Observations upon the Provinces United. And on the state of France. Written by Sr Thomas Overbury.:

OBSERVATIONS Upon the PROVINCES UNITED.

ABout the be∣ginning of this STATE, all things did most nota∣bly concurr for the Rising and Mainte∣nance of it; the disposition

of the people being, as muti∣nous, so industrious and fru∣gall. The Nature of the Countrey every where Forti∣siable with water; the Situ∣ation of it, having behinde them the Baltique Sea, which yeelds them all materials for Ships, and many other Com∣modities: and for Men, hard before them France and Eng∣land, both fearing the Spa∣nish Greatness; and there∣fore both concurring for their Aid: the remotenesse of their Master from them; the Change of Reilgion fal∣ling out about the time of their Revolt; and now the

Marquis of Brandenburgh, a Protestant, like to become Duke of Cleve. The discon∣tentments of the Low-Coun∣tries did first appear soon af∣ter the going away of the Kings of Spain, while the Dut∣chesse of Parma Governed; to suppresse which beginnings, the Duke of Alva being sent, inflamed them more, upon attempting to bring in the In∣quisition and Spanish Deci∣mation, upon the beheading Count Horne, and Count Eg∣mont, persecuting those of the Religion, and undertaking to build Cittadels upon all their Towns, which he effected at

Antwerp; but enterprising the like at Flushing, that Towne revolted first, and under it began the War.

But the more generall re∣volt of the Provinces hap∣pened after the death of Don LEVVIS de Requiesens, and upon the coming down of Don JOHN of Austria, when all the Provinces, excepting Luxenburgh, upon the lack of Antwerp, and other Inso∣lencies, proclaimed the Spa∣niards Rebels, and enemies to the King: yet the abju∣ring of their obedience from the Crown of Spain was not in a yeer or two after.

Holland and Zealand, upon their first standing out, of∣fered the Soveraigntie of themselves to ELISABETH Queen of England, and after∣ward the Protection: both which shee neglected, and that while the French sent greater Aid, and more men of Quality then we: But af∣ter the Civill Warr began in France, that kept them busie at home; and then the Queen, seeing the necessitie of being supported, upon the pawn∣ing of Brill and Flushing, sent Money and Men: And after that, most part of the great Exploits there were done by

the English, who were com∣monly the third part of the Army, being four Regiments, besides eleven hundred in Flushing and the Ramekins, and five hundred in the Brill. But of late the King of France ap∣pearing more for them then ours, and paying himself the French that were there, they gave equal, if not more coun∣tenance to that Nation. But upon these two Kings they made their whole Depen∣dancie; and though with more respect to him that was stronger for the time; yet so as it might give no distaste unto the other.

For the manner of their Government: They have, upon occasion, an Assembly of the Generall States, like our Parliament, being composed of those which are sent from every Province upon Sum∣mons; and what these en∣act stands for Law. Then is there besides, a Councell of State, residing for the most part at the Hague, which at∣tends daily occasions, being rather imployed upon affairs of State, then of particular Justice. The most potent in this Councel was BARNA∣VILL, by reason of his Ad∣vocates with Holland. And

besides both these, every Province and great Towne have particular Councels of their own. To all which Assemblies, as well of the Generall States, as the rest, the Gentrie is called for Or∣der sake; but the State in∣deed is Democraticall, the Merchant and the Trades∣man being predominant, the Gentry now but few, and poor; and even at the beginning, the Prince of O∣range saw it safer to relie up∣on the Towns then them: Neither are the Gentrie so much engaged in the Cause; the People having more Ad∣vantages

in a Free State, they in a Monarchie. Their care in Government is very ex∣act and particular, by reason that every one hath an im∣mediate Interest in the State: Such is the equalitie of Ju∣stice, that it renders every man satisfied: Such the pub∣lick Regularity, as a man may see, their Lawes were made to guide, not to en∣trap: Such their exactnesse in casting the expence of an Armie, as that it shalt be e∣qually far from Superfluitie and Want; and as much or∣der and certainty in their Acts of War, as in ours of

Peace, teaching it to be both Civill, and Rich: And they still retaine that signe of a Common-wealth uncorrupt∣ed, PRIVATE POVERTY, and PUBLICK WEALE: For no one private man there is exceeding rich, and few very poor, and no State more sumptuous in all Publick things.

