JOYFUL news FROM HOLLAND: showing, The royal Entertainment given by the States of the United Provinces, to the Lords ambassadors of the Common-wealth of England.  
ALSO, The Lord ambassador St. Johns Speech to the High and mighty States of Holland and West-Friezland, at a public Audience at the Hague, in the Name and behalf of the Parliament of this Commonwealth.  
With a perfect Narrative of his Proceedings, the great danger that he escaped, and the insolent behaviour of the English Cavaliers, towards his Lordship and his Retinue.  
TOGETHER, Together with a Declaration of the aforesaid States of Holland and West-Friezland; And the death of the Young Prince of Orange.  
LONDON, Printed by Robert Wood. 1651.   

A true Narrative of the proceedings of the Lord ambassador St. JOHNS, his speech to the High and mighty States of the United Provinces, the great dangers he escaped, and the insolent behaviour of the Cavaliers towards his Lordship.  
SIR,  
ON the 8. of March, the Lord St John( ambassador to the Parl. of England) set sail from Gravesend. On the 9 we came to Anchor near the Flatts; that day my L. Strickland gave his Excellency a visit, many Gentlemen attended upon his Lordship: Mr Goodwin preached in the Forenoon, and Mr nigh in the Afternoon, who fitted his matter for the present affairs we are a going about. On the 10 we set sail, and came to an Anchor at Margets. On the 11 we set sail; And on the 12 we came to Goeree in the morning; and about noon, through the carelessness of our Pilat, we had like to have lost our ship, for she run aground, and strook 8 times, that we thought we should have beaten to pieces: had you been there to have seen what a fright every body was in, you would have blessed yourself; for all the Gentlemen were ready to skip into the Long-boats, and to be gone ashore, for we were not far off it when it happened; but it pleased God to preserve us, and to bring us off safe.  
The Master gave the ship for lost; In the Afternoon we came to an Anchor before Hellevoet-sluys; but a little before one of the gunners men, sitting upon a gun to draw it, was beaten off by the main sheet into the sea; and drowned. On the 13. we went to Rotterdam, where we were very nobly entertained by the English Merchants. From thence my Lord( on the 27) took his journey for the Hague; and within a mile thereof at a place called the Horn-bridge, we were met with 30 Coaches by the Master of the Ceremonies, and 2 or 3 Lords, who came to congratulate their Lordships arrival into their country: that night we were had to a house that the States had made ready to entertain us in, where we have been feasted for these three dayes at their charges; On the 30. the Lords Ambassadors had audience of the States in their Great Assembly. Two of the States came to fetch their Lordships, about 40 Coaches attending them. As for my Lords Gentlemen, whose habit glittered like the glorious Sun, the like hath not been seen these many years: and the Dutch stood amazed( lifting up their hands) to see so much gallantry. When the Lords Ambassadors were at Rotterdam, the Spanish Ambassador sent his Gentleman to their Lordships to kiss their hands, and to congratulate their safe arrival, and to desire a fair correspondence and understanding between their Lordships and himself, and that as soon as he was come to the Hague, he would wait upon them. Their Lordships invited him to dine with them, and after dinner sent him back with a compliment to the Hague.  
On the 27 the Lords ambassadors journeyed towards the Hague, and were met by divers of the States, who welcomed them thither, with exceeding courtesy, attending them to a most sumptuous house which they had caused to be made ready for their entertainment, where for 3 days they were royally feasted: And on the 30 their Lordships had Audience, where the Lord St Johns spake to the whole Assembly of the States, as followeth.  

