The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

The Estate of the Low Countries.

[ A] DISCOVRSE OF THE STATE OF THE LOW COVN∣TRIES NOW IN THE POSSESSI∣ON OF THE ARCHDVKE ALBERT OF AVSTRIA.

The Contents.

[ C] 1. WHy the Low Countries were so called. 2. The scituation and limits, circuit and greatnesse. 3. The most famous riuers of the Low Countries, their springs and courses. 4. Diuision of the countrie into seuenteene Prouinces, and how many townes and villages are in euery Prouince. 5. How they haue been vnited vnder one Lord, and reduced vnder the dominion of Spaine. 6. Dona∣ation of the Netherlands, made by Philip the second, King of Spaine, to the Infanta his daughter in fauour of her marriage with the Archduke Albert. 7. How the Archduke▪ ••arke ••••ssession of the Low Countries by vertue of a procuration from his future spouse the In∣fants of ••••aine. 8. The countries which are at this day vnder the Archdukes, and the descripti∣•••• of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 townes, beginning with Flaunders. 9. Description of the countrie of Artois, and [ D] of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of most note. 10. Of Cambresis and the limits. 11. Of Haynault. 12. Of Nama••. 13. Of Luxembourg. 14. Of Brabant. 15. The Low countries fit to breed cat∣tell. 16. The sea of the Low countries, with their commodities, and discommodities. 17. The forrests 〈◊〉〈◊〉 namely of the forrest of Ardenne. 18. Disposition of the inhabitants of the Low count••••es: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 how they loue libertie. 19. Excellent painters in the Low countries: and who was the first that mingled colours with oyle. 20. The princes reu••nues, whereunto they may 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 21. His forces consisting in forts, and an armie entertained in his garrisons. 22. The forme of gouernment of the Low countries: of the princes three councells, and by what lowes the said councells gouerne themselues: of the commissioners sent into Prouinces, and how 〈◊〉〈◊〉 assemble the Estates. 23. Of the religion of the Low countries, and of the vnited [] 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 24. Archbishops and Bishops in the Low countries. 25. A catalogue of the Lords 〈…〉〈…〉 of Fla••nders, their raigne and death. 26. Articles of the trucé made in the yere 〈…〉〈…〉 betwixt the Archdukes and the Estates of the vnited Prouinces.

ALthough that the affaires of this Estate haue been heretofore many times very intricat & much confused, by reason of the diuers posses: sors which haue enioyed these Prouinces, sometimes distinctly and sometimes altogether: yet I hope to make all plaine, and to write it orderly and without obscuritie. For hauing first set downe in ge∣nerall the limits, and circuit of all these countries, how they were diuided into seuenteene Prouinces, how, and by whom they were 〈…〉〈…〉 one Lord, and when, and by what meanes they came vnto the house of 〈…〉〈…〉 will afterwards come to set downe in particular, that which is at this present

〈◊〉〈◊〉 the commaund of the most famous princes the Archdukes Albert of Austria, and [ A] ••••••bella Clara Eugenia sister to Philip the third, now king of Spaine, and by what meanes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 came to the possession of the said countries: and on the other side I will represent that which the Estates of the vnited prouinces do now hold. If I shall not herein con∣tent the most curious as the lea••t, I may oppose the difficultie of the enterprise, and the paine I 〈…〉〈…〉 them; relating that which I haue seene my selfe, being in the 〈…〉〈…〉 by the discourse of others

[ I] And to begin, base or low Germanie is so called, for that the manners, language, and 〈…〉〈…〉 differ not much from the other Germanes. The name of Low is giuen it, for that this countrie is neerer to the sea, than the rest of Germanie, and also [ B] 〈…〉〈…〉 of the higher, their fields are more flat and lie lower: they of the country 〈…〉〈…〉 language Nederlant: they do also call it Flanders in a manner throughout all 〈…〉〈…〉 for all, either for the power or beautie of that countrie in 〈…〉〈…〉 reason of the great trafficke and auncient Faires of Bruges, whither 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were wont to come from all parts; or for that this countrie being neerer vnto 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Spaine, Italie, and England, the name was better knowne and more diuulged than the rest.

[ II] But leauing this curiositie, which I hold superfluous, as all others that are of the like nature: the Low Countries hath for her bounds vpon the North side, the Ocean; towards the South, Lorraine and Champagne; vpon the East, the riuers of Meuse and Rhein; and to the West, the sea, and that part of Artois which ioines with Picardie. All this countrie [ C] hath in circuit according vnto Guicchar din, a thousand Italian miles, or three hundred and for••ie leagues of Flaunders; and it containes seuen degrees and a halfe of longitude, that is to say, from the two and twentieth degree and a halfe vnto the thirtieth: But as for the latitude, it comprehends fiue degrees, that is to say, from the eight and fortieth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and a halfe, vnto the three and fiftieth and a halfe: by reason whereof, the Low Countrie is set betwixt the middest of the seuenth Climat, and the beginning of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉; and in this space the difference of the longest day in Summer is three quarters of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hou••e: for in the middest of the seuenth climat the longest day is but sixteene ••oures, and ••n the beginning of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is sixteene houres and three quarters. And this coun∣trie containes all the paralells, which are betwixt the sixteenth and the one and [ D] twen∣tieth.

[ III] The principall riuers of these prouinces are the Rhein, M••use, Escaud, and Ems: the les••er are Moselle, A••, Sambre, De••e, Demere, Nothe, Ruer, Berckel, Niers, Scarpe, Den∣tre, Hayne and others: the greatest is the Rhein, whereof we will speake in our discourse of Germanie. As for the Meuse it comes from Mount Vaugez, not far from the springs of Seine and Ma••••ne and running towards the North it passeth by Saint Thibaud, where it begins to be na••igable from thence it runs to Verdun, Moson and Mezieres; and then ••urning towards the Northeast, it passeth by Charlemont, Bouines, Dinan, and Namur; and there receiuing Sambre, it goes to Stochem, Ruremond, and Ventlo, where turning towards the West it runs by the townes of Cuick, Graue, Rau••••••in, and Meghen: then [ E] receiuing a part of Rhein at the towne of Herwede, and giuing also of her waters, she mingles with the Wale: and then presently these two riuers retaining their owne names, diuide themselues and run apart to Lauestein, where they compasse in the Island of Bo∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 and then the yanees againe and change their names for that of Merou; so passing af∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 his manner to Wo••••••••••m and Gorko••••, they grow very great at Dordrecht, where 〈…〉〈…〉 the Island of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the Meuse takes her owne name againe, and keeping 〈…〉〈…〉 Roterdam and Vlaer dingue, she falls into the sea neere vnto Briel 〈…〉〈…〉 ••iolence, as for a long space the wa••ers continue f••esh.

As 〈…〉〈…〉 it comes out of Ve••••••••••dois neere vnto the Abbey of Saint Mar∣••••••, then 〈◊〉〈◊〉 betwixt Ca••elet and Beaureuoi••, it goes to Cambray: running [ F] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then 〈…〉〈…〉 countrie of Hayna••lt, it bathes the towne of Valenciennes; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••rowing 〈…〉〈…〉 receiued the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Hayne, it passeth by Conde, then

〈…〉〈…〉 by Scarape, it runs by Saint Amand, and from thence turning towards 〈…〉〈…〉 it passeth by Tournay, Audenard, and Gand, where it receiues the riuers of 〈…〉〈…〉 some other waters: from thence it turnes serpent-wise to Denremonde, 〈…〉〈…〉 the riuer of Denre, it passeth to Rupelmonde, and there receiues the riuer 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and soone after Dele: being thus growne great, it goes and washeth the 〈…〉〈…〉, and makes a good and safeport for shipping; then running on and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••elfe into two branches, it diuides Brabant and Flanders from Zeland, for that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on the left hand towards the South, it follows the banks of Flanders, & taking 〈◊〉〈◊〉 name, is called the Hont, and from thence runs into the Western sea by 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and Walachrie; and on the right hand, hauing left the confines of Brabant, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her course, and keeping the old channell, she falls into the Ocean by the bankes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Island of Escaud. To conclude, this riuer flowes vp as farre as Gand, which is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thirtie miles, accounting the crooked turnings. As for the rest, I referre the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the reading of Geographers, with whom (in my opinion) I haue beene too 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

The Low-countaies contrines seuenteen Prouinces, that is to say, foure duchies, [ IIII] Bra∣••••nt, Limbourg, Luxembourg, and Gueldres: eight earledomes, Holland, Zeland, Flan∣••••rs, Artois, Haynault, Namur, Zutphen, and the Marquisat of the sacred Empire: and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seigneuries or lordships, that is, Macklin, Vtrecht, Friseland, Oueryssel, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ C] . They are called seuenteene Prouinces, for that they haue giuen 17 titles to prin∣ces; and there can be giuen no other reason of this appellation, although there be more prouinces. They are not all called to their generall assemblies, neither doe they giue their vo••••••s, nor contribute according to this order in generall impositions: for the Mar∣quisat o•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sacred Empire of Antuerpe is not numbred among the prouinces: The du∣chie of ••••mbourg, with Walkenbourg and Dalem, go vnder Brabant: Tournay and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with Lis••e, Douay, and Orchies, are not commonly named among the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••••••••nces, and yet they both contribute, either as a prouince, and so doe Valen••••••∣•••••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••rente. This countrie, about the yeare 1550, in the time of the Emper•••••• 〈…〉〈…〉, did graunt vnto the Emperour, according to his demaund, the summe [ D] 〈…〉〈…〉 a moneth, the which they called Nouentale. Limbourg, Luxenbourg,* 1.1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Grouningue, were not taxed for this imposition, being frontier countries, 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••pouerished; so as there were none but these thirteene prouinces and towns 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••••••••ibute, that is to say, Brabant, Flanders, Artois, Haynault, Valenciennes, 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••chies, Holland, Zeland, Namur, Tournay, Tournesis, Macklin, & Vtrecht; yet 〈…〉〈…〉 that the others are not excluded in their conuocations and generall 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

They 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••umbred in this countrie of the Netherlands, aboue two hundred walled 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and one hundred and fiftie places which had the jurisdiction and priuiledge of a 〈…〉〈…〉 aboue six thousand villages: but during their late long wars, they haue beene 〈…〉〈…〉. Yet to content the curious reader, I will set downe the number in general, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ay see how many townes and villages are in euerie prouince.

How many Townes and Villages are in euerie Prouince of the Low Countries.

〈…〉〈…〉

B••A••ANY	Townes.	26.	Villages.	700.
LYXEMBOVRG	23.	1169.
L••MBOVRG	5.	123.
G••••LDRE	24.	300.

In the eight Earledomes	HOLEAND,	Townes.	23.	Villages.	400.
ZELAND,	10.	101. [ A]
FLANDERS,	35.	1178.
ARTOIS,	12.	754.
HAYNAVLT,	24.	950.
NAMVR,	4.	184.
ZVTPHEN.
THE MARQVISAT.

In the fi••e Lo•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉
VTRECHT,	Townes.	5.	Villages.	70.
FRIS••LAND,	11.	345. [ B]
OVERYSSEL,	11.	101.
GROVNINGVE,	1.	145.
MACKLIN,	1.	9.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 the birth of Christ, the Romans and Iulius Caesar comprehended this coun∣••rie vnder Gaule Belgike, so called, for that the inhabitants being haughtie and hardie ••ould not endure the losse of their libertie, customes, and priuiledges: so as by the report of Caesar, they were the most valiant people of all Gaule: They had then diuers names, and they were called Germans, Bataues, Frisons, Aduatices, Menapiens, Atrebates, Neruins, Morins, &c. The Germans are at this day the Allemans. The Bataues are the Hollanders, [ C] and part of Gueldres: the Frisons are they of Friseland: the Aduatices they of Antuerp: the Menapiens part of Gueldres, and part of Cleues: the Atrebates they of Arras, and thereabout: The Neruins they of Tourney: the Morins they of Flanders, &c.

The countrie being diuided into prouinces, they haue receiued certaine lords as 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but with certaine conditions, hauing a care they should not grow too mightie, ••east they should be brought into subiection: and therefore they loued them best when ••hey were but young. These prouinces liuing thus in peace with their lords, and banding together in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of necessitie, they did many times performe great deeds of armes, as wel against the Romans as other nations, yea against the Turkes and Sarrasins, whereof they made good proof vnder the conduct of Godfrey of Boüillon, and other kings of [ D] Hierusa∣lem, as also vnder Bal••win earle of Flanders, who woon the empire of Constantinople: and in many such like enterprises, as may be seene in their Chronicles and Histories, so as they haue bin alwaies much esteemed and feared. Finally, it is a nation of whom that fa∣mous Historiographer Cor••••tius Tacitus hath written as followeth, The Gaules did fight for their libertie, the Germans for bootie, but the Hollanders for glorie and honour. And therefore the Roman Emperours made choise of them for their guards, holding them to be faith∣full and ••ore valiant tha•• all the people of the world.

Although that all these prouinces of the Low Countries haue been herertofore di∣uers soueraignties vnder different princes; yet in the end, they haue been reduced vnder foure dukes of Bourgo••die, then vnder the Archdukes of Austria, and in the end, vnder [ E] one Lord, that is to say, vnder the Emperor Charles the fift, and his sonne Philip king of Spaine: it will be fit to make a briefe repetition, how, when, and by what manner they haue beene reduced vnder these last, and that it may remaine for a perpetuall memorie, that the Spaniards are come to the gouernment of these Low Countries, not to gouerne them as their owne subiects, that is to say, as being subiect to their lawes, but as a free people, obseruing their owne lawes and priuiledges.

〈…〉〈…〉 being in his fathers right earle of Flanders, Neuers, Rethel, Salines, Ant∣uerpe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Macklin; and by his mother, earle of Bourgondie & Artois; had one only daugh∣ter, called Marguerite, whom he had by his wife Marguerite daughter to Iohn 3 duke of Brabant: the daughter was maried at Gand, in the yere 1369, to Philip of Valois, [ F] sur∣named the Hardie, who was at that time duke of Bourgondie, and the youngest sonne of ••••hn the French king: of them was borne Iohn, called, Without feare, earle of Flanders, Bourgondie, Artois &c. This Iohn of Vallois in the yeare 1415 married with Marguerite

[ A] daughter to the Earle of Haynalt, Holland, Zeland, and Frieseland, and was murthered at Montereau in France, by the Dolphins instigation, in the yeare 1419, the nineteenth of September, being eight and fortie yeares old, and hauing rained fifteenth his onely sonne, Philip the Good, succeeded in his place at the age of three and twentie yeares, be∣ing duke of Bourgondie, Earle of Flaunders, Artois and Bourgondie, Palatine, Marquis of the sacred Empire, and Lord of Salines and Macklin. Moreouer in the yeare 1429, by the death of Dideric Earle of Namur, he succeeded in the said Earledome of Namur, hauing first bought it; and by the death of Philip duke of Brabant, who died without chil∣dren, he had in the yere 1430 the Duchies of Lorraine, Brabant, and Limbourg; and al∣so [ B] by the decease of Iacoba or Iaqueline countesse of Holland &c. his neece, he had in the yere 1436, the Earledomes of Haynault, Holland, Zeland, and Frieseland; in the yeare 1443 his aunt gaue him the Duchie of Luxembourg, first as tutor, and then as lord. He was the first of the house of Bourgondie that did institut the order of the Golden Fleece a•• Bruges in Flaunders, whenas he married Isabell of Portugal: he died at Bruges in the yeare 1467, being twentie and seuen yeres old, hauing raigned eight and fortie yeres. He left for heire to all these countries one only sonne, whose name was Charles of Vallois or the Warrier, who succeeded his father in the gouernment, being 34 yeres old: he bought the duchie of Gueldres and the countie of Zu••phen of Arnold of Egmond for nine and twentie thousand crownes, and a yearely pension, who dying confirmed the same sale by [ C] his testament, making duke Charles his heire, and disinberiting his sonn•• Adolph, for that he had rebelled against him, and detained him long in cruell captiuitie: this duke tooke possession of the countrie of Gueldres, in the yeare 1473, he sought to vnite all the pro∣uinces of the Netherlands into a realme, promising to that end to giue his only daugh∣ter in marriage to Maximillian sonne to the Emperor Fredericke the third, the which he would haue called the realme of Bourgondie, for that Bourgondie had been a realme in former times: but for that euery prouince was soueraigne, and had distinct priuiledges, rights, and reuenues, yea different waights and measures, they would neuer yeeld teherto vnlesse their princes power had been limited; so as this desseigne tooke no successe. This braue warrier was slaine before Nancy, in the yeare 1477 the fift of Ianuary, being be∣traied [ D] by an Italian Earle called Campobasso, who serued him, at the instigation of Lewis the eleuenth, hauing first lost three battailes to the Swiffes, and Lorrainers: he was 44 yeares old, and left one only daughter called Mary of Vallois, being eighteene yeares old, who married with Maximillian of Austria; who recouered that from the French king, which he had taken from his wife: he restored the order of the Golden Fleece, which had been much neglected: they had two children, one sonne called Philip, and Marguerite their daughter. Marie of Bourgondie, the fift yere of her marriage, fell from a horse and dyed with that fall. Maximillian gouerned these countries for a time in fauor of his sonne Philip, but with no good intent; for he sought to alienat and seperat from the Low Coun∣tries, the prouinces of Brabant, Haynault, Holland, and Friseland, to giue them to his fa∣ther [ E] Fredricke the Emperor, doing many things in preiudice of those countries. In the yeare 1492, his sonne Philip was acknowledged for prince throughout all the Neither∣lands, and was confirmed hereditarie lord thereof. In the yere 1496 he married the lady Ioane of Spaine in the towne of Lier in Brabant; so as the Low Countries being before vnited together by many marriages, are in the end come by this mariage to the house of Spaine: and although they seeme to haue attained thereby a perfect prosperitie, yet by this meanes they are fallen into a long and tedious war, yea into ciuile wars and combu∣stions, to the great ruine and preiudice of the said countries. So by this meanes the seuen∣teen prouinces were made subiect to the gouernment of the king of Spaine.

[ F] Philip the second, king of Spaine, finding his strength to decay, and his health to im∣p••ire, desirous to make a finall conclusion of the resolution which he had taken to giue his eldest daughter Donna Isabella in marriage to the Archduke Albert his nephew (not∣withstanding that he enioyed great ecclesiasticall dignities, and especially that rich Arch∣bishopricke of Toledo) caused prince Philip his onely sonne, being about twentie yeares 〈◊〉〈◊〉 come into his presence in the towne of Madrid the sixt of May, being accompa∣nied

by Don Gomes of Auila, marquis of Vellada, gouernour and chiefe steward to the [ A] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prince Philip; Don Christopher de Mora earle of Castel-Rodrigo, great commaunder 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Alcantara; Don Iohn of Idiaques, great commaunder of Leon, all three councellors of State; and maister Nicholas Damant knight, councellor president and chauncellour of Brabant; with Lalo secretarie for the Low Countries, and no more. Whereas the conclu∣sion of the cession and transaction of the Low Countries made by the king vnto his said daughter was read, signed, past, and sealed, being in the French tongue as followeth.

Philip by the grace of God &c. To all present, or to come, that shall see or read these [ VI] letters, greeting. As we haue found it fit, as well for the generall good of Christendome as of our Low Countries, no longer to defer the marriage of our most deare and welbe∣loued eldest daughter the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia: and the more inclining [ B] thereun∣to for the preseruation of our House, as for certaine other good respects: in considerati∣on also of the good affection which we beare vnto our most deere and welbeloued bro∣ther, cousin and nephew the Archduke Albert, gouernour and captaine generall for vs in our Low Countries and Bourgondie, hauing taken notice of his person, and chusing him for future husband to our eldest daughter; as well with the consent of our holy father the Pope, who hath thereupon granted his dispensation, as also hauing imparted it to the most high, most excellent, and most mightie prince our deere and welbeloued brother, cousin, and nephew Rodolph, the second of that name, Emperour of the Romanes, and also to our most deere & welbeloued good sister the Emperesse his mother. Which con∣sidered, and to the end that our said daughter may (as it is fit) haue meanes according to [ C] her graces, vertues and merits; yea and for our parts to make knowne the great loue and affection which we haue alwaies borne to our said Low Countries, and Bourgondie: We haue resolued to transport and giue to our said daughter (in fauour of the said marri∣age) our Low Countries, and all that depends thereon, in manner and forme as shall be hereafter specified: and that by the meanes and interuention, will, and consent of our most deere and welbeloued good and onely sonne and heire prince Philip, according to the aduertisements which haue beene giuen by vs, and our said sonne, vnto the chiefe lords and knights of our Order, Consuls, and Estates of our said Low Countries, being vnder our obedience, and also to them of our countrie and countie of Bourgondie: who haue testified and made knowne by their answere, the ioy and content which they had of [ D] this our fauourable resolution, the which they confesse to be necessarie for the good of our said Low Countries. And this is the true meanes to attaine to a good peace and vni∣on, to be freed from that painefull war wherewith they haue beene afflicted for so many yeares, which peace and rest we haue alwaies wished them: considering also (the which is notorious to the world) that the greatest happinesse that may come vnto a countrie, is to see it selfe gouerned by the eye and presence of their naturall lord and prince. God is a witnesse of the care and paine we haue often had, that we could not do that in person which we would willingly haue desired, if the affaires of great importance of our realms of Spaine, had not tied vs to continue, and make our residence there, and not to absent our selues, as we are yet bound at this present. And although that by the age of the [ E] prince our sonne, it seemes that it would be more fit and conuenient now then at our first voiage; yet the will and pleasure of the good God hath beene such, hauing giuen vs so many realmes and prouinces, in which there neuer want affaires of great importance, by reason whereof his presence is also necessarie here: whereupon we haue found it expe∣dient to take this good resolution, for that we would not abandon our Low Countries to those inconueniences, wherein they haue beene formerly; adding thereunto the reasons of a portion which we are to giue vnto our daughter the Infanta according to her me∣rits, and the greatnesse of her birth: transferring them vnto her in particular, for that af∣ter our said sonne the prince (whom God preserue many yeares, making him to pros∣per in his seruice) our said eldest daughter is the first and next of bloud: and that with the [ F] consent of our said sonne, she may be presently admitted thereunto; hauing chosen these meanes vpon hope that thereby our said Low Countries shal recouer their former glory and prosperitie, which they were wont to enioy.

[ A] We therefore make it known, that desiring to put in effect that which we haue so ma∣turely resolued; hearing the voluntarie consent which our said sonne the prince hath so freely giuen for his part, and knowing the submissions whereunto our said countries haue conformed themselues according to our intention: We haue resolued to giue and transpor•• vnto our said daughter the Infanta, in aduancement of the said marriage, all our said Low Countries, and Bourgondie, in manner and forme, and with the conditions hereafter mentioned.

1 The first condition is, and not otherwise, That the said Infanta our daughter shall joyne in mariage with the Archduke Albert, considering the dispensation which hath beene graunted by our holie father the Pope to that end: and that by way of donation, [ B] or gift, she receiue our said Low Countries, and countie of Bourgondie. And in case the said marriage shall be hindered by any occasion whatsoeuer, this present donation or ces∣sion shall be void and take no effect: in which case we doe presently reuoke it, and make it void.

2 Item, vpon condition, and not otherwise, That the children and successors of the same marriage, be they males or females lawfully begotten, and not vnlawfull, although 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were by a subsequent marriage, the elder praeceding the younger, and the male the fe∣male; shall from hand to hand be heires in the same degree of all the said prouinces joyntly, without any diuision, or distraction, or dismembring thereof: declaring that [ C] the eldest sonne, or daughter, after the death of the father, shall be preferred before the vnckles, or any other of the collaterall line.

3 Item, vpon condition, and not otherwise, That in case (which God forbid) there be neither sonne nor daughter of this marriage; or that they die after the death of the Arch∣duke Albert, or of our daughter the Infanta, the said donation, cession, and transport, shall be void and of no force: In which case if our said daughter the Infanta shall remaine a widow, her lawfull portion by the father-side, and the donation by the mother-side, such as may be fitting and belonging to her, shall follow; besides that which we, or our sonne the prince, for the loue we beare vnto her, shall giue her. And if the said Archduke Al∣bert (our good cousin) shall suruiue the said Infanta, he shall remaine gouernour of the [ D] said Low Countries, for, and in the name of the Prince Proprietarie to whom they shall be deuolued.

4 Item, vpon condition, and not otherwise, That all the descendants of this marriage, males and females failing, so as not any one should remaine of them that are called to these estates, in that case they shall all returne vnto the king of Spain, which shall be des∣cended from vs; and according to this donation and cession, in that case we make him presently donatorie, as being giuen vnto him.

5 Item, vpon condition, and not otherwise, That our said daughter the Infanta, nor any other called to the said succession, shall not for any cause whatsoeuer diuide, or dis∣member the said countries, neither giue, not exchange, without our consent, and of those [ E] which shall be our heires and successors in these realmes.

6 Item, vpon condition, and not otherwise, That whosoeuer shalbe princesse or ladie of the said Low Countries, shal marrie with the king of Spain, or with the prince his son, who shall be then liuing, with a former dispensation, if need shall require: and if then they shall haue no will nor power to consumat the said marriage, in that case the sayd ladie shall not take any other husband, nor meddle with any donation, without our ad∣uice and consent, and of our heires and successours in our said realmes of Spaine, which shall be ••••••ed from vs: and in case of contrauention, all that hath beene giuen and gran∣ted shall returne, as if this donation, cession, and transport, had neuer beene made.

7 Item, vpon condition, and not otherwise, That all and euerie prince and lord of the [ F] said countries shall be bound to marrie their sonnes and daughters by our aduise and ••••••sent, and of those that shall be our heires and successors kings of Spaine.

8 Item, vpon condition, and not otherwise, That neither our said daughter the In∣f•••••••• nor her husband, nor any of their successors, to whom the said countries shall fall, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 any sort negotiat or trafficke to the East or West Indies, nor send any ships vpon

any colour or pretext whatsoeuer, vpon paine of forfeiture of the said countries, in case [ A] of contrauention: And if any subiects of the said countries shall presume to go contra∣rie to this defence, the lords of the said countries shall punish them by confiscation of goods, and other grieuous punishments, yea by death.

9 Item, vpon condition, and not otherwise, That if the said Archduke Albert (our good cousin) shall suruiue our daughter the Infanta, leauing either sonnes or daughters, he shall haue the gouernement of that sonne or daughter, with the gouernement of their estates, as if our said daughter the Infanta were yet liuing. And moreouer, our said cou∣sin the Archduke shall enjoy all the said countries during his life, entertaining the said children according to their qualities, giuing vnto the eldest sonne, or daughter, the du∣chie [ B] of Luxembourg, and the countie of Chiny, which they should enioy during their fathers life: after whose death that child shall haue all, as heire generall: being here ex∣presly declared, that this clause of Enioying it during life, shall be onely vnderstood in fa∣uour of our said good cousin the Archduke Albert, without drawing it into consequence, to the end that none of his successors may vrge any example, nor pretend any right in the like case.

10 Item, vpon condition, and not otherwise, as being the principall and greatest bond of all others, That all the children and descendants of the said mariage, shall follow the holie religion which doth now shine in them, and shall liue and die in our holie Catho∣like faith, as the holie Church of Rome doth teach; and that before they take possession [ C] of the said Low Countries, they shall take the oath which followeth. And in case (which God forbid) that any of the said descendants shall decline from the said religion, and fall into heresie, after that our holie father the Pope hath so pronounced them, they shal be depriued of the administration, po••session, and proprietie of the said prouinces, and their vassals and subiects freed from th••ir obedience; but they shall receiue the next Ca∣tholicke kinsman of the same descent, who shall succeed him that is thus strayed from the faith, being reputed for a dead man.

Ego ••uro ad Sancta Dei Euangeliaquod semper ad extremum vitae meae spiritum sacrosancta•• fidem Catholicam, quam tenet, docet, & praedicat, Sancta Catholica, & Apostolica Ecclesia Ro∣mana (Communium Ecclesiarum mater & magistra) constantèr profitebor, & fidelitèr firmiter{que} [ D] credam, & veracitèr tencho: at{que} eam à meis subditis teneri, doceri, & praedicari (quantum in meerit) curabo. Sic me Deus adiuuet, & haec Sancta Dei Euangelia.

11 Item, vpon condition, and for the greater assurance and confirmation of the peace, loue, and corespondencie, which should be betwixt the king and his realmes, Our des∣cendants and successors, and the princes and lords of those countries, our successors also and descendants, euerie one of them that in future times shall come vnto the possession and commaund of the said Low Countries, and Bourgondie, shall approue and ratifie, whatsoeuer is contained in this Article.

