THE DUTCH Drawn to the LIFE, IN  

I. An Exact Description and Character of the several Provinces of the Netherlands.  
II. An Account of their Trade and Industry.  
III. A well-weigh'd re-search into their Policy, Government, and Strength.  
IV. A particular Discourse of their Religion and customs.  
V. A close Narrative of the way and Method whereby they made themselves a Free State, under the conduct of the Prince of Aurange: Whereunto is added the Lives of the 5. last Princes.  
VI. A continued History of the last War, together with their Dealings wit● England, from the year 1612. to the year 1660.   
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Johnson, at the Key in St. Pauls Churchyard, and H. Marsh, at the Princes Arms in Chancery lane, 1664.   

TO THE READER.  
Reader,  
THis Piece is not the Melancholy Conceit, the Idle Transport, or the narrow and short Observations of any Single, or Impertinent Person, but an Exact Collection of what the most Sage States-men, the most Reserved Politicians, the most Judicious Historians, the most Discerning Travellers, the most Critical and Deep Discoursers have bequeathed us, concerning this great Scene of Wit and Industry, Prudence and Business, Skill and Activity, Experience and Success: Here are the Profound Courtier Bentivoglio's Exact Characters and Descriptions; the Apprehensive& Quick favourite, Overbury, his Weighty reflections; the Rational and public spirited Writer, Sir John Burroughs, his Usefull Discoveries; the Ingenious Travellers, Mr. Howel, and Mr. Feltham's smart Resentments; the Grave Writer, Mr Shute's Methodical History; Polite Strada's Prudent memoirs; Active strand, and Scot's solid Conclusions;— In a word, the Low-Countries give you a short Map and View of what the whole World sheweth you at Large; and this Book is the Quintessence of what whole Volumes have been taken up with; What would you know in the Universe, that you shall not see in Holland? and what would you understand of Holland, that you see not here? both are all in a Little; the Book and the Argument; both Europe in Amsterdam Print.— Would the Speculativi see whether a Monarchy or a Common-wealth? Here the Question is Decided. Would the Tradesman Thrive? here is the best Exchange. Would the soldier or master excel in their way? here is Skill and Experience; Would the Libertine enjoy his Conscience? here is that Mystery revealed; Would you compare their Strength with ours? here it is done to your hands; Is Trade dead? here is the reason of it; Are we Poor? go to the Dutch, and learn to Improve your own Wealth. What Bishop Williams would say of King James, that I may of the Hollander, when Lively Described, there is not that thing that a Man or Nation need to Learn, that they cannot Teach.  
I can wish thee no more Pleasure in the Reading, than I had in the Review of these solid remarks, when all Holland came to me, as the whole World comes to it, even when I was in Bed, where I red more in an hour, than I shall see while I live: Happy that man that goeth over in one Morning the Journeys of many yeares, and enjoys at Night, in the recollection and contemplation, the Content of an Age. There groweth nothing in Holland, yet there is the Wealth of the World: here is nothing of my own, and yet here is the substance of what can be said of that Subject; here is for twelve pence, what cost those Authors their Estates; the Hollander ever affords good penny worths, and now is one; Twelve pence a piece, and welcome Gentlemen.   

A DESCRIPTION OF Holland, And The DUTCH Provinces.  D. L. 
YOu are well met this morning, I pray what news?  R. R. 
The best news that is,( as the Italian saith) no news?  D. L. 
But do you not hear what the House did to day?  R. R. 
Neither have I heard, neither is it fit I should, it was never well in this Kingdom, as Cardinal Wolsey observed, since public debates were made the subject of private discourses; but the wisdom of this Government hath better provided that none of the great Consultations of that most August and solemn Assembly in the World, should be published without Their leave.  D. L. 
Very fit it is that people should study to be quiet, and follow their own business; the neglect of this last makes men Idle, and the times bad; that of the first makes them turbulent, and the times dangerous. But did you not hear of the Dutch war Voted yesterday?  R. R. 
Why that is it— there cannot a Vote pass at Westminster for the removing of the obstruction of Trade, but it is cried at London a Dutch war: with so little judgement do we discourse things who are at a distance that it were our greatest prudence not to judge of them at all; but leave those things that are above our level as improper for our consideration, which is rather distracted than informed by those half thoughts of things, all whose circumstances come not under our cognizance.  D. L. 
What was it then that was Voted, if not the Dutch war?  R. R. 
It was Voted by the noblest Patriots that ever sat within those Walls, That all obstructions of Trade should be removed; and particularly that the injuries and affronts done us by the Dutch should be inquired into and remedied by all means possible, and that they would stand by his most Excellent Majesty in this enquiry and remedy with their Lives and Fortunes.  D. L. 
What should be the reason of this War proceeding towards them in this juncture?  R. R. 
That you must excuseme in, it being as much as every man can do to give a reason of his own actions: this is visible, Trade is decayed; and there is not a Prince more knowing in the concerns, nor more tender of the interest of Trade in the Christian world then our Dread sovereign.  D. L. 
But if it should come to a war, is this a proper juncture of time for it?  R. R. 
Leave that to the exact wisdom of our Superiors, who as they are higher, so they see further then we: But the Dutch were never worse provided then now, so much they are engaged other ways by Sea and Land; nor we better; So many superfluous humours have we to spend upon that war, that are troublesone to themselves, and us in a time of peace: for Trade we are agreed with all foreign Nations; against the Dutch we are agreed among ourselves: never was any thing so unanimously applauded by men of all persuasions and interests, as a Dutch war, which is the universal Wish of the people; if it were as well the resolve of their superiors.  D. L. 
I perceive you are reserved as to any further search into the bottom of this business; will you be pleased who are equally conversant in Books, and Men, to give me that light into their Country, Government, Customs, Strength, Treasure, Religion, Trade and Interest in the Sea, together with the way they made themselves a free State at first, and that whereby they have preserved themselves since.  
And of any thing that may pass between us of that Subject.  R. R. 
With all my heart, but that my occasions calling me aside, I must remit you to those Persons who have lived upon the place and can best satisfy you.  D. L. 
I pray how many are the United Provinces?  C. B. 
Seven, Viz. the Dukedom of Gelder-Land, the Counties of Holland and Zealand, and the Lordships of Utrecht, Friezland, Overyssel, and Groninghen, and some part of Brahant and Flanders.  D. L. 
How situated.  C. B. 
By the Sea Northward, and by Germany Eastward, upon Cleves, liege, Flanders and Brabant, Southward.  D. L. 
Sir, if it be not too much pains to you, how do the 17. Provinces as they call them, lye particularly?  P. H. 
The seventeen Provinces called Belgium, are bounded on the East, with West-Phalen, Gulicke, Cleve triers in Germany, on the West with the main Ocean, that divides them from britain; on the North with the River Ems, which parts them from East Friezland, on the South with Picardy& Champagne in France; on the South-East with lorraine; having the Lordship of West Friezland the earldom of Zuphten, and the estate of groining, Overyssel, and part of Utrecht added to it of late, they are 1000. Italian or 250. German miles in compass; situate under the temperate Zone, under the 7, 8,& 9, climates; the longest day in the midst of the seventh Climate, being 16 houres, and in the midst of the ninth almost seventeen.  D. L. 
What kind of air have they?  P. H. 
More wholesome then formerly, partly by the wonderful increase of the Inhabitants, and partly by the incredible industry of the people, who by draining the Marshes, and converting the standing waters into running streams, have purged the air of many gross and unhealthy vapours which did thence usually arise in times foregoing.  D. L. 
How is it inhabited?  P. H. 
It is competently populous, containing well-nigh 3. million of men wel-proportioned, great lovers of our English Beer, unmindful of good turns and injuries, of good wit for inventing, and of indefatigable industry in perfecting their inventions, making of Cloath, Arras, Dornix, Clocks, Watches, the mariners Compass, music and its Instruments, were either invented by them, as were Chariots, Laying on Colours in oil, the working of Pictures in Glass; the making of Worsteds, says, Tapestries, the making of which, and other stuffs being driven out of their country by the Duke of Alva, they first taught the English: The Women generally are of a good Complexion, wel-proportioned, especially in the Leg and Foot, honourers of virtue, active and familiar; both within doors and without, they govern all, which considering the natural desire of Women to bear Rule, maketh them too imperious and burdensome.  D. L. 
What are the Commodities of this country?  P. H. 
linen, Scarlet, Worsted, says, silks, Velvets, armor, Ropes, Cables, Butter and Cheese of which excepting, the two last none Native but Manufactures, out of the materials of other Regions.  D. L. 
But what commodity yieldeth them most benefit?  P. H. 
Herrins and Cod, which they take in the Northern, or the narrow Seas, of the first whereof they make to our shane, besides the Adventurers gains 440000l. yearly, and of the last 150000l.  D. L. 
What are they most eminent for?  P. H. 
1. For Navigation, being bread on the Sea from their youth, and knowing no other country, their Noort being the fourth that compassed the World, and their Maier the first that passed the streight that beareth his name.  D. L. 
What is the state of Religion and Learning in those parts.  P. H. 
1. The pure Religion and undefiled, was planted there by Willibrode an English man, 1300. yeares ago; and now is either the Reformed that is countenanced( though other professions are tolerated by the Estates general, or the Seven Provinces that cast off the Yoke of Spain; or the Roman catholics which is permitted in the Provinces remaining under the King of Spain.  
2. For Learning, Erasmus, Lipsius, the two great Scalligers, Agncola, Lemnius, the Douzas, Ortelius, Mercator, Cassander, Harmin, Vossim, Grotius; Natives of this Country, have been the great Restorers of it to the World: and their four Universities, groining, Herderwiche, Francher, and Leyden profess it.  D. L. 
The Rivers of the Country good Sir.  P. H. 
The Rivers are chiefly 4. 1. Rhone, which rising among the Grisons in the Alpes, and going by Constance, Basil, Spire, worms, &c. sends one Stream to the Maes, another by Arnem, Utrecht and Holland, to Leyden, a third called Secle, through Utrecht and Holland, to the Sea between Dort and Rotterdam; and a fourth called Yssel by Zuphten and Daventen, between Guelderland and Over-Yssel to the Ocean near Amsterdam: to this River they cast their Children of Old, where if they were legitimated they swimed, if Bastards they sink: 2. Mosa, or Maes, rising at the Mountaines Vauge near lorraine, sends its stream with a part of rhine by groan and Dort to the Brill, where it falls with such violence that the water runs fresh for some miles together: 3. Ems dividing the two Friezlands; 4. Scaldis, rising in Picardy, and Artois into the Sea, a little above Antwerp.  D. L. 
How do they secure their level and Marsh grounds from the Sea?  P. H. 
The Shore is much worn in Holland and Zealand, where it is now defended with Banks and Rampires painfully made, and chargeably maintained, being ten Ells in height, and 25. in breadth, at bottom made of the hardest day that can be gotten, in the inside stuffed with Wood and ston, on the outside covered with Mats, strong and thick made.  D. L. 
How do you divide the Seventeen Provinces?  P. H. 
I divide them either,  
I. As Anciently, into two bishoprics: 1. liege or Luikhe, 2. Cambray.  
Into Four dukedoms, 1. Limburgh, 2. Luxemburgh, 3. Guelderland, 4. Brabant.  
Into One Marquisate, viz. Of the Holy Empire.  
Into Seven earldoms, 1. Flanders, 2. Artois, 3. Hainalt, 4. Namor, 5. Zuphten, 6. Holland, 7. Zealand.  
Into Five Baronies, 1. West-Friezland, 2. Utrecht, 3. Over-Ysel, 4. Machlin, 5. groining.  
II. As Now: 1. Into the 11. Provinces under the King of Spain; 1. Flanders, 2. Artois, 3. Hainalt, 4. Cambray, 5. Namour, 6. Luxenburgh, 7. Limburgh, 8. Luikhe or liege, 9. Brabant, 10. the Marquisate, 11. Machlyn.  
2. Into the six under the States of Holland; viz. 1. Holland, 2. Zealand, 3. West-Friezland, 4. Utrecht, 5. Over-Ysel, 6. Guelderland, Zuphten and groining.  D. L. 
How doth Holland lye?  P. H. 
Holland quasi Hollow Land, from its Bogs, or Hoyland from its hay hath Zuiderzee, Utrecht, and some part of Guelderland on the East; the German Ocean on the West Zealand and Brabant on the South, and lieth so low that Ramparts only keep it from Inundation, and its Industry by infinite Dikes and Channels from being uninhabitable in compass 180 miles every part of it within 3. hours journey from the Sea; divided to South and North Holland, and containing 23. walled Towns, and 400. Villages.  D. L. 
Your description of North Holland?  P. H. 
North Holland lieth between the Rhine and the Zuiderzee, and hath in it, 1. Amsterdam a rich mart and haven Town that can buy 300. sail of Commodities in six hours, and seeth a 100. Ships going in and out at a Tide; situate on the gulf Tie, and the Channel Amstel( whence Amsteldame) built in Piles like Venice famous for its old Towns and new foretells; for its great variety of Religion, and more of Trade since the decay of Antwerp: 2. Alkmar famous for its sense, its Butter& Cheese,& eminent for the defeat the Inhabitants gave the Duke D'Alva, merely because he had left them no way to escape: 3. Harlem a pleasant City on the mere, where Tullie's Offices was first Printed: 4. Nanden and its strong Castle: 5. Enchuisen a Town on the point of the gulf Zuiderzee that was serviceable in the first revolt in cutting off the supplies of Amsterdam: 6. Zurin and its rich Haven and many Dikes: 7. Edam and its Ships and Cheese: 8. Medemlecke and its excellent Pastorage, though unwalled, yet enjoying the privilege of a walled Town.  D. L. 
A word of South Holland?  P. H. 
