A treatise of the antiquity of the commonwealth of the Battavers, which is now the Hollanders first written in Latin by Hugo Grotius, advocat fiscall of Holland, Zealand, and Westfriesland, &c. And afterwards translated into the Netherlandish Dutch, and perused by the author himselfe. And now again translated out of both the Latin and Dutch, into English, by Tho. Woods, Gent.

The third Chapter. In what estate the Common-wealth of the Battavers was in the flourishing time of the Ro∣man Monarchy. (Book 3)

WE have already heard af∣ter what manner the Go∣vernment of the Batta∣vers was at the very Originall be∣ginning of that people: But in regard that the Magnificence of the Romanes did oppresse so many other Nations, that they made free Commonwealths to be their Tributary; Provinces. And that they used the very Kings themselvs as instruments of slavery, as some Writers affirm: So peradventure may some think that these Com∣mon Lords the Battavers were used

after the same manner also; and that the rather, because we read in Taci∣tus, That the Battavers leaving the land of Hessen to dwell in a place where they should be a part of the Roman Monarchy. But after what manner that is to be understood, the Authors owne words presently following doe declare, where hee saith, that the Mattiacks being neer neighbors unto the Battavers were in the very same custome with the Romanes, that is, to pleasure them; which word doth not apper∣taine unto a subject, but unto a friend: Adding yet further there∣unto, That it so farre extended it selfe, not unto the Monarchy, but to the homage of the Monar∣chy.

It is manifest that there are two sorts of tolerations; one sort that is equall, and another sort that is unequall: The unequall is, when

one Nation is subject under the authority of another; The equall is when as each of these Nations doe continue in their owne privi∣ledges, notwithstanding though one Nation oftentimes be more mightie then the other, although their priviledges bee both alike. Yet oftentimes it commeth so to passe, that those that have the least might, although the toleration be equall, yet neverthelesse very willingly doe certain homage unto those that are the more mightie, and doe endeavour to please them: And in this case it is credible, that the Battavers have done homage unto the Romanes, and yet have not beene subject under their Com∣mand.

The word Society sheweth the very same, the which Tacitus useth in the same place, which Society was also honourable; for saith he,

they held their reputation, and the tokens of the old Society; for the Society betokeneth an equa∣lity of each others priviledges; and so much the more, when as the word of Reputation is added ther∣unto, the which cannot be under∣stood in a Nation which submit themselves unto another, either by yielding, or by an unequall tolera∣tion. Yet in another place Taci∣tus speaketh more clearly of the Battavers, where hee saith, That they being in the Society of such as were more mightie then them∣selves, were nowhit dismayed at the Magnificence of the Romanes; for as commonly amongst those that are so unequall, there conti∣nueth no Society, but rather such a one as the Lion made, whereof the Fables make report, who urged all to that point, that the strongest should have all; wherein he clear∣ly

proveth, that the Battavers had obtained this by their undaunted courage and fidelity, that they maintained the Society, that is an equality of priviledge, not onely in words, but in very deeds also.

I will conclude this point yet after this manner, The Nations that were under the Romanes, shew∣ed that they were subject under them by these three tokens; First, that they were under the command of the Roman Magistrates; Se∣condly, that they were Tributa∣ries; and thirdly, that they payed Toll.

Now concerning the Romane Magistrates, they were never in the Iland of the Battavers; whereup∣on Civilis in his Oration unto his Countrey men, saith, That there never came so much as a Legate of the Romans unto the Battavers, but they governed their own Com∣mon

wealth by their owne Lawes, and their owne Magistrates; and in this respect they were never reck∣oned among the number of the conquered Provinces: For often∣times Tacitus maketh mention of the Nation of the Battavers, of the Convocations of the Battavers, of the Citizens of the Battavers; by which words he meaneth no other thing, then that which we now a dayes call a Free Government; like as Caesar called the Citizens of of the Swisers that is, the Com∣monwealth of the Swisers.

