Sect. I. The Accidents that fell out in our Voyage, &c.

WE departed from London Thursday January 16th. 1690. about Nine in the Morning, and came that Night to Cittingbourn; the next Day, about Noon, we came to Margaret, in the Isle of Thanet; and the same Evening we went on Board the Frigat that car­ried His Majesty's Musick, which lay then in [Page 6] the Road, with the rest of the Fleet, Comman­ded by Admiral Rooke: Early the next morning, being Saturday the 17th. the King Arriv'd from Graves-end, attended by the Dukes of Norfolk and Ormond, the Earls of Devonshire, Dorset and Portland, and other Grandees of the Court: About Noon, the Signal being given from the Admiral, the whole Fleet consisting of Twelve Men of War, Seven Yatchs, and many Tenders, set Sail, with a fair Gale. On Tuesday the 20th, We came in sight of the Coast of Holland, near the Island of Goree, but the weather being dark­ned with Foggs, and the Shore choak'd up with heaps of Ice, pil'd up one upon another, it was not for us to come near: However the King put himself into a Shallop to get to the Land, notwithstanding the danger that threatned him; and when all the rest were terrified with the Perils wherein His Majesty ventur'd his Person; and the Seamen themselves were not in a little Terror, it was observ'd; that He himself, was the only Person, nothing at all dismay'd. In the mean time the Foggs grew thicker and thic­ker, insomuch, that we who were in the Man of War, soon lost sight of the Shallop, where the King was; and Night coming on, His Ma­jesty was for Ten hours expos'd to all the Inju­ries of the Air, and the Waves of the Sea, which fometimes came into the Shallop; so that the Lords who were with him, had their Cloaths all covered with Ice: However the next morn­ing His Majesty Landed in the Island Goree, and went into a Country Man's house, which had [Page 7] no more room to receive Him, and all the Lords of his Train, than one miserable Chamber and a Kitchin; But it was a welcome Retreat after so great a Hazard. After the King had shifted his Linnen and his Cloaths, and had been Com­plemented by the Magistrate of the Island, who offered him his House, which His Majesty re­fused, He took Coach again in the same Coach that brought him to the Country Mans House, and went aboard the Shallop again, to Land up­on the firm Continent; But then he met with new difficulties, for the small Vessel could not get near the Shore for the Ice; so that two Seamen were forced to take the King in their Arms, and carry him to the Shallop: At last His Majesty, with our whole Fleet of Tenders, (the Men of War returning for England) Ar­riv'd at a place called Orangie Poldar; here His Majesty was Complemented by the Prince of Nassau Sarbrach, Camp-Marshall, the Count of Berka, the Emperors extraordinary Envoy, Monsieur Catonna, the Spanish Ambassador, the Deputies of the States of Holland, the Prince of Frizeland, Count Horn; and several other Per­sons of the Highest Quality, who attended him to Houslaerdike, where he reposed himself for some hours. 'Twas thought His Majesty would have continu'd here for some Days, till all things were ready for the Magnificent En­try they were resolv'd to make for Him. But he told them, he desired none of those Honours, well knowing that the Glory of a Prince does not consist in Appearing, but in Acting. The [Page 8] King therefore went the same day to the Hague, and Arriv'd there about Six in the Evening, Accompanied with the Lords already mention­ed, and surrounded with the Guards of the Body. And in regard the Kings coming was in a manner a kind of surprize, his Entrance was also without any Ceremony. So that all that could be done in Testimony of the pub­lick Joy, was only by some Peals of Cannon, and Ringing the Bells.

Nevertheless, the Burgesses of the Hague had prepared along time before for His Majesty's Publick Entry, and had been at considerable Charges to make a Glorious Appearance; and all the Towns adjoyning, had prepared to be present at the Solemnity. In a Word, all the Holl [...]nders were willing to see the King in Pub­lick, and to assure themselves, with their own Eye, that a Prince, whom they love so infinite­ly, and of whom the common Enemy had spread so many false Reports, was still alive, and returned into their Provinces, which obli­ged the States to entreat his Majesty to make a Publick Entry; which he refused a long time, that such Ceremonies were but the loss of that time which he had resolved to spend altogether in Action. At length all that they could obtain from the King was, that he would dine about a quarter of a League from the Hague, at a House of the Earl of Portlands, and re­turn in his Coach through the midst of the Burgesses, ranged in Files, from the Court to the end of the City, which was done on Thursday, [Page 9] February 22d, about four of the Clock in the Afternoon, to the unexpressible Satisfaction of the People, all the Inhabitants of the Towns round about being got together, and perhaps there never was seen at the Hague such a vast concourse of People.