12 And for that our intention and will is, that the said conditions shall take full effect, We do giue, graunt, quit, transport, and renounce, in the best manner and forme that [ E] may be by law, and that no incompatabilitie shall preiudice that which is compatible, necessarie, and profitable to the said Infanta, Isabella Clara Eugenia, our most deare and and welbeloued eldest daughter, all our Low Countries, and euerie prouince thereof, with the countries and countie of Bourgondie, comprehending therein that of Cara∣lois, the duchies, principalities, marquisats, and forts, which are in our Low Countries, and Bourgondie, together with all the regaliites, fees, homages, rights of patronage, re••••s, reuenues, demeanes, confiscations, and fines, with all sorts of jurisdictions, rights, and actions, which we might pretend by reason of our Low Countries and Bourgondie; as also all pr••heminences, prerogatiues, priuiledges, exemptions, guards, protections, li∣berties, appeales, and all other kind of soueraigntie whatsoeuer, or howsoeuer they may [ F] belong vnto vs, either by patrimonie or otherwise, vpon what title soeuer; to haue full possession, as we haue enioyed them, without exception: vpon condition notwithstan∣ding that they shall inuiolably obserue all and euerie the conditions aboue mentioned, and the pragmatique made by the deceased, of immortall memorie, the Emperour my

[ A] lord and father, who past into glorie in Nouember 1549, touching the vnion of the said Low Countries, and not consenting to any diuision or dismembring thereof, for any cause whatsoeuer.

13 And it is our intention, as we do hereby declare & expresly ordaine, That in regard of this donation, cession, and transport, our said daughter the Infanta, and her future hus∣band the Archduke Albert, shal be bound to pay and discharge all debts, obligations, and contracts made by vs, or in our name, or by his deceased imperiall maiestie, vpon the pa∣trimonie and demeanes of the said Low Countries, and the countie of Bourgondie: and they shall be in like manner bound to discharge all rents, pensions for life, and all [ B] other gifts, recompences, and rewards, which his said imperiall maiestie, we, or our prede∣cessors haue giuen, assigned, and granted to any persons whatsoeuer.

And so we do make, create, and name by these presents our said daughter the Infanta, prin∣cesse and lady of the said Low Countries, and countie of Bourgondie and Charalois.

Moreouer we do grant vnto our said daughter, That besides the particular titles of eue∣ry of the said prouinces of the Low Countries, and the countie of Bourgondie, she may write and intitle herselfe Duchesse of Bourgondie, notwithstanding that we haue reser∣••••rued (so long as we shall please) for vs, and for the prince our sonne, the said title of Duke of Bourgondie, with all the rights that may belong thereunto, together with the soueraigntie of our order of the Golden Fleece, whereof we retaine a power to dis∣pose [ C] hereafter, as we shall thinke fit: we do therefore consent, agree, and giue full abso∣lute and irreuocable power to our said daughter the Infanta, of our owne priuat autho∣ritie, without any further request or consent, either by her selfe, or by her deputies sent to her future husband, to take full and absolute possession, of all the said Low Countries, countie of Bourgondie and Charalois: and to this end, to assemble the generall Estates of the said countries, or the particular Estates of euery prouince, or obserue any other course that shall be thought fit for this donation, cession, and transport: to signifie it, and to take the oath due to the Estates and subiects of the said countries, and to require the inuestiture of euery peece and seigneurie where it shall be needfull: as also to receiue an oath from them, to bind them to all that, whereunto they were reciprocally bound by [ D] praecedent oaths. And vntill that our daughter shal take, or cause to be taken in her name the reall possession of the said Low Countries and countie of Bourgondie, and Charo∣lois, after the same manner that is set downe by these pattents, We do constitute our selues possessors thereof, in the name and behalfe of our said daughter.

In witnesse whereof, We will and ordaine that the said Letters Patents shall be deliue∣red vnto her: consenting and giuing full power to our daughter the Infanta, to retaine, admit, and place in the said Low Countries and Bourgondie, Gouernors, Iudges, and Iustices, as well for the preseruation and defence thereof, as for the administration of ju∣stice and pollicie, and for the receipt of the reuenues, or otherwise: and also to do euery thing that a true princesse and lady of the proprietie of the said countries, may by law, [ E] and according to the cuostmes doe, and as we haue and might haue done; alwaies ob∣seruing the conditions aboue mentioned: to which effect we haue quit, absolued, and dis∣charged, and do quit, absolue, and discharge, by these presents, all Bishops, Abbots, Pre∣lats, and other Churchmen, Dukes, Princes, Marquisses, Earles, Barons, Gouernours, Heads and Captaines of Countries, Townes, Courts, Presidents, Councellors, Chaun∣cell••••••▪ Accomptants, and other Iustices, Captaines, men of war, and Souldiers of forts and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, their Lieutenants, Knights, Esquires, and Vassalls, Magistrats, Bourgesses, In∣habita••ts of good townes, borroughes, freedomes, and villages, and all and euery the s••biects of our said Low Countries, and countie of Bourgondie, and Charolois, of the oath of fidelitie, homage, promise and bond which they owe vnto vs as their naturall [ F] 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and soueraigne lord. We will, ordaine, and expresly commaund, that they shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and accept the said Infanta our daughter for their true princesse and lady; and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the oath of fealtie, homage, promise, and bond, according to the accustomed man∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 the nature of the countries, places, fees, and seigneuries: and moreouer, that th•••• ••••all do vnto her and her future husband, all honor, reuerence, affection, obedience,

fidelitie, and seruice, as good and loiall subiects are bound to their lawfull prince and [ A] na∣turall lord; as vnto this day they haue done vnto vs. And supplying all and euery defect and obmission, as well in law as fact, which might haue beene omitted in this present donation, cession, and transport, and which might well haue beene inserted: of our owne motion, certain knowledge, and ful and absolute regal power, We haue and do derogate to all lawes, constitutions, and customes, which may contradict these presents; for such is our pleasure. And to the end that whatsoeuer hath been spoken, may be for euer firme and stable; We haue signed these presents with our hand, & set too our great seale: com∣maunding that it shall be registred in all and euery of our priuie councells, and chamber of accompts. Giuen in our towne of Madrid, in our realme of Castille, the sixt of May [ B] 1598, of our realmes of Naples and Ierusalem the fiue and fortieth, of Castille, Arragon, Sicile, and others the foure and fortieth, and of Portugall the nineteenth. Signed, Philip. And vnderneath, By the king. A Laloo.

This resignation of the Low Countries, was ratified also by the letters patents of prince Philip the third of that name, now king of Spaine, as followeth.

Philip by the grace of God, prince, sonne and only heire of the realmes, countries, and seigneuries of king Philip the second of that name, my lord and father: to all present and ••o come, greeting. Whereas my said lord and father hath taken a resolution to marrie the lady Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia our most deere and welbeloued good sister, to the Archduke Albert our good vnckle and cousin; and that thereupon his Catholicke maie∣stie [ C] hath resolued, with our consent, being moued thereunto, for certaine great reasons, and respects of the common good, yea for the generall quiet of Christendome, and the particular peace of the Low Countries; to the end that our said sister may be aduanced according to her qualitie and great merits; to giue vnto her the said Low Countries, and countie of Bourgondie, in the same manner and forme as it hath beene past; as it ap∣peares by the letters patents which my said lord and father hath caused to be dispatched, signed with his hand, and sealed with his great seale.

We make it knowne, That hauing particularly vnderstood euery point thereof, consi∣dering the publicke good which may thereby redound to Christendome, and for the singular loue which we owe v••to our good sister the Infanta, in regard of her graces and [ D] great merits; We commend, allow, and by these presents hold it good, notwithstanding any preiudice which may hereafter grow thereby vnto vs, or to our successors: and for the same reasons. We consent, and are content by these presents, that the said Low Coun∣tries, and the countie of Bourgondie and Charolois, shall be giuen and transported vnto our good sister▪ the Infanta, as my said lord and father hath done. And to the end it may subsist the better, for the greater assurance, and strengthning of that which his maiestie hath decreed in fauour, and for the aduancement of our good sister; We dispose and or∣daine, as f••r ••s it is needfull by these presents, in her fauour, and in the same forme and manner, of our owne free will, without any force, constraint, falshood, deceipt, or any other respect, nor fatherly reuerence, feare, error, nor any persuasion, our will and intenti∣on [ E] being, that the said countries shall belong vnto our sister the Infanta Isabella Clara Eu∣genia, and to her successors, acording to the disposition of the king my lord and father: and to the end it may take full effect, and remaine for euer firme and stable, We haue, and do renounce by these presents, in fauour of our said sister, for vs and our successours, all benefits, which we or they may by law pretend to contradict, or frustrate these presents: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it by the law, De restitutione in integrum; to the which we haue, and do hereby re∣〈◊〉〈◊〉. For our resolute, and determinat will is, that nothing whatsoeuer shall be of 〈…〉〈…〉 this donation, cession, and transport which hath beene made of the said Low Countries.

Whereupon•• We haue giuen our faith, & sworne vpon the holy Euangell, which We [ F] haue toucht with our hand, to keepe, obserue, maintaine, and accomplish, and to cause to be kept, obserued, maintained, and punctually accomplished, all that hath beene said, without any excuse or exception made by vs, or any of ours: the which We promise in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 word of a prince: and that We will giue all ayd and assistance, for the effecting and

[ A] accomplishing of that which hath bin said: being as We haue declared our sincere and determinat will. In witnesse wherof, We haue caused these present letters patents to be made, the which We haue signed with our own hand, and caused it to be signed by the secretarie of State to the king my Lord and father, for the affaires of the Low Countries and Bourgondie: and caused it to be sealed with the great seale of his majesties armes, hanging vpon laces of gold. There being present as witnesses D. Gomes de Auila, Mar∣quis of Velada, our gouernour and high steward of our houshold: D. Christopher de Mora, earle of Castel Rodrigo, great commaunder of Alcantara, gentleman of his majesties chamber, and butler to our person: D. Iohn of Idiaques, great commaunder of Leon, [ B] all three Councellors of State, and maister Nicholas Amant knight also, and Councel∣lor of State, keeper of his maiesties seales for the affaires of the Low Countries, and Bourgondie, and Chauncellor of the duchie of Brabant. Giuen in the towne of Ma∣d••id, in the realme of Castille, the sixt of May 1598. Signed Philip. And vnderneath, By commaundement from my Lord the prince. A Laloo.

These two letters patents of Resignation from the king, and agreation from the prince, were both sealed with one seale in red wax, and laces of gold.

These instruments being thus read, signed, and sealed, autentically, the prince of Spaine arose, and went and kist his fathers hands, thanking him for the loue he bare vnto his sister: then addressing himselfe vnto his said sister, he did congratulat the good which [ C] she had receiued that day: who rising, went and kissed the king her fathers hands, humbly thanking him for his bountie; as also, she gaue thankes vnto the prince her brother. Whereupon the assemblie being dismissed, the rest of the day, and night, was spent ioy∣fully in Court, and had bin more, if the kings indisposition (who began to grow weake) had not hindered it.

Two dayes after, which was the eighth of May, the Empresse (who was the kings sister, and mother to the Archduke Albert) came to court, being accompanied by the Em∣bassadour of the Emperour her sonne, by the Marquis of Velada, D. Christopher de Mora, D. Iohn Idiaques, and others, whereas the marriage treated of, was confirmed: the In∣fanta binding her selfe by oath, in the hands of the said Empresse, to marrie the Arch∣duke [ D] Albert of Austria, according to his maiesties good pleasure: Whereupon, the said ladie Empresse bound her selfe reciprocally, that the said Archduke her sonne should take her to wife, by vertue of a speciall procuration which he had sent her. Then the In∣fanta aduanced to kisse the Empresse hand, who was her aunt (and future mother in law) but she would not suffer her, imbracing her verie kindly. In the end, after many courtesies, and amiable complements, the Empresse beginning to retire her selfe, the In∣fanta kneeled downe, and would haue kist her hand againe, but she drew it backe, and raising her vp, kissed her cheeke, and so they parted.

All this being thus past, the Infanta sent a procuration in qualitie of princesse of the Low Countries, to the Archduke her future husband, as followeth.

[ E] Isabella Clara Eugenia by the grace of God Infanta of all the realmes of Spaine, duchesse of Bourgondie, Lothier, Brabant, Limbourg, and Luxembourg, Countesse of Flanders, Artois, Bourgondie, Palatine, and of Hainault, Holland, Zeland, Namur, and Zurphin, Marquesse of the sacred Empire, ladie of Friseland, Salins, & Macklin, of the countrie and citie of Vtrecht, of Oueryssel, and Grouningue: To all to whom these presents shall come greeting. Whereas, as well for the generall good of Christendome, as for the Low Countries in particular, and for other good considerations, it hath pleased the king my lord and father for the aduauncement of our future marriage, by a dispensation from our holie father the Pope, with our most deare and welbeloued cousin the Archduke A••••ert, with the liking, consent, and assistance of the high and mightie prince our most [ F] deare and welbeloued good brother, to giue, make cession, and transport vnto vs all the Low Countries, and Bourgondie, according to the letters patents which haue beene dis∣p••••••••ed, and signed respectiuely by them, the sixt of this moneth of May: with other our 〈◊〉〈◊〉 patents touching the acceptance of the said donation and transport: To the end that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 said Low Countries and Bourgondie may be held and enioyed by vs, our heires

and successors in manner and forme, and according to the conditions comprehended in [ A] the said letters patents: by the which his said maiestie hath graunted vnto vs full power and irreuocable, of our owne priuat authoritie, not being bound to require any other consent, to take and receiue, by our selfe, or by procu••ation to our future spouse the Archduke Albert, the full and absolute possession of all the Low Countries, and countie of Bourgondie and Charolois: Wherefore, according to the tenor of the said letters pa∣tents, We make it knowne, that for the former reasons, and to follow his maiesties will and pleasure from point to point, yea to aduance that which may be requisit before our departure towards the said Countries.

We haue vpon our owne knowledge and absolute power, giuen full authoritie, and [ B] irreuocable commission, as well generall as speciall, to our future spouse the Archduke Albert, in our name and behalfe, by himselfe or other his substitutes, wheresoeuer he shall thinke it requisit by vertue hereof, at once, or at diuers times, to doe all things, as well in our name and behalfe, as in the behalfe of the Low Countries, and countie of Bourgon∣die and Charolois in generall, or by the Estates in euerie particular Prouince, which shall be held necessarieto be done: To take, accept, or retaine in our name, the full and reall possession of all the said Countries, and euerie Prouince thereof, and of all that depends: The same to enioy fully and peaceably, without any contradiction, let, or molestation.

To those ends causing the Estates of the said Countries to assemble, be it in generall, or particular, and to take the accustomed oaths in our name: And moreouer, to haue [ C] that done by our future spouse the Archduke Albert, which We our selues being in per∣son might doe, notwithstanding there be something which might require a speciall war∣rant, the which is not expressed in the said letters: promising in the word of a princesse, and vpon our honour, to haue for agreable, firme, and stable for euer, and to obserue, and cause to be obserued and inuiolably kept, whatsoeuer hath beene done by the said Archduke Albert our future husband, or by his substitutes, by vertue of the said letters, and in regard of the reall and full possession of the said Low Countries and Bourgondie, after that manner and forme that is mentioned in the said letters patents of donation, ces∣sion, and transport: whereunto We referre our selues, not doing no•• suffering any thing to be done to the contrarie, directly nor indirectly in any sort whatsoeuer: for such is [ D] our pleasure. In witnesse whereof, We haue signed these presents with our owne hand, and caused it to be signed by the secretarie of my Lord and father for the affaires of the Low Countries and Bourgondie, and sealed with his majesties seale of armes, hanging in strings of gold. Giuen in Madrid, in the realme of Castille, the thirtieth of May, in the yeare 1598. Signed Isabella. And vpon the fould, By commandement from my ladie the Infanta. A. Lalo••.

[ VII] The acts and dispatches of the donation of the Low Countries, made by the king of Spaine to the Infanta his daughter, in fauour of her marriage with the Archduke Albert of Austria, who was yet a Cardinall, being come to Brussels; The said Cardinall cau∣sed them to be published by coppies, together with the agreation of the prince of Spain, [ E] the procuration of the said Infanta, and letters sealed vp from the king, and the prince his sonne, the which were sent vnto the gouernours, and Consulls of all the Prouinces which were yet vnder the gouernement and house of Spaine, commaunding them to send their deputies to the towne of Brussells, where the Estates being assembled, the said Cardinall Archduke, in the name of the said ladie, and by vertue of his procuration, was accepted, and an oath taken vpon certaine conditions: the contents whereof follow.

The first article contained the agreation or the approbation of the transport and do∣nation of the countries, and of the princesse marriage which the said Cardinall. 2. The second, after what manner she should be receiued, and the oath taken. 3. That his high∣nesse should make the consummation of their marriage appeare within three moneths. [ F] 4. That the king should giue an act, that the tweluth article contained in the said trans∣port, should not be preiudiciall to the Low Countries. 5. That they should take away all contributions, forraging of souldiers and other charges: and that from thence forth her highnesse should bee contented with her demeanes. 6. That forraine souldiers

[ A] should remaine vnder the kings pay, who should be imployed in field vpon the enemies frontires. 7. All Germaine soulders should be entertained and paied as far as might be, and that the surplusage should be paied by the king. 8. That all offices and gouern∣ments of prouinces, townes, and forts should be (within one yeare) deliuered into the hands of the noblemen and others that were borne in the countrie. 9. All extraordina∣rie councellors should be reduced to their accustomed number: that the great councel of Macklin, and that of Brabant, with the councell of State, should consist of men borne in the countrie. 10. That all prouinces, countries, and townes should be maintained in their ancient priuiledges, rights, and liberties. 11. That his highnesse should bind him∣selfe [ B] to returne into the Low Countries by the month of May next insuing. 12. That her highnesse should appoint in his absence a gouernor in the said Low Countries, which should be of her bloud, and should be bound to sweare by oath, all that the king hath sworne. 13. That it should be lawfull for the generall Estates, by the interue••tion of his highnesse to treate with them of Holland and Zeland touching a peace. 14. And for that the countries are furnished with noblemen that are borne there, they shall depute three to go into Spaine with his highnesse, and to thanke the king. 15. That his high∣nesse should be bound to entertaine all aboue mentioned; and at his returne with the In∣••••••ta to take the accustomed oath in all the Prouinces. 16. That all gouernors, captains, and men of war should not attempt any new thing, during his highnes absence. 17. That [ C] his highnesse, at his returne, should be bound to assemble the generall Estates, to the end they might labour in the reformation and setling of the affaires of the Low Countries.

Matters being thus past, and the said Cardinall Archduke sufficiently acknowledged, and accepted for their future prince, according to the promises of marriage betwixt him and the Infanta, meaning to vncardinall himselfe, and to enter into the consum∣mation of the said marriage, according to the Popes graunt; he went to Hault (a little towne of Brabant, three leagues from Bruxells, commonly called our Lady of Hault) where he laied his Hat and Cardinalls habit vpon the great altar, the which he offered to our Lady. This done, he began to prepare for his voyage, and for the gouernment of the countrie: whereunto during his absence he named his cousin, a Cardinall also, Andrew [ D] of Austria sonne to the Archduke Ferdinand, who was brother to the Emperor Maximilli∣an, and therefore cousin germane to Albert, ioining with him the councell of State, ap∣pointing Francisco de Mendoza, Admirall of Arragon to be Generall, and Count Herman Vanden Bergh Marshall of the armie, with other commanders and officers, to put in ex∣ecution during his absence, the resolution which had been taken at Bruxells, touching the Frontires of Germanie.

To keepe him companie, and for the accomplish men: of the articles, there were de∣puted Philip of Nassau prince of Orange &c. (to whom his sister the Countesse of Ho∣henloe sent a good summe of money to performe his voiage, of the reuenues of his de∣meanes in Holland and Zeland) the earle of Barlaimont, and the earle of Sores, noble∣men [ E] borne in the countrie, with many ladies and gentlewomen, among others the coun∣tesse of Mansfeldt widow to the earle, and dowager to the earles of Henin and Hooch∣straten; and many other noblemen and gentlemen of the Low Countries, desirous to see Spaine, with the triumphes and magnisicence of the prince of Spaine, and of the said Archduke and Infanta.

The said Archduke before his departure had written to the generall Estates of the vnited prouinces of Holland &c. containing in substance, That he went to martie with the Infanta, with whom he should haue the Low Countries in dowrie: That the grea∣test part of the prouinces had receiued him, and acknowledged him for their lord and [ F] prince, That he desired nothing more, than to settle a good peace in the Low Countries; and therefore they should conforme themselues with them of Brabant and Flaunders, harken to a generall peace, and acknowledge him for their prince and lord, whereunto he had authoritie from the generall Estates of his prouinces. There were also letters from the prince of Orange, to prince Maurice his brother; from the duke of Arschot, and from the marquis of Haurell, exhorting them to peace: To all which letters, there was not

any aunswere made, neither by the Estates, nor by prince Maurice: but there being [ A] brought vnto the Estates assembled, certaine letters which had beene intercepted in France and England, by the which the king of Spaine gaue a lesson vnto the said Cardi∣nall Archduke, quite contrarie to those goodly offers and promises which he had made to the Estates of the vnited prouinces; the Estates, nobilitie, and townes in generall re∣solued not to harken to any peace or truce, but to beare the burthen of the war to the extremitie, and to attend such an end, as it should please God to send them, rather than to abandon the countrie, and to admit their enemies to the gouernment thereof: hereupon they appointed a great number of deputies of townes, in thei•• colledges and generall Estates, sending many of their chiefe men ambassadours to the queene of England, to [ B] moue her to continue the warre with them, agai••st the Spaniards: Their names were, Iohn Van Duyuenuoorde knight, seignior of Vuarmont and Vuoude, &c. Iohn Van Oldem∣barneuelt, seignior of Tempel, first Councellor and Aduocat of the Estates, keeper of the seale of Holland, and West-Friseland: Iohn Vanden Vuerke, Councellor and Pentioner of the towne of Middelbourg: Iohn Van Hottinga Esquire, Councellor and deputie in the generall estates: and Andrew Hessels, first Councellor of the Councell of Brabant, remai∣ning at the Hague, for that which depends vpon the vnited Prouinces: Who being come into England, hauing had audience of her maiestie, were sent to treat with the lords of her Councell of all matters whereof she had summoned them, and for the which they had beene moued to come vnto her in the name of the Estates: so as in the end hauing [ C] giuen her maiestie contentment, all matters were agreed vpon, the sixt of August 1598; according to which accord and firme deliberation of the Estates, to maintain themselues by armes against the king of Spaine, and the Archduke Albert; her maiestie resolued also for her part to continue the war: the which could not be so hurtfull to her, as to the Spa∣niard, for many reasons which would be tedious to relate. At the same time, a peace being concluded betwixt the French king and the Spaniard, the seignior of Buzenual, ambas∣sador for the French king with the generall Estates of the vnited prouinces, was sent back into Holland by the king his maister to continue his charge, who propounded vnto the Estates many excuses and reasons, which had moued the king to make a peace with the Spaniard, assuring them that he would be no enemie, nor contrarie to their gouernment, [ D] but as much as he could (the peace excepted) fauour them, and would continue in their alliance, with promise to repay the money wherewith they had assisted his maiestie du∣ring his wars.

Thus the Estates of the vnited prouinces, and prince Maurice, being assured of these two mightie allies, the French, and the English, prepared for war against the Archduke, the which war they continued with variable successe of either part, vntill in the end they came vnto a truce, in the yeare 1609: the which we will set downe truely, for the readers content, in the end of the discourse which we wil make of the generall Estates of the vnited prouinces of the Low Countries.

Hauing treated of all the Low Countries in generall, and summarily how all these [ VIII] prouinces were reduced and made subiect to one lord, and finally how the Archduke [ E] holds them at this present: It followes next in order, that we speake particularly of the prouinces which he enioyes, and which yeeld him obedience, that is to say, the countries of Brabant, Limbourg, Luxembourg, Flanders, Artois, Haynault, Namur, Lisle, Douay, Archiers, Tournay, and Tournesis, Macklin, Valenciennes, Cambray, with a part of the countrie of Gueldres, and the seigneurie of Linguen, except a part of Brabant, and Flan∣ders, which the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces hold yet.

Flanders at this day hath for her limits, vpon the South side Artois, with Haynault, and a part of Picardie; vpon the East Haynault and Brabant; vpon the North Brabant with the Hont, or the mouth of the riuer Escaut, which diuides Flaunders from Zeland; [ F] and vpon the West the German or rather English seas: It is in length from the Escaut against Antuerpe vnto Fosse neuf thirtie miles, and it is in bredth twentie miles. There are thirtie walled townes in Flanders, that is to say, Gand, Bruges, Ypre, Lisle, Doüay, Tour••ay, Courtray, Audenarde, Alost, Hulst, Tenermond, Birste••, Nieuport, Sluce,

[ A] Donkerk, Grauelin, Bourbourg, Damme, Dixmude, Fourne, Ardembourg, Gerarmont, Orchies, Lanoy, Axelle, and Ostende. Besides these townes there are open boroughs, which yeeld nothing vnto good townes, neither in regard of their priuiledges, nor their stately buildings, nor yet in respect of multitudes of inhabitants. There are in all 1154 villages, so as, when the Spaniards came into that countrie with Philip the second, king of Spain, deceased, they thought that Flanders was but one towne. But during the wars for these fortie yeares, Flanders hath had more cause to complaine than any other, hauing bin spoyled by a seditious multitude, and all their townes besieged, taken, and sackt, except Grauelin, & some other smal things not worth the mentioning. Many towns [ B] and great villages haue bin made heaps of stones, so as in this prouince there haue been more towns, villages, castles, and cloisters ruined, than in any other; whereby the coun∣trie is more than halfe vnpeopled, for that the inhabitants are retired, and dispersed in a manner throughout all the world. The Archdukes hold all Flanders, except the towns of Sluce, Axele, and Terneuse, all the Island of Catsant, Bieruliedt, Ardembourg, with some other places and sorts. Finally, if Flanders were at peace, she would soone recouer her former beautie.

The first towne of Flanders is Gand, the which is foure miles from the sea, and is wa∣tred by the riuers of Escaut, Lise, Liue, and Moere. Moreouer, there is a channel made by hand, which is also capable of great vessels, and it is incredible what wealth this town re∣ceiues [ C] by these riuers and channels. It is ten miles from Antuerp, and as much from Brus∣sels, Macklin, and Middelbourg: It hath seuen Italian miles in circuit. There are twentie six Islands, ninetie eight bridges, foure great water-mils, one hundred wind-mils, with an infinit number of others. It is the place where the emperor Charles the fift was born. Bru∣ges is seated in a plaine, three miles from the sea: It hath foure miles and a halfe circuit within the walls, and is the most pleasing towne of Flanders: There are sixtie Churches, whereof the chiefe is that of S. Douatian, the which was sometimes dedicated to our La∣die, and was built by Lideric the first earle of Flanders, in the yeare 1121. This towne hath been so rich, as queene Ioane (wife to Philip the Faire) being there, in the yeare 1301, and hauing seene the pompe of the women, she was first amazed, and then complained that [ D] she was not queene alone: yet amidst this aboundance of all things, it hath neither port nor riuer. There is a channell made by art, which they call Reye, the which being disper∣sed through the town, runs into the sea, neere vnto Sluce: but for that it was not capable of any great vessells, they haue made another higher, and haue diuided it from the sea with bankes. Ipre was built in the yeare 960: they say the foundation of this towne is of lead, by reason of the great number of pipes of lead, by the which the water is diuers••y distributed throughout the towne. Sluce is a sea towne, which hath a goodly great port, able to containe fiue hundred ships. Right against it is the Island of Cassant. Ostend stands neere vnto the sea, and is famous, for that it endured a siege which the Archduke layed before it, the space of three yeares and some moneths, with great losse of men of [ E] either side. Nieuport is a sea towne, three miles from Ostend. Donkerke hath a little port, the which is capable of few ships. I omit the other townes of Flanders, for that it would be endlesse: but before I passe vnto the other parts of the Low Countries, I will onely say, That of these townes aboue named, the Estates hold that of Sluce, and the Island of Cassant, which is a great curbe vnto the whole countrie.

The countrie of Artois is neere vnto Picardie, with the which it confines. The bounds [ IX] at this day are, vpon the North Flanders, from the which it is diuided by the riuer of Lise; vpon the West and South Picardie; and vpon the East Flaunders Gauloise, and Cambresis. The chiefe towne is Arras, besides the which they number twelue townes, and 754 villages. The chiefe are Saint Omer, Bethune, Bapaume, Hedin, Renty, and [ F] Lillers. But to speake something of A••ras, it is a verie great towne, diuided by a wall into two parts, whereof the one belongs vnto the Bishop, and is called the Citie; the other 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Prince, and is called the Towne. It is but little, yet faire and pleasing. There is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seene our Ladies Church, whereas they preserue Manna (the which they affirme 〈◊〉〈◊〉 like wooll in the time of S. Ierosme, as he himselfe writes in his Epistles) and a candle,

which they say they had in old time from heauen. The towne is great, and hath goodly [ A] streets, and a market place which is exceeding great. There is to be seene the Abbey of S. Vaz, the which hath aboue twentie thousand duckats of yearely rent. All the houses haue caues or sellers paued, to the end the inhabitants may retire themselues thither in time of siege, out of the danger of the cannon: it is verie well peopled, and full of artifi∣cers of all trades. S. Omer is a reasonable faire towne, in which is the Abbey of S. Betin, with a Church and an admirable Conuent, hauing great reuenues. The greatest part of writers hold, that Port Iccius (whereof ancient Authors make mention) was at S. Omer: the which seemes to be verified by the bankes and causeis wherewith the place is inuiro∣ned, for that the sea came thither. Neere vnto it is a lake which containes certaine little Islands, full of grasse and shrubs, the which they draw with a cord, which they tie vnto it, [ B] and by this meanes carrie these Islands where they please, with the cattell that feed in them, a thing which is no lesse true than wonderfull. This countrie hath no cause to com∣plaine of warres, vnlesse it be by reason of the impositions.