Now concerning the Tributes and Tolls, from which almost no Nation is free, although it had bin for no other end and purpose in them, but for this respect, That they enjoyed yet still their owne Lawes as a benefit from the Ro∣manes, yet for all this the Battavers payed nothing at all, neither the

one, nor the other. Tacitus saith, they were not upbraided with tri∣butes, nor opprest with the recei∣vers of the Toll. And presently thereafter he saith that they were free and exempt from all Charges and Contributions. Civilis in his Oration unto the Walloons, saith of the Battavers, That they were free from Tributes. And the Battavers themselves speaking of themselvs doe say, that they were not char∣ged with any Tributes. What o∣ther Articles there were concer∣ning the tolleration, it were folly to make further enquiry then of those that are manifest, and which the Romanes and the Battavers agreed upon, as, That they should mutually assist each other with men; and for this cause the Batta∣vers which were continually jar∣ring with their Neighbours about their limits, had the lesse need to

fear them, because they learned of the Magnificence of the Romanes. And againe, the Romanes percei∣ving that the Battavers would be a great assistance unto them against the Belgians, the Germans, Brittains, yea even against the whole world, as being such who were the most excellently valo∣rous of all other Nations round about them: and no lesse famous for their Horsmen, Footmen, and Mariners, and aptnesse for all sorts of warre; therefore like as at this instant the Swisers are serviceable to many Kings; even so did the Battavers unto the Romans in those daies, furnishing them with Troops and Companies, the which as Ta∣citus saith, were governed accord∣ing to their old Customes by the noblest of their owne Countrey∣men: This was a great token of their equality, which seldome

hapned in the Monarchy of the Romanes, that the Battavers them∣selves appointed those that should be the Generall, and the Officers of those that were sent to assist the Romanes, and received none from the Romanes: This is that which Tacitus saith, That the Battavers brought onely Men and Armes un∣to the Monarchy. And in another place he saith, That they were of purpose kept and preserved as a refuge to be chiefly used in Bat∣tailes, and were preserved for the warre as Armes and Ammunition. Besides the assistance of men, the Romanes had another as great a be∣nefit of the Battavers, as namely, the use of the Iland, wherein they had not onely certain Garrisons, but also a Fleet upon their Sea oasts, and all other things that were necessary for the provision of their Warre against the Germanes,

or the Brittaines. It is without all doubt, but that Caius Iulius Caesar, was the first of the Ro∣manes that invaded these Coun∣tries, by whom they were first brought unto this Societie and Alliance with the Battavers; for he maketh mention himselfe of the Iland of the Battavers, and how that he was come so farre where the Ryne and the Maes ranne into one streame, and that he in his Ex∣pedition had the Battavers to as∣sist him; the which Lucanus plain∣ly expresseth unto us. Hee him∣selfe also writeth, that hee had with him Dutch Horsemen, after∣terwards also certaine light armed Footmen, which whether they were Battavers themselves, or were among them; and that the rather because that all the rest of the Ger∣manes had a detestable hatred a∣gainst the Romanes: And Caesar

writeth, that those same Horse and Footmen, were levied out of the Common-Wealths, the which hee himself had pacified.

These were they by whose valour principally Caesar conquered the Walloons, as Orosius writeth.

These were they whose shock the Walloons by Noyon could not resist: for this occasion▪ it is that Civilis boasteth himselfe that the Burgondians and the Averginans were daunted by the Horsemen of the Battavers.

These were they that beat back the Walloons, when they Charged Caesar at the Borders of Langres.

These were they that in two se∣verall Battels conquered the Ene∣my by Ausseis.

By the valour of these were they of Beauvois put to flight: After∣wards concerning the Victory of the Pharsalians, Caesar had promi∣sed

before, that no other should have the first onset thereof, and the event and successe sheweth the same, as Florus and Dion doe te∣stifie.

These were the very same Bat∣tavers, whose Horsemen had that Quality of swimming over Rivers on Horse-back, which no other could doe, and put to flight Pto∣lomy▪ and the Alexandrians, when they charged Caesar: for which great examples of Courage and fidelity, Augustus Caesar took the Battavers to bee his personall Guard, as now many Kings doe the Swisers, which also the succeeding Emperours have Imitated: Of this mentioneth Dion, Suetonius, Taci∣tus and others.

