Page 5
A pleasant Harangue made by a Soldier to Prince Maurice.
A Walloon Serjeant walking in the Court at the Hague, demanded of a Captain in that place, by what means he might speak with the Prince of Orange? the Captain told him, if he would have a little patience the Prince would not belong e're he would come that way; he had no sooner said these words but his Highness appeared, whereupon this Bore, the Walloon, being confident in his own Eloquence and Barbarous Gaulish Dialect, addrest himself in these words: Sr. Your Excellency must know, that our Ensign is dead, now I being the eldest Serjeant the Colours belong to me. The Prince seeing a man of that bulk, imagin'd he had a Soul as large, and there∣fore bid him speak on boldly: but he instead of enlarg∣ing himself sung only the same notes over again. The Prince being in a very good humour at that time, asked him, how long he had served the States? let me see (said this Walloon, and thereupon drew an old Book out of his pocket) I—let me see—I now I, have it, I came in the same year to serve the States, that your Excellency ran away before Groll.