South Holland lieth next to the middle Channel of the Rhine,( passing from Utrecht to Leyden) and Zealand, and is eminent for these Cities: 1. Dort, a large, 
Formerly a stabl● of Rhenish Wines.  rich and well peopled Town, an iceland of late noted for its Synod 1618. about the Arminian Tenets: 2. Gorichem, rich by its daily market of Butter and Cheese, and eminent for its fair Castle and high Steeple, from whence you see 22. walled towns, besides a number of Villages: 3. Rotterdam a strong, fair, wel-traded Town on the Dike, Ratter and Erasmus his birth place: 4. Schoon haven on the Lecke, and its fair haven: 5. Goud well fortified on the River Yssel, one of the sixth principal towns: 6. Outwater: 7. Ysselstain eminent for Cordage: 8. Leiden an University 1564 that hath a strong 
Built t●ey say by Hengist  Castle, 41. Islands, 104. ston Bridges, and 40. wooden: 9. Old Viawen: 10. Heusden: 11. Lerdum: 12. delft 
1 Who whose said that he was Christ. 2. that his Doctrine and not the Law or Gospel could save men. 3. That he had been kept in a place unknown. 4 That he was to restore Israel, not by death or tribulation, but by Love and grace; binding his Disciples, 1. to conceal his name, 2. his descent, 3. not to discover his Religion to any man in Basil. When he died 1556. his Goods were confiscate, and his Bones taken up and burnt.  David George birth place, whose Churches are goodly, Streets specious, cloathing-trade considerable.  D. L. 
Is not the Hague one of the Cities?  P. H. 
No, it chooseth rather to be the Village( though very large as containing 2000. Housholds, in Gucciardines time) then the second City, and is famous for the residence of the States general, near which is Egmond and the Arx Brittan, which Caligula erected when he drew up his Army in Battle array to take Cochleshels.  D. L. 
Methinks I hear not 
Or before.  yet of the Cautionary Towns delivered to the English 1572?  P. H. 
They are Brill and Flushing, lying in one of the six Islands belonging to Holland called the Vourne, which we choose for the command they had on the passage to Gerteuburgh and the rest of Brabant, as also on Delfe, Dort, Rotterdam, with the Isles Weerengeh, and Texel that safe and capacious Bay.  D. L. 
I pray proceed to Zealand.  P. H. 
Zealand consisteth of seven Islands, the remainder of Eighteen, the Sea hath swallowed up, and in them 300. towns, and is divided on the West from England, by the Ocean from Flanders and Brabant by the right and left branch of the River Scheld from Holland by the Flache, containing eight Towns, and an 100. Villages; the air unwholesome, the water salt, the Land good for Pasture, Corn, Mador and Coriander, Wood scarce, the defect whereof is supplied with Holland turfs, and Scotch coals.  D. L. 
Which are the seven Islands?  P. H. 
1. Walcheren south-west of Sluis, 10. Dutch, and 40. Italian Miles round, having the strong, capacious& fair Middleburgh in it, which since Antwerps decay is an English Emporium; 2. Flushing the Key to the Netherlands, and one of our Cautions till 
When it was by King Ja. delivered up, the E. of Leicest. Sir Philip Sidneys brother then governor.  1616. 3. ram and its fair Haven, whence 500. sail set out at a time; 4. Vere, whence the right Honourable the earl of Oxfords Family.  
2. South Beverland, between Walcheren and Brabant, 20. Dutch Miles compass before the Sea impaired it; having in it Tergoes Northward, a strong well privileged Town; 2. Romerswall Eastward, an iceland preserved with much charge; a Woody Country, pleasant for Hunting and Hawking.  
3. Poor and Overflowed, North Beverland between South Beverland.  
4. Little Wolfers, Dihe, Schowen, and two Villages, these are its Western Islands.  
5. Schowen, 6. Dutch Miles round, wherein are 1. the Salt and Mader Town 
Lemnius the philosopher and physician, native place.  Sirickzed.  
6. Duve, or 
From the Doves in it.  Doveland, between Schowen and Tolen, 4. Dutch miles, with much charge preserved with its farms and Villages.  
7. Tollen, from the Eorts Toll paid in its chief Town, and Saint Marcius his Dyke; these are the Eastern Islands?  D. L. 
Of West Friezland briefly?  P. H. 
West Friezland hath on the East Groylingland and Westphalen: On the South Overyssel and Zuiderzee, N. and W. the Sea. The Water, air, and Fire are unhealthy or defective here; the Pasture and cattle very good. It contains first, Westergoe with its Francher a Schola, Illustry, Slaveren a Hanse Town, Harlington a good Haven, and speech a fair Town. 2. Ostrego, with 1. Len-warden and its Chancery Court; two Dockes near groining, Frisius his Birth place; 11. Towns, 345. Villages in all; to this Province belongeth the Isle of Schelincke, where they take the Dog-fish thus, The men dance in Beasts Skins, and the Fish taken with the sport come out of the water, between whom and the water they set their Trayls and catch them.  D. L. 
Shall I entreat your information concerning Utrecht.  P. H. 
Utrecht hath on the East Guelderland, on the West, North, and South Holland, more fruitful and dry then Holland, containing 70. Villages, 5. walled Towns; viz. 1. 
supposed to be Batavoducum spoken of in Tacitus  leek well built and fortified, on the middle channel of the Rhine; 2. Rhenen and its turfs; 3. Armesfort on Ems; 4. Montfort on Yssel strong and pleasant; 5. Utretch, called Ultra trajectum, from the Ferry there, with its fair Churches and Monasteries, its well contrived Houses and Vaults, and its wonderful situation within a dayes journey of fifty Walled Towns.  D. L. 
Over-Yssel I suppose is founded on the East with Westphalen; on the West with Zuiderzee; on the North with West-Friezland; on the South with Guelderland: a plain Morish Country, divided to Tuent, Yssel and Drent, containing 11. towns, and an 100. Villages, whereof the chief are, 1. Daventer, 2. Swoll, two strong Hanse towns on the Yssel, taken by the earl of Leicester 1586. 3. Emen a large fair and inaccessible Town, 4. Oldensel, 5. the Castle Vallen hoven, standing on the Zuiderzee, the residence of the governor and the council. But please you to instruct me concerning Guelderland, Zupbten and groining.  P. H. 
Guelderland bounded on the East with Cleveland and Zuphten, on the West with Holland& Utrecht, on the North with Over-Yssel and the Zuiderzee, and on the South with Brabant and Gulicke; is flat, Woody, and fruitful; and divided 1. to Velune within Zuiderzee and the Rhine; barren, but healthful and populous; 2. to Betuwe between the Rhine and Wael( so fruitful that there was a Guelderland Bull sold in Antwerp Ao. 1570. that weighed 3200. pound:) containing 300. Villages and 16. Walled Towns; as 1. Nimegent,( in latin Noviomagus,) an Imperial Town,& one of the sieges of the Empire, that had liberty to coin for a Glovefull of Pepper offered at Aix or Aquisgrave; well fortified and peopled under whose jurisdiction are, 2. Trel, 3. Bemel, 4. Gheut, 5. the Fort St. Andrews, 6. Rivermond on Ruer, as it falls to the Maes, well peopled, and strong by art and nature; having under its jurisdiction six more Towns, whereof strong, Geldres that was never conquered is one, and Arnhem where is the Yssel Dort, or the 
Which Drusius to keep his Souldiers from idleness digged.  Fossa drusiana is another, and the School Horderwiche a third, &c.  D. L. 
Zuphten Sir.  P. H. 
Zuphten hath Eastward Westphalen, Westward Velluwe of Guelderland, Northward Over-yssel, and Southward Cleveland; and hath twelve Cities, whereof 
Zuisden.  Zuphten( called so because of its Southern situation among the fens,) on the shore of Yssel hath the River Berhel in the midst of it; a Town indifferently well built for its private and public Edifices; before which Sir Philip Sedney received his deaths wound.  D. L. 
The Situation of Groyningland?  P. H. 
Groyningland hath Eastward East-Friezland, Westward West-Friezland, Northward the Ocean, and Southward Over-yssel, wedged in between the Friezlands, whereof the chief is, 1. Old havyn, 2. groining its self a rich, great, and well built Town between some streams which add to its pleasure and security having absolute power in all causes, Civil and Criminal without appeal.  D. L. 
I have given you too much trouble already, yet willingly would I be instructed how this Country was Governed from time to time until they were settled a free State?  P. H. 
They were governed by their respective earls and Dukes of several Families, until by Marrages and other contracts they fell to the House of Burgundy, and after to that of Austria, which governed them in a way of Monarchy, onely allowing them their particular privileges and constitutions until Philip the good first, and Philip the second of Spain afterwards attempted the alteration of their constitution to the hazard of his own Dominion, and aiming at an absolute command, lost all.  D. L. 
What loss might these six Provinces be to him?  P. H. 
He lost first at Antwerp 100000. Crowns for measuring Corn; 2. The Noventate sometimes given amounting to 150000. Crowns per mensem; 3. Their rich Presents, whereof one to King Philip came to 40. millions of Florens; 4. He lost 60000. men, with an infinite number of Shipping which he had at his command; with his greatest bulwark against France, and his best carded for England; besides 400000. men, and an hundred millions of Crowns in the gaining of them.  D. L. 
I pray how came King Philip to loose these Provinces?  P. H. 
Charles the Emperour his Father at his Death commended these people to his kindness as the chief supporters of his State and Glory if pleased, and his ruin if provoked; And they to obtain his favour presented him at his first entrance on the Government with a grant of 40. millions of Florens, as before was said; but his ambition and zeal forgot his own Interest, his Fathers council, and their kindness; and designed to overthrow the Privileges his Predecessors had granted and sworn to,( viz. 1. That no Strangers should govern them; 2. That no Clergy should be landed among them; 3. That no Levies should be made without their consent; And 4. that upon breach of these Privileges and declaration thereof they might choose a new Prince, &c.) and make way for an Arbitrary Government.  
To which end envying so base a people such liberty, and fearing the Reformation, to gratify the Popes humour and his own design, he sends Old Alva, who had been 60. years a soldier, with a large Army, a larger Commission, and the Inquisition to be their Viceroy, Count Egmond the Souldiers Favourite closed with him to his ruin, for he beheaded him a while after; the Prince of Aurange opposed him saying, He had rather be a Prince without an House, then a Count without an Head. If these two had agreed they had kept out Alva, but falling out, the Prince retires to Nassaw in High Germany, until Alva's oppressions, cruelties, and inquisition had forced the people to a defensive war, wherein Prince William, and his brother Lodowicke assist them with various success against Alva, Requiescens and Don John successive histories until taking the peoples Oath and renouncing the pretensions of Spain, they were assisted from England, so that the Spaniard was glad to Treat with them as a Free State, 1609.  D. L. 
How could they so long withstand so Puissant a Monarchy?  P. H. 
1. By the long Warres they were Disciplined and made active; and indeed it is against the Spartans and the Turkes rule to wage war long with any one Nation.  
2. By their Fortifications, whereof one costeth the King of Spain( who hath no plenty of men,) more Souldirers and Money then five pitched fields.  D. L. 
I have heard that England had as much title to the Provinces of Holland, Hernall, &c. as Spain.  P. H. 
They say indeed that we might rather claim them in right of Philippa King Edward the thirds Wife, who was the earl of those Provinces Eldest Daughter, then the Spaniard in right of Margaret who was onely his younger Daughter.  D. L. 
Which of the two Netherland is most considerable, the Spanish, or the Commonwealth.  P. H. 
The first is largest, but the last best peopled and Trade, and consequently most rich and powerful, able to draw 30000. to the Field at an hours warning, and raise 500000l per annum to maintain them; and as an instance for their power at Sea, though the King of denmark took 108. Ships of theirs one year, yet they could spare an hundred the next for the expedition against Spain and its Armado.  D. L. 
Are these six Provinces under any one Government?  P. H. 
No, every Province is absolute in itself onely, sometimes they consult together, but can do nothing until their Consultations are approved of by every Province, whose President, governor and Councellors by order of their respective States manage their Government, onely they have a general council at the Hague.  D. L. 
Are there any Noble men among them?  P. H. 
Not above three Families, who yet live like Clowns, least the high Shoones envy, who hate nothing more then a Gentle-man, observe them.  D. L. 
Which of these Countries sand out most Shipping?  P. H. 
Holland and Zealand, whence you may see 800. sail at a time bound for the East, besides as many for the Western and Southern Coasts, besides 2000. Bugsen, Doog-booten, and Crabbins, wherewith they fish for Herrins, Cod and Salmon, and make yearly three Voyages: the Towns and Villages abounding in Women and Children that wove Nets, and men that build Ships.  D. L. 
Sir you have seen the Hague the most eminent Town of Holland, I pray describe it.  W. S. 
The Hague is rich in wealth, pleasant in Gardens, Stately in Buildings, and noble for her Inhabitants, having 2500. great Houses, among which there is none more magnificent then the Court of Holland built 1249. by William earl of Holland, like a Castle with Dikes and Gates; it is always guarded; on the Northside whereof stands a stately Fish-Pond, pleasantly environed with high Trees on Viverberg, or the Fish-Ponds Hill: within this Building is a Hall of Irish Wood, hung with Booksellers, and Painters shops, with Silver-Coat Armours, Trumpets, and ensigns which hang there in great number, won at turn, Hout, and Flanders: there is the governor of Holland, Zealand, and Westfriezland, there are the Courts of Justice, the States-Chamber for the Province, and for the Union, whether all Causes are brought by appeal, and finally determined; here resides the Court fiscal of Brabant, the States general, the Estates of Holland and West-Friezland, the council of State, the Masters of the Chamber accounts of Holland, the council of war, &c. every of these having their Chambers apart: Hard by there is a Park 1500. Pales long, full of oaks, elms, Ash, and other Trees; on whose boughs Birds of all sorts Sing sweetly, under which Deeres, Hares and Conies run; Princes, earls, Lords, Councellors, Advocates, and all sorts of people walk; Not far from this Park are pleasant Lakes at once the pleasure and the profit of that place, not far from that you come to shady walks, that have at once the revenue and the content of Heaven; one hour you meet here the States man and the Merchant gravely walking, another while the youth pleasantly playing, at a little distance further of time and place the soldiery exercising, and by them the Women Landring, and if you please to walk a little further, you will see all Europe floating on the one hand by water, and carried on the other by Land to this great Mort of christendom for Trade and for intelligence.  

CHAP. II. Of the Civill Government of the United Provinces.  D. L. 
I Pray how are the United Governed?  C. B. 
Having cast off their Prince, and the three Estates of Nobility, Clergy and Commonalty; the supreme Authority is vested in their Nobility and Citizens; and is an Aristocrasy, or a Democrasy, as either of those Interests prevail.  D. L. 
