An accurate description of the United Netherlands, and of the most considerable parts of Germany, Sweden, & Denmark containing a succinct account of what is most remarkable in these countries, and necessary instructions for travellers : together with an exact relation of the entertainment of His Most Sacred Majesty King William at the Hague / written by an English gentleman.

An accurate description of the United Netherlands, and of the most considerable parts of Germany, Sweden, & Denmark containing a succinct account of what is most remarkable in these countries, and necessary instructions for travellers : together with an exact relation of the entertainment of His Most Sacred Majesty King William at the Hague / written by an English gentleman.

Table of contents

Title page

THE PREFACE.

[1]

A DESCRIPTION OF HOLLAND: With ſome Neceſſary DIRECTIONS FOR Such as intend to Travel through the Province of HOLLAND, GERMANY, &c.

[2]

Title page

AN Exact Relation Of the ENTERTAINMENT of His Moſt Sacred Majeſty, WILLIAM III. At the HAGƲE.

The Triumphal Arch in the Court.

The Triumphal Arch in the outward Court, at the Entrance of the Court Gate.

A Deſcription of the Fireworks, with their Repreſentations.

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AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE United Netherlands, And of the moſt conſiderable Parts of Germany, Sweden, & Denmark.

CONTAINING A ſuccinct Account of what is moſt Remarkable in theſe Countries: And Neceſſary Inſtructions for Travellers.

Together with an Exact RELATION Of the ENTERTAINMENT of His Moſt Sacred Majeſty King WILLIAM At the HAGUE.

Written by an Engliſh Gentleman.

LONDON: Printed for Timothy Childe at the White-Hart in St. Paul's Church-yard 1691.

THE PREFACE.

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HAVING often Obſerved, that Relations of Travels, Voyages, &c. are generally very Acceptable to the Genius of the Engliſh Nation, I judged that it might not be altogether Impertinent to give a brief Account of ſome remarkable Obſervations made during my Abode in Foreign Countries, eſpecially having Travelled for the ſpace of Sixteen Years through Holland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and other conſiderable Parts of Europe.

I eaſily foreſee, that it will be ſoon Objected, that after ſo great a Man as Sir William Temple, who hath already Publiſhed a full and incomparable Deſcription of the Policy and Government of the States of the United Provinces, it would be a vain Preſumption to attempt any farther on that Subject. However, without derogating from his Honour, I have here inſerted divers particular Remarks, not mention'd by him, but ſuch as Travellers may make Uſe of to very good purpoſe, for whoſe Information this ſmall Eſſay is chiefly [Page] deſign'd. And it will be the more eminently Uſeful at this time, in reſpect of the great number of Engliſh Gentlemen, that now Travel that way. Wherefore I doubt not, but this will be a ſufficient Plea to cover me from the Imputation of Vanity, and to make it appear, that what I have here perform'd, is only intended for the publick Service in general, and the particular Aſſiſtance of thoſe Gentlemen, who ſhall hereafter Travel through theſe Countries. The Liſts of the Paſſage Boats and Wagons in Holland, with the Hours of their going off, which I have inſerted, the Traveller will find extreamly Uſeful.

As for the Relation of the Kings Voyage to Holland, annexed at the end. I Confeſs indeed, That it deſerves to be Written by an abler Hand; but being at that time at the Hague, I was induced by Curioſity, to take an exact Account of this ſo extraordinary a Solemnity, which I did at firſt for my own private Uſe, but have now Publiſhed it through the importunity of ſome Friends. The Proſpects of the Triumphal Arches, Pyramids, &c. are exactly Copied from the Original Draughts taken at the Hague, and are the true Repreſentations of them.

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A DESCRIPTION OF HOLLAND: With ſome Neceſſary DIRECTIONS FOR Such as intend to Travel through the Province of HOLLAND, GERMANY, &c.

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AS they that confine themſelves to their own Country, have not the opportunity to ſee and obſerve Rarities in other Parts of the World; ſo, ſuch as go into Foreign Places, rather Wander at Random, than Travel, who have not the Curioſity to commit to Memory or Writing ſuch Things they meet with, both for their own and others Satisfaction, [Page] as may demonſtrate the Fruits of their Travels.

I confeſs, all Travellers are not of alike Temper; ſome delight themſelves in Contemplation of the Curioſities of Arts; ſome are taken with the Varieties of the Works of Nature; others ſpeculate, with a kind of Reverence, the Decays and Ruins of Antiquity; others ſtudiouſly inform themſelves with the Tranſactions of Modern Times; others with the Government and Polity; others ſpeculate the ſtrange Cuſt [...] and Faſhions of the Places they paſs through; to be ſhort, every one labours to entertain the Reader with thoſe Objects and Rarities of Foreign Parts his Genius and Inclination is moſt affected with.

As to my ſelf, although during the ſpace of 16 Years Travel, I might have enlarged, according to the Curioſity and Opportunity I have had in the rehearſal of many rare and exquiſite Things very obſervable; yet my chief Aim was, to make ſuch Remarks as might moſt contribute to the common Good of Human Society and Civil Life, in taking notice of the Government and Polity of the ſeveral States and Dominions where I have been, viz. The United Provinces, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and other Countries, whoſe natural Temper and Diſpoſition ſeemed to me moſt to ſympathize with our Engliſh Nation, and thereby have an occaſion to do ſome good to my own Country. Expect [Page] not, Reader, a like punctualneſs, as to all the forementioned places, becauſe very many things, which I might have obſerved, are much agreeing, and ſo may be referred to what ſhall be ſpoken of the Polity and Government of Holland, which, for Reaſons I ſhall by and by hint at, is the chief End I aimed at in this Treatiſe.

We will begin then in the firſt place with the Commonwealth of Holland, and Dominions of the States General, which thô for ſome years were in a declining condition, and their Forces exceedingly weakened, by reaſon of that fatal War it managed againſt England, France, and the Biſhop of Munſter, unto which, if we add the inteſtine Diviſions of thoſe two Factions, the Prince of Orange and Loveſtein, that Politick Body, was ſo totter'd and torn, as did threaten its utter and total Ruine.

But as Bodies, whether Natural or Politick, after that a violent Fit hath [...]ore ſhaken, diſſipated, and exhauſted their Spirits, may recover vigor, and look lively again, if ſo be the Radical Conſtitution and Natural Temper be not wholly changed and depraved; even ſo this Commonwealth of Holland hath viſibly recovered Strength again, and attained its former Force and Luſtre.

We will therefore make ſome Remarks, as to the Defects and Failings (obſerved not only by me, but alſo by others) which that [Page] famous Commonwealth hath of late years been guilty of; which I ſhall do not out of any Malice, or deſign of Reflection, the intention of writing this Treatiſe being ſimply to inſert thoſe Defaults which the wiſeſt of Authors have always judged neceſſary, not only for the Reformation of this, but of all States whatſoever.

This Commonwealth of Holland hath worthily been the Wonder of all Europe during this laſt Age, and perhaps not to be parallell'd in the Records of former Times; for if we conſider how many years it was aſſaulted by the then moſt Potent Prince of Europe, who aſpired to no leſs than the Univerſal Empire; and that how formidable ſoever he were, yet they not only maintained their Pretenſions, but with uninterrupted Proſperity and Succefsfulneſs adva [...]ed their Trade, and ſpread their Conqueſts in all the four Parts of the World.

Rome it ſelf, though moſt famous and victorious, yet could not, as is be [...]ieved, in ſo ſhort a time do what by this Commonwealth hath been effected. In India and Africa they ſoon forced the Spaniard and Portugueſes to yield to them moſt of their Trade and Poſſeſſions: And thô England put in for a ſhare, yet they were a long while vigorouſly oppoſed by the Dutch, and to this hour have enough to do to keep what they have gotten; ſo that in leſs than 100 years this Commonwealth [Page] by their Induſtry, and Art in Trading, are become ſo exceſſive Rich and Potent, that they began to Inſult, and would needs be Arbitrators to their Neighbouring Princes and States, and encroach upon their Territories and Dominions.

This drew upon them that fatal War before-mentioned, by which they were ſorely weaken'd and brought ſo low, that except GOD by a more than ordinary Providence had protected and appeared for them, they had certainly been ruinated, and never able to recover themſelves again; however, their Pride hereby was much abated: And as Luxury and Laſciviouſneſs are the ſad Effects of Proſperity, as well as Pride; ſo ſuch Vices in a Body Politick and Commonwealth as do corrupt the Radical Humours, by abating the Vigour of the Vital Parts, do inſenſibly tend to the Conſumption and Decay of the whole.

That this Commonwealth hath much recovered its Strength, may clearly appear, if we conſider what great Things they have effected ſince the little time they have enjoyed Peace: They have in leſs than 7 Years built about 40 gallant Ships of War; They have laid out vaſt Sums of Treaſure in refortifying Narden, Maeſtricht, Breda, the Grave, and many other Places; They have paid vaſt Sums of Money to their Allies for their Auxiliary Troops, as alſo 200000 l. Sterling to the King of England to Enjoy their Peace with him. And [Page] beſides all this, their Encreaſe in Riches and Power may be gueſſed at, by the many ſtately Houſes built within theſe 5 Years in Amſterdam, Rotterdam, and other Places; to all which we may add, to what exceſſive height the Actions of the Eaſt and Weſt-India Company are riſen, and the Obligations from the States are ſo eſteemed as to Security, that they can get as much Mony as they pleaſe at 2 per Cent. Not to ſpeak of the exceeding Encreaſe of their Subjects, occaſioned by the French King's Tyranny againſt the diſtreſſed Proteſtants in France, Alſace, and other parts of his Conqueſts; neither will we ſpeak of other Signs of the Encreaſe of this Commonwealth, as not judging it convenient to commit them to Paper, but will now proceed to ſhew the Method of Living and Travelling in the Dominions and Places of the States, which, if you do well conſider, you may ſee how happy and eaſy the Government of England is, above that of other Nations.

The Briell in Holland is the uſual place where the Pacquet and King's Pleaſure-boats bring on ſuch as come to ſee the United Provinces; but of late Helvoet-Sluys is the place the Pacquet comes to, as being the more convenient Port: Here be ſure to furniſh your ſelf well with Money. From hence you take a Boat to Maeſland-Sluys or Rotterdam, which, if you go in Company with others, will only coſt you 5 Stivers; but if you take one for [Page] your ſelf, will coſt 25 Stivers for Maeſeland-Sluce, and a Ducatoon to Rotterdam: The fifth part of which goes to the States for a Tax, they call Paſſagie Gelt; and the other four parts are for the Boat-Men or Schippers, who alſo out of their Gains muſt pay a Tax to the States, ſo that by Computation you pay a fifth Penny to the States for your Travelling either in Boats by Water, or in Wagons by Land.

As you paſs by Maſeland-Sluce you will ſee a very fair Fiſhing Village, to which belong near Two hundred Herring Buſſes, but if you go by the way of Rotterdam you Sail by two old Towns, called Flardin and Schiedam: Yet let me adviſe you before you depart from the Briell, to take a ſerious view of it, as being the City which in Queen Elizabeth's time was one of the Cautionary Towns Pawned to England. The Briell had a Voice among the States, but by reaſon Rotterdam hath got away their Trade, by which having loſt its former Luſtre, is now become a Fiſhing Town only.

Rotterdam is the Second City for Trade in Holland, and by ſome is called, Little London, as having vaſt Traffick with England, inſomuch, that many of the Citizens Speak good Engliſh. There are in this City two conſiderable Churches of Engliſh and Scotch: And how great a Trade they drive with the King of England's Subjects is evident, for in [Page] the year 1674, at the opening of the Waters, after a great Froſt, there departed out of Rotterdam 300. Sail of Engliſh, Scotch, and Iriſh Ships at once with an Eaſterly Wind: And if a Reaſon ſhould be demanded, how it comes to paſs that ſo many Engliſh Ships ſhould frequently come to that Haven, It is eaſily anſwered, becauſe they can ordinarily Load and Unload, and make returns to England from Rotterdam before a Ship can get clear from Amſterdam and the Texel: And therefore your Engliſh Merchants find it Cheaper, and more Commodious for Trade, that after their Goods are arrived at Rotterdam, to ſend their Goods in Boats Landward into Amſterdam.

This City is Famous, as being the place where great Eraſmus was Born, whoſe Statue of Braſs ſtands erected in the Market-place: And although the Buildings here are not ſo ſuperb as thoſe of Amſterdam, Leyden, or Haerlem, yet the places worth the ſeeing, are, firſt, the great Church, where ſeveral Admirals lie ſtately Entombed; here you ſee their Admiralty, Eaſt-India, and Stadt-Houſes, together with that called, Het Gemeen Lands Huis.

From Rotterdam you may for five Stivers have a Boat to bring you to Delft, but before you come thither you paſs through a fair Village called Overſchie, where the French and Engliſh Youths are trained up in Litterature, [Page] as to the Latin and Dutch Tongue, Book-keeping, &c. From thence in the ſame Boat you come to Delft which is Famous for making of Porceline to that degree, that it much reſembles the China, but only it is not Tranſparent.

In Delft is the great Magazin of Arms for the whole Province of Holland: Their Churches are very large, in one of which are Tombs of the Princes of Orange, Admiral Tromp, and General Morgans Lady, and in the Cloiſter over againſt the Church, you have an Inſcription in a Pillar of Braſs, ſhewing after what manner William the Firſt, that Famous Prince of Orange, was ſhot to Death by a Miſcreant Jeſuit, with his deſerved Puniſhment.

Delft hath the third Voice in the States of Holland, and ſends its Deputies unto the College of the States General, and to all other Colleges of the Commonwealth. They have alſo a Chamber in the Eaſt-India Company, as ſhall be more largely ſpoken to, when we ſhall come to Treat of the State of the ſaid Company.

From Delft you may by Boat be brought to the Hague for two Stivers and an half; which is accounted the faireſt Village in the World, both for pompous Buildings, and the largeneſs thereof; here the Princes of Orange hold their Reſidence, as alſo the States General, and the Council of State; here you [Page] have the Courts of Juſtice, Chancery, and other Courts of Law. Here you ſee that great Hall, in which many Hundreds of Colours are hung up in Trophy, taken from the Emperor, Spaniard, and other Potentates with whom they have waged War. Their Council Chambers are admired by all that ſee them. Many fair Libraries they have belonging to particular Men. The Princes Palace is a moſt ſuperb Building, and there are many coſtly Gardens adjoyning to the Hague, together with that to the Princes Houſe in the Wood, in which Houſe are in a large Hall the moſt rare and coſtly Pictures of Europe; there alſo are thoſe Magnificent and Unparalell'd Gardens of the [...]eer Bentham of Ameſland and others. I might here ſpeak of the ſplendor of His Majeſties Court in Holland, of his Noble Virtues and Valour, of the moſt Virtuous and Beautiful Princeſs his Royal Conſort, but I dare not, leaſt I ſhould infinitely fall ſhort of what ought to be, and which others have already done before me: And therefore leaving the Hague, I ſhall only tell you that from thence you may for ſeven Stivers have a Boat to bring you to Leyden. Leyden is a fair and great City, and the Univerſity is very Famous, there being continually in it 1000 Students from all parts, as Hungary, Poland, Germany, yea from the Ottomans Empire it ſelf, who pretend to be Grecians, beſides the Engliſh, [Page] Scots, and Iriſh, who this year were numbred to be above 80.

The moſt remarkable Things here to be ſeen, I ſhall ſummarily ſet down: As the place called the Bergh, formerly a Caſtle belonging to the Prince of Liege in Flanders: The Stadt-houſe, the Univerſity Schools, eſpecially that of the Anatomy, which excels all the Anatomy Schools in the World, a Book of the Rarities whereof you may have for ſix Stivers; their Phyſick Garden, and the Profeſſors Cloſet are all Raviſhing in rare Curioſities. But as to their Colleges, they are but two, and very ſmall, not to be compared with the ſmalleſt Halls in Oxford, neither have they any Endowments, their maintenance being only from the Charitable Collections of the Miniſters of Holland; neither are any Students to remain longer there than till they attain the Degree of Batchelors of Art: One of the Curators being demanded by me, Why ſo Rich a Commonwealth as Holland is, did not Build and Endow Colleges after the manner of Oxford and Cambridge; anſwered, They had not ſo many able and publick ſpirited Men as are in England, and to deal plainly with you, ſaid he, had we ſuch Colleges, our Burghermaſters and Magiſtrates would fill them with their own and their Friends Sons, who by leading a lazie and idle Life, would never become capable to ſerve the Commonwealth, and [Page] therefore he judged it much better to put them to Penſion in Burghers-Houſes, leaving them to the care of the Profeſſors, who are very diligent in keeping the Students at their Exerciſes, both at publick Lectures, and in their private Houſes alſo, where they cauſe them punctually at their appointed Hours to come to their Examinations and Lectures, beſides thoſe they have in publick. Their Churches are rare, ſo are their Walks round the City, and the Fortifications very pleaſing to behold. Here you have the River Rhine running through the City, and falling into it from Catwyck op Zee. Leyden is very Famous in Hiſtory for the long Siege it held out againſt the Spaniard. From hence for 12 Stivers and an half you are brought to Haerlem by Water, being 12 Engliſh Miles.

Harlem is Famous, in that Coſtor one of their Burghers, firſt Invented the Art of Printing. This Coſtor being ſuſpected to be a Conjurer, was fain to flee from Haerlem to Cologne in Germany, and there perfected his Invention, having in Haerlem only found out the way of Printing on one ſide of the Paper. The firſt Book he ever Printed is kept in the Stadt-houſe, for thoſe that are curious to ſee it. Here is one of the faireſt and largeſt Churches of the Seventeen Provinces, in the Walls whereof there remain to this day ſticking, Cannon Bullets, ſhot by the Spaniards during the Siege thereof. In this Church [Page] are three Organs, as alſo the model of the three Ships that Sailed from Haerlem to Damiater, ſeizing the Caſtle in which the Earl of Holland was kept a Priſoner, and brought him away to Holland: In the Tower of this Church hang two Silver Bells, which they alſo brought from thence, and now Ring them every Night at nine a Clock.

Haerlem is Renowned for making the fineſt Linnen Cloth, Tyffinies, Damasks, and Silk Stuffs; alſo Ribands and Tapes: They have Mills by which they can Weave 40 or 50 pieces at a time; they make the fineſt white Thread and Tapes for Lace in the whole World; their Bleacheries ſurpaſs all other whatſoever, their Waters whitening Cloth better than any in the Seventeen Provinces: They have a moſt pleaſant Grove like a little Wood, divided into Walks, where on Sundays and Holy-days the Citizens of Amſterdam and other places come to take their pleaſure. Haerlem is the Second City of Holland, and ſends in Deputies unto all the Colleges of the Government. From hence you have a paſſage by Boat to Amſterdam for ſix Stivers, but when you are come half way, you muſt ſtep out of one Boat to go into another, where you ſee a ſtately Palace, where the Lords, called Dykgraves ſit; every one of theſe Lords hath his Apartment when he comes for the Concerns of the Sea-dykes and Banks: Here are alſo two large Sluces, [Page] having Gates to let in or out Water from the Haerlemmer Meer. Near this place about Anno 1672, a part of the Sea-Bank was broken by a ſtrong North-Weſt Wind, drowning all the Land betwixt Amſterdam and Haerlem, which coſt an incredible vaſt Sum to have it repaired. They ſunk in this Breach 400 ſmall Veſſels fil'd with Earth and Stones, for a Foundation to rebuild the Wall upon, and by unſpeakable Induſtry and Charges at laſt repaired the Bank.

I come now to ſpeak of Amſterdam, which having been the place of my abode for ſeveral years, I ſhall give a more large and punctual account thereof then I do of other Places: It is eſteemed by Intelligent Men, the Second City in the World for Trade, and not inferiour to any in Wealth. Certainly Amſterdam is one of the Beautifulleſt Cities in the World, their Buildings are large, their Streets for the moſt part pleaſantly Planted with Trees, and Paved ſo neatly, as is to be found no where elſe in any Country, ſave in ſome of the Seventeen Provinces. And although, as I have already ſaid, Amſterdam may juſtly be taken for the Second or Third City after London and Paris, yet it hath neither Court nor Univerſity as they have. And now in treating of all the Excellences and Virtues of Amſterdam, I ſhall not hyperbolize or flatter; for before I have done, you ſhall ſee, I ſhall alſo faithfully [Page] declaim againſt the Evils, Miſtakes, and Vices in it.

Amſterdam ſtands upon 1000 Morgans of Land, encompaſſed with a very ſtrong Wall and Baſtions moſt pleaſant to behold, with a very large Gracht or Ditch for the defence of three parts of the City, the fourth being ſecured by an Arm of the Sea called the River Y, or (as the Engliſh Men corruptly call it) the Ty. There are 13 Churches in this City for thoſe of the Reformed Religion (called Dutch Presbyterians) to meet and worſhip in, with two French, one High-Dutch, and one Engliſh, all Presbyterian Churches, who only are allowed Bells, and whoſe Miniſters are maintained by the Magiſtrate. All theſe Churches or Congregations make up only a third part of the Inhabitants of the City. The Papiſts, who have 85 Houſes or Chapels to meet in for their Worſhip, make another third part, and have a long Square of Houſes for their Nuns to live in, who are not ſhut up in Cloiſters, as in Papiſt Countries they are wont to do, but may go in and out at their pleaſure, yea and Marry alſo, if they grow weary of a Nunniſh Life. Theſe Churches of the Papiſts have no Bells allow'd them, being look'd upon as Conventicles, and are many times ſhut up, and again opened at the Scout's pleaſure. The other third part of the City is made up by Jews, Lutherans, Armenians, Browniſts or Engliſh Independants, [Page]Anabaptiſts, and the Quakers: None of which, as was alſo ſaid of the Papiſts, have Bells allowed them, but are accounted Conventicles; and all that Marry amongſt them muſt firſt be married by the Magiſtrate, and then (if they pleaſe) among themſelves in their own Aſſemblies; neither are any of them admitted unto any Office in the Government, but ſuch only as are of the Reformed or Presbiterian Profeſſion.

The Jews, who are very conſiderable in the Trade of this City, have two Synagogues, one whereof is the largeſt in Chriſtendom, and as ſome ſay, in the World; ſure I am, it far exceeds thoſe in Rome, Venice, and all other places where I have been. Within the Court-yard where their Synagogue ſtands, they have ſeveral Rooms or Schools, where their Children are taught Hebrew, and very carefully (to the ſhame of Chriſtians negligence) brought up and inſtructed in the Jewiſh Principles.

Amſterdam, for the wiſe Stateſmen it hath produced, is ſaid to be a ſecond Athens; others make it the Storehouſe or Magazine of Europe, for that it hath ſuch great ſtore of Corn, wherewith it furniſhes many other Nations. And ſecondly, for the exceeding great Magazine of Spices, which in ancient times the Venetians brought by Land, furniſhing all Parts of Europe, but now is done by the Eaſt-India Company, which not only ſupplies [Page] Europe therewith, but many places in the Indies alſo. Thirdly, It hath inconceivable Store of all manner of Proviſions for War, inſomuch, that England and divers other Nations ſend to Amſterdam to buy Arms, Buff-Coats, Belts, Match, &c. Yea, here are ſeveral Shop-keepers who can deliver Arms for four or five Thouſand Men, and at a cheaper rate than can be got any where elſe; and this they can do by reaſon of their great Induſtry in the Ingroſſing moſt of the Iron Works on the Rhine, and other Rivers, which run into Holland. Fourthly, Amſterdam hath more ſtore of ſawed and prepared Timber for Shipping than can be found in any one Nation in the World; and this is the Reaſon why her Neighbor Town Sardam is made capable of Building Ships 20 per Cent. cheaper than they can do in England or France: So that both France, and Spain do many times buy them in Holland: As lately the King of Spain bought Ten Capital Ships of the two Brothers the Melts Merchants in this City. Fifthly, Amſterdam is the Staple where the Emperor ſells his Quick-ſilver, not only to the Spaniard, to uſe in his Mines in the Indies, but for the making of Cinoprium or Vermillion, with which Amſterdam furniſheth not only Europe, but many places in the Indies.

Sixthly, Amſterdam is the Market where the French King bought his Marble for Verſailles▪ [Page]

THE STADT HOUSE OF AMSTERDAM

[Page] [Page] Chorus of Voices, it hath 52 whole Stops beſides half Stops, and hath two rows of Keys for the Feet, and three rows of Keys for the Hands; I have had People of Quality to hear it Play, who could not believe but that there were Men or Women above, Singing in the Organ, until they were convinced by going up into the Organ Room: The Second, Is ſuch a large Carved Pulpet and Canopy as cannot be found elſewhere in the World: The Third, Is a Screen of Braſs.

The Stadthouſe, or Guild-hall of Amſterdam, is deſervedly admired and talked of by all the World, it is in Truth a moſt neat and ſplendid Pile of Building, and the Reader will not be diſpleaſed, I believe, if I enlarge [...] little in its Deſcription. This Noble Town-Houſe then, is Built all of Free-Stone, according to the Modern Architecture of the Corinthian Order, Adorned with Statues in Braſs, and Carving in Marble by the beſt Maſters of the Age. A Proſpect whereof ſee in the following Figure. It is 282 Foot wide, 232 Foot deep, and 116 Foot high, beſides the Tower. The Foundation is laid upon 13659 Piles of Wood driven into the Ground; the firſt Stone of it was laid October 28. 1648. In the middle over the Corniſh, and juſt before the Tower, is a very handſome piece of Carving in Marble of 82 Foot long, and 18 Foot high, wherein the City of Amſterdam is repreſented by a Woman, [Page] on whoſe Right Hand ſits the God Neptune, with his Trident, and two Sea-Goddeſſes bring her the Fruits of the Earth. On her Left, two Naïdes preſent her with Laurels and Palms; and before her two Tritons Dance and Sound their Horns. On the top of this ſtands an Image of Braſs, repreſenting Peace, and one on each ſide repreſenting Providence and Juſtice, each Figure being 12 Foot high. And on the back part of the Building to anſwer, is ſuch another piece of Carving, in Marble alſo, ſhewing the Grandeur and Commerce of the City; in the middle ſits a Woman, having on her Head the Hat with Wings of Mercury; behind her is ſeen the Maſts and Sails of a Ship, and round about her lies all ſorts of Mathematical Inſtruments uſed in Sailing; at her Feet lie the two Rivers Y and Amſtel, and on each ſide, the Inhabitants of the Four Parts of the World bring her their Fruits. Here likewiſe are placed three Images of Braſs of the ſame bigneſs with the other; that on the top is an Atlas, bearing a very large Globe of Copper, on the right Hand, one repreſenting Temperance, and on the left Juſtice. On each of the four Corners of the Building, over the Corniſh, ſtand four Eagles of Braſs ſupporting an Imperial Crown, all finely Gilt. In the middle is erected a very handſom round Tower, advanced about 50 Foot above the reſt of the Building, [Page] the Roof ſupported by Pillars, and adorned with Images; in it hang a very curious Chime of Bells, which at certain times being played on by a Perſon maintained for that purpoſe, afford a very agreeable Muſick. So much for the out ſide. And now let us enter, which you may by Seven little Arched Doors, which let you into the Porch, from whence you enter the Houſe by two large Gates, between which opening by Windows, (with Bars of Caſt-Braſs) to the Street, ſtands the Juſtice-Hall for Trial of Criminals, which is Adorned with many curious Carvings in Marble of Ingenious Devices, which would be too long to deſcribe particularly. Below Stairs, within ſide, is kept the Office of the Bank, where the Merchants write off their Money, the Priſons both for Debtors and Criminals, the Guard Chamber where the Citizens keep the Head-Watch, and where the Keys of the City Gates are kept lockt up in a Cheſt every Night, and ſome other Offices. From hence you aſcend by a handſome broad pair of Stairs, though not very light, into the Burghers-Hall, which is 120 Foot long, 57 Foot broad, and 98 Foot high, in the Floor whereof are inlaid in Marble the two Faces of the Terreſtrial Globe, and that of the Coeleſtial, which ingeniouſly ſhews, as in a Map, the Situation of the Countries of the Earth, and the Conſtellations [Page] in the Heavens: Each of which Maps is 22 Foot Diameter. At the end of this Hall is the Scheepens Chamber, where are Tryed all Civil Cauſes between Man and Man, and in the Galleries (which go round two ſquare Courts on each ſide the Hall, for convenience of Light) are the ſeveral Chambers, or Offices, belonging to the Government; as the Council Chamber, where [...] the Common Council of the City, who make Laws, chooſe the Burghermaſters, and Scheepens, Deputies for the States, &c. The Burghermaſters Chamber, who ſit there daily to Adminiſter the Government: The Burghermaſters withdrawing Room: The Scheepens Extraordinary Chamber: The Treaſury Chambers, Ordinary and Extraordinary: The Chamber of Accounts: That of the Commiſſioners for Bankrupts: Another for the Commiſſioners for Tryal of ſmall Cauſes, like our Court of Conſcience: And one for the Commiſſioners of the Hoſpitals; with two or three more belonging to the ſeveral Secretaries, all which are beautified with fine Paintings, and ingenious Devices carved in Marble over the Door of each Chamber; to give a particular Deſcription of which would take up a Volume, which is not agreeable to what I here pretend, theſe being only ſhort Remarks to put young Travallers in mind of what is moſt worthy their Obſervation. I ſhall only therefore ſay in general, that it [Page] is already a very noble, beautiful, and coſtly Building, and is a ſufficient intimation of the Richneſs of the City, but ſhould they finiſh it within ſide as they pretend, by Painting the Ceilings, and Facing the Walls with Marble, &c. it would make it incomparably the fineſt and coſtlieſt in the World. Over theſe Chambers, in the ſecond Story, is kept a large Magazine of Arms, which takes up one Angle of the Building, and is very compleatly Furniſhed; the Arms are all kept in Preſſes ſhut up, to avoid the injury of the Weather; the reſt of the Houſe above is not uſed, or Furniſhed at all. One thing I muſt not omit, and that is, That there are Eight Ciſterns of Water kept always full at the top of the Houſe, which by Pipes may be let down into every Room, to quench any accidental Fire; and the Chimneys are all lined with Copper, the former Stadthouſe having been Burnt down by Accident.