I shall not spend time in describing all the particulars of this Entry, which had nothing of extraordinary Magnificence, except the three Triumphant Arches, which surpassed in Beau­ty and Magnificence, all that was ever made in France, under the Reign of Lewis XIV upon the like Occasions. There you might see re­presented the Principal Actions of the King, in Honour of whom they were Erected, Ac­companied with several Inscriptions and Devi­ces perfectly corresponding with the Subjects to which they were applyed, and which ap­peared to be done by the hand of a Master. There you might particularly see Europe deli­vered from the gripes of her Ravisher; the Li­berty of Holland defended and preserved; that of England restored; Ireland subdued; and the Protestant Religion maintained. The whole Ceremony ended in the Evening with Fire-Works in several places of the City, several Peals of Cannon and Vallies of small Shot dis­charged, as well by the Burgesses, as by the Re­giment of Trison which was in Arms, with Bon­fires and Fire-works, before the Court: After all was over, they still continued giving several Testimonies of their Satisfaction to see once more a Prince so highly beloved by the Hollan­ders; [Page 10] and in regard the whole proceeded from a sincere Affection, there is a great Probability that these Rejoyceings will long endure.

On the other side the King manifested an ex­traordinary Goodness and Affability to all So­cieties, and private Persons that came to kiss his Hands. Admiral Tromp was one of this Number, and his Majesty honoured him with the command of the Holland Fleet for this Sum­mers Expedition; which was no sooner spread about the Country, but you might sensibly perceive an Augmentation of Joy among the Hollanders for the Kings coming: His Coach was environed with crouds of People that fol­lowed him where e're he went; and by a Thou­sand Acclamations Testified their Satisfaction that WILLIAM the Conqueror would com­mand their Army by Land; and Trump, who justly may be called a second Neptune, was to command their Fleet by Sea: and here, for the present, I shall break off my Relations of the trans­actions at the Hague, and divert the Reader with my observations on the Place.

Sect. II. Containing a description of the HAGUE.

THis curious Village and most delightful Place, the Residence of that August Senate, which has been, as it were, the Arbiter of Peace, [Page 11] and War to all Europe, whose charms are so great, its Buildings so Stately and Magnificent, and its streets so large, its shades so sweet, its In­habitants so civil, and so good Natur'd, that one may call it the Delight of the World; it hath three very pretty and delightful Meadows on the side of Delph, and Mountains of Sand on the other side, to cover it from the Rage of the O­cean, which is not above half a League distant from it; at the end of which is the small Village called Scheveling, which is Inhabited chiefly with Fishermen, where is a curious hard sandy shoar, admirably contrived by Nature, for the Divertisement of Persons of Quality; and here in the Summer time the States, foreign Amba­sadors, and their Ladies, &c. in their Coaches and six Horses, Ride on the Sands for several Leagues; the road from the Hague to this Village is a late made way, cut through vast deep Moun­tains of Sand, paved through with curious stone, a work fit for the Antient Romans.

That side which looks to Leiden, hath a very pretty and large Wood, with curious Walks and Groves, of Oak, Elm, and Lyme-Trees, where there is a Park stored with variety of Deer. The Inhabitants take the Air there in the Sum­mer Season, with a Divertisement capable to render them envy'd even among the Gods, mo­ved by this, that the pretty Ladies, take their pleasure without fear of the Fabulous plunder, so much celebrated by the Greeks, whereby pos­sibly they sometimes make them real and veri­table.

[Page 12] The Counts of Holland frequently kept their Courts in this palace, chiefly moved thereunto by the pleasantness of the place, and its commo­dious Situation for Hunting; Our King (when Prince of Orange,) kept his Court at this place, where he has a most stately Palace, the back part of which, with the great Hall, sufficiently testify its Antiquity. There is on the side of it, a great square, in which place, on the side of the Levant are three Magnificent Lodgments, built a few years since; the Doeles make the Cor­ner, whereof His Present Majesty, they say, lay'd the first stone: Over against the other cor­ner is another Palace built by Prince Maurice of Nassau, in which are to be seen the Portraitures of all the Kings in Europe, with many curiosities brought from America. The Voorhant Frontis­piece as well as the Houses that face the Court on the side of the Vivier, make by far the pleasantest Quarter of the Hague, by reason of the large and spaciousness of the Streets, and the number of Trees that are planted there; you may see great numbers of Persons of Qua­lity of both Sexes resort thither in the Even­ing, some in their Coaches, and some on Foot. The Cloyster of the Jacobines which was built on the said Voorhant, at this day still retains the name of the Church of the Cloyster.

There is another Church, built much after the form of the Theater in Oxon, and is of so Admirable a piece of Architecture without, that none within the seven Provinces (or scarce in the World) is comparable to it; there's no [Page 13] pillars within▪ so that the Minister may be seen in every place of the Church, by thousands of People without any Impediment. The Counts of Holland's Chapple which is in the Court, is at this day a Church for the French Refugees; there are two pretty places like squares, the one be­fore, and the other behind the Court, where all the Houses resemble those of Princes.

The States of Holland reside here, as well the Councellors of the Provincial Court, as of the Grand Council. The Cities of Holland have built here very Magnificent Houses for their Deputies, of which in my Opinion that of Ley­den, is one of the best Scituate and next the Court. The Ambassadors of princes, the States Allies, have their Residence here. The Groote Kirck, or great Church is very fine, in the midst of which is to be seen the Arms of the Famous Knights, the Order of Toyson D'ore, which plainly shews that they there Celebrated the Feast of the said Toyson: The Tower is very high, and its Form is Quadrangular, built with bricks, which may be seen at a vast di­stance: In fine, this place is, at all times, so well Inhabited by Gentry, and Persons of the greatest Quality; that if we consider its Splen­dour, the Magnificence of its Buildings and Streets, the affluence of the Nobles, and the pleasure of Converse; The Hague is one of the prettiest Courts, and the most agreeable in the Universe.

