This text offers a depiction of certain European national characteristics during the era. It notes that Germans are generally taller, loyal, and brave, while being slow to deliberate and sometimes sly. Englishmen are described as open-minded yet indecisive, with a tendency to be distrustful in business, gluttonous, and outwardly religious, while often being sickly.
Measured Proportions of Members
In the Union of the Seven Provinces. Regarding the stature and length of the body in general, is it not known that Germany and the northern regions commonly produce taller people than Italy and Spain, and most other warm countries. Those who have attempted to portray the five European peoples with their apparent colors have described them thus: A German is said to be slow to deliberate, quite faithful, rough and large in body, modest in dress, though he follows fashion overtly. He is unsteady in his thoughts, brave like a bear, handsome in appearance; in his knowledge, schoolmasterly. Forgetful and a heavy drinker, sly in speech, and not very zealous in his religion: but stubborn in mind.
Englishman.
An Englishman is always open-minded, indecisive in deliberation; distrustful in business and even thievish; modest in prosperity compared to other nations; fairly handsome and well-built in body, proud in dress, courageous in disposition, and desiring wisdom, not holding his tongue when he should. He does evil under a guise of good. In eating, he is gluttonous and fond of delicacies, not very industrious. Effeminate in language; a coward in trouble; he speaks neither wisely nor foolishly; outwardly religious, and a stubborn guardian of unjust laws. He sets his wife as queen and his servants as slaves. He is often sick and unfit, mostly with gout.
We knew a certain man who had such a great aversion to this nation that he...