of the nobles, and the pleasure of converse, the Hague is one of the prettiest courts, and the most agreeable in the universe.

SECT. III.

Some further Relation on the Affairs and Transactions at the Hague.

AFTER the king came to the Hague, few days past without the ar rival of some princes, or other considerable persons, as well to have the honour to wait upon his majesty, as to confer with him about the present affairs. It is true that most of the princes came incognito, as well to avoid the disputes of precedency, as to confer more familiarly together, and without the pesterment of formalities. The elector of Brandenburgh, who lay at Cleves for some time, in expectation of the king's coming, no sooner heard of his arrival by the couriers that were forthwith dispatched to give him notice thereof, but he hastened to the Hague, where he arrived incognito, the twenty-fourth of January. The Duke of Wirtembergh, prince regent, during the minority of the heir, and the prince his brother arrived the twenty-ninth, and were admitted to the king a little time after. The Count of Windisgrats, from the emperor, arrived, February the fourth, and was immediately admitted to the king. The Duke of Bavaria arrived the sixth, about ten of the clock at night, and went to wait upon the king the next day, about four o'clock in the afternoon, with whom he had a confer ence of two hours long. The Marquis of Castanaga, governor of the Spanish Netherlands, arrived the next day with a jolly train, of which, however, but one part appeared, because the princes were incognito. The Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel arrived the eleventh, accompanied by the Count of Lippe, the Baron of Gars, and several other lords. The Prince of Commerci, general of the imperial forces, arrived the fif teenth. The Duke, and one Prince of Courland, arrived the next day. The king regaled the greatest part of these princes, and was also pleased to accept of entertainments at some of their houses. It would be too long to make a recital of all these feasts. I shall only therefore mention two, to shew what are the principal ceremonies ob: served upon such occasions.

His majesty gave an entertainment to the Elector of Branden. burgh, the third of February, at his house in the wood. The king had an hour's conference with the elector, which being ended, they en tered into a spacious dining-room, where was a table and cloth laid, with one only single vermeil furniture (consisting of the gold plate, fine napkins, knife, fork, and spoon) and an elbow-chair, where the king sat down. After that, a chair was brought for the elector, with a white sattin cushion, and a vermeil furniture laid him, like the king's. Then the king commanded seats and furnitures to be brought for all the rest of the lords that were present, who were placed in this order: The elector on the king's right hand; next to whom sat the Duke of Ormond, the Earl of Scarborough, Monsieur Colbar, and Monsieur Dankelman: The Earl of Portland sat at the lower end of the table, just opposite to the king; the Duke of Norfolk on the king's left

That side, which looks to Leyden, hath a very pretty and large wood, with curious walks and groves, of oak, elm, and lime-trees, where there is a park stored with variety of deer. The inhabitants take the air there in the summer season, with a divertisement capable to render them envied even among the gods: moved by this, ht the pretty ladies take their pleasure, without fear of the fabulous plun der, so much celebrated by the Greeks, whereby possibly they some. times make them real and veritable.

The counts of Holland frequently kept their courts in this palace, chiefly moved thereunto, by the pleasantness of the place, and its commodious situation for hunting; our king (when Prince of Orange) kept his court at this place, where he has a most stately palace, the back part of which, with the great hall, sufficiently testify its antiquity. There is on the side of it a great square, in which place, on the side of the Levant, are three magnificent lodgments, built a few years since; the Doeles make the corner, whereof his present majesty, they say, laid the first stone: over-against the other corner, is another palace, built by Prince Maurice of Nassau, in which are to be seen the pourtraitures of all the kings in Europe, with many curiosities brought from America. The Voorhant frontispiece, as well as the houses that face the court on the side of the Vivier, make by far the pleasantest quarter of the Hague, by reason of the largeness and spaciousness of the streets, and the number of trees that are planted there; you may see great numbers of persons of quality of both sexes resort thither in the evening, some in their coaches, and some on foot. The cloister of the Jacobines, which was built on the said Voorhant, at this day still retains the name of the Church of the Cloister.