[ X] Cambresis, which hath for the chiefe towne Cambray, confines with the foresaid pro∣uince. The Bishop, who is a prince of the empire, is soueraigne lord, but the Spaniards are the maisters. Henrie the fift gaue it in protection to Robert of Hierusalem, earle of Flaun∣ders, to whose successors it was confirmed by the emperour Frederick, in the yeare 1164. In the end it put it selfe vnder the protection of Maximillian of Austria, king of the Ro∣mans, by whom it was left at libertie: it remained a long time neuter, during the warres which were betwixt the houses of France and Bourgondie, vntil that Charles the fift built [ C] a citadell there: since, the duke of Alençon, brother to the deceased king Henry the third, made himselfe maister of it: but it was afterwards yeelded to the Spaniards, the inhabi∣tants giuing vp the town for want of victuals. The towne is faire, great, and stately, as wel for the publike as priuat buildings, & for the great number of people that inhabit there.

[ XI] Haynault is twentie leagues long, and 16 broad: It is so called of the riuer of Hayne, which passeth through the middest of the countrie: her bounds are towards the North, Brabant and Flanders; vpon the South, Champagne and Picardie; vpon the East, the countie of Namur, and the countrie of Liege and Brabant; and vpon the West, Flanders with Artois. They do number 24 walled towns, the most famous of which are Mons and Valenciennes. Mons stands vpon a little hil, & hath goodly buildings, with many springs, [ D] and a little riuer called Trulle, passing through it. Among other things which are remark∣able in this town, there is an order and chapter of Chanonesses or religious women, very considerable: the founder was Valdrude duchesse of Lorrain, who gaue them good rents: These religious women (which should be daughters of noblemen, and gentlemen of note) remaine neere vnto the Church, and attend the seruice thereof: In the morning they go attired like Nuns, and in the afternoone like secular women, and may marrie at their pleasures: they haue an Abbesse which gouernes them. There is a Chapter of the like order, but richer, at Ni••elle, and another at Mabeuil. Valencienne was (as they say) built by the emperour Valentinian; it stands in a pleasant valley: The riuer of Escaut, and the little riuer of Ronelle enter into it, and make diuers smal Islands, and a current which [ E] passeth vnder the houses, which is not onely commodious for priuat men, but doth also giue them means to fortifie the towne, for that they may drowne some part round about it: ther are two faire Churches, the one of our Ladie which is very ancient, and the other of S. Iohn: there is a palace which is called the Earles hall, the which is verie great; and the Town-house yeelds not to any in beautie: neere vnto it is a clocke which, besides the houres, shews the course of the moone, planets, moneths and seasons. The other places of note are Quesnoy, Landercy, A••enes, Mariembourg, Philippeuille, Beaumont and Bins.

[ XII] As for Namur, it is the chiefe towne of a verie good countie: It is scituated vpon the riuer of Meu••e, betwixt two mountaines: The riuer of Sambre passeth through it, and ioynes with-Meuse: It is not great, but a good faire towne, and it hath vnder it three [ F] walled townes, whereof Bouines is the greatest, Charlemont the strongest, and Valen∣court the last. Besides, there are one hundred eightie two villages: they haue endured much, but at this present they are in good estate.

[ A] The duchie of Luxembourg containes three and twentie townes, and almost one [ XIII] thousand and two hundred villages: it lies in a manner all within the forrest of Ardenne, which by little and little hath beene cut downe and tilled. This duchie takes her name of the principall towne which is great, but not well peopled, by reason of the ruines which it hath vndergone, with the whole prouince, during the wars betwixt the houses of Fraunce and Austria: for the towne was taken and sackt in the yeare 1542, then recoue∣red and sackt againe: in a manner all the places of importance ran the like fortune, as Arlon, Thionuille, Moment, Danuilliers, Yuois, all which places were held impregna∣ble. This countrie hath beene best preserued of all the prouinces of the Low Countries [ B] in these last troubles; for it hath not beene in any sort ruined, onely the armies haue past that way.

Brabant hath for bounds vpon the North, the Ocean sea, vpon the East the riuer of Meuse on the South the Bishopricke of Leige, and the countrie of Namur, and vpon [ XIIII] the West the last place is Niuelle. This countrie containes those places whereas Caesar did lodge the Aduatices and Ambiuarites: it is two and twentie leagues long, and twen∣tie broad, and fourescore in circuit: it containes six and twentie walled townes, eighteen that haue priuiledges; and seuen hundred villages. There are foure principall townes, that is to say, Louuain, Bruxells, Antuerp, and Bosleduc. Louuain is in a faire scituation, and hath foure miles in circuit about the walls; but it containes meadowes, vines, and [ C] great gardens, which giue it a great grace by reason of the mountaines and valleis. There is one of the best vniuersities of Europe, whose founder was Iohn duke of Brabant in the yeare 1426, but it hath beene much inricht with pensions for publike readers, by Philip the second king of Spaine. Bruxells (whose circuit is not much lesse than that of Louuain) is seated partly vpon a plaine, and partly vpon the discent of a hill; it is the or∣dinarie aboad of the Archduke: the towne is full of faire pallaces, and goodly houses, amongst the which, is the pallace roiall, with a parke that is very delightfull. Antuerpe is so faire a towne, as there are few in Europe that can equall it: it is seated vpon the riuer of Escaut, which brings ships with all kinds of merchandise from the sea, which is seuen∣teene leagues off: there are many goodly buildings, but the chiefe are our ladies Church, [ D] the Bourse, the State-house, and that of the Easterlings: before thereuolt of the Low Countries, it was a place of great trafficke, and of such importance, as there was more businesse dispatcht in one moneth, than is at Venice in two yeares: it hath now in a man∣ner lost all the trafficke of the sea, hauing their enemies at their gates; so as it is no more that flourishing towne, whereof in former times they made so great accouut. Bosleduc is seated vpon the little riuer of Deese, two leagues from the Meuse: it is a faire, great, and rich towne. As for Macklin, which is a soueraigne towne, and a seigneurie, it hath beene twice taken, and so spoiled, as not any towne thereabouts hath beene more: it stands vp∣on the riuer of Dele, which is great of itselfe, and swels more by reason of the flowing of the sea, which passeth a league beyond the towne: this riuer hauing many branches, [ E] maketh diuers little Islands, and is very commodious for the towne. Without the towne there is a great monasterie, in which are aboue one thousand and fiue hundred ••uns, or rather maidens which may marrie. Amongthe other places of any ••••portance, they put Niuelle. There are also some Estates beyond the riuer of Meuse, which belong vnto Bra∣bant, that is to say, the duchie of Limbourg, and Valkembourg, Dalem, Rode, and Car∣pen, all townes with commaund and jurisdiction. The Archduke inioies all the townes at this day, except Berghen-op-Zoom, Breda, Steenberghen, Willem-stadt, Graue, and some forts, all which are vnder the gouernment of the Estates of the vnited prouinces. This countrie hath endured so much, during fortie yeares wars, both by the enemie, and by their owne souldiers, mutining often for want of pay, and so oppressing the countrie, [ F] a•• it is a wonder how it hath subsisted.

¶ The Qualitie. [ A]

TO speake in generall of the qualitie of the Low Countries, the aire is very moist, and yet very wholesome for the inhabitants of the countrie: Summer is very pleasing with a temperat heat: they are not scorcht as in many other countries, flies and dorres do not annoy them with their buzzing and stinging: it is not subiect to Earthquakes; but the Winter is long and windie: any wind that comes from the East causeth frost. The countrie is in many places sandie: it abounds in wheat, barley, rie, flax, and hempe: it doth also bring forth all kindes of fruit in great aboundance, as apples, peares, plums, cherries, mulberries, peaches, nuts, medlers, and in some places chestnuts: there are not [ B] any mines of siluer, of note. As for trees they doe much please the sight, being thicke set in order, and laden with fruit, and there are many which serue for building, and for firing: there are of all sorts which are very great and high; but there are few bay trees or of cipres. There is a certaine tree which they call Linden, whose lease is almost like vnto an Elme, but they grow higher and faster, for in sixteene or eighteene yeares they grow as big as a man: they vse them somewhat for building, but more to make coales. Betwixt the barke and the wood, they find a certaine string like vnto hempe, wherof they are accustomed to make roaps; but there are many beasts which like not the leaues, not∣withstanding that they be tender: there are also many ewe trees, whereof they make good bowes: there is a certaine poison made of the juice, with the which Caesar saith that [ C] Cati••ulcus died. There is also another kind of tree, which the inhabitants call Abeelen, and it is like vnto a white Poplar tree. There are great store of them in Brabant, and they [ XV] vse them chiefely at Brussells for diuers occasions. Moreouer they of the Low Coun∣tries may commend their soile, to be fit for cattell, for that there are few places where their oxen, sheepe, and horses do multiplie faster, and prosper better. First they haue great and mightie horses fit for war: then oxen which are sometimes so great and fat, as they waigh one thousand and two hundred waight. Guicchardin writes of an oxe which was giuen to the earle of Hocstrat at Macklin, waying one thousand fiue hundred twen∣tie and eight pounds, and therefore he caused this beast to be drawne in his pallace. As for cowes, they haue alwaies their dugs so great and so ful, as it is almost incredible what [ D] milke they giue: for it is most certaine that in some places of Holland a cow will yeeld in Summer nine or ten pintes at a meale, and they do commonly milke them thrice a day.

There is store of fallow deere, stags, goats, wild boares, conies, hares, and great num∣bers of herons, partriges, phesants, turtledoues, quailes, thrushes, storkes, geese, and mal∣lards: there is also aboundance of tame foule, and store of salmons, lampreyes, aloses, mullets, and much other good fish which comes from the sea, into the riuer of Meuse, drawne thither by the sweetnesse of the water: and it is a thing worthie admiration, that these fishes being taken in the sea, are little esteemed, but within the fresh water they are very fat, and of a good tast: the same riuer doth also beare trouts and lampreyes, where∣of some are great and excellent, others lesse and delicat. [ E]

Moreouer the se•• (with her flowing into the riuer of Escaut) brings sturgeons, sal∣mons, great lampre••••••▪ mullets, soles, crafishes, and many other sorts of delicate fish, where they liue and breed, for that the water is fit for them. In two or three moneths, in the spring time, they take such aboundance of small fish, besides the great, as many people liue of them. Moreouer this riuer without any helpe of the sea, doth continually breed many kinds of fish, whereof the chiefe are pike, barbles, tenches, and carpes which many times waigh twentie pound: there are also some oisters found in the mouth of this riuer, but they come from the sea. The pesants ioyning many waters together with the helpe of these riuers, make channells with great industrie, which run certaine leagues, [ F] and are capable of great ships; so as there is scarce any place but hath a passage vnto it by water: yet this countrie wants springs, except it be in hilly places.

[ XVI] We must now speake of the sea of this countrie. Without doubt when it is troubled it is very dangerous, for that many times it drownes great fields, yea whole countries, as

[ A] we may see neere vnto Zeland: but the inhabitants at this day haue made so many banks and defences, as they are in a manner free from danger. It is most commonly tormen∣ted at the new moone, and when it is full betwixt the two Equinoxes, when (according to Cornelius Tacitus) the sea doth swell wonderfully. There are two effects of the flow∣ing of the sea, the one is commodious, the other troublesome: the one keepes the sea from corrupting, and makes way for them that saile; the other is discommodious by rea∣son of the innundation and violence. But hauing spoken of the discommodities which the sea brings to these countries, it is fit to say something of the commodities which it giues them when it is quiet. Without the sea it were impossible they should feed halfe [ B] their people: for thereby these countries are as it were a publike market-place for all Eu∣rope, and it brings vnto them a wonderfull profit by the herring and fish of all sorts which the inhabitants take, for they not onely serue for daintinesse to the rich, but also for nourishment to the poore, and they vent such store into all the parts of Europe, as it yeelds them a great reuenue.

Finally, the Low Countrie is plaine and euen, and there are few mountaines, vnlesse it [ XVII] b•• in the countries of Luxembourg, Namur, and Haynault, where there are more than in all the rest. It hath forrest sufficient for the ornament of the countrie, for seruice, and for hunting. The forrest of Ardenne, in the time of Caesar, was the greatest of Gaule, and passing through the middest of the countrie of Treues, it extended it selfe from the [ C] Rheine, vnto the countries of Tournay and Rheims, so as it was about fiue hundred thousand paces long: but at this day it hath lost much of her greatnesse, so as that which remaines is often cut vp, and tilled by the inhabitants, who giue other names to all those places. The greatest part, and least interrupted, is from Thionuille, neere vnto Liege, for the space of thirtie miles. The forrest of Mormau which is in Haynault, begins at Quesnoy, and runs Southward toward Vermandois. The forrest of Saint Amant is also in Haynault, and begins neere vnto S. Amant, and goes toward the East vnto Valenci∣enne, being verie broad and thicke. There are also the woods of Faigne, Soigne, Mar∣laigne, and some others, but I will not trouble the reader with their descriptions. I will now come to examine in particular the qualitie of those countries which are vnder the [ D] Archdukes.

¶ The Qualitie.

AS for Artois it is rich in wheat, whereof they send great store into Flanders and Bra∣bant, where there commonly growes none, so as for the most part, the inhabitants eat Rie bread. There grows no wine, yet some hold that the countrie is fit to beare it, and that the negligence of them that dwell there, is rather the cause of this defect, than the scituation. The aire is good, wholesome, and cleere.

The countrie of Haynault enioyes a sweet and temperat aire, and the soyle is fertile, and beares great store of wheat. There are many meadowes, pastures, orchards, and other [ E] things necessarie for the life of man. There are also mines of yron and lead, and quarries of diuers sorts of marble, and also of a certain kind of flint which the Liegeois call Houle. These flints feed the fire like vnto coales, and they vse to make fire of it mingled with a little wood.

The countie of Namur is hillie, but pleasing, and of a wholesome and temperat ayre. The soyle yeelds all things necessarie for man. There are also mines of yron and lead, and quarries whereas they cut stones of all sorts, especially of marble inclining to black, much like vnto Iasper. And it is not long since they began to dig that kind of flint stone, which they burne. There are riuers which abound in fish, and goodly springs and fountaines, as also forrests where there is great store of wild beasts of all sorts.

[ F] The countrie of Luxembourg although it be hillie yet is it good and fertile, and en∣io•••••• a pleasing ayre. There is one part which yeelds much corne and wine, and another which doth recompence this want with aboundance of Deere, and other wild beasts. T•••••••• are mynes also neere vnto Manderscheid in the seigneuries of Keyle, Crouenberg, and ••••ide, towards the towne of Hellental.

Brabant is in a verie good aire, and ha••h a fertile plaine which beares good store of [ A] corne, yet that which they call Die Kempen, or the Champian, is somewhat barren by reason of the sand, and yet it yeelds some fruits, and is not altogether vnprofitable.

Flanders hath a wonderfull temperat ayre. The soyle is fertile, especially towards the sea, and France: There are goodly pastures, the which we may easily guesse for that the neighbour countries are accustomed to send many colts thither to feed. Moreouer, they breed vp many tame cattell whose tast is exceeding pleasant, and they haue an infinit number of Deere and wild beasts. They want no herons, fesants, partridges, peacockes, and storckes.

¶ The Manners of the Ancient. [ B]

CAesar tells vs, that the Belges, which be those of the Low Countries (among whom he also comprehended the Picards) were wonderfull valiant and resolute, for that they were farre from the ciuilitie and courtesie of other Prouinces, and that merchants did not much frequent amongst them, nor bring those things which makes mens coura∣ges effeminat: and also, for that they were neere vnto the Germans who dwelt beyond the riuer of Rhein, with whom they were in continuall warre. We may iudge of their valour, and the great desire they had to defend their libertie, in that they sought to retire themselues from the rule and obedience of the Romans, yea in Caesars time. The Nerui∣ens, which are they of Tournay, would neuer suffer any merchants to bring them wine [ C] or any other thing to sell. And to speake something in particular, the inhabitants of the countie of Flanders, were so giuen to armes, and so actiue, as they could neuer liue in peace: yea in former times they haue run with their armes into Syria, to the Holie-land, and to Hierusalem. This people haue for a long time giuen themselues to trafficke, and haue beene verie succesfull, and in like manner they haue shewed themselues paine∣full to manure the countrie, and to make it better.

¶ The Manners at this day.

[ XVIII] THe Flemings are most commonly great, but some thinke that in old time they were [ D] much bigger; the which Caesar doth attribute chiefely to the libertie of their liues, and their custome not to do any thing against their wills. They are faire, quiet, not chole∣ricke, nor ambitious, open, readie to all things, industrious, painefull, and faithfull, ca∣pable of all arts and sciences, and rather giuen to wine than to women. They are reaso∣nable ciuile, according to the countrie, and so pleasant as they are sometimes insuppor∣table. They are light of beleefe, by reason whereof they are easily deceiued. There is not any nation more suspitious, nor more obstinat. They are great talkers, and doe soone for∣get the courtesies and fauours which they haue receiued, and in like manner the wrongs which haue beene done them. They doe not much loue other nations, and they daily inuent some new thing. As for musicke, they haue made it perfect, for that there is not [ E] any nation more inclined to this art. They are valiant ynough at land, but more on foot than otherwise, for they are bad horsemen, and doe seldome come to ioyne with the ene∣mie: but we must confesse that at sea they are inuincible; they vnderstand the art of na∣uigation perfectly. They learne many languages, and trafficke cunningly; and they make great store of silkes, sarges, and linnen cloth of diuers sorts, and aboue all tapestrie hang∣i••gs, whereof they make great account, and the which they not onely send into all Eu∣rope, but also to the Indies, and into Africke. Most commonly they make Rie bread, and drinke beere more vsually than wine, the which is brought from France and Spain. They go well and hansomely attired. Their houses are continually kept more neatly than in any place of Europe, and their chambers doe so shine, as it is pleasant to behold. They build [ F] in a manner generally of one fashion, and their houses are so made as they seeme to haue but one owner, they take such delight in townes to haue houses of an equall heigth.

The women are faire, but there are no great numbers of such, and besides, for the most part this beautie fadeth before they are thirtie yeares old, and then they grow wrinckled

[ A] and foule: they are quicke and hardie, and conuerse freely among men: The greatest ble∣mish is, that they loue wine, yea young maidens will not refuse to drinke, and somtimes more than is fit, which causeth effects of loue: yet it is most certaine that there are fewer women which liue loosely in this countrie, than in some other where they are not so much subiect to drinking: notwithstanding this their custome, the women gouern•• the•••• houses discreetly, and many times they trafficke and contract with one another like m••••chants: they affect much to go attired after the French fashion, they go alone in the streets, and to places neere the towne with little or no companie, and yet they are not suspected: and for that their husbands do many times leaue vnto them the mannaging [ B] of all their affaires, they grow proud, imperious, and insupportable.

The princes, lords, and all others of what condition soeuer, giue vnto the eldest of the house, the name of his father, although he be liuing, and in the floure of his age: and gentlemen do alwaies prefer their eldest daughter before the rest, although that all haue the like dowrie; so as they giue the younger to men to whom they would refuse the el∣der, whom they reserue for a better fortune: and they haue this particularitie, that they do easily contract marriage with a stranger, if occasion be offered: they hold it base and vnseemely that young men should marrie old women, and old men young maides, a base or meane man a gentlewoman, the maister his maid, and the mistris her man. There [ XIX] is not any Nation that excells so much in painting. Iohn Eikius (who was of this coun∣trie) [ C] did first shew the manner how to mingle colours with oyle. They are accustomed vpon that Saints day whose name they carrie, and during Shrouetide, to feast their kins∣folkes and friends, and to entertain them bountifully; for aboue all things they loue ban∣quets, and to make good cheere.

¶ The Riches.

THe Flemings are rich by meanes of the sea, and the ordinarie trafficke which they vse. The trades whereunto they apply themselues bring them a thousand commodi∣ties, and the sale of their silkes, sarges, and tapistrie worke, which are so much desired, [ D] brings them in great summes of money.

It is in a manner incredible what profit they make of porpeses and salmons, which they do salt and barrell vp, and what aboundance of herring and barrelled cod they send forth yearely, for the which they returne great summes of money from the Germans, English, French, Spaniards, and Italians.

The ordinarie reuenues which the prince drew from the Low Countries (whenas they were all vnder one lord) did amount to aboue three millions of gold yearely, besides [ XX] the vncertaine subsidies, and confiscations whereof he had the third, vnlesse it be in ca∣ses of high treason. At this day the Archdukes reuenues are not so great, since that di∣uers of his Estates haue beene dismembered, and that which he hath will not in any sort [ E] defray the charges of his court, and entertaine his troupes.

¶ The Forces.

THe Archduke may boldly say that he hath good townes, not onely able to make a [ XXI] long defence, but in a manner impregnable: for you shall hardly find a stronger place than the citadel of Antuerp, the which is held to be one of the best fortified in Eu∣rope, according to the rules of this age. Bosleduc which is also in Brabant, is a place of good importance. Then vpon the sea is Grauelin, two leagues from Calais, furnished with great store of ordnance, & exceeding strong. Neere vnto it is Donkerke, the which [ F] (〈◊〉〈◊〉 the strength of the walls) hath very resolute inhabitants: there is also in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 power vpon the same coast the strong towne of Ostend, the which did so much 〈…〉〈…〉, during a siege of three yeares and a halfe.

〈…〉〈…〉 the countrie of Artois, there is the town of Arras, the which is strong and able 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a gre•••• res••stance. Terouanne might be well defended and endure a long siege:

Hedin is of no lesse importance, yea it is better fortified, and is vpon the frontires of [ A] ••rance: in Haynault Mons is strong, and so is Valencienne; in this towne there is an arcenall furnished with all sorts of munition and armes, to maintaine a long warre. Phillippeuille and Mariembourg are two very strong places, vpon the frontire of France. Namur hath a good fort which is very defensible: and to end in a word, all the Arch∣dukes countrie is ful of good places, so as he that shal assaile him shal find work enough. As for the men, the inhabitants of townes are valiant, whereof they haue in former times giuen good proofe. But besides his naturall subiects, this prince doth alwaies entertaine an armie consisting of Spaniards, Italians, English, Germanes, and other nations, and this armie (before the truce) during Winter lay in garrison, and about the mid spring [ B] went to field, and was imployed at the siege of some townes. Now many of these troups haue been casht, so as their numbers are not so great: that which remaines, is entertained in diuers places vpon the frontires.

¶ The Gouernment.

[ XXII] THe formes of gouernment are, the generall, which the prince hath ouer all; and the particular, which euery one of these Estates doth vse, according to their priuiledges and customes.

The prince hath three councells, whereof the first is called the councell of State; the [ C] second, the priuie councell; and the third, that of the finances or treasure. The councell of Estate hath a president, and very many councellors, for that they call more or lesse ac∣cording to occurrents. In this councell they treat of all matters belonging to the State, as of peace and war, of ambassadors, intelligences, & aduices from abroad and within the State; and to this the most important affaires of other councells are referred.

In the Priuie councel there are twelue doctors chosen by the prince, and there is a pre∣sident, whereas they treat of all questions in law, for that it hath a preheminence ouer all the other councells, and this consents to priuiledges, giues pardons, and remissions, and makes laws, statutes, and edicts; and to it also doth belong the knowledge of judge∣ment, of controuersies, and questions for the limits of countries, and for the chiefe of [ D] the seigneurie. In matters which are difficult and of great waight, they conferre with the councell of State, as that doth with this when as there happens any matters of justice.

In the councell of the Finances, there are three chiefe men of the countrie, who are cal∣led heads and ouerseers of the exchequer, there is a treasurer, a receiuer, and other infe∣rior officers. This councell doth mannage all the princes reuenues, and the taxes which are paied him: there they make the impositions and paiments in all occurrents both of peace and war.

There is a Chamber of accounts, which is as it were a member of the councell of the finances, and seuen maisters of accounts, with other inferiour officers: there they go to make their accounts, and to receiue their acquittances (at the end of the terme) that do [ E] mannage the princes money in Brabant, and the countries adioining, and in the duchie of Luxembourg; and notwithstanding that there be other Chambers in the countrie, besides the abouenamed, which doth recide at Bruxells, with the three councells, yet all the Chambers are accustomed to giue their accounts to the councell of the Treasure, as to their soueraigne magistrat.

Besides the said magistrats, there is in most of the said Estates a particular gouernour, to whom (as to a lieutenant) matters are referred, especially for the war.

The prince hath also in the greatest part of his Estates a councel in his name, the which in Brabant is called the Chancerie, and at Macklin; in other places it is called the Parlia∣ment. In this councell there are sometimes twelue, sometimes sixteene, and sometimes [ F] eighteene councellors, with a president, into the which the princes aduocate is admit∣ted, the procurator for the treasure, and some other inferior officers, all which in a man∣ner haue wages from the prince: and the authoritie of these magistrates is great both in ciuile and criminall causes, and thither they may call not onely all priuat persons, but

[ A] euen the prince himselfe, if any one pretend any thing against him in iustice. To these iurisdictions all appellations go from the other magistrats of this priuat estate, and in three of them, as in Brabant, Macklin, and Haynault, they iudge definitiuely: In all the said Councells they are gouerned by the common laws, if the municipall priuiledges or commaundements (for so they call the princes resolutions) be not opposit. Besides the foresaid officers, the prince sends commissioners yearely into the chiefest parts of his estate, to examine particularly the entries and exportations of euerie place; and in Bra∣bant, where the prince hath (by a priuat graunt from the Pope) authoritie ouer sacred things, the Commissaries visit Churches, Monasteries, and Hospitals.

[ B] When as the prince is to treat with the Estates, either touching new lawes which he meanes to make, or for new subsidies which he would haue, or for any other occurrents, he assembles them after this maner: He commands by his letters all the Estates to meet, at a certaine time appointed, in a certaine place, the which is commonly in the towne of Bruxels.

In all the townes, counties, and principall places by ancient preheminence, they know who should go to the assemblie, and how many they are, who in deed are many: in this assemblie there are three orders of persons.

The first order is the Clergie, the second the Nobilitie, and the third the chiefe towns of the estate. Euerie one of these hath power to bind his comminaltie, but neuer to con∣clude [ C] but with expresse condition, that all the other Estates shall come and doe the like. In these assemblies the proposition is made in a great hall, in the princes presence, by a president, or some one of the Councellors of state, where they seeke with words and strong reasons to persuade what they intend. The propositions being heard, the Estates take time to make their answer, and then euerie man doth iudiciously examine in parti∣cular what hath beene propounded, and they giue their answer in writing, the which not being pleasing vnto the prince, the businesse is not ended, but they labour to draw them vnto it: but if it cannot be effected, the prince must haue patience, and referre it to a bet∣ter opportunitie.

Notwithstanding that the principall gouernement, and all the most substantiall pre∣heminences [ D] of the seigneurie be in the princes person, yet all the townes and places adia∣cent haue a particular administration, and a great libertie, with their lawes, customes, and priuiledges.

These lawes, customes, and priuiledges haue a great difference, for that the said coun∣tries haue beene enioyed for many ages by diuers princes, and they haue often beene in quarrell with mortall and deadly hatred; yea they differ in weights, measures, and man∣ners, and (which is of verie great importance) they differ in language, which is so incom∣patible a thing, as the Emperour Charles the fift, hauing often propounded by what meanes he might draw these estates into one bodie, and giue them the name and forme of a realme, he could neuer find the way: but with all this diuersitie, they doe all agree in [ E] the qualities of members which make one bodie, for that the estate of all the townes and places hath one particular gouernement, which doth not differ in any other thing but in the number of them that deale in the gouernement, and this grows, for that one place is bigger than an other.

The priuat gouernement of euerie great towne consists of foure members: we will call the first the new seigneurie, and this comprehends all the great and lesser magistrats which are in charge: the second is the old seigneurie, which comprehends all those that haue had any charge of importance: the third is called the Bourgesie, which consists of as many captaines as there are streets in the towne. Antuerpe hath six and twentie: the fourth member embraceth all the heads of Trades, called Deans, which are also diuers [ F] in number, according to the townes. Antuerpe hath fiftie foure, and of all these foure members the particular gouernment is framed. The example hereof shall be the gouern∣ment of the towne of Antuerpe, from which the rest differ verie little or nothing at all, vnlesse it be in regard of the number.

