Observations upon the United Provinces of the Netherlands by Sir William Temple ...

CHAP. II. Of Their GOVERNMENT. (Book 2)

IT is evident by what has been dis∣coursed in the former Chapter con∣cerning the Rise of this State (which is to be dated from the Union of U∣trecht), that It cannot properly be sti∣led a Commonwealth, but is rather a Confederacy of Seven Soveraign Pro∣vinces united together for their com∣mon and mutual defence, without any dependance one upon the other. But to discover the nature of their Go∣vernment from the first springs and mo∣tions, It must be taken yet into smaller pieces, by which it will appear, that each of these Provinces is likewise composed of many little States or Ci∣ties, which have several marks of So∣veraign Power within themselves, and are not subject to the Soveraignty of their Province; Not being concluded in many things by the majority, but only by the universal concurrence of Voices in the Provincial-States. For as the States-General cannot make War or

Peace, or any new Alliance, or Le∣vies of Money, without the consent of every Province; so cannot the States-Provincial conclude any of those points without the consent of each of the Cities, that by their Constitution has a voice in that Assembly. And though in many Civil Causes there lies an Appeal from the Common Judica∣ture of the Cities, to the Provincial Courts of Justice; yet in Criminals there lies none at all; nor can the So∣veraignty of a Province exercise any Judicature, seize upon any Offender, or pardon any Offence within the Ju∣risdiction of a City, or execute any common Resolution or Law, but by the Justice and Officers of the City it self. By this a certain Soveraignty in each City is discerned, the chief marks whereof are, The power of exercising Judicature, levying of Money, and ma∣king War and Peace: For the other of Coining Money, is neither in particu∣lar Cities or Provinces, but in the ge∣neralty of the Union by common A∣greement.

The main Ingredients therefore into the Composition of this State, are the Freedom of the Cities, the Soveraignty

of the Provinces, the Agreements or Constitutions of the Union, and the Authority of the Princes of Orange; Which make the Order I shall follow in the Account intended of this Go∣vernment. But whereas the several Provinces in the Union, and the seve∣ral Cities in each Province, as they have in their Orders and Constitutions some particular differences, as well as a general resemblance; and the account of each distinctly would swell this Dis∣course out of measure, and to little purpose; I shall confine my self to the account of Holland, as the richest, strongest, and of most authority among the Provinces; and of Amsterdam, as that which has the same Preheminen∣cies among the Cities.

The Soveraign Authority of the Ci∣ty of Amsterdam,* 1.1 consists in the De∣crees or Results of their Senate, which is composed of Six and thirty men, by whom the Justice is administred, ac∣cording to ancient forms, in the names of Officers and Places of Judicature. But Moneys are levied by Arbitrary Resolutions and Proportions, according to what appears convenient or necessa∣ry upon the change or emergency of

occasions. These Senators are for their lives, and the Senate was anciently chosen by the voices of the richer Burghers or Free-men of the City, who upon the death of a Senator met together either in a Church, a Mar∣ket, or some other place spacious e∣nough to receive their numbers; And there made an election of the person to succeed, by the majority of voices. But about a hundred and thirty or forty years ago, when the Towns of Holland began to encrease in circuit, and in people, so as these frequent As∣semblies grew into danger of tumuit and disorders upon every occasion, by reason of their Numbers and Conten∣tion; This election of Senators came by the resolution of the Burghers, in one of their General Assemblies, to be devolved for ever upon the standing-Senate at that time; So as ever since, when any one of their number dyes, a new one is chosen by the rest of the Senate, without any intervention of the other Burghers; Which makes the Government a sort of Oligarchy, and very different from a Popular Govern∣ment, as it is generally esteemed by those who passing or living in these

Countreys, content themselves with common Observations or Inquiries. And this Resolution of the Burghers, either was agreed upon, or followed by general Consent or Example, about the same time, in all the Towns of the Province, though with some differ∣ence in number of their Senators.

By this Senate are chosen the chief Magistrates of the Town, which are the Burgomasters and the Eschevins: The Burgomasters of Amsterdam are Four, whereof three are chosen every year; so as one of them stays in office two years; but the three last chosen, are called the Reigning-Burgomasters for that year, and preside by turns, after the first three Months; for so long after a new Election, the Burgomaster of the year before presides; in which time it is supposed the new ones will grow instructed in the Forms and Du∣ties of their Office, and acquainted with the state of the City's Affairs.

The Burgomasters are chosen by most voices of all those persons in the Senate who have been either Burgo∣masters or Eschevins; and their Au∣thority resembles that of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in our Cities.

They represent the Dignity of the Go∣vernment, and do the Honour of the City upon all occasions: They dispose of all under-offices that fall in their time; and issue out all Moneys out of the Common Stock or Treasure, judg∣ing alone what is necessary for the Safety, Convenience, or Dignity of the City. They keep the Key of the Bank of Amsterdam (the Common Treasure of so many Nations), which is never open'd without the presence of one of them; And they inspect and pursue all the great Publique Works of the City, as the Ramparts and Stadt-house, now almost finished with so great Magni∣ficence, and so vast Expence.