There is another church, built much after the form of the theatre in Oxon, and is so admirable a piece of architecture without, that none within the Seven Provinces (or scarce in the world) is comparable to it; there are no pillars within, so that the minister may be seen, in every place of the church, by thousands of people without any impediment. The counts of Holland's chapel, which is in the court, is at this day a church for the French refugees; there are two pretty places like squares, the one before, and the other behind the court, where all the houses resemble those of princes.

The States of Holland reside here, as well the counsellors of the provincial court, as of the grand council. The cities of Holland have built here very magnificent houses for their deputies, of which in my opinion that of Leyden is one of the best situated, and next the court. The ambassadors of princes, the states allies, have their residence here. The Groote Kirck, or great church, is very fine, in the midst of which is to be seen the arms of the famous knights, the order of Toyson d'ore, which plainly shows, that they there cele brated the feast of the said Toyson: The tower is very high, and its form is quadrangular, built with bricks, which may be seen at a vast distance: In fine, this place is, at all times, so well inhabited by gentry, and persons of the greatest quality, that, if we consider its splendor, the magnificence of its buildings and streets, the affluence

of the nobles, and the pleasure of converse, the Hague is one of the prettiest courts, and the most agreeable in the universe.

SECT. III.

Some further Relation on the Affairs and Transactions at the
Hague.

AFTER the king came to the Hague, few days past without the ar rival of some princes, or other considerable persons, as well to have the honour to wait upon his majesty, as to confer with him about the present affairs. It is true that most of the princes came incognito, as well to avoid the disputes of precedency, as to confer more familiarly together, and without the pesterment of formalities. The elector of Brandenburgh, who lay at Cleves for some time, in expectation of the king's coming, no sooner heard of his arrival by the couriers that were forthwith dispatched to give him notice thereof, but he hastened to the Hague, where he arrived incognito, the twenty-fourth of January. The Duke of Wirtembergh, prince regent, during the minority of the heir, and the prince his brother arrived the twenty-ninth, and were admitted to the king a little time after. The Count of Windisgrats, from the emperor, arrived, February the fourth, and was immediately admitted to the king. The Duke of Bavaria arrived the sixth, about ten of the clock at night, and went to wait upon the king the next day, about four o'clock in the afternoon, with whom he had a confer ence of two hours long. The Marquis of Castanaga, governor of the Spanish Netherlands, arrived the next day with a jolly train, of which, however, but one part appeared, because the princes were incognito. The Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel arrived the eleventh, accompanied by the Count of Lippe, the Baron of Gars, and several other lords. The Prince of Commerci, general of the imperial forces, arrived the fif teenth. The Duke, and one Prince of Courland, arrived the next day. The king regaled the greatest part of these princes, and was also pleased to accept of entertainments at some of their houses. It would be too long to make a recital of all these feasts. I shall only therefore mention two, to shew what are the principal ceremonies ob served upon such occasions.

His majesty gave an entertainment to the Elector of Branden. burgh, the third of February, at his house in the wood. The king had an hour's conference with the elector, which being ended, they en. tered into a spacious dining-room, where was a table and cloth laid, with one only single vermeil furniture (consisting of the gold plate, fine napkins, knife, fork, and spoon) and an elbow-chair, where the king sat down. After that, a chair was brought for the elector, with a white sattin cushion, and a vermeil furniture laid him, like the king's. Then the king commanded seats and furnitures to be brought for all the rest of the lords that were present, who were placed in this order: The elector on the king's right hand; next to whom sat the Duke of Ormond, the Earl of Scarborough, Monsieur Colbar, and Monsieur Dankelman: The Earl of Portland sat at the lower end of the table, just opposite to the king; the Duke of Norfolk on the king's left

once, it flatters the next comer, without the least remembrance that you ever were there.

The next are the vessels of the house, marshalled about the room like watchmen, as neat as if you were in a citizen's wife's cabinet; for, unless it be themselves, they let none of Gods creatures lose any thing of their native beauty. The lining of their houses is more rich than the outside, not in hangings, but pictures, which even the poorest of the boors are there furnished with: Not a cobler but has his toys for ornament. Were the knacks of all their houses set together, there would not be such another Bartholomew-fair in Europe.

Their beds are no other than land-cabins, high enough to need a ladder, or stairs: Up once, you are walled in with wainscot, and that is good discretion to avoid the trouble of making your will every night; for once falling out, else, would break your neck perfectly. But, if you die in it, this comfort you shall leave your friends, that you died in clean linnen.