Sect. III. Some further Relations on the Affairs & Transactions at the HAGUE.

AFter the King came to the Hague, few days past without the Arrival of some Prin­ces, or other considerable Persons, as well to have the Honour to wait upon his Majesty, as to confer with him about the present Affairs. 'Tis true that most of the Princes came Incogni­to, as well to avoid the disputes of Precedency, as to confer more Familiarly together, and without the Pesterment of Formalities. The Elector of Brandenburgh, who lay at Cleves for some time, in expectation of the Kings coming, no sooner heard of his Arrival by the Courriers that were forthwith dispatched to give him no­tice thereof, but he hastened to the Hague, where he Arriv'd in Cognito, the 24th of Ja­nuary, The Duke of Wirtenbergh, Prince Regent, during the Minority of the Heir, and the Prince his Brother arrived the 29th, and were admit­ted to the King a little time after. The Count of Windisgrats, from the Emperor, Arrived February 4th, and was immediately admitted to the King. The Duke of Bavaria Arriv'd the 6th, about ten of the Clock at Night, and went to wait upon the King the next day about four a Clock in the Afternoon, with whom he had a Conference of two hours long. The [Page 15] Marquess of Castanaga, Governour of the Spa­nish Netherlands, arriv'd the next day with a jolly Train, of which however but one part appear'd, because the Princes were Incognito. The Landgrave of Hesse Cassel arriv'd the 11th, accompanied by the Count of Lippe, the Baron of Gars, and several other Lords. The Prince of Commerci, General of the Imperial Forces, arriv'd the 15th. The Duke, and one Prince of Courland, arrived the next day. The King regalio'd the greatest part of these Princes, and was also pleased to accept of Entertainments at some of their Houses. It would be too long to make a Recital of all these Feasts. I shall only therefore mention two; to shew what are the principal Ceremonies observed upon such Occasions.

His Majesty gave an entertainment to the Elector of Brandenburgh the 3d. of February, at his House in the Wood; the King had an hours Conference with the Elector, which be­ing ended, they entered into a spacious Din­ing Room, where was a Table and Cloth lay'd, with one only single Vermeil Furniture, (consisting of the Gold Plate, fine Napkins, Knife, Fork, and Spoon,) and an Elbow Chair, where the King sat down; After that a Chair was brought for the Elector, with a white Sat­tin Cushion, and a Vermeil Furniture laid him, like the Kings. Then the King Commanded Seats and Furnitures to be brought for all the rest of the Lords that were present, who were placed in this Order: The Elector on the Kings [Page 16] Right Hand; next to whom sat the Duke of Ormond, the Earl of Scarborough, Monsieur Colbar, and Monsieur Dankelman, the Earl of Portland sat at the lower end of the Table, just opposite to the King; The Duke of Norfolk on the Kings Left Hand; next to whom sat the Count of Denhoff, and then the General Spaen closed that side of the Table, next to the Earl of Portland: The first Health was begun by the King, who whisper'd it softly to the Ele­ctor, and the Elector to the rest without Na­ming it; after that the King began several other Healths, which he carried to the Elector, and the Elector to the rest without Naming: The King and the Elector were served each of them by a Page, all People being put out of the Room, with Orders given to the Guards, to let no Body enter. The Drums beat and the Trumpets sounded when the King and the E­lector drank; but not for any of the rest.

The 5th of the same Month the King Di­ned with the Elector of Brandenburgh, who went out into the very street to receive him, and car­ried him into a spacious Dining Room, where the Table was covered with Eleven Furnitures; and in a short time after the meat was served up. The King sat in an Elbow Chair; on the Kings Right hand sat the Lord Chamberlain, and then the Earl of Portland: On the left hand of the Elector sate the Duke of Ormond, and then the other Lords of the Court, without any distinc­tion of Precedence; and Monsieur Colber, per­formed the Office of Esq Carver, the Kings [Page 17] Butler was also present to pour out the Wine. The King was served by one of his Pages, and two of his Gentlemen stood behind his Chair. When the King returned, the Elector accom­panied him, to the very Boot of his Coach. All these Divertisements of Entertainment, and pleasure, were intermixed with serious Con­ferences, his Majesty being unwilling to loose a moment of Consultation for the general good of the Confederate Affairs: But all these Conferen­ces are kept so secret, that it is impossible to penetrate the knowledge of them; nor shall we understand the Conclusions but by the Ef­fects that will follow. The King has sat in the Assembly of the States General, in that of the States of Holland, and in the Council of State, to all which Bodies he expressed himself in most Affectionate Terms, which makes it appear, that his new Dignity has no way lessened the Love and Affection which he had for those Pro­vinces.

On the 1st. of March, the Duke of Zell arri­ved at the Hague; and the Duke of Wolfenbuttel, his Brother, the Tuesday following. The Ele­ctor of Bavaria went the same day to Amster­dam. On the 6th, the King set out for Loo, the Duke of Zell going in the Coach with him, and the Elector of Bavaria follow'd the next day; the day before the Elector of Brandenburgh and the Langrave of Hess [...] went strait home; and the rest of the Princes parted with Mutual Satisfaction, and my Noble Lord returning for England, I Attended on him.

