We being mooued by many and true causes and es­pecially by the consideration of y ^t present estate of Christen­dome: Doe sende to you the Honourable Pawel Van Dyialyn our Courtier. To the end you should courteously & willingly heare him in that which on your owne behalfes he is to propound. Which thing how bee it we assure our selues you wil performe of your owne accord, yet neuerthelesse we earnestly require you thereunto, [Page 2] and doe offer vnto you euery way our Inclinati­on and good-will.

THe States generall of the vnited Prouinces with all dutifulnesse, haue giuen eare vnto the propositi­on made by the Honourable Pawle Van Dyialyn in y ^e name of the most excellent and puissant King of Po­lonia and Sweden. And vppon communication had concerning the same with the most excellent Prince and Councell of estate: Haue concluded to answere thereunto in briefe. Viz. That they verie willingly doe vnderstand that his most excellent Maiestie, so graciously wisheth all good from God, vnto these vnited Prouinces. And for the same they in like manner by their prayer do wish vnto the said most excellent and puissant King, [Page 4] long life, faithfull Councell & prosperous successe, against the generall enemie of him and of all Christendome.

And as for that which the saide Honourable Lord Ambassadour furthermore did declare at large, touching the cruell warres of the Turke, howbeit the States here before by their many e­uident signes and other witnesses haue had vn­derstanding thereof, yet his forces and the peri­lous dangers of Christendome being now so ma­nifestly represented before their eyes, doe make them exceeding much agrieued.

Also the States be wholy of the same opinion and meaning with the saide most excellent and puissant King. That if (all debate being set aside) the Kings and Princes did conioyne their wea­pons and forces in one, (which in the deepest dan­gers of Christendome hetherto yet neuer could be brought to passe.) That then Christendom might lightly be freed from these mischiefes.

But it exceedingly grieueth the states: That the saide most excellent King of Polonia and Swe­den is so preposterously incensed by the euill-willers of these Countries. That his Maiestie should thinke, that these warres which the sayde States (being thereunto of necessitie forced) do maintain. Be the cause that the King of Spaine conuerteth not his Souldiours and Treasures, for the suppressing of the Turke & of y ^e other ene­mies [Page 5] of Christendome. For insomuch as concer­neth the States, the cause why they maintaine these lamentable wars which already haue con­tinued so many yeares: Hath beene long since more then sufficiently vnto all Christendome knowne, neither thinke they it now to be needfull nor do meane to set down here in many wordes, what the power is of Kings ouer or aboue their Subiects.

But do (Signifie.) That these Low Countries (as publickly it is knowne) neuer had any Kings but onely Princes, as namely Dukes & Earles, who haue beene tide and Lyable vnto Lawes, certaine, no lesse then the people and subiects.

Wherefore insomuch as the K. of Spaine, these many yeares with intollerable tyrany, hath op­pressed these Countries, contrary to their aunci­ent lawes and priueledges, by his owne oth con­firmed. And hath also without any iust cause, caused many hundred thousandes of people to bee destroyed, and kept in hold, yea afterwards (con­trary to the lawes of all Nations) executed the Messengers of these countreyes that were men noble and of honor, sent ouer into Spaine to in­treat for an end of his cruelties, to be made. And moreouer afterwardes without consent of the States, hath brought in new Taxations neuer harde of before, and banished out of the Countrey an innumerable multitude of people of all manner of conditions and degrees. It is not to bee [Page 6] wondred at, that (all Pariens being ouercome) in fine our God hath furnished weapons, where­by vnder conduct of the right puissant Regent the noble Prince of Orenge: First Holland and Seal [...]nd, and then afterwardes the other Pro­uinces did rescue, or franchised themselues, which they haue taken in hande much latter then the continuall cruelties and tiranny of these Spani­ards merited, and then the Princes and States of any other Prouinces woulde. Who woulde not for the shortest while haue suffered the hun­dreth part of those mischiefes and euils, which the inhabitants of these prouinces so many years since haue endured?

And how be it that the States of their natu­rall loue towardes their Lordes, haue tryed all things that might tend to the auoyding of wars, and in like manner haue intended all meanes for peace, not onely by themselues, but also that euen the Emperour, the Queenes Maiesty of Eng­land, the King of Fraunce, and also the Germain Princes haue beene mediators therein. Yet ne­uer the neerer could the same be brought to passe. Which is the cause that they perceyuing no more hope of any lawfull peace, and hauing to the grie­uous losse of the Countries, learned that the king of Spayne vnder the cloake of intreaty for peace, did pretende to rent in sunder the vnion of the countries, and to surprise the Townes, haue after the destruction of many men in wars, and the o­uerthrow [Page 7] of many Towns, and after many ma­ner of calamities suffred, beene constrained to be­take them to some other Counsell.