I ſhall now proceed, and ſpeak of their Alms-houſes, and of the Government of the Poor, of their Priſons, and Houſes of Correction. This City is ſaid to have 20000 Poor every day at Bed and Board. The Alms-houſes are many, and look more like Princes Palaces than Lodgings for Poor People: Firſt, there are Houſes for Poor old Men and Women, then a large ſquare Palace for 300 Widows, then there are Hoſpitals for Boys and Girls, for Burghers Children, [Page] and for Strangers Children, or thoſe called Foundlings; all theſe Boys and Girls have every Sunday, and other days of Worſhip, two Doites given them by the Fathers of theſe Houſes, the which the Children put into the Deacons Bag when they gather for the Poor in the Churches: Then there is an Hoſpital for Fools, and a Bedlam: There are Houſes where common Beggers, and Gameſters, and frequenters of Tap-houſes are kept hard at Work: There is alſo a Houſe called, the Raſp-houſe, where petty Thieves, and ſuch as flaſh one another with Knives, ſuch as beg with cheating Devices, Women with fained great Bellies, Men pretending to have been taken by the Turks, others that pretend Wreck at Sea, and ſuch as Beg with a Clapper, or a Bell, as if they could not Speak or Hear, ſuch as theſe are kept hard at Work, Raſping every day 50 pounds between two of them, or elſe are beaten with a Bulls Piſſel, and if yet they Rebel, and wont Work, they are ſet in a Tub, where if they do not Pump, the Water will ſwell over their Heads: Then there is a Houſe where Whores are kept to Work, as alſo diſ-Obedient Children, who live Idle, and take no Courſe to maintain themſelves; likewiſe Women commonly drinking themſelves Drunk, and Scolds; all theſe ſorts of Hoſpitals, and Alms-houſes are ſtately Buildings, richly Adorned with Pictures, and their [Page] Lodgings very neat and clean. In ſome, of the Boys and Girls Hoſpitals there are 1500, in ſome 800, and in ſome 500 in a Houſe; then they have Houſes where a Man or a Woman may have their Diet, Waſhing, and Lodging for his Life, giving a ſmall Sum of Money; theſe are called Brouders Houſes. The Alms Children of this City are held in ſuch Veneration and Reſpect, that a Man had as good ſtrike a Burghermaſters Child as one of them. Theſe Children are permitted to Travel in any of the Treckſcuts, or Paſſage-Boats, freely without Money: Theſe Hoſpitals are Governed by Men and Women, as are of an unſpotted Life, and reputed to be Rich, Devout, and Pious: It is very obſervable, that the Women govern their Women Hoſpitals, better than the Men do theirs; yea, it is a general Obſervation in this Country, that where the Women have the direction of the Purſe and Trade, the Husband ſeldom prove Bankrupts, it being the property of a true Born Holland-Wife preſently after Marriage, to apply her ſelf wholly to her Buſineſs; but I forbear to ſay any more of the Dutch-houſewives, for fear of diſpleaſing our Engliſh Dames, not ſo much addicted, at leaſt not ſo generally bred up to Induſtry; But to return to the Acts of Charity of Amſterdam, the which is ſo extraordinary, that they ſurpaſs all other Cities in the World, for they are daily and hourly giving to the Poor, every [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] Houſe in Amſterdam hath a Box hanging in a Chain, on which is Written, Think on the Poor, ſo that when any Merchant ſells Goods, they commonly conclude no Bargain, but more or leſs is put in the Poors Box; theſe Boxes are lockt up by the Deacons, who once a quarter go round the City, and take the Money out of the Boxes. Then twice a Week there are Men belonging to the Hoſpitals that go round the City, and ring a Bell at every Houſe, to know what the Maſter or Miſtriſs of the Houſe will give to the Box, who generally give not leſs than two Stivers. Then every firſt Wedneſday of the Month, the Deacons in their turn, go round the City, from Houſe to Houſe, to receive what every Houſe-keeper will give to the Poor, then on the Week before the Sacrament is given, a Miniſter, with an Elder, goes round the City to every Houſe where any Members of the Presbiterian Religion live, and there ask if any differences be in the Family, offering their Service to reconcile them; alſo to inſtruct and prepare ſuch as are to receive the Sacrament: At this time a Miniſter may be ſeen to go into a Tap-houſe or Tavern, for which at another time he would be counted a Wine-Bibber, and the worſt of Reprobates: At this time while theſe Miniſters and Elders go about the City on their Viſitations, the People take an occaſion to give to the Poor. And here I [Page] ought not to omit telling you of their great Charity to the diſtreſſed French Proteſtants, who are here in great Numbers. They maintain no leſs than 60 French Miniſters, and unto many Handicraft Tradeſmen, and makers of Stuffs, and Cloth, they lend Sums of Money, without Intereſt, to buy Working Tools, and Materials for their Work; but this is no other then they formerly did to the Poor diſtreſſed Proteſtants of Ireland and Piemont; and their Charity was not a little that they gave to Geneva towards the Building their Fortifications; and here give me leave to tell you, what King Charles II. ſaid of the Charity of Amſterdam, when the Duke of Lotherdal, hearing that the Prince of Orange's Army was not able to oppoſe the French from advancing ſo near to Amſterdam, the Duke jearingly ſaid, That Oranges would be very ſcarce in Holland, after Amſterdam ſhould fall into the French Hands to plunder. To which His Majeſty ſaid, That he was of Opinion, that God would preſerve Amſterdam from being deſtroyed, if it were only for the great Charity they have for the Poor, the which put the Duke out of Countenance; I will ſay no more of their Charity, only this, that they leave no Stone unturned to bring Monies into the Poors Stock; they make the Stage-players pay 80000 Gilders a year to the Poor; there is not a Rope-Dancer, Poppet-Player, or any of that ſort of unneceſſary Vermin which [Page] frequent Fairs, but pay the third Penny to the Poor, which is carefully looked after, by placing an Alms-man at the Door of the Booths, to ſee that they cheat not the Poor of their ſhare. I ſhall now in the next place ſay ſomething of the Clergy, I mean thoſe called, The States Clergy, for the States are abſolutely Head of their Church; and when any Synod of Divines meet, two of the States are always preſent to hear that they debate nothing relating, or reflecting on the Government, or Governors; if they do, preſently the States cry, Ho la mij [...] Heeren Predicanten, and if their Miniſters meddle with any thing relating to the Government in their Pulpits, they ſend them a Brief, (which ſome call a pair of Shooes) to quit the City, and ſometimes Impriſon them to Boot; but if they behave themſelves quietly and well, as they ought to do, they then are reſpected by the People as Gods upon Earth: They have a Form of Prayer ſent them how they ſhall Pray for the States, and Stadholder, nor muſt they meddle with any other Religion in the Country, becauſe all ſorts are Tollerated, at leaſt Connived at by the Magiſtrates. All thoſe called the Presbiterian Miniſters, or States Clergy, are obliged under a Forfeiture to have done Preaching and Praying by Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon on Sundays, becauſe then the Scheepens go to the Stadthouſe, to Marry [Page] the Jews, Papiſts, and Lutherans, and others that may not marry after the Calviniſtical Form; and the reaſon why the States thus marry them firſt according to Law, is to render their Children Legitimate, but they may marry again afterwards as they pleaſe themſelves: None may marry until they have made their appearance at the Stadthouſe before the Lords; where, if the Parties be agreed, the Preachers marry the Calviniſts, and the Scheepens marry all the reſt, who differ from the Religion eſtabliſhed by Law.

When one dies, the Friends dare not bury the Corps until it hath lain three days open in the Coffin, that the Friends and Relations of the deceaſed may be ſatisfied that the Party hath not been murdered, or reported to be dead when alive; after three days, the Corps muſt be brought to the Church before the Bell ceaſeth tolling, which is at two, for if you keep the Body untill half three, then the Church Doors are lock'd, and for the firſt half hour muſt be paid 25 Gilders, and for the ſecond 50, and ſo until ſix, then they may amerſe you as much as they pleaſe.

There are many rich people who make that default on purpoſe, that they may have ſolemn occaſion of giving to the Poor, as I knew once an Engliſh Merchant did.

The next thing I ſhall ſpeak of, is the method which the States obſerve in ordering [Page] their Maritime Affairs, one of the greateſt Myſteries in their Government: The States General divide their Admiralty into Five Courts, which they call Chambers. The Firſt is Rotterdam, (which is the Chamber call'd the Maeſe,) and hath the Admirals Flag.

Then Amſterdam, which hath the Vice-Admiral's Flag; and Zealand hath the Rear-Admiral's Flag; the other Two Chambers are thoſe in North-Holland and Fricſland. Each of theſe Five Chambers have their Admirals, Vice-Admirals, and Rear-Admirals, apart from the States-Generals Flags; ſo that when the States have occaſion to ſet out a Fleet of an Hundred Ships, more or leſs, every Chamber knows the number they muſt provide for their proportion, though in regard of its Opulency, Amſterdam frequently helps her Neighbours, and adds two, or more, Ships than their ſhare comes to. Theſe Chambers have lately built 36 Men of War, and now are building of 7 more; and all this is done without noiſe, every one building their proportion: And they have admirable methods in preſerving their Ships when built, and their Magazines are in good order, every Ship having an Apartment to lay up all its Equipage in; and at the top of their Magazines are vaſt Ciſterns, which are kept conſtantly full of Water, having Pipes into every Apartment to let it down upon any [Page] accident of Fire. And there is in their Magazines a Nurſery Room, where a Woman keeps an Office, to feed at certain hours of the day a great number of Cats, which afterward hunt among the Stores for Mice and Rats. This great Magazine in Amſterdam was built in the time of Cromwell, in the ſpace of 9 months and 14 days, in which time the Lords of the Admiralty gave the Workmen drinkgelt as they call it, to incourage them to work more than at an ordinary rate. At this time, the biggeſt Man of War the States had was the Amelia, in which the famous Admiral Trump was kill'd; ſhe was a Ship of no more than 56 Guns, afterward made a Fire-ſhip. But the States quickly diſcovered their want of great Ships, and therefore built, the ſame year 20 Men of War, from 50 to 80 Guns: But the great Ships built at Amſterdam, had like to have proved of no uſe, had not the ingenious Penſionary de Wit found out a device to carry them over the Pampus, betwixt thoſe they call Water Ships.

The Admiralty have an excellent method in ſetting out their Fleets, they neither preſs Soldiers nor Seamen, all go voluntary at the beating of a Drum, each Captain providing Men and Proviſions for his Ship, who, after they have received Orders from the Lords to the Equipage-Maſter to equip out their Ships, and receive the Proviſions of War, [Page] then the States ſend aboard each Ship a Chaplain, and Check-maſter, who take care of the proviſion of War, and ſee that the Seamen have the States Allowance, and wholeſom Food: And great care is taken by the Lords, that both Captains and Seamen receive their Pay punctually for the time they are in the States Service: And for the incouraging their Seamen, there is plaiſtred on a Board, hanging by the Foremaſt, the ſeveral Rewards to ſuch as either take or fire a Flag-ſhip, or take or ſink any other Ship of the Enemies: Alſo what Penſions a wounded Seaman ſhall have, if maim'd or diſabled in the States Service, &c.

The Lords of the Admiralty follow the ſame methods which the States-General obſerve, as to their Land Obligations, and go through this great Charge by the good Management of their Credit; for though it be true, that they are indebted great Sums of Money, yet they never want a Supply, nay, Moneys are often forced upon them by rich Merchants, who ſend in their Moneys, and only take the Admiralties Obligations, with which they afterward pay their Cuſtoms, when their Ships arrive, at which time the Admiralty allows them Intereſt for the time they have had their Money: And this is it that makes the Admiralties Obligations more valued than ready Money, for it ſaves the trouble of telling: And ſuch is the Credit [Page] of the Admiralty, that when they have occaſion for any Goods, the People ſtrive to furniſh them, and rather take their Obligations than Money, becauſe they get Intereſt; and all other Aſſignments upon the Admiralty are very punctually paid, and without Exchequer Fees; no they are Sworn Officers, who are forbid to receive any Monies for Fees, being contented with the Sallery they have of the States. And their methods uſed at the Cuſtom-houſe for loading or unloading Ships are very eaſie, inſomuch, that the Women generally have the charging and diſcharging the Ships at the Cuſtom-houſe, which is a great Policy in the States to make Trade eaſie for the Encouragement of the Merchants: And the Admiralty are very grateful and generous unto their Commanders; if any of their Admirals, or Captains are kill'd at Sea, and have done any conſiderable Service, they then Eternize their Memories with laſting Trophies of Honour, as you may ſee by thoſe Stately Monuments of Trump, Updam, de Ruiter, the Everſons, and others; nor are they ſparing in beſtowing large Gifts and Penſions on the Widows, and Children of thoſe as have ſerved them Faithfully and Valiantly in the Wars, whilſt the Treacherous and Cowards meet with the ſeverity they deſerve; I might here in the next place, inlarge and tell you of the excellent methods they have in Building, and [Page] preſerving their Ships when Built, but I ſhall refer you to that excellent Peice written by the Heer Witſen on that Subject. And ſhall now in the next place ſay ſomething of their Famous Company, called the Eaſt-India Company of the Netherlands; this Company is ſaid to be a Commonwealth within a Commonwealth, and it is true, if you conſider the Soveraign Power and Privileges they have granted them by the States General, and likewiſe conſider their Riches, and vaſt number of Subjects, and the many Territories and Colonies they poſſeſs in the Eaſt-Indies, they are ſaid to have 30000 Men in conſtant Pay, and above 200 Capital Ships, beſides Sloops, Ketches, and Yachts. This Company hath by their Politick Contrivances, and Sedulous Induſtry poſſeſſed themſelves of many Colonies formerly belonging unto the Spaniards, Portuguiſes, and divers Indian Princes, and as good Chriſtians have been at great Charge in Planting the Goſpel of Chriſt in many parts there, Printing in the Indian Language Bibles, and Prayer Books, and Catechiſms, for the Inſtruction of the Indians, maintaining Miniſters and School-maſters, to inform thoſe that are Converted to the Chriſtian Faith: And now, becauſe I have ſaid that this Company is ſo conſiderable, and as it were a Commonwealth apart, I will demonſtrate it to be ſo; firſt by their Power, Riches, and Strength [Page] in the Indies, ſecondly, what Figure they make in Europe, and this very briefly, for if I ſhould ſpeak of every particular, as to their Poſſeſſions in the Indies, it would ſwell into many Volumes, but I will only begin with them at the Cape de bonne Eſperance, where they have built a Royal Fort, in which they maintain a Gariſon of Soldiers to defend their Ships which come there to take in freſh Water: From thence let us take a view of them in the Iſland of Java; where they have built a fair City called Battavia, and Fortified it with Baſtions, after the mode of Amſterdam. This City is the place of Reſidence of their grand Miniſter of State, called the General of the Indies, he hath allowed him Six Privy Counſellors in Ordinary, and Two Extraordinary, theſe govern the Concerns of the Company throughout the Indies, and they make Peace and War, ſend their Ambaſſadors to all parts thereof, as occaſion requireth. This General hath his Guards of Horſe and Foot, and all ſorts of Officers and Servants, as if he were a Soveraign Prince, the whole Expence whereof is defrayed out of the Companies Stock. This General hath much of the direction of Bantam, and other parts of the Iſland of Java: From whence let us take a view of them in their great Poſſeſſions in the Molucca Iſlands, and thoſe of Banda, where they are become ſo formidable, that they look as if they aimed at the [Page] Soveraignty of the South Seas: They have alſo a great Trade in China, and Japan, from whence let us return to the Iſlands of Sumatra, and on the Coaſt of Bengale, where they have ſeveral Lodges: In Perſia they have likewiſe great Commerce, and are ſo conſiderable, that they wage War with that mighty Monarch if he wrongs them in their Trade. They alſo have ſeveral Colonies and Lodges on the Coaſt of Malabar and Cormandel, and in the Country of the Great Mogul, and King of Galcanda, but principally let us behold them in the rich Iſland of Zeylon, where they are Maſters of the plain Country, ſo that the Emperor, or King of that Iſland, is forced to live in the Mountains, whilſt this Company poſſeſs the City of Colomba, and other the moſt conſiderable Gariſons of that Iſland: It is ſaid, that the Company hath there in their pay 3600 Soldiers, and at leaſt 300 Guns Planted in their Forts and Gariſons; in a word, they are not only Maſters of the Cinnamon, but of all other Spices except Pepper, and that they would alſo have, had it been for their Intereſt to Ingroſs, but they wiſely foreſaw that the Engliſh would be a block in their way, therefore they contented themſelves to be Maſters of the Mace, Cinnamon, Cloves, and Nutmegs, with which they not only ſerve Europe, but many places in the Indies; I will ſay no more of them in the Indies, but let us [Page] ſee what Figure they make in Europe. And firſt to begin with them in Amſterdam, where they have two large ſtately Palaces, one being in the old part of the City, and the other in the new; in that of the old part of the City they keep their Court, and there ſits the Reſident Committee of the Company, where alſo they make the Sales of the Companies Goods. There for ſix years the grand Council, or Aſſembly of the Seventeen, do meet, and after ſix years are expired, the grand Council of the Seventeen do aſſemble at Middelburg in Zealand for two years, and then again return to Amſterdam; the other leſſer Chambers of Delft, Rotterdam, Horne, and E [...]chuyſen never having the Aſſembly of the Seventeen in their Chambers, ſo that only Amſterdam and Zealand have the Honour of that grand Council. I will therefore crave leave to deſcribe unto you the Chamber of Amſterdam, it being the moſt conſiderable of the Chambers belonging to this Famous Company: In their Houſe or Palace, within the old City, are many large Offices or Apartments; as firſt, on the lower Floor is their Parliament Chamber, where the Seventeen do ſit; next to this Chamber are ſeveral fair Chambers for the Committees to ſit in. They have alſo a Chamber of Audience, where they do receive Princes or Ambaſſadors, or other great Men as have occaſion to ſpeak with them. In one of theſe [Page] Chambers are the Arms of ſeveral Indian Princes they have Conquered. On the ſame Floor is their Treaſury Office, where their Receivers ſit and receive Money, and Pay out the Orders or Aſſignments of the Company; near to that Chamber ſits their grand Miniſter, the Heer Peter van Dam, who is ſaid to be a ſecond John de Wit for Parts, tho' not ſo in Principle: This great Miniſter is a Man of indefatagable Induſtry, and labours Night and Day in the Companies Service; he Reads over twice the great Journal Books which come from the Indies, and out of them makes Minutes to prepare matters of Concern neceſſary to be conſidered by the grand Council of Seventeen, and by the inferiour Committees of the Company, and prepares Inſtructions and Orders to be ſent to their Chief Miniſters in the Indies; I could ſay many more things of his great Worth and Virtues, but ſhall forbear leſt I ſhould be judged a Flatterer: Over-againſt this great Miniſters Office ſit in a Chamber many Clarks, or under Secretaries, who receive from this Miniſter their Orders of Diſpatches in the Affairs of the Company; and next to this Chamber is a Regiſter Office, where are kept the Journal Books of the Indies, where you may ſee the Names of all the Men and Women that have ever ſerved the Company in the Indies, with the time of their Death, or departing the Companies Service: Then [Page] next to that is a Council Chamber, where the Reſiding Chamber, or Committee of the Company always ſits; then aſſending up Stairs, there ſit their Book-holders, who keep the Accounts of all the Tranſactions of thoſe that buy or ſell Actions of the Company, and over againſt this Office ſits the Heer Gerbrand Elias, who is the ſecond Advocate of the Company: On this Floor are ſeveral large Rooms, in which are great Stores of Pack'd Goods, and alſo a Room with all ſorts of Drugs, Tea, Wax, Ambergreace, and Musk; and on the ſame Floor is a Chamber where the Commiſſioners ſit, who govern the Pack-houſes; and next to them ſit their Clerks, who keep the Regiſters of the Sales of the Companies Goods: And on the ſame Gallery or Floor, is a Chamber where are kept the ſeveral Books of Divinity, Printed in the Indian Language, that are ſent to the ſeveral Colonies of the Company: And at the end of this Gallery is a Magazine full of Medicaments and Inſtruments for Barber Chirurgeons Cheſts, to furniſh the Companies Ships and Gariſons in the Indies: Then aſſending up another pair of Stairs, there are ſeveral large Magazines of Nutmegs, Cloves, Mace, and Cinnamon; and in a long Gallery are many Men at Work ſorting of Spices fit for Sale: Then aſcending up another pair of Stairs there are many Rooms full of Spices; then deſcending into the Court-yard, there [Page] is Guard Chamber, where every Night the Houſe-keeper hath a Watch, and on the other ſide of the Gate there is a Chymiſt▪ who with his Men prepares Medicaments for the Indies; adjoyning to this Court-yard is their Ware-houſe and Pack-houſe for Pepper and Groſs Goods; but before I leave this Houſe in the old part of the City, I muſt ſay ſomething of the manner or method uſed in the Tranſactions of the Jews and others, who make a Trade of Buying and Selling the Actions of the Company, the which is a great Myſtory of Iniquity, and where it inricheth one Man, it ruins an hundred. The Jews are the chief in that Trade, and are ſaid to Negotiate 17 parts of 20 in the Company; Theſe Actions are bought and ſold four times a day, at 8 in the Morning in the Jews-ſtreet, at a 11 on the Dam, at 12 and at one a Clock upon the Exchange, and at ſix in the Evening on the Dam, and in the Colleges or Clubs of the Jews until 12 at midnight, where many times the crafty Jews, and others have contrived to coin bad News to make the Actions fall, and good News to raiſe them, the which Craft of doing at Amſterdam is not taken notice of, which is much to be wondred at, in ſuch a Wiſe Government as Amſterdam is; for it is a certain Truth, they many times ſpread Scandalous Reports touching the Affairs of State, which paſs amongſt the Ignorant for Truth.

[Page] I ſhall now in the next place ſay ſomething of their Palace, or Magazine, in the new part of the City, the which may more properly be called an Arſenal: It is a Building ſo ſuperb, that it looks more like a Kings Palace, than a Magazine for Merchants: I have meaſured the Ground on which this Arſenal ſtands, which I find to be 2000 Foot, and ſquare every way, reckoning the Motes, or Burgals, about it. I remember the Ingenious Sir Joſeph Williamſon meaſured the two Rope-Alleys, by telling the Stone-Figures in the Wall, and found them to be 1800 Foot long, the like whereof is not to be ſeen in the World. On the backſide of this Rope-Alley lies a ſtore of Five Hundred large Anchors, beſides ſmall ones; in this Arſenal they build the Ships belonging to this Chamber: And here are all ſorts of Work-houſes for the Artificers that ſerve the Company. And in a Chamber next to the Joyners Office, is a model of a Ship, they now build their Ships by, which coſt 6000 Gilders. When a Man beholds the great Stores of Timber, Cordage, and the Proviſions of War in their Magazine, a Man would think there were enough to furniſh a whole Nation: In this Arſenal the Ships unload their Goods, laid up in ſeveral Apartments in the grand Magazine, and afterward is removed to the Houſe in the old part of the City, as there is occaſion for [Page] Sale. In the upper part of this large Palace ſit the Sail-makers at work; but on the lower part of this Houſe is an Apartment where the Committee aſſemble upon occaſion of Buſineſs: This Arſenal is not to be ſeen by Strangers without a Ticket from the Bewinthebbers. Now all what I have ſpoken of theſe two Houſes, or Magazines, doth only belong unto the Chamber of Amſterdam. There are yet other Chambers of the Company, who, according to their Quota, or ſtock in the Company, have the like Houſes and Magazines, as the Chambers of Zealand, Delft, Rotterdam, Horne, and Enkuſen. And now I have named the Six Chambers, of which the Company is compoſed, I ſhall ſay ſomething of their Conſtitution, which is from an Octroy, or Act of the States-General; by which they have Sovereign Power over their Servants in the Indies, yea, their Authority reacheth their Servants in all Territories of the States-Generals Dominions: It is Death for any of the States Subjects to be Interlopers againſt this Company; nor may any, of what Nation ſoever, that lives in any of the Companies Territories, as Burghers or Servants, return into Europe without leave from the Company, only thoſe called Freemen may depart without asking leave to remove: The Grand Councel of this Company is the Aſſembly of the Seventeen, which are elected [Page] out of the ſeveral Chambers before named, that is, Eight from Amſterdam, and four from Zealand; Delft, Rotterdam, Horne, and Enkuſen, ſend one a piece, which makes Sixteen, and the five leſſer Chambers by turns choſe the Seventeenth. In the Chamber of Amſterdam there are 20 Bewinthebbers, or Committee for Management of the Stock, in ordinary, who are for Life, and have 1000 Ducatoons a Year, and Spices at Chriſtmas, and their Travelling Charges, when they go upon the Companies Service. The next Chamber is Zealand, which hath twelve Bewinthebbers, who have about 250 l. a Year, and travelling Charges, and Spices at Chriſtmas. The next is Delft, which hath Seven Bewinthebbers, who have only 120 l. a Year, and Travelling Charges and Spices at Chriſtmas. The other Chambers of Rotterdam, Horne and Enkuſen, have ſeven Bewinthebbers a piece, and the like Salary, with Travelling Charges and Spices at Chriſtmas, as the Chamber of Delft hath. Theſe Bewinthebbers are elected or choſen out of thoſe Adventurers called the High Participanten of the Company: They generally chuſe ſuch as are Rich, and Men of Parts and Wiſdom, moſt of them being of the Magiſtracy of the Country. No Man is capable of being Elected a Bewinthebber who hath not 1000 l. Stock in the Company. In a word, this Grand Council of the Seventeen make Laws for the Governing the Company, both in [Page] India and Europe. It is they that appoint the Days of Sale, and what Number of Ships each Chamber muſt ſend to the Indies; and likewiſe order the Building of Ships, and all other grand Concerns. This Company is worthily eſteemed a Wiſe, Politique, Deſerving Company, ſparing no coſt to get good Intelligence of Affairs, ſending Meſſengers and Expreſſes over-Land to the Eaſt-Indies. They have their Spies and Correſpondents in all the conſiderable Trading Parts of the World: They have been ſo induſtrious as to gain the Spice Trade, not only from the Venetians, Spaniards, Portuguiſes, French, Danes, and other European Nations, but have alſo Ingroſſed all the Spices; ſo that, as I told you before, they ſel [...] Spices to the Indians themſelves: But this I muſt ſay for them, that they are a Generous Company, and gratefully paying Reſpects where it is due, as lately they have Complemented his Royal Highneſs the Prince of Orange, His preſent Majeſty of Great Britain, with an Annual Sum out of the Profits of their Company, to make him their Friend and Protector. Neither are they backward in beſtowing Preſents upon Strangers that have obliged them, as I could inſtance in ſome of our own Nation. They are alſo very charitable to the Poor, giving them the Thouſandth Gilder of all the Goods they ſell. And to all the Reformed Miniſters in Amſterdam [Page] they ſend Spices at Chriſtmas, to pray every Sunday for the Welfare and Proſperity of the Company. To conclude, this Company is a Buckler and Defence for the Commonwealth upon all urgent Occaſions: And truly our Engliſh Eaſt-India-Company might be the ſame to our King, if the Differences between the Two Companies were compoſed; eſpecially now they have ſuch a great King to protect them, and that the Interlopers are deſtroyed.