Are the Clergy wholly excluded?  C. B. 
Yea, unless it be in the Province of Utrecht, where the ecclesiastics are of their councils.  D. L. 
Is there no shadow of Monarchy there?  C. B. 
Yes, they grant so much executive Power to the Governors of each Province as make them little less than Monarchs.  D. L. 
How is Holland Governed?  C. B. 
By the Nobility, and the Burgesses of Eighteen cities, Dort, Harlem, Delfe, Leyden, Amsterdam, Der-Goud, Rotterdam, Gorchom, Scheedam, Schon-Hoven, Brill, Allmar, Horn, Enkusen, Edam, Manacdam, Med-Embliche, and Purmerent; which do at once overpower the Nobility and engage the whole Commonalty.  D. L. 
How is every particular City Governed?  C. B. 
1. By yearly Burgomasters which manage the Government; 2. The Sheriffes and Scout masters, that administer justice in Causes Criminal and Civil; The Treasurer that ordereth the Revenue; and the Doctors Advocates or Pensioners that are of council.  
2. By a general council of Justice to whom they appeal from the respective Magistrates.  D. L. 
No appealing from that council.  C. B. 
No, but there may be more Judges added, and the Case reviewed.  D. L. 
How are their general affairs managed, and their Treasury disposed of in the Province of Holland?  C. B. 
By the Assembly of the Estates called three or four times a year, and made up of one Advocate and one Pensioner, of each of the Eighteen Cities, and the Nobility, who as one City tied together by the rule of right reason, and the public good unanimously agree in all public concerns, the lesser part being concluded by the mayor, without force which avails not among them who are equal in liberty.  D. L. 
Who executes their Decrees, and disposeth their Money?  C. B. 
Another Assembly deputed by them to put in execution their Orders, and to call them together when there is occasion.  D. L. 
What Power hath the governor of Holland?  C. B. 
Much honour and power: the Militia is at his dispose, their safety depends on his Care, of three men they propose he names all Officers; and any fault he may pardon; wherefore his respect is no less than that of a Prince.  D. L. 
Are all the other Provinces so Governed?  C. B. 
Yes, save that the populacy is more prevalent in some places than in others, and that sometimes one governor commands two or three Provinces.  D L. 
But how is the Union of all the Estates Governed?  C. B. 
By a general Assembly of the Estates of the seven Provinces consisting of the Nobility and the City Deputies.  D. L. 
How and when are they called?  C. B. 
They are called by a Deputy standing council, which they leave to execute their Decrees by Summons to each Province, onely when such Grand affairs are on foot, as concern the Interest of the whole Union, as war, Peace, Truce, making or breaking Leagues, laying on, or taking off new Imposition, &c.  D. L. 
How do they debate things?  C. B. 
The Deputies of each Province by way of Committee debate matters among themselves, and then give their Votes not as particular men but as representatives, so that there are but seven Votes of the seven Provinces in all, who must all agree before any matter be concluded.  D. L. 
But what if some Provinces differ?  C. B. 
They deputy some Members of the Assembly to persuade them to yield their private Opinions and concerns to common interest and reason.  D. L. 
What become of their Resolves?  C. B. 
A council of State made up of the Deputies of each Province is appointed by the States general to represent them to put their Decrees in execution, and upon any emergent Difficulty to intimate the necessity of the general Assembly, this council is called the council of the States general; and as the great Assembly is distinguished to seven Votes according to the seven Provinces it represents, and guided by a President Weekly chosen out of each Province.  D. L. 
Are there any more councils there?  C. B. 
Yes, three more under this council of the States general; Viz. 1. One of State to manage the Army, and its pay by Land, some of whose Members always attend the General; and are ordered to assist in the resolutions of highest concern to the Union, and is made up of Deputies; 2. Another of the common Treasury of the Union; 3. A third of the Admiralty which manageth their maritime affairs and Incomes, consisting of six Members, four whereof are in Holland, one in Zealand, and one in Friezland, these councils are frequently charged according to the constitution of each Province.  D. L. 
Is there no one person over all these councils?  C. B. 
Yes, the Prince of Aurange, who hath the chief management of their Forces by Sea and Land.  D. L. 
Where do these councils sit?  C. B. 
Mostly at the Hague, which is most conveniently situated to diffuse Advisces, Orders and Laws, to fill the Provinces.  D. L. 
How fitly is the particular Government of each Province proportionated to the general Government of all; and that to the particular interests of each Province; by what conformity and mutual knots of government the united Provinces are tied together, and jointly concur in what concerns the common Interest?  
But is it much altered from their former constitution?  C. B. 
As little as can be, rather by augmenting each council to oblige all parties, than by altering any to confounded them.  D. L. 
My Ingenious Friend, that saw their country, what think you of their Government?  D. F. 
The Countries Government is popular, and there had need many to rule that Rabble: Tell them of Monarchy but in jest, and they will cut your throat in earnest; the very name they think bears tyranny in its forehead; and they hate it more than a Jew doth Images, a Woman old age, or a Non-conformist a Surplice, not a man among them hath authority by Inheritance, for that were the way in time to parcel out their Country to Families: they are chosen Magistrates, as the King chooseth Sheriffes, not for their Wit but Wealth; which they so over-affect that mine here, shall walk the Streets as Usurers go to Bawdy-Houses all alone and melancholy.  D. L. 
I pray inform me what is the strength of the united Provinces?  C. B. 
Their strength is either by Land or by Sea.  D. L. 
I pray Sir what is their Strength by Land?  C. B. 
1. The Sea, the Mause, the Rhein, the Yssel, especially Zealand, and Holland, which is made up of Impregnable Islands; and also Low and Moresh, that it is Invincible: the Great Boy of Europe, not such another Marsh in the World; a National Quagmire, that they can overflow at pleasure.  
2. The natural and artificial strength of their Frontier Cities, as sluice Impregnable for its low situation, and strong Fortifications; the strong Fort of Lillo in Brabant, Berghen, ap-Zone, Breda, Gatrinburgh, Heusden, Grave, and Crevecour, the Forts of St. Andrews Worden, Niminghen, and Schinty, and the Sconces on the Rivers; As strong as industry and Nature can make them: every Town hath its Garrison, and the keys of the Gates in the night time are not trusted but in the State-House.  
3. Their Ammunition is plentiful, their arms, Engines, and Warlike Instruments ready, their Provision full, the whole Country lying so Linked together, with natural and artificial Rivers that it can furnish each part in a moment.  
4. Their excellent Discipline, that makes Holland the School of Europe: and so furnisheth them with vast Armies of home bread Souldiers, and foreigners to the number of 60000. in the Field, and 30000. in Garrisons; their In-land men are their best Souldiers, they of Holland and Zealand are the best Sea-men; their foreigners are the best Commanders: they make use of the French for Activity, of the English for Valour; of the Scots for Subtlety; and of the Germans for Order and Discipline: and they keep all way 20000. in Pay; and allow a 1000l. a day extraordinary in time of war.  D. L. 
Methinks war should undo them?  O. F. 
Of all the World they are the people that thrive and grow rich by war, which is the Worlds ruin, and their support; so strong is their Shipping, so open their Sea, so fortified their Towns and Country, by reason of their Lowness and Irrigulation.   

CHAP. III. Of their Ecclesiastical Government.  D. L. 
PLease you to proceed to their Ecclesiastical Government.  T. S. 
Having at once shaken off the yoke of Spain and Rome, as they unhappily fell into a Commonwealth on the one hand, so they settled in a Classical way on the other: for the Ministers that promoted their Reformation being addicted to Mr. Calvin, and his Platform at Geneva, established that among them, rather as that which suited with their Interest and Constitution, than as what corresponded with truth: they cannot have the Primitive Church Government if they would, and our men that pretend to a Conformity with them, as the reason of their Non-conformity with us, will not have it thought they could— where every Burgess is a King, its fit every Minister should be a Bishop.—  D. L. 
But how do they govern their Church?  T. S. 
1. They that are Supreme in the State, are so in the Church, and they will not endure two Jurisdictions.  
2. Under them in every Province the Ministers meet, and propose to them what they judge fit to be enacted.  
3. In every Province there are sixteen particular Classes, where those matters are considered of that are to be proposed to the General Assembly.  
4. The General Assembly meets twice a year, the Classical once a month.  
5. The Ministers are divided to three sorts, 1. Pastors and Doctors, that teach and instruct; 2. Elders, that rule and over-see; 3. Deacons, that dispose of their money.  D. L. 
How do they admit their Ministers?  T. S. 
After four years study, 1. They Examine, 2. They impose on them a Sermon, and a Discourse upon some Polemical Subjects, after which, with Prayer and Fasting, by the Magistrates consent, they admit them to the Ministry, with the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery.  D. L. 
How do they maintain them?  T. S. 
With Pensions, not exceeding an 100l. a year, whereby they keep them within compass, and dependence, yet providing for their Wives maintenance, and their Childrens Education.  D. L. 
What is the Ministers work there?  T. S. 
1. He prays; 2. He reads the Word; 3. He explains by way of Exposition, Catechizing, and Preaching; 4. He Baptizeth the Christians Children upon examination of the Parents and Sureties; upon competent warning given, he administereth the Sacrament of the Lords Supper four times a year, viz. the 1. Sunday of April, July, October, and January, to those who regard the Discipline, and are catechised every one in his own Parish after 15 dayes warning: and this the people receive sitting or standing by a Table near the Pulpit. 5. He marrieth a Widow within six months after her Husbands decease: or a Maid when her Guardians allow it after Banes thrice asked with Prayer and Exhortation. Never upon a Sunday. 6. Upon invitation, he shall go and visit the sick, and advice how to settle his Estate for this World, and prepare himself for another. 7. He shall accompany the bodies of the faithful, without Prayer, Sermon, or sound of Bell, to the Grave, which must be always in the Churchyard, and not in the Church. 8. He must reside in his Parish Consistory, and assist them in Church censure thus: 1. By Admonishing, 2. By Excluding from the Lords Supper; and at last by Excommunication, wherein they proceed thus: The first Sunday they pray for the man, naming neither his person nor fault: the second they name his person, but not his crime: the third, the Person is name, his offence published, and he excommunicated, not to be received but upon sincere Repentance, testified by a reformed Conversation, whereof the people are  told one Sunday by the Minister, and the next by the Penitent himself, declaring his Confession before the Pulpit. 9. He presides in the Consistory, to gather Voices, to pronounce sentence, to keep the order of debates, to refer greater matters to the greater Assemblies, to register their Acts; to denounce their sentence, and conclude all with Prayer; and this every Sunday. 10. The Ministers are delegated by the Parochial Consistories, to be in the Classical Assemblies, and by the Classical Assemblies, to be of the Provincial Synod: and by the Provincial Synod upon extraordinary occasions,( as that of the Remonstrancy, controversy, and Barnevells Rebellion, in pursuance at Dort of it) for a General Meeting, advertizing each other before hand, what is likely to be proposed in the General Assembly.  D. L. 
How is the Lords Day observed?  T. S. 
Two Sermons they have upon it, in their rather handsome, than Magnificent Churches, but the peoples noise in playing, especially at theit Kirhe masts or Wakes, drowneth that of the Minister in preaching. In the Morning they are close and demure, but in the Afternoon their shops fly open, their wheel-barrows go up and down the streets, and they are in the heat of their business.  D. L. 
What Religion do they countenance?  T. S. 
They countenance only calvinism, but for Trades sake they Tolerate all others, except the Papists, which is the reason why the treasure and stock of most Nations is transported thither, where there is full Liberty of Conscience: you may be what Devil you will there, so you be but peaceable: for Amsterdam is an University of all Religions, which grow here confusedly( like stocks in a Nursery) without either Order or Pruning. If you be unsettled in your Religion, you may here try all, and take at last what you like best; If you fancy none, you have a Pattern to follow of two that would be a Church to themselves: It's the Fair of all the Sects, where all the Pedlars of Religion have leave to vend their toys, their ribbons, and fanatic Rattles: their republic is more to them than Heaven; and God may be more safely offended there than the States General.   

CHAP. IV. The Dutch customs.  D. L. 
HOw is it the Dutch are always gainers by War?  B. P. 
1. It increaseth their Shipping, stirring them to exceed their Adversaries by Sea, as far as he exceedeth them by Land, threatening his Indies, and blocking his Havens, while he assaults their Country: for( besides their general Contributions at home, and their aid from abroad( where they are supported to check the Spanish Greatness) as his Indies furnish him with means to assault, so they supply them with means to defend his designs upon: Europe being diverted to his defence in Asia, Affrica and America; More of them live on the Sea( where dwell whole Families) than on the Land.  
2. By their Excise, which riseth with their charge, the more money they pay, the more they receive again, in that insensible, but profitable way: what is Exhaled up in Clouds, falls back again in Showers: what the soldier receives in pay, he pays in Drink: their very enemies, though they hate the State, yet love their liquour, and pay Excise: the most Idle, Slothful, and and most Improvident, that selleth his blood for Drink, and his flesh for Bread, serves at his own charge, for every pay day he payeth his Sutler, and he the Common Purse.  D. L. 
What do they most tax?  B. P. 
Foreign Beer, &c. 1. To limit the excess of foreign importations: 2. That their Commodities may be more vendible: 3. To draw in every man to contribute to the wars, those that would not otherwise part with a farthing, willingly laying out their money, as they think upon their Lusts, but as the State hath contrived, upon the public good: but they have those Commodities in time of War in Gross, which in time of Peace they must take in the Retail. 4. They keep up that Concord by war, which would fall asunder in Peace.  
5. They oblige Foreign Nations by balancing the Austrian Power, which they should disoblige, by Peace with him.  D. L. 
But how do they manage their Wars& Trade at a cheaper rate than others?  B. P. 
First, they go with less charge, their Ships requiring fewer men, and those men all sharing in the Design, are contented with courser fare; and as they go through all Difficulties with Patience, so they husband all expenses with thrift: nothing like concerning the Commonalty in all Designs.  
2. They carry abroad no coin of their own, furnishing themselves elsewhere: coin is the blood of a Commonwealth: but other Commodities they can spare.  