Sect. IV. Containing Particular Observations on the manners, Nature, and Hu­mours, of the Dutch Boars or Pesants; the Nature of their Ha­bitations, and way of living.

THeir Soil (where they Inhabit) is all Fat, though wanting the colour to shew it so; for indeed it is the buttock of the World, full of Veins and Blood, but no bones in't. 'tis a singular place to fat Monkeys in. There are Spiders almost as big as small Shrimps, their Gardens being moist, abound with them, and were they but venemous, to gather herbs, were to hazard Martyrdom.

You may travel among them though you have not a guide: For you cannot baulk your Road without the hazard of drowning. There is not there any use of an Harbinger. Where­soever Men go, the way is made before them, where (if your Fore-man be sober,) you may [...]ravel in safety, otherwise you must have stronger Faith than Peter had, else you sink im­mediately. A starting horse endangers you to two Deaths at once, breaking of your Neck, and Drowning.

Some things the Bores do here that seem won­ders. 'Tis ordinary to see them fish for Fire in [Page 19] Water, which they catch in Nets, and tran­sport to Land in their Boots, where they spraed it more smoothly, than a Mercer doth his Vel­vet, when he would hook in an Heir upon his coming to Age. Thus lying in a Field, you would think you saw a Cantle of green Cheese spread over with black butter.

Their ordinary Pack-horses are all of Wood, carying their Bridles in their tails, and their Bur­dens in their Bellies. When they travel they touch no ground, and when they stand still they ride; and are never in danger but when they drink up too much of their way.

The Elements are here at variance, the Sub­tile overswaying the Grosser. The Pire con­sumes Earth, and the Air the Water. They burn turffs, and drain their Grounds with Wind­mills, as if the Cholick were a Remedy for the Stone; and they would prove against Philoso­phy the Worlds Conflagration to be Natural, even shewing thereby that the very Elements of Earth is combustable.

The Land that they have, they keep as neat­ly as a Courtier does his Beard: They have a method in Mowing. 'Tis so interven'd with Water and Rivers, that it is impossible to make a Common among them.

Though their Country be part of a main land, yet every house almost, that's Inhabited by the Boars, stands in an Island. And that though the Boar dwell in it, looks as smug as a Lady that hath newly lockt up her Colours, and laid by her Irons. A Gallant Masquing [Page 20] suit sits not more compleat, than a coat of thatch though many years wearing.

If it stand dry 'tis embraced by Vines; But if you find it lower seated, 'tis only a close Ar­bor in a plump of Willows and Alders, plea­sant enough while the Dog-days last.

The Bridge to this is a Fir-plank with a Box of stones to poiz it withal, which with the least help turns round like the Executioner when he whips off a Head: That when the Master is over, stands drawn, and then he is in his Castle: 'Tis sure his fear that renders him supicious; That he may therefore certainly see who enters, you shall ever find his window made over his Door.

When you are entred the house, the first thing you encounter is a Looking-Glass; no question but a true Embleme of Politick Hos­pitality; for though it reflect your self in your own Figure, 'tis yet no longer than while you are there before it: When you are gone once, it Flatters the next Comer, without the least remembrance that you e'er were there.

The next are the Vessels of the House Marshal'd about the Room like Watch-men; All as neat as if you were in a Citizens Wives Cabbinet; for unless it be themselves, they let none of Gods Creatures lose any thing of their Native Beauty. The Linings of their Houses is more Rich than the Out-side, not in Hangings, but Pictures, which even the poorest of the Boars, are there furnish'd with: Not a Cobler but has his Toys for Orna­ment. [Page 21] Were the Knacks of all their Houses set together, there would not be such ano­ther Bartholomew Fair in Europe.

Their Beds are no other than Land-Ca­bins, high enough to need a Ladder, or Stairs: Up once, you are walled in with Wainscot, and that is good discretion to avoid the trou­ble of making your Will every Night; for once falling out, else would break your Neck perfectly. But if you die in it, this Comfort you shall leave your Friends, that you died in clean Linnen.

You may sooner Convert a Jew, than to make an ordinary Dutch-man yeild to Argu­ments that cross him. A Old Bawd is easiler turn'd Saint, than a Waggoner perswaded not to bait thrice in nine Miles. And when he doth, his Horses must not stir, but have their Manger brought them into the way, where in a top sweat they eat their Grass, and drink their Water, and presently after hurry away: For they ever drive as if they were all the Sons of Nimshi, and were furi­ously either pursuing an Enemy, or flying him.

They are seldom deceiv'd, for they trust no Body; so by Consequence are better to hold a Fort, than win it; yet they can do both. Trust them you must if you Travel; For to ask a Bill of Particulars, is to purr in a Wasps Nest, you must pay what they ask, as sure as if it were the Assessment of a Subsidy.

[Page 22] Complements is an Idleness they were never train'd up in, and 'tis their happiness, that Court Vanities have not stole away their minds from Business.