And now it is high time I ſhould tell you the Methods a Stranger muſt take if he hath occaſion to keep Houſe in Amſterdam: If a Man will hire an Houſe, he muſt take a Leaſe upon Seal'd Paper, for which you muſt pay a Tax to the States, and pay the Broaker that makes the Bargain: But before you can buy a Houſe, you muſt be in a capacity to be made a Burgher. To this purpoſe it is uſual to take with you to the Stadthouſe your Broaker, or any two Securities, and there before the Burghermaſters take the Oath of Burgherſchap, which is to be faithful to the City, to the Magiſtrates and Government, &c. But if you buy either Land or Houſes, and lodge▪ privately, you will find your caſe much worſe; then you muſt pay a Legion of Taxes to the Mills that drain your Lands, and for maintaining the Banks and Sluces; and if the States have occaſion to build a Fortification on your Lands, or [Page] to drown them in time of War, you muſt be contented with the States Terms: And if your Houſe or Houſes ſtand empty without Tenants, yet you muſt pay the States Taxes on that Houſe or Houſes. Thus much for the Method how you are to be advanced to be a Burgher of Amſterdam, and to give you a taſte what you are to pay for Houſes or Land, if you ſettle there; and if you have either purchaſed or hired an Houſe, then comes an Officer from the Stadthouſe, with a Printed Sealed Paper, who tells you, you muſt pay as followeth.

Firſt, A Pole-Tax for every Male and Female Servant in the Houſe above eight Years old, ſix Gilders a Year.

For a Coach, if you keep one, 75 Gilders a Year.

For a Coach without Wheels, 50 Gilders a Year.

For Soap, as the Number of the Family is.

The like for Salt.

For Wine, as your Quality is.

To the Watch, as your Houſe is in Greatneſs.

To the Lanthorns, as the largeneſs of the Houſe is.

For Butter, every 20 Pound ſeven Stivers.

For Beans, half as much as you pay for the Beans.

[Page] For Turff, every Tun five Stivers.

For every 20 Gilders in Wood, ſix Gilders.

For Fleſh the Tax often changeth.

There is alſo a Tax on the Bread.

Then there is a Tax called the 200th Penny, and a Tax called the 8th: Then there are many Taxes in Trade, as that no Man can weigh or meaſure out his own Goods if ſold in groſs, but the States Officers muſt do it. Then the States have a Tax called the Verpounding on all Lands and Houſes in their Dominions. Then they have a Tax on Seal'd Paper, and a Tax for Regiſtering Land [...] Houſes; likewiſe a Tax on Cows, Horſe [...] Calves, and on all ſort of Fruit. There are many other Taxes I could name, as a Stiver for every Man that goes out or into any City after the Hour of ſhutting the Gates. Alſo you pay for going over ſome Bridges, and paſſing through Gates called Tolhek, a Stiver for every Perſon; but Coaches, Wagons or Horſes pay more. Theſe I have already named, you will ſay, are too many; yet I may not forget to tell you, that Milk firſt pays as Milk; and again if it be made Butter; yea, the Buttermilk and Whay pays a Tax likewiſe, for all which a Man would think that a People that ſtand ſo much upon maintaining of their Liberty ſhould Mutiny, and refuſe payment: But this ſeldom happens; and if it [Page] doth, the States puniſh them very ſeverely. I remember that in my time there was a Mutiny at Sardam about paying a new Tax, whereupon the States ſent a Regiment of their Souldiers, and ſeized the Heads of the Mutineers, and hanged up five or ſix of them at the Towns end, and ſeverely whipt eight under the Gallows. And in the rich City of Amſterdam, if any refuſe to pay their Tax, the Magiſtrates ſend their Officer to pull off their Doors; and if they remain long obſtinate, they ſend and fetch away the lower Windows of their Houſe, and they dare not put up others, until they have [...]id the Taxes. However, this is obſervable [...] if any Man will ſwear he is not worth [...] he is taxed at, then he is free: But there are many ſo proud, that they will not let the World know their Condition. I knew a Merchant named Ornia, who paid during the War for his 200th Penny, and other Taxes for his and his Wives Children, (having had two Rich Wives) 14000 Pounds Sterling. I alſo knew an Engliſh Anabaptiſt Merchant, who told the Engliſh Envoy in my preſence, That he had paid near 4000 l. Sterling to the War, and yet the ſame Man did Grumble to pay his Majeſties Conſul a pityful Fee or Conſulat-Money on his Ships: The reaſon whereof I once asked him, who anſwered me, That the King could not raiſe a Penny in England without his Parliament, [Page] and therefore much leſs could he do it in the States Country. Thus theſe Phanaticks had rather make Bricks without Straw, than pay the leaſt Tribute to their Natural Prince's Officer. Should we in England be obliged to pay the Taxes that are here impoſed, there would be Rebellion upon Rebellion: And yet after all that is here paid, no Man may bake his own Bread, or grind his own Corn, or brew his Beer, nor dare any Man keep in his Houſe a Hand-Mill, although it be but to grind Muſtard or Coffee. I remember one Mrs. Guyn a Coffee-Woman at Rotterdam, had like to have been ruined for grinding her own Coffee, had not Sir Lyonel Jenkins employed his Secretary Doctor Wyn to intreat the States on her behalf; and it was reckoned a grand favour that ſhe was only fined, and not baniſhed the City, and forfeiture made of all her Goods. I remember alſo a Landlord of mine in Leyden bought a live Pig in the Market, and innocently brought it home, and kill'd it, for which he had like to have been ruined, becauſe he did not firſt ſend to the Exciſemen to exciſe it, and alſo let the Viſitors ſee that the Pig was free from Diſeaſes. At another time a Wine-Merchant coming to give me a Viſit, told me that he had the rareſt Rheniſh in the City, and that if I would ſend my Maid to his Cellar with ſix Bottles, they ſhould be fill'd: Whereupon I ſent the Maid only with two [Page] Bottles, and charged her to hide them under her Apron▪ but ſuch was her misfortune, that the Scouts Dienaers met her, and ſeized her and her Bottles, and carried her to Priſon, which coſt the Wine-Merchant 1500 Gilders; and had it not been for the ſtrongeſt Sollicitations made by us, he had been ruined: So ſacred are Taxes here, and muſt ſo exactly be paid. And were they not here ſo preciſe, it were impoſſible for ſo ſmall a Country to ſubſiſt: And therefore you may hear the Inhabitants generally ſay, that what they ſuffer is for their Vaderland: Hence the meaneſt among them are content to pay what is laid on them, for they ſay all what is the Vaderlands is ours, the Men of War are theirs, the ſumptuous Magazins, Bridges, and every thing what is the Vaderlands. And indeed in a ſenſe it is ſo, for they have this to comfort them, that if it pleaſe God to viſit them with Poverty, they and their Children have the Publick Purſe to maintain them; and this is one main Reaſon why they ſo willingly pay their Taxes as they do; for there's not a Soul born in the States Dominions that wants warm Cloaths and Dyet, and good Lodging, if they make their caſe known to the Magiſtrates. And for the Vagabonds that rove up and down the Streets, they are either Walloons, or other Strangers as pretend to have been ruined by the late Wars.

[Page] I ſhall now in the next place let you know how excellently the Laws are here executed againſt Fraud and Perjury, and the Intention of Murders; which Laws were once much uſed in England, as you ſhall hear hereafter when I ſpeak of the Duke of Brandenburgh's Court.

I ſhall here inſtance a few particulars that happened in my time: There was a Spark that made falſe Aſſignments on the Admiralty, who tho' related to many of the Magiſtrates of Amſterdam, had his Head cut off; and another who was a Clerk in the Merchants Bank, who made falſe Poſts in their Books, and had his Head alſo cut off; and all the Portions he had given with his Daughters, the Husbands were forced to pay back, and all his Houſes and Goods were ſold at his Door in the open Streets: I knew a French Marquis, who ſwore his Regiment was compleat, and when the States knew that he had not half his Regiment, he likewiſe had his Head cut off in the Priſon in the Hague: I alſo knew a French Pedagogue, a Runagado Monk, who deſigned to have Murdered his Maſter Major Cavellio, and his two Pupils, young Children of the Majors, and afterward to ſet the Houſe a Fire to colour the Murder, he had his Head cut off and ſet upon a Poſt, with his Body on a Wheel near the Hague. I could Name you two other Cheaters, who were ſeverely whipt under [Page] the Gallows; and two under Farmers who deſigned to run away with the States Money.

The Cheat of breaking with a full Hand is not ſo frequent in Holland as in England, (where ſome uſe it as a way to ſlip out of Buſineſs, and then to live conveniently afterward upon the Eſtates of other Men) becauſe in Holland they are more ſeverely puniſhed when diſcovered than in England: As on the contrary, thoſe that fall to decay through Loſſes, and unavoidable Accidents which they could not prevent, find a more ſpeedy and eaſie way of Compounding and Finiſhing Matters with their Creditors if they be over-ſtrict, than the Cuſtom or Law of England doth afford, for the ſuing out of Statutes of Bankrupts in England doth prove many times ſo pernicious both to Creditor and Debtor through the tediouſneſs of the Proceedings, and the expenſiveneſs of Executing the Commiſſions, that what by Commiſſioners Fees, Treats, and other incident Charges, the Creditors are put to ſuch Expences as to be utterly diſappointed of their Debt, and the Poor Debtors for ever ruined and undone; I ſhall therefore in this place give a ſhort Relation of the method uſed in Amſterdam in the caſe of Bankrupts, which perhaps may be taken notice of by our King and Parliament, for the preventing Diſorders and ſad Abuſes that daily happen in Executing the Statutes of Bankrupts: The [Page] Magiſtrates of Amſterdam every year Name Commiſſioners for Bankrupts, out of thoſe that make up a Judicature, like to our Courts of Aldermen in London; Theſe meet certain days in the Week in a diſtinct Chamber in the Stadthouſe, over whoſe Door is cut in Marble the Emblem of Fortune flying away with Wings, and round Cheſts turn'd upſide down, with Mice and Rats Eating the Money-Bags, Pens, Inkhorns, and Paper-Books. There they receive Petitions from Debtors and Creditors, and as occaſion requireth, ſummon the Parties to appear before them, and to lay open the true State of the matter; this done, they either by Authority ſeize the Bankrupts Books and Effects, or elſe without any ſtir and noiſe leave all remaining in the Debtors Houſes, and ſend thither two Committees to examine the Books, and make an Inventory of the Eſtate, with power to compoſe the matter, without giving much trouble to the Parties. If the Commiſſioners find that the Debtor is come to decay by unexpected Loſſes, and unavoidable Accidents, to which he did not at all contribute, it is their uſual way to propoſe to the Creditor ſuch amicable and eaſie Terms, as the Poor Man may be able to perform, alotting ſometimes the half of the Eſtate left to the Debtor, ſometimes a third part, and ſometimes perſwading the Creditors to advance to the Poor Man a Sum of Money to help [Page] him up again in Trade, upon Condition that he do oblige himſelf to pay the Creditors all he oweth them, when God ſhall be pleaſed to make him able; but on the contrary, if the Commiſſioners find that a Trader hath dealt Knaviſhly, and broken with a deſign to Defraud and Cheat his Creditors, as if it appear that a Bankrupt hath kept falſe Books, and counterfeited Bills of Exchange, Bills of Loading, or pretended Commiſſions from Foreign Parts; in ſuch a caſe they are very ſevere, and not only ſeize all the Books and Effects of the Bankrupt, but alſo Impriſon him, and alſo puniſh him Corporally; and if the cheat be of an heinous Nature, Sentence him ſometime to Death; whereas, if the Debtor be only Unfortunate, and no ways Knaviſh, then the Commiſſaries uſe all the Power they have to force the Creditors to accept the Poor Mans Terms, the which is better for the Creditors than to uſe the rigour of the Law, in committing the Poor Man to Priſon, ſeeing in that caſe the Creditors muſt maintain him in Priſon according to his Quality, where if he lies a certain time, and the Creditors be not able to prove the Priſoner hath an Eſtate, then the Debtor is admitted to his Oath to Swear he is not worth 40 Gilders, beſides his wearing Cloths and working Tools, and then he is ſet at liberty; but in the mean time let the Priſoner have a care not to make a falſe Oath, for then he is [Page] puniſhed without Mercy, an inſtance of which happened in my time.

The States having admitted a certain Jew to come and make ſuch an Oath before them, were at the ſame time informed by the Goaler, that this Jew had been ſeen through the chinks of the Door, quilting Ducats of Gold, and ſome Diamonds in his Cloaths, to the value of 5000 Gilders. The States hereupon admoniſhed the Jew to take heed to what he was about to Swear, becauſe the Law was very ſtrict againſt ſuch as made falſe Oaths before them, and at the ſame time cauſed the Oath, and the Law to be Read unto him; nevertheleſs the Jew offered to take the Oath, but the Lords not ſuffering him to Swear, becauſe then he muſt die by Law, cauſed him to be taken out into another Room and ſearched, where they found about him the Ducats and Diamonds: This being told the Lords, they ſent for him in, and then Sentenced him to have 60 Laſhes under the Gallows, and to be Baniſhed the Country; yet, becauſe the Jew had many Children, they gave the third part of what was taken about him to his Wife and Children, and a third to the Poor, and the other third to the Creditors, which was enough to pay them their Debt: Theſe Commiſſioners are paid by the States, and have not a Doit from Debtors or Creditors, for all what they do: Theſe Commiſſioners are alſo [Page] much to be commended for their readineſs to do good Offices to thoſe Poor Merchants, who having lived honeſtly, are brought to decay by Loſſes and Croſſes in their Trade; who when they find any ſuch ſo Poor that they can neither pay their Creditors, nor maintain the charge of their Families, it is their conſtant Cuſtom, to take their Children from them, and maintain and bring them up in their Hoſpitals; yea, often alſo ſolliciting the Burghermaſters on their behalf, to beſtow ſome ſmall Office upon them for their Relief and Subſiſtance. And here I muſt not omit to acquaint you, that as the Compounding of Matters in Holland betwixt Debtor and Creditor, ſo as hath been ſaid, is very eaſie and equitable, ſo is alſo their way or method of ſuing for Debts very favorable, which is after this manner; In the firſt place, a Note or Summons is left at the Debtors Houſe, and if he neglect to appear, a ſecond Summons is ſent, but then if he neither appear himſelf, or ſend his Proctor, the Sheriffs order an Arreſt againſt him; and at laſt, when he is brought before them, if the matter be difficult, it is referred to two or three good Men of the City, and time given him; but if the Plaintiff make Oath, that he apprehends the Debtor hath a deſign to run away, then muſt the Priſoner either give Bail, or return to Priſon. It is a Remark that I have made in my Travels, that excepting [Page] France and Flanders, I never ſaw in any Priſon above forty Priſoners for Debt at one time, and in ſome great Towns, as in Haerlem and others, ſometimes not one; and the Reaſon hereof is plain, for you cannot lay a Man in Priſon for an Action or Debt, ſmall or great, but you muſt maintain the Priſoner, ſo that many times the Charges exceed the principal Debt, and after all, the Priſoner can free himſelf; whereas the Cuſtom in England, encouraged by thoſe Varlets the Pettyfoggers and Catchpoles, of turning a Man into a Priſon for a Crown, or it may be for nothing at all, if he cannot find Bail, he may lie and Starve there, is an abominable abuſe; as alſo that of Suborning falſe Witneſſes, which is extreamly cried out againſt beyond Sea.

And now becauſe I am Speaking of Pettyfoggers, give me leave to tell you a Story I met with when I lived in Rome, going with a Roman to ſee ſome Antiquities, he ſhewed me a Chapel, Dedicated to one St. Evona, a Lawyer of Britain, who he ſaid came to Rome to intreat the Pope to give the Lawyers of Britain a Patron, to which the Pope replied, That he knew of no Saint but what was diſpoſed of to other Profeſſions; at which Evona was very ſad, and earneſtly beg'd of the Pope to think of one for them: At laſt, the Pope propoſed to St. Evona, that he ſhould go round the Church of St. John de Latera [Page] Blindfold, and after he had ſaid ſo many Ave Maria's, that the firſt Saint he laid hold of ſhould be his Patron, which the good old Lawyer willingly undertook; and at the end of his Ave Maria's, he ſtopt at St. Michael's Altar, where he laid hold of the Devil under St. Michael's Feet, and cry'd out, This is our Saint, let him be our Patron; ſo being unblindfolded, and ſeeing what a Patron he had choſen, he went to his Lodgings ſo dejected, that in few Months after he Died, and coming to Heavens Gates, knockt hard; whereupon St. Peter asked, Who it was that knockt ſo boldly, he replied, That he was St. Evona the Advocate: Away, away, ſaid St. Peter, here is but one Advocate in Heaven, here is no room for you Lawyers. O but, ſaid St. Evona, I am that honeſt Lawyer who never took Fees on both ſides, or ever pleaded in a bad Cauſe; nor did I ever ſet my Neighbours together by the Ears, or lived by the Sins of the People. Well then, ſaid St. Peter, come in: This news coming down to Rome, a witty Poet writ upon St. Evona's Tomb theſe words; St. Evona un Briton, Advocat non Larron, Hallelujah. This Story put me in mind of Ben. Johnſon's going through a Chruch in Surrey, ſeeing Poor People weeping over a Grave, asked one of the Women, Why they wept? O ſaid ſhe, we have loſt our precious Lawyer, Juſtice Randal, he kept us all in Peace, and always was ſo good as [Page] to keep us from going to Law, the beſt Man that ever lived, Well, ſaid Ben. Johnſon, I will ſend you an Epitaph to write upon his Tomb, which was,

God works Wonders now and than,

Here lies a Lawyer an honeſt Men.

And truly old Ben. was in the right, for in my time I have obſerved ſome Gentlemen of that Profeſſion, that have not acted like St. Evona, or Juſtice Randal, I will ſay no more of them, but wiſh them as great Fees, and as much encouragement as the Lawyers have in Switzerland.

I now come to Speak ſomething of the three Taxes I mentioned in the former part of my Remarks on Taxes, of which the firſt ought rather to be called an uſeful and publick Invention, like to that of the Inſurance Office in London, then a publick Tax, ſeeing no Man needs contribute to it unleſs they pleaſe, and find his profit by it; but the other may be called Taxes, becauſe the Subjects are obliged to ſubmit to them, but then they are ſo eaſie, that what the publick gets thereby, not only leſſons extraordinary Subſidies, which many times occaſions clamour, when becauſe of their Rarity, and the urgency of Occaſions, they muſt needs be great.

[Page] Yet it is ſufficiently Compenſated by the advantage and ſecurity in the Eſtates, which private Perſons, who are obliged to pay it, reap thereby daily: I am confident, that if the King and Parliament thought fit to introduce ſome, or all three of theſe Taxes into England, the publick charge of Government might be defrayed with more eaſe, and with leſs repining and clamour, than when it muſt be done by new and high Impoſitions; however, our Governors are the proper Judges of that.

The firſt then is an Houſe called the Merchants Bank, which is governed by divers Commiſſioners, Clerks, and Bookkeepers, likewiſe an Eſſay-Maſter, who judgeth of the Gold and Silver, that at any time is brought into the Bank uncoined: The ſecurity given for preſervation thereof, are the States and Magiſtrates of Amſterdam. Now if you have a mind to put Money into the Bank, ſuppoſe 1000 l. leſs or more, you muſt go to the Clerks, and ask a Folio for your Name, and then pay in your Money at three or four per Cent. according as the rate of the Bank-Money is high or low, or you may buy it of thoſe called Caſhiers or Brokers; then get the Clerks to ſet down in the Folio what you bring in; having done ſo, you may draw this Sum, or ſell it in what parcels you pleaſe; but then if you let your Money lie ſeven years in the Bank, you receive no Intereſt [Page] for the ſame. If you ask, Where then is the Advantage for the Merchants? I anſwer, firſt, you have your Money ready at all times for anſwering Bills of Exchange, and making other Payments: You are at no charge for Bags or Portage, at no loſs by falſe tale, or bad Money, in no danger of Thieves, or unfaithful Servants, or Fire; and above all, you have the Accounts of your Caſh moſt punctually and juſtly kept without any trouble, or running the risk of Goldſmith or Caſhierers breaking in your Debt; for ſuch is their care; that twice a Year, or ſometimes oftner, they ſhut up the Bank for 14 Days, and then all that have Concerns therein, muſt bring in their Accounts to the Clerks, who a few Days after, having viewed the Books, acquaint ſuch as have brought in wrong Accounts with their Miſtakes, deſiring them to return to their Books, and rectifie their Error, not telling them wherein the miſtake lies: So that I have known Merchants, in my time, ſent back three or four times with their wrong Accounts: But if they begin to grow impatient, and ſay that they will ſtand to their Accounts, then they pay a Mulct to the Clerks upon their convincing them of their Miſtakes, either by charging too much upon the Bank, or forgetting or omitting what was their due. I knew two Merchants, who having forgot, the one 750 l. and the other 220 l. in their Accounts, were honeſtly [Page] rectified by the Clerks, ſo that they ſuſtained no Loſs. Beſides this care of the Clerks in keeping and ſtating the Accounts, the Bank is obliged for 5 l. a Year to ſend to every Merchant that deſires it, their Accounts every Morning before Exchangetime, of the Moneys written of by them in in the Bank the Day before upon any Merchants Account, and what Sums are written of by others upon their Accounts: So that the Merchants may compare the Banks. Notes with their Books, and ſo ſave much of the Charges of Book-keeping.

Now if it be objected, That though this be an Advantage to the Merchants, yet what can the Publick gain thereby, ſeeing the Charges of paying Officers, Clerks, &c. muſt needs be very conſiderable?

I anſwer, That indeed it is a Myſtery to thoſe who underſtand not the thing; but if it were once known and practiſed, the Advantage of it would appear: For among other things which might be ſaid, the Magiſtrates of the City take out of the Merchants Bank a ſufficient Stock of Money to ſupply the Lumbert, a Bank that lends out Money, and is Governed by four Commiſſioners choſen out of the Magiſtrates, who ſit in Court every Day in the Lumbert, which is a large Pile of Building 300 Foot long, containing ſeveral Chambers and Magazines under one Roof; in theſe ſeveral Chambers the Commiſſioners [Page] have Officers ſitting to lend Money upon all ſorts of Goods, even from a pair of Shooes to the richeſt Jewel, &c. This is a great convenience for Poor People; yea, for Merchants alſo, who ſome times may want Money to pay a Bill of Exchange, and prevents the Cheating, and extraordinary Extortion uſed by the Pawn-brokers in England, France, and other Countries. And beſides, the Poor have their Pawns ſafely and well preſerved, neither are they punctually ſold when the Year is out, or denied under the pretext of being miſlaid, as the Poor are often times ſerved by the wicked Pawn-brokers.

There is alſo another convenience in this Lumbert, viz. an excellent way they have of diſcovering Thieves, and the ſtolen Goods; they publiſh two general open Sales of Goods pawn'd, twice a year, that ſuch as will may redeem their Goods, and paying the Intereſt may have them, although the time be relapſed. Thus much as to the Lumbert. I was once, according to my Duty, to wait upon the D. of York, at the Bank of Merchants, where ſhewing his Highneſs the way of keeping the Journal-Book of the Bank, which is of a prodigious bigneſs, his Highneſs was extreamly pleaſed with the contrivance of preſerving it from Fire; ſaying, that the courſe they took might be of great uſe for the preſerving Patents, and the Deeds of Noblemens Eſtates: This contrivance, which [Page] perhaps may be thought uſeful or imitable, I ſhall therefore deſcribe it: It is a large Fireſtone ſhaped like a Cheſt, and ſet upright in a Stone-Wall, having a large Braſs Door of a vaſt thickneſs, with Flaps to fall over and cover the Lock and Hinges; into this Cheſt the Book is drawn upon Rolls, it being of ſuch a bulk and weight as cannot be handed in by a Man, and there it is ſo ſecurely preſerved, that although the Houſe ſhould be burnt, the Book in all probability would be ſafe. Should I here give an account of the vaſt Sums of Money that daily are written of in this Bank, I might probably be thought to ſpeak at random, but this I may boldly affirm, that it far exceeds all the Banks in Europe, both for Riches and Buſineſs, and their Credit is ſuch, that the Italians, French, Germans, and Engliſh have great Sums in the ſame; neither was ever any Man refuſed his Money in the worſt of times.

A ſecond Tax is what ariſeth from the juſt and laudable Eſtabliſhment of a Regiſter, a Tax which I think moſt Men will be willing to ſubmit to, except ſuch as deſign to cheat and defraud their Neighbours, and live by ſuch like Sins and Confuſion, and for the moſt part die with the Curſe of the People: This Regiſter in Holland begets ſuch aſſurance and ſafety in Dealing, that in purchaſing of Houſes or Land, a Child, though over-reached in the Value, yet cannot be cheated as to the Title.

[Page] The Third and laſt Tax is that of Sealed Paper, as it is practiſed in Holland. There are many other things might be ſpoken, as to the Government of Amſterdam, but I muſt not tire your patience. However, one conſiderable thing I would not paſs by, touching the Militia: There are in Amſterdam Sixty Companies of Foot, the leaſt of them having 200 Men, ſome 300, which in a modeſt account, amounts at leaſt to 15000 Men, in which number neither Jews nor Anabaptiſts who carry no Arms are reckoned, only they are obliged to contribute to the maintenance of the 1400 Soldiers, who are kept in conſtant pay, as a Guard for the City, and towards the Night-Watch or Rattel-Watch, who walk the Streets the whole Night to keep good Orders, and tell us every half hour what a Clock it is. There are alſo upon every Church Tower, Trumpeters, who Sound every half hour; and if any Fire breaks out in the City, they give a Signal on which ſide of the City the Fire is, and Ring the Fire-Bell; and they have excellent ways on a ſudden in ſuch ſad Accidents to quench Fire: But I may not inlarge any longer, but haſten out of Holland. Though before I leave it it will not be amiſs if I give the Reader a Liſt of the Paſſage-Boats, which for the convenience of thoſe that Travel that way, I have here Collected, with the times of their going off, which they are punctual in obſerving.

[Page] Beginning at Helvoet-Sluys, where the Pacquet-Boat from England lies. From whence to the Briell there goes a Wagon every Day at 8 in the Morning; the Paſſage coſts 7 Stivers; and the ſame from the Briell to Helvoet.

From the Briell to Rotterdam, and from Rotterdam to the Briell, there Sails a Boat every Day as the Tide ſerves.

From Rotterdam to Delft, and from Delft to Rotterdam, there goes a Trecht-Scuyt, or Paſſage-Boat, every Hour, from 6 in the Morning to 8 in the Evening.

From Delft to the Hague, and from the Hague to Delft, the Boat goes every half Hour.

From Delft, and from the Hague to Leyden; In the Morning at 5, 7, 9, and half an Hour after 10. In the Afternoon at half an Hour after 12, at 21 1/2, at 4 1/2, and at 6 1/2 daily, as you are to underſtand all along.

From Leyden to Delft, or to the Hague at the ſame Hours; In the Morning at 4, 6, 8, and 10 1/2. Afternoon, 12 1/2, 2 1/2, 4 1/2, and 6 1/2; and a Night-Boat at 11.

From Leyden to Haerlem; In the Morning at 3 1/2, 6 1/2, 9 and 11. Afternoon, 12 1/2, 1 1/2, 2, 4, and 6. Alſo a Market-Boat every Day before Noon.

From Haerlem to Leyden; In the Morning at 6, 8, 10 and 12. Afternoon at 1, 2, 4 and 6; and the Night-Boat at 11.

[Page] From Amſterdam to Haerlem, and from Haerlem to Amſterdam, there goes a Boat every Hour, from the opening of the Gates, to 8 of the Clock at Night.

From Amſterdam to Leyden, at 8 at Night; and from Leyden to Amſterdam, 9 at Night, every Night; and a Market-Boat at 3 in the Afternoon.

From Amſterdam to Utrecht, from the 15 of March to the 15 of September, at 7 in the Morning, at 1 in the Afternoon, and at 8 in the Evening. From the 15 of September, to the 11 of March, at 8 in the Morning, at 1 in the Afternoon, and at 7 in the Evening. And▪

From Utrecht to Amſterdam at the ſame Hours.

From Amſterdam to Gouda, or Tergoes, as 'tis corruptly called; From the firſt of April to the laſt of September; in the Morning at 7, and in the Evening at 8. In October, November, and March, Morning and Evening▪ at 8.

From Gouda to Amſterdam; In the Morning at 11, and in the Evening at 8. In December, January and February, no Boat goes in the Morning from either place, and only one at 8 in the Evening.

From Tergoes you may go by Wagon to Rotterdam, or from Rotterdam to Tergoes, for about 12 or 14 Stivers, which is a convenient [Page] Paſſage for Strangers, there being the leaſt ſhifting of Boats.

From Amſterdam to Rotterdam, and from Rotterdam to Amſterdam; The Market-Boat for carrying Goods goes off at 12 at Noon every Day.

From Amſterdam to the Hague, and from the Hague to Amſterdam, the ſame at 12 at Noon.

From Amſterdam through Muyden to Naerden; In the Summer, from the firſt of April, to the laſt of September, Morning, at 6, 8 and 10; Afternoon, at 2, 4 and 6. In the Winter, Mornings at 7, 9 and 11; Afternoon, 1, 3 and 5. This is a Fortification very well worth ſeeing.