This Office is a Charge of the great∣est Trust, Authority, and Dignity; and so much the greater, by not being of Profit or Advantage, but only as a way to other constant Employments in the City that are so. The Salary of a Burgomaster of Amsterdam, is but Five hundred Gilders a year, though there are Offices worth Five thousand in their disposal; But yet none of them known to have taken money upon such occa∣sions, which would lose all their Cre∣dit in the Town, and thereby their

Fortunes by any Publique Employments. They are obliged to no sort of Ex∣pence, more than ordinary modest Ci∣tizens, in their Habits, their Attend∣ance, their Tables, or any part of their own Domestique. They are upon all Publique Occasions waited on by men in Salary from the Town; and what∣ever Feasts they make upon Solemn Days, or for the Entertainment of any Princes or Forreign Ministers, the Charge is defrayed out of the Com∣mon Treasure; but proportioned by their own discretion. At other times they appear in all places with the simplicity and modesty of other private Citizens. When the Burgomaster's Office ex∣pires, they are of course disposed into the other Charges or Employments of the Town, which are very many and beneficial; unless they lose their Cre∣dit with the Senate, by any want of Diligence or Fidelity in the discharge of their Office, which seldom arrives.

The Eschevins are the Court of Ju∣stice in every Town. They are at Amsterdam Nine in number; of which Seven are chosen Annually; but two of the preceding year continue in of∣fice. A double number is named by

the Senate, out of which the Burgo∣masters now chuse, as the Prince of Orange did in the former Constitution. They are Soveraign Judges in all Cri∣minal Causes. In Civil, after a cer∣tain value, there lyes Appeal to the Court of Justice of the Province. But they pass sentence of death upon no man, without first advising with the Burgomasters; though after that form is past, they proceed themselves, and are not bound to follow the Burgo∣masters opinion, but are left to their own: This being only a care or fa∣vour of supererogation to the life of man, which is so soon cut off, and ne∣ver to be retrieved or made amends for.

Under these Soveraign Magistrates, the chief subordinate Officers of the Town are the Treasurers, who receive and issue out all moneys that are pro∣perly the Revenues or Stock of the City: The Scout, who takes care of the Peace, seizes all Criminals, and sees the Sentences of Justice executed, and whose Authority is like that of a Sheriff in a County with us, or a Constable in a Parish. The Pensioner, who is a Civil-Lawyer, verst in the

Customs, and Records, and Priviledges of the Town, concerning which he informs the Magistracy upon occasion, and vindicates them upon disputes with other Towns; He is a Servant of the Senate and the Burgomasters, Delivers their Messages, makes their Harangues upon all Publique Occasi∣ons, and is not unlike the Recorder in one of our Towns.

In this City of Amsterdam is the fa∣mous Bank, which is the greatest Trea∣sure, either real or imaginary, that is known any where in the World. The place of it is a great Vault under the Stadthouse, made strong with all the circumstances of Doors and Locks, and other appearing cautions of safety, that can be: And 'tis certain, that whoever is carried to see the Bank, shall never fail to find the appearance of a mighty real Treasure, in Barrs of Gold and Silver, Plate and infinite Bags of Metals, which are supposed to be all Gold and Silver, and may be so for ought I know. But the Burgo∣masters only having the inspection of this Bank, and no man ever taking any particular account of what issues in and out, from Age to Age, 'tis im∣possible

to make any calculation, or guess what proportion the real Trea∣sure may hold to the Credit of it. Therefore the security of the Bank lies not only in the Effects that are in it, but in the Credit of the whole Town or State of Amsterdam, whose Stock and Revenue is equal to that of some Kingdoms; and who are bound to make good all Moneys that are brought into their Bank; The Tickets or Bills hereof, make all the usual great Payments that are made between man and man in the Town; and not only in most other places of the Uni∣ted Provinces, but in many other Tra∣ding-parts of the World. So as this Bank is properly a general Cash, where every man lodges his money, because he esteems it safer, and easier paid in and out, than if it were in his Coffers at home: And the Bank is so far from paying any Interest for what is there brought in, that Money in the Bank is worth something more in common Payments, than what runs current in Coyn from hand to hand; No other money passing in the Bank, but in the species of Coyn the best known, the most ascertain'd, and the

most generally current in all parts of the Higher as well as the Lower Germany.

The Revenues of Amsterdam arise out of the constant Excise upon all sorts of Commodities bought and sold within the Precinct: Or out of the Rents of those Houses or Lands that belong in common to the City: Or out of certain Duties and Impositions upon every House, towards the uses of Charity, and the Repairs, or Adorn∣ments, or Fortifications of the place: Or else out of extraordinary Levies consented to by the Senate, for fur∣nishing their part of the Publique Charge that is agreed to by their De∣puties in the Provincial-States, for the use of the Province: Or by the De∣puties of the States of Holland in the States-General, for support of the U∣nion. And all these Payments are made into one Common Stock of the Town, not as many of ours are into that of the Parish; So as attempts may be easier made at the calculati∣ons of their whole Revenue: And I have heard it affirmed, That what is paid of all kinds to Publique Uses of the States-General, the Province, and the City in Amsterdam, amounts to

above Sixteen hundred thousand pounds Sterling a year. But I enter into no Computations, nor give these for any thing more than what I have heard from men who pretended to make such Enquiries, which I confess I did not. 'Tis certain that in no Town, Strength, Beauty, and Convenience, are better provided for, nor with more unlimited Expence, than in this, by the Magnificence of their Publique Build∣ings, as Stadthouse and Arsenals; The Number and Spaciousness, as well as Order and Revenues of their many Hospitals; The commodiousness of their Canals running through the chief Streets of passage; The mighty strength of their Bastions and Ram∣parts; And the neatness as well as convenience of their Streets, so far as can be compassed in so great a con∣fluence of industrious people: All which could never be atchieved with∣out a Charge much exceeding what seems proportioned to the Revenue of one single Town.