The manner to frame the particular gouernement in the towne of Antuerpe is thus,

The seigneurie presents nine gentlemen, and nine others are named by the captaines of [ A] the streets, which are in all eighteene; to these they add the seigneurie which is then in authoritie, the which may make the like number of 18, which are in all thirtie six, and these aspire to the future seigneurie. All these names are sent vnto the prince, who chu∣seth out eighteen, and these are called Schemats (which is to say, Senators) who haue au∣thoritie to chuse two Burgomaisters, which are as much as two Consulls, whereof the one treats with the prince, or with the Estates, touching the affaires of his countrie; and the other remaines in the towne, and hath care of gouernement, giuing audience to the Bourgers and strangers: so as the magistrat of the towne of Antuerpe consists of eigh∣teene Schemats and a Bourgomaister, who hath great authoritie both in ciuile and crimi∣nall [ B] causes. But for the execution of iustice, the prince hath two lieutenants, one for the criminall, whom they call Sculter; the other for ciuile causes, called Amman; which places the prince doth giue, and these go before all others. The office of the Scultet is to cause malefactors to be apprehended, demaunding iustice of the soueraigne magistar, and afterwards to execute the sentences which shall be giuen. The office of the Amman is to heare ciuile causes, and to require the seigneurs to dispatch and doe iustice, and to giue sentence at their charge that plead.

The same soueraigne magistrat doth chuse without any interuention of the prince, or his commissioners, certaine inferiour magistrats, and among others two Treasurers, which be gentlemen of the peoples nomination; and one Receiuer, of the people, named by the [ C] gentlemen: and these officers receiue and disburse the publike mony by the ordinance of the said soueraigne magistrat; who doth also create the Councellors of the people, which are twelue in number, all out of the number of the Deans of Trades, as marriners, bakers, gardiners, smiths, and such like. And in the seigneurie of Macklyn the magistracie is equally diuided; for that of the twelue Senators or Shemats, there are six gentlemen, and six of the Deans of Trades, and the most honourable are the fish-mongers, butchers, bakers, gardiners, and brewers.

These Plebeian Councellors go vnto the Councell as well as the gentlemen, they heare sutors petitions, and giue their aduice, sometimes seditiously, when as they treat of disbursing any money which should come into the hands of the gentlemen; for that [ D] this sort of men are not capable to proceed with grauitie and moderation in the degree of superioritie; so as the insufficiencie, insolencie, and instabilitie of the people, and the perpetuall ielousie which these popular Councellors (who are powerfull by reason of the great number of men which follow them) entertaine against the gentlemen, haue caused many dangerous reuolts at sundrie times, vnder all their princes: for that of thirtie six which haue ruled since Lewis of Ha••lembec, the first earle of Flanders, all haue felt some rebellion, except three onely.

Of these good townes there are some which haue good store of publike reuenues, and among the rest, Antuerpe hath two hundred and fiftie thousand crownes yearely rent: but both this and others were much indebted in the yere 1556, and we must beleeue that [ E] by reason of the continuall warres, they are more at this day, especially for that they haue wanted the industrie of arts and merchandise, the chiefe foundation of all the Estates of Flanders. And Antuerpe alone looseth much yearely, for that the troubles haue alte∣red their trafficke.

The authoritie of lords which haue castles, lands, and other iurisdictions is verie much limited, for that they cannot oppresse their vassals in any sort, nor accept voluntarie pre∣sents from them without the expresse consent of the prince: but these lords leauing vnto the people the gouernement according vnto their lawes and customes, enioy the titles and reuenews with all modestie. It is true there are some lords which haue certaine par∣ticular iurisdictions, in such sort absolute, as they doe not acknowledge any other [ F] supe∣rior but God onely.

The Clergie is verie mightie and rich throughout all the whole countrie, so as to stay their increase of wealth, least they should grow more powerful, Charles the fift made a law prohibiting all Clergie men to buy any land without licence expresly granted from the

[ A] prince; and in subsidies which are paied him, the Clergie paies his apart; and the con∣uentions which the prince of this countrie hath with the Pope, are in a manner like vnto those of France, for he names, and the Pope confirmes the Prelats, and no rescription is put in execution without the princes pleasure: moreouer they cannot (by any commis∣sion from the Pope) draw his subiects out of the State for any cause whatsoeuer, but he must depute commissioners vnto the place, for any matter that is in question. The extra∣ordinarie titles which the prince of these Estates hath, are, Chanoine of Saint Seruais, and Abbot of Saint Gertrude, which is a famous Monasterie of nunnes: He is also cal∣led Vicar perpetuall of the Empire, in all Friseland vnto the countrie which is called [ B] Bethmarie vpon the confines of Denmarke; the which is a preheminence obtained by Maximilian of the Emperor Fredericke his father, as well for himselfe as his successors.

¶ The Religion.

THroughout all the Archdukes Estates in generall, they haue no other exercise but of [ XXIII] the Romish religion, yet there are few townes (especially of those that were in for∣mer times reuolted) where there are not many Protestants, but they dare not make open profession thereof, seeing themselues restrained, and redie to be punished, if it be known. They that are earnest Papists hold that it is impossible to make them alter their religion, [ C] and that the neighbourhood of the Protestants make them more zelous.

¶ Archbishops and Bishops in the Low Countries.

AS for the Estate of the Clergie throughout all the Low Countries in generall, it [ XXIIII] consists of three Archbishops, and fifteene Bishops: that is, the Archbishop of Cambray hath vnder him, the Bishoprickes of Arras, Tournay, S.Omer, and Namur.

The Archbishoprike of Macklin hath vnder it the Bishops of Antuerpe, Gand, Bru∣ges, Bosleduc, Ipre, and Ruremonde.

The Archbishop of Vtrecht hath vnder him the Bishops of Harlem in Holland, De∣uenter [ D] in Guelderland, Middleborough in Zeland, Leuuardin and Groningue in Frize∣land.

The Archbishopricke of Cambray was erected by Pope Paul the fourth, in the year•• 1562, for before it was but a Bishopricke, and the first Bishop was called Saint Diogene, a Grecian borne, he was consecrated Bishop at Arras, by the Archbishop of Reims, in the yeare 390, and euer since the two Bishoprickes were vnited vnder one Bishop vntill the yeare 1094, in which yeare they were diuided: and the Bishopricke of Cambray com∣prehends vnder her jurisdiction the towns of Cambray, Mons, Condee, At the, Quesnoy, Landrecy, Auesnes, Bins, Beaumont, Brenne, Soignes, Maubege, Chimay, and in a manner all the countrie of Henault, Cambresis, and some small part of Artois, a part of [ E] the townes of Valenciennes and Tournay.

The Clergie of Arras (after they had long pursued this seperation) in the end obtained of Pop•• Vrban the eleuenth, a particular Bishop, in the yeare 1094. The Bishop hath vn∣der his ••urisdiction the townes of Arras, Douay, Bethune, Bapaulme, Lens, Armentieres, Bouchain, la Bassee, a part of Valenciennes, with many borroughes and villages.

The Bishopricke of Tournay was erected in the yeare 480, and some time after it was ioyned to the Bishopricke of Noyon, and continued six hundred yeres vnited vnder one Bishop ••••as in the yeare 1123, the seperation was graunted by the Bishop of Noyon, who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Bishopricke of Tournay. Saint Barnard was an earnest sutor vnto the Pope [ F] for this seperation.

The Bishopricke of Saint Omer was erected, for that the towne of Terouenne being razed by the Emperour Charles the fift, in the yeare 1553: the reuenues of the Bisho∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Terouenne were diuided into three, one part went to the Bishopricke of Boul∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 France, another part to the Bishopricke of Saint Omer for Artois, and the third to the Bishopricke of Ipre for Flaunders: wherefore the Collegiall Church of S. Omer

was erected into a Cathedrall in the yeare 1559, hauing vnder it ten townes, that is, Saint [ A] Omer, Aire, Hesdin, Grauelin, &c. with many villages as well in Artois as in Flanders.

In the yeare 1559 the Collegiall Church of Saint Rombaut at Macklin was made a Metropolitane; besides the Bishoprickes that are vnder it, there were assigned seuenteen townes, Macklin, Lou••ain, Bruxells, Tillemont, Lande, Dist, Arscot, &c. with many villages.

The Collegiall Church of our Lady at Antuerpe was erected to a Cathedrall in the yere 1559, with episcopall jurisdiction ouer seuen townes, that is to say, Antuerpe, Liere, Berghes, &c. and many villages.

The Collegiall Church of Saint Iohn in the towne of Gand was made a Bishopricke, in the yeare 1559, and it hath vnder it foure townes, Gand, Andeuarde, &c. with many [ B] villages.

The Collegiall Church of Saint Iohn the Euangelist at Boisleduc was changed to a Cathedrall in the yeare 1559, hauing vnder it ten townes, Boisleduc, Helmont, Bomel, [] &c. with many villages.

The Collegiall Church of Saint Donat at Bruges in the yeare 1559, was made a Ca∣thedrall, comprehending vnder it nine townes, Bruges, Scluse, Ardembourg, &c. with many villages.

The Monasterie of the regular Chanoins in the church of Saint Martin at Ipte was in the yeare 1559, made a Cathedrall Church of the secular Chanoins, containing vn∣der that episcopall jurisdiction ten townes, Ipre, Dunkerke, Bergue, Furnes, &c. with [ C] ma∣ny borroughes and villages.

The Collegiall Church built in honour of the holy Ghost at Ruremonde was in the yeare 1559 changed to a Cathedrall, with episcopall jurisdiction, hauing vnder it ten townes, Ruremonde, Nimeguen, Zutphen, Vennelo, &c. and many villages.

The Bishoprick of Vtrecht was erected by Pope Sergius in the yere 690, & it was made a Metropolitan in the yere 156••, it hath vnder it the fiue Bishopricks aboue mentioned: as for the particular limits of the Bishopricke of Vtrecht, it containes all the territorie of Vtrecht, and a part of Holland and Guelderland, with the seigneuries of Buren, Culem∣bourg, Vianen, &c. in the which are comprehended thirtie townes, with many villages.

The Parochiall Church of Saint Bauon in Harlem, was made a Cathedral in the yere [ D] 1559, hauing vnder that jurisdiction twelue townes in Holland, and many villages.

The Collegiall Church of S. Lebuin at Deuenter, was made a Cathedrall in the yere 1559, hauing vnder it fiue and twentie townes, and many villages.

The Co••legiall Church of S Peter at Middlebourough, was in the yeare 1559 chan∣ged to a Cathedrall, vnder whose jurisdiction are ten townes, with many villages.

The Parochiall Church of S. Vit at Leuuarden; was made a Cathedral in the yeare 1559, hauing vnder it ten townes and many villages.

The Parochiall Church of S. Martin at Groningue, was in the yeare 1559 chaunged to a Cathedrall, containing vnder the jurisdiction all the territorie of the towne which is very great, and the Islands of Rollinghe and Borehin. [ E]

At this day that the Estates of the vnited Prouinces hold the Bishopricke of Vtrecht, and other churches, they haue with the change of religion confounded the order which the church of Rome had established there.

¶ The Lords and Earles of ••launders.

[ XXV] L••••eritke called the Bucke, was made the first Forrester of the countrie of Flaunders, in the yere of Christ 621, by Dagobert king of France, for him and his successors: he gouerned the countrie two and fiftie yeares, and died ninetie and two yeares old, in the yeare 692. [ F]

Anthonse second sonne to Lydericke, succeeded his father to the gouernment of Flan∣ders in the yere 692. At that time the Gothes, Vandales, Huns, and such other barbaro••s nations, spoiled the Champian countrie without any resistance, of the said Forester, who ••••tired himselfe into France with his people.

[ A] Bouchart, the third sonne to Lyderic, called the Bucke, by the death of Anthonie his brother, was depriued of the estate of Forrester of Flanders, by Theodoric king of France, yet he granted him the seigneurie of Halibeck. The countrie of Flanders was againe rui∣ned by the Huns, Gothes, Vandales, and other nations, so as the greatest part of Flan∣ders remained desolate and not inhabited, about a hundred yeares.

Estorede or Estoreist, sonne to Bouchart, was by the decease of his father and mother prince of Louuayn, lord of Halebeck, and Forrester of Flanders, he died in the yeare of our Lord 792.

Lyderick, prince of Bucke, sonne to Estorede, hauing married a noble ladie of Germa∣nie [ B] called Flandrina, of whom the countrie tooke the name, was made great Forrester by Charles the Great, to clense the waies and countrie from theeues and robbers; where∣in he behaued himselfe valiantly, for the which he was inuested the first earle of Hale∣becke: he gouerned this countrie as a vertuous prince foure and fortie yeares, vnder Charlemagne and Lewis the Gentle, his sonne, kings of France, and died in the yeare 836: he was a good Christian, and drew vnto him many Bishops, Pastors, Preachers, and lear∣ned men to conuert the Pagans, which remained there in great numbers.

Inguelran or Inguerrant, sonne to Lyderick the second, succeeded his father in the go∣uernement of Flanders, and the countie of Halibeck, in the yeare 836; he liued vnder Lewis the Gentle, and Charles the Bald, kings of France, to whom he did homage for his [ C] lands and seigneuries: he did reedifie many townes, castles, and houses, which had been ruined; he died in the yeare 852, hauing gouerned sixteene yeares.

Odoacre or Audacre, sonne to Inguerrant, succeeded his father in the gouernement of Flanders, in the yeare 852, and ruled eleuen yeares; he also caused many townes to be repaired, and did wall about Gand, he died in the yeare 863.

Bandouin, surnamed Arme of yron, sonne to the said Odoacre, so called by reason of his valour and worthie exploits: He carried away by force the faire Iudith, widow to Edward king of England, and daughter to Charles the Bald, emperour and king of France, so as for a time he could not come into grace with the emperour, who in the end was pacified, and made him the first earle of Flanders, giuing him in dower all the country of Flanders; [ D] yet reseruing vnto himselfe and to his successors the soueraigntie of the said countrie: hauing gouerned the prouince fiue and twentie yeres as Forrester, and fifteene as earle; he died in the towne of Arras, in the yeare 877, or as some say 879.

Baudouin, the Bald, sonne to the other Baudouin, was second earle of Flanders, he ob∣tained many victories against the Danes and Normans, he died in the yeare 919, and lies at Saint Peters neere Gand.

Arnould the old, surnamed the Great, eldest sonne to Baudouin the Bald, was third earle of Flanders, in the yeare 919; he had great warres against the house of Norman∣die, hauing caused duke William, called Long sword, to be slaine: being ninetie two yeares old, he died in the yeare 964, and is interred at S. Peters by Gand.

[ E] Baudouin the young, third of that name, and fourth earle of Flanders, became by a vo∣luntarie transport of his father (being his only sonne) earle of Flanders: hauing gouer∣ned three yeares, he died in the yeare 967, and lies at S. Bertin.

Arnold the Young, second of that name, the onely sonne to Baudouin the Young, fift ealre of Flanders, tooke the gouernement in the yeare 968, who died of a burning fea∣uer at Gand, the thirteenth of March 988, and lies at S. Peters neere Gand.

Baudouin, with the faire Beard, fourth of that name, sixt earle of Flanders, eldest sonne to Arnold the Young: in the beginning of his gouernement he had warre against the em∣perour Henrie the second; he was valiant, and therefore the emperour loued him, and [ F] gaue him Walachrie, and the Islands of Zeland, for him and his heires, whereby there grew long warres betwixt the Flemings and the Hollanders: hauing gouerned the countrie six and fortie yeares he died in the yere of our Lord 1035: He is buried at Saint Peters by Gand.

B••••douin, fift of that name, called the Gentle, or of I'Isle, only sonne to Baudouin with the faire Beard, was the seuenth Earle of Flanders: he had in his time warre against the

emperour Henrie the third, and hauing gouerned the countrie three and thirtie yeres, he [ A] died in the yeare 1067, and is interred at S. Peters.

Baudouin, sixt of that name, called of Mons, surnamed also the Peaceable, the eight earle of Flanders, was sonne to Baudouin the fift; he neuer wore armes nor sword, his gouernement was verie peaceable, and died in the yeare 1070.

Arnold the Simple, third of that name, ninth earle of Flanders, eldest sonne to Baudouin of Mons; he was much troubled by his vnckle Robert the Frison, who vnder colour to be Tutor to his nephews, depriued them of their succession. He did hazard two battels against his vnckle, and was slaine in the last, in the yeare 1072.

Robert, first of that name, surnamed the Frison, tenth earle of Flanders, yonger sonne [ B] to earle Baudouin the fift. After the death of Arnold the Simple, slaine in battell, and his brother Baudouin, with his mother Rithilde, being fled into Haynault, he tooke the said earledome without any resistance; he died in the yeare 1077.

Robert the young Frison, surnamed of Ierusalem, eleuenth earle of Flanders, sonne to Robert the first, succeeded in the yeare 1077; he crost himselfe to go against the Infidells: going into France to the Coronation of king Lewis, passing the bridge of Neele neere vnto Meaux, his horse stumbling fell vpon him, so as the third day after, he died in the yeare 1111, and is buried at S. Vast by Arras.

Baudouin, seuenth of that name, twelfth earle of Flanders, succeeded in the yeare 1111; he was a good Iusticer, and died in the yeare 1119, hauing before his death and by his [ C] will made his heire Charles of Denmarke, his cousin, sonne to Canutus king of Denmarke; he lies at S. Bertin.

Charles, first of that name, surnamed the Good, thirteenth earle of Flanders, was, be∣fore the death of his cousin Baudouin, instituted his heire, and tooke the gouernement in the yeare 1119; he deserued the name of Good, for his vertues and holie life: he bani∣shed the Iewes out of Flanders, and died without heires, in the yere 1127; he lies buried at S. Christophers at Bruges.

William of Normandie, fourteenth earle of Flanders, sole heire of Normandie, but de∣priued of the duchie by his vnckle Henrie king of England, was instituted in the said earle∣dome by Lewis the Grosse, king of France, in the yeare 1128. At his entrance he carried himselfe modestly: but thinking himselfe assured, he became cruell and a tyrant, which [ D] was his ruine. For in his place, the Nobilitie and Estates of Flanders did chuse Thierry earle of Elsaoe, sonne to Thierry of Elsace and Gertrude of Flanders, daughter to Robert the first; the which he seeking to hinder by armes, was slaine at the siege of Alost, in the yeare 1129, he lies at S. Bertin.

Thierry of Elsace, fifteenth earle of Flaunders, was, by the Prelats, Nobles, and People, receiued to the earledome: He was a verie politicke prince, valiant, and dis∣creet: He made foure voyages to the Holie-land, and before the fourth, he inuested his eldest sonne Philip in the countrie of Flaunders, and being returned, he left him the gouernement, and retired himselfe into the monasterie of Watene, which he had [ E] founded: he died sixtie nine yeares old, in the yeare of our Redemption 1168, and lies buried at Watene.

Philip of Elsace, eldest sonne to Thierry, surnamed the Great, by the cession of his fa∣ther was sixteenth earle of Flanders, and was a prudent prince: He made two voyages into Syria, to succour the king of Ierusalem his cousin: and died in his last voyage be∣fore Aire, and was by the commandement of his wife buried at Cleruault: he died with∣out heires, hauing gouerned Flanders about two and twentie yeares.

B••udouin, eighth of that name, earle of Haynault and Namur, seuenteenth earle of Flanders, by his wife Marguerite of Elsace, sister to Philip of Elsace. succeeded by the death of his brother in law, in the yeare of our Lord God 1192: He was descended [ F] in direct line from Baudouin, second sonne to Baudouin of Mons, expelled by Robert the Frison his vnckle. He had warre against Thierry of Beures, earle of Alost, against ••enrie earle of Namur, and against the earle of Neuers; he died in yeare 1195, and lies at Mons in Haynault, in the Church of S. Vaudru.

[ A] Baudouin called of Constantinople the ninth of that name, eighteenth Earle of Flan∣ders, succeeded in this countie in the yere 1194, and in the Earledome of Haynault; and so the said countie of Flanders returned to the right and lawfull heire, which had beene vn∣iustly detained from them by Robert the Frison and his successors, since the yeare 1072, that the said Robert (at the battell of Cassell) defeated Arnold the right heire, and Earle of Flanders, and chased away Baudouin afterwards Earle of Haynault, brother to the said Arnold, vntill this yeare 1194: he was chosen Emperor of Constantinople, and in the yeare 1205 he was taken by the king of Bulgaria and sent into Turkie. He lies in Grece.

Ferdinand of Portugal, sonne to Sancho king of Portugal, the nineteenth Earle of [ B] Flanders by his wife the Lady Ione countesse and heire of the said countrie, eldest daugh∣ter to Count Baudouin the ninth of that name: he had sharpe war against Philip Augu∣stus the French king, and was taken at the battell of Bouines, and carried prisoner to the Louure in Paris, where he remained twelue yeares: finally being set at libertie he dyed soone after, in the yeare 1232. He lies at Margiettes.

Thomas, yongest sonne to Thomas Earle of Sauoy, was also in the right of his wise Ione, the twentieth Earle of Flanders for a time, and died without heires.

Ione Countesse of Flanders and Haynault (eldest daughter to Baudouin of Constanti∣nople) succeeded in the gouernment of the said counties in the yere 1195 (being then but seuen yeares old) vnder the gouernment of her vnckle Philip Earle of Namur, vntill that [ C] she married Ferdinand of Portugal: she died in the yeare 1243, and lies at Margiettes by her first husband.

Marguerite, second daughter to Baudouin the ninth, succeeded, by the death of the La∣dy Ione her sister, in the countries of Flanders and Haynault, being widow to her second and last husband. Being vnder the gardainship of Buchard or Boschard of Auennes, sonne to Iames of Auennes, issued from a noble and auncient house in Haynault, Pronost, and Chanoine of Saint Peters at Lisse, her kinsman; he blinded with the beautie of his pu∣pill, suborned her (being young) and won her to yeeld vnto his lust, by whom he had two sonnes: after which she married William of Bourbon, Lord of Dampier••e, and of S. De∣sier, brother to Archambault Lord of Bourbon, by whom also she had three sonnes and [ D] one daughter, whom she preferred (before the two first that were vnlawfull) to the suc∣cession of the countie of Flanders, holding the two first for bastards, the which bred her great trouble: she did settle the children of Dampierre her heires, and died in the yeare ••279. She lies at Flines.

William of Dampierre, eldest sonne to William of Dampierre, and the Lady Marguerite Countesse of Flanders, by an accord of transaction made with Iohn of Auesnes Earle of Haynaut his base brother, obtained the title of Earle of Flanders, and was the one and twentieth Earle. He crost himselfe and went into the East with king Lewis; in his lost voiage he was taken prisoner by the Turkes or Sarrafins, for the which he paied a great ransome: being returned, he died soone after in the yeare 1251: he lies at Flines, hauing [ E] gouerned his countries three yeares, he died without heires.

Guy of Dampierre, second sonne to William of Bourbon Lord of Dampierre, and of Ma••guerite Countesse of Flanders, was the two and twentieth Earle of Flanders. He was a wife and vertuous prince, but he trusted his friends too much, for the which he smar∣ted. He died a prisoner at Compiegne (being aboue eightie yeares old) in the yere 1304, he was buried at Flines, hauing gouerned foure and fiftie yeares.

Robert the third of that name, surnamed of Bethunes, for that before he was Earle, he was Lord of Bethunes: he was the three and twentieth earle of Flanders, a vertuous & har∣die prince: he resigned to the French king the townes of Lisle and Douay: he went into [] Scicile with Charles king of Scicile, and duke of Anjou his father in law, against the ba∣stard Manfroy, whom he flew with his owne hand: he killed Iolente of Bourgondie his second wife, with the bridle of his horse, for that she had poisoned Charles his sonne by his first wife: he died in the yeare 1322, in the towne of Ipre, being foure score and two yeares old, and lies in Saint Martins at Ipre.

Lewis of Neuers called of Cressy, for that he was slaine at the Battell of Cressy, the

onely sonne to Lewis earle of Neuers and of the countesse of Rethel, succeeded his [ A] father and mother in the counties of Neuers and Rethel; and also in the countie of Flanders, to Robert of Bethunes his grandfather by the fathers side, in the yeare 1322, notwithstanding that Robert called of Cassel, his vnckle, would haue seised vpon the coun∣tie of Flanders: he died in the yeare 1346.

Lewis called Malain or of Male, for that he was borne at Male in the countie of Flanders, the onely sonne to Lewis of Neuers, called of Cressy, succeeded in the yeare 1346 in the counties of Flanders, Rethel, and Neuers, and by the decease of his great grandmother by the mothers side, in the earledomes of Arras and Bourgondie: a vali∣ant and warlike prince, but too full of reuenge: hauing ruled eight and thirtie yeares, he was slaine by the duke of Berry vpon some controuersie that grew betwixt them for [ B] the countie of Bourgondie: he died in the yeare 1383, and lies in S. Picot at Lisle.

Philip of France surnamed the hardie was fourth sonne to Iohn of Valois the French king, and brother to Charles the fift, by whose gift he was duke of Bourgondie, and after∣wards by the marriage of Marguerite (the onely daughter and heire generall to Count Lewis Malain) was the six and twentieth earle of Flanders, duke of Brabant, earle of Ar∣tois and Bourgondie, & lord of Salines and Macklin: he had great authoritie in France, for that he was a very wise prince, and died at Hault in the yeare 1404, he lies at Dijon in Bourgondie.

Iohn duke of Bourgondie eldest sonne to Philip duke of Bourgondie and of Margue∣rite heire and countesse of Flanders, &c. succeeded in the duchie of Bourgondie, coun∣ties [ C] of Flanders, Artois, and Bourgondie, and seigneuries of Salines, and Macklin, in the yeare 1404, he was a man of a small stature, but of a great courage; he punished the Liegeois: he was slaine vpon the bridge at Montreau in the yeare 1419: he gouerned his countries fifteene yeare, and was interred in the monasterie of the Cartusiens by Dijon in Bourgondie.

Philip called the Good, for his admirable vertues, was the onely sonne to Iohn duke of Bourgondie, and the eight and twentieth earle of Flanders, of Artois, Bourgondie, Pa∣latin, lord of Salines, and Macklin. He made a league with the English, the better to be reuenged of his fathers death, the which caused great wars in France: he punished the [ D] rebells in Gand, and subdued the Ligeois; he ruined Dinant, ioyning to his house the duchies of Brabant, Luxembourg, and Limbourg, and the earledomes of Holland, Ze∣land, Haynault, and Namur (the house of Bourgondie being then in the height of great∣nesse and authoritie) he instituted the order of the Golden Fleece, in the yeare 1419: he died (being seuentie and two yeares old) in the yeare 1477, in the towne of Bruges, and lies at Dijon.

Charles called in his youth earle of Charolois, the onely lawfull sonne to duke Philip the Good, succeeded his father in the earledome of Flanders, and was the nine and twentieth earle, and heire generall of the house of Bourgondie: a very hardie and war∣like prince, who in his fathers life time led a great armie before Paris. He punished the [ E] Liegeois, who had rebelled against their Bishop his cousin: in the end of his daies he lost three battells, the first at Morat in Suisserland, the second at Granson, and the third at Nancy in Lorraine, where he lost his life, in the yere 1476. He lies at Bruges in our La∣dies church.

Maximilian surnamed Hart of Steele, Archduke of Austria, sonne to the Emperor Fre∣dericke the third, married (without the priuitie of king Lewis the eleuenth) the lady Mary, the onely daughter and heire of the house of Bourgondie: he was taken prisoner at Bru∣ges by the Flemmings, and detained by the space of nine moneths, but they released him, fearing his father who marcht with a great power to relieue him: he died in the yeare 1519, and lies at Neustat in Germanie. [ F]

Philip eldest sonne to the Archduke Maximilian who was Emperour of Germanie, succeeded in all the duchies, earledomes, and other seigneuries left by the death of his mother, in the yeare 1482, being then very young, vnder the gouernment of his father: ••uring which time the countie of Flanders suffered much. This prince being but young,

[ A] was of a good vnderstanding, and died in his youth in Spaine, not without suspition of poyson, in the yeare of our Lord God 1505, (his father being yet liuing) and lyes at Granado.

Charles the fift, emperour of Germanie, king of Spaine, eldest sonne to Philip Arch∣duke of Austria, duke of Bourgondie, and earle of Flanders, &c. succeeded his father in the yeare 1505, in all the lands and seigneuries left by the death of his sayd father: a prince worthie of memorie: he performed many memorable acts too long to recite; and died in Spaine in the yeare 1558. He lies at Granado.

Philip, onely sonne to the emperour Charles the fift, was borne the one and twentieth [ B] of May, in the yeare 1527: He was inuested during the life of the Emperour his fa∣ther in all the duchies, earledomes, and other seigneuries of the Low Countries, being two and twentie yeares old, which was in the yeare 1549, and after his fathers death was king of Spaine, &c. He sent diuers gouernors into the Low Countries, vnder the which he hath had great ciuile warres, as well for religion, as for the priuiledges of the prouinces: so as some of them haue withdrawne themselues from his obedience, being vnited vnder pretext of their priuiledges, and for religion. Finally, finding his life de∣clining, in the yeare 1598, he gaue his eldest daughter Isabella Clara Eugenia in marriage to the Archduke Albert of Austria his nephew, and in fauour of the marriage he gaue them all the Low Countries in generall, with the countie of Bourgondie, and died the [ C] thirteenth of September, in the yeare 1598, being seuentie two yeares old.