From Naerden through Muyden to Amſterdam; In the Summer at 5, 7 and 9, Mornings; and at 2, 4 and 6, Afternoons. In the Winter, Mornings, 7, 8 and 10; Afternoons, 1, 3 and 5.

From Leyden to Gouda; Every Day a Boat goes at 11 in the Fornenoon, and on Saturdays at 2 in the Afternoon.

From Gouda to Leyden; Every Day at 11 in the Forenoon, and on Thurſdays at 12.

From Leyden through Woerden to Utrccht; In the Morning at 9, Afternoon at 12 1/2, and Evening at 9.

From Utrecht through Woerden to Leyden; Mornings at 8 and 12, Evenings at 8.

[Page] From Rotterdam to Dort, and from Dort to Rotterdam; Every Day a Boat as the Tide ſerves; as alſo to Antwerp the ſame.

It will be unneceſſary to particularize any more, theſe being all that Engliſhmen have occaſion for, for whom theſe Remarks are made, though it will not be improper if I inſert the Order for the Poſt-Wagons, which ſome for Expedition make uſe of.

The Order of the Poſt-Wagons which go between Amſterdam and the Hague.

Every Day except Sundays, from the 26 of February to the 29 of September, there goes a Poſt-Wagon at 6 in the Morning.

From the firſt of October to the ſixth of November, at 7 in the Morning.

From the 8 of November to the 19 of January, at half an Hour paſt 7 in the Morning.

From the 21 of January to the 24 of February, at 7 in the Morning.

In the great Vacation of the Courts of Holland, which is all the Month of Auguſt, there goes no Wagon in the Morning.

At 12 at Noon there goes a Wagon every Day, Sundays and all, throughout the Year.

The Paſſage in the Poſt-Wagon for each Perſon is 4 G. 3 St. beſides Paſſage-Gelt. And if any hire a whole Wagon, they may go [Page] at what Hour they pleaſe, and pay 24 G. 18 St. and Paſſage-Gelt, provided there be no more than 6 Perſons.

And if you are ſet down by the way you ſhall be abated proportionably of the Paſſage, but then you muſt give notice of it before Hand, and be content to take your place after thoſe that go quite out.

And now having ſaid ſo much of the States Government, and of Amſterdam in particular, it will not be amiſs to take notice of ſome bad Cuſtoms and Practices now in vogue in Holland, and leave it to the Reader to judge what they may portend: There are Tollerated in the City of Amſterdam, amongſt other abuſes, at leaſt 50 Muſick-houſes, where lewd Perſons of both Sexes meet and practiſe their Villanies: There is alſo a place called the Long-Seller, a Tollerated Exchange, or publick Meeting Houſe for Whores and Rogues to Rendezvous in, and make their filthy Bargains. This Exchange is open from ſix a Clock in the Evening until nine at Night; every Whore muſt pay three Stivers at the Door for her Entrance or Admiſſion. I confeſs the Miniſters Preach and exclaim from the Pulpit againſt this horrible Abuſe, but who they be that protect them I know not; yet, I have heard ſome plead for the Tolleration of theſe wicked Meetings, upon pretext, that when the Eaſt-India Fleets come home, the Seamen are ſo mad for [Page] Women, that if they had not ſuch Houſes to bait in, they would force the very Citizens Wives and Daughters; but it is well known, that as Money does countenance, ſo Diſcipline might ſuppreſs that abuſe. The old ſevere, and frugal way of living is now almoſt quite out of date in Holland, there is very little to be ſeen of that ſober Modeſty in Apparel, Diet, and Habitations as formerly: In ſtead of convenient Dwellings, the Hollanders now build ſtately Palaces, have their delightful Gardens, and Houſes of Pleaſure, keep Coaches, Wagons and Sleas, have very rich Furniture for their Horſes, with Trappings adorned with Silver Bells. I have ſeen the Vanity of a Vintners Son, who had the Boſſes of the Bit, and Trapping of his Horſe of pure Silver; his Toot-Man and Coach-Man having Silver Fring'd Gloves; yea, ſo much is the humour of the Women altered, and of their Children alſo, that no Apparel can now ſerve them but the beſt and richeſt that France and other Countries affords; and their Sons are ſo much addicted to Play, that many Families in Amſterdam are ruined by it; not that England is leſs extravagant then the Dutch; who as I ſaid before, got ſuch great Eſtates by their Frugality, whilſt they were not addicted to ſuch Prodigality and Wantonneſs as the Engliſh are, whoſe exceſs I cannot excuſe; nevertheleſs, the grave and ſober People of Holland are [Page] very ſenſible of the great alteration that now is in their Country, and as they ſay, Paracelſus uſed to Cure his Patients of their Diſeaſe with a full Belly; ſo a good Burghermaſter deſirous to convince his Amſterdammers of their diſſolute kind of Life, invited the 36 Magiſtrates and their Wives to a Feaſt; who being come, and the Ladies big with Expectation of ſome rare and extraordinary Entertainment, ſat down at Table, where the firſt Courſe was Buttermilk boil'd with Apples, Stock-fiſh, Butter'd Turnips and Carrots, Lettice, Sallat, and Red Herrings, and only ſmall Bear, without any Wine; at this the Ladies ſtartled, and began to whiſper to their Husbands, that they expected no ſuch Entertainment, but upon removing of the Diſhes and Plates, they found underneath Printed Verſes, importing, That after that manner of living they began to thrive, and had inlarged their City.

The Second Courſe conſiſted of Bocke de kooks, Quarters of Lamb, Roaſted Rabbits, and a ſort of Pudding they call a Brother; here they had Dort and Engliſh Beer, with French Wine, yet all this did not pleaſe the Dainty Dames: But upon removing away the Plates another Diſh of Poetry appeared, which acquainted them, That after that modeſt and ſober way of living they might keep what they had got, and lay up ſomething for their Children.

[Page] Then comes in the Third Courſe made up of all the Rarities of the Seaſon, as Partridges, Pheaſants, and all ſorts of Fowl, and Engliſh Paſties, with plenty of Rheniſh, and other ſorts of Wine, to moiſten them; this put the Ladies in a Frolick, and jolly Humour, but under their Plates was found the Uſe and Application in Verſes, telling them, That to feed after that manner was Voluptuous and Luxurious, and would impair their Health, and waſte their Eſtates, make them neglect their Trade, and ſo in time reduce their ſtately and new built flouriſhing City to their old Fiſhing Town again. After this was brought in a Banquet of all ſorts of Sweat Meats piled up in Pyramids, and delicate Fruit, with plenty of delicious Wines; and to conclude all, a ſet of Muſick and Maskers, who Danced with the young Ladies; but at parting, like the hand writing to Belteſhazzar upon the Wall, every one had a Printed Paper of Moralities put into their Hand, ſhewing them the Cauſes of the Ruin of the Roman Commonwealth, according to that of the Poet,

Nullum crimen abeſt, facinuſque libidinis ex quo,

Paupertas Romana perit.

with an excellent Advice to them, That if they did not quit the Buffoonries, and Apiſh [Page] Modes of the French, and return to the Simplicity, Plainneſs and Modeſty of their Anceſtors and Founders, their Commonwealth could not long laſt; but all the Thanks the good old Burghermaſter had for his kind and chargeable Entertainment in thus Feaſting his Country-Men, was to be Floutted at, and Pasquild, the Sparks of Amſterdam ſaying in all places, That the old Man being now paſt the years of Pleaſure himſelf, would have none others to take theirs: And here I ſhall put a period to what I thought fit to obſerve of the States of the United Provinces, only I will beg leave to ſay ſomething to the Hollander by way of Advice, viz. That now they are in a proſperous Condition, Rich, and at Eaſe, they would look back and remember what God in his infinite Goodneſs and Mercy did for them in the days of their greateſt Calamities: For my own part I cannot but admire the great Providence of God in preſerving them from being devoured by their many Enemies they had in the laſt War, beſides their Enemies at home, ſome of which particulars as they then happened give me leave to relate. At the time when the French came to Invade the Territories of the States General, it then looked as if God had mark'd out the way for the French to March, by ſending ſuch a wonderful dry Seaſon, that the Rivers of the Rhine, Beta, Wall, and other Rivers were Fordable, ſo that the [Page] French only waded throw, and became ſo Victorious, that in a little ſpace of time (what by the Treaſons of ſome, and the Ignorance and Cowardiſe of others intruſted with the Militia and Gariſons) the French became Maſters of above Forty Cities and Gariſons, at which time there was nothing to be heard of in the States Dominions but Confuſion and Miſery, even in the ſtrong and rich City of Amſterdam it ſelf, who at this time beheld the French Army like a mighty Torrent coming within ſight of the City, and at the ſame time wanting Water in their Canals, and Burghwalls to ply their Sluces, and ſuch was the ſcarcity of Rain, that a Pail of freſh Water was worth Six Pence: Thus Heaven ſeemed to frown on them, as well as the French Army, by the ſhutting up as it were the Conduits of Heaven, and yet a worſe thing had like to have fallen out, for at the ſame time the Diviſions grew ſo high amongſt the Magiſtrates in the Stadthouſe, that it was putting to the Queſtion, Whether or no they ſhould not go and meet the French King with the Keys of their City, to ſave it from Fire and Plunder; now nothing, in all probability, could ſave this rich City from falling into the hands of the French, but an immediate hand from Heaven, and it had undoubtedly come to paſs, had not Providence cauſed the French to make a ſtand at Muyden, [Page] two hours from Amſterdam, at what time the valiant Roman of Amſterdam, Scout Haſſelaer, like a true Father of his Country, oppoſed the French Party in the Counſel, calling out to the Burghers from the Stadthouſe, to take Courage, and rather chuſe to die, like old Battavians, with their Swords in their hands, than tamely and treacherouſly to yield up their City to the Mercy of the French, as ſome of the Magiſtrates were about to do; this ſo incouraged the Burghers, that with great Courage they mann'd the Walls, and Heaven then aſſiſting them with a ſudden and plentiful Rain, that they ply'd their Sluces, and dround the Lands round the City three or four Foot high, in ſome places, which caus'd the victorious French Army to make a quick retreat, as far as Utrecht, elſe they had paid dear for ſeeing of Amſterdam; thus was Amſterdam delivered by the hand of Heaven.

A Second was, when that bloody Duke of Luxemburg, who gloried and thanked GOD that he was born without pity or remorſe of Conſcience, took the opportunity of an exceeding hard Froſt, to march his Army over the Ice as it had been dry ground, burning in his way the three fair Villages of Bodygrave, Swammerdam, and Goudſe-ſluys; acting there a more cruel Tragedy, and worſe, than ever did Turk, for they generally [Page] ſave the Country People for Ranſom, but this cruel Prince cauſed ſtrong Guards to ſurround the Villages, and burnt Men, Women, and Children together: Thus he began his march, with a deſign to burn Leyden, Hague, Rotterdam, Delft, and all the rich Country of Rhineland: And this he might have done in all probability, for, firſt, the Governor of New-ſluce, who commanded the Poſt that ſhould have ſtopt the French, treacherouſly delivered up the Fort without firing a Gun; and the handful of Troops then under General Koningſmark were ſo inconſiderable, that they, joyned to the Soldiers under Pain and Vin, the Governor of New-ſluce, were not able to make head as could oppoſe Laxemburg's Army; and at the ſame time the Prince of Orange was with the States Army at Charleroy: Now was Leyden ready to meet the French with the Keys of their City, and other Cities too, for they had neither Fortifications nor Soldiers to man their Walls: Thus the whole Country and Cities of Rhineland were like to fall under the Cruelties and Tyrany of the French, but GOD a ſecond time ſent theſe People Relief from Heaven, firſt by giving ſuch undaunted Courage to that Great States-man Penſionary Fagel, that he forced Coningſmark to rally his Troops together, and to make a ſtand near Leyden, offering himſelf to die at the head of them if there were occaſion, [Page] but GOD reſerved him for a further Good to the Commonwealth, by ſending ſuch a ſudden Thaw as was never ſeen before, for in leſs than ten hours, the Ice ſo ſunk, and ſuch Floods of Snow came down from the Highlands, that the French were fain to make a very diſorderly retreat, marching up to the middle for haſte, becauſe on the Banks there could not march above four Men a-breaſt, ſo they were conſtrained to leave behind them the greateſt part of the Plunder they had robb'd from the Innocent Country People, and the nimble Dutch-men, on their Scates, ſo long as the Ice would bear them, did ſhoot down the French like Ducks diving under Water, ſo that it coſt Luxemburg's Army dear, though they had the pleaſure to burn the poor People, of which the French afterward wickedly made their boaſt.

The third was as wonderful as the two others; and although I do not believe Miracles, as do the Papiſts, yet I ſay nothing I ever obſerved looked more like a Miracle than this; to wit, when the Engliſh and French Fleet lay before Scheveling with a deſign to land, and the French ready on their March to joyn with the Engliſh and other French as ſoon as they ſhould land, at the ſame time the Biſhop of Munſter lying before Groeningen, and the French before Gorcom, ſo that now all things looked with a dreadful [Page] face for the States, yet at this very time God ſent a third relief, by ſending ſuch Miſts, and wonderful ſorts of Tydes, as ſo ſeparated the two Fleets, that the Engliſh were forced to quit Scheveling Shore, and were driven on the ſide of the Texel Road; from whence they were conſtrained by the ſeaſon of the Year to retire home: And ſuch were the ſudden and great Showers of Rain, that the Biſhop of Munſter was forced in diſorder to raiſe his Siege at Groeningen, and the French to quit Gorcom. I could add many more Obſervations of the Providences of God to theſe People, as the preſerving the Prince of Orange, His preſent Majeſty of Great Britain, from the many treacherous Deſigns contrived againſt him from his Cradle; but Moſes muſt be preſerved, to go in and out before his▪ People. Certainly never young Prince endured ſo many Fatigues as did his Highneſs in his tender Years, of which I was an Eye-witneſs; and had his Highneſs had the Years and Experience, and ſuch a good Diſciplined Army (as now he hath) in the Year 1671. when the French entred the Country, his Highneſs had given them as good a Welcom as he did at Bergen. I will ſay no more of this Subject, only this, That the Peace at Nimeguen was alſo a very wonderful thing, for that not above eight Days before the Peace was ſigned, moſt of the Plenipotentiaries did believe the War would [Page] have continued another Year; firſt, becauſe the King of Denmark and Duke of Brandenburg proſpered exceedingly againſt Sweedland, and totally refuſed the Propoſitions of France; and ſecondly, becauſe the French King writ ſuch bitter Letters againſt the States-General: Yet eight Days after dreſt a Letter unto the States, in which he calls them his Good Friends, and Old Alleys, offering them not only Maeſtricht, but every Foot of Ground they could lay claim to in the World; alſo giving them new Terms and Conditions as to their Privileges in France, by way of Trade. Neither can I forget how ſpeedily and as ſtrangely the French King did quit his Conquered Towns after the Valiant Prince of Orange took Naerden, which was the firſt ſtep to the French's Ruine in the States Dominions. I come now, according to promiſe in the beginning of this Book, to give the Reader ſome Remarks I made in other Countries where I have been, during my Sixteen Years Travels. To give a full account of all that might be obſerved in ſo many Countries, is not a Task for one Man, nor a Subject for ſo ſmall a Book; I ſhall only therefore briefly take notice of ſome remarkable Matters which may in ſome meaſure ſatisfie the Curioſity of my Countrymen, who have not been in the ſaid places, and convince, if poſſible, all of them, that no Country that ever I was in, affords ſo [Page] great Conveniencies for the generality of People to live in, as the Kingdom of England doth. Though I have twice made the grand tour of Germany, Hungary, Italy and France, and after my return back to England, travelling a third time through Holland as far as Strasbourg, and ſo back by Francfort to Denmark and Sueden; yet the Reader is not to expect I ſhould follow a Geographical Method and Order in ſpeaking of the Places I have been in; that is to be lookt for in the Map, and not in Travels; but only that I mention Places as I found them on my Road, according as Buſineſs or Curioſity led me to Travel.

THE firſt conſiderable Place I then met with, after I was out of the Dominions of the States-General, was Cleave, the Capital City of the Province ſo called; a fair and lovely City ſtanding upon the Rhine, and the Rivers Wall and Leck. This Province much reſembles England in rich Soil, and pleaſantneſs of its Rivers. The Inhabitants of the Country would have me believe that they were Originally deſcended of thoſe Saxons who made a deſcent into England, and conquered it; and to convince the truth of this, they ſhew'd me a Cloyſter ſtanding on a Hill, called Eltham, from which they ſay our Eltham in Kent had its Name. I was made to obſerve alſo two places ſtanding [Page] upon the Rhine near Emmerick, called Doadford, and Gronewich, which according to them, gave the Names to Dedford and Greenwich in England: But many ſuch Analogies and Similitudes of Names are to be found in other places of Germany, but eſpecially in upper Saxony and Denmark. The greateſt part of this Province of Cleave, and part of the Dutchies of Juliers and Berg, and of the Provinces of Marke and Ravensbourg, belongs to the Elector of Brandenbourg, the reſt belonging to the Duke of Newbourg now Elector Palatine, and the Elector of Cologne. The Inhabitants are partly Roman Catholicks, partly Lutherans, and partly Calviniſts, who all live promiſcuouſly and peaceably together both in City and Country. The City of Cleave is the utmoſt Limit of the Territories of the Elector of Brandenbourg on this ſide of Germany; from whence his Electoral Highneſs can Travel Two Hundred Dutch Miles out-right in his own Dominions, and never ſleep out of his own Country but one Night in the Territories of the Biſhop of Oſnabrug.

FRom Cleave I went to a ſmall Town called Rhinberg, but a very ſtrong Fortification belonging to the Elector of Cologne; which lies at two Miles diſtance from the City of Weſel, that belongs to the Elector of Brandenbourg. Through Duſſeldorpe, ſituated [Page] on the Rhine, and the Reſidence of the Duke of Newbourg, I went next to Cologne, a very large City, called by the Romans Colonia Agrippina, and the French Rome d'Allemagne.

Cologne is an Imperial City, and a Republick, though for ſome things it does Homage to the Elector of that Name, and receives an Oath from him. It is much decayed within theſe Hundred Years, having been much Prieſt-ridden; a Misfortune that hath undone many other great Cities. The Jeſuits have had ſo great Influence upon the Magiſtrates, that they prevailed with them to baniſh all Proteſtants, who removed to Hambourg and Amſterdam; ſo that Cologne is become ſo diſpeopled, that the Houſes daily fall to ruine for want of Inhabitants, and a great deal of Corn and Wine now grows within the Walls, upon Ground where Houſes formerly ſtood. I dare be bold to affirm, that there is twice the Number of Inhabitants in the Pariſh of St. Martins in the Fields, as there is in Cologne; and yet it contains as many Pariſh-Churches, Monaſteries and Chappels, as there are days in the Year. The Streets are very large, and ſo are the Houſes alſo, in many of which one may drive a Coach or Wagon into the firſt Room from the Streets: But the Streets are ſo thin of People, that one may paſs ſome of them and not meet Ten Men or Women, unleſs it be [Page] Church-Men, or Religious Siſters. The moſt conſiderable Inhabitants of the City are Proteſtant Merchants, though but few in Number, and they not allowed a Church neither, but at a place called Woullin, a Mile without the City; the reſt of the Inhabitants, who are Lay-men, are miſerably poor. There are no leſs than 3000 Students in Cologne taught by the Jeſuits gratis, who have the privilege to beg in Muſical Notes in the Day-time, and take to themſelves the liberty of borrowing Hats and Cloaks in the Night. But if in the Jeſuits Schools there be any Rich Burghermaſters Sons who have Parts, they are ſure to be ſnapt up, and adopted into the Society. Formerly, before the Matter was otherwiſe adjuſted in the Dyet of Ratubonne, there have been Deſigns of Voting Proteſtant Magiſtrates into the Government again; but ſo ſoon as the Jeſuits came to diſcover who of the Magiſtrates were for that, they immediately preferred their Sons or Daughters, and made them Canons, Abbots, or Canoneſſes, and ſo diverted them by Intereſt. It's pity to ſee a City ſo famous for Traffick in former times, now brought to ſo great a decay, that were it not for the Trade of Rheniſh-Wine, it would be utterly forſaken, and left wholly to the Church-Men. The continual Alarms the Magiſtrates have had by Foreign Deſigns upon their Liberty, and the Jealouſies fomented among themſelves, as it is [Page] thought, by the Agents and Favourers of France, and eſpecially the Biſhop of Straſbourg, have, for ſeveral years, kept them in continual diſquiet, and neceſſitated them to raiſe great Taxes, which hath not a little contributed to the impoveriſhing of the People, eſpecially the Boars round about; who, tho' the Country they live in be one of the moſt pleaſant and fertile Plains of Germany, yet are ſo wretchedly poor, that Canvas Cloaths, Wooden Shoes, and Straw to ſleep on in the ſame room with their Beaſts, is the greateſt worldly Happineſs that moſt of them can attain unto. The Elector of Cologne is Biſhop of four great Biſhopricks, viz. Cologne, Prince of Liege, Munſter, and Helderſhime. To ſpeak of all the Miracles of the three Kings of Cologne, and the vaſt number of Saints, who were removed out of England and interred there, would be but tedious, and perhaps incredible, to the Reader, as well as wide of my deſign: I ſhall therefore proceed.

FRom Cologne I took Water on the Rhine, and advanced to the City of Bon, and ſo forward to Coblentz, the Reſidence of the Elector of Trier: Over-againſt this City, on the other ſide of the Rhine, ſtands that impregnable Fort called Herminſhine, built on a high rocky Hill, as high again as Windſor-Caſtle; and on the North-ſide of it, the River [Page] Moſelle falls into the Rhine, over which there is a ſtately Stone-Bridge. This Prince governs his Subjects as the other Spiritual Electors do, that is, both by Temporal and Spiritual Authority, which in that Country is pretty abſolute. The chief Trade of this Country is in Wine, Corn, Wood and Iron.

THE next Country I came to was that of the Elector of Mayence or Mentz, who is likewiſe both a Secular and Eccleſiaſtical Prince, and governs his Subjects accordingly. He is reckoned to be wholly for the Intereſts of the French King; who, notwithſtanding of that, pretends a Title to the Cittadel of Mayence. As I was upon my Journey to Mayence by Land, I made a turn down the Rhine to viſit the famous little City of Backrack, and ſome Towns belonging to the Landtgrave of Heſſe, but eſpecially Backrack, becauſe Travellers ſay, it much reſembles Jeruſalem in its Situation and manner of Buildings. The Burghermaſter of this City told me, that the whole Country about Backrack does not yield above 200 Fouders of Wine a year; and yet the Merchants of Dort, by an Art of Multiplication, which they have uſed ſome years, furniſh England with ſeveral thouſand of Fouders. Here I ſhall take the Liberty to relate a ſtrange Story, which, I found recorded in this Country, tho' [Page] I know it to be mentioned in Hiſtory: There was a certain cruel and inhuman Biſhop of Mayence, who, in a year of great ſcarcity and Famine, when a great number of poor People came to his Gates begging for Bread, cauſed the poor Wretches, Men, Women, and Children, to be put into a Barn, under pretext of relieving their Neceſſities, but ſo ſoon as they were got in, cauſed the Barn Doors to be ſhut, Fire ſet to it, and ſo burnt them all alive: And whil'ſt the poor Wretches cried and ſhrieked out for Horror and Pain, the barbarous Miſcreant ſaid to thoſe that were about him, Hark, how the Rats and Mice do cry. But the juſt Judgment of GOD ſuffered not the Fact to paſs unpuniſhed; for not long after the cruel Biſhop was ſo haunted with Rats and Mice, that all the Guards he kept about him could not ſecure him from them, neither at Table nor in Bed; at length he reſolved to flee for Safety into a Tower that ſtood in the middle of the Rhine; but the Rats purſued him▪ got into his Chamber, and devoured him alive; ſo that the Juſtice of the Almighty made him a Prey to Vermin, who had inhumanly reckoned his Fellow-Chriſtians to be ſuch. The Tower, which I ſaw, to this day is call'd the Rats-Tower, and the Story is upon Record in the City of Mayence.

On my Journey from thence I came to the little Village of Hockom, not far diſtant, [Page] famous for our Hockomore-Wine, of which, though the place does not produce above 150 Fouders a year, yet the ingenious Hollanders of Dort make ſome thouſand Fouders of it go off in England and the Indies.

FRom Hockom I proceeded to Francfort, a pleaſant City upon the River of Maine, called formerly Teutoburgum and Helenop [...]lis, and ſince Francfort, becauſe here the Franconians, who came out of the Province of Franconia, foarded over, when they went upon their Expedition into Gallia, which they conquered, and named it France: And I thought it might very well deſerve the Name of Petty-London, becauſe of its Privileges, and the Humour of the Citizens. It is a Hanſiatick and Imperial Town, and Commonwealth, the Magiſtrates being Lutherans, which is the publick eſtabliſhed Religion; though the Cathedral Church belongs to the Roman Catholicks, who alſo have ſeveral Monaſteries there. The City is populous, and frequented by all ſorts of Merchants, from moſt parts of Europe, and part of Aſia alſo, becauſe of the two great Fairs that are yearly kept there: Many Jews live in this City, and the richeſt Merchants are Calviniſts, who are not ſuffered to have a Church in the Town, but half an hours Journey out of it, at a place called Bucknam, where I have told Seventy four Coaches at a [Page] time, all belonging to Merchants of the City. It was in ancient times much enrich'd by Charlemain, and hath been ſince by the Conſtitution of the Golden-Bull: Amongſt other Honours and Privileges, it's appointed to be the place of the Emperor's Election, where many of the Ornaments, belonging to that Auguſt Ceremony, are to be ſeen. It is ſtrongly fortified, having a ſtately Stone-bridge over the Mayne, that joyns it to Saxe-houſen, the Quarter of the Great Maſter of the Teutonick-Order. The Government is eaſie to the People, they not being taxed as other Cities are; and had it not been for the Alarms the French gave them, during the laſt War, they had not been much troubled, but being forced to keep 3 or 4000 Men in conſtant Pay to defend their Fortifications, the Magiſtrates were conſtrained to raiſe Money by a Tax. Beſides that of the Emperor, they are under the Protection of ſome Neighbouring Princes, as of the Landtgrave of Heſſe-Caſſel, Landtgrave of Armſtadt, the Count of Solmes, and the Count of Hanau, who are either Lutherans or Calviniſts, amongſt whom the late Elector Palatine was alſo one; but whether the preſent, who is a Roman Catholick, be ſo or not, I cannot tell. This City takes great care of their Poor, and in their Charity to poor Travellers exceed Holland: I have ſeen a Liſt of Seven thouſand [Page] whom they relieved in one year. Their great Hoſpital is a large Court or Palace, where the Engliſh Merchants formerly lived, in the time of Queen Mary's Perſecution of the Proteſtants, who, when they were recalled by Queen Elizabeth, were ſo generous as to give the whole Court, with all their Pack-houſes and Lands to the Poor of the City. It was my fortune to be there in that cold Winter in the year 1683, and ſaw a Ceremony performed by the Wine-Coopers of the City, who are obliged by Law, that when ever the Maine lies faſt frozen over for 8 days together, to make a great Fouder Fat, Hoops and Staves, and ſet it up compleat upon the Ice. It was very good diverſion to ſee ſo many Hands at Work, and to obſerve the jollity and mirth of the many Thouſands of Spectators, who wanted not plenty of Rheniſh Wine to Carouſe in.

I had the curioſity afterward to go to the Court of the Landtgrave of Armeſtadt, a Lutheran Prince, who lives in part of the richeſt Soil in Germany. His Highneſs is a very courteous and obliging Prince to Strangers, and his Subjects are in a pretty good Condition again, though they have been great Sufferers by the laſt War between the Landtgrave of Heſſe and this Family.