Sailers among them are as common as Beggars with us. They can drink, rail, swear, &c. but examining their use, a mess of their Knaves are worth a Million of outs, for they, in a Boisterous Rudeness, can work, and live, and Toil, whereas ours will rather Laize them­selves to Poverty, and like Cabbages left out in Winter, rot away in the Loathsomeness of a Nauseous Sloth.

Most of them are Seamen born, and like Frogs can live both on Land and Water. Not a Country-Uriester but can handle an Oar, Steer a Boat, raise a Mast, and beat you out in the roughest Straits you come in. The Ship she avouches much better for Sleep than a bed.

In their Families they all are equals, and you have no way to know the Master and Mistress but by taking them in Bed together. It may be those are they; Otherwise Malky can prate as much, laugh as loud, be as bold, and sit as well as her Mistress.

Their Women would have good Faces if they did not marr them with making. Their Ear-Wyers have so nipt in their Cheeks, that you would think some Fairy, to do them a Mis­chief, had pincht them behind with tongs. These they dress, as if they would shew you all their wit lay behind, and they needs would cover it. And thus ordered, they have much more for Head than Face.

[Page 23] They love the English Gentry well; and when Soldiers come over to be billeted among them, they are emulous in chusing of their guest; who fares much the better for being liked by his Hostess.

The habit of the Men is much after the Tar­paullian Fashion; their Breeches yawning at the Knees, as if they were about to swallow his Legs unmercifully.

The Women are far from going naked, for of a whole Woman you can see but half a Face: As for her hand, that shews her a sore Labourer; which you shall ever find (as it were in Recom­pence) loaden with Rings to the cracking of her Fingers.

Where the Woman lies in, the Ringle of the door does pennance, and is lapped about with Linnen, either to shew you that loud knocking may wake the child, or else that for a month the Ring is not to be run at. But if the child be dead, there is thrust out a Nosegay tied to a sticks end; perhaps for an Emblem of the Life of Man, which may wither as soon as born; or else to let you know, that though these fade upon their gathering, yet from the same stock the next year a new shoot may spring.

In short, they are a race of People diligent ra­ther than Laborious; dull and slow of under­standing, and so not dealt with by hasty words, but managed easily by soft and fair; and yiel­ding to plain Reason, if you give them time to understand it. They know no other good, [Page 24] but the supply of what Nature requires, and the common increase of Wealth. They feed most upon Herbs, Roots, and Milks; and by that means, I suppose, neither their strength, nor Vigor, seems answerable to the size, Bulk, of their Bodies.

Sect. V. Of the Nature of the Country in General, its Scituation, &c.

FOur of these Provinces. Viz. that of Hol­land, Zealand, Friezeland, and Gromingven, are seated upon the Sea, and make the strength and greatness of this State: The other three, with the Conquered Towns in Brabant, Flan­ders, and Cleve, make only the Out-works or Frontires, serving chiefly for safety and Defence of these.

The Soil of the whole Province of Holland is generally Flat, like the Sea in a calm, and looks as if, after a long contention, between Land and Water, which it should belong to: It had at length been divided between them: For to con­sider the great Rivers, and the strange number of Canals that are found in this Province, and do not only lead to every great Town, but al­most to every Village; and the infinity of Sails that are seen every where coursing up and down upon them; One would imagine the Water to have shared with the Land; and the People that [Page 25] live in Boats, to hold some proportion with those that live in Houses. And this is one great advantage towards Trade, which is Na­tural to the Scituation, and not to be attained in any Country, where there is not the same level and softness of Soil, which makes the cut­ting of Canals so easie work, as to be attempted almost by every private Man; and one Horse shall draw in a Boat, more than Fifty can do by Cart, whereas Carriage make a great part of the price in all heavy Commodities: And by this easie way of Travelling, an industrious Man loses no time from his Business, for he Writes, or Eats, or Sleeps, while he goes; whereas the time of Labouring or Industrious Men, is the greatest Native Commodity of any Country.

There is, besides, one very great lake of Fresh-Water still remaining in this Province, by the Name of Harlem Maer, which might as they say, be easily drained; but the City of Ley­den having no other way of refreshing their Town, or renewing the Water of their Canals, but from this Maer, will never consent to it.

Another Advantage of their Scituation of Trade, is made by those two great Rivers of the Rhyne, and Mase, reaching up, and Navigable, so mighty a length, into so Rich and Populus Countries of the higher and lower Germany; which as it brings down all the Commodities from those parts to the Magazines in Holland, that vent them by their Shipping into all parts of the World, where the Market calls for them; [Page 26] so, with something more labour and time, it returns all the Merchandise of other Parts, into those Countries, that are seated upon these Streams,

The Flatness of their Land exposes it to the danger of the Sea, and forces them to infinite charge, in the continual Fences and Repairs of their Banks to oppose it; which employ yearly more Men, than all the Corn of the Province of Holland could maintain. They have found the common Sea-weed to be the best Material for these Digues, which fastens with a thin Mixture of Earth, yields a little to the force of the Sea, and returns when the Waves give back.

The extream moisture of the Air, I take to be the Occasion of the great Neatness in their Towns; for without the help of those Cu­stoms, their Country would not be habitable by such Crowds of People, but the Air would corrupt upon every hot season, and expose the Inhabitants to general and infectious Diseases, which they hardly escape three Summers toge­ther, especially about Leyden, where the Wa­ters are not so easily renewed; and for this rea­son, I suppose, it is, that Leyden is found to be the neatest and cleanest kept of all their Towns.