Albert Archduke of Austria and Isabella Clara Eugenia, according to the donation, tooke possession of the Low Countries, which remained vnder the obedience of Philip the second, father to the said Isabella, and with the consent of Philip the third, king of Spaine &c. They sought by mildnesse to vnite all the prouinces of the Low Countries vnder their obedience, but not able to effect it, they vsed force: but after nine yeares war, [ XXVI] they resolued to make a peace at what price soeuer, sending to the Estates to that end: wherein the French king and the king of England imployed themselues. In the end a truce was made with them after the same manner as it is set downe in the end of the discourse of the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces; by which meanes he doth qui∣etly [ D] enioy the prouinces and townes aboue mentioned.

OF THE GENERALL ESTATES [ E] OF THE VNITED PROVINCES OF THE LOW COVNTRIES, AND WHAT THEY HOLD.

The Contents.

1 A Catalogue and description of the lands and countries which the vnited Estates of the Low Countries hold. 2. Scituation of the Island of Zeland, and others that lie neere vnto it: their confines and circuit. 3. Description:of Holland, and the chiefe townes, among others of Amsterdam. 4. Of the duchie of Gueldres, and her townes. [ F] 5. Of the countrie of Oueryssel. 6. Vtrecht. 7. East and West Eriseland. 8. Groningue. 9. Qualitie of the ayre of the Island of Holland, Zeland, &c. their good pastures, and the often ••••••••hquakes in the Island of Holland: Of the humor and disposition of the people of those Islands, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Vtrecht, Friseland, and other prouinces: and of the tall stature of the Hollanders. 10. ••iches of the vnited Estates of the Low Countries, growing by trafficke at Sea, pastures, and

••••hing in Holland, pastures and wheat in Zeland and horses in Friseland. 11. The forts and [ A] p••aces of defence which the vnited Prouinces hold. 12. The gouernement and policie of this Common weale both at land and sea: their manner of assembling the Estates: How matters are propounded and resolued by the seuen Prouinces: Of the Councell of State of the said Prouinces: Of how many persons, and what gentlemen it did consist in the yeare 1600. 13. Of the Estates of the Prouince of Holland, their manner of assembling, and what townes of the Prouince are called vnto it: and the chiefe points for the which they are commonly called. Of the great Councel and Chambers of accounts, & mony of the said prouince. 14. Of the Estates of the countie of Ze∣land, and of what townes it doth consist. 15. Of the principalitie and estate of Vtrecht, with the members. 16. Of the estate and seigneurie of Friseland, diuided into three quarters: Of the [ B] forme and place where they hold their assemblie. 17. Of the estate of Oueryssel, consisting of three iurisdictions. 18. Of the estate and gouernement of the towne of Grouingue, and the Omme∣lands, or countrie iurisdictions, diuided into three parts. 19. Of the religion of the vnited Pro∣••••••es, and what sects are crept in amongst them. 20. Articles of truce concluded in the yeare 1609, betwixt the Archdukes, and the general Estates of the vnited Prouinces. 21. Genealogie of the Earles of Holland, Zeland, and Lords of Friseland.

FOr as much as that part which they commonly call at this day the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of the Low Countries, is a kind of Common-weale, and that the king of Spaine and Arch∣dukes [ C] haue treated with them as with soueraignes; I haue thought it fit to set ••owne at large what I could learne, either by mine owne experience, or by instructions from others, of this Common∣weale. I will first number the countries which they hold, then I [ I] will continue the description. They doe hold at this day the Pro∣uinces of Zeland, Holland, Friseland, Vtrecht, Grouingue, and the countrie therea∣bouts, Oueryssel, Drent, the countrie of Zu••phen, and three parts of the countrie of Guel∣dres, with some parcels of Brabant and Flanders, all which countries did heretofore con∣tribute to the warres.

[ II] The Island of Zeland with the neighbour Islands lie betwixt the mouthes of the riuers [ D] of Meuse and Escaut, and haue for their bounds vpon the North part, Holland; vpon the East, Brabant; on the South, Flanders; and vpon the West, the English sea. The Islands of Zeland are seuen in number; whereof there are three beyond the mouthes of the riuer of Escaut, towards Brabant and the East; and for this cause are called the East Islands, and those be Scalde, Doueland, and Tolen: and foure on this side the Escaut towards the West, and they are Walcheten, Zuytueland, Nortbeueland, and Vuolf••r∣dijck. Scalde is the greatest Island of those that are beyond the riuer of Escaut, which they of the countrie call Tlandruan Sschouuen: it is now about seuen miles in circuit, and in former times it hath beene greater, and onely distinguished from Nort••eueland by a little strait. The chiefe townes are Zir••zee and Brouuershaue. They hold that Zirc∣zee [ E] is the most auncient towne of all those of Zeland: it was built in the yeare 1349 by one Siri••gue: It hath beene long in great esteeme by reason of the Port, and the great concourse of Merchants, but since that the hauen hath beene choakt vp with sand, it is neither so rich nor so much esteemed. Brouuershaue hath scarce any inhabitants but fish∣ermen, which liue by the sea. Duuelande hath foure miles in circuit; there are none but villages in it: In the yeare 1530, it was ouerflowne by the sea, but being well fortified with bankes, and layed drie, this losse was soone recouered. Tolen lies next vnto B••a∣ba••••, and is diuided from it by a little strait. There is the little towne of Tolen, and not farre fro•• it, the pleasant place of S. Martins Dijck. On this side of the Escaut towards the East the chiefe Island is Walkeren, which lies on the East towards Brabant, on the [ F] South is Flanders; Holland on the North, and England on the West: it is the chiefe of all Zeland, and all men in a maner call it Zeland, and of a thousand strangers which come into this countrie, it may be there is scarce one that goes away with the knowledge of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 name: it hath ten miles in circuit. The chiefe townes are Middlebourg, Flessingue,

[ A] Armude or Armue, and Vere or Camphere, and there are many villages: Middlebo∣rough is a faire town, in which there are goodly buildings, especially the Towne-house, which they do beautifie dayly: the streets and market places are very spacious: the place whereas the Bourgesses and Merchants assemble euery morning (built like a cloister) is wonderfull pleasant, and the hauen is very safe and commodious: this is the chiefe of all the townes of Zeland, and one of the best frequented with merchants of all the Low Countries. Flessingue is a good towne, it was engaged by the Estates to Elizabeth queen of England deceased, and likewise Briele, for certaine summes of money which she lent them: in the which the king of England hath an English gouernor and a garrison enter∣tained [ B] at this day. Armue hath a good port, but the towne is little and poore; about three yeares and a halfe since they did bind passengers to goe and imbarke at Armue to passe into Holland, to the end they might restore the towne to her former beautie by this passage; for many hold that in former times it was a good towne.

Zuydbeuelande is of a good bignesse, it lookes towards the bankes of Brabant and Flanders, but of late yeares it hath beene so ouerflowne, as it is lesse by the halfe: The towne of Romersualle seemes to be torne from it, the which is enuironed with the sea, and doth not subsist but by the trade of salt: there the earles of Zeland were accustomed to take the oath. On the West part of this Island is the towne of Goese vpon a mouth of the Escaut, which they call Scenge: this towne is more pleasant than great, and it is alone [ C] in this Island.

Nortbeuelande (with the towne of Cortchene, and many villages) was drowned with an innundation which happened in the yere 1532, but they recouered it by little and lit∣tle. Vuolferdijcke is a little Island, in the which there are but two villages. And to take all Zeland together, it hath ten townes, and one hundred villages, or some few more. This prouince hauing endured much, all her townes hauing beene either forced by famine or siege, the bankes of the countrie broken, so as they past with boats into the land; they haue in the end freed themselues from those miseries, and flourish againe in trafficke, people, and shipping, acording to their deuise, Luctor & emer go.

Holland hath for bounds vpon the West, the British sea; vpon the North, the [ III] Cim∣ [ D] bricke; on the East, a strait which discouers Friseland; vpon the South-East, the countrie of Oueryssell; and towards the South, that of Vtrecht: it is sixtie miles in circuit; the bredth is very small, for that they hold that a traueller standing in the middest of the countrie, may go vnto the extremitie in three houres, and there are some places where it is but a mile or lesse from the middest vnto the sea, or to a gulfe of the sea.

The townes are Dordrect, otherwise Dort, Delst, Leyden, Harlem, Amsterdam, Goude, Naerden, Mude, Wesop, Edam, Parmerende, Alcmen, Enkuysen, Horne, Rotter∣dam, &c. Dort is the chiefe town of all Holland; it is rather long than broad, and hath 2 very long streets, besides many little ones, which are exceeding ••aire: there is a very faire church the which is conuerted to a temple, whereas the Protestants do preach, and there [ E] is also an hospitall for souldiers that are maimed or hurt in the States seruice, or are sicke; where they are attended & serued as carefully as they can desire. Harlem is a great towne and well built, where there is to be seene the greatest church in Holland; it stands neere vnto the market place. Leyden is scituated vpon that place which Ptolomee and Pli∣••ie cal the middest of the mouth of Rhin. Amsterdam is at this day one of the best townes of Europe, and built vpon piles like vnto Venice: about two hundred and eightie yeres since, Giselbert of Amstell fortified it, and made good rampiers, gates, and townes; but all being burnt through the enuie of her neighbours, she began to be walled about in the yere 1482: it is now inhabited by all sorts of Nations, and hath gotten all the trafficke and reputation from Antuerpe: you shall not onely see dwelling there Italians, Spaniards, [ F] Portugals, English, Scottish, French, Polonians, Danes, Swedens, Noruegians, Liuoni∣a••••, and Germans, but also Americans, East and West Indians, and Moores, Goude st••••ds vpon the riuer of Yss••ll, it is a ••aire and a rich towne. Besides the townes which I fo••••erly named, there is the Hage or Haye, whereas the generall of the armie, and the ch•••••••• of the Estates remaine. Th••s prou••••ce in the beginning of the wars, was more rui∣ned

than any other: hir townes haue beene besieged, taken, burnt, &c. but in the end, [ A] through war it is come to rest, increasing in prosperitie and great wealth, augmenting some part of her townes, yea when they had their enemies vpon their frontire; so as the people are multiplied in such sort, and there is such abundance of shipping, as there is not any countrie in the world at this day like vnto it: they saile throughout all the world, and florish in trade of merchandise, the which will easily appeare if we consider the towne of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Enchusen and others.

[ IIII] Geldres is a prouince where in old time the Sicambrians did inhabit, and vnder that name were also comprehended they of Cleues, Monts, Marke, and Iuliers: some hold it tooke the name of Geldres of Gelduba, a towne standing in old time vpon the Rhin, [ B] whereof Tacitus makes mention, but at this day there is no memorie thereof. Munster holds, that the first lords of this countrie (who then and long after carried no greater title than that of Aduocats) were two brethren issued from the French, Winchard and Leopold du Pont, who built a castell called Pont Gelder, which castell hath long retained the name of Pont, and is ioyned to the towne of Geldre, which hath giuen name to the whole prouince. It hath for limits vpon the North, the countrie of Friseland; vpon the North∣West, a gulfe of the Germane sea, commonly called the Zuyderzee; vpon the South, the riuer of Meuse diuides it from Brabant; to the South-East is the duchie of Iuliers; vp∣on the East, it is diuided from the duchie of Cleues by the riuer of Wahal at the Island of Sgrauenweerdt, whereas collonell Schenck built his sconse; and towards the West, is [ C] Holland, and the seigneurie of Vtrecht.

The duchie of Geldres and countie of Zurphen containes the townes of Arnhem, Zurphen, Nymegen, and Ruremond, which are the foure chiefe of the whole countrie, and make the foure quarters of these two prouinces, and are seated vpon foure diuers ri∣uers, and subiect to foure seuerall Bishops. There are in this prouince Venlo vpon the Meuse, Geldre, Stralen, Erckelens, and Wachkendoncke, in the Champian countrie, Hatten vpon Issel, Elbruch and Harderwicke vpon the Zuyderzee, Wageningen vpon the Rhin, Tyel and Bomel vpon the Wahal: there are many other towns which in old time haue beene walled, but they had beene spoiled, and in these last wars vtte••ly ruined, the which be Keppell, Burch, Ghendt, Battemburch, Montfort, Eche, and others, the which [ D] do still enioy the ancient priuiledges of townes.

Arnhem was in old time called Arnacum, it is a good towne and spacious, seated vp∣on the right banke of the riuer of Rhin, halfe a league from the which is Fossa Drusiana, now called Yssell Dort; whereas Drusus to keepe his souldiers from idlenesse, caused them to dig a channell, which drew the water out of the Rhin into the riuer of Yssell. This towne of Arnhem is the chiefe of the valley, which is one of the foure quarters of the duchie of Gelders; vnder which towne are the townes of Hattem, Harderwijck, El∣bruch, and Wageningen, with many villages and castells, with their jurisdictions, subiect to the justice of the Drossart of that quarter, the which is enuironed by the Zuyderzee, the riuers of Rhin and Yssel. Touching the spiritualtie, the towne of Ar••hem before the [ E] troubles, was subiect to the Bishop of Vtrecht: in this towne in old time the dukes of Gel∣dres made their residence, and were interred.

Nymeg••n is a free towne and a fee of the Empire: some write that it was built by Ma∣gus king of Gaule, and was called Nouiomagum; it stands vpon the riuer of Wahal. Hessell the sonne of the king of the Cattlres ••auoured this town, being borne there, and did inlarge it, so as the lower part of the towne is yet called Hesselmarckt: the castell is very auncient, and stands yet vpon the toppe of a little hill ouerlooking the towne, the which some say was built by Caesar, to commaund the countrie thereabouts. This towne makes a quarter, and vnder it are comprehended the townes of Bomel and Tiel, which are walled, and Ghendt which lies open, yet hath it the priuiledges of a towne. [ F] This towne was ingaged by William king of the Romanes, earle of Holland &c. to the earle of Geldres, for one and twentie thousand markes of siluer, vpon condition that he should redeeme it at a certaine time, or else he should enioy the towne with the jurisdi∣ction as his owne inheritance; the which the Emperour Rodulphus did afterwards con∣firme,

[ A] neither was the money euer repayed, and this towne retaines the iurisdiction and prerogatiue to coyne money, as an imperiall towne.

Ru••••••ond is a good towne, strong, and pleasing, seated vpon the riuer of Meuse, ioy∣ning to the mouth of that of Ruoer: It is the chiefe towne of one of the foure quarters of G••e••••es, vnder whose iurisdiction are comprehended the townes of Venlo, Guelder, Str••••••••, Wachtendonck, and Erckelans, all walled and strong.

Z••••phen is a countie of it selfe, and numbred for one of the seuenteen Prouinces. This townestands vpon the right banke of the riuer of Issell: It was vnited by marriage vnto the duchie of Gueldres, and makes one of the foure quarter. The townes and iurisdicti∣ons [ B] which are subiect vnto the said countie, are Doesbourg, Do¦ecum, Broukhorst, Lo∣chom, Groll, Bredeuoerd, Keppel, Bourg, Gand, Sherenbourg, which are, or haue beene walled townes, besides many good villages.

The countie or countrie of Oueryssel was in former times vnder the principalitie of [ V] the Bishops of Vtrecht, and called the High diocesse: but the emperor Charles 5 hauing obtained the temporaltie of both diocesses from the bishop, he made two prouinces, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Vtrecht, and the other of Oueryssel, the which are numbred among the 17 pro∣••••nces, and are now subiect to the vnited Estates. This countrie is so called, for that it li••s beyond the riuer of Issell. It hath vpon the North side Friseland, and a part of the countrie of Groningue; vpon the South the countie of Zutphen; to the East Westpha∣lia; [ C] and vpon the West the Zuyderzee. It is watred by the riuers of Issell, Vidre, Regge, Dan noire, and Wahal. The whole prouince is diuided into three great bayliwicks, that is, of Salandt (so called of the old Saliens:) Tuent, and Vollenhouen, which is in the middest of the other two. Salandt containes vnder it many good townes, among the which there are three imperiall Hans townes, Deuenter, Campen, and Swoble: The les∣ser tow••••s are Hasselt, Couoerden, Genemuiden, Ommen, Hardenbourg, Wison, and Graff••o••st. Tuent hath the townes of Oldenzeel, O••marson, Enschede, Ghoor, Dye∣pen••am, Delden, Rissen, and Almeloo. The quarter of Vollenhouen, hath a towne of that name, with a castle, where the Bishop of Vtrecht had a palace: and the towne of Steen••icke.

[ D] The count••ie and seigneurie of Vtrecht was in old time belonging vnto a prince, and [ VI] particular p••ela••, who had both the spirituall and temporall iurisdiction, the which was giue•• ••y the kings of France, vnto S. Wildeb••ord the first Bishop, who was an English∣man: and this estate did consist of two diocesses, the one called the lower, which is the pro••••••ce of Vtrecht; and the other the high diocesse, which is the countrie of Ouerys∣••el, as I haue said: But He••rie of Bauaria, Bishop of Vtrecht, being expelled out of the towne by ••is owne ••ubiects, and opprest by the duke of Gueldres, about the yeare 1527, res••gned all his right and in••••rest to the temporall iurisdictions of the countries of V••••••••t and Oueryssell, to the emperour Charles the fift, who restored him to the posses∣••ion of his spirituall dignitie. This countrie of Vtrecht hath for bounds towards the [ E] Nor••h Holland and vpon the West Guelderland. The chiefe townes are Vtrecht, cal∣led in old time A••••onia, or Antonina, and since Traiectum, for that it was a passage where as impost was payed for merchandise which was transported from one side vnto another, and it retaines that name vnto this day. It stands vpon the head of the Rhein, the which past directly there, before it was forced, some eight hundred yeares since, to fall into the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Le••c••. I•• is a great and pleasant towne, and the ordinarie aboad of many gentle∣m••••. There are ••••re ou•••• Amersford, Rhenen, Montfort, and Wickter-Duirsted, in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a strong and rich towne, with aboue sixtie boroughs and villages. In these late 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Vtrech•• hath been mo••e a••••oyed by ••he duke of Alba, and receiued 〈…〉〈…〉 other; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ince it hath been in great danger by reason of their inte∣ [ F] 〈…〉〈…〉 ••eing vni••••d ••••th the other prouinces, it doth by little and little 〈…〉〈…〉 and pro••pe••itie, increasing daily in trafficke. 〈…〉〈…〉 of prince Er••so, who came and planted himselfe there, [ VII] 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••rist, ••ith his two brethren: some write that they 〈…〉〈…〉 of the Mac••donian an••••ie, and had serued Alexander in his conquests

of Asia, after whose death they came with certaine ships into those parts, and there [ A] set∣led their aboad, and gaue it the elder brothers name, the which it holds vnto this day. It is bounded vpon the North and West by the Ocean, on the South it hath Oueryssel, and to the East the riuer of Ems which diuides it from Westphalia. The most auncient towne was Staueren, and the chiefe of all the countrie. It had a prerogatiue from the kings of Denmarke, That in passing the Sond, their ships shold go and come first before all others, and be presently dispatched by the Collectors of the imposts, whereas others should attend their turne: but since the hauen hath beene stopt vp by the sand of the sea, so as their trade is decayed. But at this day Lewarden is the chiefe towne of the pro∣uince, seated in a pleasant countrie full of goodly meadows, and in the middest of [ B] Frise∣land: vnder the Grittenie or bayliwicke of this towne there are seuenteen good villages, and this towne is in the quarter of Ostergoe, of which Dockum is the second. There are also in Friseland the townes of Franiker, Bolswaerdt, Harlingen, Snecke, Sloten, Ilst, Worcum, Hindelopen, and these are in the second quarter called Westergoe: the third quarter of Friseland is called the Seuen forrests, but now they are conuerted to pasture and tillage; it consists of eight bayliwickes, in which are fiue and twentie bourroughs and villages. East Friseland hath the towne of Emden vpon the riuer of Ems, & Aurich, which is inuironed with forrests. The Archdukes hold a little towne in this countrie called Linguen, and Oldenzeel in Oueryssell neere vnto it, where there are good sorts and garrisons. [ C]

[ VIII] The towne of Groningue and the Ommelands (which are countrie jurisdictions consisting of many good boroughs and villages) lie betwixt the riuers of Ems and Lan∣wers, and make one of the seuenteene Prouinces. The towne of Groningue hath beene besieged and forced, and the country about it much spoyled; but now they are in a more quiet esta••e yet they are subiect to contributions which they pay to the garrisons of Linguen and Oldenzeel; so as the villages cannot well recouer their former estate. Fi∣nally, the countrie of Friseland hath bin much subiect to the violence and insolencies of war, and they haue alwaies carried themselues valiantly, and contributed freely to the charges of the war with the vnited Estates. There is in this prouince the towne of Dam, which is of good trafficke, but it hath bin of late yeares demanteled, and fortified againe, [ D] ye•• now it lies open: an•• there is also Delsziel a great and mightie fort, in forme of a towne, it stands vpon the Dullart, and is like in time to be a towne of good trafficke, vn∣der the subiection of them of Groningue.

The vnited Prouinces of the Low Countries are all at this day in better estate than the other Prouinces, for that they haue the sea free and open, great store of shipping, the Ocean towards the North, and some riuers at commandement, people in great aboun∣dance, which haue come thither from other prouinces, vpon hope of trafficke and gaine, and to haue libertie of religion without molestation, yea for nauigation, for the which the countrie is verie commodious, and is much increased by the warre (a paradox which seemes strange, and contrarie both to nature and reason) and wonderfully flourishing, as [ E] appeares by their forts, inlarging of townes, and sumptuous buildings.

¶ The Quali••••••.

[ IX] THe aire of Zeland is not verie good, and is ••••sse wholesome than that of the neigh∣bour prouinces, especially in Summer, by reason of the marishes, and pooles, whose waters doe putrifie and stinke, and the vapours infect the ••ire that is neere vnto them; or else for that the countrie hath ••oo few trees: yet it hath this benefit, that it is not subiect to the plague, nor other contagious diseases. The soyle is fat and of great yeelding, and there they reape wheat which is whiter and more weightie than in any other countrie. [ F] They haue store of Bay trees, which grow verie great, and great aboundance of hearbes, both physicall and of a good tast, fit to eat. There are also good pastures, not only with∣in the bankes, but also vpon the sea shore, where you may see thousands of cattle seeding. There is great plentie of all sorts of fruit, faire, and ripe, except grapes, which cannot

[ A] come to any maturitie; so as there are not any vines but vpon arbours, where as the grapes doe sooner rot than ripe.

As for Holland, the ground doth sometimes shake vnder their wagons and horses; and there happened an accident which made it appeare that the ground is hollow, for that a cow, being fallen into a hole, was found dead in the sea three daies after: Moreo∣uer, a part of Holland is called Waterland, that is, a countrie of Waters. It is diuided by many pooles and marishes, and by many channels artificially drawne from these riuers and from the sea. And although it were in former times full of woods and forrests, yet at this day there are few trees, by reason of the great humiditie. The aire is sweet & whole∣ [ B] some, notwithstanding this moisture, by reason of the good winds which raigne there, and the great multitudes of people which inhabit this prouince. The land is so low, as that the sea is higher than it in many places, and for this cause there are dikes and bankes of all sides. This countrie yeelds little wheat, and small store of fruit or flax: but there are excellent pastures, where they breed and feed good store of cattell, especially kine and horses.

The countrie of Oueryssell is for the most part plaine and fertill, among other things it beares good wheat. The countrie of Gueldres abounds chiefely in corne, and it hath very good pastures; so as they send very leane cattell out of Denmarke to be fatted there.

[ C] As for Vtrecht towards Viana and Arnham, there is nothing but sand, but in other pla∣ces the soile is good, and is more tilled and sowne than that of Holland, for that it is not so low nor so moist.

Friseland is a flat countrie and morish: there are many meadowes whereas they feed great store of cattell: they haue a kind of soile whereon they make turses, which burne like coale, but they are graie, and keepe fire well with a little wood. They sow little corne, for that the countrie is so low, especially towards the sea, the which from the beginning of Autumne vntill the spring is in a manner all couered with water, so as the townes and villages in places which stand high, are enuironed with good bankes and defences; but by their pastures and turfes, the inhabitants haue corne, wine, and wood, from other [ D] places. But the better to vnderstand what turfes are, you must know that it is a kind of earth which they find in fat and moorish grounds, the which is so dried with the sunne, as it is fit to receiue and entertaine fire; and there are many sorts, according to the qualitie of the countrie: they dig them fiue and twentie or thirtie foot deepe: they cut them in∣to peeces, and set them to drie in the wind and sunne, that they may come to perfection, and then they presently take fire when they come neere it, they giue a great heat, and the coale last longer than that of wood. In the yere 1567 a great field of turfes being set on fire, there was so great a flame and smoake, as it seemed the whole countrie had been on fire. They doe also burne in Friseland cow dung dried. They breed very great oxen, yea the greatest in Europe, and many goodly horses.

[ E] East Friseland abounds in horses, tame beasts of all sorts, and store of game for hun∣ting. There is aboundance of corne and pulses, and good store of salt.

¶ The Manners.

THe inhabitants of Zeland haue good wits, they are forecasting and subtill, of a meane stature, notwithstanding that the Annales report that William the Good Earle of Holland did carrie with him vnto the marriage of Charles the Faire, a Zelander of huge stature, in regard of whom many tall men seemed but dwarfes, and so strong as he could list vp with either hand a hogshed of beere, and they write that he could car∣rie [ F] a beame which eight men could not li••t. They are very expert in nauigation: and ve∣ry neat in their houses, so as their wodden implements are like vnto looking-glasses. They are very carefull of their affaires, and very skilfull in trade of merchandise. As for their diet they are like vnto the rest of the Low Countries.

The people of Holland exceed all the other Nations of Europe in stature, and as for

the women they are commonly faire, but their beautie doth not last, neither is it so [ A] plea∣sing as that of the women of England. The Hollanders are ciuile, but in their drinke. The townes are very well gouerned. They retaine still their auncient courage, and are haugh∣tie and proud, like a people which liue in a rich countrie, and of great trafficke; they make no account of the force and power of neighbour princes.

As for the inhabitants of Guelderland and Zu••phen, they were the last which in Caesars time came vnder the power of the Romans, and the first which freed themselues in the declining of the Empire.

In Vtrecht you haue a great number of ciuile gentlemen. The gentle women go all at∣tired after the French fashion, vnlesse they carrie a huque, which is a blacke vale which [ B] couers their faces and bodies: there are not any in all the countrie so handsome as the inhabitants of this towne, and the Hage.

As for the Frisons, they are many in number, and some hold them to be very valiant, but I find no reason to settle this impression, they go on like other men when they are commaunded; but they shew no such heat of courage: they are so proud, as they are al∣together insupportable: most of them are giuen to merchandise. They hate adulterie much, and loue libertie.

¶ The Riches.

[ X] THe Estates must needs be very rich, by reason of their great trafficke by sea, and the [ C] multitude of merchants which come from all parts: for besides the profits which many priuat men of the said Estates get by them, there is not any commoditie that comes into Holland, but paies a great imposition and custome, which they haue imposed vpon all things that come into their hauens. As for Holland, their wealth consists in pa∣stures, where they doe feed an infinit number of horses, oxen, and kine, which yeeld so much milke,* 1.2 as they hold that the butter and cheese of Holland is yearely worth aboue a million of gold, whereof besides their owne prouision, they do yearely send great store into England, Germaine, France, and Spaine. They do also make great commoditie of red Madder, which they call Meedecrappe, the which they vse to keepe cloth from stai∣ning. They make great reuenues of their fishing, but especially of their voiages they [ D] make at sea, whereas they sometimes bring home ships of great price: and it is almost incredible to beleeue what great ships this countrie hath, both for war and trade. So as Holland (hauing neither vines, flax, wood, and but little corne) abounds in wine, wheat, and linnen cloth, which brings great commoditie to the inhabitants, as also the thred, edgings, and bone lace which they make there. They do also sell their horses at a good rate, which yeelds them good profit.

Zeland hath also store of Meedecrap, which they send into all Europe, and return great profit, as also of Coriander seed. Their pastures are also very profitable, feeding great store of cattell, whereby their owners grow rich: these cattell are not onely greater than any other, but of a most delicat tast, by reason of the grasse that hath a propertie to feed [ E] them better than any other. And that which makes Zeland rich, is the great concourse of merchants which come to Middlebourg, and the customes and impositions which they raise of all merchandise that comes thither. They haue an excellent art to boyle bay salt, which they bring from countries which lie Westward, the which they put into great coppers, and by boiling make it as white as snow. They put salt water vnto the bay salt of Spaine or France, and refine it with a greater increase, the which they send into all the parts of Europe. Moreouer they make a benefit of the trafficke of their wheat, which is the best that can be seen. As for Friseland, they send their horses into all Europe; they are fit to carrie an armed man, and for great burthens: finally, they make their pro∣fit as other countries doe which the Estates hold, but there is nothing extraordinarie [ F] that merits any longer discourse of their riches: I will onely say that their tow••es doe witnesse that they want no commodities, and the long wars which they haue sustained, shew, that they are mightie and rich, notwithstanding that they haue borrowed from the queene of England, and other princes, who had an interest in their preseruation.