* 1.2The Senate chuses the Deputies, which are sent from this City to the States of Holland; The Soveraignty whereof is represented by Deputies of

the Nobles and Towns, composing Nineteen Voices; Of which the No∣bles have only the first, and the Cities eighteen, according to the number of those which are called Stemms; The other Cities and Towns of the Pro∣vince having no voice in the States. These Cities were originally but Six, Dort, Haerlem, Delf, Leyden, Amster∣dam, and Tergo••. But were encreased by Prince William of Nassaw, to the number of Eighteen, by the addition of Rotterdam, Gorcum, Schedam, Scho∣noven, Briel, Alcmaer, Horne, Enchu∣sen, Edam, Moninckdam, Medenblick, and Permeren. This makes as great an inequality in the Government of the Province, by such a small City as Permeren having an equal voice in the the Provincial-States with Amsterdam (which pays perhaps half of all charge of the Province), as seems to be in the States-General by so small a Pro∣vince as Overyssel having an equal voice in the States-General with that of Holland, which contributes more than half to the general charge of the Union. But this was by some Wri∣ters of that Age interpreted to be done by the Prince's Authority, to

lessen that of the Nobles, and balance that of the greater Cities, by the voi∣ces of the smaller, whose dependan∣ces were easier to be gained and se∣cured.

The Nobles, though they are few in this Province, yet are not represented by all their number, but by Eight or Nine, who as Deputies from their Bo∣dy have session in the States-Provin∣cial; And who, when one among them dyes, chuse another to succeed him. Though they have all together but one voice equal to the smallest Town; yet are they very considerable in the Government, by possessing many of the best Charges both Civil and Mi∣litary, by having the direction of all the Ecclesiastical Revenue that was seized by the State upon the change of Religion; and by sending their De∣puties to all the Councils both of the Generalty and the Province, and by the nomination of one Councellor in the two great Courts of Justice. They give their Voice first in the Assembly of the States, and thereby a great weight to the business in consultation. The Pensioner of Holland is seated with them, delivers their Voice for

them, and assists at all their Delibera∣tions before they come to the Assem∣bly. He is properly, but Minister or Servant of the Province, and so his Place or Rank is behind all their Deputies; but has always great Cre∣dit, because he is perpetual, or seldom discharged; though of right he ought to be chosen or renewed every third year. He has place in all the several Assemblies of the Province, and in the States proposes all Affairs, gathers the Opinions, and forms or digests the Re∣solutions; Pretending likewise a power not to conclude any very important Affair by plurality of Voices, when he judges in his Conscience he ought not to do it, and that it will be of ill consequence or prejudice to the Province.

The Deputies of the Cities are drawn out of the Magistrates and Senate of each Town: Their Num∣ber is uncertain and arbitrary, accor∣ding to the Customs or Pleasure of the Cities that send them, because they have all together but one Voice, and are all maintained at their Cities charge: But commonly one of the Burgomasters and the Pensioner are of the number.

The States of Holland have their Session in the Court at the Hague, and assemble ordinarily four times a year, in February, June, September, and No∣vember. In the former Sessions they provide for the filling up of all vacant Charges, and for renewing the Farms of all the several Taxes, and for con∣sulting about any matters that concern either the general good of the Pro∣vince, or any particular differences arising between the Towns. But in November they meet purposely to re∣solve upon the continuance of the Charge which falls to the share of their Province the following year, ac∣cording to what may have been agreed upon by the Deputies of the States-General, as necessary for the support of the State or Union.

For extraordinary occasions, they are convoked by a Council called the Gecommi Heerde Raeden, or the Com∣missioned Councellors, who are pro∣perly a Council of State of the Pro∣vince, composed of several Deputies; One from the Nobles; One from each of the chief Towns; And but One from three of the smaller Towns, each of the three chusing him by

turns. And this Council sits con∣stantly at the Hague, and both pro∣poses to the Provincial-States at their extraordinary Assemblies, the matters of deliberation; and executes their Resolutions.

In these Assemblies, though all are equal in Voices, and any one hinders a result; yet it seldom happens, but that united by one common bond of Interest, and having all one common End of Publique Good, They come after full Debates to easie Resolutions; yeilding to the power of Reason where it is clear and strong; And suppressing all private Passions or Interests, so as the smaller part seldom contests hard or long, what the greater agrees of. When the Deputies of the States a∣gree in opinion, they send some of their number to their respective Towns, proposing the Affair and the Reasons alledged, and desiring Orders from them to conclude; Which seldom fails, if the necessity or utility be evi∣dent: If it be more intricate, or suf∣fers delay, The States adjourn for such a time, as admits the return of all the Deputies to their Towns; where their influence and interest, and

the impressions of the Debates in their Provincial Assemblies, make the con∣sent of the Cities easier gain'd.