The same moisture of Air makes all Mettals apt to rust, and Wood to mould; which forces them, by continual pains of rubbing and scou­ring, to seek a prevention or cure: This makes the brightness and cleaness that seems affected [Page 27] in their Houses, and is call'd Natural to them, by People who think no further. So the deep­ness of their Soil, and wetness of Seasons, which would render it unpassible, forces them not on­ly to exactness of paving in their Streets, but to the expence of so long Cawsies between ma­ny of their Towns, and in their High-ways; As indeed, most National Customs are the Ef­fects of some unseen, or un-observed, Natural Causes or Necessities.

The lowness and flatness of their Lands, make it in a great measure the Richness of their Soil, that is easily over-flowed every Winter, so as the whole Country, at that Season, seems to lye under Water, which in Spring, is driven out again by Mills.

Sect. VI. Of the People of Holland, their Manners, Humours and disposi­tions, &c.

THe People of Holland may be divided into these several Classes: The Pesants or Boars, who cultivate the Land. The Marriners or Schippers, who supply their Ships. The Mer­chants, or Traders, who fill their Towns. The Renteeners, or Men that live in all their chief Cities upon the Rents, or Interests of Estates for­merly acquired in their Families: And the Gen­tlemen, and Officers of their Armies.

[Page 28] The First we have already treated off in a Sect by themselves, in regard of the giving a more particular Character of their Manners and Humours.

The Second, The Marriners, are a plain Peo­ple, but of a very rough Hew; whether from the Element they live in, or from their Food, which is generally Fish and Corn, and heartier than that of the Boars: They are Surly, and Ill-manner'd, which is mistaken for Pride; but, I believe, is learnt, as all manners are, by the conversation we use. Now theirs lying only among one another, or with Winds and Waves, which are not mov'd nor wrought upon by any Language, or Observance; or to be dealt with, but by Pains and by Patience; these are all the Qualities, their Marriners have learnt; their Language is little more, than what is of neces­sary use to their Business; their Valour is of a size extraordinary even beyond comparison, ex­cept with that of the English Tarpaulin.

The Merchants and Trades-men, both the Greater and Mechanick, living in Towns that are of great resort, both by Strangers and Pas­sengers of their own, are more Mercurial, (VVit being sharpned by Commerce and Con­versation of Cities, though they are not very inventive, which is the gift of warmer Heads; yet are they great in imitation, and so far, many times, as goes beyond the Originals: Of mighty Industry, and constant Application to the ends they propose and pursue. They make use of their Skill, and their VVit, to take ad­vantage [Page 29] of other Mens Ignorance and Folly, they deal with: Are great Exacters, where the Law is in their own hands. In other points where they deal with Men that understand like themselves, and are under the reach of Justice and Laws, they are the plainest and best dea­lers in the World; which seems not to grow so much from a principle of Conscience, or Morali­ty, as from a Custom or Habit introduced by the necessity of Trade among them, which de­pends as much upon common honesty, as War does upon Discipline; and without which, all would break; Merchants would turn Pedlars, and Soldiers Thieves.

Those Families which live upon their Patri­monial Estates in all the great Cities, are a peo­ple differently bred and manner'd from the Tra­ders, though like them in the modesty of Garb and Habit, and the parsimony of living. Their Youth are generally bred up at Schools, and at the Universities of Leyden, or Utretcht, in the common studies of Humane Learning, but chief­ly of the civil law, which is that of their Country.

Where these Families are Rich, their Youths, after a course of their Studies at home, travel for some years, as the sons of our Gentry use to do; but their Journeys are chiefly into England and France, not much into Italy, seldomer into Spain, nor often into the more Northern-Countries, un­less in Company or train of their publick Mini­sters. The chief end of their Breeding, is, to make them fit for the Service of their Country in the Magistracy of their Towns, their Pro­vinces [Page 30] and their State. And of these kind of Men are the civil Officers of this Government generally composed, being descended of Fami­lies, who have many times been constantly in the Magistracy of their Native Towns for ma­ny years, and some for several Ages, and not Men of mean or Mechanick Trades, as it is commonly receiv'd among Foreigners, and makes the Subject of commical Jests upon their Government. This does not exclude many Merchants or Traders ingross from being seen in the Offices of their Cities, and sometimes de­puted to their Estates; nor several of their States from turning their Stocks in the manage­ment of some very beneficial Trade by Servants, and houses maintained to that purpose.

The next Rank among them, is that of their Gentlemen or Nobles, who, in this Province of Holland are very few, most of the Families having been extinguished in the long Wars with Spain. But those that remain, are in a man­ner all imploy'd in the Military or Civil Char­ges of the Province or State. These are, in their Customs and Manners, much different from the rest of the people; and having been bred much abroad, rather effect the Garb of of their Neighbour Courts, than the popular Air of their own Country. They strive to imi­tate the French in their Meen, their Cloaths, their way of Talk, of Eating, of Gallantry, or Debauchery. They are otherwise an Honest, Well-natur'd, Friendly, and Gentlemanly sort of Men, and acquit themselves generally with [Page 31] Honour and Merit, where their Country em­ploys them.