3. They carry thence the commodities of one place to another, and are the common Carriers of christendom, bringing home the while the most Staple Commodities of each Country:  
4. They trade there upon the best and most free conditions:  
5. Their Industry and Prudence having besides got more strength in the Indies, than any other people.  D. L. 
Which way do the English keep them under?  B. P. 
By commanding the Narrow-sea, their cost and ours.  D. L. 
How do they keep in their Waters?  B. P. 
By strong mounds they keep it in, and by Art they make it serviceable to their trades and carriages, which they convey to and fro very easily, subtly, and cheaply: yea, the Winds serve them, and an Artificial Engine with one man, shall do the work of an hundred: their Channels are so well contrived, that they are not only drains to their Ground, High ways to their Carriages, but Ornaments to their Cities.  D. L. 
What are the Dutch for public works?  B P. 
Very Liberal and Noble, as appears by their stately Streets and Buildings, their pleasant Walks, their planted High ways, which are fenced with such orderly Hedgrows, that the whole Country is but one shady Walk by the River side, a Paradise: they having no useless Common, but what( by the common consent of public spirited Magistrates and people) is turned to profit or pleasure: when as we have more barren Common than they have Land.  D. L. 
How do the poor live among them?  B. P. 
Every body works there, and not a man begs but by stealth, rather making signs then speaking, whole Families having starved there because they would not be burdensome.  D. L. 
What Provision do they make for their sick and aged Poor?  B. P. 
So careful are they, that they make not beggars by relieving them; that they search their houses, and upon due examination of their Case,  
1. They prentice their Children if they have any, teaching them their Trades freely, and directing them by turns; suffering them not to loiter, but feeding dispatching, and sending them away presently.  
2. They have neat and distinct alms-houses for Men and Women, which a man would think were rather rich Merchants habitations then poor Almsmens dwelings.  
3. They have Wase-Houses such as Christ-church in London, &c. to bring up Orphans in, to Trades, Learning, or what they are most inclined to, for the service of the Commonwealth: providing likewise for their women Portions when of age.  
4. Their Guest-house, for sick and poor men and women are well furnished with all Necessaries, attendance, physic, and what heart can wish.  
5. Their Dul-houses, or Bedlams, for the distracted; Their Tucht-houses, or Houses of Corrections for the stubborn& idle, are generally fair with all means used to reclaim the first to their Wits, the other to their Honesties: the Rents and Governments whereof are in the hands of the public Magistrates.  
6. In their Lumbards, or Loan houses, the poor have money upon any Pawn for a reasonable rate, viz. six in the Hundred, with convenient time of payment.  D. L. 
A word I pray of their frugality whereby they maintain all this charge.  B. P. 
1. Their Diet is homely, and of every mans own providing; 2. They spend more time then money in Drinking, improving that time to business too; 3. They traffic for others Superfluities, but not their own; 4. Their Apparel is plain and manlike, always of one fashion; 5. Their ambition is solid for realities rather then imaginations to serve the public State rather then private humours; much better is it( say they) to be port of Holland in possession then Titulor King of Jerusalem: 6. Their laws are strictly executed, and no forfeitures left to the corrupt disposal of an Officer, but all bestowed upon the public: 7. Usury is a stranger amongst them, every man laying out his estate upon the common traffic: 8. No Idleness there and so no Thieves, which is more restrained there by Whipping, then here by Hanging: 9. If any man gains extraordinary by money, the tenth of his gain is the Common-wealths; Usurers escaping not there as here, scotfree: 10. A man undone by Casualty, they set up again; a man cast into Prison the Creditor must maintain; A man troubled with a shifting Adversary, a quick trial relieves: 10. Add to this the blessing of God, which they implore before any consultation upon extraordinary State matters, upon their Bid-dayes as they call them: 11. All men debate, and all contribute to the public affairs as concerned both by advice and purse: 12. Their Resolutions are secret and sudden: 13. They allow all Opinions at home, and converse with all men abroad for the public benefit; maxim being to wink at singular inconveniences to avoid universal mischiefs.  D. L. 
Would it be any advantage to us to observe their ways?  B. P. 
Yes, for we see wherever they settle in England, as in Norwich, &c. the Government of that place is most strict; the people within 20. mile most employed, our Manufactures best improved, and the poor best provided for: for where the Dutch are they relieve our poor, and we never are troubled with theirs.  

A riddle.  
The lion slept securely while the Hunters laid their toils for him, the Pismire stung and awaked him; he starts up resolutely and checks the presumptuous Pismire; the Pismire cried, my Lord look about you; He did so, and spread the snare of the Hunters, he broken it,& securing all avenues at Home, he looks abroad, and saith, Laesa patientia fit furor; abused patience turns fury.   D. L. 
I pray what are the fundamental constitution of their State?  B. P. 
1: That no Countess mary without the States good liking.  
2. That all Officers be Natives.  
3. That the Estates assemble at pleasure.  
4. No impositions be raised or removed but by public consent.  
5. That all public Writings should be in Dutch.  
6. That their coin be disposed of by a committee of Merchants.  
7. That none sell his Possession without public consent.  
8. That no Offices be Hereditary.  
9. That every place should be competently salaried.  
10. That no man serve a foreign Prince without leave.  
11. That there be an yearly estimate of Estate and Persons.  
12. That there be constant allowance for Residents, Agents, &c.  
13. That every City be Fortified and Garrisoned.  
14. That none be forced to serve out of his Province.  D. L. 
What are the reasons that we had to assist them at first?  B. P. 
First, the security of the Protestant Religion against the Pope: Second, Of England against Spain, whom we choose rather to engage in his own Country, then in ours: Thirdly, The opening of Trade, encroached upon by the Spaniards: Fourth, The balancing of Europe.  D. L. 
1. When they steal away our coin; 2. When they engross our trade,& bringing it to that pass that we break by hundreds.  D. L. 
What were the Reasons in brief for the Hollanders Revolt from the King of Spain?  B. P. 
1. The breach of their Privileges, which, that King swore either to observe, or quit his Dominion.  
2. Charles the Fifth and his Son Philip the seconds design to new model their Government.  
3. The Novenal Aid of 800000l. demand at his Coronation by Philip.  
4. The Kings remote Residence in Spain.  
5. His weak or cruel Substitutes; as the duchess of Parma, Cardinal Granvill, Duke D'Alva, the great Commander of Castile.  
6. The inquisition and Bishops designed for those Provinces, May the 11. 1565. with power to question all men for all matters, and swear them to discover one another; the chiefest Nobility and Merchants being enrolled in the Black Book.  
7. The neglect of their Petitions.  
8. The spanish ambassador D'Allanaes Letters taken, wherein it was advised that the Netherlands should be impoverished first, and then kept under; that their Nobility should be trepanned, and patriots cut off; that their Priveliges should be declared forfeited; that they should be necessitated to Rebellion and them justly to be destroyed.  
9. Alva's boast that he had 18000. to be executed.  
10. His disarming, impoverishing and engarrisoning the Country in order to those Butcheries of millions, he caused afterwards his Ransacks, desolatious, Banishments, and Confiscations.  
11. His keeping of the King at distance from his people.  
12. His suborning of Witnesses, and setting illegal and extraordinary ways of proceeding.  
13. His seizures of all the public treasure that paid the poor, the Ministers, the alms-houses, &c.  
14. His exactions of the hundredth, twentieth, and the tenth penny; and so driving all trade out of that Country by his oppressions of the Natives, and his seizures on strangers Goods.  
15. Don John's plot by indulging to betray them, discovered in an intercepted Letter of Don John wherein all their trains and method were laid open.  
16. The King of Spains disclaimer of his real right by usurping more, and setting up a council of troubles not tied nor limited to any instructions, but invested with liberty freely to give sentence in any thing at pleasure.   

CHAP. V. The private Qualities, Condition, and Carriage of the Dutch.  D. L. 
WHat is the Dutch man's private Condition, Quality and Carriage?  O. F. 
Viz. The Dutch are usually of large Statures, handsome and fair Aspects, strong and able bodies, their minds are not less vigorous then their bodies; their temper is resolute, their spirit undaunted, their nature open and pleasant, their callings beneficial and industrious; their genius apt to all Arts, especially the Mechanical and Manual: their Ambition is their liberty and privilege, which they have maintained this hundred years with much blood and treasure: their expenses frngal, to the saving of an Egge-shell, they maintaining it for a maxim that a thing lasts longer mended then new: their respects and considerations are narrow and restrained; their way is active& stirring, and Provision is made for their necessitous people, but none for the idle, who must work there or they shall not eat; the time they spend is in eating well, and drinking much, and prating most: The truth is( saith my ingenious Author) the completest Drinker in Europe is your English Gallant, there is no such consumer of liquour as the quaffing of his Healths; the Dutch were good at it, but now they have got a custom of prating over their pots, they sip, and laugh, and tell their tale; and in a Tavern are more prodigal of their time then of their Wine, they drink as if they were short winded, and as it were eat their drink by morsels and let it down by piece meals, rather besieging then assaulting their brains; in a word we are Drinkers, they are soakers; an English man is sooner, a Dutch man longer drunk.  
Their recreation is warlike, and they are taught to be Souldiers before they have attained to be men; Nay( saith my ingenious and noble friend) as if they placed a Religion in arms, every Sunday is concluded with the Train-bands marching through the City.  
They are rather cunning then wise, crafty then cunning, and close then either; their Commonwealth being managed rather by the subtlety of Trads men, then the policy of States men: their Intelligence is as spreading as their traffic, and their traffic as large as the World; there being no Nation under heaven to the bottom of whose Counsels, Interests and concerns they have not insinuated themselves.  
Their Religion sits loose to them and is their profession rather then their practise, wherein they are too noble a people to be hypocrites, and too civil to be profane, and so prudent as to observe a mean not proudly boasting their Religion as their show, but humbly owning it as their duty; they are Jews of the New Testament, that have changed onely the Law for the Gospel.  
Their Language though it differ from the higher Germany, yet hath it the same ground, and is as old as Babel,& although harsh yet of so lofty signification& so full a tongue, as made Goropius Becanus maintain it for the speech of Adam in Paradise; Steven of Bruges reckoneth up 2170 Monosillables which being expounded, richly grace that tongue; a Tongue as large as Europe, spoken in Germany, denmark, Norway, Sweden, and England;( for most of our old words are Dutch,) and so little altered that it is in a manner the same it was 2000. years ago, without the too much mingled borrowings of their Neighbour Nations.  
Every thing about them is neat but themselves, the first thing in their houses is a Looking-glass, wherein sure the Landlord seldom sees his face: their Vessels are marshaled so orderly as if they were rather for show then use, ornaments rather then utensils; the Dutch mans Building is not large, but neat; handsome on the outside, on the inside hung with Pictures, not tapestry, he that hath not bread to eat hath a Picture; Were the knacks of all their Houses set together, there would not be such another Bartholomew-Fair in Europe; the Hogen paints well yet he ever writes under his sign what it is: His Chambers are but several sandboxes, and there you must either go out to spit, or blushy when you see the Map brought.  
Their Beds are no other but land cabins, high enough to need a Ladder or stairs, up once, you are walled in with Wainscot, and that is( saith my Friend) good discretion to avoid the trouble of making your Will every night, for once falling out else you would break your neck perfectly; But if you die in it, this comfore you will leave your friends that you died in clean linen. Their Habitations are kept handsomer then their bodies, and their bodies then their souls: at first sight you find the And-Irons shut up in Net work, next you have the Warming-pan maffled in Italian work, next that the Sconce clad in cambric, and like a Crown advanced in the middle of the house.  D. L. 
You have satisfied me as to their private conditions and qualities. I pray what is their Carriage?  O. F. 
1. Clownish and blunt to men, respecting neither person, nor Apparel; they gaze at, and envy, but never reverence a Gentlemen.  
2. Chast and modest to their Women, being strangers to the two fomentors of Lust, idleness and Courtship; always doing less then they speak, and speaking less then they think.  D. L. 
But their Women have an ill name?  O. F. 
A Dutch Womans full veins and high blood makes her Gamesome but not Mercenary, entertaining Gallants, rather then entertained by them; but if a man once in public discovereth their private favours, or pretend to any more then is civil, she falls off like a Fairy wealth disclosed, and turns like beer with lightning to a sowreness, which neither art nor labour can never make sweet again.  D. I. 
What is their temper?  O. F. 
Hardy, head-strong, churlish, and testy, their will is their reason, the Commonwealth God with them; war is their paradise, peace is their Hell, the Spaniard is the Devil they hate; you may sooner convert a Jew to Christianity, turn an old bawd Puritan, then convince a Dutch man of reason.  D. L. 
How do these rough hewn pieces model their Commonwealth?  O. F. 
Not a man of them but may be a States-man, for they have all this gift not to be too nice conscienced: It is a noble Testimony that so grave an Historian as Tacitus hath left of them upon record these 1500. years, deliberant dum fingere nesciunt, constituunt dum errare non possunt. They deliberat when they cannot dissemble, and resolve when they cannot err.  D. L. 
What is their behaviour towards Strangers?  O. F. 
1. They are seldom deceived, for they will trust no body; 2. They may always deceive, for you must trust them as for instances if you travail to ask a bill of Particulars is to purre in a Wasps Nests; you must pay what they ask as sure as if it were the assessment of a Subsidy; 3. compliment is an idleness, those busy people were never skilled in: they are half Marred being sailors;& being Souldiers they are quiter spoiled, for then they would let a Jew build a City where Harlem-mere is and after cousen them of it; 4. They shall abuse a stranger for nothing, and after a few base terms scorch one another to a Carbonado, or as they do their Roches when they fry them; 5. They love none but those that do for them, and when they leave off they neglect them; they have no Friends but their Kindred, which at every Wedding feast meet among themselves like tribes.  D. L. 
I pray what is their Carriage among themselves?  O. F. 
They are all equal, no way to know Master or Mistress but to take them in bed together; it may be those are they; otherwise Malkie can prate as much, laugh as loud, be as bold, and sit as well as Mistress; your man may be saucy, and you must not strike him, your scholar untoward, you must not whip him; the Son asketh his Fathers blessing by clapping him on the back,& bidding him good night,& his Mothers by kissing her and saying god-boy.  D. L. 
But how do they look, and go?  O. F. 