Besides the States and Council men∣tion'd, the Province has likewise a Chamber of Accounts, who manage the general Revenues of the Province: And besides this Trust, they have the absolute disposition of the ancient De∣mesne of Holland, without giving any account to the States of the Province. Only at times, either upon usual intervals, or upon a necessity of mo∣ney, The States call upon them for a Subsidy of Two or three hundred thousand Crowns, or more, as they are prest, or conceive the Chamber to be grown rich, beyond what is propor∣tioned to the general design of encrea∣sing the ease and fortunes of those persons who compose it. The States of Holland dispose of these charges to men grown aged in their service, and who have passed through most of the Employments of State with the esteem of Prudence and Integrity; and such persons find here an honourable and profitable retreat.

The Provinces of Holland and Zea∣land, as they used formerly to have

one Governour in the time of the House of Burgundy and Austria; so they have long had one common Ju∣dicature, which is exercised by two Courts of Justice, each of them com∣mon to both the Provinces. The first is composed of Twelve Councellors, Nine of Holland, and Three of Zea∣land, of whom the Governour of the Provinces is the Head; by the old Constitution used to preside when∣ever he pleased, and to name all the Councellors except one, who was cho∣sen by the Nobles. This Court judges without appeal in all Criminal Causes; but in Civil there lyes appeal to the other Court, which is called the High Council, from which there is no ap∣peal but only by Petition to the States of the Province for a revision: When these judg there is reason for it, they grant Letters-Patents to that purpose, naming some Syndiques out of the Towns, who being added to the Coun∣cellors of the two former Courts, re∣vise and judg the Cause in the last re∣sort. And this course seems to have been instituted by way of supply or imitation of the Chamber of Mechlyn, to which, before the Revolt of the

Provinces, there lay an appeal by way of revision, from all or most of the Provincial Courts of Justice, as there still does in the Spanish Provinces of the Netherlands.

* 1.3The Union is made up of the Seven Soveraign Provinces before named, who chuse their respective Deputies, and send them to the Hague, for the composing of three several Colledges, called, The States-General, The Coun∣cil of State, and the Chamber of Ac∣counts. The Soveraign Power of this United-State, lyes effectively in the Assembly of the States-General, which used at first to be convoked upon ex∣traordinary occasions, by the Council of State; but that seldom, in regard they usually consisted of above Eight hundred persons, whose meeting toge∣ther in one place from so many several parts, gave too great a shake to the whole Body of the Union; Made the Debates long, and sometimes confu∣sed; the Resolutions slow, and upon sudden occasions out of time. In the absence of the States-General, the Council of State represented their Au∣thority, and executed their Resoluti∣ons, and judged of the necessity of a

new Convocation: Till after the Earl of Leicester's departure from the Go∣vernment, the Provincial-States desired of the General, That they might by their constant respective Deputies, con∣tinue their Assemblies under the name of States-General, which were never after assembled but at Bergen ap Zoom, for ratifying with more solemn form and authority, the Truce concluded with Duke Albert and Spain.

This Desire of the Provinces was grounded upon the pretences, That the Council of State convoked them but seldom, and at will; and that be∣ing to execute all in their absence, they thereby arrogated to themselves too great an Authority in the State. But a more secret reason had greater weight in this Affair, which was, That the English Ambassador had by agreement with Queen Elizabeth, a constant place in their Council of State; And upon the distasts arising between the Pro∣vinces and the Earl of Leicester, with some jealousies of the Queen's dispo∣sition to make a Peace with Spain, They had no mind that Her Ambassa∣dor should be present any longer in the first digestion of their Affairs,

which was then usually made in the Council of State. And hereupon they first framed the ordinary Council, cal∣led the States-General, which has ever since passed by that Name, and sits constantly in the Court at the Hague, Represents the Soveraignty of the U∣nion, Gives Audience and Dispatches to all Forreign Ministers; But yet is indeed only a representative of the States-General, the Assemblies whereof are wholly disused.

The Council of State, the Admiral∣ty, and the Treasury are all subordi∣nate to this Council; All which are continued in as near a resemblance as could be, to the several Councils used in the time when the Provinces were subject to their several Principalities; or united under One in the Houses of Burgundy and Austria: Only the seve∣ral Deputies (composing one voice) now succeeding the single Persons em∣ployed under the former Governments: And the Hague, which was the ancient Seat of the Counts of Holland, still continues to be so of all these Coun∣cils; where the Palace of the former Soveraigns, lodges the Prince of Orange as Governour, and receives these seve∣ral

Councils as attending still upon the Soveraignty, represented by the States-General.

The Members of all these Councils are placed and changed by the seve∣ral Provinces, according to their differ∣ent or agreeing Customs. To the States-General every one sends their Depu∣ties in what number they please; some Two, some Ten or Twelve; Which makes no difference, because all mat∣ters are carried not by the Votes of Persons, but of Provinces; and all the Deputies from one Province, how few or many soever, have one single Vote. The Provinces differ likewise in the time fixed for their Deputation; some sending for a year, some for more, and others for life. The Province of Hol∣land send to the States-General one of their Nobles, who is perpetual; Two Deputies chosen out of their Eight chief Towns; and One out of North-Holland; and with these, Two of their Provincial Council of State, and their Pensioner.