[ A] ¶ The Forces.

IT is scarce credible without sight, what the strength is of those countries which the [ XI] Estats hold; for that, first of all, Zeland is enuironed by the sea, and besides, all appro∣ches are so well fortified, as it is impossible to find any easie landing to enter into the countrie, without the consent of the inhabitants. You haue the towne of Flessingue which the sea doth beat vpon on three parts, and is wel furnished with artillerie to frustrat the attempts of a great armie. This only towne was the cause that all the rest of the Low [ B] Countries (which be free) tooke armes, and freed themselues from the Spaniards yoke: so as their inhabitants which haue framed this common weale, haue treated with the king of Spaine and the Archduke as soueraignes, and haue beene so acknowledged in this last treatie. Middlebourg is also a place of good consideration: but the fort of Ramekens is of great importance, and it may be not inferiour to any. Comming afterwards into Hol∣land, you haue Dort or Dordrect, which is verie strong, and enuironed with water. Rot∣terdam is a towne of good defence, and so is Gorkom. As for Vtrecht, it is a faire town, fortified with ten good bulwarkes well flanked.

In Guelderland there is Nimeguen, a towne that is strong both by art and scituation. Arnham is one of their best places. Zurphen is of good importance, but not so desen∣sible [ C] as the other. As for the countrie of Oueryssel, you haue Deuenter, which is strong and well furnished with all things necessarie to make a long defence. And in Friseland Groningue is a place which will not be easily forced.

I should neuer make an end if I should set downe in particular all the strong places which are in this countrie, as the Tolus, or Skinks Sconce, which is almost impregnable, built betwixt the wall and the Yssel; and in like maner S. Andrews fort, Tiel, and Briele, which are able to withstand the greatest armies. It shall suffise to say, that this countrie is so well fortified on all sides, as an armie that would win it foot by foot, were it verie strong, and alwaies in field, should aduance verie little in a long time. We must also con∣sider, that the Estates haue meanes to drowne the whole countrie (if they see themselues [ D] brought vnto dispaire) by the breaking of their bankes, especially in Holland. Moreo∣uer, they doe alwaies entertaine many companies of souldiers, both vpon the frontier, and within the countrie. And as for the sea, I doe not thinke there is any nation in the world so strong, nor so able to make a great attempt. To conclude, all things fauour them in regard of force, as we haue plainely seene in the long warre which they haue maintained against the king of Spaine: who seeing that he could not preuaile, and that it was a continuall wasting of men and money, hath beene forced in the end to make a truce with them, and to graunt them most of their demaunds.

¶ The Gouernement.

[ E] ALl the affaires of State of the vnited Prouinces of the Low Countries, as well for [ XII] the warre, both by sea and land, and of that which depends, the alliances and leagues which they haue with kings, princes, and fortaine potentates, for the leuies of money which must be made, as well for warre, as for affaires of State, and generally of all that concernes the good and quiet of the vnited Prouinces, are directed and gouer∣ned by the generall Estates of the sayd Prouinces, whereof the assemblie is made of the chiefe colledges of the Nobilitie, Magistrats, and Superintendants of townes, in euery quarter and prouince respectiuely.

The particular Estates of euerie prouince doe yearely chuse and depute so many per∣sons [ F] as they shall thinke good, to whom they giue full power and authoritie to aduise and resolue with the deputies of all the other Prouinces, of euerie point which shall be propounded, and of all other things which may be represented, as shall be thought fit∣ting for the good and seruice of the State. In which assemblie of the sayd generall Estates, matters are propounded, debated, and resolued on the behalfe of euerie Pro∣uince

respectiuely, and not by voyces. So as at this day the resolutions are taken in [ A] the sayd assemblie in the behalfe of the seuen Prouinces, whereof the first is the duchie of Gueldres and countie of Zutphen (notwithstanding that Zutphen be a Prouince by it selfe, besides the seuenteene Prouinces of the Low Countries) the second is the pro∣uince of Holland and West-Friseland, the third Zeland, the fourth Vtrecht, the fift Friseland, the sixt Oueryssel, the seuenth Groningue and the Ommelands. To the said assemblie of the generall Estates come (being summoned) the gouernours of euerie prouince respectiuely, and the Councell of estate, to helpe to aduise and to resolue of all matters which shall be propounded.

In the Councel of State of the said vnited Prouinces, they giue euery man his opinion, [ B] the Councellors whereof are appointed by the generall Estates (vpon the election and presentation which is made by euerie prouince) to whom they take an oath of fidelitie according to the instructions which are made: the which Councel of Estate was made in the yere 1600, of all the gouernors of prouinces, and of prince Henry Frederic of Nassau, maister George Gilpin Agent for the king of great Brittanie. For the duchie of Gueldres the seigneuries of Oyen and Bryenem. The seigneur of Matenesse for the Nobilitie, Bu∣ren of Dordrect and Boulens of Amsterdam for Holland and West-Friseland, Fernand Alleman for Zeland, Foocke for Vtrecht, Kaminga and Frans Iansen for Friseland, Itterson for Oueryssel, and Rengers for Groningue and the Ommelandes, with their secretaries Christian Hu••gens, and Zuylen.

The Estates of euerie prouince hold their rights, priuiledges, and customes, which they [ C] haue of old time enioyed, gouerning the affaires of the prouince, as well by themselues, as by their collegues and officers which they appoint, as well for matters of State, and that which depends thereon, as for war, the treasure, justice, and other things, in a manner after one order.

[ XIII] As for example, in Holland and West Friseland, the Estates of the prouince haue al∣waies beene represented by the barons, knights, gentlemen, and by the good townes, wherein the Clergie was neuer taken to be a member: which noblemen and gentlemen of note are called to the said assemblie, not onely to giue their opinions and helpe to re∣solue vpon the points propounded, but also vpon all occurents concerning the good, [ D] peace, tranquillitie, and assurance of the prouince: the which being thus assembled, con∣ferre and resolue of all matters with the Aduocat of the countrie, as the first in the sayd assemblie of Estates, who receiues their opinions, and deliuers them openly. To the said assemblie are commonly called the chiefe townes of the prouince, that is to say, Dor∣drect, Harlem, Delff, Leyden, Amsterdam, Goude, Rotterdam, Gorcom, Schiedam, Schoonho••en, Briel, Alcmar, Horn, Enchuysen, Edam, Monyckendam, Medemblyck, and Purmerende: and when there fals out any matter of great importance, as at the re∣ception of a new prince, to treat a peace, or to vndertake a new war, they are also accusto∣med to call the other townes of the said prouince, which follow, Vuoerdem, Oudeuua∣ter, Gheertruydemberg, Heusden, Naerden, Vu••esp, and Muyden: and no others, for that [ E] they belong vnto priuat lords, or else they are not townes fashioned as these be. The said towns send their deputies in a competent number, with ample commission and ful power in the same forme as we haue said of the nobilitie.

The conuocation of the said noblemen, gentlemen, and towns of Holland, and the prin∣cipall points for the which it is made, is mannaged by the Aduocat of the countrie, and by the Councellors appointed in the said estates: which Aduocat makes the proposi∣tion, and the opinions of the said noblemen and gentlemen being put into forme, he de∣liuers them with pregnant reason. Which done, he demands in order the opinions of the townes, and in case there be varitie and diuersitie of opinions, he labours to reconcile them, concluding according vnto the pluralitie of voyces, according vnto the which the [ F] resolutions are taken.

The chiefe points why they hold the said assemblie, are touching war, by sea and land, for the contributions of mony for the reformation of all abuses that may happen, for the quiet & tranquillitie of the countrie, to ••ntertaine an vnion and concord throughout all

[ A] the townes of the prouince, and generally for all that concerns the Estates of the coun∣trie, religion, justice, pollicie, meanes of for••aine contributions, reue••ues, clergie goods, and all to the greatest ease and profit of the prouince. The said assemblie is commonly held at the Hague, which is an open place, in the middest of the countrie, fiue or six times a yeare, vnlesse necessitie of affaires require it extraordinarily, or in some other place: and for the execution and entertainment of the resolutions tak••n by the said Estates in their assembly, there is a commission giuen to one of the said nobles, to the Aduocat of the countrie, and to one of euery chiefe towne.

The said deputed councellors haue not onely the charge for the entertaining of re∣ [ B] solutions taken in the assemblie of the Estates, but also of all things concerning the good of the Prouince, the quiet and vnion of quarters, members, and townes, hauing the knowledge and determining of all matters of controuersies touching the contributions of the countrie, and of that which followes; together with all matters of confiscation, by reason of the war, of all troubles, tumults, ••editions, perturbation of the publicke quiet, treasons, counterfeiting of money, and of all other matters concerning the pub∣licke, in which they judge by decree.

In matters of ordinarie justice as well betwixt the inhabitants of the countrie as strangers, the presidents and they of the great councell haue supreme authoritie in the said countries, who judge soueraignely and by decree; from whose sentences there is no [ C] appeale, but a reuision or proposition of error: for the which there is appointed (by the said Estates iointly with the presidents and councellors) certaine reuisitors in a compe∣tent number.

The gouernor, president, and councellors of the prouinciall court of the said prouin∣ces, haue the knowledge and mannaging of many matters concerning the gouernment of the countrie, in cases of ciuile and criminall justice, as also of causes which come by appeale from inferiour townes and villages. They make their acts and commissions in the name of the said gouernour, president, and councell: but they do justice in the right of the soueraigntie of the said prouince. For the administration of the reuenues there is a chamber of the maisters, auditors, and registers of accounts.

[ D] And although that the Hague be an open place, two miles distant from the North sea, yet it is the most pleasant aboad of all the seuenteene Prouinces, exceeding them in wealth, goodly pallaces, faire buildings, pleasant places, and a great number of gentle∣men: there are aboue two thousand faire houses, and they build dayly, yea whole streets. There is the court of the prince or gouernour of Holland, Zeland, and West Friseland, which is at this day prince Maurice of Nassau &c. as also the generall Estates of the vni∣ted Prouinces hold their assemblies there; and the Estates of Holland, and their depu∣ties, the ordinarie councellors, the presidents, and they of the great councell, they of the prouinciall councell, with the Chamber of accounts.

Besides all these councells, there is also a councell of Brabant for the townes and villa∣ges [ E] belonging to the jurisdiction of the duchie of Brabant, which are vnder the obedi∣dience of the generall Estates of the vnited prouinces; whereas all matters proceeding from the duchie are determined, vnder the authoritie, and by commission from the said generall Estates, in the same manner and forme as hath beene alwaies vsed in the chaun∣cerie, councell, and feodall court of Brabant: to the end that by this meanes euery one may be maintained in his accust••med priuiledges.

In the gouernment of the townes and the vnited prouinces, and namely in the pro∣uince of Holland, and West-Friseland, they obserue their auncient rights, priuiledges, statutes, and customes, where for the most part there is a Baili••e of Escoue••, who is cho∣sen by the greatest part of the said Estates, as their officer. There also are Bourgmaisters, [ F] Sherifes, Treasurers, Maisters of the buildings, Maisters of orphans, Councel and Woet∣schapen, who are chosen out of the chiefest bourgesses.

The bourgmaisters and sherifes are yearely renewed, according to the denomination of double the number made by the vuoetschapen, and chosen by the gouernor of the prouince, or (in his absence) by the president and them of the prouinciall councell, al∣though

though that in some townes the election of bourgmaisters is absolute, and in some the [ A] sherifes are appointed by the officer in the name of the said Estates. The number of bourgmaisters is according to the custome of townes; as in Dordrect one, and in some, foure; who labour most in polliticke affaires, for the good gouernment of the towne, for the reuenues thereof, and for the quiet and peace of the inhabitants.

The sherifes in most townes are seuen in number, who haue the knowledge and deter∣mining of all matters both ciuile and criminall. The treasurers, maisters of workes, and maisters of orphanes are in most townes yearely created by the bourgmaister: the treasu∣rers haue the receipt of the townes reuenue, whereof they giue an account: the maisters of the workes haue the ouersight of the publicke buildings: the maisters of the orphans haue the superintendencie and care of pupills goods, to the end they may be gouerned [ B] with good securitie: the vuoetschapens (who are sworne in councell) serue in some townes continually during their liues: they are created out of the best bourgesses of the towne; they and the bourgmaisters representing the whole bodie of the towne, aduise and resolue vpon all things that are propounded vnto them, as well for the general good of the countrie, as for the towne in particular.

In regard of money that is coyned throughout all the vnited prouinces of the Low Countries, there are three generalls, who being called by the said generall Estates, come whether soeuer they be sent for to aduise, touching matters of mint.

The said countie of Holland and West Friseland haue two mints, the one is auncient and more priuiledged, for Holland, in the towne of Dort; the other for West-Friseland, [ C] in the towne of Horne.

[ XIIII] The Estates of the countie of Zeland consist of the nobilitie, and the townes of the Islands of Walchren, Schouuen, Suytbeueland, Tolen, Nortbeueland (newly recouered from the sea) Duyueland, Wolphaerts-d••ke, and Philips-land. They hold their generall assemblies at Middlebourg, whereas most commonly the colledge of their deputies doe remaine, who assemble dayly to treat, dispose, and determine of all matters concerning the State.

The said countie of Zeland hath drawne vnto it selfe, the Chamber of accounts touch∣ing the reuenues, & generally of al receipts belonging to that Estate, the which in former [ D] times was mannaged ioyntly with that of Holland and West-Friseland at the Hague: But now the said Chamber for the countie of Zeland is setled in the court of Middle∣bourg. Zeland hath also a mint in the said court, the which is subiect to the generalls of the mynt.

[ XV] The appellations in ciuile causes of all the townes, places of justice, and bayliwickes of Zeland, repaire to the prouinciall councell at the Hague; except they of Middle∣bourg, who by priuiledge may appeale either to the prouinciall councell, or to the great councell: but offendors are executed without appeale by the chiefe Iustices, euery one in his owne jurisdiction. As for their pollicie and religion, they gouerne themselues as they do generally throughout all the vnited prouinces, their confederates.

The principallity and Estate of Vtrecht consists at this day of three members, that is [ E] to say, the Clergie of fiue colledges of Channons, the Nobilitie, & Townes: the Clergie who are first, consist of the cathedrall seat of Saint Martin, Saint Sauiour, Saint Iohn, and Saint Marie, which are indifferently chosen of the deputies, which are at this present in the colledge of the said Estates: the Nobilitie stands for the second member: for the third member, the bourgmaisters and deputies of townes of the said principallitie and State. There is also a prouinciall councell, from the which there is no appellation, yet in case of religion, they may bring it before the Estates of the prouince. The Chamber of accounts is ouerseene by the colledge of the said Estates. The said principallitie hath al∣so a particular mint, as it hath alwaies had, & it is subiect to the generalls of the mint. The pollicie and religion is maintained as in all other the vnited prouinces their confederats. [ F] There is also in the said principalitie foure marshalls, either of which at this day hath his quarter.

[ XVI] The estate and lordship of Friseland is diuided into three quarters (which in their lan∣guage

[ A] they call Gouën) that is to say, Oostergoë, Westergoë, and the Seuen forrests. But at this day (according to the gouernement of the present time) the townes make the fourth quarter or member of the estate. Oostergoe consists at this present of eleuen bay∣liwickes, which they call Gritenies: Westergoe of eight bayliwicks: and the Seuen for∣rests of ten. The Goë or quarter of townes, doth at this day make the fourth me••ber in the assemblie of the Estates of the Prouince. The said townes were heretofore affected vnto the Goë, in the which they were scituated, either of the Oostergoe, Westergoe, or the Forrest: which townes are eleuen in number, whereof the eight which be wal••ed are very strong, that is to say, Leeuuaerden, Bolsuuaert, Dockum, Frau••ken, Harlingen, Sneek, [ B] Staueren, Sloten; and three others which in old time had the priuiledges of towns gran∣ted them, and they are not walled, these be Ist, Worchum, and Hindelopen: of which foure quarters all Friseland consists. The Estates of this prouince haue alwaies beene re∣presented by the gentlemen, and the richest proprietaries, as well of the townes as of the Champian countries. But now at the summons of the gouernour, and the deputies of the Estates, they call vnto the generall assemblies certaine gentlemen, and rich free-hol∣ders of the Champian countries, and of euerie towne, to be sufficient deputies, according to the letters of estate which a••e sent vnto them: the which letters are directed to the Grietmans or Baylifes, and to the Bourgmaisters of townes respectiuely. Euerie one of which in his jurisdiction and towne, for his part, calls together the gentlemen and chiefe [ C] of the countrie, and the Sherifes, Councels, and Iurats in euerie towne, who hauing heard the causes of this commission, they then chuse and depute in euerie bayliwicke and towne two personages, to whom commission and authoritie is giuen to appeare at the said generall assemblie, there to resolue vpon those affaires for the which they are sent for, and vpon all other occurrents which may fall out. Euerie bayli••icke doth com∣monly send two deputies, one of the nobillitie, and another of the best yeomen of the countries, and euerie towne (especially those that are walled) send one of their Councel, and one of their Iurats from among the commons, without any respect or degree of gen∣trie; as also in some places of the seuen Forrests they depute not any gentlemen, for the want they haue of them, but commonly they send their richest yeomen, with the content∣ment [ D] of the gentlemen of other quarters. The said assemblie and generall conuocation, is commonly held once or twice a yeare in the towne of Leeuuae••den (now the chiefe of the countrie, and scituated in the center thereof) vnlesse some extraordinarie affaires, or the necessitie of the time, requires otherwise. These deputies haue knowledge and de∣termine of all matters, concerning the contribution of the prouince, confiscations, cler∣gie goods, bankes and sluces, and finally, of all the administration of pollitike affaires, of warre, and the treasure. The R••ceiuers are bound euerie yeare to come and giue vp their accounts before the chamber of accounts, ouer which there are yearely foure men ap∣pointed, that is, one of euerie quarter. The said Estates haue also their particular Mint in the towne of Leeuuaerden, the which is subiect vnto the generalls. The Baylifes with the [ E] assessors in their bayliwickes ouer the Champian countrie; and the Burgomaisters, She∣rifes, and Councell of townes doe onely iudge in ciuile causes: They giue their senten∣ces in the name of the soueraigne segneurie of Friseland, from the which they may ap∣peale to the prouinciall court, and not to the Colledge of the deputies of the Estates. The prouinciall court consists of the Gouernour, Presidents, and Councellors, to whom onely belongs the knowledge and deciding of ciuile and criminall causes. But the bay∣lifes and magistrats of townes must send offendours with their information to the sayd court, where their processe is made by the proctor generall according to the qualitie of their offence: they haue their residence also at Lecuuaerden. The Estates of the said prouince haue of late yeares erected an Vniuersitie at Franicker. As for religion it is ma∣naged [ F] as in other countries.

The estate of Oueryssel, carries that name for that it lies beyond the riuer of Yssel. All [ XVII] the prouince is diuided into three goodly jurisdictions, the first is Saland, the second Tu∣ent, and the third (which is in the middest of both) Vollenhouen. Saland hath many townes contained in it, that is to say, Deuenter, Campen, Zuuol, and others. Tuent hath

the towne of Oldenzeel, Otmarsum, and others. Voolenhouen hath a towne and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ A] of the same name, at this day, ruined by the last warres (whereas in old time the bi∣shops of Vtrecht kept their court) with the towne of Steenwick, and others. The soue∣raingnitie of this prouince did in old time belong to the bishops of Vtrecht: but since be∣ing come with the seigneurie of Vtrecht, to the emperour Charles the fist, and to Phi•••••• his sonne, vpon condition that they should maintaine them in their priuiledges; they haue vpon breach thereof withdrawne themselues with the other vnited prouinces, from the obedience of the said king Philip. The said prouince hath neuer acknowledged but two members in her gouernment, that is to say, the Nobillitie, out of which the go∣uernors are chosen, and the three Imperiall townes, Deuenter, Campen, and Zuuo•••• by [ B] the which two members, all difficulties which doe arise in this estate are decided, and whatsoeuer is decreed by them, according to the constitutions of the countrie, remaines firme and stable. And as the Nobilitie in preheminence yeelds not to any, no more doe the Townes, vnlesse it be in their order and degree; wherof Deuenter is the first, Cam∣pen the second, and Zuuol the third:euerie one of which towns doth iudge definitiuely, and hath a prerogatiue to coyne mony. The assemblie of the Estates of the said prouince, aswel general as particular, is made diuersly, according to their ancient customes and pre∣heminencies, sometimes in one place, sometimes in another, the deputies changing of∣ten. Touching religion they gouerne themselues generally, as in other the vnited Pro∣uinces of the Low Countries. [ C]

[ XVIII] As for the estate and gouernment of the towne of Groningue, and of the Ommelands (the which are countrie jurisdictions, consisting in many villages of the territorie of this prouince) you must vnderstand, that the said towne, and Ommelands, lying betwixt the riuers of Ems and Lauris, make one seigneurie and prouince, the which is numbred among the seuenteene Prouinces of the Low Countries. It is indifferently represented and gouerned by the common accord of the Estates thereof: so as all the rights of de∣meanes, which in old time the prince was woont to haue, as Lord of the towne and pro∣uince, are now mannaged and gouerned by the common aduice of the said Estates, and also the treasure, reuenues, contributions, and clergie goods, as well within the towne, as within the old Bailiwickes of Goorrecht, and the Ommelands: which Estates, together [ D] with their deputies, doe commonly hold their assemblies in the said towne of Groe∣ningue. The gouernement of the towne belongs onely to the magistrat thereof, which consists in foure Bourgmaisters, and twelue Councellors, who deale as well in matters of iustice, as of pollicie, and they iudge definitiuely: but those things which concerne the priuiledge and good of the towne, must be communicated to the magistrat of the porr, and to foure and twentie Iurats. The two old Bayliwickes and the Goorrecht are subiect to the iurisdiction of the towne, whereas they of the Councell do yearely appoint Dros∣sarts, and Amptmans, or Baylifes (which is all one in effect) from whose iudgement they might appeale before the said Councell, who iudge definitiuely. The one halfe of the said Councell and Iurats are euerie yeare discharged, and their places filled vp againe, [ E] that is to say, the gouernour names fiue persons, among foure and twentie Iurats, which fiue chuse eight Councellors out of the whole towne. The eight new Councellors, with the other eight which remained, chuse foure Bourgmaisters. Moreouer, the said gouer∣nor doth name out of the number of the said foure and twentie Iurats, fiue other persons, the which doth chuse twelue from among the commons of the towne, to fill vp the place of the other twelue that were dismissed; so as the twelue new Iurats, and the twelue old which did remaine, chuse amongst them three speakers, who during that yeare carrie the word for all the said Iurats. The said town hath many goodly priuiledges, amongst others it speakes first at the Estates of the prouince. There is also a mint.

The Ommelands are diuided into three quarters, that is to say, Fiuelingo, Hunsingo, [ F] and the West quarter; hauing euery one their rights, written in diuers seigneuries, as seats of justice, the which they call Gritenies or Bayliwickes.

[ A] ¶ The Religion.

IN all the countries which the Estates hold they suffer no excercise of the Romish [ XIX] re∣ligion; so as all the churches are conuerted into temples, whereas the ministers of the Protestants religion, say their prayers, and preach, and celebrat the sacraments. If they do find any which exercise the Romish religion in secret, being taken, they are punished by fines, the which happens dayly in Vtrecht: there are few other townes vnder the Estates which are not for the most part peopled with Protestants.

[ B] If any one be desirous to know when the Protestants religion entred first into these countries, I will do the best I can to satisfie them, as briefely as I may. About the yeare 1521, whenas Martin Luther first began to preach against the Pope and his doctrine, the Emperour Charles the fift did for the aduancement of the Romish religion, and to root Lu∣thers doctrine out of the Netherlands (where it did much increase, and had taken good footing) send forth rigorous proclamations generally against all sects and kinds of religi∣on, yet they were grounded vpon a pretence of punishing the wicked practises and acti∣ons of sectaries and heretickes, as against men liuing without all rule, order, or law, as they inferred. By vertue of these proclamations, during the Emperors time, many were put to death for small causes; and to keepe them from multiplying, the Emperor thought it [ C] good, to haue the Inquisition brought in, after the manner of Spaine (the which is the most cruell and damnable inuention that can be practised, for that they make Innocents and Catholickes themselues to rot in prison) hearing that the Lutherans and Protestants were much augmented. But the prouinces opposing against this rigorous and cruell pro∣ceeding, procured Marie Queene of Hongarie then Regent, to go in person to the Em∣perour her brother, in the yeare 1550, being at an assemblie of the princes of Germanie at Ausbourg; where she acquainted him with the estate of the countrie, and procured a kind of moderation of the edicts touching religion, and that the Inquisition should not proceed. After his death, king Philip his sonne finding that the number of them that made profession of the Protestants religion increased dayly in the Netherlands, notwithstan∣ding all the rigorous edicts, whereby he sought to ruine them: he commaunded, there [ D] should be certaine inquisitors of the faith chosen, who should haue a care, that not any one should read or keepe in his house any booke mentioned in the edict, containing a ca∣talogue of all the forbidden bookes; and that no man should dispute of the Romish re∣ligion, nor contradict it, in any sort: and the better to strengthen the Inquisition, they pro∣cured Pope Paul the fourth to erect fourteene new Bishoprickes in the Low Countries.

The Prouinces fearing that this new erection of Bishops was but a deuice to bring in the Inquisition, opposed themselues, and sent their deputies into Spaine to haue them disannulled, the which the Clergie did in like manner, but they could by no suit be freed from the feare of these new Bishops (which were so many Inquisitors) so as the people [ E] grew bitter against the Clergie, and fell from their doctrine to the reformed religion; so as the more they persecuted them, the more constant they were in their religion, and the more they increased.

In the yeare 1565 the king of Spaine made his pleasure then knowne plainely by his letters to the duchesse of Parma gouernesse of the Netherlands, and what he would haue obserued touching religion: first, That the edicts made by the Emperor and himselfe should be put in execution: secondly, That the Inquisitors should be fauored in the exer∣cise of their charge, for the good of religion, and that the Inquisition should be put in practise:thirdly, That she should assist the new Bishops, and cause the decrees of the coun∣cell of Treat to be obserued: with which she acquainted the prouinciall Councels and [ F] the Noblemen; wherewith all sorts of people were much distempered, fearing the trou∣bles which would ensue by reason of the new Bishops Inquisition, bloudie edicts, and councell of Trent. Whereupon the nobles made a donfederacie, and presented petitions vnto the gouernesse, the which the Prouinces of Brabant and Flanders did in like manner, against the Inquisition: they also sent their deputies vnto the king, to the like ef∣fect;

but all their suit hauing no successe, being fed with many delaies, the baser sort fell [ A] to beating downe of the images in Antuerpe, where they committed many insolencies: the like they did at Bosleduc, Valenciennes, Gand, Audenarde, Bruxells, Vtrecht, Am∣sterdam, and other places, whereas they spoiled their churches, beat downe their images, and expelled the religious men. They of Bruxells made instance to haue libertie for their ministers to preach, the which they did without any permission throughout all the coun∣tries of Bruges, Gande, Ipre, Audenarde, and Antuerpe, whether the Lutherans and Protestants retired themselues. Valenciennes not onely receiued the Protestant ministers, but also to shew a full libertie of conscience, retired it selfe from the obedience of the king of Spaine, and Tournay did the like. A certaine minister presuming to preach in the [ B] towne of Nimeguen, the inhabitants hauing taken armes, deposed fiue Senators from their dignitie, suspecting them to be of the religion, and put as many Papists in their place, then hauing expelled the minister, they burnt the pulpit wherein he preacht, in the market place.

In the yeare 1566, Marguerite of Austria, duchesse of Parma, the Gouernesse, hauing dissolued the vnion of the noblemen (who we••e dispersed and retired to their houses vpon her letters of assurance) began to arme, making dilligent search, and punishing all such as had assisted at the breaking downe of images: she also made an edict forbidding expresly the preaching, and all exercises of religion, as well publike as priuat; comman∣ding generally, that the edicts concerning it, and the Inquisition should be put in [ C] execu∣tion, according to the kings letters. She pacified Friseland, by the meanes of the earle of Aremberg, and recouered Tournay, and Valenciennes, by the lord of Noircarmes, who brake his faith, after the composition, causing many souldiers, ministers, and rich mer∣chants, to be put to death. The earle of Megue reduced Vtrecht to the king of Spaines obedience.

The baron of Brederode, and other of the chiefe confederats, seeing that all tended to the ruine of their countrie, and the rooting out of the Nobilitie, sent vnto the Regent to craue leaue to come to court, and to acquaint her with the wrong which was done them, contrarie to the assurance which she had giuen them; but she would not allow of their comming: wherupon they sent petitions vnto her, the which contained, That for as much [ D] as they saw the destruction of the Netherlands to be at hand, and that force was vsed dayly against them, contrarie to all promises, they desired to know, if it were her pleasure, that the contract made with them should be obserued, and the preaching, and exercise of religion allowed, as they had in her name assured the people &c. To whom she made a proud answere.