They are their own disguizes, and their own clothes so thick and tanned their faces; their women have good faces enough if they did not mar them with making their Ear-wyres, and so nipped in their cheeks that you would think some fairy had done them a mischief, and pinched them behind with tongues; their dressings are so backward that they have much more crown then face: Men and women saith the ingenious Travelour, are Starched so blew, that if once they grow old, you would verily believe you saw winter walking up to the neck in a barrel of Indigo; and therefore they rail at England for spending no more Blewing; your man among them is else clad tolerably, unless he inclines to the Sea fashion, and then are his Breeches yawning at the knees, as if they were about to swallow his legs unmercifully. The tyrants Hood is close, her breast open; her Gown wide, her Rings many, her little keys and chains more; and the man and womans fashion is more constant then their faith.  D. L. 
A word Sir of their meals or diet?  O. F. 
1. They eat much, and spend little; 2. Roots and stockfish are staple commodities in their houses, and if they have Flesh they can keep it hot more dayes then a big in pie-corner; salt meats and sour Cream sugared is their delight.  
Their Cookery is natural, and an artificial dressing of Meat you can persuade them to neither with love or money; you must have patience at their Tables to stay till break of day, to pledge every man about you, and to sit with a woman of each side of you, carrying away in the morning it may be instead of Sweet-meates a piece of Apple-Pie in your pocket.   

CHAP. VI. Our Right to the Narrow Seas.  D. L. 
I Pray will you make out what Right we have to the Narrow Seas in few words.  I. S. 
1. The Seas that surrounds our iceland, whether the Scottish, the british, the Irish, or German were possessed, and secured by the Brittains, who fished so much upon them that they burnished the Hilts of their Swords with such Fishes Teeth as they took; and traded so considerably that none came amongst them but Merchant.  
2. Those Seas were by them transmitted with their Countries to the Romans upon the Conquest, who as they managed the Government of the Land by Presidents, so they did that at Sea by an Archigubernasy, or chief governor and Admiral; who secured Commerce, took prizes, looked on the Coasts of Spain, Italy, and Affrica itself.  
3. After the Romans, the Saxons succeeded to this Right and Dominion, and commanded the Sea under a Count of the Saxon shore, i.e.( whatever Panarollus saith to the contrary) the Sea-shore, Octa and Ebista under Vortigerne and Hengist 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-gelt for the Guard of the Sea; Edgar and Canutus styling themselves sovereign of the Sea.  
4. 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 always 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 Isalnds lying on the Sea before the French shore; 3. From leave asked always and granted by foreigners of the English to pass those seas.  D. L. 
I pray who asked leave?  I. S. 
The Kings of denmark, and Sweden, the Hans-Towns in Queen Elizabeths time; the Hollanders and Zealanders themselves not daring to Fish before they asked leave of Scarborough; and King James proclaiming May 6. 1610. that none Fish upon the English or the Irish Sea without leave obtained at 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 foreigners( as Moderators of the sea) as are at enmity with one another, and at amity with the English.  
5. From public 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 sovereigns of the Seas; that our sovereign 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 Europe 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.  
7. From the Laws and most received Customs of England that make the Seas the patrimony of England; and the King of the old custom of England, Lord of the narrow Seas; and his sovereignty there so ancient; they make the four Seas to be equivalent with those words within or without the kingdom; De mer appurtenant au Roy l'Angleterre: the Sea belonging to the King of England.  
8. From the coin called Rose-Nobles, of which it is said four things our Noble sheweth to me, King, Ship, Sword, power of the Sea.  
9. From the custom of striking sail upon our Coasts to our Ships time out of mind.  
10. From the acknowledgement of the Flemings and others by supplication, to our Kings as sovereigns of the Sea, since Edward the thirds time.  
11. From the Licenses upon record granted to the French and Flemings, with their limited number of boats to Fish upon our Coasts.  
12. From the prerogative whereby all wrecks and royal Fishes, as Whales, Sturgeons taken in our Seas are due to the King of England onely, or unto such unto whom by special charter they have granted the same, stat. Ed. 3. 17. together with all things floating upon the said Sea all Flostan, 
Flostan is things that float; Jestan Goods in danger cast out; Ligan all Weights: things sunk.  Jestan, and Ligan, as our Lawyers speak.  D. L. 
How far doth this Dominion and Right of Ours extend?  I. S. 
All along the british cost as far as the Mediterranean, yea the Coasts of Friezland by the Danes confession, and our claims, was part of our Royalty.  D. L. 
I thought the Water was as common as the air.  I S. 
No! for the Jews had the sovereignty of the Waters that washed the Holy Land by the Law of God, Ezek. 47. 10. and the Romans of the Mediterraneans by the Law of Nations, Plut. in Pomp. King Minos claimed Crete and its Sea; the seven Nations of the Fast and South commanded those Seas, as the Lydians, Lord of the Seas, &c. Selden p. 59. the Corinthians, the Phaenicians, the Lacaedemonians, and Athenians; the four Emperours were said to be Lords of much Land and of much Sea; and the common enjoyment of it was abolished as an unjust thing by the Eastern constitutions; the Venetians held the adriatic; the Genoes the Ligusticke; the Tuscans the Tyrrhene; and Rome Tiber, and the Sea adjoining.  
The Portugals are in ancient Records called Lords of Commerce, Navigation, and the Sea; and the spanish of the Firme-land and Ocean; the King of France is declared supreme Lord of the Sea that floweth about his kingdom; as are the Danes, the Swedes, the Pole, and Turkes: neither is the air less appropriate then the Sea; yea the very Hollanders themselves discountenanced Grotius and his Book of the communities of the Elements: And to conclude all the foresaid Venetians Ao. 1508. in a public debate with Ferdinand then Emperour carried the propriety of the adriatic gulf.   

CHAP. VII. The Inestimable benefit the Dutch make of the british Seas.  D. L. 
WIll you show me the advantage the Dutch make of our Seas?  I. B. 
Yes, our Seas yield inestimable treasure to those that take pains therein all the year; For,  
The Summer Fishing, for Herring beginneth about midsummer, and lasteth some part of August.  
The Winter Fishing for Herring lasteth from September to the midst of N●vember, both which extend in place from Boughones in Scotland to the Thames mouth.  
The Fishing for Cod at Alamby wirlington, and White-haven near Lancashire, from Easter till whitsuntide.  
The Fishing for Hake at Aberdeny, Abv●swhich, and other places between Wales and Ireland, from whitsuntide to Saint James-tide.  
The Fishing of Cod and Ling about Padstow within the Land, and of Severn, from Christmas to Midlent.  
The Fishing for Cod on the West part of Ireland, frequented by those of Giscay, Galicia, and Portugal from the beginning of April until the end of June.  
The Fishing for Cod and Ling on the North, and north-east of Ireland, from Christmas until Michaelmas.  
The Fishing for Pilchers on the West cost of England, from St. James-tide until Michaelmas.  
The Fishing for Cod and Ling, upon the north-east of England, from Easter until Midsummer.  
The Fishing of great staple Ling, and many other sorts of Fish lying about the Islands of Scotland, and in the several parts of the british Seas all the year long.  D. L. 
To show the benefit of our Fish trade I pray show me some instances?  J. B. 
In September, not many years since upon the cost of Devon shire near Minigall 500. Tun of Fish were taken in one day. And about the same time three thousand pound worth of Fish in one day were taken at St. Joes in cornwall by small boats, and other poor provisions.  
Our five-men-boates, and Cables adventuring in a calm to land amongst the Holland Busses not far from Robin Hoods Bay, returned to Whitby full fraught with Herrings, and reported that they saw some of those Busses take 10. 20. 24. lasts at a draft of Herrings, and returned into their own Country, 40. 50. and 100. Lasts of Herrings in one buss.  
Our Fleet of Colliers not many years since returned from Newcastle laden with coals about the Well, near Flamborough head, and Scarborough, met with such multitudes of Cod,& Ling, and Herring, that one amongst the rest with certain ship●ookes, and other like Instruments drew up as much Cod and Ling in a little space of time, as were sold well near forasmuch as her whole lading of Coal. And many hundred of Ships might have been there laden in two dayes and two nights.  D. L. 
I pray show me particularly of the advantages the Hollanders make of their Fishing upon our Coasts?  J. B. 
Sir John Burroughes reckoned up eight sorts of advantages:  
1. In Shipping; 2. In mariners; 3. In Trade; 4. In towns and Fortifications; 5. In power extern; or abroad; 6. In public Revenue 7. In private Wealth; 8. In all manner of provisions, and store of things necessary.  D. L. 
How do they increase their Shipping by our Fishing?  J. B. 
Besides 700. Strand boats, 4000. Evars, and 400. Sallits, Drivers and Tod-boates, wherewith the Hollanders ply upon their own Coasts, every one of those employing another to fetch salt, and carry their Fish into other Countries, being in all 3000. sails, maintaining and setting on work at least 4000. persons, Fishers, Trades men, Women and Children. They have 100. Doyer boats of 150 Tunes a piece, or thereabouts. 700. pinks and Well-boates, from 60. to 100. tunes a piece; which altogether Fish upon the Coasts of England and Scotland for Cod and Ling onely. And each of these employ another Vessel for providing of Salt, and transporting of their Fish, making in all 1600. Ships, which maintains and employ persons of all sorts, 4000. at least.  
For the Herring season they have 1600. Busses at the least, all of them Fishing onely upon our coasts, from Boughonness in Scotland to the mouth of Thames.  
And every one of these maketh work for three other Ships that attend her; the one to bring in Salt from foreign parts, another to carry the said Salt and Cask to the Busses, and to bring back their Herrins, and the third to transport the said Fish into foreign Countries: So that the total number of Ships and Busses paying the Herring faire is 6400. whereby every buss one with another, employeth forty men, mariners and Fishers within her own hold, and the rest ten men a piece, which amounteth to 112000. Fishers and mariners. All which maintain double, if not triple, so many tradesman, Women and Children a land.  
Moreover they have 400. other Vessels at least, that take Herring at Yarmouth, and there sell them for ready money: so that the Hollanders( besides 300. Ships before mentioned, Fishing upon their own Shores) have at least 4800 Shipes onely maintained by the Seas of great britain, by which means principally, Holland being not so big as one of our Shires of England, containg not above 28. miles in length, and three in breadth; hath increased the number of their Shipping to at least 10000. sail, being more then are in England, France, Spain, Portngal, Italy, denmark, Poland, Sweden, and Russia. And to this number they add every day, although their Country itself, affords them neither Materials, nor Victuals, nor merchandise to be accounted of towards their setting forth. Besides these of Holland, Lubeck, have 700. great Ships, Hamborough 600. Embden 400. whereunto the Ships of Bremern, Biscay, portugal, Spain, and France, which for the most part Fish in our Seas; and it will appear that 10000. sail for foreign Vessels and above are employed and maintained by Fishing upon our Coasts. So that in Holland there are built 1000 sail at the least, to supply shipwrecks, and augment their store; which as the prime and common Nursery, is the chiefest means onely to increase their number.  D. L. 
How do the Dutch increase their mariners.  J. B. 
The number of Ships fishing on our Coasts as being aforesaid, 8400. if we allow but twenty persons to every Ship one with another the total of mariners and Fishers amounteth to 168000 out of which number they daily furnish their longer voyages to all parts of the World; for by this means they are not onely enabled to brook the Seas and to know the use of the Tackles and Compass, but are likewise instructed in the Principles of Navigation, and Pilotage, insomuch as from hence their greatest Navigators have had their Education and breeding.  D. L. 
How do the Dutch increase their Trade?  J. B. 
By reason of these multitudes of Ships and mariners they have extended their Trade to all parts of the World, exporting for the most part in all their Voyages our Herring, and other Fish for the maintenance of the same; in exchange whereof they return the several Commodities of other Countries.  
From the southern parts, as France, Spain, and Portugal, for our Herrings they return oils, Wines, Pruines, Honey, wools, &c. and with store of coin in Spain.  
From the Straights, Velvets, satins, and all sorts of silks, Allames, Currans, oils, and all Grocery Ware, with much money.  
From the East Countries for our Herrings, and other French and Italian Commodities before returned, they bring Home, corn, Wax, Flax, Hemp, Pitch, tar, Sopeashes, Iron, Copper, Steel, Clapboard, Wainscot, Timber, Dealeboard, collars, and Hungary Gilders.  
From Germany for Herrings, and other salt Fish, Iron, Steel, Glass, millstones, Rhenish Wines, Buttonplate for armor, with other Munition, silks, Velvets, Rashes, Fustians, Baratees, and such like Frankeford Commodities, with store of Rix-Dollers.  
From Brabant they return for the most part ready money with some Tapistryes, and Hullship; yea some of our Herring are carried as far as basil.  
And that which is more strange and greatly to our shane, they have 4 hundred Ships with Fish, in which our men of Yarmouth within Ken, almost at Land do vent our Herrings amongst us here in England, and make us pay for the Fish taken upon our own cost ready money, wherewith they store their own Country.  D. L. 
How do the Dutch by fishing on our Seas increase their towns and Forts?  J. B. 
By this their large extent of Trade they are became as it were Citizens of the whole World, whereby they have so enlarged their towns, that most of them within 400. years that are full as great again as they were before; Amsterdam, Leyden, and Midleburgh, having been lately twice enlarged, and their Streets, and buildings so fair, and orderly set forth, that for beauty and strength they may compare with any other in the World, upon which they bestow infinite sums of Money; all originally flowing from the bounty of the Sea, from whence by their labour and industry they derive the beginning of all that Wealth and greatness; and particularly for the Havens of the aforesaid towns, whereof some of them cast 40. 50. or 100000l. Their Fortifications also both for number and strength, upon which they have bestowed infinite sums of money, may compare with any other whatsoever.  D. L. 
How do the Dutch by Fishing in our cost increase their power abroad?  J. B. 
Such being then the number of the Ships and mariners, and so great their Trade, occasioned principally by their Fishing; they have not onely strengthened and fortified themselves at home, to repel all foreign invasions, as lately in the war between them and Spain, but have likewise stretched their power into the East, and West-Indies in many places, whereof they are Lords of the Sea Coasts, and have likewise Fortified upon the main, where the Kings and people are at their Devotion. And more then this, all neighbouring Princes in their differences( by reason of this their power at Sea,) are glad to have them of their party: so that next to the English they are now become the most redoubted Nation at Sea of any other whatsoever.  D. L. 