Neither Stadtholder, or Governour, or any person in Military-charge, has Session in the States-General. Every Province presides their week in turns,

and by the most qualified person of the Deputies of that Province: He sits in a Chair with arms, at the mid∣dle of a long Table, capable of hold∣ing about thirty persons; For about that number this Council is usually composed of. The Greffier, who is in nature of a Secretary, sits at the lower end of the Table: When a Forreign Minister has audience, he is seated at the middle of this Table, over-against the President: Who proposes all mat∣ters in this Assembly; Makes the Gref∣fier read all Papers; Puts the Que∣stion; Calls the Voices of the Pro∣vinces; And forms the Conclusion. Or if he refuses to conclude accor∣ding to the plurality, he is obliged to resign his Place to the President of the ensuing Week, who concludes for him.

This is the course in all Affairs be∣fore them, except in cases of Peace and War, of Forreign Alliances, of Raising or Coining of Moneys, or the Priviledges of each Province or Mem∣ber of the Union. In all which, All the Provinces must concur, Plurality being not at all weighed or observed. This Counsel is not Soveraign, but

only represents the Soveraignty; and therefore though Ambassadors are both received and sent in their Name; yet neither are their own chosen, nor For∣reign Ministers answered, nor any of those mentioned Affairs resolved, with∣out consulting first the States of each Province by their respective Deputies, and receiving Orders from them; And in other important matters, though de∣cided by Plurality, They frequently consult with the Council of State.

Nor has this Method or Constituti∣on ever been broken since their State began, excepting only in one Affair, which was in January 1668, when His Majesty sent me over to propose a League of Mutual Defence with this State, and another for the preservation of Flanders from the invasion of France, which had already conquered a great part of the Spanish Provinces, and left the rest at the mercy of the next Campania. Upon this occasion I had the fortune to prevail with the States-General to conclude three Trea∣ties, and upon them draw up and sign the several Instruments, in the space of Five days; Without passing the essential forms of their Government

by any recourse to the Provinces, which must likewise have had it to the several Cities; There, I knew, those Forreign Ministers whose Duty and In∣terest it was to oppose this Affair, ex∣pected to meet and to elude it, which could not have failed in case it had run that circle, since engaging the Voice of one City, must have broken it. 'Tis true, that in concluding these Alliances without Commission from their Principals, The Deputies of the States-General ventur'd their Heads if they had been disowned by their Pro∣vinces; but being all unanimous, and led by the clear evidence of so di∣rect and so important an Interest (which must have been lost by the usual de∣lays), They all agreed to run the haz∣zard; and were so far from being dis∣owned, that they were applauded by all the Members of every Province; Having thereby changed the whole face of Affairs in Christendom, and laid the Foundation of the Triple-Alliance, and the Peace of Aix (which were concluded about Four Months after). So great has the force of Reason and Interest ever proved in this State, not only to the uniting of all Voices in

their Assemblies, but to the absolving of the greatest breach of their Origi∣nal Constitutions; Even in a State whose Safety and Greatness has been chiefly founded upon the severe and exact observance of Order and Method in all their Counsels and Executions. Nor have they ever used at any other time any greater means to agree and unite the several Members of their U∣nion in the Resolutions necessary, up∣on the most pressing occasions, Than for the agreeing-Provinces to name some of their ablest persons to go and confer with the dissenting, and represent those Reasons and Interests, by which they have been induced to their opini∣ons.

The Council of State is composed of Deputies from the several Provin∣ces, but after another manner than the States-General, the number being fixed. Gelderland sends Two, Holland Three, Zealand and Utrecht Two a piece, Friezland, Overyssel and Groninghen, each of them One, making in all Twelve. They vote not by Provin∣ces, but by Personal Voices; and eve∣ry Deputy presides by turns. In this Council the Governour of the Pro∣vinces

has Session, and a decisive voice; And the Treasurer-General, Session, but a voice only deliberative; yet he has much credit here, being for life; and so is the person deputed to this Coun∣cil from the Nobles of Holland, and the Deputies of the Province of Zea∣land. The rest are but for two, three, or four years.

The Council of State executes the Resolutions of the States-General; consults and proposes to them the most expedient ways of raising Troops, and levying Moneys, as well as the pro∣portions of both, which they conceive necessary in all Conjunctures and Re∣volutions of the State: Superintends the Milice, the Fortifications, the Con∣tributions out of Enemies Countrey, the forms and disposal of all Passports, and the Affairs, Revenues, and Go∣vernment of all places conquered since the Union; which being gain'd by the common Arms of the State, de∣pend upon the States-General, and not upon any particular Province.

Towards the end of every year, this Council forms a state of the Expence they conceive will be necessary for the year ensuing; Presents it to the States-General,

desiring them to demand so much of the States-Provincial, to be raised according to the usual Propor∣tions, which are of 100000 G^rs.