After all these complaints and answers, the Gouernesse propounded a new oath to all gouernours of prouinces, knights of the order, and other noblemen, and councellors of State; by the which among other things, they did sweare to be faithfull to the king, and with all their meanes to maintaine and defend the Romish religion, to root out all new religion, and doctrine, and to punish all breakers of images, and robbers of churches, [ E] which oath was taken by many of the nobilitie; but the prince of Orange, and the earle Hcoch straten, refused it, saying, That the oath of their order, and of their gouernments was s••fficient, finding themselues much greeued that the duchesse should doubt of their loy∣alties. The like answere was made by the lord of Brederode. After this oath, the duchesse caused all them that had carried armes, broken images, or spoiled churches, to be appre∣hended and excuted. They expelled the ministers out of Antuerpe, and their places of preaching were beaten downe, so as the Protestants generally, throughout all the Ne∣therlands, were pursued with all rigour, apprehended, and executed, if they were but of the Consistorie, or had borne any charge in the reformed Church.

In the meane time the duke of Alba arriued with an armie to be Gouernour of the [ F] Low Countries: at his first entrance he puts in prison the earles of Egmont and Horne, besides many others, and cut off their heads, saying, that they had sauoured the rebells. The prince of Orange before his entrance, hauing tried the inconstancie of some of the nobles, and of the people, and seeing the miserable estate of the countrie, retired him∣selfe

[ A] into his countie of Nassau, aduising the other confederat noblemen to doe the like, for their safetie. The king sent a commission to apprehend the Prince of Orange, where∣unto he made his answer. The Inquisition of Spain concluded certaine articles against the Netherlands, the which were confirmed by the king. The prince of Orange gathe∣red together a great armie, presuming vpon the affection of the Flemings: But the duke of Alba forced him to leaue the countrie, his brother Lewis hauing beene defeated in Friseland. It seemed that all had beene reduced to a good estate by the meanes of this victorie, when as the duke by the death of the earles of Egmont, and Horne, and of some other noblemen, had lost the loue of the nobilitie: and seeking also, in the yeare of our [ B] Lord 1570, to exact with all rigour the tenth, twentieth, and hundredth penie, he made himselfe odious vnto the people, which gaue subiect to the reuolts which happened. The prince of Orange, and his followers, inuited by the inhabitants of some townes, and assu∣ring himselfe of the discontentment of others, surprised Flushing, Briele, and in a manner all Z••land, except Middlebourg, and all Holland, except Amsterdam (for that the duke hauing neuer made warre by sea, did little esteeme the sea coast, but sought onely to for∣tisie himselfe within the countrie) with Mons, Ruremonde, Macklin, Amesfort, Zuuol, Campen, Zutphen, and other places of importance: whereas the Protestants vsed the Papists verie roughly. The duke of Alba fainting not, gathered an armie together, and besieged Mons; which the prince of Orange came to releeue with an armie out of Ger∣manie, [ C] but not able to effect it, he sends it away, and retiers into Holland. After which, the duke recouers Zutphen, and Macklin, then going to besiege Harlem, which yeelded in the yeare 1573▪ the Protestants laied siege to Middlebourg, the chiefe towne of Ze∣land. The yeare following, Lewis of Requesens was sent to succeed the duke in his go∣uernement, who sought to releeue Middlebourg with a fleet by sea: but they were de∣feated, and the towne yeelded by composition. After which, the Commander besieged Zirixee, which yeelded in the yeare 1577: the losse of which place was verie preiudi∣ciall to the prince of Orange, hauing in a manner nothing left but the Island of Walche∣ren, wherein stand Flushing and Middlebourg. But for that there was thirtie moneths pay or more due vnto the Spaniards, they past vnto the firme land, where mutining, they [ D] fortified themselues in the towne of Alost, bringing the affaires of their king into worse estate than euer. For many bruits being dispersed of their reuolt, the Estates made a ge∣nerall vnion, and proclaimed warre against the Spaniards. They put Count Ernest of Mansfield, and the lord of Barlemont, with some other of the Councell, in prison, for that they seemed to adhere vnto the Spaniard, and were suspected vnto them of the coun∣trie. The castles of Gand and Vtrecht were besieged, and both taken. The prince of Orange was called ba••ke, and there was a league made betwixt the Catholickes and Protestants. They drew together fiftie three thousand foot, and sixteen thousand horse, and in the same armie they said Masse, and preached after the Protestants manner. By this meane, the Protestants returned to Antuerpe, and recouered some Churches: but [ E] the mutined Spaniards that were in Alost, and other old souldiers, being drawne into the castle of Antuerpe, forced the towne and spoyled it, making a great slaughter of soul∣diers and townesmen: the like they did to Mastricke.

At the same time, D. Iohn of Austria came out of Spaine to be gouernour of the Low Countries, and applying himselfe to the nec••ssitie of the time, he first made a suspen∣sion of armes, and afterwards (being vnfurnished of me•• and money, and the States fur∣nished of all things at commaundement) he concluded a peace, with the Estates of the Low Countries, called by the name a perpetuall Decree, and the Spaniards left the countrie. But yet D. Iohn gaue them new causes of ielousie and distrust, filling his court with strangers, enemies to the countrie, and the publicke quiet, most part Spaniards and [ F] Italians, putting from him those of the countrie that were not of that humour, con∣tratie to the Edict and Accord: whereby they did conceiue that his intent was to enter∣taine the seeds of hatred and factions among the noblemen, and in the end (when occa∣sion should serue) bandie one against another, and by that meanes ruine them all. He sought to draw the generall Estates into warre against Holland, and Zeland, who being

resolued to hold the pacification made at Gand, would referre the decision of all [ A] contro∣uersies, to lawfull conference, and to attend a generall conuocation of the Estates: whereupon he held them as disobedient, and rebels to the king. After which he began to discouer himselfe, and seazed vpon the castle of Namur, pretending a conspiracie against his person, which (as he said) was the cause of his retreat. After all this, the prince of Orange came to Antuerpe, being sent for by the generall Estates, to assist them with his aduice and counsell, who prouided for their defence against D. Iohn of Austria, proclai∣ming him and his adherents to be enemies to the king, and all his Netherlands.

The yeare after, one partie camped before Denremonde, and the other before Na∣mur, whereas D. Iohn had assembled his troupes. But the States being forced to raise the [ B] siege from before Denremonde, and being defeated at Namur, they lost Louuain, Diest, Arscot, and many other places. But in the meane time, the prince of Orange had by a long siege woon Amsterdam. And the Estates had drawne downe the Archduke Ma∣thias of Austria, with the vaine title of a Gouernor, and after him the duke of Alençon out of of France, and duke Casimir out of Germanie, with hope of some great conquest. The Monckes and Iesuits, which refused to hold D. Iohn for an enemie to the State, were expelled Antuerpe, and certaine other townes. They of S. Omer and Grauelin main∣tained themselues in the obedience of the king of Spaine.

The Archduke Mathias, the prince of Orange, the Councel of Estate, and the generall Estates, deuised a religious peace (as they called it) in Antuerp, for all towns and prouin∣ces [ C] that desired the same: whereby they had libertie of conscience, and might freely en∣ioy the exercise of both their religions, without any trouble or molestation. Duke Casi∣mir was called by the Gantois to their aid, from whom he receiued one hundred and fif∣tie thousand florins. They refused to admit of the Romish religion, within their towne and territorie: whereupon the prince of Orange comming thither in person, in the end persuaded them to admit of the exercise thereof, vpon certaine conditions and articles, so as all things were reconciled at Gand: but afterwards finding the malecontents vntra∣ctable to any agreement, they did stir vp the Commons againe, against the Clergie, where they committed great insolencies.

The Prouinces of Artois and Haynault, with the townes of Douay, Lisle, Orchies, [ D] and others, disioyne themselues from the generall Estates, and make their reconciliation with the prince of Parma, being in his campe before Mastrich, who by the death of D. Iohn of Austria, was gouernour in the Low Countries. In Friseland the earle of Renem∣berg, seased vpon Groningue, and admits of the Protestants religion. They of Vtrecht, being vnited with them of Holland and Zeland, abolished the exercise of the Romish re∣ligion in their towne and territorie. In the meane time, the duke of Parma had taken the towne of Mastrich by force, and the earle of Renembourg changing his opinion, redu∣ced Groningue vnder the obedience of the king of Spaine. King Philip sent forth an Edict of prosctiption against the prince of Orange, promising great rewards to him that could kill him, whereunto the prince made an Apollogie. [ E]

The generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of Gelderland, Holland, Zeland, Zut∣phen, Friseland, Ouerissell, and Groningue, hauing declared prince Philip of Austria, the second of that name king of Spaine, fallen from the seigneurie of the said Prouinces, by mason of his extraordinarie and violent gouernment, contrarie to their priuiledges and freedomes; by him solemnly sworne: they tooke vpon them all the gouernment of the polliticke Estate, and of the religion of the said Prouinces, in the yeare 1581, and by an edict they absolued the subiects from their oaths, and made them take a new oath for the preseruation of their countrie, and obedience to the said Estates. And the better to main∣taine them, they called backe the duke of Anjou, brother to the French king (who was then returned into France) at his entrance they created him duke of Brabant, and recei∣ued [ F] him with great solemnitie into Antuerpe, whereas all the vassalls, and subiects of the said duchie did him homage, and swore fealtie vnto him: and he was afterwards inuested earle of Flanders. But this title lasted not long, for hauing a dessigne to make himselfe maister of Antuerp, & to draw in his armie, and hauing attempted it, the inhabitants took

[ A] an allarum and fell to armes, repulsing the French, & putting them to the sword, in which attempt there was neere three thousand French men slaine. A little before, the prince of Orange had beene shot with a pistoll at Antuerpe, by a young boy, and was sore woun∣ded in the mouth: Finally, on the tenth of Iulie, in the yeare 1584, he was shine at Delf, by one Baltazar Gerard, borne at Ville-Franch, in the Franch countie of Bourgondie. The duke of Parma remaining maister of the field, recouered partly by force, and partly by ••iege or treatie, the townes of Audenarde, Ipre, Denremonde, Viluorde, Gand, Bruges, Nimeguen, Macklin, and Bruxells, and by a long and painefull siege, in the end he forced Antuerpe to present him her keys, and Sluce in like manner.

[ B] The people of Holland and Zeland (being amased at this fauourable successe) had re∣course vnto the queene of England for succour, and put themselues vnder her protecti∣on, deliu••ring into the hands of the English, Flushing, and some other places of impor∣tance. Being vnder the protection of English, they took Steenwicke, Nimeguen, Deuen∣ter, Zutphen, and many other places of consequence: but the queene seeing the armie of Spaine approaching neere vnto England, and the diuisions which were betwixt the Estates, and the earle of Leicester (Lieutenant generall to the said queene, Protectrix of the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands) she called the earle of ••eicester home into England, who deliuered the said gouernment generall into the hands of the generall Estates, from whom he had formerly receiued it, vnder the authori∣tie [ C] of the queene of England: & so the factions and partialities which had happened be∣twixt the townes and subiects of the said countries, by this meanes were supprest.

The generall Estates hauing thus recouered their first soueraigne authoritie, did in like manner settle prince Maurice of Nassau in the gouernments of Holland, Zeland, and Vtrecht, and in the Admiraltie and office of captain general of all their forces; to which offices they haue since added the gouernment of the duchie of Guelderland, countie of Zurphen, and countrie of Oueryssell, the which he hath held vnto this day, and vnder whom (since the yeare 1588) they haue had diuerse and variable successe, as well for the taking of townes, as fighting of battailes (the which are too long here to relate) as well against the prince of Parma, as the Archdukes of Austria. To conclude, these countries [ D] hauing beene in combustions, and ciuile wars, since the yeare 1566, vnto the yeare 1609, the articles of a truce, and cessation of armes were concluded and agreed vpon in An∣tuerpe the ninth of Aprill, in the said yeare, for the terme of twelue yeares. For to recite at length the beginning and progresse of this treatie, that is to say, how the Archdukes did s••eke a peace of prince Maurice of Nassau, by the seignior of Vander Ho••st and by the m••••rend father Iohn Ney, generall of the Order of Saint Francis, and other deputies, what propositions and reasons they vsed, as wel vnto the general Estates and his Excel∣lencie, as to other persons, to moue and persuade them thereunto, with the answeres of the generall Estates, and then what past on either part, the articles which were deliue∣red of both sides, with the reasons and difficulties which followed, and all that depends [ E] thereon, would be too long and tedious to relate: We will onely set downe (as we haue said) the articles concluded by the deputies of either part, according as they caused them to be printed in the yeare 1609.

The most excellent princes, the Archduke Albert and Isabella Clara Eugenia, hauing caused a truce and cessation of armes to be made the soure and twentieth day of Aprill, in the yeare 1607, for eight moneths, with the honorable Lords, the generall Estates of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prouinces of the Low countries, in qualitie and holding them as Estates, Pro∣ui•••••• and free countries, ouer whom they had no pretence: which truce must of ne∣cessi••ie be ratified with the like declaration made by the Catholike king, for as much as might concerne him, and that the said ratification and declaration should be deliuered [ F] into the hands of the Estates of the vnited Prouinces of the Low Countries, three mo∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 after the said truce, the which was performed by letters patents the eighteenth of September, in the same yeare: and moreouer there was a speciall procuration giuen to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Archdukes, bearing date the tenth of Ianuarie 1608, to do (as well in his name, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••eir owne) whatsouer they should thinke fit and conuenient, to attaine vnto a

good peace, or a truce for many yeares. According to this procuration, the Archdukes by their letters of commission of the seuen and twentieth of the said moneth, had named [ A] and deputed Commissioners to treat in the same name and qualitie as hath beene said, and agreed that the said truce should be prolonged and continued at diuers times, and on the twentieth of May, vnto the end of the yeare 1608: and being often assembled with the deputies of the Estates of the vnited Prouinces, who had also a procuration and commission from them, dated on the fist of Februarie the same yeare: but they could not agree touching a peace, by reason of many great difficulties which fell out amongst them. Vpon this occasion the Ambassadors of the most Christian French king, of the king of great Brittaine, of the princes & palatins of Brandebourg, marquis of Ausbach, and Landt-Graue of Hessen, being sent thither, by their Lords, Kings, & Princes, to helpe [ B] to aduance so good and worthie a worke (seeing the deputies readie to depart, and to breake off all their treatie) propounded a truce for many yeares, vpon certaine con∣ditions set downe in writing, and giuen by them vnto either partie, requiring and admo∣nishing them to conforme themselues. And for that many other difficulties did arise con∣cerning this matter propounded, therefore these noblemen following, met on the ninth of Aprill 1609, Ambrose Spinola, marquis of Benaffro, knight of the order of the Golden Fleece, of the Councell of Estate and war, to his Catholike maiestie, Maister of the Campe, and Generall of his armies, &c. Iohn Richardot knight, seignior of Barli, of the Councell of Estate, and first President of the priuie councell to their highnesses &c. Iohn de M••ncicidor of the councell of warre, and Secretarie to his Catholicke maiestie; the [ C] reuerend father Iohn Ney, generall of the order of Saint Francis; and Lewis Verreyken knight, Audiencier and first Secretarie vnto their highnesses: by vertue of letters of pro∣curation from the said Archdukes of the one part, to treat (as well in their name, as in the name of the said Catholicke king) with William Lewis earle of Nassau, Catzenellen∣boge, Vianden, Dietz, and seigniour of Bi••••ten, Gouernour and Captaine generall of Friseland, of the towne of Groningue, and of the Ommelandes and Drenthe, &c. the seignior of Walrauen, lord of Brederode and Vianen, Castellan of Vtrecht, seignior of Ameyde, Cloetingue &c. Cornelius of Gent, Seignior of Loenen, and Meynersuuycke, Castellan and Iustice of the Empire, and of the towne of Nimiguen: Iohn of Olden∣barneuelt, Knight, Seignior of Tempel, Rondenris, &c. Aduocat and Keeper of the great [ D] Seale, of the Charters, and Registers of Holland and East-Friseland: Iames of Maldere, Knight, Seignior of Heyes &c. the first, and representing the Nobles in the assemblie of the Estates, and in the councell of the countie of Zeland: Gerard of Reuesse, Seignior of Vander Aa, Stref-kerke, Nieuleckerlandt, &c. Gellius Hillama Doctor of the lawes, and Councellor in the Councell of Friseland: Iohn Sloeth Seignior of Sallicke, Drossart of the countrie of Vollenho, and Castellan of the Seigneurie of Cuinder: and Abel Co∣enders of Helpen, Seignior of Faen and Cantes, in the names of the Estates of the vni∣ted Prouinces, also by vertue of their letters of procuration, and commission on the other part, who by the mediation and aduice of Peter Ieannin Knight, Baron of Chagny and [ E] Montheu, Councellor to the most Christian king in his Councell of Estate, and his Em∣bassadour extraordinarie with the said Lords the Estates, and Elie of La Place, Knight, Seignior of Russy, Castellan of Machaut, Councellor in the said Councell of Estate, and Gentleman in ordinarie of the kings Chamber, Baylife and Captaine of Vitry le Fran∣cois, and his Embassadour Leeger, with the generall Estates of the Low Countries; Sir Richard Spencer Knight, Gentleman in ordinarie of the Priuie-Chamber to the king of great Brittaine, and his Embassadour extraordinarie, with the generall Estates of the Low Countries; and Sir Ralphe Win••oud Knight, Embassadour in ordinarie, and Coun∣cello•• of State in the said vnited Prouinces. All which agreed after the maner and forme that followeth. [ F]

[ XX] First, the said Lords Archdukes declare, as well in their owne names, as of the said king. That they are content to treat with the said Lords, the generall Estates of the vni∣ted Prouinces, in qualitie, and holding them for free Countries, Prouinces, and Estates, ouer whom they pretend not any thing: and to make with them a truce in the same names

[ A] and qualities, as they haue done by these presents, vpon such conditions, as are hereafter written and declared.

2 That the said truce shall be good, firme, loyall, and inuiolable for the terme of twelue yeares, during the which, there shall be a cessation of all acts of host••••••tie, in what sort soeuer, betwixt the said Lords, the King, Archdukes, and generall Estates, as well by sea, and other waters, as by land, in all their realmes, countries, lands, and seigneuries, and for all their subiects and inhabitants, of what qualitie and condition soeuer they be, without a••y exception of place or person.

3 Euerie one shall hold and enioy effectually, the countries, townes, places, lands, and [ B] seigneuries which he doth hold and possesse at this present, and shall not be troubled nor di••quited in any sort whatsoeuer, during the said truce: wherein shal be comprehended the burroughs, villages, hamlets, and Champion countries which depend thereon.

4 The subiects and inhabitants of the countries of the said Lords, the King, Arch∣dukes, and Estates, shall haue all good correspondencie, and friendship together, during the said truce, without any feeling or reuenge of the wrongs and losses which they haue receiued heretofore: and they may also frequent, and remaine in the countries of the one and the other, and there vse their trafficke and commerce with all assurance, as well by sea and other waters, as by land; the which notwithstanding the said king meanes should be restrained, and limited to the realmes, countries, lands, and seigneuries, which he holds [ C] and enioyes in Europe, and other places and seas, whereas the subiects of kings and prin∣ces, which are his friends and allies, haue the said trafficke by consent. And in regard of the places, townes, ports, and hauens, which he holds without the said limits, the said Lords the Estates, nor their subiects, shall not vse any trade or trafficke thither, without the expresse permission of the said king. Yet they may trade, if they thinke good, into the countries of all other princes, potentats, and people, that will permit them, yea without the said limits, wherein the said king his officers, and subi••cts which depend of him, shall not giue any let or disturbance vpon this occasion, to the said princes, potentats, & people, which haue, or shall suffer them to trade, nor in like maner to them, nor to any priuat per∣son, with whom they haue, or shall vse the said trafficke.

[ D] 5 And for that it is necessarie, that there should be a long time prefixed, to aduertise them that are without the said limits, with forces and ships, to desist from all acts of hosti∣litie, it hath been agreed. That the truce shall not begin there, but a yeare hence: It is not∣withstanding vnderstood, That if they may be sooner aduertised of the truce, the hostilitie shall cease: But if after the said time of one yeare, any hostilitie shall be committed, the damage shall be repaired presently without any delay.

6 The subiects and inhabitants of the countries of the said King, Archdukes, and Estates, trafficking in the countries one of another, shall not be bound to pay greater cu∣stomes and impositions than their owne subiects, and those of their friends and allies, which shall be least charged.

[ E] 7 And the subiects, and inhabitants of the said Estates, shall haue the same assurance and libertie, in the countries of the said king, and Archdukes, which hath beene graun∣ted to the subiects of the king of great Brittaine, by the last treatie of peace and secret articles, made with the Constable of Castille.

8 In like manner the merchandise, maisters of ships, pilots, marriners, their ships, goods, wares, and other commodities belonging vnto them, shall not be arrested, nor seazed••••, by vertue of any generall, or particular warrant, or commission, nor for any cause what soeuer, of warre or otherwise, neither yet vnder pretext, that they will im∣ploy them for the preseruation or defence of the countrie. Yet they meane not to [ F] comprehend herein those that are arrested and seazed on by the ordinarie course of ju∣stice, by reason of debts, bonds, and vaileable contracts of those, vpon whom the said se••zures haue beene made, wherein they shall proceed, as is accustomed by law and re••••••.

•• And in regard of the commerce of the Low Countries, and of the customes and im∣po••••••s, which shall be raised of their commodities: if it be hereafter sound that they

exceed, and are preiudiciall; vpon the first requisition, that shall be made of either part, [ A] Commissioners shall be deputed to rule and moderat them by a common consent, i•• it may be: neither shall it be any breach of truce, in case they cannot agree.

10 I•• any sentences or judgements haue beene giuen, betwixt persons of diuers par∣ties not defended, be it either in ciuile or criminall causes, they shall not be put in execu∣tion against the parties so condemned, nor against their goods during the said truce.

11 There shall be no letters of Marke, or Reprisals, graunted during the said time, vn∣lesse it be with knowledge of the cause, and in cases allowable by the imperiall laws and constitutions, and according vnto the order established by them.

12 They shall not approach, enter, nor stay in the ports, hauens, and roades, of one another countrie, with any such number of ships and souldiers as may giue cause of [ B] suspition, without the leaue and permission of them to whom the said ports, ha••••ens, and roads doe belong, vnlesse they be driuen in by tempests, or forced to doe it by necessitie, and to auoid some daunger at sea.

13 They whose goods haue beene seazed on, and forf••ited, by reason of the wars, or their heires, hauing iust cause, shall enioy the said goods, during the said truce, and shall take possession of their owne priuat authoritie, by vertue of this present treatie, and not be forced to haue recourse vnto justice: notwithstanding all incorporations to the trea∣sure, ingagement, gifts, treaties, accords, & transactions, or any renuntiations which haue beene made in the said transactions, to exclude them, to whom the said goods shall be∣long, yet with this charge, that they shall not dipose of them, neither yet change, nor [ C] diminish them, during the time of their possession, vnlesse they haue first obtained leaue of the said Lords Archdukes, or Estates.

14 The which also shall take place, to the benefit of the heires of the deceased Lord the Prince of Orange, namely to the rights which they haue to the saltpits in the countie of Bourgondie, which shalbe restored vnto them, with the woods which depend thereon. And as for the suit of Chastel-belin, begun during the life of the deceased prince of Orange, in the court at Macklin, against the Catholicke kings proctor generall, the said Archdukes promise faithfully, That they shall haue justice done them within one yeare, after that they haue begun their pursuit, without any delay, and with all justice and [ D] sinceritie.

15 If the Fisq or Treasurer, hath caused any goods confiscated to be sold of either part, they to whom they shall belong, by vertue of this present treatie, shall be bound to content themselues with the interest of the price, by reason of the sixteenth penie, to be paied yerely during the truce, by the care of such as enioy the said goods, otherwise it shal be lawfull for them to go vnto the land and inheritance that is sold.

16 But if the said sales had beene made by the course of justice, for the good and law∣full debts of those, to whom the said goods were woont to belong, it shall be lawfull for them, or their heires, hauing iust cause, to redeeme them, paying the price within one yere, to be reckoned from the day of this present treatie, after which they shalbe no more [ E] receiued; and the said redemption being thus made by them, they may dispose thereof at their pleasure, neither shall they haue need to obtaine any other permission.

17 It is not meant notwithstanding, that this redeeming shall be allowed for houses scituated in townes, sold vpon this occasion, for the great preiudice and notable losse which the pourchaser should receiue, by reason of the reparations, and alterations, which they may haue made in the said houses, the clearing whereof would be long and difficult.

18 And as for reparations, and betterings made in other houses, and places which are sold, where this redeeming is allowed, if they be pretended, the ordinarie Iudges shall doe right, vpon knowledge of the cause, the land remaining liable for the summe where∣unto the reparation shall amount: yet shall it not be lawfull for the said buyers, to vse any [ F] right of retention, to be payed and satisfied.

19 If any fortifications, and publike workes haue beene made of either part, with per∣mission and authoritie of the superiours, in places subiect to restitution by this present treatie, the proprietaries thereof shall be bound to content themselues with the estima∣tion

[ A] which shall be made by the ordinarie Iudges, as well of the said places, as of the ju∣risdiction which they had there, vnlesse the parties agree by consent.

20 As for the lands of churches, colledges, and other religious places lying within the vnited Prouinces, the which were members depending vpon churches, benefices, and colledges which are vnder the Archdukes obedience; that which hath beene sold since the first day of Ianuarie 1607 shall be restored vnto them, and they shall enter into it by their owne priuat authoritie, without any minister of justice, to enioy it during the truce, and not to dispose thereof, as hath beene formerly said: but as for those which haue beene sold before the said time, or giuen in payment by the Estates of any of the [ B] Prouinces, the rent of the price shall be payed them yerely, after the rate of the sixteenth penie, by the Prouince which hath made the said sale, or giuen the said lands in pay∣ment, so as they may be well assured: the like shall be done and obserued by the said Archdukes.

21 They to whome any lands confiscated, are to be restored, shall not be bound to pay the arrerages of rents, charges, and duties, especially affected and assigned vpon the said lands, for the time which they haue not enioyed them, and if they be molested of either part, they shall be sent away quit, and absolued.

22 They shall not pretend also for any lands sold or granted, any thing but the re∣mainders, or arrerages whereunto they are bound that are in possession, by the treaties [ C] hereupon made, with the interest of the entrie money, if any haue beene giuen, also after the rate of the sixteenth penie, as before.

23 Iudgements giuen for lands, and rights confiscated, with parties that haue ac∣knowledged the Iudges, and haue beene lawfully defended, shall hold, and the parties condemned shall not be allowed to contradict them, vnlesse it be by ordinarie courses.

24 The said Archdukes shall euerie one for their parts appoint Officers and Magi∣strates for the administration of justice and pollicie, in townes and places of strength, the which by this present treatie must be restored vnto the proprietaries, to enioy them du∣ring the truce.

25 Moueables forfeited, and fruits which are fallen before the conclusion of this [ D] present treatie, shall not be subiect to restitution.

26 Mouing actions which haue beene referred by the said Archdukes or Estates to the benefit of priuat debtors, before the first day of Ianuarie 1607 shall be extinct of ei∣ther part.

27 The time which hath run during the war, beginning from the yere 1567 vnto this present, shall not be reckoned to induce prescription betwixt those that were of contra∣rie parties.

28 They which haue retired themselues into a neuter countrie during the war, shall also enioy the benefit of this truce, and may remaine where they please, or returne to their ancient houses, there to dwell with all assurance, obseruing the lawes of the coun∣ [ E] tries: neither shall their goods be seised on, nor they depriued of the enioying of them, by reason of their aboad in any place wheresoeuer.

29 There shall not any new forts be built, during the said truce, within the Low Countries, of eitherpart.

30 The Lords of the house of Nassau, shall not be pursued, nor molested (during the said truce) in their persons or goods, either for the debts contracted by the deceased prince of Orange, from the yere 1567 vnto his death, or for the arrerages due since the feisure of the lands that were charged.

31 If there be any contrauention made of the truce by any priuat persons, without [ F] the commaundement of the said King, Archdukes, or Estates, the domage shall be repai∣red vpon the same place where the contrauention hath beene made, if they be surprised, or else at the place of their abiding, and shall not be elsewhere pursued, either in their bo∣dies or goods, in any sort whatsoeuer; and it shall not be lawfull for them to come to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or to breake the truce, vpon this occasion, but in case of open deniall of ju∣stice,

it shall be lawfull for them to releeue themselues according to custome, either by [ A] letters of marke, or reprisall.

32 All exheredations, and dispositions made in hatred of the war, are declared void, and as if they had notbeene.

33 The subiects and inhabitants of the said Archdukes and Estates, of what qualitie and condition soeuer, are declared capable to succeed one an other, as well by testament, as ab intestato, according to the custome of the place; and if any successions did hereto∣fore fall vnto any of them, they shall be maintained and enioy them.

34 All prisoners taken in wa•• shall be de deliuered on either side, without paying any ransome.

35 And to the end that this present treatie may be the better obserued, the said King, [ B] Archdukes, and Estates, do promise respectiuely to imploy their forces and meanes, eue∣rie one by himselfe, to haue all the passages free, and the seas, and nauigable riuers secured against the incursions and spoiles of mutins, pirats, and theeues, and if they can appre∣hend them, to cause them to be punished with all rigour.