How do the Dutch by Fishing on our Coasts increase their public Revenue?  I. B. 
That may appear in that above thirty years since, over and above the Customs of other merchandise, Excises, Licenses, Waftage and Lastage, there was payed to the State for custom of Herring and other salt Fish above 300000. pound in one year, besides the tenth Fish, and Cask payed for Waftage, which cometh at the least to as much more among the Hollanders onely, whereunto the tenth of other Nation being added it amounteth to a far greater sum.  
We are likewise to know that great part of their Fish is sold in other Countries for ready money, for which they commonly export of the finest Gold and Silver, and coming home recoine it of a base alloy under their own stamp, which is not a small means to augment their public treasure.  D. L. 
How do the Dutch by Fishing on our Seas increase their private wealth?  J. B. 
That will appear to be exceeding great by these following particulars:  
During the wars between the King of Spain and the Hollanders before the last Truce, dunkirk by taking, spoiling, and burning the Busses of Holland, and setting great ransom upon their Fishermen, enforced them to compound for great sums that they might Fish quietly for one year, whereupon the next year after the Fishermen agreed amongst themselves to pay a dolor upon every Last of Herrins, towards the maintenance of certain Ships of war to waft and secure them in their Fishing, by reason whereof there was a Record kept of the several Lasts of Herrins taken that year, and it appeared thereby that in one half a year there were taken 30000. Lasts of Herrins which at 16. 20. 30. pound per Last amounteth to 3600000 and at 16. 20. 30. pound the Last they ordinarily sold, then transported into other Countries, it cometh at least to 5000000 l. whereunto if we add the Herrings taken by other Nations, together with the Cod, Ling, Hake, and the Fish taken by the Hollanders and other our Neighbours upon the british Coasts all the year long, the total will evidently arise to be above 1000000 l.  
The great trade of Fishing employing so many men at Sea must necessary maintain as great a number of Trades men and Artificers by Land, as Spinners, Hempwinders to make Cables, Cordage, yarn twine for Nets, Weavers to make sail clothes, Cecive Pachers, Tollers Dressers, and Couchers to sort and make the Herring lawful merchandise; Tanners to Tan their sails and Nets; and Coopers to make casks, Block and Bowl makers for Shipes; Keelemen and Labourers for carrying and removing their Fish; Sawyers for plantiers, Carpenters, Shipwrights, Smiths, Carmen, Boatmen, Brewers, Bakers, and others that cannot otherwise live with their Wives, Children and Families; every Orphan, Servant, or poor man may venture their stock in Fishing Voyages, which affords them extraordinary increase, and is duly paid according to the proportion of their gain.  D. L. 
How do they increase their Provision?  J. B. 
Though there be nothing in Holland but Hops, Madder, Butter and Cheese; yet by fishing they have plentiful of all manner of provision for necessity, as corn, Beef, Mutton, Hides, clothes; for luxury as Wines, silks, Spices, or defence as Pitch, tar, Cordage, Timber; all which they have not onely in competent proportion for their use, but are likewise able from their several Magazines to supply their Neighbour Country.  D. L. 
Might we not thrive as well as they upon our own Fish?  J. B. 
We might no doubt, and have those Fish for nothing that we pay them for, repairing thereby 230. small Fisher Towns decayed for want of that improvement; and adding both honour, strength, and riches to our King and Country, which how easily it may be done will appear by some few Observations following.  
By erecting two hundred and fifty Busses of reasonable strength and bigness there will be employment made for 1000. Ships, and for at least 10000. Fishermen and mariners at Sea, and consequently for as many tradesman, and Labourers at Land.  
The Herrings taken by the Busses will afford his Majesty 200000 l. yearly custom outward; and for Commodities returned inward 30000 l. and above.  
We have Timber sufficient, and at reasonable rates growing in our own kingdom for the building of Busses, every Shire affordeth hardy and able men fit for such employment who now live poorly, and idle at home.  
We have Victuals in great plenty sold at easy rates, without payment of Excises, or impost.  
Our Shores and Harbours are near the places where the Fish do haunt.  
For Drink, or Nets, salting and packing our fish, and for succour in stress of Weather, we may bring our Fish to Land, salt and pack it, and from some parts of his Majesties Dominions be at our Markets in France, Spain, or Italy before the Hollander can arrive in Holland.  
We have means to transport our Fish into some Northern Countries where the Hollander seldom or never come. And though we had as many Busses as the Hollanders, yet is their vent for all, or more, for in East and Northern Countries where the Hollanders seldom or never come. And though we had as many Busses as the Hollanders, yet is there vent for all, or more, for in the East and Northern Countries and in many other places, Herrins are every daies meat, winter and summer, as well to draw on drink as to satisfy hunger; and in most places the greatest part of the year they be scarce to be had; for presently after Michaelmas the Sound and Rivers are frozen up, so as no Herrings can be transported into twenty kingdoms, and free States until July, which is for thirty weeks space together, so that when Lent comes there are few to be bought for money. Lastly, since by care and industry we gained clothing from the Flemmings, doubtless so by the same means we may as easily grow expert in the art of Fishing, and in time make it a staple Commodity of our own.  D. L. 
What are the general defects that hinder our improvement of our Fishing?  J. B. 
1. General liberty of eating Flesh, contrary to old custom, and the statute Laws provided for observing Fish dayes, from whence our scarcity and dearth of fish proceedeth; for where Flesh is ordinarily spent fish will not be bought, and want of sale decayeth all trade, gain being the nurse of Industry.  
2. Want of order and discretion in our fishing, every man being left to himself, and permitted to fish as best liketh him; whereas amongst the Hollanders two of the best experienced Fishermen are appointed to guide the rest of the Fleet, all others being bound to follow them, and to cast their Lines according to their direction.  
3. The Hollanders and other Nations set forth with their Busses in June to find the shoal of fish, and having found it, dwell amongst it till November, whereas we stay till the Herring come home to our road steads, and sometimes suffer them to pass by ere we look out, our Herring-fishing containing onely seven weekes at the most, and theirs twenty.  
4. The Hollanders Busses are great and strong, and able to brook foul weather, whereas our Cables, Cracsers and boats being small, and thin sided, are easily swallowed by a rough Sea, not daring to adventure far in fair weather, by reason of their weakness for fear of storms.  
5. The Hollanders are industrious, and no sooner are discharged of loading, but presently put forth for more, and seek for Markets abroad as well as at home; whereas our English after they had been once at Sea, do commonly never return again until all the money taken for their Fish be spent, and they in debt seeking onely to serve the next Market.  
The Hollanders have certain Merchants who during the Herring season do onely come to the places where the Busses arrive, and joining together in several companies, do presently agree for the lading of 30. or 40. Busses at once, and so being discharged t●ey may speedily return to then former Shipping; whereas our Fishermen are uncertain of their Chapmen, and forced to spend much time in putting off their Fish by parcels.  D. L. 
What laws were there made to recover this trade?  J. B. 
It was enacted 33. Hen. 8.  
Because the English Fishermen dwelling on the Sea Coasts did leave off their trade of Fishing in our Seas, and went the half Seas over, and there upon the Seas did buy fish of Pickards, Flemmings, Normans, Zealanders; by reason whereof many incommodities did grow to the realm, viz. The decay of the wealth and prosperity as well of the Cinque Ports, and Members of the same as of other cost Towns by the Sea side, which were builded, and inhabited by great multitudes of people, by reason of using and exercising the craft and feat of fishing. Secondly, the decay of a great number of boats and Ships. And thirdly, the decay of many good mariners, both able in body by their diligence, labour, and continual exercise of fishing, and expert by reason thereof in the knowledge of the Sea Coasts, as well within this realm as in other parts beyond the Seas. It was therefore enacted that no manner of persons, English, Denizens, or strangers at that time, or any time after dwelling in England, should buy any Fish of any Strangers in the said Ports of Flanders, Zealand, Picardy, France, or upon the Sea between shore and shore, &c.  
This Act by many Continuances was continued from Parliament to Parliament until the first of Queen Mary, and from thence to the end of the next Parliament and then expired.  R. V. 
How did the Hollanders increase in Power and Wealths?  J. H. 
It will be a wonderful thing to see what a mighty subsistence of Wealth, and a huge Navigable power that State is come to, by a rare unparallelled industry; For I dare avouch that the Roman Commonwealth,( though she had her head as well knit in her Infancy as any that ever was) did not come near her, in so short a progress of time, to such a growth of strength.  
But it seems all things conspired to raise Holland to this pass: First, the humour of the people, being patient and industrious, and of a genius more inclinable to a Democratical Government then to a Monarchy: Add hereunto the quality of the Country, being every where half cut, and as it were inlayed with water, and thereby much fortified, and made in many places inaccessible; so that if need were, Holland could turn her self into a huge pond when she list.  
Hereunto concurred a further advantage of situation, having behind her the baltic Sea, which affords her all kind of Materials for Shipping, and for all kind of Nutriment and Military Forces, England and France, both swarming with superfluous people, suspectfull of the spanish greatness, and so not unwilling to contribute Auxiliary strength for mutual security and conservation.  
Navigation and Mercautile Negotiation, are two Poles whereon the State doth move, and to both these it seems Nature her self hath expressly de●igned both Country and People; them by an extraordinary kind of propensity, the Country by apt position, for having no land to manure it, they plow the very bowels of the deep, the wrinkled forehead of Neptune being the furrows that yields them increase.  
Moreover, there being great Rivers that slice and cut the Country up and down to disgorge themselves into the Ocean, those Rivers may be said to pay them tribute, as well as to the Sea; which Rivers branching themselves into large and bearing streams, did so fitly serve one another, and all the whole, that it may be said, Nature in the frame of human bodies did not discover more art in distributing the veins and arteries, for the easily conveyance of the mass of blood into each part, as she hath shewed here in dispersing those waters so orderly for traffic.  
These Rivers bring her what the large content of Germany, and other Eastern Countries afford, and she lying between them and the Sea, furnisheth them with all far fetched Indian, Affrica, and spanish Commodities.  
Here you shall see the most industrious people upon earth making a rare virtue of necessity, for the same thing which makes a parrot speak, makes them to labour; For having nothing of their own, yet they bound with all things, and may be said, to live by the idleness of some of Neighbours, I am loathe to name here who they are.  
Here you shall find a people grow rich also by that which useth to impoverish others, even by wars, for prizes and booties abroad, go to make a good part of their wealth.  
Yet in conversation they are but heavy, of a homely outside, and slow in action, which slowness carrieth with it a notable perseverence, and this may be imputed to the quality of that mould of earth, whereon they dwell, which may be said to be a kind of standing pool of air: and which is known to have such a force of assimilation, that when people of a more vivacious temper come to mingle with them at the second Generation, they seem to participate of the soil and air, and degenerate into mere Hollanders; the like is found daily in Horses and Dogs, and all other Animals.  
Occulta est Batavae quaedam vis insita terrae  
One remarkable piece of policy I forgot, that we should observe in the united Provinces, viz. Why in so small an extent of ground they have so many rich well built and populous towns amongst them; one of the principal reasons is, because they oppropriate some staple material Commodity to every one of the great Towns, as Amsterdam hath the Trade of the East and West-Indies , Rotterdam the English Cloth, Dort the Rhenish Wines, Trevers the Se●ts Trade, the Hague the Residence of the Prince, and the States, Haerlam subsists by Knitting and Dying, &c. which is a very laudable course, not to suffer one place to swallow the wealth and traffic of the whole; like the spleen in the natural body, whose swelling makes all the rest of the Members languish.  D. L. 
I pray what is their Revenue?  O. F. 
Their Excise is an unwasted Mine, which with the infiniteness of their traffic, and their unwearied industry is paid them by every part of the World, the Sea yields them by two sorts of Fishes onely Herrins and Cod 60000l. a year, for which they go out sometimes 7. or 8000. boats at once, and are able to set out twice as many Ships: their merchandise amounting forty years ago to a million, whereas England which is twice as big in compass hath not half so much.  D. L. 
How do they amass so much Treasure?  O. F. 
Whether it be from the nature of their Country, where they must work or perish; or their genius adapted to such a situation, or their own parsimonious inclination and education; or their transcendent Activity or close habitation that compact and fortify their virtues they are young and old; man and woman( for all souls are there Masculine,) the most industrious and diligent people on earth, and in their several ways contribute to the public Treasury.  D. L. 
How do they raise and dispose of their Revenue?  C. B. 
They raise one year with the other for the common charge of the Union,( besides the extraordinary Impositions that rise and fall with their occasions) 3200000. Crownes, i.e. 800000. upon the particular Provinces, Holland contributing half, Zealand a fifth part, and Friezland about a tenth.  D. L. 
Their charge is great considering the small Circuit of their Ground?  C. B. 
1. Their traffic makes good what is wanting in their Land, the commodiousness for the Sea, the narrowness of their ground, and the industry of the Inhabitants, the defects of nature.  
2. But the people bear it patiently because their liberty could not long endure without arms, nor arms without stipends, nor their stipends without impositions, and the united Provinces will always so apprehended the Power of Spain, or their other enemies, as they will easily be persuaded, to be always prepared for war that so they may the easier evade all new hazards.  
3. They put forty dayes in the Souldiers month for pay, and so save a great deal of money, and pay exactly which prevents a great deal of disorder incident to more needy Armies.  
4. They raise the money to maintain the Banks and Channels of each Province, and out of their Treasuries advance a public Stock.  D. L. 
But a word Sir of their strength by Sea?  C. B. 
As they equal all Europe in Trade, so they exceed it in the number of their Ships; which people as it were the Mediterranean Seas, especially before Amsterdam that hath engrossed the Western trade of Antwerp, and that Eastern of Lisbon; and is the staple as Rotterdam is the Arsenal of that Country which is entrenched with the Sea, and Bull worked with Ships: they have no Timber growing, yet they sell Timber to most Nations, besides what they use themselves: they are dull by Land, but waterdevils at Sea, being all Seamen born, and bread either in Merchandizing, or Sea-faring, and like Frogs can live both of Land and Water; not a Country Uriester or Waterman but can handle an oar, steer a Boat, raise a Mast, and bear you out in the roughest streights you come at; sailors among them are as common as beggars among us: they can drink, rail, swear, nigle, street and be lowsy alike; but a mess of their Knaves is worth a million of ours, for they in a boisterous rudeness can work, live and toil; Whereas ours will rather laze themselves to poverty, and like Cabbages left out in Winter rot away in the loathsomeless of a nauseous sloth; in Fleets they can fight close and rather hazard all then save some while others perish, but single they will slag and fear like Birds in a Bush, when the Sparrow-hawks bills are heard. Their Fisher boats prepare them for the Ships, and fishing fits them for fighting.  D. L. 