Gelderland	3612 grs	05 st	00 d
Holland	58309 grs	01 st	10 d
Zealand	9183 grs	14 st	02 d
Utrecht	5830 grs	17 st	11 d
Friezland	11661 grs	15 st	10 d
Overyssel	3571 grs	08 st	04 d
Groningue	5830 grs	17 st	11 d

This Petition, as 'tis called, is made to the States-General in the Name of the Governour and Council of State, which is but a continuance of the forms used in the time of their Sove∣raigns, and still by the Governours and Council of State in the Spanish Ne∣therlands: Petition signifying barely asking or demanding, though implying the thing demanded to be wholly in the right and power of them that give. It was used by the first Counts only upon extraordinary occasions and necessities; but in the time of the Houses of Burgundy and Austria, grew to be a thing of course, and Annual,

as it is still in the Spanish Provinces.

The Council of State disposes of all sums of Money destin'd for all ex∣traordinary Affairs, and expedites the Orders for the whole expence of the State, upon the Resolutions first taken in the main, by the States-General. The Orders must be signed by three Deputies of several Provinces, as well as by the Treasurer-General, and then registred in the Chamber of Accounts, before the Receiver-General pays them, which is then done without any difficulty, charge, or delay.

Every Province raises what Moneys it pleases, and by what ways or means; sends its Quota, or share of the general charge, to the Receiver-General, and converts the rest to the present use, or reserves it for the future occasions of the Province.

The Chamber of Accounts was erect∣ed about sixty years ago, for the ease of the Council of State, to examine and state all Accounts of all the seve∣ral Receivers, to controul and register the Orders of the Council of State, which disposes of the Finances: and this Chamber is composed of two De∣puties from each Province, who are

changed every Three years.

Besides these Colledges, is the Coun∣cil of the Admiralty; who, when the States-General by advice of the Council of State, have destin'd a Fleet of such a number and force to be set out, Have the absolute disposition of the Marine Affairs, as well in the choice and equipage of all the several Ships, as in issuing the Moneys allotted for that service.

This Colledg is subdivided into Five, of which three are in Holland, viz. one in Amsterdam, another at Rotter∣dam, and the third at Horn: The fourth is at Middlebourgh in Zealand, and the fifth at Harlinguen in Friez∣land. Each of these is composed of Seven Deputies; Four of that Pro∣vince where the Colledg resides; and Three named by the other Provinces. The Admiral, or in his absence the Vice-Admiral, has Session in all these Colledges, and presides when he is pre∣sent. They take cognizance of all Crimes committed at Sea; judg all Pirates that are taken, and all Frauds or Negligences in the payment or col∣lections of the Customs; which are particularly affected to the Admiralty,

and appliable to no other use. This Fond being not sufficient in times of Wars, is supplied by the States with whatever more is necessary from other Fonds; but in time of Peace, being little exhausted by other constant charge, besides that of Convoys to their several Fleets of Merchants in all parts, The remainder of this Revenue is applied to the building of great Ships of War, and furnishing the several Arse∣nals and Stores with all sorts of Pro∣vision necessary for the building and rigging of more Ships than can be needed by the course of a long War.

So soon as the number and force of the Fleets designed for any Expedition, is agreed by the States-General, and given out by the Council of State to the Admiralty; Each particular Col∣ledg furnishes their own proportion, which is known as well as that of the several Provinces, in all Moneys that are to be raised. In all which, the Admiral has no other share or advan∣tages, besides his bare Salary, and his proportion in Prizes that are taken. The Captains and Superior Officers of each Squadron are chosen by the se∣veral

Colledges; the number of men appointed for every ship: After which, each Captain uses his best diligence and credit to fill his number with the best men he can get, and takes the whole care and charge of Victualling his own Ship for the time intended for that Expedition, and signifi'd to him by the Admiralty; and this at a cer∣tain rate of so much a man. And by the good or ill discharge of his Trust, as well as that of providing Chirur∣geons Medicines, and all things neces∣sary for the health of the men, each Captain grows into good or ill credit with the Sea-men, and by their report with the Admiralties; Upon whose opinion and esteem, the fortune of all Sea-Officers depends: So as in all their Expeditions there appears rather an emulation among the particular Captains who shall treat his Sea-men best in these points, and employ the Moneys allotted for their Victualling, to the best advantage, Than any little Knavish Practises, of filling their own Purses by keeping their men's Bellys empty, or forcing them to corrupted unwholsome Diet: Upon which, and upon cleanliness in their Ships, the

health of many people crowded up into so little Rooms, seems chiefly to depend.

The Salaries of all the great Officers of this State, are very small: I have already mentioned that of a Burgo∣master's of Amsterdam to be about fifty pounds sterling a year: That of their Vice-Admiral (for since the last Prince of Orange's death, to the year 1670, there had been no Admiral) is Five hundred, and that of the Pensio∣ner of Holland Two hundred.