36 They promise moreouer, not to do any thing in preiudice of this present treatie, nor suffer to be done directly, or indirectly, and if it were done, to cause it to be repaired without any difficultie or delay: and for the obseruation of all abouementioned, the said King, and Archdukes bind themselues and their successors respectiuelie, and for the va∣liditie of the said bond renounce all lawes, customes, or any thing whatsoeuer to the [ C] contrarie.

37 This present treatie shall be ratified and confirmed by the said King, Archdukes, and Estates, and deliuered from the one vnto the other in good and due forme, within foure daies: and as for the ratification of the said king, the said Archdukes haue promi∣sed, and shall be bound to deliuer it within three moneths in good and due forme, to the end that the said Lords the Estates, their subiects and inhabitants may effectually enioy the fruits of this present treatie, with all securitie.

38 The said treatie shall be proclaimed where it doth belong, presently after the rati∣fication made by the said Lords, Archdukes, and Estates, all acts of hostilitie ceasing.

Thus it was made and concluded, in the towne and citie of Antuerpe, the ninth of [ D] Aprill, in the yeare 1609, and signed by my Lords the Ambassadors to the most Christi∣an king, and to the king of great Brittaine, as mediators; and by the deputies of my Lords, the Archdukes, and Estates, and it was subscribed.

P. Ieannin, Elie de la Place, Ric, Spencer, Ralfe Windewood, Ambrose Spinola, Fr. Iohn Ney, le Pres. Richardot, Io. de Mancicidor, L. Verreycken, William Lewis Earle of Nassau, W. Bredero∣da, Cornelius de Gent, Iohn de Oldenbarneuelt, I. de Malder••, G. de Renesse, G. Hillama, I. Sloeth, A••. Coenders.

And for that they found afterwards some difficultie and obscuritie in the praecedent articles, the deputies of the Archdukes, and of the vnited Prouinces of the Low Coun∣tries, made this declaration, and augmentation following, whereof the tenor was as it is [ E] here set downe.

The generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of the Low Countries, To all those to whom these presents shall come, Greeting. We make it knowne, that hauing viewed and examined the points and articles which haue beene concluded the seuenth of this pre∣sent moneth of Ianuarie here at the Hage, betwixt the deputies of the most excellent Archdukes Albert of Austria, and Isabella Clara Eugenia, and Ours, by vertue of the pro∣curations giuen respectiuely to the said deputies, touching some difficulties and ambi∣guities proceeding from the treatie of truce, haue agreed the ninth of Aprill 1609 in the towne of Antuerpe, betwixt the said Archdukes and Vs of the one part, and pro∣pounded on the other part by the officers and subiects respectiuely, and taken to be duely [ F] considered of, for the augmenting and more ample declaration of the points and articles whereof the contents doe follow; for that in the treatie of truce made the ninth of April in the yeare of our Lord 1609, in the towne of Antuerpe, betwixt the Commissioners

[ A] and deputies of my Lords the Archdukes of Austria, &c. and those of the general estates of the vnited Prouinces of the Low Countries, some difficulties and ambiguities haue beene propounded of either part by the officers and subiects, and taken into considera¦tion, for the encrease and more ample declaration of the said Articles: in the end it hath beene held fit for the deputies of either part to conferre of these difficulties, and to make some agreement concerning the same. The deputies hauing met and conferred many times together, according vnto their Procurations and Commissions of either side, in the end they hauing agreed vpon the points and articles which follow. For the doing whereof, there were assembled the seuenth of Ianuarie, in the yeare 1610, at the Hague [ B] in Holland, Balthasar of Robiano, Treasurer generall of the reuenues and finances of the said Lords the Archdukes, Lewis Verreycken Knight, Seigneur of Hamme, Councellor of the Councell of warre, Audiencer and first Secretarie to their Highnesses, and Iohn Baptista Maes, Councellor and Aduocat Fiscall of the Councell of Brabant for the Archdukes, Henrie of Brienen the elder, Seigneur of Synderen, Iohn Oldenbarneuels Knight, Seigneur of Tempel, Ronderys, &c. Aduocat, and Keeper of the great Seale of the Charters and Registers of Holland and East-Friseland, Iames of Maldere, Knight, ••••igneur of Hayes, &c. the first, and representing the Nobilitie at the Estates, and in the Councell of the Countrie of Zeland, Iustus of Rysembourg, Seigneur of Rysembourg, first Bourgmaister of the towne of Vtrecht, Tinco of Ornama, Iustice of Scooterland, [ C] Ernest of Itterson, Drossart of Tuuent, and Abel Coendres of Helpen, Seigneur of Faen and Cantes, on the behalfe of the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces.

1 First, That the Inhabitants of the vnited Prouinces of the Low Countries, com∣ming into the Countries and Prouinces vnder the Archdukes obedience, shall haue, and enioy (gouerning themselues according to the said treatie) the same libertie that the subiects of the king of great Brittaine haue: and to the end that Articles which con∣cerne it shall be sent vnto all gouernours, magistrats, and officers, and they of the vnited Prouinces of the Low Countries may, throughout all their Highnesses obedience, im∣ploy such Aduocats, Proctors, Notaries, Sollicitors, and Executours, as they shall thinke good, who (being required) shall be appointed by the ordinarie Iudges.

[ D] 2 That first of all their Highnesses shall prouide and appoint fit and honourable pla∣ces to burie the bodies of such of the Estates subiects as shall die in any place vnder their Highnesse obedience.

3 The said Lords the Archdukes, & the Estates may not receiue, without their limits of ••ither part, goods, passing either by water or by land, entring or going forth.

4 The subiects of the said Archdukes, and Estates, shal reciprocally enioy in the coun∣tries one of another, their ancient freedomes and rights of customes, the which they did quietly enioy before the warre.

5 The frequentation, conuersation, and commerce betwixt the subiects respectiuely shall not be hindered, and all lets shall be taken away.

[ E] 6 All lands and rights which (according to the treatie) haue beene restored, or ought to be restored to the old Proprietaries, or to their heires, or to any one that hath action, may be sold by the same Proprietaries, without any necessi••ie to sue for a particular con∣sent, notwithstanding the thirteenth Article of the said treatie, where it is otherwise said, except the proprietie of rents, which shalbe acknowledged by the Treasurer of the place where the lands are sold, as also the actions and rent, being vnder the Treasurers charge respectiuely.

7 All lands concealed, or rights, moueables or immoueables, rents, actions, debts, or any other thing which hath not beene seazed by the Treasurer vpon good certificat, before the ninth of April, in the yeare 1609, the Proprietaries and their heires, or they [ F] that pretend action, may enioy it, withall the fruits, reuenues, and profits, freely, and at their owne disposition; and the concealors, nor their heires shall not be in any sort mo∣••••••••d, in regard therof, by the Treasure of either part; but the Proprietaries, their heirs, a•••• they that pretend action, shall haue, touching the matter, law against euery one, as if i•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their proper good.

8 The trees which haue bin cut since the last day of Ianuarie, in the yea••e 1609, and at [ A] the day of the conclusion of the said treatie were remaining vpon the ground, and in like manner those that were sold the same day and not cut, shall remaine vnto the Proprie∣tarie, notwithstanding the sale, neither shall they be bound to pay any thing.

9 The fruits, hire of houses, farmes, and reuenues of seigneuries, lands, tenths, fishing, rents, and other reuenues of lands, which (according to the treatie) haue beene restored, or ought to be, falling due after the ninth of Aprill, in the yeare 1609, shall be payed for the whole yeare vnto the Proprietaries, their heires, or to them that pretend any action.

10 For lands sold, or rents discharged, or the chiefe stocke leuied by the Treasurer of either part, they shall giue letters to the Proprietaries, their heires, or to them that [ B] pre∣tend action, the which shall serue them as a declaratorie proofe, conformable to the trea∣tie, with assignation of a yearely payment to be made by the Receiuer in those Prouin∣ces where they haue beene sold, or redeemed, which shall be named after the first pub∣like sale, or otherwise, as it shall be fit: and the rent of the first yeare being due, it shall be payed on the ninth of Aprill, in the yeare 1610.

11 The hire of lands confiscated (although they haue beene set for many yeares) shall expire with the yeare 1609, according to the custome of those places where the lands and goods lie, and the said hire or rent falling due after the ninth of Aprill (as hath been said) shall be payed vnto the Proprietaries: but withall, it is agreed, That if he which en∣ioyes the said land hath bestowed any cost for matters concerning Haruest which doth [ C] ensue, that the said expences (according to the custome, or discretion of the Iudge of the place where the lands doe lie) shall be payed by the Proprietarie to him that hath held them.

12 The sales made of lands confiscated, or registred, since the conclusion of the said treatie, shall be held void, and in like manner those which had beene made before, against the Accord made with certaine townes in particular.

13 Satisfaction shall be made vnto the Proprietarie, for lands or goods imployed in fortifications, publike workes, or Hospitals, according to the nineteenth Article of the treatie.

14 The houses of priuat men which haue beene restored, or ought to be, according to [ D] the said treatie, shall not be charged with garrisons, or otherwise, more than the other subiects which are of the same condition.

15 If they make difficultie in any place to restore the lands and rights which are to be restored, the Iudge of the said place shall take order that restitution may presently be made, and shall therein vse the shortest course, without any pretext that the tax hath not been, payed, or otherwise, contrarie to the contents of the thirteenth Article of the trea∣tie, whereby the restitution may be delayed.

16 And where it shall be found that all the lands of any one of either partie haue been confiscated, or registred in such sort, as he had not any meanes left whereby to pay the rents and interests of his debts, made during the confiscation or annotation, he shall not [ E] onely be free from all charges and rents, according to the said treatie, but also from the generall and personall charge of rents and interests due in the said time.

17 It is meant, that vnder exheredation made in hatred of warre, are also comprehen∣ded exheredations made by reason of any thing proceeding from warre, or that de∣pends of it.

18 No man of either partie, may be hindered, directly or indirectly, changing the place of his aboad, if he pay the rights which he ought to pay, and all lets and hinderan∣ces since the conclusion of the treatie shall be really taken away.

19 Vnder the restitution of lands and rights granted by the treatie, is also vnderstood the lands and rights lying in the Countries of Bourgondie and Charolois, and that [ F] which, according to the treatie, hath not beene yet restored, shall of euerie side be faithfully and speedily restored to the Proprietaries, their heires, or them that pretend any action.

20 The said Lords the Archdukes, and the Estates, promise to accomplish, and cause

[ A] to be accomplished, all and ••uerie the said points faithfully; whereunto they bind them∣selues according to the bond contained in the principal treatie, and in such sort as if these points also had beene mentioned.

21 Finally, it hath beene agreed that all and euery of the points and articles of the treatie of the ninth of Aprill last past, whereof there hath not beene any alteration ex∣presly made, nor a more ample declaration, shall remaine in force, without any preiudice, or interest, & that whatsoeuer hath beene herein treated, or propounded, either by word or writing, or vrged of either part, shall not tend, or be interpreted to helpe or hinder any one, directly or indirectly: but as well the said Archdukes, and the generall and particu∣lar [ B] Estates, as also all princes, earles, barons, townes, colleges, knights, gentlemen, bour∣gesses, and other inhabitants of prouinces respectiuely, of what qualitie or condition soeuer, shall remaine in their rights, according to the tenor of the said treatie: and my said Lords, the Archdukes, and the Estates, shall within on moneth next ensuing con∣firm•• this treatie, and shall deliuer their letters of agreation one vnto another in due forme.

Thus agreed and concluded at the Hage in Holland, the day, moneth, and yere aboue named. In witnesse whereof these presents were confirmed and signed by the deputies of either part, B. de Robiano. Verreycken. I.B. Masius. Hen. Van Brienen de Alst, I. de Oldenbarne∣uelt. I. de Maldere. Iustus de Rysenbourg. T.O. Oennama. Ernest de Ittersum. Ab. Coenders.

After [ C] mature deliberation we haue accepted, allowed, confirmed, and ratified, and doe accept, allowe, confirme, and ratifie, by these presents, the same points and articles, promi∣sing faithfully to obserue them, and to cause them to bee obserued in euery point, as if we our selues had treated and promised them, and neuer to do any thing contrarie, nor suffer to be done, directly, nor indirectly, in any sort whatsoeuer, binding therefore all our lands, and of our successors. In witnesse whereof, we haue caused these presents to be sea∣led with our great seale, and to be signed by our Register in our assemblie at the Hage, the nine and twentieth of Ianuarie, in the yeare 1610. Signed vnderneath I. Masius Vt.

And lower, By the commaundement of my said Lords the generall Estates, signed, C. Aerssen.

[ D] Now that the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of the Low Countries make one bodie of a common weale, since that they haue shaken off the yoke of Spaine, and haue distracted themselues from other Prouinces, with whom they were gouerned vnder one prince; I haue thought it fit, as I haue set downe in the discourse of the Archdukes Estates, the Earles of Flanders; in like manner to propound and set downe in this place the Lords and Earles of the chiefe vnited Prouinces, that is to say, of Holland, Zeland, and Friseland: for you shall plainely see by the succession of the Lords, what was the go∣uermment of the countries which they held, before they tooke the forme of a Common∣weale, and how from all antiquitie they had distinct Lords and Earles, vntill in the end vnder Philip the first of that name, they began to be vnited to the other Prouinces of the [ E] Low Countries.

¶ The Earles of Holland, Zeland, and Lords of Friseland.

THe countrie of Holland was erected to an Earledome in the yeare of Christ 863. [ XXI] Charles the Bald, king of France, for the commendable verrues of Th••erry of Aqui∣taine, gaue him all the countrie of Holland with a portion of Friseland: and afterwards in the yere 868 on the thirteenth of Aprill, Zeland was giuen him by Lewis king of Ger∣manie, at the request of Emme wife to king Lewis.

Thierry the second by the death of his father Count Thierry of Aquitaine, was second [ F] Earle of Holland, and Zeland, and Lord of Fris••land.

Arnold in the yeare 988 after the death of Count Thierry the second his father, suc∣ceeded in the countries of Holland, Zeland, and Friseland. This Arnold obtained of the E••peror Otho the third, to hold his counties of Holland and Zeland, and the Estates of Fr••••••land, barely in fee of the Empire, and no more of the crowne of France, as he had

done vnto that day. The said earle Arnold was slaine in a battaile against the Frisons the [ A] eighteenth of October 993, hauing gouerned Holland and Zeland.

Thierry the third of that name, after the death of his father Arnold, was the fourth Earle of Holland and Zeland, and Lord of Friseland.

Thierry the fourth of that name, after the death of Thierry his father, was the fift Earle of Holland and Zeland, and Lord of Friseland: he was neuer married, and died the fif∣teenth of May 1108, hauing gouerned his countries nine yeares.

Floris the first of that name, was before Earle of East-Friseland, who after the death of his brother Thierry the fourth, who was the fi••t Earle, was made Earle of Holland, Ze∣land, &c. who hauing gouerned his countries foureteene yeares, was put to rout in battell [ B] with two thousand and six hundred of his subiects, neere vnto Heusden, in the which he was slaine.

Gertrude widow, mother and Gouernesse to young Count Thierry, sonne to Floris, go∣uerned the countrie one yeare.

Robert called the Frison, married Gertrude, widow to Count Floris, with the consent of all the Nobilitie, and the Estates of Holland and Zeland, who also made him Curator of young Count Thierry sonne to Floris.

Godfrey the Crooked, Duke of Lorraine, was ninth Earle of Holland, and Zeland, and Lord of Friseland, by vsurpation.

Thierry the fift of that name, tenth Earle of Holland, and Friseland, sonne to Count [ C] Floris, after the death of Godfrey the Crooked, recouered his patrimoniall rights, and en∣tred into Holland, from the which he had beene so long expelled, and there was general∣ly receiued with great ioy and magnificence, and acknowledged for their Earle and na∣turall Lord; so as falling sicke, he died in the yeare 1092, the fifteenth Calends of Iulie, after that his mother Gertrude, from the decease of her husband, had gouerned two yeres, Robert the Frison his fatherin law eight yeares, Godfrey the Crooked foure yeares, William Bishop of Vtrecht one yeare, and he himselfe fifteene yeares, making in all thirtie yeares from the death of his father.

Floris called the Fat, the second of that name, and the eleuenth Earle of Holland, and Zeland, and Lord of Friseland, sonne to Count Thierry the fift, who hauing gouerned [ D] his countries peaceablie for the space of one and thirtie yeares, died in the yere 1133 the sixt of March.

Thierry the sixt of that name, sonne to Floris, was the twelfth Earle of Holland, and Zeland, and Lord of Friseland, hauing gouerned his countrie fortie yeares, he died in the yeare 1163. He had great wars against the Frisons, and his other neighbours.

Floris the third of that name, after the death of Thierry his father, was the thirteenth Earle of Holland, and Zeland, and Lord of Friseland. He had much trouble in his time, and died in the voyage of Palestina, hauing gouerned his prouinces twentie and seuen yeares.

Thierry seuenth of that name, after the death of Count Floris his father, was [ E] foure∣teenth Earle of Holland, and Zeland, and Lord of Friseland: Hauing ruled his countries in great and continuall wars thirteene yeares, he died in the yeare 1203.

Ade, the only daughter of Thierry the seuenth, succeded her father, and was Countesse the fifteenth, but she ruled but one yeare, and died without children.

William, the first of that name, the sixteenth Earle of Holland, and Zeland, and Lord of Friseland, being before Earle of East-Friseland, brother to Thierry seuenth of that name, hau•••••• beene expelled by the Nobilitie of Holland, he made all Holland and Zeland subiect, and died after he had gouerned the said countries nine yeares, in the yeare 1223.

Floris the fourth of that name, by the dea•• of Count William his father, was seuen∣teenth Earle of Holland, and Zeland, and Lord of Friseland, who after he had gouerned [ F] his countrie•• with great honour twelue yeres, died at Clermont, and left one sonne cal∣led William being only six yeares old.

William the second that name, after the death of his father, was the eighteenth Earle of Holland, and Zeland, being six yeares old, he was gouerned by his vnckle Otto Bishop

[ A] of Vtrecht, and after the death of the Emperour Frederic, he was chosen king of Romans, and was proclaimed Emperour by Pope Innocent, in the towne of Lyon, foure yeres after his election, who died in the yeare 1255, after that he had gouerned his countries of Holla•••• and Zeland one and twentie yeares, and the Empire seuen yeares.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 fift of that name, after the death of William his father, being onely halfe a yeare old, was nineteenth earle of Holland and Zeland, and lord of Friseland, who died after 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had gouerned his countries, by himselfe, and his tutors, 42 yeares.

Iohn, first of that name, twentieth earle of Holland and Zeland, &c. succeeded his fa∣ther, and died without children, the fourth of the Calends of Nouember, in the yeare [ B] 1300, in whom fayled the race of the Earles, issued from the direct line of the Dukes of Aquitaine, which since Thierry the first had continued foure hundred thirtie and seuen yeares: and by his death these countries fell to the earle of Haynault, who descended by the mother-side from the Earles of Holland.

Iohn, earle of Haynault, second of that name, was one and twentieth earle of Hol∣land, and Zeland, and lord of West-Friseland: He was sonne to Iohn of Auesnes and to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ladie Alix, sister to king William earle of Holland, &c. and so sonne to the great aunt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••his last earle Iohn the first.

William, third of that name, before earle of Oosternant, by the death of his father, was the two and twentieth earle of Holland and Zeland, and lord of Friseland, added to his [ C] countie of Haynault. For his good life, he was called the Good, and died the ninth of Iune, in the yeare of our Lord 1337, hauing gouerned his Prouinces peaceably, for the space of three and thirtie yeares.

William, fourth of that name, and three and twentieth earle of Holland and Zeland, and lord of Friseland, and earle of Haynault, after the death of his father William, called the Good; he was slaine in an incounter against the Frisons, and died without children, the foure and twentieth of September 1346.

M••••gaerite the empresse, wife to the emperor Lewis of Bauaria, the foure and twenti∣eth, ruling in Holland and Zeland, &c. sister to Count William the fourth, was in the same yeare 1346 honourably receiued, and acknowledged Ladie and Princesse of the sayd [ D] countries, and hauing receiued the homages and fealties, she did greatly augment their liberties and priuiledges.

William of Bauaria, fift of that name, eldest sonne to the Emperour Lewis of Bauaria and to the Ladie Marguerite, was the fiue and twentieth earle of Holland and Zeland, lord of Friseland, and earle of Haynault.

Alb••rt of Bauaria, brother to William of Bauaria, first of that name, was six and twen∣tieth ••arle of Holland and Zeland, lord of Friseland, and earle of Haynault.

William of Bauaria, sixt of that name, after the death of his father Albert of Bauaria, was seuen and twentieth earle of Holland and Zeland, lord of Friseland, and also earle of Haynault.

[ E] ••••queline of Bauaria, onely daughter and heire to William of Bauaria, sixt of that name, succeeded after the death of hir father, in all his ••eigneuries and earledomes, being about seue••teene yeres old: and in the same yere 1417 she was receiued, and tooke possession of hi•• hereditarie countries, of Holland, Zeland, and Friseland, as she had done before in Ha••nault. And yet to the preiudice of the said Iacqueline, Iohn of Bauaria tearming him••••••fe Tutor of Holland, obtained also from the Emperour Sigismond, vnckle to his wi••e•••••• counties of Holland and Zeland, and seigneurie of Friseland, in fealtie and ho∣m••ge▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 being fallen to the Empire by the death of Count William of Bauaria, his bro∣t••e••▪ father to the Ladie Iacqueline, being dead without heire male. He died at the Hague 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Holland, on Twelfth day, in the yere of our Lord 1429, hauing gouerned the coun∣ [ F] ••r•••••• ••f Holland, Zeland, and Friseland, in qualitie of Auoüe, or Gouernour, about six 〈◊〉〈◊〉: during the which time, the countries were alwaies in warre, but in the end, he 〈…〉〈…〉 peace, in the yeare 1429, on the nineteenth of Iulie, with Iacqueline of Bauaria, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the death of hir vnckle Iohn, enioyed all her seigneuries. She was maried foure 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was forced (to recouer her last husband, who was a prisoner in the hands of

P••ilip duke of Bourgondie, at that time Gouernour of Holland &c.) to transport all her [ A] ••eigneuries in generall, to the said duke of Bourgondie, dying without children. After which transport, within short time she died, hauing beene ladie, and true heire, of the countries of Holland and Zeland, and lordship of Friseland, with great troubles and af∣flictions (which grew by the ambition of the duke of Bourgondie) the space of nineteene yeares. She lies at the Hague, hauing liued but six and thirtie yeares.

Philip, first of that name, earle of Holland and Zeland, and lord of Friseland, sonne to Iohn duke of Bourgondie, by resignation of the ladie Iacqueline, the last Countesse of Holland, of the house of Bauaria, who died without heires. He being heire, as well by the father side, as the mother side, succeeded in the said countries. Thus he was duke of [ B] Bourgondie, Brabant, and Limbourg, earle of Flanders, Artois, Bourgondie, Haynault, Holland, Zeland, and Namur, lord of Friseland, Salins, and Macklin, Marquis of the sacred Empire. A while after he did purchase (hauing first conquered it by armes, in the name of the widow to the deceased duke) the duchie of Luxembourg. He was borne on Saint Peters day, in the yeare of our Lord 1359; his mother was the ladie Marguerite of Bauaria, sister to Count William, father to the Countesse Iacqueline, and the ladie Marguerite of Bourgondie, mother to the said Countesse, was sister to Iohn duke of Bour∣gondie, and therefore aunt by the father-side to the said duke Philip: so as by the father∣side, and the mother-side, the said countries fell vnto him without any difficultie. He was a valiant and couragious prince, and feared of his enemies. He was of a tall stature, faire [ C] of countenance, and subiect to choller, yet a louer of peace, and surnamed the Good, but wonderfull ambitious of greatnesse, the which he shewed by his bad dealing with his cousin Iacqueline Countesse of Haynault. He died the fift of Iune, in the yeare of our Lord God 1467, being seuentie three yeares old, hauing gouerned the countries of Holland, Zeland, Hay••ault, Friseland, and others, as well in qualitie of Earle and Lord, as of Curator, about fortie yeares.

Charles, called the Warlike, the onely sonne of the good duke Philip, borne at Dijon, in the yeare 1434, by the death of his father, succeeded in the duchie of Bourgondie, Brabant, Limbourg, and Luxembourg, in the counties of Bourgondie, Artois, Flan∣ders, Haynault, Holland, Zeland, and Namur, the seigneuries of Friseland, Salins, and [ D] Macklin, and in the Marquisat of the sacred Empire. He did purchase, or had in mor∣gage from Sigismond of Austria, the countie of Ferretta, in the countrie of Alsatia, neere vnto Basil in Suisserland. He required the emperour Fredericke to make Bourgondie a Realme, the which he refused. He was slaine at the battaile of Nancy, in the yeare of our Lord God 1476.

Marie, daughter and onely heire to Charles called the Warlike, was duchesse of Bour∣gondie, &c. and succeeded in all the said Prouinces, after the death of her father, being but eighteene yeares old, and vnder the guard and gouernement of the duke of Cleues, and the lord of Rauesteyn his brother.

Maximillian, Archduke of Austria, sonne to the Emperour Frederic, being about the [ E] age of twentie yeares, married with Marie, duchesse of Bourgondie, &c. and was, in the right of his wife, duke of Bourgondie, &c. and earle of Holland, Zeland, &c. which countries he gouerned twelue yeares, or thereabouts. He died in the yeare of our Lord 1519, and lies at Nieustad in Germanie.

Philip, ••••ond of that name, earle of Holland and Zeland, and lord of Friseland, onely sonne to the Archduke Maximillian of Austria, afterwards Emperour, and of Mar••e du∣c••esse of Bourgondie, &c. daughter to duke Charles the Warlike, was borne at Burges the twentieth day of Iune, in the yeare of our Redemption 1478. He was about foure yeares old when his mother died: After whose death, the Archduke, king of Ro∣mans, his father, gouerned his countries in qualitie of Regent, or Curator, with great [ F] troubles, by reason of the factions which raigned, as well in Holland as in Flanders, vnto the yeare 1494, when as the Archduke Maximillian, king of the Romans, by death of h••s father, was crowned Emperour.

Prince Philip his sonne, being then sixteene yeares old, was called Archduke of Au∣stria,

duke of Bourgondie, Lothier, Brabant, Styer, Carinthia, Limbourg, Luxembourg, and Guelders, earle of Hasbourg, Flanders, Artois, Bourgondie, Ferrette, Kyburch, pa∣latine of Haynault, Holland, Zeland, Namur, Zutphen, marquis of the sacred Empire, and of B••rou, La••dtgraue of Elsathen, lord of Windsmark, of Portenau, of Salins, and Mackli••. He died in Spaine being young, his father yet liuing, in the yeare 1505, and lie•• at Granado.

Charles, second of that name, fiue and thirtieth earle of Holland and Zeland, and lord of Friseland, eldest sonne to Philip of Austria, was borne at Gand, the foure and twen∣tieth of Februarie, in the yeare 1500. After the death of his father, he did succeed in all his [ B] duchies, earledomes, and seigneuries, hauing gouerned his countries about foure and for∣tie yeares: he resigned the Low Countries in the yeare 1549, vnto his sonne Philip, and died in Spaine in the yeare 1558. He lies at Granado.

Philip of Austria, the six and thirtieth Earle of Holland, Zeland, &c. onely sonne to the Emperor Charles, who in his life time caused him to come out of Spain into the Low Countries, to make him (if he could) succeed as well in the Empire, as in his other realms of Spaine, Naples, and Sicile, as of the Netherlands, and other Prouinces, whereof the Emperor dispossessed himselfe in his life time, and his sonne tooke possession of the Low countries, and receiued the oath of sidelitie of the Noblemen, and of all the deputies of Prouinces and chiefe townes. The Lady Marguerite of Austria, base daughter to the [ C] Emperor Charles the fift, wife to Octauia Far••eze Duke of Parma and Plaisance, hauing beene preferred (by the aduise of the Cardinall of Granuelle) before all the Princes of Austria, the Prince of Orange, and the Earle of Egmont, to gouerne the Low Countries in the kings absence; being come to Bruxells, whereas the king had called an assemblie of the Estates of the Low Countries, he appointed her Gouernesse generall of all the seuenteen Prouinces, in the yere 1559, to the end that she might haue the chiefe manna∣ging of all the gouernment of the said countries: the which caused great diuision be∣wixt the Noblemen, and others of the Councell of State of the Low Countries, vnder whom also there were great combustions for religion in the said Countries; which diui∣sions and troubles, were the cause that in the yeare 1581, the prouinces of Holland Ze∣land, [ D] and Friseland, vnited themselues, and altogether haue framed a kind of Common∣weale, which they called, Estates, who at this day gouerne the said Prouinces.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Euerie Florin is two shillings
• * 1.2

  After the French ac∣count it is 300 thousand pounds star∣ling.