No doubt but Amsterdam, Middleburgh, &c. are full of Seamen, because so full of trade in Merchandizing, or shipping, but how do they furnish themselves with Necessaries?  C. B. 
Holland hath no Corn yet plentiful granaries; no hemp or Flax, yet store of Cordage and linen; no Wool or cattle, yet abundance of Cloath and Provision of all sorts, not a stick of Wood, yet more Ships then all Europe besides.  
But that which completes their strength and power at Sea is their skill in Navigation, not a Climate Star or wind but they understand, not a Sea but their youth are carried to, nor a streight or passage but they are shewed: so that they can engross the Indies, basil, the Portugal, cousen the Spaniard abuse the English, and carry all at Sea before them; Onely a Turkish man of war is as dreadful to them as a Falcon to a Mallord, against whom their best remedies is to steal away.  L. M. 
But there is a Gentleman that can give you the exactest account of any man concerning that country, having been seven years leaguer there. Sir, I pray, you can tell what makes that State so prosperous.  T. O. 
All things concurred for the rising and maintaining 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 baltic Sea, which yields them all materials for ships, and many other commodities.  L. M. 
Good Sir, the manner of their Government?  T. O. 
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 besides a council of State, residing for the most part at the Hague, which attend daily occasions, being rather employed upon Affairs of State, than of particular Justice. The most potent in this Counsel was Barnavil, by reason of his Advocates in Holland, and besides both these, every Province and great Town have particular Counsels of their own, to all which Assemblies, as well 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 Gentlemen 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 advantage in a Free State, than 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 Wealth, 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 as well 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 been ever envious at the predominancy of Holland, and Utrecht ready to mutiny for Religion; and besides, it is a doubt whether the same care and sincerity would continue if they were at their consistence, as appears yet whilst they are but in rising.  
The Revenue of this State ariseth chiefly from the Earl of Hollands Demesnes, the 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 enemies country, Taxes upon all things at home, and Imposition upon all merchandises ftom abroad; their expenses upon their Ambassadors, their shipping, their ditches, their carriers and munition, and commonly they have in pay by Sea and Land 60000 men.  L. M. 
If it be not too troublesone to you, a word or two of their Strength, Discipline& War.  T. O. 
For their 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 renders their Ditches, Marshes, and Rivers, as firm Ground, and by Sea they are able to offend any other.  
There belong to the State 2000 Vessels of all sorts, so that if the Spaniard were entirely beaten out of those parts, the King of England and France 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 which this part of the World wants and the Indies have, is Spice, Silk, Jewels, Gold, they are become the Conveyors of them to the rest of Christendom except us; as the Venitians were of old, and all those Commodities that these Northern Countreys abound with, and those 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 Countreys 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 the River of the rhine, the Maze, and Skeld end all in their Dominions, and the baltic Sea lies not far from them, all which affords 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 Souldiers commit no where fewer insolences upon the burghers, fewer Robberies upon the country, nor the Officers fewer Deceits upon the Souldiers.  
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 Commanders 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.  L. M. 
Your Judgement of the place and people.  T. O. 
The Territory contains six entire Provinces, Holland, Zealand, Utrecht, Groninghen, Over-Yssel, and Friezland, and certain Towns in Brabant and Flanders, the ground of which is for the most part fruitful, the Towns no where so equally Beautiful, Rich and Strong, which equality grows by reason that they appropriate some one Staple commodity to every Town of note; onely Amsterdam not only passeth them all, but even Sevil, 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 baltic Sea; upon the fall of Antwerp that rose rather than Middleborough, though it stand at the same Rivers 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; thrifty, industrious, and cleanly, dishartened upon the least ill success, and insolent upon good; inventive 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 valentine Wits; and the equality of spirits which is among them and the swissers, renders them so fit for a democracy, which kind of Government, Nations of more subtle Wits being once come to a consistent greatness have seldom long endured.   

CHAP. VIII. The Lives and Characters of the Princes of Aurange.  D. L. 
THe affairs of Holland depending so much upon the Princes of Aurange, will you be pleased to recollect the History of those renowned Princes?  T. S. 
1475. Lewis of Chalon was invested by King Lewis with the absolute Principality of Aurange, which is on the north-west of Province, and subject to the King of France.  
1480. He death and leaveth his Estate and Government to his valiant and active Successor William Chalon, whose Interest abroad and Prowess at home, was so considerable, that Lewis the 11. could not think himself secure, until he had submitted his Estate to him in the Parliament of Daulphin, and Married his cousin, upon which submission and alliance he receives his Estate again in Capite from his sovereign,  
Which being much improved, he bequeathed to John Chalon; who was able to justify the King of France his jealousy, and make himself so considerable that France feared him, when an enemy, the Duke of Burgundy, courted him for a friend, in whose service he died; And,  
1496. Left his Patrimony and authority to Philibert Chalon his Nephew who was Heir to his Resolutions as well as to his Estate, and died as faithful a servant to the House of Austria under Charles, as he to the House of Burgundy under Philip the Good: These Princes were born to assist afflicted States, to relieve oppressed Princes, to support tottering Crownes, and rescue lost Liberties; especially if we consider how the Chalon male Line failed in Philibert, and the honour of Nassaw was wreathen with the glory of Aurange.  
1500. For Philibert onely Sister being Married to Rene Nassau as he himself was devoted to him, Renes Son Henry Nassau is adopted by Philibert, who failing of an Heir of his body, would have one of his Virtues; and as Queen Elizabeth said that her Throne was the Throne of Kings; so he ordered that his Principalities should be the inheritances of Nobles.  
Henry was born a Prince and bread a soldier, his blood enobling his Name and his actions his blood; the brave man being resolved first to deserve, and then to inherit his Dominions; he as nobly served the King of Spain to chastise his Subjects Rebellion as his Successors did the people to oppose his tyranny; he fought but against licentiousness, and they but for liberty; he bestowed his own Revenue in his Masters service, and his Masters salary in his Souldiers encouragement carrying nothing out of the Netherlands but the glory of Conquest and Integrity: Having taught Spain and Flanders six things, 1. how to entrench and fortify double; 2. how to retreat safely; 3. how to embatle the Foot; 4. Deep securely; 5. how to bear a charge undauntingly and return it home; 6. how to tyre an Army with unwearied surprises; and 7. how to conquer with kindness. He died before Luxemburgh, falling the unexpressible joy of his enemies, and unuterable sorrow of his friends; but that,  
1544. His cousin William succeeded him in his Estate and Glory, his Heir by his Will and his Peoples Vote, whose expectation of this Prince was no less then his merit which promised much and performed more: Born he was at Dellenburgh, and bread in Germany with Count Mansfield who learned in one School what they might practise in contrary Camps; honourable was his possession in France, noble in Germany, but large and rich in the Low Countries; whose Religion now reformed, provoked the Pope, as their Privileges now enlarged vexed Charles the Emperour into some close Overtures, as it did his Son Philip to open attempts upon them; an inquisition is set up, impositions are enhanced, strangers( as de Sylon, de Feria)& tyrants( as D'Alva and Granvill) are set over them; Goods are confifcated, Estates seized, Freemen outlawed, and a multitude of honest Inhabitants are put to death; the people groan under this, and fear worse; much troubled were the Commonalty, more the Nobility, whereof among many that were eminent for birth, valour, and adherency, two were most considerable, 1. Lamorall, Count Egmont a soldier, and William Prince of Aurange a Statesman, the one trusted with the highest commands, the other famous for most eminent services, first at St. Quintin, and then at gravelling; the Prince of Aurange was popular, wary, wise, a great master of speech, and no less of council; his carriage and behaviour plausible; of whom it was a question whether he was more able in comprehending business or morewary in managing them: Egmont was rather a man of war then peace, one of a candid nature and obliging; converse and popular too, but among the Souldiers in the fields rather then among the vulgar within the Walls, fitter for the preferments of camp then Court: The Prince of Aurange understanding while he was Hostage for King Philip in France, that those two Princes designed the extirpation of the Protestant Religion, communicates the Plot to the Flemish Nobility in a seasonable juncture, when they were impoverished by the Emperour Charles when present with them, slighted by the continual absence of Philip, and awed by the surintendency of strangers; when the Churchmen were unsatisfied with new erected bishoprics upon the ruins of Monasteries; when all were amazed to see Germans and Spaniards brought into their Counsels, Forts, and Garrisons; when France was divided in its self under young Francis; England reformed by Queen Elizabeth, and the Protestant Princes threatened by the greatness of Austria watched all opportunities to diminish it.  
King Philip finding his Dominions large but unsettled, retires to the midst of them, as the heart to dispense vigour and influence to all the Party; and( waving the duchess of lorraine whom the Prince and the States desired) settled Margaret of Parma, with Cardinal Granvill in the Government; but before his departure he might see discontent in the faces, and discern rebellion in the Harangues, of the Deputies he called together at Gaunt, and if he saw it not, his Courtiers did upon a good token that when one of them urged to him the danger of these Provinces if he moderated not his Edicts concerning Religion, he answered, That he would rather be without kingdoms then enjoy them with Heresy: dangerous it was to refuse these Dutchmen least those Provinces might revolt, more dangerous to endulge them least all his Dominions would set up liberty, the Edicts are confirmed; the old constitution is established; a juncto is privately marked out, the duchess is instructed, and the King is bound for Spain, when the Governess and her Cardinal find grievances swelling up the public discontent, and improve them by their juncto cabals, their absolute authority and arbitrary Government, especially Granvills imperiousnes, who was a man of great experience, and of greater animosity; for hereupon grave William, the Prince, horn the Admiral, and valiant Egmont the soldier suggested first more privately to the Nobility how their Counsels were excluded, and then more publicly to the people, how their Privileges were endangered, adding to the Governess her self,( who in straight between the strict injunctions of Spain, and the bitter complaints of the people, had no other refuge but her promises) that an Assembly of Estates was the onely remedy, a motion ill resented in its self, the ill humours of that Country being never likely to do well in a general Assembly, where they might rather confederate then break, and worse, as proceeding from Aurange, whom Granvill represents as crafty and ambitious, occasioning a stricter execution of the Edicts until authority is baffled, liberty declared; libels are published and under the notion of commerce the Protestant Religion is every day improved, liberty of Conscience is challenged, and the Privileges of their Country are pleaded for; the Prince of Aurange first had correspondence and then made alliance with the Admiral, the governor gives way to the new Alterations; the Cardinal rageth, the Nobility agree upon one Livery, which was a course to unite themselves, and deride the Cardinal, against whom they drew so many complaints, contrived so many designs, by disowning and disparageing him and his Confederates, that the King allaying the vigour of his former resolutions, according to the temper of the people, recalled Granvil, to the present satisfaction of all Flanders; but Viglio and Barlemont going their way,& the Council of Trents Decrees being published, the Prince of Aurange now allied with the most eminent Lutherans, proposed, that matters of Government and Religion might be transacted in the Council of State, which the duchess opposing, as prejudicial to his Majesty and her self, the Council is divided, the execution of the Edicts is stopped; the Protestants increase; Count Egmont is sent to Spain, with instructions from him, to discover the bottom of their disorders; the King is resolved; the duchess calls a Conference of Bishops, Divines, and Lawyers, at Brussels; the Inquisition is brought in; their sense of what they suffered, and the apprehensions of what they feared, forced the people to a Confederacy, contrived by Philip Mornishies Lord of St. Aldegond; a Covenant is taken, and published, all sorts are engaged; the design is applauded, fears and jealousies are increased; the Prince of Orange and the other Nobility debate matters at Breda, under the notion of a marriage; they assemble at Brussels, present their supplication, aggravate the grievances,( particularly Brederode a Noble person, of an active spirit and a voluble tongue, at Count Collemberghs house, April 3. 1566.) with great applause: they go in order to the Regent, and Petition, appealing to God and Men, that they had done what lay in their power: and taking occasion from the word Gueux, or Beggars, as they were called by Barlemont, they cried out, Long live the King, long live the Gueux, and by this Bread, by this Salt, by this Budget, the Gueux will from their tenets never budge; yea, the Medal at their Girdles is, true to the King, even to the Budget.  
The Liberty of other Nations is Printed, Protestant Sermons are publicly Preached, the Edict is severely enjoined, the people flock after the Novelties, and arm themselves against the Law, the Governours of the Provinces draw off from the duchess; the Prince of Orange now things are ripe, distracts the Counsel and the King in Spain; summons the Estates privately to Getrinberge in Liege; they resolve to stand to their Liberty; they conclude that nothing was to be expected from Spain but delays; they demolish Idolatrous Monuments, defaced the Churches, affronted the Priests, and being rather incited than moderated by the Prince of Orange his expedients, his water a flamme: the Tumult began by few, was desired by many, and approved by all; all the calvinism of Europe was in Antwerp, and all Antwerp was engaged at first, and by their example all the Provinces, so that the duchess is with much ado persuaded by Orange and Egmont to stay at Brussels to countenance their proceedings.  
The Discontented were so numerous, that they were ●reated with, and yielded to, in point of Indulgence and Liberty, each grant weakening authority, and strengthening the tumult; which Orange, under pretence of appeasing, improved; the Regent is in arms, the Confederates consult, Antwerp is reduced, and the whole Country inclined to Peace: the Reformers are discounteranced in Spain, the Prince of Orange for eseeing it impossible to please the King and serve his Country, in those troublesone times, would have retired, but being dissuaded by the Regent, he and his brother Lodowick comply with the present humors, keep their Protestant correspondencies in Europe, meet with other Nobility at Terramode in Brabant, near Antwerp; Count William discovering and opening the Spanish design, incited to Arms; Egmont reflecting on the weakness and poverty of the Provinces, his own services and great Family, and the power of Spain, was inclined to the peace and tranquillity of his country, in which temper the Assembly broken up, Egmont being really, and Orange feignedly for Peace.  D. L. 