[Page] FRom thence I went to Heidleberg, a City I had been formerly in, in the Life time of that Wiſe, though unfortunate Prince Elector, Elder Brother to Prince Rupert. Here I had the Honour to pay my Dutiful Reſpects to the Elector, the Son of that great Prince, whoſe Commiſſary I had the Honour to be for two years together in Amſterdam. This Prince, ſince my being there, is Dead, and left behind him the Reputation of having been a zealous thorough paced Calviniſt, and ſo conſtant a frequenter of the Church, that ſome Sundays he went thrice a day to Sermon; but never failed, if in Health, to be once a day at leaſt at the Gariſon Church, where he took particular notice of ſuch Officers as were abſent. He was Married to a moſt Virtuous Lady, the Royal Siſter of the King of Denmark, and his Brother Prince George. During his Life time the Univerſity of Heidleberg flouriſhed exceedingly, ſo that the number of Students was ſo great, that Chambers and Lodgings in the City were ſcarce, and Spanhemius was about quitting Leyden to return to his Profeſſors place in Heidleberg; but how matters ſtand ſince his Death, I am as yet ignorant. This Country is called, the Paradiſe of Germany, for its fruitfulneſs in Wine, Corn, and all ſorts of Fruit. I my ſelf have ſeen growing in one Plain, at the ſame time, Vines, Corn, [Page] Cheſtnuts, Almonds, Dates, Figs, Cherries, beſides ſeveral other ſorts of Fruit. And as the Country is fertile in yielding the Fruits of the Earth, ſo the People are careful in providing Store Room for them. This I take notice of, becauſe of the prodigious Rheniſh Wine Fats which are to be ſeen there, amongſt which there are Seven, the leaſt whereof holds the quantity of 250 Barils of Beer, as I calculated; but the large and moſt celebrated Fat is that which goes by the name of the great Tun of Heidleberg, and holds 204 A Fouder contains 4 Hogſheads.Fouders of Wine, and coſt 705 l. Sterling in Building, for which one may have a very good Houſe built. This Fat I have ſeen twice, and the firſt time was, when the Elector Treated the French Ambaſſadors that came to conclude the Match betwixt his Daughter, and Monſieur the French Kings Brother, who Married her after the Death of Henrietta his firſt Wife; at which Treat there happened an adventure, that I ſhall here pleaſe the Reader with. In a Gallery that is over this Fat, the Elector cauſed a Table to be placed in the middle, exactly above the Bunghole of this Monſtrous Veſſel, and to be covered with a coſtly Banquet of all ſorts of Sweat-Meats: The day before, all the Wine being emptied out of this Tun into other Fats, a little before the Ambaſſadors, with other Foreign Miniſters and Perſons of Quality mounted the Stairs to come to the place [Page] of Entertainment, the Elector cauſed twelve Drummers, with as many Trumpeters, ſome Kettle-Drums, and other Muſick, to be lodged in the Belly of the Tun, with orders to ſtrike up, upon a ſignal given, when the Elector drank the French Kings Health. All being ſat down at Table, and merrily Feeding, the Elector drank the Health, and the Signal was given; whereupon the Muſick began to play its part, with ſuch a roaring and uncouth Noiſe out of that vaſt Cavity below, that the French and other Perſons of Quality who were unacquainted with the deſign, looking upon it to be an infernal and ominous Sound, in great aſtoniſhment began to cry out, Jeſu Maria, The Worlds at an end, and to ſhift every one for himſelf in ſo great Diſorder and Confuſion, that for haſte to be gone they tumbled down Stairs one over another. All that the Elector could ſay to compoſe them, was either not heard, or not valued, nor could any thing ſatisfie and reaſſure them, till they ſaw the Actors come marching out of their Den. Had not many Perſons of Quality and Travellers ſeen this Fat as well as my ſelf, who know that what I ſay of its incredible bigneſs to be true, I ſhould be afraid the Reader might think I impoſed upon his Credulity.

From Heidleberg I went to ſee that impregnable Fort or Cittadel of Manheim allas Fredericksberg, built by the Elector Frederick, [Page] Brother to Prince Rupert, a Prince of as good a Head as any Germany afforded; who though ſome have too partially judged of him by his Misfortunes, yet by the wiſeſt of the Age was accounted the Cato of Germany. The Wiſeſt and beſt Men of the World have been unfortunate, which makes ſome to be of the Opinion, That God in his Wiſdom thinks fit it ſhould be ſo, leſt otherwiſe they might attribute their Proſperity rather to the wiſe direction of their own Conduct, than his All-ſeeing Providence: And indeed, daily Experience ſeems to evince the Truth of this, ſince we ſee Knaves and Fools advanced to Preferment and Riches, when Men of Virtue and Parts die neglected, and poor in the Eyes of the World, though rich in the enjoyment of a contented Mind. But this is a digreſſion which the Honour I have for the memory of that great Man hath led me into, and therefore I hope will be pardoned by the Reader. In the Cittadel of Manheim I ſaw ſome of the Records of that Illuſtrious Family, which without diſpute is the moſt ancient of all the Secular Electors, being Elder to that of Bavaria, which ſprung from one and the ſame Stock; to wit, two Emperors of Germany. Many Writers derive them originally from Charlemain, by the Line of Pepin King of France. There have been ſeveral Emperors of that Race, one King of Denmark, and four Kings of Sueden, [Page] one of which was King of Norway alſo, beſides many great Generals of Armies in Germany, Hungary, France, and other Countrys. Since I can remember there were five Proteſtant Princes Heirs to that Electoral Dignity alive; which now by their Death is fallen to the Duke of Newbourg, the preſent Prince Elector Palatine, a Roman Catholick, whoſe Daughter is Empreſs of Germany, and another of his Daughters Married to the King of Portugal, a third to the King of Spain, and a fourth to Prince James of Poland.

BEing ſo near Strasbourg, I had the curioſity to go ſee what figure that Famous City now made, ſince it had changed its Maſter; for I had been thrice there before, when it flouriſhed under the Emperors Protection, with the liberty of a Hanſiatick Town: And indeed, I found it ſo disfigured, that had it not been for the ſtately Cathedral Church, and fair Streets, and Buildings, I could ſcarcely have known it. In the Streets and Exchange, which formerly were thronged with ſober, rich, and peaceable Merchants, you meet with none hardly now but Men in Buff-Coats and Scarffs, with rabbles of Soldiers their Attendants. The Churches I confeſs are gayer, but not ſo much frequented by the Inhabitants as heretofore, ſeeing the Lutherans are thruſt into the meaneſt [Page] Churches, and moſt of the chief Merchants, both Lutherans and Calviniſts, removed to Holland and Hambourg. Within a few years, I beleive it will be juſt ſuch another City for Trade and Riches as Briſac is. It was formerly a rich City, and well ſtockt with Merchants and wealthy Inhabitants, who lived under a gentle and eaſie Government; but now the Magiſtrates have little elſe to do in the Government, but only to take their Rules and Meaſures from a Cittadel and great Guns, which are Edicts that Merchants leaſt underſtand. I confeſs, Strasbourg is the leſs to be pittied that it ſo tamely became a Slave, and put on its Chains without any ſtrugling. Thoſe Magiſtrates who were Inſtruments in it, are now ſenſible of their own Folly, and bite their Nails for Anger, finding themſelves no better, but rather worſe hated than the other Magiſtrates, who did what they could to hinder the Reception of their new Maſters the French. I quickly grew weary of being here, meeting with nothing but complaints of Poverty, and paying exorbitant Taxes.

I therefore ſoon returned to my Petty-London, Francfort, and from thence went to Caſſel, the chief Reſidence of the Landtgrave of Heſſe. This Prince is a Calviniſt, as moſt of his Subjects are, very grave and zealous in his Religion: He Married a Princeſs of [Page] Courland, by whom he hath an hopeful Iſſue; to wit, three Sons, and two Daughters. King Charles II. was God-Father to one of his Sons, [...] was Chriſtened by the Name of Charles; Captain William Legg, Brother to the Lord Dartmouth, repreſenting his Majeſty as his Envoy. The Court of this Prince does indeed reſemble a well-governed College, or Religious Cloiſter, in regard of its Modeſty and Regularity in all Things, and eſpecially in the Hours of Devotion. He is Rich in Money, and entertains about Nine Thouſand Men in conſtant Pay, under the Command of Count Vanderlip, a brave and expert Soldier, his Lieutenant General, but can bring many more upon occaſion into Field. This Family hath been very happy both in its Progeny and Alliances, many Wiſe Princes of both Sexes having ſprung from it; and the Mother of this preſent Landtgrave may be reckoned amongſt the Illuſtrious Women of the preſent and paſt Ages. After the Death of William V. Landtgrave of Heſſe her Husband, ſhe not only ſupported, but advanced the War wherein he was engaged, did many ſignal Actions, enlarged her Territories, and at the concluſion of the Peace, kept under her Pay 56 Cornets of Horſe in five Regiments, 166 Companies of Foot, beſides 13 Companies of Dragoons, and 14 Independent Companies, in all 249 Companies of Horſe and [Page] Foot: She was a Princeſs extreamly obliging to Strangers, eſpecially virtuous and learned Divines. I had the Honour a good many years ago to kiſs her Highneſſes Hand, at which time ſhe was mighty Zealous in promoting an Accommodation amongſt different Religions, as the Roman Catholick, Lutheran and Calviniſt, but eſpecially betwixt the two latter; and therefore entertained Doctor Duris, at her Court in Caſſels, who wrote ſeveral pieces upon that Subject of Reconciliation, and with ſome of his Friends had a Conference with a Learned Prieſt, that came from Rome to forward the Project; whereupon the Doctor Publiſhed his Book of the Harmony of Conſent, which is highly eſteemed in Germany.

FRom this Princes Court I directed my Journey to Hanouer, taking Lambſpring in my way, a place where there is a Convent of Engliſh Monks; and there I met with a very aged, worthy, and harmleſs Gentleman, Sir Thomas Gaſcoigne, a Perſon of ſeeming great Integrity and Piety; the Lord Abbot and ſeveral of the Monks I had ſeen there formerly. This Monaſtery is very obliging to all Strangers that Travel that way, as well as to their own Country-men, and is highly reſpected by the Neighbouring Princes of all Perſwaſions, as the Princes of the Houſe of Lunenburg, the Landtgrave of Heſſe, and [Page] Elector of Cologne, who as Biſhop of Hilderſheim is their Ordinary. The Town of Lambſpring is Lutheran, though under the Government of the Lord Abbot and his Chapter, who conſtantly chuſe Lutheran Magiſtrates and Officers for the Civil Adminiſtration, and live together in that Love and Unity, that as yet there hath never the leaſt debate happened amongſt them; and indeed, this Harmony is now to be obſerved in moſt parts of Germany, where different Religions are profeſſed. When I conſidered ſo many goodly Faces, both of Monks and Students in that Abbey, I could not forbear to make a ſerious Reflection on the number of the Engliſh whom I had ſeen in the Colleges and Cloiſters abroad, as at Rome, Ratiſbonne, Wirtzburg in Lorrain, at Liege, Louvain, Bruſſels, Dunkirk, Ghent, Paris, and other places, beſides the Nunneries; and withall, on the loſs that both King and Kingdom ſuffered thereby, when ſo many of our Natives, both Men and Women ſhould be conſtrained to ſpend their own Eſtates, and the Benevolence of others in a ſtrange Land, which amounts to more Money than at firſt one may imagine; and this thought, I confeſs, made me wiſh it were otherwiſe. I would not have the Reader to miſtake me here, as if I Eſpouſed, or Pleaded for any particular Party; no, I plead only for the Sentiments of Humanity, without which [Page] our Nature degenerates into that of Brutes, and for the love that every honeſt Man ought to have for his Country. I am as much a Friend to the Spaniſh Inquiſition, as to the perſecuting of tender Conſcienced Proteſtants, provided there be no more but Conſcience in the Caſe: And I could heartily wiſh that Papiſts and Proteſtants could live as lovingly together in England, as they do in Holland, Germany, and other Countries; for give me leave to ſay it, I love not that Religion, which in ſtead of Exalting, deſtroys the Principles of Morality and human Society. I have met with honeſt Men of all Perſwaſions, even Turks and Jews, who in their Lives and Manners have far exceeded many of our Enthuſiaſtick Profeſſors at home; and when ever this happened, I could not forbear to love the Men without embracing their Religion, for which they themſelves are to account to their great Maſter and Judge.

In my progreſs towards Hanouer I touched at Hilderſheim, a City whoſe Magiſtrates are Lutheran, though Roman Catholicks have the Cathedral Church, and ſeveral Monaſteries there. The Court of Hanouer makes another kind of Figure than that of Caſſels, it being the Court of a great Prince, who is Biſhop of Oſnaburg, Duke of Brunſwick, Lunenburg, Hanouer, &c. Here I had the Honour to Kiſs the [Page] Hands of the Princeſs Royal Sophia, youngeſt Siſter to the late Prince Rupert. Her Highneſs has the Character of the Merry Debonnaire Princeſs of Germany, a Lady of Extraordinary Virtue and Accompliſhments, and Miſtreſs of the Italian, French, High and Low Dutch, and Engliſh Languages, which ſhe ſpeaks to Perfection. Her Husband has the Title of the Gentleman of Germany, a graceful and comely Prince both a Foot, and on Horſeback, Civil to Strangers beyond compare, infinitely Kind and Beneficent to People in Diſtreſs, and known in the World for a Valiant and Experienced Soldier. I had the Honour to [...] his Troops, which, without Controv [...] are as good Men, and Commanded by as expert Officers as any are in Europe: Amongſt his Officers I found brave Steel-Hand Gordon, Colonel of an excellent Regiment of Horſe, Grimes, Hamilton, Talbot, and others of our Kings Subjects. God hath bleſt the Prince with a numerous Off-ſpring, having ſix Sons, all gallant Princes; of whom the two Eldeſt ſignalized themſelves ſo bravely at the raiſing of the Siege of Vienna, that as undoubted proof of their Valour, they brought three Turks home to this Court Priſoners. His eldeſt Son is Married to a moſt beautiful Princeſs, ſole Heireſs of the Duke of Lunenburg and Zell's Elder Brother; as the lovely Princeſs his [Page] Daughter is Married to the Duke of Brandenburg. He is a gracious Prince to his People, and keeps a very ſplendid Court, having in his Stables for the uſe of himſelf and Children, no leſs than Fifty two ſets of Coach-Horſes: He himſelf is a Lutheran, but as his Subjects are Chriſtians of different Perſwaſions, and ſome of them Jews too, ſo both in his Court and Army he entertains Gentlemen of various Opinions and Countries, as Italian Abbots, and Gentlemen that ſerve him, and many Calviniſt French Officers: Neither is he ſo Bigotted in his Religion, but that he and his Children go many times to Church with the Princeſs, who is a Calviniſt, and join with her in her Devotion. His Country is good, having Gold and Silver Mines in it, and his Subjects live well under him; as do thoſe alſo of his Brother the Duke of Lunenburg, and their Cozen the Duke of Wolfembuttel, which are the three Princes of the Houſe of Lunenbourg; of whom it may be ſaid, that they have always ſtuck honeſtly to the right ſide, and befriended the Intereſts of the Empire; ſo that no by-Reſpect, neither Honour nor Profit, could ever prevail with them, as it has with others, to make them abandon the publick Concern.

[Page] FRom this Princes Court I went to Zell, the Reſidence of the Duke the elder Brother of the Family. This Prince is called the Mighty Nimrod, becauſe of the great delight he takes in Horſes, Dogs, and Hunting. He did me the honour to let me ſee his Stables, wherein he keeps 370 Horſes, moſt of them Engliſh, or of Engliſh Breed. His Dogs, which are alſo Engliſh, are ſo many, that with great care they are quartered in ſeveral Apartments according to their Kind and Qualities, there being a large Office like a Brewhouſe employed for boyling of Malt and Corn for them. It is this valiant Prince who took Trieves from the French, and made the Mareſchal de Crequi Priſoner: He is extreamly obliging to Strangers, and hath ſeveral brave Scotiſh Officers under his Pay, as Major-General Erskin, Graham, Coleman, Hamilton, Melvin, and others. His Lieutenant-General is one Chavot a Proteſtant of Alſatia, an excellent and experienced Commander. I ſhall add no more concerning this Prince, his Officers, or Country; but that he, with the other two Princes of the Houſe of Lunenbourg, Hanouer, and Wolfembuttel, can upon occaſion bring into the Field 36000 Soldiers, whom they keep in conſtant Pay, and ſuch Men as I never ſaw better in my life.

[Page] AFter ſome ſtay at the Court of the Duke of Zell, I went to Hambourg, a famous Hanſiatick Town. It is a Republick, and City of great Trade, occaſioned partly by the Engliſh Company of Merchant Adventurers, but much more by the Dutch Proteſtants, who in the time of the Duke of Alba forſook the Low-Countries and ſettled here, and the Proteſtants alſo who were turned out of Cologne, and other Places in Germany; who nevertheleſs are not now allowed Publick Churches within the City, but at a place called Altena, a Village belonging to the King of Denmark, a quarter of an hours walk diſtant from Hambourg. This Commonwealth is Lutheran, and governed by 4 Burghermaſters, 24 Radts-heers, and a Common-Council of all the Burghers who have above 40 Shillings per Annum Freehold. The Symbol or Motto under their Arms, is, Da Pacem Domine in Diebus noſtris; and in their Standards are theſe Letters S. P. Q. H. The People here groan under heavy Taxes and Impoſitions; The State, becauſe of continual Alarms they have from the King of Denmark, or other Neighbours; and the Inteſtine Broils that frequently happen here, as well as at Col [...]gne, where the Burghermaſters are often in danger of their Lives from the mutinous Mobile; being forced to maintain 6 or 7000 Men in Pay, beſides 2 or 3 Men of War to [Page] guard their Havens from Pirats. I ſhall not name all the ways of impoſing Taxes which this Commonwealth uſes, becauſe in moſt they imitate the Methods of the States-General as to that, which have been mentioned before: I ſhall only take notice of ſome peculiar Cuſtoms they have, wherein they differ from Holland. When a Barber, Shoemaker, or any other Artizan dies, leaving a Widow and Children, another of the ſame Trade is not admitted to ſet up for himſelf as a Maſter, unleſs he compound with the Widow for a piece of Money, or elſe marry her, or a Daughter of hers with her conſent.

If any Man cauſe another to be Arreſted for Debt, or upon any other Suit, the Plaintiff muſt go along with the Officer who Arreſts the Party, and ſtay by him until the Priſoner be examined by the Sheriff; ſo that if the Sheriff be not to be ſpoken with that night, the Plaintiff muſt tarry with the Priſoner all night, until the Sheriff examin the matter, and ſee cauſe of diſcharging or committing the Party; but this a Plaintiff may do by a Procuration Notarial.

If a Priſoner be committed for Debt, the Plaintiff muſt maintain him in Priſon according to his Quality; and if the Party lie in Priſon during the ſpace of 6 Years, at the expiration of that time the Priſoner is [Page] diſcharged; and if during the time of his Impriſonment the Plaintiff do not punctually pay the Priſoner's Allowance at the Months end, the Priſoner is ſet at liberty, and nevertheleſs the Plaintiff muſt pay the Gaoler the laſt Month's Allowance.

This State is ſevere in the execution of Juſtice againſt Thieves, Murderers, and Cheats. There is no Pardon to be expected for Murder, and a Burghermaſter himſelf, if Guilty, cannot eſcape. The Puniſhment for Murder is here as in Sweden, breaking Malefactors on the Wheel, pinching their Breaſts and Arms with hot Pincers, ſpitting them in at the Fundament, and out at the Shoulder: They have alſo cruel ways of Torturing to make Priſoners confeſs; and are very careful not to be cheated in their Publick Revenue, their Exciſe-men and Collectors being Puniſhed as in Holland. They take a very good courſe not to be cheated in their Exciſe, for all the Mills of the Country are in the hands of the State; ſo that no Baker nor Brewer can grind his own Corn, but muſt have it ground at the States Mills, where they pay the Exciſe. There is a General Tax upon all Houſes, and that is the Eighth Penny, which nevertheleſs does not excuſe them from Chimney-money. The States here, as at Genoua in Italy, are the Publick Vintners, of whom all People muſt buy their Wine, which [Page] they buy from the Merchant, or otherwiſe import it in their own Ships. In their Ceremonies of Burying and Chriſtening, they are ridiculouſly Prodigal; as for Inſtance: If one invite a Burghermaſter, he muſt give him a Ducat in Gold; if a Radts-heer, that is, an Alderman, a Rixdollar; to every Preacher, Doctor of Phyſick, Advocate or Secretary, half a Rixdollar; and to every Schoolmaſter, the third part of a Rixdollar. The Women are the Inviters to Burials, Weddings, and Chriſtenings, who wear an Antick kind of a Dreſs, having Mitred Caps as high again as the Mitre of a Biſhop. The Churches here are rich in Revenues and Ornaments, as Images and ſtately Organs, wherein they much delight. They are great Lovers of Muſick, inſomuch that I have told 75 Maſters of ſeveral ſorts of Muſick in one Church, beſides thoſe who were in the Organ-Gallery. Their Organs are extraordinary large: I meaſured the great Pipes in the Organs of St. Catherine's and St. James's Churches, and found them to be 3 Foot and 3 quarters in circumference, and 32 Foot long; in each of which Organs there are two Pipes 5 Foot and 8 Inches round. The Wealth and Trade of this City encreaſes daily; they ſend one Year with another 70 Ships to Greenland, and have wonderfully Engroſſed that Trade from England and Holland, and it's believed, [Page] that ſmall and great there are belonging to this Commonwealth five thouſand Sail of Ships. After Amſterdam, Genoua and Venice, their Bank is reckoned the chief in Credit; but in Trade they are accounted the third in Europe, and come next to London and Amſterdam. Hambourg is now become the Magazine of Germany, and of the Baltick and Northern Seas. They give great Privileges to the Jews, and to all Strangers whatſoever, eſpecially the Engliſh Company of Merchant Adventurers, whom they allow a large Building, where they have a Church, and where the Deputy-Governour, Secretary, Miniſter, and the other Officers of the Company live, to whom they yearly make Preſents of Wine, Beer, Sheep, Salmond and Sturgeon in their ſeaſons. And ſo much of Hambourg.

FRom Hambourg I went to Lubeck, which is alſo a Commonwealth and Imperial Town. It is a large well-built City, containing ten Pariſh-Churches; the Cathedral dedicated to St. Peter being in length 500 Foot, with two high Spires all covered with Braſs, as the reſt of the Churches of that City are. In former times this City was the place where the Deputies of all the Hanſiatick Towns aſſembled, and was once ſo powerful as to make War againſt Denmark and Sweden, and to conquer ſeveral places and Iſlands belonging to thoſe two Crowns, [Page] nay and to lend Ships to England and other Potentates, without any prejudice to their own Trade, wherein they vyed in all parts with their Neighbours; but it is now exceedingly run into decay, not only in Territories, but in Wealth and Trade alſo. And the reaſon of that was chiefly the Inconſiderate Zeal of their Lutheran Miniſters, who perſwaded the Magiſtrates to baniſh all Roman Catholicks, Calviniſts, Jews, and all that diſſented from them in matter of Religion, even the Engliſh Company too, who all went and ſetled in Hambourg, to the great Advantage of that City, and almoſt ruine of Lubeck, which hath not now above 200 Ships belonging to it, nor more Territories to the State than the City it ſelf, and a ſmall part called Termond, about eight Miles diſtant from it. The reſt of their Territories are now in the poſſeſſion of the Danes and Swedes, by whom the Burghers are ſo continually alarmed, that they are quite tired out with keeping Guard, and paying of Taxes. The City is indeed well fortified; but the Government not being able to maintain above 1500 Soldiers in pay, 400 Burghers in two Companies are obliged to watch every Day. They have a large well-built Stadthouſe, and an Exchange covered, on the top whereof the Globes of the World are painted. This Exchange is about 50 Yards in the length, and but 15 in breadth: Over it there is a Room [Page] where the Skins of five Lyons which the Burghers killed at the City-Gates in the Year 1252. are kept ſtuft. The great Market-place is very large, where a Monumental-Stone is to be ſeen, on which one of their Burghermaſters was beheaded for running away without fighting in a Sea-Engagement. The People here ſpend much time in their Churches at Devotion, which conſiſts chiefly in Singing. The Women are beautiful, but disfigured with a kind of Antick Dreſs, they wearing Cloaks like Men. It is cheap living in this Town: For one may hire a Palace for a matter of 20 l. a Year, and have Proviſions at very reaſonable Rates; beſides the Air and Water is very good, the City being ſupplied with Fountains of Excellent Freſh Water, which Hambourg wants; and good Ground for Celleridge, there being Cellars here 40 or 50 Foot deep.

I Had the Curioſity to go from Lubeck to ſee the Ancient City of Magdeburg, but found it ſo ruined and decayed by the Swediſh War, that I had no Encouragement to ſtay there. I therefore haſtened to Berlin, the chief Reſidence of the Elector of Brandenburg; at whoſe Court I met with a very Ingenuous French Merchant, who told me, that he, and divers other Merchants, were deſigned to have lived in England, but were diſcouraged by a Letter ſent from London, by [Page] a French-Man that was removing from thence to Amſterdam, for theſe following Reaſons, which I Copied out of his Letter.

Firſt, Becauſe the Reformed Religion is perſecuted in England as it is France; the which I told him was a great Untruth, for it is apparent that they have been all along graciouſly admitted, and received into his Majeſties Dominions, without interruption, and allowed the free Exerciſe of their own Form of Worſhip, according to the Doctrine and Diſcipline of the Churches of France. Nor can they who converſe with the French Miniſters either in France or Holland be ignorant, that the chiefeſt part, if not all thoſe Miniſters, are willing to comply with the Church of England; and it is evident that moſt of the Dutch and French Proteſtants (ſo called) in Holland make uſe of Organs in their Churches.

A ſecond thing was, that both the Bank at London and the Bankers Goldſmiths were all broak; the which I told this Frenchman was not true altogether, for there are many able Bankers whom I named: Neither was the Bank (as he called the Chamber of London) broak, only it had been under the management of a bad Perſon, whoſe deſign was to bring it into diſgrace. Beſides, there is the Eaſt-India-Company an unqueſtionable Security for thoſe as have Money to diſpoſe of, together with another undeniable Security which is Land.

[Page] Thirdly, he ſaith, That in England there is no Regiſter, and therefore many Frauds in Purchaſes and Morgages, which beget tedious Suits, and renders both dangerous to truſt.

Fourthly, That if a Man would purchaſe Land he cannot, being an Alien, until Naturalized.

Fifthly, That in England there are ſo many Plots and Confuſions in Government, that the Kingdom is hardly quiet 20 Years together.

Sixthly, that falſe Witneſſes were ſo common in England, and the Crime of Perjury ſo ſlightly puniſhed, that no Man could be ſafe in Life or Eſtate, if he chanced to be in Trouble.

Laſtly he ſaid, that the Engliſh are ſo reſtleſs and quarelſom, that they not only foment and cheriſh Animoſities amongſt one another, but are every foot contriving and plotting againſt their Lawful Sovereign, and the Government. By ſuch Surmiſes and Inſinuations as theſe, the French and Germans are ſcared from truſting themſelves and Fortunes in England, and therefore ſettle in Amſterdam, Hamburgh, and other Cities, where there are Banks and Regiſters: This I ſay is one cauſe, why there are now to be ſeen at Amſterdam ſuch vaſt numbers of French and Germans, who have much enrich'd that City, and raiſed the Rents of the Houſes 20 [Page] per Cent. And the Silk-weavers grow alſo very rich, keeping ſo many Alms-Children to do their Work, and having all their Labour without any Charge, only for the teaching them their Trades; which hath leſſened the Revenues of the French Crown, and will, in time, greatly increaſe the number of the States Subjects, and advance their publick Incomes.

Having made this Digreſſion, I return to Berlin; It is a City enlarged with fair Streets and Palaces: The Magiſtrates of the place are Lutherans, which is the publick eſtabliſhed Religion in all the Electors Dominions; though he himſelf and his Children be Calviniſts: He is look'd upon to be ſo true to that Perſuaſion, that he is reckoned the Protector of the Calviniſts; and indeed he ſollicited the Emperor very hard for a Toleration of the Proteſtants in Hungary. His Chaplains, as moſt of the Lutheran Miniſters alſo, endeavour to imitate the Engliſh in their way of Preaching: And his Highneſs is ſo much taken with Engliſh Divinity, that he entertains Divines for tranſlating Engliſh Books into the German Tongue, as The Whole Duty of Man, and ſeveral others. He has a large and ſtately Palace at Berlin, and therein a copious Library, enriched with many Manuſcripts, Medals, and Rarities of Antiquity. He may compare with moſt Princes for handſom Guards, being all of [Page] them proper well-bodied Men, and moſt part Officers who ride in his Guards of Horſe. As he is known in the World to be a Valiant and Warlike Prince, ſo he maintains in Pay an Army of 36000 Men; beſides five or ſix thouſand Horſemen, who in time of War are modelled into Troops; with which Body during the late War with Sweden, his Highneſs's Father in Perſon beat the Swedes out of his Country. He keeps his Forces in ſtrict Diſcipline, obliging all the Officers, if Proteſtants, on Sundays and Holy-days to march their ſeveral Companies in order to Church; but if a Superiour Officer be of a contrary Perſwaſion, then the next in Commiſſion ſupplies his place. This cuſtom is Religiouſly obſerved by all his Highneſſes Gariſons, whilſt he himſelf goes conſtantly to the Calviniſt Church adjoyning to the Court, with his Children, being five Sons, two Daughters, and two Daughters-in-Law.