The Greatness of this State seems much to consist in these Orders, how confused soever, and of different pie∣ces they may seem: But more in two main effects of them, which are the good choice of the Officers of chief Trust in the Cities, Provinces, and State: And the great simplicity and modesty in the common port or living of their chiefest Ministers; without which, the Absoluteness of the Senates in each Town, and the Immensity of Taxes throughout the whole State, would never be endured by the people with any patience; being both of them greater than in many of those Govern∣ments which are esteemed most Arbi∣trary

among their Neighbours. But in the Assemblies and Debates of their Senates, every man's Abilities are dis∣covered, as their Dispositions are, in the conduct of their Lives and Dome∣stick, among their fellow-Citizens. The observation of these, either raises or suppresses the credit of particular men, both among the people and the Se∣nates of their Towns; who to main∣tain their Authority with less po∣pular envy or discontent, give much to the general opinion of the people in the choice of their Magistrates: By this means it comes to pass, that though perhaps the Nation generally be not wise, yet the Government is, Because it is composed of the wisest of the Nation, which may give it an advan∣tage over many others, where Ability is of more common growth, but of less use to the Publique, If it happens that nei∣ther Wisdom nor Honesty are the Quali∣ties which bring men to the management of State-Affairs, as they usually do in this Commonwealth.

Besides, though these people, who are naturally Cold and Heavy, may not be ingenious enough to furnish a pleasant or agreeable Conversation, yet

they want not plain down-right sence to understand and do their business both publique and private, which is a Talent very different from the other; and I know not whether they often meet: For the first proceeds from heat of the brain, which makes the spirits more aiery and volatile, and thereby the motions of Thought lighter and quicker, and the range of Imagi∣nation much greater than in cold heads, where the spirits are more earthy and dull; Thought moves slower and hea∣vier, but thereby the impressions of it are deeper, and last longer: One ima∣gination being not so frequently nor so easily effaced by another, as where new ones are continually arising. This makes duller men more constant and steddy, and quicker men more incon∣stant and uncertain; whereas the great∣est ability in business, seems to be the steddy pursuit of some one thing till there is an end of it, with perpetual application and endeavour not to be diverted by every representation of new hopes or fears, of difficulty or danger, or of some better design. The first of these Talents cuts like a Razor, the other like a Hatchet: One has

thinness of edg, and fineness of metal and temper, but is easily turn'd by any substance that is hard, and resists. T'o∣ther has toughness and weight, which makes it cut thorough, or go deep, wherever it falls; and therefore one is for Adornment, and t'other for Use.

It may be said further, that the heat of the Heart commonly goes along with that of the Brain; so that Passi∣ons are warmer where Imaginations are quicker: And there are few men (un∣less in case of some evident natural de∣fect) but have sence enough to distinguish in gross between Right and Wrong, between Good and Bad, when repre∣sented to them; and consequently have judgment enough to do their business, if it be left to it self, and not swayed nor corrupted by some Humour or Pas∣sion, by Anger or Pride, by Love or by Scorn, Ambition or Avarice, De∣light or Revenge; so as the coldness of Passions seems to be the natural ground of Ability and Honesty among men, as the government or moderati∣on of them the great End of Philo∣sophical and Moral Instructions. These Speculations may perhaps a little lessen the common wonder, How we should

meet with in one Nation so little show of Parts and of Wit, and so great evidence of Wisdom and Pru∣dence, as has appeared in the Conduct and Successes of this State for near a Hundred years; Which needs no other testimony than the mighty Growth and Power it arrived to from so weak and contemptible Seeds and Beginnings.

The other Circumstance I mention∣ed as an occasion of their Greatness, was the simplicity and modesty of their Magistrates in their way of living; which is so general, that I never knew One among them exceed the common frugal popular air; And so great, That of the two chief Officers in my time, Vice-Admiral De Ruiter, and the Pen∣sioner De Wit (One, generally esteem∣ed by Forreign Nations, as great a Sea-man, and the other as great a States-man, as any of their Age), I never saw the first in Clothes better than the commonest Sea-Captain, nor with above one man following him, nor in a Coach: And in his own House, neither was the Size, Building, Furniture, or Entertainment, at all ex∣ceeding the use of every common Merchant and Trades-man in his Town.

For the Pensioner De Wit, who had the great influence in the Govern∣ment, The whole train and expence of his Domestique went very equal with other common Deputies or Mi∣nisters of the State; His Habit grave, and plain, and popular; His Table what only serv'd turn for his Family, or a Friend; His Train (besides Com∣missaries and Clerks kept for him in an Office adjoining to his House, at the publique charge) was only one man, who performed all the Menial service of his House at home; and upon his Visits of Ceremony, putting on a plain Livery-Cloak, attended his Coach abroad: For upon other occasions, He was seen usually in the streets on foot and alone, like the commonest Burger of the Town. Nor was this manner of life affected, or used by these par∣ticular men, but was the general fashi∣on or mode among all the Magistrates of the State: For I speak not of the Military Officers, who are reckon'd their Servants, and live in a different garb, though generally modester than in other Countreys.

Thus this stomachful People, who could not endure the least exercise of

Arbitrary Power or Impositions, or the sight of any Forreign Troops under the Spanish Government; Have been since inured to all of them, in the highest degree, under their own Po∣pular Magistrates; Bridled with hard Laws; Terrified with severe Executi∣ons; Environ'd with Forreign Forces; And opprest with the most cruel Hardship and variety of Taxes, that was ever known under any Govern∣ment. But all this, whilst the way to Office and Authority lyes through those qualities which acquire the ge∣neral esteem of the people; Whilst no man is exempted from the danger and current of Laws; Whilst Soldiers are confin'd to Frontier-Garrisons (the guard of Inland or Trading-Towns being left to the Burghers themselves); And whilst no great Riches are seen to enter by Publique Payments into private Purses, either to raise Families, or to feed the prodigal Expences of vain, extravagant, and luxurious men; But all Publique Moneys are applied to the Safety, Greatness, or Honour of the State, and the Magistrates them∣selves bear an equal share in all the Burthens they impose.

