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CAP. VII. FRISELAND.
THis Country, situate also very low, and much subject to inunda∣tions from the Sea, wanteth not the like advantages by Walls and Banks of earth, for it's better safeguard, as that of Holland hath; nor of lesse antiquity (I presume:) But those elder times, I shall passe by, and take notice of that remarkable and famous work, of this kind, done by k 1.1 Gaspar Roblesius (a Portu∣gal) Governour of this Province and Groningen, under Philip the second K. of Spain.
About the year MDLxxvi. this wor∣thy person, having driven out Entenius (a Rebel) and dispersed his Forces, be∣taking himself to works and studies, be∣sitting a time of peace, perfected that famous Sea-Bank, by which Wester∣goos (a part of that Territory) was defended from the overflowing of the Ocean; which for many Ages, had by it's tides, occasioned infinite damage to the Country; thereby raising to his memory a lasting Monument of his fame: For by his contrivance it was, that the work was set upon; and by his power, that the people, of themselves averse and slow to so publick and bene∣ficial a work, were compelled to come in, man by man, to raise this strong Bank, as if it had been to quench a Fire: In this alone, it being a work, of security to the Country, and for his Honour, which exceeded the renown of those that had been the preceding Gover∣nours of that Country, under the Em••perour Charles the v th. and the said King Philip, to last (saith my Author l 1.2) quamdiu natura rerum, aut mari limes sit. i. e. to the end of the world. For this famous Sea-Bank, being perfected, Adrianus Vastartius, and Iohannes Caro∣lus went to Harling, and erected a Mo∣numental pillar of stone, upon the shore there, which should give bounds to the maritime and mediteranean Westergois; and thenceforth avoid all future conten∣tion about the repairing that Sea-bank; in the foundation of which pillar were laid twelve thousand Bricks, the height of it being xx. foot above the top of the said Sea-Bank, and this In∣scription towards the West.
Caspari à Robles Equiti, domino de Bil∣li &c. Frisiae, Gro••ingae, ejus{que} territo∣rii ac adjacentium gubernatori, quod hanc provinciam, praeter arma, consiliis & munimentis juverit; ac inter caetera ag∣gere-ipsis Kal. Nov. MDLxx. funditus everso, amplissimi D. Viglii Zuichemi, patris patriae, auxiliaribus operis, & ad∣hibitis Igramo ab Achelen Pr. Adriano vastaret, Petro Frittema, & Ioanne Carolo senatoribus, conciliorum sociis, no∣vum maris propugnaculum, summo labore, vigiliâ, & celeritate, decretis quo{que}, & de suo persolutis diligentiae praemiis, tri∣bus plus minus mensibus à fundamentis erexerit, & ad summam manum perduxe∣rit; at{que} hunc lapidem, sublatis contro∣versiarum litibus terminum esse voluit; gratus Provincialium ordo, ob rem prudenter, benè & fideliter gestam, de se ac de Republicâ optimè meri∣to.
In m 1.3 this Province, likewise, and in Groningen, which adjoyneth thereto, divers Lakes have also been drayned of late years, which are now become most fruitful Pastures: Amongst which the most notable, was a certain Fenny tract, which in the Dutch Language, they called de Wilde Weemh; which, at the costs of divers Merchants of Amster∣dam, is become such rich meadow ground, that within these six or se∣ven years last past, about the num∣ber of ten thousand people, went thither to plant themselves, who do now live there very happi∣ly.