Amongſt other Acts of Publick Piety and Charity, this Prince hath eſtabliſhed and endowed ſome Religious Houſes or Nunneries for Proteſtant young Ladies, where they may live virtuouſly, and ſpend their time in Devotion as long as they pleaſe, or otherwiſe Marry, if they think fit, but then they loſe the benefit of the Monaſtery. There is one of theſe at Hertford in Weſtphalia, where I was, and had the Honour to wait upon [Page] the Lady Abbeſs the Princeſs Elizabeth, eldeſt Siſter of the late Elector Palatine and Prince Rupert. Notwithſtanding the late [...] with Sweden, and that by the prevalency [...] France in that haſty Treaty of Peace co [...] ded at Nim [...]guen, his late Electoral [...] was obliged to give back what he had [...] taken from that Crown; yet his [...] flouriſhed in Wealth and Trade, his [...] having encouraged Manufactures of [...] by inviting Artizans into his Domin [...] [...] eſtabliſhed a Company of Trading [...] to the Weſt-Indies, which will [...] advance Navigation amongſt his Sub [...] ▪ And in all humane probability they are [...] to continue in a happy condition, ſeeing by the Alliances his Highneſs hath made with the Proteſtant Princes of the Empire, and eſpecially the Houſe of Lunenbourg, they are in no danger of being diſturbed by their Neighbours.

I told you before that the Elector of Brandenbourg was Married to the Daughter of the Duke of Hanouer, ſo that as long as that Alliance holds, the Families of Brandenbourg and Lunenbourg will be in a condition to caſt the Balance of the Empire; they both together being able to bring into the Field 80000 as good Men as any are in Europe.

[Page] WHen I parted from Berlin, I made a turn back to Lunenbourg in my way to Swedeland, where I found ſeveral of my Countrymen Officers in the Gariſon, who ſhewed me what was moſt remarkable in the City, as the Saltworks, (which bring in conſiderable Sums of Money to the Duke of Lunenbourg) the Stadthouſe, and Churches, in one of which I ſaw a Communion-Table of pure Ducat-Gold. From thence I went into the Province of Holſtein and at a ſmall Sea-port called Termond, of which I ſpake before, I embarked for Sweden.

[Page] HE that hath read in the Hiſtories of this laſt Age the great Exploits of Guſtavus Adolphus and his Swedes, perhaps may have a fancy that it muſt be an excellent Country which hath bred ſuch Warriors; but if he approach it, he will ſoon find himſelf undeceived. Entering into Swedeland, at a place called Landſort, we ſail'd forward amongſt high Rocks, having no other proſpect from Land but Mountains till we came to Dollers, which is about four Swediſh, that is, twenty four Engliſh Miles from Stockholm, the Capital City of the Kingdom. Upon my coming aſhore, I confeſs I was a little ſurprized to ſee the Poverty of the People; and the little Wooden Houſes they lived in, not unlike Soldiers Huts in a Leaguer; but much more, when I diſcovered little elſe in the Country but Mountainous Rocks, and ſtanding Lakes of Water. The Reader will excuſe me, I hope, if I remark not all that I may have taken notice of in this Country, ſeeing by what I have already written, he may perceive that my Deſign is rather to obſerve the Manner of the Inhabitants living, than to give a full Deſcription of every thing that may be ſeen in the Country they live in. However, I ſhall ſay ſomewhat of that too, having premiſed once for all, that the ordinary People are wretchedly poor; yet not ſo much occaſioned by the Publick Taxes, [Page] as the Barronneſs of their Country, and the Oppreſſion of the Nobles their Landlord [...], and immediate Superiours, who till the pre [...]t King put a ſtop to their Violences, ty [...]nically domineered over the Lives and [...] of the poor Peaſants.

[...] D [...]llers I took Waggon to Stockholm, [...] Horſes three times by the way, [...] of the badneſs of the Rode, on all [...] with Rocks, that hardly [...] as here and there to leave a [...] Ground. At two Miles diſtance upon that Road the City of Stockholm looks great, becauſe of the King's Palace, the Houſes of Noblemen, and ſome Churches which are ſeated upon Rocks: And indeed, the whole City and Suburbs ſtand upon Rocks, unleſs it be ſome few Houſes built upon Ground gained from the Rivers that run through the Town. Stockholm has its Name from a Stock or Log of Wood, which three Brothers threw into the Water five Miles above the City, making a Vow, that where-ever that Stock ſhould ſtop, they would build a Caſtle to dwell in. The Stock ſtopt at the Holm, or Rock where the Palace of the King now ſtands: And the Brothers, to be as good as their word, there built their Caſtle, which invited others to do the like; ſo that in proceſs of time the other Rocks or Holms were covered with Buildings, which at length became the Capital [Page] City of the Kingdom. It is now embeliſhed with a great many ſtately Houſes, and much improved from what it was 400 Years ago, as indeed moſt Cities are; for the Stadthouſe then built, is ſo contemptible and low, that in Holland or England it would not be ſuffered to ſtand to diſgrace the Nation. The Council-Chamber where the Burghmaſters and Raedt ſit, is two Rooms caſt into one, not above nine Foot high; and the two Rooms where the Sheriffs and the Erve College (which is a Judicature like to the Doctors Commons in England) ſit, are not above eight Foot and a half high. The King's Palace is a large Square of Stone-building, in ſome places very high, but an old and irregular Fabrick, without a ſufficient quantity of Ground about it for Gardens and Walks. It was anciently ſurrounded with Water; but ſome Years ſince part of it was filled up to make a Way from the Caſtle-Gate down into the old Town. In this Palace there are large Rooms; but the Lodgings of the King, Queen, and Royal Family, are three Pair of Stairs high, the Rooms in the firſt and ſecond Stories being deſtin'd for the Senate-Chamber, and other Courts of Judicature. The King's Library is four Pair of Stairs high, being a Room about forty ſix Foot ſquare, with a Cloſet adjoyning to it not half the Dimenſions. When I conſidered the Apartments and Furniture of this Court, [Page] I began to think that the French Author wrote Truth, who in his Remarks upon Swedeland ſays, That when Queen Chriſtina reſigned the Crown to Carolus Guſtavus, the Father of this preſent King, ſhe diſpoſed of the beſt of the Furniture of the Court, and gave away a large ſhare of the Crown-Lands to her Favorites; in ſo much that the King, conſidering the poor Condition ſhe had left the Kingdom in, and ſeeing the Court ſo meanly furniſhed, ſaid, That had he known before he accepted the Crown, what then he did, he would have taken other Meaſures.

There are many other ſtately Palaces in Stockholm belonging to the Nobility; but many of them for want of Repairs, and not being inhabited, run to ruine; ſeveral of the Nobles who lived in them formerly, having loſt the Eſtates that maintained their ancient Splendor, as we ſhall ſee hereafter, being retired unto a Country Life. There are alſo ſome other Magnificent Structures begun, but not finiſhed, as that ſtately Building intended for a Parliament-Houſe for the Nobles, and two or three Churches: But what I moſt wonder at, is the Vault wherein the late King lies buried, is not as yet covered but with Boards, for it is to be obſerved that the Kings of Sweden have no Tombs and Monuments as in England and other Countries; but are put into Copper Coffins, with Inſcriptions [Page] on them, and placed one by another in Vaults, adjoyning to the Gray-Friers Church. Theſe Vaults are about eight in Number, having Turrets over them, with Veins of Copper gilt, carved into the Cyphers of the ſeveral Kings who give them their Names by being the firſt that are interred in them. The Vault of the late King is not yet finiſhed, no more than the Fabricks above-mentioned, which perhaps may be imputed to the late Troubles of Swedeland. The Number of the Inhabitants of Stockholm are alſo much decreaſed within theſe few Years, partly by reaſon of the removal of the Court of Admiralty and the Kings Ships from that City to Charles-Crown, a new Haven lately made about 200 Engliſh Miles from thence, which hath drawn many Families belonging to the Fleet and Admiralty from Stockholm to live there: And partly, becauſe many of the Nobility, Gentry, and thoſe that depended on them, are, as I ſaid before, withdrawn from Stockholm to a retired Life in the Country. Nevertheleſs the ordinary ſort of Burghers, who ſtill remain, are extreamly poor; ſeeing the Women are fain to work like Horſes, drawing Carts, and as Labourers in England, ſerving Maſons and Bricklayers with Stone, Bricks and Mortar, and unloading Veſſels that bring thoſe Materials; ſome of the poor Creatures in the Summer-time toiling in their Smocks without [Page] either Shooes or Stockings. They perform alſo the part of Watermen, and for a ſmall matter will Row Paſſengers 40 Miles or more if they pleaſe.

The Court here is very thin and ſilent, the King living frugally, and ſeldom Dining in publick. He Eats commonly with the two Queens, his Mother and Conſort, who is a Virtuous Princeſs, Siſter to the King of Denmark. She is the Mother of five Children, three Sons and two Daughters, with whom ſhe ſpends moſt of her time in Retirement. The King is a goodly Prince, whom God hath Bleſſed and Endowed with Accompliſhments far beyond what might have been expected from his Education, wherein he was extreamly abuſed, being Taught little more than his Mother Tongue. He is Gracious, Juſt and Valiant, conſtant at his Devotion, and utterly averſe from all kind of Debauchery, and the unfaſhionable Vanities of other Courts, in Plays and Dancing.

His ſports are Hunting and Exerciſing of his Guards, and he rarely appears publickly, or gives Audience to Strangers, which is imputed to his Senſe of the neglect of his Education. He is a Prince that hath had a very hard beginning in the World, which hath many times proved fortunate to great Men; and indeed, if we conſider all the circumſtances of his early Misfortunes, how [Page] he was ſlighted and neglected by his Nobles, who would hardly vouchſafe to pay him a viſit when he was among them in the Country, or to do him Homage for the Lands they held of the Crown; and how by the pernicious Counſels of the French, and the weakneſs or treachery of his Governors, he was miſled into a War that almoſt coſt him his Crown, having loſt the beſt of his Territories in Germany and Schonen, and moſt of his Forces both by Sea and Land: If, I ſay, theſe things be conſidered, it will probably appear, that hardly any Prince before him hath in a ſhorter time, or more fully ſetled the Authority and Prerogative of the Crown, than he hath done in Sweden; for which he ſtands no ways obliged to France, as he was for the Reſtauration of what he loſt during the War. He is now as abſolute as the French King, and makes Edicts, which have the Force of Laws, without the concurrence of the Eſtates of the Kingdom. He hath erected two Judicatures, the one called the College of Reduction, and the other of Inſpections; the firſt of which hath put his Majeſty in Poſſeſſion again of all Lands alienated from the Crown, and the other called to account all Perſons, even the Heirs and Executors of thoſe who had cheated the Crown, and made them refund what they or their Predeceſſors had appropriated to their own uſe of [Page] the publick Revenue. Theſe two neceſſary Conſtitutions, as they have reduced many great Families to a pinch, who formerly lived ſplendidly upon the Crown Lands and Revenues, and obliged them to live at home upon their ancient and private Patrimony in the Country, which is one great cauſe that the Court of Sweden is at preſent ſo unfrequented; ſo have they enabled his Majeſty; without burdening of his Subjects, to ſupport the Charges of the Government, and to maintain 64000 Men in pay. The Truth is, his other Revenues are but ſmall, what ariſes from the Copper and Iron Mines, one Silver Mine, the Pitch and Tar, the Cuſtoms and Exciſe amounts to no extraordinary Sum of Money, and the Land Tax in ſo barren a Country ſcarcely deſerving to be named. The Cuſtomes and Exciſe, I confeſs, are very high, and the rigorous manner of exacting them pernicious to Trade: As for inſtance; If a Ship come to Stockholme from London, with a hundred ſeveral ſorts of Goods, and thoſe Goods aſſigned to fifty ſeveral Men more or leſs, if any of thoſe fifty do not pay the Cuſtom of what belongs to him, though it be for a Barrel of Beer, the Ship ſhall not be unladen, nor no Man have his Goods out, though he hath fully pay'd the Cuſtoms for them, till this laſt Man hath pay'd his. There are ſeveral other ſilly [Page] Cuſtoms in Swedeland that diſcourages Men from Trading there; as if any Stranger Die there, a third of his Eſtate muſt go to the City or Town where he Traded. No Foreign Merchant in Stockholme can Travel into any Country where there is a Fair without a Paſſport: And at preſent, ſeeing there is no Treaty of Trade betwixt England and Sweden, though the Engliſh bring as conſiderable a Trade to that Kingdom as any other Country whatſoever, yet they are very unkindly uſed by the Officers of the Cuſtom-Houſe; whereas the Dutch in Lubeck, and other Cities, have new and greater Privileges allowed them. Nor would I Counſel an Engliſh-man to go to Law with a Swediſh Burgher in Sweden, eſpecially if he be a Whiggiſh Scot, who hath got his Freedom in Stockholme, for thoſe are a kind of Scrapers, whom I have obſerved to be more inveterate againſt the Engliſh than the Native Swedes.

Of all the Swediſh Army of 64000 Men, the King keeps but 12 Companies of 200 Men a-peice, with ſome few Horſe Guards in Stockholme, who are not upon Duty as Sentinels at the Court Gates, as at the Courts of other Princes. The reſt are diſperſed into Quarters and Gariſons upon the Frontiers, which are ſo far diſtant in that large compaſs of Land which his Territories take up, that it would require a hard and tedious work to bring them together to a general Muſter. [Page] They are however kept under very ſtrict Diſcipline, and thoſe that lie near, often viewed by the King. They have odd ſort, of Puniſhments for the Soldiers and Officers of all Degrees: For Example, if a Serjeant or Corporal be Drunk, or negligent on Duty, they are put into Armour, and with three Muskets tied under each Arm, made to walk two Hours before the Court of Guard; yet, for all the ſeverity of Diſcipline uſed againſt the Soldiers, they commit many Abuſes in the Night time, Robbing, and ſometimes killing Men upon the Streets in Stockholme, where they have no Lights nor Guards as in Copenhagen. In former times there have been at one time 35 Colonels, beſides General Officers in the Swediſh Army, all the Subjects of the King of Great Britain, but at preſent there are few or none, unleſs it be the Sons of ſome Scotiſh Officers Deceaſed; nor did I ever ſee an Engliſh-Man in the Kings Guards, Horſe or Foot, but one, and the Son of Sir Edward Wood, who hath ſince quitted the Service. The King hath exceedingly won the Hearts of the common People, not only by exempting them from the Tyrannical juriſdiction of the Nobility and Gentry, who formerly would by their own private Authority, puniſh and put to Death the Peaſants at their pleaſure, which makes the Countries very willing to Quarter the Kings Soldiers, but by his exactneſs [Page] in puniſhing Duels, Murder, and Robberies. Perjury is Death here alſo, as in Holland, which makes the Magiſtrates in ſome parts of this Kings Territories, enjoyn ſtrange kinds of Oaths to deter Men from being forſworn: As for inſtance, in ſome places the Witneſs is ſet with a Staff in his Hand upon ſome Peeble Stones and Charcoal, where he is to imprecate and pray, that if what he Sweareth be not true, his Land may become as barren as thoſe Stones, and his Subſtance be Conſumed to Aſhes like the Coals he ſtands on, which as ſoon as he ſteps down are ſet on Fire. This manner of Swearing ſo terrifies the People, that they commonly tremble when they come to take their Oath.

The Religion of the Dominions of the King of Sweden, as of thoſe of the King of Denmark, and of other Princes and States whom we have named, is Lutheran, who are more rigid to Roman Catholicks and Calviniſts than the Proteſtants of Germany. There is no Toleration allowed here to Calviniſt Miniſters; and they take an effectual courſe to keep the Country clear of Prieſts and Jeſuits, by Guelding them, whether they be young or old. In Commemoration of the great Loſſes and Deſolation ſuſtained in the late War, the Suedes ſtrictly keep four Faſting Days in the Months of April, May, June, and July; on which days all Men are prohibited by Authority to kindle Fire in their [Page] Houſes, or to Eat till after Evening Service is done, which in the Winter time could not be endured. They delight much in Singing in their Churches, which they conſtantly perform twice every day, Morning and Evening. In their Marryings, Chriſtenings, and Buryings they are ſo prodigally extravagant, that if all three happen in one year to a Man of a competent Eſtate, it is enough to break him. The Clergy of Sweden are neither ſo Rich nor Learned as thoſe of Germany, wanting both the opportunities of Study, and of converſing with Learned Men, that thoſe of other Countrys enjoy, though there be ſome Learned Men amongſt them. A Biſhoprick in Sweden is no great Benefice, if compared with ſome Parſonages in England; for the Arch-biſhop, and Metropolitan hath not above 400 l. per Annum, and ſome of the reſt are not worth above 150 or 200 l. a year. The inferiour Clergy are not ſo regular in their Lives and Converſation in the Countries diſtant from Stockholme, as they are near the Court; and the Reaſon is, partly becauſe they entertain Travellers that paſs the Country, there being no Inns in moſt places for the Accommodation of Perſons of any Quality, and ſo are obliged to drink with their Gueſts; and partly, becauſe at Buryings and Chriſtenings, where there is commonly high Drinking, the Pape or Parſon is Maſter of the Ceremonies: And here give me leave [Page] to tell a ſhort Story of one of them. A Pape coming to Chriſten a Child in a Church, and finding a Scotch Man to be Godfather, was ſo tranſported either with Zeal, or his Cups, that when he came to exorciſe the Child, which is a Rite uſed in their Office of Adminiſtring this Sacrament; he neglected the Form preſcribed by the Liturgy, and in an extemporary Prayer begg'd, that the Devil might depart out of the Child, and enter into that Scottiſh Heretick, for ſo they call the Presbyterians of that Nation. The Prayer of the Pape ſo incenſed the Scot, that he vowed Revenge, and watched the Pape with a good Cudgel next day as he croſſed the Church-yard, where he beat him, and left him all in Blood lying on the Ground, and crying out Murder. For this Fact the Scot was had before the Juſtice, who asking him, How he durſt be ſo bold as to lay his profane Hands upon the Man of God? He, who knew very well what uſe to make of the Devil he had got, Foaming at the Mouth, and cunningly acting the Demoniack, made anſwer, That the Pape might thank himſelf for what he had met with; for ſince he had Conjured the Devil into him he ſpared no Body, neither Wife nor Children, nor would he ſpare the Juſtice himſelf, and with that fell a mangling and tearing the Magiſtrate, that he was fain to [...] take himſelf to his Heels, crying out O! the Devil, ſave me; [Page] and ſo the Scot marched home, no Man daring to lay hold on him, for fear of being torn to pieces by the Devil. But the Juſtice recollecting himſelf, ſent for the Pape, told him, That the Scot was a cunning Rogue, and bid him go home, get a Plaiſter for his Head, and be ſilent, leſt if the matter came to the Biſhops Ears he might be Cenſured for going againſt the Rubrick of the Liturgy.

The Famous Univerſity where their Clergy are bred, is Upſal, 8 Swediſh Miles from Stockholme. There are commonly 150, or 200 Students there, but no Endowed Colleges, as in other Countries. The Library is ſo mean and contemptible, that the Libraries of many Grammar Schools, and of private Men in England or Holland are far better ſtored with Books than it is. Upon viewing of it, and that of the Kings Palace, I called to mind the ſaying of a French Man, upon the like occaſion; That Swedeland came behind France and England in the knowledge of Men and Things at leaſt 800 years; yet ſome Swedes have been ſo conceited of the Antiquity of their Country, as to brag, that Paradice was ſeated in Sweden; that the Country was turned into ſuch heaps of Rocks for the Rebellion of our firſt Parents, and that Adam and Eve had Cain and Abel in a Country three Swediſh Miles diſtant from Upſall. A French Man ſtanding by, and hearing this Romantick Story, as I was told, fitted him [Page] with the like, telling him, that when the World was made in ſix days, at the end of the Creation all the Rubbiſh that remained was thrown together into a Corner, which made up Sweden and Norway. And indeed, the French ſeem to have no great liking to the Country, whatever kindneſs they may have for the People; for a French Ambaſſador, as an Author of that Country relates, being by order of Queen Chriſtina, Treated in a Country Houſe four Swediſh Miles from Stockholme, and upon the rode going and coming, with all the Varieties and Pleaſures that the Country could afford, on purpoſe to make him have a good Opinion of the ſame; made anſwer to the Queen, (who asked him upon his return, What he thought of Sweden) That were he Maſter of the whole Country, he would preſently Sell it, and Buy a Farm in France or England; which, under Favour, I think was a little Tart and Sawcy.

Having ſtayed a conſiderable time in Swedeland, and moſt part at Stockholme, I ſet out from thence to go to Elſenbourg by Land, and went a little out of my way to ſee a ſmall City called Eubrone, Famous for a Coat of Arms which it got in this manner. A certain Maſculine Queen of Denmark, who had Conquered a great part of Sweden, coming to this City, asked the Magiſtrates, What was the Arms of their City? Who having [Page] her, that they had none, ſhe plucked up her Coats, and ſquatting upon the Snow, bid them take the mark ſhe left there for their Arms; its pity ſhe did not give them a ſuitable Motto to it alſo: What that Figure is called in Blazonery I know not, but to this Day the City uſes it in their Arms, and for marking their Commodities. This Queen came purpoſely into Sweden, to pay a viſit to a brave Woman, that oppoſed a King of Swedeland, who in a time of Famine would have put to Death all the Men and Women in his Country above 60 years of Age. The Country all the way I travelled in Swedeland is much of the ſame quality of the Land about Stockholme, until I came near the Province of Schonen, which is called the Store-houſe, and Kitchin of Sweden, where the Country is far better. It was formerly very dangerous to Travel in this Province of Schonen, becauſe of the Snaphances, who were a kind of Bloody Robbers, now utterly deſtroyed by the King; ſo that it is ſafe enough Travelling there. Entering into Schonen I ſaw 29 of theſe Rogues upon Wheels, and elſewhere in the Country, ten and twenty at ſeveral places. The King uſed great ſeverity in deſtroying of them; ſome he cauſed to be broken upon the Wheel, others Spitted in at the Fundament, and out at the Shoulders, many had the Fleſh pinched off of their Breaſts, and ſo were faſtened to [Page] Stakes till they Died; and others again had their Noſes and both Hands cut off, and being ſeared with a hot Iron, were let go to acquaint their Comrades how they had been ſerved. The King is very ſevere againſt Highway-Men and Duellers. In above a 100 Miles Travelling, we found not a Houſe where there was either French Wine or Brandy, which made me tell a Swede of our Company, who was Travelling to Denmark, that I would undertake to ſhew any Man 500 Houſes, wherein a Traveller might have Wine, and other good Accommodation in the ſpace of an Hundred Miles upon any rode from London. There are ſeveral ſmall Towns and fertile Land in this Country of Schonen, lying upon the S [...]undt; at the narroweſt part whereof lies Elſenbourg burnt down by the Danes in the laſt War: Here I croſt over to Elſenore, the paſſage being but a League broad.

The King of Denmark has a Caſtle at Elſenore, which commands the narrow paſſage of the Soundt, where all Ships that enter into, or come out of the Baltick Sea muſt pay Toll. Having viſited this Caſtle, and ſtaid about a Fortnight with the Engliſh Conſul, and Sir John Paul, late Reſident at the Court of Swedeland, I went to the Daniſh Court at Copenhagen.

COpenhagen is the Capital City of Zecland, Jutland, or Denmark, and place of Reſidence of the King: It ſtands on a [Page] Flat, encompaſſed with a pleaſant and delightful Country, much reſembling England. The Streets of the City are kept very neat and clean, with Lights in the Night time for the convenience and ſafety of thoſe who are then abroad; a Cuſtom not as yet introduced into Stockholme, where it is dangerous to be abroad when it is dark. The Kings Men of War lie hear very conveniently, being orderly ranged betwixt Booms, after the manner of Amſterdam, and near the Admiralty Houſe, which is a large pile of Building, well furniſhed with Stores and Magazins, ſecured by a Cittadel, that not only commands the City, but alſo the Haven, and entry into it. The Court of Denmark is ſplendid, and makes a far greater figure in the World than that of Sweden, though not many years ago, in the time of Carolus Guſtavus the Father of the preſent King of Swedeland, it was almoſt reduced to its laſt, when the Walls of Copenhagen ſaved that Crown and Kingdom. That Siege was Famous, carried on with great vigour by the Swede, and as bravely maintained by the Danes: The Monuments whereof are to be ſeen in the Cannon Bullets gilt that ſtill remain in the Walls of ſome Houſes, and in the Steeple of the great Church of the Town. The Royal Palace in Copenhagen is but ſmall, and a very ancient Building; but his Majeſties Houſe Fredenburg is a ſtately Fabrick of Modern Architecture, and [Page] very richly Furniſhed. Denmark is at preſent a flouriſhing Kingdom, and the King, who hath now made it Hereditary, ſurpaſſes moſt of his Predeceſſors in Power and Wealth: He hath much enlarged his Dominions, as well as Authority; and by his Perſonal and Royal Virtues, no leſs than the eminent qualities of a great many able Miniſters of State, he hath gained the Univerſal Love of his Subjects, and the eſteem of all Foreign Princes and States. The Court is much frequented every day, but eſpecially on Sundays, where about Eleven of the Clock in the Morning, the Nobility, Foreign Miniſters, and Officers of the Army aſſemble, and make a glorious Appearance. There one may ſee many Knights of the Order of the Elephant of Malto; but I never ſaw any Order of the like Nature as that of Sweden, that King rarely appearing in his George and Garter; but on days of publick Audience I have obſerved at one time above 150 Coaches attending at the Court of Denmark, which are ten times more than ever I ſaw together at that of Sweden. The King is affable, and of eaſie acceſs to Strangers, ſeen often abroad by his Subjects in his Gardens and Stables, which are very large, and well furniſhed with all ſorts of Horſes. He is a great lover of Engliſh Horſes and Dogs, and delights much in Hunting, as his Eldeſt Son the Prince, with his Brothers do in Cock- [...]ighting; inſomuch [Page] much, that the Engliſh Merchants cannot make a more acceptable preſent to thoſe Princes, than of Engliſh Game-Cocks. The ſtanding Forces of Denmark are well diſciplined Men, and Commanded by good Officers, both Natives and Strangers, both French and Scots, as Major General Duncan, and Major General Veldun, both Scottiſh-Men, whom I ſaw at Copenhagen. The Soldiers as well as Courtiers are quartered upon the Citizens, a Cuſtom which is likewiſe practiſed in Sweden, and tho' ſomewhat uneaſie, yet not repined at by the People, who by the care and good Government of the King, find Trade much advanced. For his Majeſty by encouraging Strangers of all Religions to live in his Dominions, and allowing the French and Dutch Calviniſts, to have publick Churches, hath brought many Trading Families to Copenhagen, and by the meaſure he hath taken for ſetling Trade in prohibiting the Importation of Foreign Manufactures, and Reforming and new Modelling the Eaſt and Weſt India Companies, hath much encreaſed Commerce, and thereby the Wealth of his Subjects; ſo that notwithſtanding the new Taxes impoſed upon all Coaches, Wagons, Ploughs, and all real and perſonal Eſtates, which amount to conſiderable Sums of Money; the People live very well and contented. There are commonly about 8000 Men in Gariſon in Copenhagen, and [Page] his Majeſties Regiment of Foot Guards, who are all Cloathed in Red, with Cloaks to keep them warm in the Winter time, is a very handſome Body of Men; and with the Horſe Guards, who are bravely mounted, and have their Granadeers and Hautboys, make a very fine ſhew. His Majeſty hath cauſed ſeveral new Fortifications to be built upon the Elb, and other Rivers, and hath now in his Poſſeſſion, that ſtrong Caſtle called Hilgueland, at preſent commanded by a Scottiſh-man. The Queen of Denmark is a moſt virtuous Princeſs, Siſter to the preſent Landtgrave of Heſſe Caſſel, and in Perſwaſion a Calviniſt, having a Chapel allowed her within the Court, though the publick Religion of the King and Kingdom be Lutheran. The Clergy here are Learned, many of them having ſtudied at Oxford and Cambridge, where they learnt the Engliſh Language; and amongſt the Biſhops there is one Doctor King the Son of a Scottiſh-man. But ſeeing it is my deſign rather to obſerve the condition of the People, than to be punctual in deſcribing all the Rarities that are remarkable in the Countries I have been in, I ſhall conclude what I have to ſay of Denmark, by acquainted the Reader that the People of that Country live far better than the Swedes, and as well as moſt of their adjoyning Neighbours; and that there are ſeveral places, both there, and in Norway, which have the Names of Engliſh Towns, as Arundale, Totneſs, London, &c.

[Page] When I firſt began to write this Treatiſe, I had ſome thoughts of making Obſervations upon the ſeveral Governments of other States and Dominions, where I had travelled ſome years before I was in the Countries I have been ſpeaking of, as of the reſt of Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, and France; but that was a Subject ſo large, and the uſefulneſs of it to my preſent Deſign ſo inconſiderable, that by doing ſo, I found I could neither ſatisfie the Curious, by adding any thing material to thoſe many who have already obliged the Publick by the Remarks of their Travels in thoſe Places; or make my diſcontented Countrymen more averſe than they are already from removing into thoſe Countries, where I think few of them will chuſe to tranſport themſelves for the ſake of Liberty and Property, though England were even worſe than they themſelves fancy it can be. All that remains to be done then, is to conclude this Treatiſe with an obvious and popular Remark, that thoſe Countries, where Cities are greateſt and moſt frequented by voluntary Inhabitants, are always the beſt to live in; and by comparing the City of London with all other Cities of Europe, and demonſtrating by the Surveys I have made, (which I think will hardly be contradicted or confuted) that of all the Capital Cities of Europe it is the biggeſt and moſt populous, and [Page] ſo prove conſequentially that England, for the generality of People, is the beſt Country in the World, eſpecially for its Natives, to live in. Now this being an Obſervation (for what I know) not hitherto made good by Induction and Inſtance, (as I intend to do it) I hope it will pleaſe the Reader as much, as if I gave him a particular account of other Countries and Governments, and leave it to his own Reflection to ſtate the Compariſon.