You may sooner convert a Jew, than to make an ordinary Dutch. man yield to arguments that cross him. An old bawd is easilier turned saint, than a waggoner persuaded not to bait thrice in nine miles; and, when he doth, his horses must not stir, but have their manger brought them into the way, where, in a top sweat, they eat their grass, and drink their water, and presently after hurry away; for they ever drive, as if they were all the sons of Nimshi, and were furiously either pursuing an enemy, or flying from him.

They are seldom deceived, for they trust no-body; so, by conse quence, are better to hold a fort, than win it; yet they can do both. Trust them you must, if you travel; for to ask a bill of particulars is to put in a wasp's nest; you must pay what they ask, as sure as if it were the assessment of a subsidy.

Compliments is an idleness they were never trained up in; and it is their happiness, that court-vanities have not stole away their minds from business.

Sailors among them are as common, as beggars with us: They can drink, rail, swear, &c. but, examining their use, a mess of their knaves are worth a million of ours, for they, in a boisterous rudeness, can work, and live, and toil; whereas ours will rather laize themselves to poverty, and, like cabbages left out in winter, rot away in the loathsomeness of a nauseous sloth.

Most of them are seamen born, and, like frogs, can live both on land and water. Not a country-uriester, but can handle an oar, steer a boat, raise a mast, and beat you out, in the roughest straits you come in. The ship she avouches much better for sleep, than a bed.

In their families they are all equals, and you have no way to know the master and mistress, but by taking them in bed together. It may be those are they; otherwise Malky can prate as much, laugh as loud, be as bold, and sit, as well as her mistress.

Their women would have good faces, if they did not mar them with making. Their ear-wires have so nipped in their cheeks, that you would think some fairy, to do them a mischief, had pinched them

behind with tongs. These they dress, as if they would shew you all their wit lay behind, and they needs would cover it; and, thus or. dered, they have much more for head than face.

They love the English gentry well; and, when soldiers come over to be billeted among them, they are emulous in chusing of their guest, who fares much the better for being liked by his hostess.

The habit of the men is much after the Tarpaulian fashion, their breeches yawning at the knees, as if they were about to swallow his legs unmercifully.

The women are far from going naked, for, of a whole woman, you can see but half a face: As for her hand, that shews her a sore la bourer; which you shall ever find (as it were in recompence) loaden with rings to the cracking of her fingers.

Where the woman lies in, the ringle of the door does penance, and is lapped about with linnen, either to shew you, that loud knocking may wake the child, or else that, for a month, the ring is not to be run at. But, if the child be dead, there is thrust out a nosegay, tied to a stick's end, perhaps for an emblem of the life of man, which may wither as soon as born; or else to let you know, that, though these fade upon their gathering, yet, from the same stock, the next year a new shoot may spring.

In short, they are a race of people diligent rather than laborious, dull and slow of understanding, and so not dealt with by hasty words, but managed easily by soft and fair; and yielding to plain reason, if you give them time to understand it. They know no other good, but the supply of what nature requires, and the common increase of wealth. They feed most upon herbs, roots, and milks; and, by

that means, I suppose, neither their strength, nor vigour, seems

answerable to the size, or bulk of their bodies.

SECT. V.

Of the Nature of the Country in general, its Situation, &c.

FOUR of these provinces, viz. those of Holland, Zealand, Frieze, land, and Groninguen, are seated upon the sea, and make the strength and greatness of this state: The other three, with the conquered towns in Brabant, Flanders, and Cleves, make only the outworks, or frontiers, serving only for safety and defence of these.

The soil of the whole province of Holland is generally flat, like the sea in a calm, and looks as if, after a long contention between land and water, which it should belong to, it had at length been divided between them. For, to consider the great rivers, and the strange number of canals, that are found in this province, and do not only lead to every great town, but almost to every village, and the infinity of sails, that are seen every where, coursing up and down upon them, one would imagine the water to have shared with the land; and the people, that live in boats, to hold some proportion with those that live in houses. And this is one great advantage towards trade, which is natural to the situation, and not to be attained in any coun try, where there is not the same level and softness of soil, which