I went the common Road to _Brussels_, and from thence through _Breda_ and _Gorcum_, to _Utrecht_; having a desire to see in what state the Congress was, which was then held at that place.
BREDA, which is a Place of Strength, situate on the River of _Mercke_, is part of _Dutch Brabant_, and one of the most considerable Towns in the _Netherlands_. This City and its Territory has the Title of a Barony, and has had several Masters. The last Owners of it were the Princes of _Nassau_, who acquired it in 1404, by _Eagelbert_ of _Nassau_'s Marriage with _Joan_ the only Daughter of the Lord of _Leck_, who was Sovereign of _Breda_. _Henry de Nassau_ founded the Castle in this Town, and the Tomb of _René_ is still to be seen in the Collegiate Church of St. _Peter_, which was founded about the Year 1303. This City suffer'd very much towards the latter end of the sixteenth Century, during the Wars for Religion. 'Twas at first seiz'd by the Confederates, who form'd the Republic of the United Provinces. The Prince of _Parma_ took it from them the 18th of _June_ 1581; but Prince _Maurice_ of _Orange_ made himself Master of it in 1590, by means of a Boat laden with Turf, under which he had caus'd about threescore Soldiers to be conceal'd, who made themselves Masters of the Castle, and thereby gave the Prince an Opportunity to take the Town by Capitulation. They tell a very remarkable Story of one of the Soldiers that was hid in that Boat, _viz._ That having a Necessity of coughing, he desir'd one of his Comrades to kill him outright, for fear that his impertinent Cough should discover the Stratagem. This Soldier richly deserv'd to have his Name transmitted to Posterity; for sure a _Roman_ could not have said a more gallant Thing, and an Instance of inferior Courage to this would perhaps have been rewarded with a Statue. Some Years after the Reduction of _Breda_, the great _Spinola_ General of the _Spanish_ Forces, besieg'd and took it after a Siege, or rather Blockade of eleven Months. 'Twas a fourth time besieg'd by _Frederic-Henry_ Prince of _Orange_, who took it after a Siege of four Months, and then it came into the hands of the _Dutch_, who have remain'd Masters of it ever since, and have considerably augmented its Fortifications; and as the Place is situate in very Marshy Ground, they have erected Sluices there, by means of which they can easily lay all the neighbouring Country under Water. For the rest, this is not one of the best built Cities in the _Netherlands_, and were it not for its Ramparts would be a very inconsiderable Place. The King of _Prussia_, by virtue of his Pretensions to the Succession of _William_ III. King of _England_, adds to his Titles that of _Baron of Breda_.