But the Question is, Whe∣ther this, being a Free State, will aswell subsist in Peace, as it hath done hitherto in Warr; Peace leaving every one to attend his particular wealth; when Fear, while the Warr lasts, maketh them

concurre for their common safety; And Zealand, upon the least security, hath ever been envious at the Predomi∣nancy of Holland and Utrick, ready to Mutinie for Reli∣gion: and besides, it is a doubt, whether the same care and sincerity would con∣tinue, if they were at their Consistence, as appears yet whiles they are but in ri∣sing. The Revenue of this State ariseth chiefely from the Earle of Hol∣land's Demains, and Con∣fiscated Church Livings, the rising and falling of Money, which they use with much

advantage, their Fishing upon our Coasts, and those of Norway, Contribution out of the Enemies Coun∣try, Taxes upon all things at home, and Impositions upon all Merchandises from abroad. Their expences up∣an their Ambassadors, their Shippings, their Ditches, their Rampiers and Muni∣tion, and commonly they have in pay by Sea and Land 60000 men.

For their strength; The nature of the Country makes them able to defend them∣selves long by land, nei∣ther could any thing have

endangered them so much as the last great Frost, had not the Treaty been then on foot; because the Enemy beeing then Master of the Field, that rendred their Ditches, Marshes, and Ri∣vers as firm ground.

There belongs to that STATE 20000. Vessells of all sorts, so that if the Spaniard were entirely beaten out of those parts, the Kings of France and England would take as much paines to sup∣presse, as ever they did to raise them: For being our Enemies, they are able to give us the Law at Sea, and

eate us out of all trade, much more the French, having at this time three Ships for our one, though none so good as our best.

Now that whereupon the most part of their Revenue and strength depends, is their Traffick, in which Mystery of STATE they are at this day the wisest; for all the Commodities that this part of the world wants, and the Indies have, as Spice, Silke, Jewels, Gold, they are become the Con∣veyers of them for the rest of Christendome, except us, as the Venetians were of old;

And all those Commodities that those Northern Coun∣tries abound with, and these Southerne stand in need of, they likewise convey thither, which was the ancient Trade of the Easterlings: And this they do, having lit∣tle to export of their own, by buying of their Neigh∣bour Countreys the for∣mer, and selling them a∣gaine what they bring back at their own prices, and so consequently live upon the idlenesse of o∣thers. And to this purpose their Situation serves fitly; for the Rivers of the Rhene,

the Maze, and Skeld end all in their Dominions; and the Baltick Sea lies not farre from them: All which af∣fords them what ever the great Continent of Germany, Russia, and Poland yeelds; then they again lying be∣tween Germany and the Sea, doe furnish it backe with all Commodities forraign.

To remember some pieces of their Discipline as pat∣terns of the rest; The Wat∣ches at night are never all of one Nation, so that they can hardly concurre to give up any one Towne. The Commissaries are no where

so strict upon Musters; and where he finds a Company, thither he reduceth them: so that when an Army mar∣cheth, the List and the Poll are never farre disagreeing. Their Army is ever well Clo∣thed, well Armed, and had never yet occasion to muti∣ny for Pay or Victnalls. The Souldiers commit no where fewer Insolencies up∣on the Burgers, fewer Rob∣beries upon the Country, nor the Officers fewer deceits upon the Souldiers. And lastly they provide well that their Generall shall have small meanes to invade their

Liberties: For first, their Army is composed of ma∣ny Nations, which have their severall Commanders, and the Commands are disposed by the STATES Themselves, not by the Ge∣nerall. And secondly, Hee hath never an implicite Commission left to discre∣tion; but by reason their Countrie hath no great bounds, receives daily Com∣mands what to doe.

Their Territory contains six entire Provinces; Hol∣land, Zealand, Utrick, Gro∣ningen, Overiscell, and Friez∣land,

besides three parts of Gelderland, and certaine Towns in Brabant and Flan∣ders; the ground of which is, for the most part, fruit∣full; the Towns no where so equally beautifull, strong, and rich: which equality growes, by reason that they appropriate some one Staple Commodity to every Town of note: Onely Amsterdam not onely passeth them all, but even Sivil, Lisbone, or any Mart Towne in Chri∣stendome: And to it is ap∣propriated the Trade of the East Indies, where they main∣tain commonly forty Ships;

besides which, there go twice a year from it and the adjoin∣ing Townes, a great Fleete to the Baltique Sea: Upon the fall of Antwerp, that rose rather then Meddleborough, though it stand at the same River's mouth, and is their second Mart Towne, to which is appropriated our English Cloth.