Germanicus was exceedingly as∣sisted by these, being under the Emperor Tiberius, in respect of the situation of the Iland, as also by

the valour of the Battavers, like as it is clearly proved by the example of the Generall Cariovalda, in the Raigne of the Emperour Claudius, when Plautius was sent into Great Brittaine, That then a great part of that Iland was Conquered by the wonderfull and admirable Strata∣gems of the Battavers as Dion testifieth.

Againe, under the Emperour Nero, when Suetonius Paulinus go∣verned Great Brittaine by many strategems, was the reputation of the Battavers exceedingly augmen∣ted: Shortly thereafter, followed the Civill Warres of the Romanes, whose good or bad successe de∣pended most of all upon the Bat∣tavers.

These were they who advanced Galba, and after him Vitellius: The Legions of the Romanes them∣selves called them the strongest

member of their Army, the ablest men, old Souldiers, Conquerors in many Battels: Tacitus saith, That the Regiments of the Bat∣tavers, were a great motive unto what side soever they inclined, whether they were with them or against them: And for this occa∣sion, the Vitellians durst not put to death Civilis; least that for the pu∣nishing of one man, who was so mighty amonst the Battavers, they might lose the hearts of so valiant a Nation. And Martial speaking of a Battaver, useth the words:

This face which I doe shew thee here, Did make your Fathers most to feare.

Now sith that the benefits were so many and so great, which the Battavers had shewed unto the Em∣perours,

and unto the Monarchy of the Romans, as that they had such profit by that Iland: That they were so exceeding valorous, and that the fame was so spread abroad of the great ayd that they had received from them, so that it was no marvell that for the space of a hundred and twenty years (for so many years is the reckoning from Caius Iulius Caesar, unto the raign of the Emperour Vespasian) the Battavers still kept their repu∣tation, and their absolute perfect Priviledges of the Society. But when the time came, that the Fa∣vours of the Romans turned into an inforcing Taxation, and they not only prosecuted the same with ex∣ceeding greedinesse, but also ag∣gravated the same with most de∣testable and reproachfull Ravish∣ments; the which was in no wise to∣lerable for a free people to endure:

Then did the Battavers that which was lawfull for such worthy men to doe, in taking of Armes, whereby they might defend their Liberty and unspotted Chastity: The oc∣casion whereof, Civilis reporteth, saying, That they were not Esteem∣ed now as Companions, like as in former time they had been, but as Slaves; That they for these oc∣casions, had justly taken Armes against the publick Lords: That Liberty naturally was given, even to the very brute beasts: From the History of which Warre doth appear what love the Battavers had to keep their Liberty; for the which, they feared not to challenge the Romans power, and the fifteen Legions that were quartered round about them: Therefore like as Tacitus saith, the very name of the Romans was expelled out of the Iland of the Battavers; and they

were exceedingly had in great estimation throughout all Germa∣ny, and the Walloons Countrey, as being the Authors of Liberty. This is also to be considered in the time of that War, that when as the Walloons had generally taken Armes, and were also bound by Oath unto the Legions of the Ro∣mans; That neither Civilis him∣self, nor yet any of the Battavers, were bound with Oath as the Walloons were: That is, because it was not convenient that such a free Nation, and such as fought for their Liberty, should give their Oath unto any other.

What successe and event that Warre had, which the Battavers undertook by the Resolution of both the States, under the conduct of Civilis, against the Tyrannicall domineering of the Romans, is not very manifest, because that Tacitus

in his History maketh no mention thereof. But in regard that Tacitus saith, that Cerialis did offer pardon unto Civilis, and peace unto the Battavers; And that Iosephus the Jewish Writer saith, This Warre ended by concluding of a peace; so that I make no question, but that the Battavers were re-established in the former state of the Society: And so much the rather, because that Tacitus writing of the man∣ners of the Germans in the time of Trajanus who was twice Consul, saith, That the Battavers kept their old reputation, and their tokens of the old Society: And in the se∣quell thereof, sheweth manifestly enough, that after that Warre they were neither opprest with Tri∣butes, nor yet with Toll; but that they kept their Priviledge, only with this Condition, that they should send ayd unto the Romans.