The Authority of the Princes of Orange,* 1.4 though intermitted upon the untimely death of the last, and infancy of this present Prince; Yet as it must be ever acknowledged to have had a most essential part in the first frame of this Government, and in all the For∣tunes thereof, during the whole growth and progress of the State: So has it ever preserved a very strong root, not only in Six of the Provinces, but even in the general and popular affe∣ctions of the Province of Holland it self, Whose States have for these last Twenty years so much endeavoured to suppress or exclude it.

This began in the person of Prince William of Nassaw, at the very birth of the State; And not so much by the quality of being Governour of Holland and Zealand in Charles the Fifth's, and Philip the Second's time; As by the esteem of so great Wisdom, Goodness and Courage, as excell'd in that Prince, and seems to have been from him derived to his whole Race, Being indeed the qualities that natu∣rally acquire esteem and authority a∣mong the people in all Governments.

Nor has this Nation in particular, since the time perhaps of Civilis, ever been without some Head, under some Title or other; but always a Head subordi∣nate to their Laws and Customs, and to the Soveraign Power of the State.

In the first Constitution of this Go∣vernment, after the Revolt from Spain, All the Power and Rights of Prince William of Orange, as Governour of the Provinces, seem to have been care∣fully reserved. But those which re∣main'd inherent in the Soveraign, were devolved upon the Assembly of the States-General, so as in them remained the power of making Peace and War, and all Forreign Alliances, and of rai∣sing and coining of Moneys. In the Prince, the command of all Land and Sea-Forces, as Captain-General and Admiral, and thereby the disposition of all Military Commands; The power of pardoning the Penalty of Crimes; The chusing of Magistrates upon the nomination of the Towns; For they presented three to the Prince, who elected one out of that number. Ori∣ginally the States-General were con∣voked

by the Council of State, where the Prince had the greatest influence: Nor since that change, have the States used to resolve any important matter without his advice. Besides all this, As the States-General represented the Soveraignty, so did the Prince of O∣range the Dignity of this State, by publique Guards, and the attendance of all Military Officers; By the applica∣tion of all Forreign Ministers, and all pretenders at home; By the splendour of his Court, and magnificence of his Expence, supported not only by the Pensions and Rights of his several Charges and Commands, but by a mighty Patrimonial Revenue in Lands, and Soveraign Principalities and Lord∣ships, as well in France, Germany, and Burgundy, as in the several parts of the Seventeen Provinces; so as Prince Henry was used to answer some that would have flattered him into the de∣signs of a more Arbitrary Power, That he had as much as any wise Prince would desire in that State; since he had all indeed, besides that of Punish∣ing men, and raising Money; whereas he had rather the envy of the first

should lye upon the Forms of the Go∣vernment; and he knew the other could never be supported without the consent of the people, to that degree which was necessary for the defence of so small a State against so mighty Prin∣ces as their Neighbours.

Upon these Foundations was this State first establisht, and by these Or∣ders maintained, till the death of the last Prince of Orange; When by the great influence of the Province of Holland amongst the rest, the Autho∣rity of the Princes came to be shared among the several Magistracies of the State; Those of the Cities assumed the last nomination of their several Magistrates; The States-Provincial, the disposal of all Military Commands in those Troops which their share was to pay; And the States-General, the Com∣mand of the Armies, by Officers of their own appointment, substituted and changed at their will. No power re∣main'd to pardon what was once con∣demned by rigor of Law; Nor any person to represent the Port and Dig∣nity of a Soveraign State; Both which could not fail of being sensibly missed

by the people, since no man in parti∣cular can be secure of offending, or would therefore absolutely despair of impunity himself, though he would have others do so; And men are ge∣nerally pleased with the Pomp and Splendor of a Government, not only as it is an amusement for idle people, but as it is a mark of the Greatness, Honour and Riches of their Coun∣trey.

However these Defects were for near Twenty years supplied in some measure, and this Frame supported by the great Authority and Riches of the Province of Holland, which drew a sort of dependance from the other Six; and by the great Sufficiency, In∣tegrity and Constancy of their chief Minister, and by the effect of both in the prosperous Successes of their Af∣fairs: Yet having a Constitution strain∣ed against the current vein and hu∣mour of the people, It was always evident, that upon the growth of this young Prince, The great Vir∣tues and Qualities he derived from the mixture of such Royal and such Princely Blood, could not fail

in time of raising His Authority to equal at least, if not to surpass that of his glorious Ancestors.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Govern∣ment of the City of Am∣sterdam.
• * 1.2

  Govern∣ment of the Pro∣vince of Holland▪
• * 1.3

  Govern∣ment of the United Provin∣ces.
• * 1.4

  The Au∣thority of the Prin∣ces of O∣range.