The Day of Execution being[119] come, he was carried before the Judges to hear Sentence of Death passed upon him: But they had scarce begun to
pronounce it, when he grew strangely outrageous, and said, ’twas unjust to read his Sentence to him in a Language which he did not understand. It was to no Purpose that they told him, it should be explained to him in French; for he still rav’d on in the same Strain; so that they were obliged to stop his Mouth with a Handkerchief, which they held tight behind, by both Ends. However, upon his making a Sign that it strain’d him too much, they slacken’d it, and then he promised, that if they would take it quite off, he would keep a profound Silence. He was attended to the Place of Execution by a Minister, and saluted such of his Acquaintance as he saw mixed in the Crowd, with a Smile. When he was on the Scaffold, and fixed his Eyes on the Gallows, he turned pale, saying, that he had been promised different Treatment, and that he did not think he should be turned out of the World in the Manner for which he saw that Preparation. They encouraged him, by telling him, that he should only have his Head cut off, if he did not use Violence; but that if he did, he should be hanged, and hoisted up to the Gallows by a Pully, there for that Purpose. He made Answer, that he did not care to swing out of the World by a Halter. He then asked the Executioner, if he was perfect in his Business; to which he answered in the Affirmative, adding, That he had by his Dexterity made sixteen Heads leap already, with very good Success, and that he hoped his would be the seventeenth to do him Honour. Then Armand demanded where the Sword was, and the Executioner told him, that it should be ready at the Time. At last the fatal Moment being come, he fell on his Knees, and as soon as his Eyes were blinded, he had his Head struck off at one Blow.
I have nothing particular to tell you of the Palace at Honslaerdyck, and of the[120] House in the Wood, which belong to the King of Prussia, because they are neither of ’em what they were formerly. They are running so to Decay, that shortly they will not deserve the Mention. As I passed to Honslaerdyck, I went thro’ the Village of Loosduinen, where I saw in a Church, the Basin, in which, ’tis said, were baptized the three hundred and sixty-five Children, of which a Countess of Holland was delivered at one[121] Birth, in Pursuance of the Wish, or rather Curse of a poor Woman, who having a Charge of Children, and coming to beg Alms of her, was not only denied, but rebuked for having so many Children; whereupon she wished, that the Countess, who was then pregnant, might be brought to Bed of as many Children as there were Days in the Year; which happened accordingly. This remarkable Event is set forth in a Picture carefully preserved in the Church.
The Palace of[122] Ryswic, where the Peace was signed in 1697, being in no better Condition than that of Honslaerdyck, I did not think fit to strike out of the fine Road to Delft, to go and see it. This Town, which is a League from the Hague, has nothing remarkable to be view’d, besides the Tomb of William I. Prince of Orange, who was assassinated at Delft, in 1584, by Balthasar Gerard, of the Franche Comté. The Republic which caused this Mausoleum to be erected, spar’d no Cost to leave Posterity a Monument worthy of its Founders,
and of their Gratitude for the signal Services which had been done them by that Hero. The Arsenal for the Land Service of this State, is at Delft, and there are few in Europe that are better furnished, or kept more in Order. This Town drives a great Trade in earthen Ware. As it is at the same Distance from Ryswic as the Hague, the Ambassadors of France resided here during the Congress. ’Tis now inhabited by several People, who either from being weary of the World, or by Reason of Misfortunes, have chose Retirement. From hence you will imagine, ’tis not a very gay Place, so that I made no Stay here, nor no Acquaintance.
Rotterdam, three Leagues from Delft, is by much the most populous Place, and is only inferior to Amsterdam, on Account of its Commerce. Its Situation on the Maese, six Leagues from the Sea, gives it a Communication with all the Towns of Holland, and the neighbouring Provinces, both by means of that River, and several Canals and Rivers that fall into it. Its greatest Trade is with England and France, and here are three English Churches, viz. One that is Episcopal, or of the Church of England by Law establish’d, one Presbyterian, and one Scots. As to us Catholics, we have several Churches here in Chambers, and the Jews have a neat Synagogue.
The Statue of Erasmus, the Restorer of the Latin Tongue, which is placed in the Market-place, is altogether plain. This learned Man is represented in the Habit of a Doctor, holding a Book in his Hand. The Pedestal is plainly decorated with a Latin Inscription, as is the House where he was born, which is preserved just as it was then, and is a very small and mean Building. ’Tis said, that on the same Square where Erasmus’s Statue stands, the Magistrates intend to
erect a Stadthouse, of which they are really in great Need, that which they have being a very sorry one. If this Project takes, it were to be wished that they may employ a more able Architect, and a more diligent one than they have made use of in building an Exchange, which has been a long Time begun, and is but half finish’d yet. ’Tis true, that as it is, ’tis too large for the Number of Merchants that meet in it; but after all, ’tis amazing that a City, which has the Reputation of being wealthy, should let one of its principal Edifices stand unfinish’d.
There are some magnificent Houses in this Town, but its greatest Ornament is its Canals, broad and deep enough for the Entrance of Shipping, which is a great Convenience to its Trade. I know not how sociable the People are at Rotterdam; for tho’ I have gone through it several times, I never stay’d long enough there to make any Acquaintance in it. I always took the Air for most part upon the fine Kay that runs along the Maese, which is beautified with a pleasant Row of Trees on one Side, and noble Houses on the other.