The Officers of their Armies live after the Custom, and Fashions of the Gentlemen.

These are some Customs, or Dispositions, that seem to run generally through all degrees of Men among them; as great Frugality, and Order, in their Expences. Their common Ri­ches lye in every mans spending less than he has coming in, be that what it will: Nor does it enter into Mens heads among them, that the common part or course of Expence should equal the Revenue; and when this happens, they think at least they have lived that year to no purpose; and the train of it discredits a man a­mong them, as much as any Vicious or Prodi­gal Extravagance does in other Countries. This enables every man to bear their extreme Taxes, and makes them less sensible than they would be in other places, especially in England: For he that lives upon two parts in five of what he has coming in; if he pays two more to the State, he does but part with what he should have laid up, and had no present use for; whereas, he that spends yearly what he receives, if he pays but the fiftieth part to the Publick, it goes from him like that which was necessary to buy bread or Clothes for himself or his Family.

This makes the Beauty and strength of their Towns, the commodiousness of travelling in their Country by their Canals, Bridges, and Cawseys; the pleasantness of their Walks, and their Grafts in and near all their Cities; and in [Page 32] short, the Beauty, Convenience, and some­times Magnificence of their publick Works, to which every Man pays as willingly, and takes as much pleasure, and vanity in them, as those of other Countries do in the same circumstances, among the possessions of their Families or private Inheritance.

To conclude this Section: Holland is a Coun­try, where the Earth is better than the Air, and profit more in Request than Honour; where there is more sense than wit; more good na­ture than good humour; and more wealth than pleasure; where a man would chuse rather to Travel, than to live; shall find more things to observe than desire; and more Persons to esteem than to love. But the same Qualities and Dis­positions do not Value a private Man and a State, nor make a conversation agreeable, and a Govern­ment great: Nor is it unlikely, that some very great King might make but a very ordina­ry private-Gentleman, and some very extraor­dinary Gentlemen, might be capable of making but a very mean Prince.

Sect. VII. Of their Religion, the Number of Sects among the People, Particu­larly in Amsterdam.

THe great care of this State has ever been to Favour no particular or curious Inquisiti­on [Page 33] into the Faith or Religious Principles of any peaceable Man, who came to live under the protection of their Laws, and to suffer no Vio­lence or Oppression upon any Mans conscience, whose Opinions broke not out into Expressions or Actions of ill consequence to the State. A free form of Government, either making way for more freedom in Religion; or else, having con­tended so far themselves for Liberty in this point, they thought it the more unreasonable for them to oppress others.

The Roman Catholick Religion was alone ex­cepted from the common protection of their Laws, making men (as the Law-makers believed) worse Subjects than the rest, by the acknow­ledgement of a Forreign, and Superiour Juris­diction: Yet such has been the care of this State, to give all men ease in this point, who ask no more than to serve God, and save their own Souls, in their own Way and Forms; that what was not provided for by the constitutions of their Government, was so, in a very great degree, by the connivance of their Officers, who, upon certain constant payments from eve­ry Family, suffer the exercise of the Roman Ca­tholick Religion in their several Jurisdictions, as free and easy, tho' not so cheap, and so avowed, as the rest. This, I suppose, has been the rea­son, that tho' those of this profession are very numerous in the Country, among the Peasants, and considerable in the Cities; and not admit­ted to any publick charges; yet they seem to be a sound piece of the State, and fast joynted in [Page 34] with the rest; and have neither given any disturbance to the Government nor exprest any Inclinations to a change, or to any Foreign Power.

Of all other Religions, every Man enjoys the free exercise in his own Chamber, or his own House, unquestioned, and unspyed: And if the Followers of any Sect grow so numerous in any place, that they affect a publick Congregation, and are content to purchase a place of Assembly, to bear the charge of a Pastor, or Teacher, and to pay for this Liberty to the Publick; they go and propose their desire to the Magistrate of the place where they reside, who inform themselves of their Opinions, and Manners of Worship; and if they find nothing in either, destructive to civil Society, or prejudicial to the Constitutions of their State, and content themselves with the price that is offer'd for the purchase of this Li­berty, they easily allow it; but with the condi­tion, that one or more Commissioners shall be appointed, who shall have free Admission at all their Meetings, shall be both the Observers and Witnesses of all that is Acted or Preached among them, and whose Testimony shall be received concerning any thing that passes there, to the prejudice of the State; in which case, the Laws and Executions are as severe as against any civil Crimes.

Thus the Jews have their allowed Synagogues in Amsterdam, and Rotterdam; and in the first, I think all Sects, that are known among Chri­stians, have there publick Meeting-places: and [Page 35] some, whose Names are almost worn out in other parts, as the Brownists, Familists, and others. The Arminians, though they make a great Name among them, by being rather the distin­ction of a Party in the State, than a Sect in the Church; yet are, in comparison of others, but few in Number, tho' considerable by the Per­sons, who are of the better quality, the more learned and intelligent Men; and many of them in the Government. The Anabaptists are just the contrary, very numerous, but in the Low­er Ranks of People, Mechanicks and Seamen, and abound chiefly in North Holland.

