the aid they are sure of from foreign Princes: For whosoever are friends to France in general, are more particularly their friends.  
And beside, the Protestant party being grown stronger of late, as the Low-Countries, and more united, as England and Scotland, part of that strength reflects upon them; and even the King of Spain himself, which is Enemy to France in general, would rather give them succour, then see them utterly extirpated: And yet no Foreign Prince can ever make further use of them, then to disturb France, not to invade it himself. For as soon as they get an Edict with better Conditions, they turn head against him that now succoured them, as they did against us, at New-haven.  
Concerning the proportion of their number, they are not above the seventeen or eighteenth part of the people, but of the Gentlemen there are 6000. of the Religion; but since the Peace they have increased in people, as principally in Paris, Normandy, and Dauphin, but lost in the Gentry, which loss cometh to pass, by reason that the King when he finds any Gent. that will but hearken, tempts him with preferment, and those he finds utterly obstinate, suppresseth: And by such means he hath done them more harm in Peace, then both his Predecessors in War. For in all their assemblies he corrupts some of their Ministers to betray their Counsel in hand; and of the 100 & 6000. Crowns a year, which he pays the Protestants to entertain their Ministers, and pay their Garrisons, he hath gotten the bestowing of 16000 of them upon what Gentleman of the Religion he pleaseth, when by that means he moderates, if not gains: and beside, they were wont to impose upon him their two Deputies which are to stay at Court, but now he makes them propose six, out of which he chooseth the two, and by that obligeth those; & yet notwithstanding all this, in some occasions he makes good use of them too. For as towards England he placeth none in any place of strength but firm Catholics; so towards Spain and Savoy he often gives charge to Protestants, as to la Force in Bearne, Desdeguiers and Boisse in Bresse.  
Concerning the King himself, he is a person wonderful both in War and Peace: for his Acts in War, he hath manumized France from the Spaniard, & subdued the League, being the most dangerous plot that hath been laid, weakening it by Arms, but utterly dissolving it by wit, that is, by letting the Duke of Guise out of Prison, and Capitulating with the heads of it every one a part, by which means he hath yet left a continual hatred among them, because every one sought, by preventing other, to make his Conditions the better; so that now there remains little connexion of it amongst the Gentry, only there continues some dregges still among the Priests, and consequently the people, especially when they are angered with the increase and prosperity of the Protestants.  
For his Acts of Peace, he hath enriched France with a greater proportion of Wool, and Silk, erected goodly Buildings, cut Passages betwixt River and River, and is about to do the same betwixt Sea and Sea, redeemed much of the Mortgaged Demaynes of the Crown, better husbanded the Money, which was wont to be drunk up two parts of it in the Officers hands, got aforehand in Treasure, Arms and Munition, increased the infantry, and suppressed the unproportionable Cavalry, and left nothing undone but the building of a Navy.  
And all this may be attributed to himself only, because in a Monarchy, Officers are accordingly active or careless, as the Prince is able to judge and distinguish of their labours, and withal to participate of them somewhat himself.  
Sure it is that the Peace of France, and somewhat that of Christendom itself, is secured by this Prince's life: For all Titles and Discontents, all factions of Religion there suppress themselves till his Death; but what will ensue after; what the rest of the House of Bourbon will enterprise upon the King's Children, what the House of Guise upon the House of Bourbon, what the League, what the Protestants, what the Kings of Spain, and England, if they see a breach made by civil Dissension, I choose rather to expect then Conjecture, because God hath so many ways to turn aside from humane foresight, as he gave us a testimony upon the Death of our late Queen.  
The Country of France, considering the quantity, is the fairest and richest of all Christendom, and contains in it most of the Countries adjoining. For Picardy, Normandy, and Bretaigne, resemble England; Languedoc, Spain, Province, Italy, and the rest is France.  
Besides, all the Rivers that pass through it, end in it. It abounds with Corn, Wine, and Salt, and hath a Competency of Silk; but is defective in Wool, Leather, Metals, and Horses; and hath but few very good Havens, especially on the North side.  
Concerning the People; Their Children at first sight seem Men, and their Men Children, but who so, in negotiating, presumes upon appearance, shall be deceived, Compassionate towards their own Nation and Country; loving to the Prince, and so they may have liberty in Ceremony, and free access to him, they will be the better content that he shall be absolute in matter of substance; impatient of Peace any longer than whiles they are in recovering the ruins of War; the presentness of danger inflames their courage, but any expectation makes it languish; for the most, they are all Imagination, and no judgement, but those that prove solid, excel; Their Gentlemen are all good outward men, good Courtiers, good Soldiers, and knowing enough in Men and business, but merely ignorant in matters of Letters, because at fifteen they quit books, and begin to live in the world, when indeed a mediocrity betwixt their form of education and ours would do better then either. No men stand more punctually upon their Honours in matter of Valour, and which is strange, in nothing else; for otherwise in their Conversation, the Custom and shifting and overspeaking, hath quite overcome the shame of it.  
FINIS.