High and Mighty Lords,  
THe Parl. of the Common-wealth of England, well knowing by the ancient and successive Treaties & Leagues of Amity between Engl. and the Netherlands, as well before their restitution to their Liberties, as fithence, and by the many and notable assistances given unto them, and sometimes received from them against the enemies of each other, that there hath always been a firm Union, and constant intercourse of friendship, and real affections between England, and this State.  
And withall considering, that the defence and aid against foreign Enemies, and the free intercourse of Trade and traffic( the common interests of State) that first combined them in this happy league, do still continue, with the accession sithence of the profession of the true Reformed Religion, and of the just Liberties and freedom of the people of equal concernment unto both, more then formerly.  
And that God who at first appointed to all people the bounds of their several habitations, by situation, likeness of Manners, and Dispositions, commodities arising at Sea and Land, shipping and otherwise, hath not only enabled them to be more useful unto each for the maintenance of those common interests, than to others, but seems likewise in those regards to put a necessity upon both, to desire and affect the good of both.  
And finding by long experience that breaches( sometimes occasioned through mis-understanding) have always produced damage unto both, and likewise regret and impatience, till reconciliation, as if made for meet helps, they could not be well alone.  
And further observing, that the signal blessing of Almighty God hath ever accompanied the actions of each undertaker for their welfare, whereby great additions of happiness have been derived unto both, for which they are bound ever to give thanks to God, and were no doubt taken into the consideration of the High and Potent Lords of Holland, in their late good and acceptable endeavours for the continuance of a friendly correspondency between the two States.  
As therefore they have cause from hence, so the Parliament accordingly doth desire that this pious and strict confederacy and league of amity; derived from their ancestors unto them, may from themselves be transmitted unto posterity, if God so please, and such is the sincere love and good will which the Parliament of England beareth unto their neighbours of the United Provinces, begotten and conserved upon the grounds before expressed, that they are willing to enter into a more intimate alliance, and nearer union with them then formerly hath been, whereby a more real and intrinsical interest of each other may be contracted for their mutual good.  
This the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England, doth by us their ambassadors extraordinary, declare and make tender of unto you the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United 〈…〉 inces of the Netherlands, and hath given us authority on their wise part to bring to effect. And they have chosen this as the most seasonable time to acquaint your Lordships herewithal, when you are met in this great and extraordinary Assembly, to consult( as they suppose) matters of highest importance to your State, and which have been occasioned by remarkable acts of divine providence; And likewise when the Commonwealth of England, through the infinite goodness of God, is in so peaceable and settled a condition under the present Government, and freed in so great a measure as now it is, from Enemies abroad.  
And although great alterations of Government( how good and just soever) have always been accompanied with various and sinister constructions, tending to the disadvantage of the State concerned, whereof we know the Netherlands have had experience as well as others, nor can it be otherwise expected, because those without are not so fully acquainted with the grounds and causes thereof, and by reason of the several Interests, Relations, and Dependencies involved therein, yet considering the place and persons, where and to whom we now speak, and the Declarations of this State made at Utrecht, the 23 of January in the year 1579, and in this place the 26 of July, in the year 1581, they thought it not needful to particular upon this subject.  
My Lords, In the several and successive mutations of the affairs and conditions of the Netherlands, the Treaties and Alliances between England and Them, have always been continued, and with the greatest expressions of affection from England, when this State hath stood in most need, and upon the present alteration in England, so happily by the blessing of God ordered for the common good, your Lordships may see cause to continue and improve them to the nearest conjunction, a foundation being thereby laid of making them more durable and advantageous then heretofore, when they depended upon the uncertainties of the Li●e, Alliances, Change of Affections, and private Interests of one person.  
My Lords, you see the Common-wealth of England( notwithstanding the many discouragements they have found, and just cause given them of laying aside the thought of any further motion in this kind) have begun to you, and in matters of highest concernment unto both; lead thereunto( such is th● mercy of God) not out of necessity but choice; this their good will deserves all acceptation on your part, with whom it now rests, and will, they doubt not, produce resolutions answerable and timely, and whatsoever issue it shall please God in his wisdom to give, they shall always have the satisfaction of having done what be fitted them, and what the welfare of the true Reformed Religion, and the other great and common interests of both States obliged them to do.   
The Speech was made in English, and after delivered to them in Dutch, and in English; the Assembly having given his Lordship thanks dismissed him, and it is believed will give him a very satisfactory Answer; they desiring nothing but a continuation of the ancient Amity which hath been between England and that State.  
But for all this, since we came into these parts, many of our gentlemen have been affronted by the English-Cavaliers, who are very numerous in these parts. As we came along in our Coaches, they called Traytors, Rebels, and St Johns bastards, and some spit in our faces: Likewise my Lord Strickland sending his page. home to his own house, they had like to have stoned him. But the States having notice thereof, immediately sent the Lord Cats to publish this ensuing Proclamation, in the name of the States of Holland and West-Friezeland.  
Hague, the 3d of April, New style; 1651.  
Sir, at the close of my Letter it was reported that the young Prince of Orange died, the truth of which, I will certify you in my next.   

A perfect Copy of the Declaration of the States of Holland and West-Freezland, touching the Lords ambassadors of the Parliament of England, &c.  
ALthough that according to the Law of all people, and amongst Barbarians, the persons of ambassadors, Residents, Agents, and other such like public Ministers, of Kings, Princes and republics, are every where held in such high esteem; that they are not affronted, or offended, harmed or any ways damnified by any whatsoever; but on the contrary, they use to be respected, highly esteemed and honoured: Yet nevertheless, so it is that we are informed, that some discontented, unruly, or stubborn men dare do the contrary, unto such public Ministers as are sent to this State, and do reside here in our Provinces, wherein we being willing to provide, have found good, by this our present proclamation, expressly to Ordain, Enact, and sharply to forbid; as we do Ordain, Enact, and by these presents sharply forbid, That no body of any Nation, quality, state, or condition soever they be, do affront, or offend, damnify, harm, hurt, vilify, or taunt at by word, dead, or tumult, or in any manner directly or indirectly howsoever, the ambassadors, Residents, Agents, or other Ministers of Kings, Princes, republic or others, bearing the name of public Ministers, any wise in their persons, Gentlemen, Servants, Followers, Lodgings, Coaches, or any thing to them belonging, or any on them depending, upon penalty of incurring our highest indignation, and of corporal punishment, as violaters and infringers of the Laws of all people, and disturbers of the common peace, all according to the exigency and circumstance of the case, ordering on the contrary of what is aforesaid, all the inhabitants of these Countries, and all those who are therein, to give all honours, and all respects to such Ministers, and every where to be assisting unto them, their Servants, and Followers; and to endeavour that such Honour, Service, and courtesy be done unto them: charging and commanding the first and second councils of the Provincial Court, and also all Officers, Justices, and Magistrates, and all whom it may concern to proceed against the transgressors, by executing the penalties above mentioned, without favour or dissimulation.  
Do●● in the Hague under our great Seal, herein appending, March, 29. 1651. By Order of the States, Subscribed, Herb. van beaumond. Published by Authority.  
FINIS.