The Calvinists make the Body of the People, and are possessed of all the publick Churches in the Dominions of the State, as well as of the only Ministers or Pastors, who are maintained by the Publick.

It's hardly to be imagined, how all the Vio­lence and Sharpness, which Accompanies the differences of Religion in other Countries, seems to be appeased or softned here, by the general freedom which all men enjoy, either by Allow­ance or Connivance. I believe the force of Commerce, Alliances, and Acquaintance, spread­ing so far as they do in small circuits (such as the Province of Holland) may contribute much to make conversation, and all the Offices of com­mon life, so easy, among so different Opinions, of which so many several persons are often in every Man's eye; and no man checks or takes offence at Faces, or Customs, or Ceremonies, he sees every day, as at those he hears of in pla­ces [Page 36] far distant, and perhaps by partial relations, and comes to see late in his life, and after he has long been possessed by passion or prejudice a­gainst them. However it is, Religion may possibly do more good in other places, but it does less hurt here; and wherever the invisi­ble effects of it are the greatest and most advan­tageous, I am sure, the visible are so in this Country, by the continual and undisturbed civil Peace of their Government, for so long a course of years; And by so mighty an encrease of their People, wherein will appear to consist chiefly the vast growth of their Trade and Riches, and consequently the strength and greatness of their State.

Sect. VIII. Of their Way of Trade, and Manner of Increase in Wealth.

'TIs evident to those, who have read the most, and travel'd farthest, that no Country can be found either in this present Age, or upon Record of any Story, where so vast a Trade has been managed, as in the nar­row compass of the four Maritine Provinces of this Common-wealth: Nay it is generally esteem'd, that they have more Shipping belongs to them, than there does to the far greater part of Europe besides. Yet they have no Native [Page 37] Commodities towards the Building, or Rigging of the smallest Vessel; their Flax, Hemp, Pitch, Wood, and Iron, coming all from a broad, as Wooll does for cloathing their Men, and Corn for feeding them. Nor do I know any thing properly of their own growth, that is considerable, either for their own necessary use, or for Traffick with their Neighbours, besides Butter, Cheese, and Earthen Wares. For Havens, they have not any good upon their whole Coast: The best are Helversluys, which has no Trade at all; and Flushingue, which has little, in comparison of other Towns in Holland: But Amsterdam that Triumphs in the spoils of Lisbon and Antwerp, (which before Engrost the greatest Trade of Europe and the Indias) seems to be the most incommodious Haven they have, being seated upon so shallow Waters, that or­dinary Ships cannot come up to it without the advantage of Tides; nor great ones without unlading. The entrance of the Tessel, and pas­sages over the Zudder-Sea, is more dangerous, than a Voyage from thence to Spain, lying all in blind and narrow channels; so that it easily appears, that 'tis not an Haven that draws Trade, but Trade that fills an Haven, and brings it in Vogue. Nor has Holland grown rich by a­ny Native Commodities, but by force of In­dustry; by Improvement and Manufacture of all Foreign Growths; by being the gene­ral Magazine of Europe, and furnishing all parts with whatever the Market wants or invites; and by their Seamen, being, as they [Page 38] have properly been called, the common Gar­riers of the World.

It appears to every Mans eye who hath Travel'd Holland, and observ'd the Number and Vicinity of their great and populus Towns and Villages, with the prodigious improvement of almost every Spot of ground in the Country, and the great multitudes constantly employ'd in their Shipping abroad, and their Boats at home, that no other known Country in the World, of the same extent, hold any proportion with this in the Numbers of People; and if that be the great Foundation of Trade, the best account that can be given of theirs, will be, by consider­ing the causes and accidents, that have ser­ved to force and invite so vast a confluence of People into their Country; the civil Wars, Calamities, Persecutions, Oppressions or Dis­contents, that have been so fatal to most of their Neighbours for some time before, as well as since their State began.

Sect. IX. Of their Millitary Forces by Sea and Land, with their State Re­venues.

THe Force of these Provinces is to be measured, not by the Number or Dispo­sitions of their Subjects, but by the strength of their Shipping, and standing Troops, which they constantly maintain, even in time of peace; and by the Numbers of both, which they have been able to draw into the Field, and to Sea for support of a VVar: By their constant Revenue to maintain the first; and by the tem­porary charge, they have been able to furnish for supply of the other.

The ordinary Revenue of this State, consists, either in what is levied in the conquered Towns, and Country of Brabant, Flanders, or the Rhine; which is wholly administred by the Council of State: Or else the ordinary Funds, which the seven Provinces provide every Year, according to their several proportions, upon the petition of the Council of State, and the computation of the charge of the ensuing year, given in by them to the States General. And this Revenue, in times of Peace, commonly a­mounts to about One and Twenty Millions of Gilders a Year.

[Page 40] Their standing Land Forces in time of Peace, consist of Thirty Thousand Horse and Foot.

Their Admiralities, in time of Peace, main­tain between Thirty and Forty Men of VVar, employ'd in the several Convoys of their Mer­chants Fleets, in a squadron of Eight or Ten Ships, to attend the Algerines, and other Cor­saires in the Mediterranean; and some always lying ready in their Havens for any sudden ac­cidents or occasions of the State.