Concerning the people, they are neither much de∣vout, nor much wicked; given all to Drink, and eminently to no other vice; hard in bargaining, but just, surly, and respectlesse,

as in all Democracies; thir∣sty, industrious, and clean∣ly; disheartned upon the least ill successe, and inso∣lent upon good; inventive in Manufactures, cunning in Traffick; and general∣ly for matter of Action, that naturall slownesse of theirs sutes better, by rea∣son of that advisednesse and perseverance it brings with it, then the rashnesse and changeablenesse of the French and Florentine Wits: and the equality of spirits which is among them and the Swis∣sers, renders them so fit for a Democracy; which kinde

of Government, Nations of more stable wits, being once come to a Consistent Great∣nesse, have seldome long en∣dured.

Observatoins on the State of the Arch-Dukes Countrey.

AS soon as I entred in∣to the Arch-Dukes Countrey (which begins after Lillow) pre∣sently I beheld works of a Province, and those; of a Pro∣vince distressed with War; the people heartlesse, and rather repining against their Gover∣nors, then revengfull against the Enemies, the bravery of that Gentry which was left,

and the Industry of the Mer∣chant quite decayed; the Husbandman labouring one∣ly to live, without desire to be rich to another's use; the Towns (whatsoever concern∣ed not the strength of them) ruinous: And to conclude, the people here growing poor with lesse Taxes, then they flourish with, on the States side.

This War hath kept the King of Spain busie ever since it began; and spending all the Mony that the Indies, and all the Men that Spain and Italie could afford, hath with∣drawn him from perseve∣ring

in any other Enter∣prize: Neither could hee give over this, without for∣going the means to under∣take any thing hereafter upon France or England, and conse∣quently, the hope of the Westerne Monarchie. For, without that handle, the Mines of Peru had done little hurt in these parts, in com∣parison of what they have. The cause of the expenceful∣nesse of it, is the remocenesse of those Provinces from Spain; by reason of which, every souldier of Spain or Italy, before hee can arrive there, costs the King an hundred

Crowns, and not above one of ten that arrives, proves good: besides, by reason of the distance, a great part of the Money is drunk up be∣twixt the Officers that convey it and pay it. The cause of the continuance of it, is, not onely the strength of the E∣my, but partly by reason that the Commanders themselves are content the Warre shall last, so to maintain and ren∣der themselves necessaries; and partly, because the people of those Countries are not so eager to have the other re∣duced, as willing to be in the like state themselves.

The usuall Revenue of those Provinces which the Arch-Duke hath, a∣mounts to 1200000 Crowns a year; besides which, there come from Spain every Month to maintain the War, 150000 Crowns. It was at the first, 300000 Crowns a month, but it fell by fifties to this, at the time when the Treaty began: Flanders payes more towards the warr then all the rest, as Holland doth with the States. There is no▪ Spaniard of the Councell of State, nor Governour of any Province, but of the Councell of Warre, which

is only active; There they only are, and have in their hands all the strong Towns and Castles of those Provin∣ces, of which the Governors have but only the Title.

The Nations of which their Army consists, are chief∣ly Spaniards and Italians, e∣mulous one of another there; as on the other side, the French and English; and of the Countrey, chiefly Burgundi∣ans and Wallons. The Popes Letters, and Spinola's in∣clination kept the Itali∣ans there, almost in equality of Command with the Spani∣ard himself.

The Governours for the King of Spain there successive∣ly have been the Duke of Alva, Don Lewis de Requie∣sens, Don John d' Austria, the Prince of Parma, the Arch-Duke Ernestus, the Cardinall Andrew of Austrich, and the Cardinall Albert, till hee married the Infanta.

Where the Dominion of the Arch-Duke and the States part, there also changeth the nature of the Countrey, that is, about Antwerp: For all be∣low being flat, and betwixt Medow and Marsh, thence it begins to rise and become Champion, and consequent∣ly,

the people are more quick and spiritfull, as the Braban∣ter, Flemming, and Wallon.

The most remarkable place in that side is Antwerp (which rose upon the fall or Bruges) equally strong and beautiful, remaining yet so upon the strength of its former great∣ness; twice spoyled by the Spaniard, and the like attemp∣ted by the French. The Cittadel was built there by the Duke of Alva, but renewed by the Prince of Parma after his 18 months besieging it; the Town accepting a Castle ra∣ther then a Garrison, to min∣gle among them. There are

yet in the Town of Citizens 30000 fighting men, 600 of which kept Watch nightly, but they allowed neither Ca∣non upon the Rampier, nor Magazins of powder. In the Castle are 200 peeces of Ordnance, and commonly se∣ven or eight hundred Souldi∣ers. Flanders is the best of the seventeen Provinces, but the Havens therof are naught.