How began the War?  C. B. 
By the duchess her resolution in order to the execution of her Edicts to ingarrison Valentiennes and Antwerp, both which places, after much debate among the multitude, opposed it.  D. L. 
What thought they of this in Spain?  C. B. 
Count Ferza was for Indulgence that might break, rather than for force that would unite them; Alva is for Authority that should give Law to Flanders, rather than Clemency, that received Laws from them; and for an Army rather than an Amnesty; whose experience, seconded with Granviles, and the news from Flanders, fixed the unresolved King upon a great Army under Alva, a soldier from his cradle, very rigid in Aspect, more in Nature, haughty in Peace, more in War; he musters at milan 12000 foot and 3000 horse, and marcheth without interruption to Lucemberg, which he ingarrisoned; the Country amazed to hear of, more to see his Forces, and ready to submit, Orange and his brother flieth, Egmmt and Horn are privately secured in Flanders, Montigns and Bergher in Spain: and their Secretaries that could discover all transactions he wrecked; the duchess removed her self: he sets up a new Tribunal of Justice, cites the Nobility before him, upon pain of being proclaimed Traitors; the Markets run with blood, for his Executions were public; the country was but one great prison, kept in by his new forts and citadels; the Nobility fly to Aurange, and the people to England, some decline his Jurisdiction by appealing to the King, others who had estates in Germany, to the Emperour; Breda the Prince of Orange's chief Town he secured; his eldest Son, a youth at louvain, he took, his goods were confiscated; Despair arms the Confederates, and and pitty and interest from England, now engaged with Spain, assists them; and it was but appearing in Flanders, and the harrazed country would flock in to them: the Princes of Germany and the Hans Towns assist them, both out of Interest and Conscience, equally against the house of Austria and the Pope: a Diet is kept; the slow proceedures of it are quenched by the Active Prince, imprinting that vigour on other breasts that enflamed his own; the English were to enter Friezeland, the Germans Brabant, the Hugonits the Walloon side: disbanded souldiers are entertained; Prince Lodowick entereth Friezeland, Lumay and Villiers surprise Gelderland, but are prevented at Ruremond, and pursued, notwithstanding Londonios advice, not to provoke too many enemies, as far as Liege, where they are overthrown; no better success have they at Graves, a convenient place for their purpose, and at Brussels against the Dukes person. But Lodowick had 10000 foot, 3000 horse, and the Prince as many more. But one balthasar Gerard, set on by the Jesuits, and recommended to his Highness by Monsieur du Pre, my Lord Mansfield, under pretence of being a Martyrs son, and offering some useful Blanks he had got from the enemy, got himself first to his Chamber, and then to his bosom, until he had shot him as he came from Dinner; so that he said no more but, my God! take pitty of my soul, and this poor people. A most Wise, Constant, Magnanimous, Patient, and Excellent Prince, his Motto being Mediis tranquillus in undis.—  
Prince Maurice succeeded him at 17 year old, with this Inscription, tandem fit surculus arbour, his conduct and the Earl of Leicester, in the general Government of the Provinces, where after many incursions into the enemies country, the taking of Breda, that was bestowed on the Prince, the relief of Nordan, the reduction of Steenberguen, the siege of Zutphen, the subduing of Groeninguen, the Prince of Parma's defeat in the Betuwe, the settlement of the Eastern and Western trade, the great Victory on the plain called Tresche-Heyde; he brought the Spaniard to a Peace, the English to a League, and his own people to a peaceable submission to his Government, and so died full of Honour and Dayes; leaving the Principality to Count Henry of Nassaw that great States-man, that designed an Alliance with all Europe, and a Marriage with England, whose Daughter he honoured as his Princess, rather than his Daughter in Law: he dying when his designs were most ripe, for settlement with Barnevell, and Grotius his assistance, left his son Prince William heir to his power and design, but not to his success, for his enterprise on Amsterdam failed a little before he died; and left his hopeful son William that now Governs, whom Holland is jealous of, and uncivil to, but all the rest of the Provinces and people honour, according to his own, and his great Ancestors merit and service; whom universal love and vote, his Predecessors service, his Countreys interest, his own eminence and his Allies power, will advance to no less grandeur and power than any of his Renowned Forefathers.   

CHAP. IX. Concerning our last Wars, and other transactions with the Dutch, from 1612. to 1660.  F. M. 
HOw have we agreed with the Hollanders since they were a Free State?  R. B. 
Pretty well, only we clashed sometimes about the East-Indian Trade, and the Fishing upon the Narrow Seas.  F. M. 
What clashing had we with them about the Trade beyond the Line?  R. B. 
They, not contented with the ordinary course of a fair Trade, took divers Islands, built several Forts, and endeavoured a new Dominion over us, and those Moluccos, Banda, Amboyna, &c. exercising new Jurisdictions, &c.  F. M. 
How were these differences put up?  R. B. 
It was like to be a breach, but in the year 1613. the States sent their ambassadors with full power to offer any satisfaction, and when that succeeded not, in the year 1615. they offered more in a Treaty at the Hague, touching the differences between the English and Dutch in the East-Indies; and at last in a third Treaty at London, in the year 1619. there was a full and solemn composition made of all the said differences, and a fair order set for the future proceeding in both Companies, as well in the course of their Trade and Commerce, as otherwise.  F. M. 
What was the next breach?  R. B. 
That at Amboyna, which King James had not time, nor King Charles opportunity or power to require satisfaction, for his Subjects in England being as insolent in denying him assistance, as his enemies were in offering him affronts, as if they had both combined, and Ingratitude abroad had gone hand in hand with treason at home; for one Turner said that we had better die by a foreign enemy then submit to home slavery.  F. M. 
But did that excellent Prince of famous memory agree with them all his reign?  R. B. 
The Hollanders and others encroaching upon the Fishers and other our Rights in the Narrow Seas, yea things coming to that pass by their observation of the untoward humour of the English at home, that they disputed our Right by Grotius; his Sacred Majesty thought fit not onely to employ Mr. Selden to clear the Right; but the earl of Lindsey as Admiral, and the earl of Essex as Vice-Admiral, with 40. sail set out with the Shipmoney to secure it; whereby the English pvissance was rendered so considerable, and trade so safe in the eyes of foreign Princes, that the King of Spain thought it his safest course to entrust his Bullion in our Bottoms, which was coined in England, to the great benefit of the Kings Mint, and of all the Merchants also, whose Commodities were exchanged thereby, and the rest of the money paid over by exchange to Flanders; whereupon the Hollander courted his Majesty with Presents, 1. of Ambergrease, 2. transparent China basins, 3. a Clock, and 4. the Originals of Tintoret and Titian.  
And in the year 1636. the King considering the good effects of his late Fleet, sets out another consisting of 60. sail of good Ships under the earl of Northumberlands Command, who going Northwards scoured the Seas of the Dutch Busses, seizing some, sinking others, and enforcing the rest to fly; so reducing them all to a precarious condition of entreating the favour of Fishing by the Kings Commission, which he was the readier to indulge them, because he looked upon them as the most likely instruments for his Nephews Restauration to the Palatinate.  L. M. 
But was there not some difference about the Dutch Fight with the Spanish Admiral upon our cost?  R. B. 
Our Historians say that our reputation was hereby greatly 
Sir Richard Baker continued.  impaired for suffering the Hollanders to fall upon the Spaniards in our Seas; and they say likewise that they doubting that we might resent the affront done us in that action, were willing to keep us so busied that we should have no opportunity of retaliation and to that end they accommodated the Scots, they say, with all manner of warlike provisions.  
But that excellent Prince, then whom many might make greater shows, none had greater affections for Religion, minding as well the common interest of Protestants abroad as that more particular of Englishmen at home, made a strict alliance with that state by the Marriage of his Daughter with the Prince of Orange, and yet when our neighbour Dutch-men minded their interest, and were almost Masters at Sea in the Northern Fishing, which because so far, and of so small a return, they went away with the whole benefit; upon our Fishmongers complaint he encouraged several overtures and projects concerning Busses for our own Coasts service, the prevention of strangers, and the improvement of the Narrow Seas, and withal he broken the confederacy that was entred into between the Hollanders and the French before dunkirk.  L. M. 
But what did they during the wars in England?  R. B. 
They sent ambassadors to the Parliament to declare that the high and mighty States of the United Provinces had sent them to mediate a reconciliation, that they might concur together for the extirpation of Popery, and the settling of the Protestant Religion.  
Here they remained( saith Mr. Sanderson how truly I know not,) pretending a peace, but in earnest to settle trade, and see which way the game went, and as he adds, the King knew their minds; and then they urged very hard for the King, whom they had saved, had their ambassador( as the same Author hath it) been as true to his trust as They were to the King.  
After the Kings Death they broken with the English, and when Oliver St. John and Walter Strickland were sent into Holland they were affronted and ill used by the common people, and thereupon return in discontent: Hereupon forsooth a new Act is made for the encouragement of Shipping and Navigation.  
Which the Hollanders apprehending highly prejudicial to their trade, they laboured with all their might what by fair Messages, and what with threats to get repealed, but when they saw all their endeavours were in vain, they were discovered to meditate hostility; Dorislaus is Executed there; the Kings Interest was hopeful in Scotland, and the Prince of Auranges therefore prevalent there; the Lord Newport comes over to feel the pulse and look into the strength, preparations and temper of the English; here the old duty of Herring-Fissing was demanded, the opening of the Scheld custom free from Middleburgh to Antwerp is urged, the right of the flag is insisted on, the business of Amboyna revived, and their Ships in several places upon the foresaid act taken. As an Omen of the war, the Statehouse at Amsterdam is burned, a Sea Fight is seen at the mouth of the Maes; they resolve to try our pulses, and 150. sail are equipped under Trump, while we had but 25. sail in the Downs under black; they refuse to strike sail upon Captain Youngs demand till he had given them some Broadsides; they set on black and beat him, yet not without loss, in so much as the States excused the action, and though in vain renewed the Treaty, declaring before the searcher of hearts( they are their own words) That they were so far from owning the late-engagement that they were astonished at the fatal news of it, entreating a peace upon the pledges of their Religion, and liberty; signed J. Cates, G. Schaes, P. Vauderperre; We replying our Civilities to them, and their great preparations for war; Notwithstanding these pretences for peace voted present satisfaction for the charges we had been at, and security for the time to come; it comes to a war, they get in between sir George Askew who was abroad,& our Navy which was going out at home, Trump secures their Merchants, draweth towards black that had spoiled their Herring Busses, and tolled them for the tenth; the Freeboates are busy on both sides, George Askew and they engage in a drawn battle, he is thereupon discharged; the Hollanders espouse the Kings quarrel to strengthen their own; the Prince of Aurange is Stad-holder, or chief governor; St. Johns gives the States these parting words, My Lords you have an eye upon the event of affairs in Scotland, and therefore refuse the friendship we offer; that business will be over and you will repent. Accordingly they sent more ambassadors, and more submissive terms when his Majesty was overthrown; De wit and Ruiter join. they brave and dare Ayscue, but are drawn out of their advantages by black, and beaten with the loss of 12. Ships to their own Harbours; the Hollanders mutiny, their Fishermen are taken in whole shoals; yet in three moneths do they equip another great Fleet under Van Trump, who understanding our Fleet was not recruited, surprised black in the downs, took and sunk 15. of his 40. sail, and twice boarded himself, pursuing him to every Haven and sending his Ships home to teach them the new model of them: Van Trump himself wearing a Broom in his maintop, intimating that he would sweep the narrow Seas of all English Shipping; and his Masters setting out Edicts every day against the English trade, as the Common people did Pictures, Songs, and by-words of the late Victory.  
But black is recruited and made 80. sail strong, wherewith though with much loss he brushed Trump before Portland, Weymouth, and Bulloign to the loss of 11. Ships, 1500. men, whereof Blake's resolution was remarkable, and Trumps conduct more; whose fortune failed in bringing his Ships on with success, but his skill did not in bringing them off with honour into Legorne, where he sunk and took most of the Ships under Captain Badily, and Appleton: their Letters mediate a peace, yet their preparations are mighty for war.  
Trump is abroad, with 89. Ships to secure the Eastern& Western Fleets; he battereth Dover, while we visit their cost with an 100. sail; at last black, monk, and Dean meet and discover Trump scouring all before him; they engage, Dean is cut off in the middle by my Lord monk, who takes no further notice of it but that the body should be removed; yet Trump escapes but narrowly to dunkirk, Lawson pursueth them, Trump turns upon him, black comes in, the Dutch fly, and their whole Navy is confounded; they hang a white flag, and sand a messenger to make way for a treaty, their Trade is at a stand, the Souldiers mutiny for money, ●nd are well paid; the Lords States come to the Ports themselves to see them set out; yet four ambassadors are sent to England, while De wit and Trump meet; my Lord monk draws up to them in the resolution with 30. sail, and cries to 'em again; Friday they engage with equal success; Sunday( the weather clearing up) they fight again, Van Trump is killed, and the Dutch beaten and pursued to the Texel, having but one flag standing. We lost 1300. men slain and wounded; they 4500. recovering but with 90. Ships of 120. into the Texel: An arbitration is set up, the right of the Flag is acknowledged, the Prince of Aurange is neglected, and a Peace concluded, which lasted till his Majesties return.  L. M. 
How did his Majesty and they part, after the entertainment 1660.  R. B. 
He said that he had so much kindness for them, that he would be jealous of them, if they gave a greater part of their amity to any Prince than to him, seeing he loved them more than all the Princes beside, adding withall these words;  

Sirs, Whereas I leave here in your hands the Princess my Sister, and the Prince of Aurange, two persons who are extremely Dear to me; I pray you, Sirs, take their Interest to heart, and cause them to resent the effects of the Favour in the occasions which the Princess my Sister shall request of you, either for her self, or the Prince her Son, assuring you that all the Effects of your good-will shall be acknowledged of me, as if I had received them in my own Person.  
CHARLES REX.   
This they recorded in the Registers of the States general, and of the Province of Holland, In Perpetuam rei memoriam.  
FINIS.