Though London within the Walls cannot vye for bigneſs with many Cities of Europe; yet take the City and Suburbs together, according as it hath been ſurvey'd by Mr. Morgan, in breadth from St. George's Church in Southwark to Shoreditch, and in length from Limehouſe to Petty-France in Weſtminſter, and it is in a vaſt proportion larger in compaſs of Ground, and number of Houſes, than any City in Europe whatſoever. This I ſhall demonſtrate firſt, by comparing it with ſome Cities of Holland, and then with the moſt conſiderable Cities of the other Countries of Europe, which I ſhall ſet down in an Alphabetical Order, with the number of the Houſes they ſeverally contain.

When London and Suburbs was ſurveyed ſome years ago by Mr. Morgan, there were reckoned to be in it 84000 Houſes, beſides Hoſpitals, Alms-houſes, and other Buildings, that paid no Chimney-money to the King: [Page] Now if thoſe were added, and the vaſt number of new Houſes that have been built ſince that Survey, upon modeſt computation London may be reckoned to contain 100000 Houſes; nay, 'tis believed 120000, which truly conſidering the extraordinary Additions that have been made lately, is not improbable; I know the French vapour, and would perſwade the World, that Paris is much bigger than London. And the Hollanders will ſcarce believe, that London hath more Houſes than the 18 Cities in Holland that have Voices in the States, for (ſay they) Amſterdam ſtands upon 1000 Morgans of Land, and London ſtands but upon 1800. To both which I anſwer, That it is very true that Paris takes up a great ſpot of Ground, but then you muſt conſider, that in Paris there are ſeveral hundreds of Monaſteries, Churches, Colleges, and Cloiſters, ſome of them having large Gardens, and that in Paris there are 7500 Palaces and Ports for Coaches, which have likewiſe great Gardens; whereas London is very thick built, and in the City the Houſes have ſcarce a Yard big enough to ſet a Pump or Houſe of Conveniency in; but the Weekly Bills of Mortality will decide this Queſtion, and plainly give it to London, and ſo doth Monſieur la Cour, and Sir William Petty in his laſt Eſſays dedicated to the King, making it appear, that London is bigger than Paris, Roan, [Page] and Rochel altogether; and as for Amſterdam, I do appeal to all knowing Men that have ſeen it, that although it be true, that it ſtands upon 1000 Morgans of Land, yet there is not above 400 Morgans built; and this I prove thus, that the large Gardens, on the Heeregraft, Kyſersgraft, and Princegraft, and the Burghwalls of Amſterdam, take up more than a third part of the City; then reckon the Baſtions, and the ſpace of Ground between the Wall and the Houſes, and all the Ground unbuilt from the Utricks-Port to the Weſoper-Port, Muyer-Port, and [...] the Seaſide, and you will find it to be near [...] Morgans of Land: There are two Pariſhes in the Suburbs of London, viz. Stepney, and St. Martins in the Fields, (the latter being ſo big, that the Parliament divided it into four Pariſhes) either of them have more Houſes than Rotterdam or Haerlem; and there are ſeveral other great Pariſhes, as St. Margarets Weſtminſter, St. Giles in the Fields, St. Olaves, and St. Mary Saviours, the which if they ſtood apart in the Country would make great Cities; we reckon in London, and the Suburbs thereof to be at leaſt 130 Pariſhes, which contains 100000 Houſes; now if you reckon 8 Perſons to every Houſe, then there are near 800000 Souls in London, but there are ſome that ſay, there is a Million of Souls in it: I ſhall now ſet down the Cities Alphabetically, and their number of Houſes, as they were given to [Page] me not only from the Surveyors and City Carpenters, but from the Books of the Hearth-Money, and Collectors of the ſeveral Taxes in the reſpective Cities: And firſt I ſhall begin with the 18 Cities that have Voices in the States of Holland.

Cities in HOLLAND.

Cities. Houſes.

1. DOrt 5500

2. Haerlem 7250

3. Delft 2300

4. Leyden 13800

5. Amſterdam 25460

6. Rotterdam 8400

7. Gouda 3540

8. Gorcom 2460

9. Schiedam 1550

10. Briell 1250

11. Schonehoven 2200

12. Alckmaar 1540

13. Horn 3400

14. Enckhuyſen 5200

15. Edam 2000

16. Monekendam 1500

17. Medenblick 850

18. Purmerent 709

Total 88909

Cities in GERMANY, and in the Seventeen Provinces.

Cities. Houſes.

1. ANtwerp 18550

2. Aix la Chapelle 2250

3. Arford 8440

4. Berlin 5200

5. Bon 410

6. Briſack 1200

7. Breme 9200

8. Breda 3420

9. Bolduke 6240

10. Bergen op Zome 2120

11. Bruſſels 19200

12. Cologne 12000

13. Cleave 640

14. Coblentz 420

15. Caſtels 1520

16. Dreſden 6420

17. Diſſeldorpe 620

18. Dunkirk 2440

19. Emden 2400

20. Francfort 10200

21. Groningen 8400

22. Guant 18200

23. Harford 1420

24. Hanouer 1850

25. Heidelberg 7520

26. Hambourg 12500

27. Lubeck 6500

28. Lovain 8420

[Page] 29. Lypſick 3242

30. Lunenburg 3100

31. Lewardin 5860

32. Mayence 2420

33. Malin 8000

34. Middelburg 6200

35. Madelburg 1120

36. Maſtricht 5600

37. Munſter 1240

38. Nurenburg 18240

39. Oſenburg 2200

40. Osburg 8420

41. Oldenburg 620

42. Praag 18640

43. Paſſaw 560

44. Ratisbonne 6540

45. Strasbourg 8560

46. Spire 540

47. Stockholm 6480

48. Salsburg 12460

49. Uytrick 8240

50. Vienna 4520

51. Vean 340

52. Wormes 1200

53. Weſtburg 2420

Total 314460

Cities in FRANCE.

Cities. Houſes.

1. AVignion 12400

2. Amiens 5200

3. Bullion 1400

4. Bomont 800

5. Burdeaux 8420

6. Callis 1324

7. Caine 2147

8. Chalons 1850

9. Diepe 1920

10. Lyons 16840

11. Montrevil 820

12. Montpeiller 5240

13. Marſelles 9100

14. Nantes 4420

15. Niſmes 3120

16. Orleans 10200

17. Orange 354

18. Paris 72400

19. Rochel 4200

20. Roan 11200

21. Tolouze 13200

22. Valence 458

Total 187013

Cities in ITALY.

Cities. Houſes.

1. BOlonia 12400

2. Florence 8520

3. Genoua 17200

4. Luca 1650

5. Legorne 3560

6. Milan 18500

7. Naples 17840

8. Piſa 2290

9. Padua 8550

10. Rome 31200

11. Sena 1820

12. Venice 24870

13. Veterba 620

14. Valentia 1520

Total 155040

Cities in SAVOY.

Cities. Houſes.

1. CHambray 852

2. Salé 320

3. Turin 8540

4. Nice 500

5. St. John de Lateran 420

6. Remes 340

7. Moloy 270

Total 11242

Cities in SWITZERLAND.

Cities. Houſes.

1. BErne 4270

2. Bale 5120

3. Geneva 4540

4. Loſana 2100

5. Solure 500

6. Zurick 6200

7. Morge 210

8. Vina 320

9. St. Morrice 300

Total 23560

Cities in DENMARK.

Cities. Houſes.

1. COpenhagen 8220

2. Elſenore

Total

Cities in SWEEDLAND.

Cities. Houſes.

1. NOrthoanen 600

2. Stockholme 7500

3. Upſal 8200

Total 16300

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

AN EXACT RELATION OF THE ENTERTAINMENT Of His Moſt Sacred Majeſty WILLIAM III. KING of England, Scotland, France and Ireland; Hereditary Stadtholder of the United Netherlands, &c. At the HAGƲE.

Giving a particular Deſcription of His MAJESTY's Entry there, Jan. 26. 169 [...]- [...]. And of the ſeveral Triumphant Arches, Pyramids, Pictures, &c. with the Inſcriptions and Devices.

Illuſtrated with Copper Plates of the whole Solemnity, exactly drawn from the Original.

By an Engliſh Gentleman.

LONDON: Printed in the Year M. DC. XCL

AN Exact Relation Of the ENTERTAINMENT of His Moſt Sacred Majeſty, WILLIAM III.
At the HAGƲE.

[Page]

[Page]

HIS Majeſty being earneſtly Entreated by the States of Holland, and the Confederate Princes in Germany, &c. to meet at a General Congreſs, to be held at the Hague, in order to Concert matters for the next Campaign, was pleaſed to Condeſcend to their Requeſt, and hazard His Royal Perſon by Sea, (though in the depth of Winter) His Noble Zeal for the Good of us in particular, and Europe in general, ſurmounting all thoſe Difficulties: Whereupon he accordingly took Shipping [Page] on the Sixteenth of January 1690-91. in a Yacht, then lying at Graveſend, and ſet Sail that Afternoon, being attended by divers Yatchts and Men of War, and a Noble Retinue of Perſons of the beſt Quality; but by Reaſon of the very thick Miſts, and conſequently little Wind, was four days before he could make the Coaſt of Holland; yet, at laſt, when he arrived within two or three Leagues of Goree, His Majeſty ventured to go a Shoar in the Boat, attended by the Duke of Ormond, the Earl of Portland, and my Lord Overkirke, &c. and another Boat, but moſt unfortunately there fell ſo thick a Fog, and the Ice ſurrounded them ſo cloſely, that neither could they make the Shoar, nor get back to the Ship, but were forc'd to lie ſtill for two and twenty Hours, enduring the moſt bitter Cold, and without (almoſt) hopes of ever getting alive on Shoar: All which, His Majeſty bore with His wanted Magnanimity and Courage, and when one of the Boat-men too freely expreſſed his Fear of Death, he reproved him with this Noble ſaying, What are you afraid to Die in my Company. But it pleaſed the Almighty Providence, at length to diſſipate the Miſt, and Conduct His Royal Majeſty ſafely to the Shoar, and on the 21ſt of January, about half an hour after Ten, landed at the Orange Polder, at the Mouth of the Maeſe, a little below Maſeland-Sluyce, but by the long continuance [Page] [Page]

Kings Voyage to Holland pag:2

[Page] [Page] in the Cold, was ſo Benummed, that he could hardly either ſtand or Speak. From hence His Majeſty went immediately to the Houſe of the Heer Van Rynenbergh, where having refreſhed Himſelf, and Dined, He haſted to Hounſlaerdyke, where He was met, and Congratulated with all Demonſtrations of Reſpects and Joy, by the Deputies of the States; as alſo by Prince Caſimir of Naſſau, Stadtholder of Friezeland, whom His Majeſty received with all the Marks of the moſt tender Affection imaginable, Embracing and Kiſſing them with great Ardency. Prince Naſſau Sarbruggen, the Count Van Hoorn, and divers other Perſons of Quatity, here likewiſe Congratulated His Majeſties happy arrival, who were all moſt kindly received by His Majeſty.

'Twas expected that the King would have lain here this Night, and ſo have entred the Hague by day light; but on the contrary, His extraordinary Deſire of entring immediately upon Buſineſs, would not let Him give Himſelf ſo much as one Nights eaſe; And His Majeſty, after a very ſhort Refreſhment here, departed for the Hague, attended with five or ſix Coaches with ſix Horſes: In His own Coach accompanied Him the Earl of Portland, and the Lord Overkirk, arriving at the Hague about half an hour after five in the Evening; where (though he was not that Night expected) there wanted not [Page] the general Acclamations of the People of all ſorts, who run by His Coach, crying out, Long Live King William, Welcom, Welcom, &c. His Majeſty Rode through the Triumphant Arches, Erected by the Lords of the Hague, and the Honourable the Lords Committee of the Council of Holland, (of which we ſhall give an exact Deſcription in their proper Places) directly to the Court, where being arrived, and the Gates ſhut to keep out the extraordinary preſs of People, thirty peices of Cannon, which were planted upon the Vyverberg, were thrice diſcharged, Publick Thankſgivings were made in all the Churches, and the Bells rung with great Joy; and throughout the Town almoſt all the Houſes were Illuminated with great numbers of Candles in their Windows, whilſt all the People, Rich and Poor, Old and Young, made all Demonſtrations of their inexpreſſible Joy for His Majeſties moſt happy Arrival.

That Evening the Earl of Berka, Envoy Extraordinary from the Emperor, waited upon His Majeſty, and was a long time in private with Him; and the next day ſeveral Members of the States, and divers Perſons of Quality came to Compliment His Majeſty, and Congratulate His Arrival.

The Miniſters of the ſeveral Confederate Princes, who upon the Kings arrival had ſent Expreſſes to their reſpective Maſters, [Page] aſſembling themſelves in Congreſs; immediately after their breaking up, the Imperial, Spaniſh, and Brandenburgh Envoys, came to wait upon His Majeſty; as alſo the Council of State, and the Lords of the General Accounts, with all their Members, to Congratulate and Complement Him.

The King immediately applied Himſelf to the Affairs of State, and taking firſt into His Conſideration the Sea Affairs, gave the Command of the Dutch Fleet to the Heer Cornelius Van Tromp, with the Title of Vice-Admiral of Holland, who gratefully accepted the ſame, and immediately beat up his Drums for Seamen, who flocked to him in great abundance. His Majeſty gave alſo out Commiſſions for two Regiments of Mariners to be raiſed.

The Elector of Brandenburgh, who had waited ſome time at Cleave, as ſoon as he received advice of His Majeſties arrival, ſet forward for the Hague.

In the mean time it was Deſired, and Agreed to by His Majeſty, That His Majeſty would Pleaſe to Honour the Hague with a Publick Entry, on Monday, January the 26th: Whereupon the Trained Bands, and the Guards were ordered to be ready; And accordingly on Monday, at two of the Clock in the Afternoon, His Majeſty went out of the Town by the way of the Vyverberg, to the North-end, and from thence [Page] round the Wall to the Weſt-end, and ſo to the Hounſlaerdyke, or Looſduyn's-bridge, where began the Triumph. Over this Bridge was Erected, by the Burghermaſters of the Hague, a Triumphant Arch, the Figure whereof we have here Repreſented. Over the Arch in the Front, is a Man and a Woman ſtanding at an Altar Sacrificing, with the Words, Io Triumphe. On the top of all ſtands the Statue of His Majeſty, with a Staff in His right Hand, at the top of which is a Cypher of His Name, with a Crown. On the two Columns of the Arch, on one ſide are theſe Words,

Ob Cives Servatos: For having preſerved his Country-men.

Ob Hoſtes Fugatos: For having deſtroyed his Enemies.

and on the other ſide,

Reſtitutis Provinciis: The Provinces being Reſtored.

Libertatis Regnis: The Kingdoms being Delivered.

Behind each Column is a ſmall Oval, in one a Lawrel with this Word, ‘Victoria, Victory,’ on the other a Palm, with the Word, ‘Clementia, Mercy.’

Here His Majeſty was received by the Magiſtrates of the Hague, who Complimented [Page] [Page]

Kings Entertainment Pag:6

[Page] [Page] Him, and Congratulated His Arrival, the Penſionary Vander Hoeck being their Speaker, who humbly Thanked the King in the Name of the Magiſtrates and Burghers, for the Honour His Majeſty was pleaſed to do them by His Preſence, in a moſt Eloquent Oration.

From hence was a Lane made on each ſide by the Burghers in Arms, who appeared in very great Splendour, being moſt of them very richly clad, many having been at great Expence for their Equipage.

Theſe Trained Bands conſiſt of ſix Companies, of about two and three Hundred Men in each Company; they make in all about Fifteen Hundred Men: Theſe ſtanding in their Order, reached all along the Weſt-end, the great Market, the High Street, and ſo to the Court-yard.

All along this way, quite up to the Court, before the Houſes and Stalls, were built Scaffolds, which were filled by a vaſt multitude of Spectators, who ſcrupled not to give an 100 Guilders in ſome places for the uſe of a Chamber during the Shew. The number of Spectators being the greateſt that has ever been ſeen in the Hague; inſomuch, that one would have judged all the Inhabitants of Holland to have been in this Town.

After the Penſionary had ended his Speech, and His Majeſty kindly Thanked them, the Cavalcade proceeded. Firſt went two very [Page] rich Coaches with ſix Horſes, in which were divers Perſons of Quality, next the Kings Life Guard, the Officers in extraordinary rich Equipage: After them a great number of Lacquees and Footmen all in the Kings Livery, and black Velvet Caps; after them came the Kings Pages, Gentlemen, and Servants on Horſeback, in extraordinary rich Liveries. Then came His Majeſty riding in a large, and very richly Gilt Coach, drawn by Six White Stone Horſes, accompanied by the Lord Overkirk on the left Hand, and the Earls of Monmouth and Scarborough over-againſt him. On each ſide of the Coach the Switzers with their Halbards, in rich Livery Coats alſo, walked on Foot. The Provoſt General Urck, and the Heer Roulas Captain of the Switzers rid on Horſeback immediately before the Kings Coach, and after it came about Twelve Coaches with Six Horſes, wherein Rid the Duke of Norfolk, the Earls of Devonſhire and Portland, the Biſhop of London, and ſeveral other Engliſh Noblemen; as alſo the chief Miniſters of the Government, and the Magiſtrates of the Hague, beſides theſe, were many Coaches with Four Horſes.

The King as he paſſed along, was Saluted, and Complimented by divers Perſons of Quality, which His Majeſty returned with great Kindneſs, often looking out of the Coach, with great Satisfaction upon the [Page] People, who ſhouted with extraordinary Chearfulneſs, crying out, Long Live the King our Stadtholder, &c.

The Stadthouſe, by which the King was to Ride, was Beautified with Seven very Noble Tranſparent Pictures; behind which they put Lights in the Evening, which were ſet off with Garlands of made Flowers: Above in the middle, was the King and Queen, and on each ſide of them another Picture; One of a Lion with this Motto,

Placidum venerantur, & horrent infeſtum:

They Worſhip him when he is Calm, and Dread him when he is Angry;

the other of an Unicorn, with this Motto,

Nihil paſſa Veneni: She can endure no Poiſon.

Underneath there are three other Pictures,

one of a Crane ſitting upon his Neſt, clapping his Wings upon break of a Day, and Sun Riſing, with this Motto, ‘Recreatur ab Ortu: He is refreſhed by the Riſing.’ the other of an Atlas bearing the World upon his bending Shoulders, reſting with his Breaſt upon a ſmall Hill, with this Motto, ‘In te Domus inclinata recumbit: The leaning Houſe reſts on Thee.’ The Third, a Crane ſtanding on his Neſt, and chattering upon the Riſing of the Sun, with this Motto, ‘Vidit & Exaltavit: He ſaw it and was glad.’

[Page] In the Court of Juſtice by the ſide of the Stadthouſe, a Pillar was Erected four Rows high, garniſhed with Coats of Arms; upon which towards Night they ſet great numbers of Flambeaux.

The Lords of the Hague raiſed alſo a Rich and a Glorious Triumphal Arch in Honour of this great Monarch, in the Market Place: This was done upon the Account of his having been Born there; which as they look upon to be one of the greateſt Glories of the Place, and whereof hereafter they will have the greateſt Reaſon to Boaſt, ſo they were deſirous to ſhew what Sence they had of it, upon ſo very Glorious an occaſion.

This is much the higheſt Arch of them all; without any Pillars, and on both ſides are many Pictures done in light Colour; and juſt over the paſſage there are two others done upon Silk, and Tranſparent, ſo as that by Lights, which were ſet behind them in the Evening, they appeared very Gloriouſly.

At the top of all was placed a Sphear, and above that, Fame Sounding a Trumpet in a flying poſture, and leading a Pegaſus; with Trophies at each Corner.

Behind this Arch, towards the High-ſtreet, the Arms of the Emperor Adolphus, (who was Deſcended of the Houſe of Naſſau) were ſet up; and over them the Sixteen Quarters of His Majeſties Arms: But thoſe that managed [Page] [Page]

Kings Entertainment Pag:10

[Page] [Page] this matter, not underſtanding it ſo well as they ought to have done, they have committed ſeveral Miſtakes, which in the Graving I have altered: It is to no purpoſe to ſet down the particulars, which lie chiefly in the ſtating of the ſeveral S [...]utcheons, according to the precedency of the Kingdoms over which His Majeſties Anceſtors had the Governments, which though they are not generally taken notice of by ordinary Obſervers; yet, ſince upon ſuch Solemnities, the curiouſeſt and moſt inquiſitive Men are always preſent, it was much to be Wiſhed, that thoſe Things had been more exactly regulated.

There were ſeveral Inſcriptions round the Arch: On the Front above the Gate, and under the Arms of the Hague, was this, ‘Hîc Incunabula Divum: Here was the Cradle of the Gods.’

[Incunabula are properly the Swadling-Cloths in which new Born Infants are wrapt up.]

Above, beneath, and on both ſides was Writ, ‘Nobilium primo, Ducum Maximo, Poſthumo Gulielmo III. Coelitus dat. To the chiefeſt of Noblemen, the greateſt of Dukes, [or Generals, the word being ambiguous, coming after Noblemen] the Poſthumous William III. given from Heaven.’

And behind above the Pictures, ‘Victoriis, Trophoeis, Fortiſſimo Imperateri, Deſtinato, Cautiſſimo Gubernatori,’

[Page] and underneath at the bottom of the Arch, ‘Quatuor Regnorum Regi, Foederati Belgii Gubernatori, Gulielmo III. Virtute & Triumphis fulgenti, Grati Animi & Letitiae publicae Signum hoc erexit Haga Comitis. i.e. The Hague Erected this as a Teſtimony of her Gratitude, and of the publick Joy for the Victories and Trophies of William III. King of Four Kingdoms, Stadtholder of the United Provinces, equally Glorious for his Virtue and his Succeſs.’

On each ſide of the Arch there are two Wings, which make a Semi-Circle; within each of which are Seven Pictures repreſenting the Battels and Victories of the former Princes of Orange by Sea and Land; every Picture having an Inſcription under it.

On the Firſt, on the Right Hand, Patientia laeſa fit furor: Injured Patience turns to Rage: Intimating, that they had endured the Inſolencies of the Spaniards as long as was poſſible, and that at laſt they were forced to Riſe.

On the Second, Res poſcit Opem, & Conſpirat Amice: The Matter needs help, and Proſpers by Friendly Conference.

On the Third, Per Tela, per Undas: Through Weapons and Waves.

On the Fourth, Audentes Deus ipſe juvat: God himſelf helps the daring.

On the Fifth, Tantas dedit Unio vires [...] Such Strength has Union given.

[Page] On the Sixth, Aquilas & Moenia cepit: He took Standards and Cities.

On the Seventh, Celſas ſuperat virtute Carinas: He Conquers tall Ships by his Valour.

On the firſt Picture of the left Hand, Repetenda quieſcunt Arma virum: The Arms of the brave are at reſt, hereafter to be reſumed again.

On the Second, Non uno Virtus contenta Triumpho: Virtue not content with one Triumph.

On the Third, Creſcunt numero creſcente Trophoea: As the number encreaſes ſo do their Trophies too.

On the Fourth, Caeſorum replebant Funera Campos: The Funerals of the Slain filled all the Fields.

On the Fifth, Ultra Garamantas & Indos: Beyond the furthermoſt parts of the Earth.

On the Sixth, Fortis Promiſſa Juventae: The promiſſes of valiant Youth.

On the Seventh, Deos in praelia confert: He brings the Gods to Combat for him.

Between theſe Wings there are two Pyramids fixt upon Pedeſtals, each having a Picture in the Front: In that on the Right ſide, there is a Circle made up of Hearts, with this Inſcription, Hanc accipe Magne Coronam: Great Hero accept this Crown.

In that on the Left ſide, there is an Altar with Incenſe, and this Inſcription, Th [...]re tuo redolent Arae: The Altars yeild a fragrant Smell with thy Frankincenſe.

[Page] Theſe Pyramids have each of them before them three Tranſparent Pictures, containing Hieroglyphicks and Trophies of Victory; The Pyramids being covered on the ſides with Green: On one of theſe Pyramids was ſet the Kings Picture; on the other the Queens, at full length: On that of the Kings was this Inſcription, Quis gratior appalit Oris: What more acceptable Perſon ever touched our Coaſts. Upon the Queens, Reprimit & Refigit: She Repreſſes and Re-eſtabliſhes.

Over the Wings, the Figures of the Four late Princes of Orange are ſet up; and under each ſome marks of Victory. Under William the Firſt, Patriae Liberatori: To the Deliverer of his Country. Under Prince Maurice, Gloriae Vindici: The Vindicator of our Glory: Under Frederick-Henry, Libertatis Aſſertori: The Aſſertor of our Liberty. And under Prince William the Second, Publicae Felicitatis Statori: To the Eſtabliſher of the publick Happineſs.

The Triumphal Arch in the Court.

PAſſing from hence to the High-ſtreet they met another Triumphal Arch, which repreſents a pleaſant Building, Beautified on both ſides with Pillars of red and white Marble, the Body of the Work being of black and white Marble; the Baſes and Chapiters are gilt: It has two large Pictures before, [Page] and as many behind, Painted in lively Colours; thoſe before, repreſenting a Roman Field Battle and Sea Fight; thoſe behind, one War, the other Peace: That of War has the World in a Flame, with ſeveral Figures, ſome Dead; others Living, make Juſtice lie down in Diſtreſs: That of Peace has a Globe, upon which ſtand Juſtice and Peace embracing one another, whilſt Pan and his Companions make themſelves Merry with the Fruits of the Earth. Over all in the middle of the Arch, on a Pedeſtal, ſtands the Statue of the King on Horſeback, as big as the Life, and painted like Braſs; on both ſides of the Pedeſtal there is this Inſcription, Regi Triumphanti: To the Triumphing King. Over his Head, which is adorned with Green, there are two Wreaths placed croſs ways, and over them a Royal Crown and Scepter, and underneath a Croſs.

On both ſides of the Arch there are two Squares, wherein are ſet, both behind and before, tranſparent Pictures for the convenience of ſetting Lights behind in the Evening. On the outſide of theſe Squares there was Painted a Cloudy Pillar, and a Pillar of Fire, with the Corners adorned with Green.

On the gilded Frize of the Arch there is this Inſcription, Soloque, Saloque, in reprimendâ Tyrannide, & Reſtituendá Seculi Felicitate: By Land and by Sea, for repreſſing Tyranny, [Page]

Kings Entertainment Pag:17

[Page] [Page] Over the Paſſage, is this Inſcription, Haga poſuit Conſulum Decreto: The Hague Erected it by the Burghermaſters Order.

The Triumphal Arch in the outward Court, at the Entrance of the Court Gate.

THis Triumphal Arch was Erected by the Order of their High and Mighty Lordſhips, the Committee of the Council of Holland: It is of the Dorick Order, after the Italian manner, with three Paſſages, and the middle higher than the reſt of the Building. It ſtands upon Eight Pillars of each ſide, ſupported by broad Pedeſtals, each whereof bears two Pillars: Over the middle Paſſage there is a Cupola of an Octogenal Figure, whereon upon a Pedeſtal ſtands the Statue of His Majeſty on Horſeback, as big as the Life, all richly gilt; two Priſoners lie by the Pedeſtal Chained with their Backs to it, done over with Copper: The whole Arch is Painted of a Free-Stone Colour; the whole intercolumniation of both ſides, is beautified with Pictures drawn in white and black, with Hiſtories of the Heroick and Illuſtrious Actions of this great Monarch. Over theſe Eight Pillars are placed Eight Figures of both Sexes, as big as the Life, of a Copper Colour. On that ſide which faces the Viver, is the Repreſentation of a Victory at Sea, and [Page] a Neptune lying down with his Trident, with this Inſcription, Triumphet in Undis: Let him Triumph in the Waves. Towards the Lane, Trophies of Victory by Land, with this Motto, Attingat Solium Jovis: Let him reach to Jupiter's Throne.

Theſe Words are Written round the Cupola of this Building, Pio, Felici, Inclyto, Triumphanti, Patriae Patri Gulielmo III. Gubernatori P. C. J. P. Reſtauratori Belgii Foederati, Liberatori Angliae, Servatori Scotiae, Pacificatori Hiberniae, Reduci: To the Picus, Happy, Renowned William III. Triumphant, Father of his Country, Stadtholder and Reſtorer of the United Netherlands, Redeemer of England, Preſerver of Scotland, Quieter of Ireland, now return'd home.