And for a certainty, before that time, in the Reign of the Empe∣rour Domitian, Agricola being assisted by the Battavers, effected strange businesses in Brittaine: Al∣so when as Adrianus was with his Army by the Danow, that also then was there great Service performed by the Battavish Souldiers.

After those times, the Privi∣ledges of the Battavers were so farre from being diminished, that their Reputation was the rather augmented, the which, certain old Titles and Inscriptions, which are yet extant and found amongst us, doe sufficiently testifie; whereof some produce the time of Severus; and others, of Antonius and Geta; for they doe not name the Nation of the Battavers, and the Citizens of the Battavers, not Companions, like as formerly they were called: but call them Brethren and

Friends, as well of the people, as of the Monarchy of the Romans; from which name, a certaine Pa∣negyrick Writer, saith, appeareth as well the fellowship as the equality of their worthinesse.

After these times, the Francks began to be known about the Ryne, against whom the Battavers and the Romans had continuall Warres: Oftentimes the Francks invaded the Iland of the Battavers, often∣times they were repulsed. And lastly, in the Raign of Constantius the Emperour, the Francks trailing the Almans along with them, and the Saxons who were in Confe∣deracy with them, swarming up and down farre and neare, that then Iulianus did so pepper them in a great Battell by Straesburch; for the Victory of which Battell, as Ammianus saith, they may princi∣pally thank the valour of the Bat∣tavers;

for the Horsemen of the Romans being all fled, and the Ene∣my beginning with their swords to fall to the Execution of their confused Battell; the Battavers came to second and to relieve them in their greatest necessity, they being as Ammianus saith, a terrible multitude of people, they came with their Kings with them: from whence is concluded, that at that very time remained yet the same manner of Government a∣mongst the Battavers, which they had had of old, excepting that they by reason of the continuing Wars, did more use the perpetuall Com∣mand of the Kings, then the tem∣porall Command of the Generals. Moreover, that for the time that the Monarchy of the Romans was ambitiously climbing or had any trouble, they never diminished nor detained any Priviledges from

those that were their ablest Con∣federates, not in the least degree, as mear reason can sufficiently ap∣prove the same.

And undoubtedly, the cruell Wars with the Francks, which con∣tinually endured from the Raign of Valerian, even unto the Monarchy of Iulianus, being a hundred years, gave such a shrowd pul-down unto the People of the Battavers, that by reason thereof, it hapned that the Salians who were one of the principall Nations of the Francks, first invaded a part of the Iland of the Battavers, as I think, that part which is nearest unto Over-Isell, and with the consent of the Ro∣mans and of the Battavers kept the same: But when the Quades be∣ing a Nation of the Saxons strove to drive them out of their Posses∣sion, Then did the Emperour Iulia∣nus, first by Arms defend his new

friends the Salians, and afterwards made Peace in such a manner, that he united the Quades and the Sali∣ans being the valiantest, the one Nation of the Francks, and the other of the Saxons, into one Corporation and name of Batta∣vers. And hereupon, were certain Legions levied out of these people of the Quades, Salians, and Batta∣vers, to ayd the Romans, who (as we may understand by Zosimus) were all called by the name of Battavers: whence appeareth, That the Batta∣vers being augmented by the in∣crease of other Nations, did main∣taine the Priviledges of their Li∣berty undiminished. But especially about this time, the State of the Romans in great Brittain being very weak and in great danger, they were held up and supported by the Bat∣tavers, by whose assistance recove∣ring London, Civilis who was a Bat∣taver

and of Royall blood, was then made Governour of great Brittain, as in my opinion, the very name imports so much, being descended from that famous Generall which was in the Raigne of the Empe∣rour Vespasian.