And so what at all times hath beene free for all Nations, that they may cast off from their neckes the insupportable burthens yea of the Kinges themselues, as many examples can make manifest. The same euer hath beene permitted and free for the free nation of the Lowe Dutch Countries, in proceeding to make a lawfull and necessary declaration, that the Lord of the coun­trey is fallen from all his right, the which thing many yeares since hath beene not onely permit­ted and concluded, but also by Edict or Placat published. After the which many of the Prouin­ces condescended vnto the Duke of Alenson bro­ther to the King of Fraunce to be their Lord, and did after his decease (as also theretofore) vnder the gouernment of the said right excellent Prince of Orenge, agaynst the Spaniardes followe or prosecute the warres, and he being in villanous manner after the president of barbarous nations (through publike rewardes propounded by the Spaniardes) brought to his ende trayterously not in publike battell but at home. Also the ene­mie they hauing recouered hope, that the affaires of these Countries woulde not onely come to la­mentable commotion, but also fall to vtter ruine and decay: Yet the same notwithstanding these Prouinces by the helpe of God Almighty) on [Page 8] whome alone the States depend) haue vnder conduct of his most worthy sonne Prince Maurice beene not onely protected, but also with his years encreased, growen, & in their bounds enlarged.

Now in that concerneth the King of Spaine, and his intent and hart (which best by his works may be knowne.) It is notorious that he inten­deth nothing lesse, then to warre against the Turke, but that he vnder colour of vpholding the Romish Religion, seeketh to raigne ouer all Chri­stian Princes: For what els is or euer hath beene the cause of his warres against the most excellent Queene of England? What els hath moued him to step into the French warres, and to seeke after the Kingdome of Fraunce? and to endeuour to withdraw or turne the Dukedome of Guylik and cleaue from their right Lordes and successors, wherein he fewe Monthes since amongst other his affaires tending to the same, hath delt with the Emperour by the Admirall of Arragon? be­side the subtill snares by him wrought against those of Aken and Wesell, and more other Rijks estates and places, (if truth may be spoken:) But onely for to become ouer all thinges of Christen­dome the vniuersall Lorde? And for to attayne thereunto the onely drift of the king of Spayne is, that he vnder externall shewe of entreatie for peace might bring these Countreyes vnder his power with oppression of their auncient lawes and priueledges, and set or place downe the seate [Page 9] of his warres against the Princes of all king­domes there. Where he should find forces both by water and land and also money in a readinesse.

Which thing being by the Queenes most ex­cellent Maiestie of England discretly considered of, she as a defendor of true Religion many yeare since, is entred into League with these Coun­tries.

And wher in respect hereof lately, also is made a League betweene the King of Fraunce and the said Queene of England: The saide vnited Pro­uinces are also accepted in and vnto the same.

Wherevpon the said Lord Ambassador may easily vnderstand, how inconuenient it is for the States in this constitution and shape of causes, to giue admonition of that which his Lordshippe doth propound, eyther vnto the foresaide Prince, or to the particuler States of the seuerall Pro­uinces aforesaid.

Especially considering that they are instruc­ted by so manifold examples, that the enemy in­tendeth or practiseth nothing but vnder the sweet name of entreaty for peace, to cloake the after­claps of warre, and to entrappe them vnwarily with deceat: Of the which the States hope his most excellent Maiestie wil earnestly take consi­deration and not so much accompt of his affinitie with the K. of Spain, but that he rather wil awa­ken vp & endeuour for the vantage and welfare of whole Christendome.

[Page 10] And in that the Lord Ambassador made men­tion of the letters of the most excellent King Ste­uen his Maiesties predicessor. The same hath beene right acceptable, declaring very honoura­bly that Kings Councell in the gouernment of his people and Subiects.

And for so much as the States minde in heart nothing more, then to satisfie all Kings touching the causes of these warres and other their procee­dings. Therefore they diligently haue answered the same letters to the ende they ioyntly might make manifest, how earnestly they alwaies haue endeuored to continue the good will and loue of the King of Poland towards these Countries.

In which earnest desire and will, they alwaies will perseuere towards his most excellent Maie­stie, not doubting but that his Maiestie will in­fringeably vpholde the mutable trafficke & trade which cannot bee impeached so long as the com­mon lawes of all Nations in reason shall take place.

For the rest the saide States doe right hum­bly commend vnto his most excellent Maiestie, the welfare and estate of these Prouinces and wil againe most earnestly endeuour, y ^t they may not onely deserue his Maiesties good will but also encrease the same towardes them.

The States also doe beseech the said Hono­rable Lorde Ambassador, earnestly to signifie the same vnto his most excellent Maiestie and louing­ly [Page 11] to preferre these Countries, on which kindnes and seruice the states will haue respect when oc­casion shall so require.

Giuen in Sgrauen Hage the 22. of Iuly. 1597.