On the Front, under the Images, towards the outer Court, there are Four Spaces, upon which are theſe Inſcriptions.

In the Firſt, Poſt Maximas res Domi foriſque Geſtas, Arctiſſimo [...]um Principibus icto Foedere, Suorum Vindex, Defenſor Oppreſſorum: After having done Glorious Things, at home and abroad, having made a moſt firm Alliance with other Princes, He is become the Avenger of His own Peoples Wrongs, and a Defender of the Oppreſſed. Under this there is a Pannel, on which is a great Picture, in which ſeveral brave Men are deſcribed Fighting againſt a Dragon, with this Motto, Uniti Fortius obſtant: They make the firmer Reſiſtance being United.

[Page] In the Second Space, Mare Tranſvectus liberat Britanniam, & late Dominantibus Ornatus Sceptris, in Patriam publicâ cum Laetitiâ receptus eſt: Croſſing the Seas he delivered Britain, where being Honoured with Scepters of large extended Power, He is received again into his own Country with publick Joy. Underneath in the ſmall Pannel, there is a Ballance, and in one Scale ſeveral Crowns, in the other a Sword, which outweighs the Crowns, with this Motto, Praemia non Aequant: The Rewards do not equal the Merit.

In the Third Space, Lugente Patriâ, Maerente Europâ Afflictâ Antiquiſſimâ Naſſaviorum Stirpe, Heroum, Imperatorum, Principum Faecundâ: His Country Mourning, Europe Grieving, the moſt autient Family of Naſſau, which was fruitful of Heroes, Emperors and Princes, Lamenting. And in the Pannel, there is deſcribed a burning Phoenix, with a young one ariſing out of her Aſhes, and this Motto, Praelucet Poſthuma Proles: His Poſthumous Iſſue ſhines the brighter. This is deſigned for William the Second, who died without Iſſue, leaving the Princeſs Royal with Child of His Majeſty.

In the Fourth Space, Gulielmum, Poſthumum, Britannorum, Arauſionenſium Tertium, Patriae Spem, Reipublicae Palladium: William the Poſthumous, the Third of Britain and Orange, His Countries Hope, the Palladium of the Common-wealth. His Birth is deſcribed upon the Picture,[Page]and three Crowns with a Scepter upon the Pannel, with this Motto, Tenues ornant Diademate Cunae: His tender Cradle adorns the Diadem.

On that ſide towards the inner Court, there are on the Fronts four other Spaces.

In the Firſt Space, there is this Inſcription, Fatum Europae favens de Caelo dedit, futuram portendens, Majeſtatem, admodum Puerum, exemplar conſtituit. A favourable Fate to Europe gave him from Heaven, and portending future Majeſty, ſet Him for a pattern when he was yet very Young. Underneath His Education is deſcribed, with a young Eagle Soaring againſt the Sun Beams upon the Pannel, with this Motto, Tener adverſis enititur alis: Though Young he bears up againſt it with His Wings.

In the Second Space, Qui Juventute Strenué Tranſactâ, Funeſtis jactatâ bellis ac diſſidiis in tanto rerum diſcrimine: Who ſpent his Youth bravely, whilſt it was toſſed about by Bloody Wars and Diſcords, the publick being in ſuch dangerous Circumſtances. Upon the Pannel there is a Caſtle ſtanding upon a Hill, with a Pike by it, and two Lawrels ſpringing out of it, with this Motto, Contorta Triumphos portendit: VVhen wreathed together it portends Triumphs.

In the Third Space, Nutantis Belgii, quâ Mari, quâ Terrâ, admotus in Priſtinum Decus Gubernaculi, Gloriam, Aras & Focos aſſeruit: [Page] He being Reſtored to His Antient Dignity and Government, Defended the Religion and Properties of the tottering Low Countries both by Sea Land: On the Pannel there is a Ship row'd by Men in Armour, with this Motto, Alter erit Typhis: There ſhall be another Typhis.

In the Fourth Space, Meritis Famam Superantibus Tropaeis, Principi Atavis Regibus Editae Felicibus junctus Hymenaeis: His deſerved Trophies out doing even Fame, He was happily joyned in Wedlock to a Princeſs deſcended from an Antient Race of Kings. The Picture repreſents Their Majeſties Marriage; and there are alſo in the Pannel an Unicorn and a Lyon moving together; and the Unicorn Goaring of Serpents and Vipers, with this Motto, Viruſque Fugant, Vireſque Repellunt: They both drive away the Poiſon, and repel the Strength.

At the top, upon the Pedeſtal of the Kings Statue before, there are theſe Words, Populi Salus: The Peoples Happineſs. And behind, Procerum Decus: The Honour of the Nobility.

Upon the great Cupola there are four diſtinct Hiſtories Painted in four Pannels.

The Firſt has this Motto, Refert Saturnia Regna: He brings back the Saturnian Reign.

The Second this, Novos Orbes, nova Sceptra paramus: We prepare new Worlds, and new Scepters.

The Third this, Superare & parcere veſtrum eſt: It is your part to Conquer and to Spare.

[Page] The Fourth this, Caetera Tranſibunt: Other Things ſhall paſs away.

Over the ſmall Arch on both ſides, the Arms of England were placed, with their Supporters: Over the great Arch the Arms of Holland were placed, with two flying Images of Fame blowing of Trumpets.

A Deſcription of the Fireworks, with their Repreſentations.

IN the Canal behind the Court, upon a large Scaffold, there were very fine Fireworks prepared, which were Lighted the Evening after His Majeſty entred the Hague.

In the middle was the Kings Cypher, with a Crown over it: On the ſides ſtood two high Pyramids, a Lyon, a Hercules, and a Sun: On each Corner of the Scaffold there were four Caſes of Rockets, four of which were much larger then the reſt, which repreſented the four Kingdoms of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, with the Arms of thoſe Kingdoms: Round about there was [Page] Palliſſado ſtuck with Rockets, ſome Orange colour, ſome white, ſome blew, placed alternately to the number of Three Hundered and Fifty.

They placed Fifteen Bulwarks round the Scaffold, on which they had mounted Cannon and Mortar pieces: Between which they had large Mortars made like Beehives and Pumps, which were charged with ſeveral ſorts of Fireworks.

About half an hour after Six in the Evenning, the Fireworks were Lighted: Juſt before Thirty pieces of Cannon that were planted upon the Wall of the Viver were diſcharged; then follow'd Twenty five Mortar ſhot on both ſides of the Scaffold, and afterwards the Crown and Cypher, WR. which appeared like 350 Pearls ſhining in the Air.

About the Palliſſadoes they had planted ſeveral Devices: Towards the States Chamber was one with theſe Words, Triumphat ſemper Auguſtus: He Triumphs always Auguſt. On each ſide of this there was one planted; One was, Offenſum metuunt Hoſtes: His Enemies Dread him when he is Offended. The other, Carum venerantur Amici: His Friends Worſhip Him who is ſo dear to them. Theſe ſhining very bright in the Air, made a very pleaſant ſhow.

Over the Cipher and Crown was a Ship toſs'd about as in a Storm, with this Motto, [Page] Ne metuas, Caeſarem vebis: Fear not, thou carrieſt Caeſar. This alſo was viſible in the Air.

When the Pyramids were Fired, they gave a lowd buzzing Noiſe, which was now and then Anſwered by the Mortars.

Then the Belgick Lyon, and the Hercules, play'd very wonderfully. Hercules's Arms were Expanded, firing with Eight ſeveral Pauſes, to denote his Labours, which were. 1. The Eſtabliſhment of Religion and Liberty. 2. The ſecuring the Tranquillity of Europe. 3. The Settlement of the Government upon a right Bottom. 4. The Preſervation of the Common Intereſts of the People. 5. The Preſervation of Unity amongſt the Neighbouring Princes. 6. The clearing of the Sea, and the increaſing of Trade. 7. The Advancement of the Glory of this State. 8. The concluding of a firm and laſting Peace.

While the Fire play'd ſo finely, the Air was full of the crackling Noiſe, and the Buzzes of the ſeveral ſorts of Fireworks, and they continued ſo very thick, that it did in a good meaſure diſpel the Fog, which was then very thick. At times they lighted Water-Balls, Water-Candles, Water-Bullets, Water-Boats, Water-Morters, Rats and Dolphins in a Veſſel upon the Canal, which ſputtering and crackling upon the Water, gave an Entertainment ſo great, that ſeveral Ingenious Men, who underſtood theſe Matters, owned, that they had never ſeen any Thing like it.

[Page] They kindled alſo ſome Hundreds of pitch Barrels ſet round the Scaffold, which encreaſed the light, whereby the other Works which play'd all the while, were diſcerned the better. It laſted till about Eight, and was ended with Twenty five Mortar-ſhot; after which the Cannon were ſeveral times diſcharged: The whole was done without any Miſchance, ſave only the loſs of one Gunner, who ſweeping a Cannon, loſt both his Hands, and died of his Wounds. When His Majeſty came to Court, the Militia. ſtood in order in the outer Court, before the Triumphal Arch, viz. Baron Frieſem's Regiment of Foot, Baron Heyde's Regiment of Horſe, who having diſcharged all together, went to the Viverbergh to give way to the Train Bands in Arms. Several of the Lords of the States were in the Council Chamber, to Countenance this publick Joy.

The Count de Berka, and the Heer Colomma, the Imperial and Spaniſh Miniſters teſtified their Satisfaction by Illuminations before their Lodgings: Mijn Heer Schuylenbergh did the ſame at his own Houſe upon the Viverbergh with Noble Illuminations, beautified with ſeveral Devices: As, Regi Gulielmo Reduci: To King William returned again. Tranſitque feritque: He paſſes by and ſtrikes. Imperat Auguſtus: Auguſtus Governs. Superat Coeleſtibus alis: He mounts with Heavenly Wings. Generoſus ab Ortu: Noble [Page]from his Birth. Theſe were to be ſeen ſome time after. Others alſo gave other inſtances of their Satisfaction, every Man after his own Fancy.

This was alſo graced with ſo vaſt a reſort of People, as had never before been ſeen at the Hague: Some coming to ſee the Solemnity, others to ſee the King once more returned again, and Crowned with ſo much Honour.

The King well ſatisfied with all theſe their Demonſtrations of Eſteem and Reverence, immediately applied himſelf to Buſineſs; having firſt given Audiences of Congratulation to all the Colleges and Deputies of the Cities, and to ſome great Lords and publick Miniſters.

The Elector of Brandenburgh, and two Princes of the Houſe of Anſpach, (who came two days before the publick Entry) were often with the King, and ſometimes the Miniſters of the other Allies joyned with them: It was ſaid, That three Ruffians were ſent from the French Court to cut off the King, and that there were particular Informations given in of their Perſons.

February the 7th in the Afternoon the King went into the Aſſembly of the States General, and took his place as Stadtholder and Captain General; and made an Oration to them, to this purpoſe.

[Page] That when His Majeſty was laſt in Council, he acquainted their High and Mightyneſſes with His Intention to go over into England with the Aſſiſtance which they were pleaſed to give Him, to deliver that Nation from their Impending Dangers, and which in part had befallen them: And that God Almighty had ſo far Bleſſed Him, as that He had brought His Affairs to a Happier Iſſue then at firſt He could poſſibly Wiſh for; for which Reaſon they offered Him the Crowns of Great Britain and Ireland, which He accepted of, not out of any Ambition, (for He was not to be Corrupted with that, or Money) but only to preſerve Religion and Liberty in thoſe Kingdoms; and to be able to give the Allies a vigorous Aſſiſtance againſt the Power of France, which he had given before in a more particular manner, if the Affairs of Ireland had not diverted Him; which being now better ſettled than they were before, He was now come over, not only to take ſuch Meaſures with their High and Mighty Lordſhips, as ſhould be moſt for the advantage of the Confederates, but alſo to perform the Duty of Captain General; And that from His tendereſt Years He had always a High Regard for that State, and ſhould always be ready to give greater Proofs, if it were poſſible, how ready He ſhould be to promote their Welfare, for which he would joyfully hazard His Life, if it might be a means to preſerve the Liberty of Europe, and to encreaſe the Felicity of the United Provinces: And finally, He Recommended Himſelf to the [Page] good Wiſhes of their High and Mighty Lordſhips.

Hereupon the Lord Preſident Thanked His Majeſty in their Lordſhips Name, for the Honour which was done unto them by his appearing once more in Perſon amongſt them: And he aſſured him, that they were highly ſenſible of thoſe Obligations which he had Conferred upon them from time to time, by engaging in ſo great dangers ſo readily for their Sakes: And further, that they ſhould always Thankfully Acknowledge how much He had done for them; wiſhing Him all Happineſs in all His Undertakings, promiſing their Concurrence with His Majeſty to the utmoſt, and that they ſhould contribute whatever they were able, to advance the common Intereſt, and His Majeſties Satisfaction.

He afterwards made a Speech to the State of Holland, and was anſwered much to the ſame purpoſe.

The Evening before the King viſited the Princeſs of Naſſaw, Lady to the Hereditary Stadtholder of Friezeland; as alſo the Princeſs Radzevile, and the Princeſs of Saxe-Eyſenach. The next day the King Treated the Elector of Brandenburgh, the Duke of Norfolk, and ſeveral other Lords at the Houſe in the Wood, and returned in the Evening again to the Hague.

[Page] The Ninth in the Morning the Heer Prielmeyer, the Envoy of the Elector of Bavaria, had Audience of His Majeſty; he was Conducted from his Lodgings about Ten a Clock, by the Maſter of the Ceremonies, with ſome Coaches and Six Horſes, and was received at the Stair-foot by the Swiſs Guards placed in Order, and received by their Officer at the end of the Guard Room, and thence conducted through the Anti-Chamber into the Preſence; where after he had paid the accouſtomed Reverences; he made a Harangue in French to this purpoſe.

That he was ſent by the Elector his Maſter to Congratulate His Majeſties happy Succeſſes, and that his Maſter had begun his Journey as ſoon as ever he had heard that His Majeſty had begun His; ſo that he expected him every Hour; to be ready upon the ſpot to aſſure His Majeſty of his Readineſs to ſerve the common Cauſe, and particularly to ſecond thoſe Glorious Undertakings▪ which His Majeſty had ſo happily begun: And for his part, he only farther begg'd, That his Perſon might not be unacceptable.

To this the King replied, That he Thank'd his Electoral Highneſs. That he ſhould always endeavour to promote the common Intereſt; and therefore would joyn with the Elector, and that He was Oblig'd to his Highneſs for this Trouble; and laſtly, that his Perſon was very acceptable.

[Page] Then the Envoy preſented his Gentlemen to the King, who kiſſed his Hand; and afterwards the Envoy was carried back in the ſame manner to his Lodgings as he was brought up.

Then the Envoys of Mentz, Cologne, Munſter and Hambourg, had their publick Audiences, after whom came the Elector of Brandenburgh, who had a private Audience of near two Hours.

The Duke Adminiſtrator of Wirtenbergh, with his Brother, who were there incognito, were admitted without Ceremonies.

Alſo the Deputies of the Cities and Countries, who were obliged to go home to give an account of their Affairs, had their Audience of Congé of His Majeſty: And afterwards the Penſionary, Secretaries, and Deputies of the States of Zealand, had their Audiences, and Complemented the King.

The Count of Erbagh came from Prince Waldeck, and ſeveral Foreign Miniſters from the Emperor, the King of Spain, the Duke of Savoy had their Audiences.

The 12th in the Evening Count Winditſgratz, Ambaſſador Extraordinary from his Imperial Majeſty arrived, and had his Audience at Ten a Clock.

The 14th at Noon the King went into the Council of the States, and after ſome Affairs were diſpatched, he went with the Lords Commiſſioners into the Aſſembly of their [Page] High and Mightyneſſes, where the State of the War for the Year 1691. was preſented, which the Deputies were to ſend down to their reſpective Provinces; afterwards the King went to Court, and gave Audience to ſeveral Foreign Miniſters and General Officers, and among the reſt to General Delwich.

The 15th the King, with the Duke of Norfolk, the Earls of Portland and Devonſhire, with ſeveral other Noblemen, Dined with the Elector of Brandenburgh: The Elector received the King without, and Conducted him to the Dining-Room. The King went away at Four a Clock, and gave Audience afterwards to the Elector Palatine's Miniſter. Mr. Berenſdorff came hither alſo from the Duke of Zell; and Mr. Klenck from the Duke of Hanouer, to Complement His Majeſty in their Maſters Names. Prince Waldeck came alſo to Court, and had Audience of the King immediately: And Mr. Cha [...]gagne came from the Elector of Treves.

The 16th the Elector of Bavaria arriv'd, who acquainted the King of his arrival at Ten a Clock, by one of his Gentlemen; he Lodged in his Envoys Houſe: Next Morning my Lord Portland, and the Elector of Brandenburgh went to Complement him. The Elector was met at the Entrance of the Houſe. About five in the Evening he went privately to the King, and ſtaid about an [Page] Hour and half; and the next day the King returned his Viſit.

The 18th in the Evening, the Marquis de Gaſtanaga, Governor of the Spaniſh Netherlands arrived with a very ſplendid Equipage: As ſoon as he arriv'd he went to Court, and was Received with the Honour due to his Character, the Swiſs Guards being placed in Ranks, with their Officer poſted at the Head of them. He had a particular Audience of the King an Hour long, the Elector of Bavaria being by; the Swiſs Guards appeared then in Arms, it being the firſt time that the Elector of Bavaria had appeared at Court publickly: The ſame day alſo the Elector of Brandenburgh had his Audience: Next Morning the Marquis de Gaſtanaga was at the Kings Riſing, and then paid a Viſit to the Elector of Brandenburgh; the King was that day above two Hours in the Committee of the Council of State, and Dined with the Elector of Brandenburgh at my Lord Portlands.

Mr. Arnauld, Preacher and Head of the Vaudois, who Commanded them ſo bravely againſt the French laſt Summer, came alſo to the Hague, and had an Audience of the King concerning their Affairs.

The 19th in the Afternoon the King went a Hawking near Sorgvliet, with the Elector of Brandenburgh, and ſeveral other Perſons of great Quality: Next Morning he went a Hunting with the Elector of Bavaria, and [Page] the Marquis of Gaſtanaga near Hounſ [...]erdyke, where they Dined, and came back again in the Evening to the Hague.

The 20th, the Prince of Courland, with another Prince of the Houſe of Holſtein arrived here.

The 21ſt, the Landtgrave of H [...]ſſe came hither with his Envoy, and ſeveral other Lords: He immediately went to Court, and ſtaid ſome time with the King; and the next day he paid a Viſit to the Electors of Brandenburgh and Bavaria. The Duke of Zal [...]ſbach came alſo with General Dautel, as it's believed, to Complement the King in the Elector Palatine's Name.

The Congreſs was now often kept: Colomna the Spaniſh Envoy had a Conference on the 23d in the Morning with the Deputies of the States General, and afterwards aſſiſted in the Congreſs; where was alſo the Count Winditſgratz, the Emperors Plenipotentiary; and the Count de Berka, and the Chevalier Crampricht the other Imperial Miniſters were by, when he ſhow'd his Credentials, and the States aſſured him, that he ſhould have Audience with the uſual Ceremonies in two or three days. The Counſellor Mean, who was ſent by the Prince and Chapter of Liege, aſſiſted alſo in the Congreſs, and the Emperors Miniſter, with moſt of the other Miniſters waited upon his Majeſty.

[Page] This extraordinary Concourſe has made the Court at the Hague ſo very Splendid, that it has out-done any thing elſe in any other Court of Chriſtendom. Above 30 Sovereign Princes were there, beſides Marqueſſes, Earls, Barons, and Gentlemen without Number. The Elector of Bavaria, and the Marquis de Gaſtanaga kept publick Tables.

The 24th, about Ten in the Morning, the Count de Winditſgratz had publick Audience of the King, Conducted by the Maſter of the Ceremonies, with all the uſual Solemnities: He Congratulated His Majeſties happy Succeſſes, and aſſured him that the Emperor his Maſter eſteemed himſelf very much obliged to His Majeſty, for that Care and Concern which he ſhow'd for the common Cauſe; and he further added, that his Maſter look'd upon His Britannick Majeſty, as the principal moving Cauſe upon whom every thing elſe depended, that might be for the advantage of the Confederacy.

The Elector of Saxony's Envoy had Audience of the King the ſame day.

The 25th in the Morning the King, with the Elector of Brandenburgh, and the Landtgrave of Heſſe, went to the great Church, where they heard a Sermon Preached by Mr. Ulier; who towards the latter end, ſaid ſeveral moving Things to His Majeſty. In the Afternoon, the King with the Electors of Bavaria and Brandenburgh, and the Landtgrave [Page] of Heſſe, all four in a Coach, took three or four turns round the Voorhout, with the Glaſſes down upon the Kings ſide, who was received by the thronging Multitudes with all imaginable Demonſtrations of Affection and Joy.

The 26th, the Count de Prela Doria, Envoy Extraordinary from the Duke of Savoy; Count d' Autel, with the ſame Character from the Elector Palatine, had Audience of His Majeſty, as had on the 27th the Sieur Haxhuyſen from the Elector of Saxony.

March the 5th, the Earl of Devonſhire Treated the Elector of Brandenburgh, the Landtgrave of Heſſe, the Prince Commercy, and divers other Perſons of Quality with great Magnificence, where His Majeſty was pleaſed to Honour his Lordſhip with His Preſence.

On the 11th the Duke of Zell arrived at the Hague, and the Duke of Wolfembuttel on the 14th.

During all this time the Congreſſes had been held almoſt every day, with great Secrecy, His Majeſty always Honouring them with His Preſence, when at laſt, the matters being fully Concerted, and all Things agreed upon to the mutual Satisfaction of all the Princes, this great Council broke up, and the Princes returned to their reſpective Homes, to put in execution the Deſigns here agreed upon, the good Effects whereof we doubt not but to ſee this Campagne, notwithſtanding [Page] the unhappy accident of the loſs of Mons.

His Majeſty having given Orders to all the Troops to be in a readineſs to take the Field by the firſt of April, was pleaſed on the 16th to depart for Loo, being accompanied with the Duke of Zell, who Rid in the ſame Coach with Him, and lay that Night at the Houſe of Monſieur Zulleſtein; where he was met by the Elector of Bavaria, who likewiſe accompanied His Majeſty to Loo, where they arrived the next Evening, having been Complemented as they paſſed along with all Demonſtrations of Reſpect and Affection, by the City of Utrecht, and the ſeveral Towns he paſs'd through, and accompanied every where with the loud Acclamations of the People, who were almoſt overwhelm'd with Joy, at the extraordinary Honour they received by the Preſence of this moſt illuſtrious Monarch.

But His Majeſty had not been long there before he received the unwelcome Tidings of the Siege of Mons, an Expreſs arriving at the Hague on the 16th in the Evening, that the French Troops had ſuddenly inveſted the Town of Mons, their Horſe having taken Poſſeſſion of all the Avenues on the 15th of March, and that the Foot were marching up with all Diligence.

The Prince of Stee [...]huyſen, and the Marquis Bedmar, being ſent from the Governor [Page] of Flanders, arrived at the Hague the 17th, and after a ſhort Conference with Prince Waldeck, went Poſt to Loo, to give His Majeſty an account of the State of the Affair. Who being reſolved Himſelf to Head the Army, in order to raiſe the Siege, returned to the Hague; from whence having diſpatched Prince Waldeck with neceſſary Orders for Flanders, ſet forward Himſelf the 26th for Bruſſels; the Army in the mean time preparing with all imaginable diligence to Muſter at Hall, whither His Majeſty went on the 6th of April, intending to have marched the next day at the Head of the Army, which conſiſted of 30000 Foot and 16000 Horſe, with a Train of Artillery of 71 pieces of Cannon and 14 Mortars. But the Carriages not being all come up, was obliged to defer His March for two or three days.

The French had all this time very vigourouſly attacked the Outworks of the Town, but were as vigourouſly repulſed by the Beſieged, to the great loſs of the Enemy, who paid dearly for what he gained; inſomuch, that it was not doubted, but the Town would have been able to have held out till the Army came up to its Relief, but the French King (who was himſelf all the while at St. Giſlain, near the Camp, the Dauphin Commanding in Chief) according to his old Methods, had found means of gaining a Party among the Burghers and Clergy in the [Page] Town, who prevailing upon the reſt, by the terrifying Deſtruction the Bombs and Cannon made in their Houſes, and perſuading them that by a timely Surrender of the Town they might obtain Honourable Conditions, made them baſely deſert the publick Good, and altogether unexpectedly, even to the French themſelves, on the 8th of April, beat a Parley, and ſent out three Officers, as Hoſtages for three French Offices, who immediately entred the Town, to Treat upon Articles of Surrender; the Governor the Prince de Bergue oppos'd the Surrender, and refus'd to deliver the Gate to the French as the Burghers had agreed, endeavouring to diſſwade them from this their Reſolution, alledging he could ſtill hold out till the Relief came; but all would not do, the Burghers wre reſolved, and they being ſtronger than the Gariſon, who were all employed in the Outworks, the Honourable Governor was forced to ſubmit, and about Midnight the Capitulation was Signed on both ſides; and the next day April the 9th, a Gate of the Town was deliver'd up to the French Guards; and on the 10th, the Gariſon marched out, being about 4000, Foot and 400 Horſe, with Arms, Baggage, Drums beating, Colours flying, ſix pieces of Cannon, two Mortars, &c. and were conducted to Tubieſe▪ a few Miles from Mons towards Bruſſels.

The King having received this ſurprizing News juſt as he was ready to march to their [Page] Relief, was forced to alter his Meaſures; and underſtanding that the French King had ſeperated his Troops, and diſpos'd 'em into Gariſons; and that he with the Dauphin, &c. were return'd to Verſailles, broke up the Camp, and having ſent Reinforcements to Charleroy, Aeth, Namur, and the other Frontier Gariſons, went to Bruſſels; and from thence to the Hague, where he was pleaſed to Honour the Duke of Zell (who was likewiſe return'd thither from the Camp) with the Noble Order of the Garter, who was inveſted with the Garter and George by the King Himſelf, aſſiſted by the Dukes of Norfolk and Ormond, and the Earl of Devonſhire: This was perform'd privately in the Kings Bed-Chamber the 18th of April: And the next day, Garter King at Arms preſented to his Highneſs the reſt of the Enſigns, with the whole Habit and Ornaments of the Order, which his Highneſs having Received, was pleaſed to make a very Noble Preſent to the King at Arms, and to all the Retinue he had brought with him upon this Occaſion.

April the 22d, His Majeſty having taken leave of the States General, and been Complimented by them, with all the Expreſſions of ſincere Affection, took Shiping in the Maeſe in order to his Return for England, and the Wind being fair, the next Morning made the Engliſh Shore; and that Evening, viz. April the 13th, 1691. O. S. about [Page] Eight of the Clock landed at Whitehall, having been Saluted by the Fleet, as he paſſed along with all their Guns, and the repeated Huzza's of the Seamen, who Demonſtrated the moſt extraordinary Joy imaginable; and by the Guns of the Forts of Tilbury, Graveſend, and the Tower; alſo by the Ships that lay in the River; and the Joyful Acclamations of the People, who crowded in great Numbers upon the Shore, and in Boats, to ſee His Majeſty, and expreſs their Joy upon his happy Return, continually Repeating, ‘God Save King William and Queen Mary, and Proſper their Arms by Sea and Land.’

Thus have we finiſhed our ſhort Journal of His Majeſties Voyage into Holland, wherein we have been as particular as was convenient, and as brief as poſſible; we have all along carefully avoided all manner of Reflections and Animadverſions of our own, and given only a true Relation of the matter of Fact as it occur'd; wherein if we have the good Fortune to pleaſe the Reader, we have our End.

FINIS.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

An accurate description of the United Netherlands, and of the most considerable parts of Germany, Sweden, & Denmark containing a succinct account of what is most remarkable in these countries, and necessary instructions for travellers : together with an exact relation of the entertainment of His Most Sacred Majesty King William at the Hague / written by an English gentleman.

English gentleman.

Edition statement

1691

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A69794

ID [STC]

Wing C631

ID [STC]

Wing E3688

ID [STC]

ESTC R20438

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

12259162

ID [OCLC]

ocm 12259162

ID [VID]

57758

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A69794)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 57758)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 175:17 or 339:15)

Source

— An accurate description of the United Netherlands, and of the most considerable parts of Germany, Sweden, & Denmark containing a succinct account of what is most remarkable in these countries, and necessary instructions for travellers : together with an exact relation of the entertainment of His Most Sacred Majesty King William at the Hague / written by an English gentleman., English gentleman., Carr, William, 17th cent..

Extent

[4], 147, [2], 40 p., [4] leaves of folded plates : ill.

Printed for Timothy Childe ...,. London :: 1691.. ("An exact relation of the entertainment of His Most Sacred Majesty William III ... at the Hague" has special t.p. and separate paging.) (Attributed to William Carr. Cf. Wing.) (Entry for A438 cancelled in Wing (2nd ed.).)

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