THe States generall of the Vnited Nether­lands, hauing heard the report of their Deputies appointed to deale in the Trea­tie of Peace, touching that which was de­clared in the conference holden vpon the 20. of this moneth, by the Deputies for the High and Mightie King of Spaine, &c. and for Albertus and Isabella Clara ingenia, Archdukes of Au­stria, &c. for the finall charge and commission giuen them by the said King and the Archdukes touching the generall points of the said Treatie, vpon aduice of the Right Honor­able William Earle of Nassaue, &c. and the Counsell of Estate of the sayd Vnited Prouinces, for resolution there­upon, haue declared, and by these presents doe declare, that the hurtfull fruits and issues of diuers fore-passed Trea­ries, during the Netherland warres, made with the King of Spaine last deceased, haue so much mooued the States Gene­rall, for the space of 25. yeeres together, both vpon the of­fers made in the behalfe of the said King, his Gouernors and Successours, as also at the motions and solicitations of the Emperours Maiestie, together with the greatest and chiefest Kings and Potentates of Europe, that they could not be per­swaded to enter into, or hearken vnto any new treatie of Peace, [Page 10]but haue alwaies excused themselues therein, fearing the like effects; so that also vpon the same Propositions made vnto them to the like end, in the moneth of Ianuarie 1607, in the behalfe of the high & mightie Princes the Arch-dukes: they did roundly and by answer in writing declare, as also vnto the like proposition not long before propounded by the Empe­rors maiesty; the said States made answer, that they thought it neither godly, honorable, nor secure, for them to enter into any treatie of Peace, with those, that contrarie to their De­cree, maintained and established, would seeme to oppose, or to iustifie themselues to haue and pretend any title vnto the said Countrie: and that withall, they did persist, with prote­station before God almightie, all the world, and specially the Netherlands, to be blamelesse and innocent of and concern­ing all the miseries, hurts and troubles which the Nether­lands, and their neighbours, together with the inhabitants thereof, by meanes of the aforesaid vnlawfull pretences, haue suffered and indured, and yet were likely to suffer and en­dure. Which answer being returned vnto the said Archdukes, not long after seuerall letters and writings subscribed with their hands, were by the said Arch-dukes sent vnto the said Generall estates, whereby they signified vnto them, that they were content to deale with them as with States of a free Countrey, (and for the which they so held and accounted both them and it, and whereunto they made not any pretence) touching a perpetuall Peace, or a truce and abstinance from warres, for many yeeres. And in the first of the aforesaid Acts it was said, that by the making of a Truce euery man should hold that which he held and possessed; and by the ma­king of a Peace, that which should be agreed vpon; as also that the Vnited Prouinces should desist and abstaine from trafficking vnto the East and West Indies, &c. Whereunto the said States roundly made refusall; which the said Arch-dukes perceiuing, made answer, that they were content that euery man both by Truce and Peace should possesse and en­ioy that which he held, and claimed to bee his owne, vnlesse [Page 11]that by exchange of any places by common consent, they could otherwise agree: and at the same time also the clause of defisting from trafficking and sailing vnto the East and West Indies, was omitted, according to their Act to that end made, bearing date the 13. of March, in the aforesaid yeere. Vpon the which Act the 12. of Aprill, after certaine points touching the nomination of their respectiues Committies, being agreed vpon betweene the Deputies for the said Arch-dukes, and the Generall States, vpon the foure & twentieth of the same moneth, by a formall instrument vnder written by their said Highnesse, and sealed with their great seales, and with their accustomed signatures and Paraphrases: and an o­ther writing likewise sealed, Paraphrased, and vnder-written, in the behalfe of the Generall States, in qualitie as States of free Countries and Prouinces; whereunto the Arch-dukes did not pretend any right or title, it was agreed, and by their said Highnesse promised, to hold and obserue, and to cause to be holden and obserued the aforesaid declaration made vnto the said Generall States, and to make restitution, and cause the same to be made for all direct and indirect courses taken and vsed contrarie vnto the same, and besides those let­ters of confirmation, to cause the like declaration to bee sent from the King of Spaine (for as much as it concerned him) vnto the said Generall States, within three moneths then next ensuing, with all generall and particular renouncings, and as­surances thereunto belonging. And thereupon the Truce for abstaining from all acts of hostilitie being also agreed vpon: There were three acts of confirmation and consent sent into Holland from the said king; two of them bearing date the last of Ianuarie; and one the eighteenth of March, in the yeere aforesaid: the last of them containing these words in effect. And for that the aforesaid Arch-duke our brother, hath pro­mised to make the said Treatie, and thereupon to deliuer vn­to the said States, our letters of ratification, and the like de­claration, with all generall and particular renuntiations, and promises, as the cause requireth: Wee vpon ripe deliberati­on [Page 12]and aduice, vpon our certaine knowledge, and absolute kingly power, for the holding and performing of the said promise, and the assuring of the principall Treatie of Peace, or of a long Truce to be made: doe by these presents make the like declaration vnto the States aforesaid, that our brother hath made, whereof mention is before made, forasmuch as the same concerneth vs: And specially we declare, that wee are well pleased and contented, that in our owne name, and in our behalfe, a Treatie shall be made with the said States, in qualitie, and as esteeming and holding them for free Countries, Prouinces and States; whereunto wee make no pretence of Soueraigntie: and also haue approoued, confir­med, and ratified, and by these presents doe approoue, con­firme, and ratifie, all and euerie one of the points, compre­hended and contained in the said Treatie: and promise by the word of a king to hold and obserue them all, and to cause them to be held and obserued as wholly and particularly, as if we had at the beginning thereof declared, consented and pro­mised the same, and as if they had beene proceeded in, and concluded by our consent and authoritie, and will not do, nor cause any thing to be done contrarie vnto the same: and also will promise to recompence and make amends for all direct or indirect courses vsed and taken contrarie vnto the same, in such maner that all the aforesaid points shall be truely obser­ued, holden, and fulfilled vnto and with the said States: Whereunto we binde our selues by the word of a Prince, with all the generall and particular renuntiations and obligations thereunto requisite and needfull. We also promise, that as soon as the Treatie of Peace, or long Truce, shalbe concluded and agreed vpon, that wee will cause all dispatches necessarie to be made for the fulfilling and execution of that which shall be capitulated and agreed vpon, in good maner and forme, as they ought to be: so that in all things, and thorowout all the foresaid Vnited Prouinces, whole and full satisfaction shalbe made touching the aforesaid promise & confirmation, and with expresse reiection of all that which may be contrarie [Page 13]or against the said confirmation: and withall, expresly decla­ring, that the Generall States, as States of free Countries, whereunto the King and the Arch-dukes make no pretence of Soueraigntie, by the grace of God Almightie, and the aide of their allies (nominating the Kings of Great Britaine, France, Denmarke, and other Potentates) which in the said Prouinces shal and may take order and maintaine all causes that concerne the welfare of the State and gouernment (amongst the which, before all, the point of Religion is to be maintained, and the same expresly giuen in charge vnto the Arch-dukes Deputies) concerning the said Prouinces, and the good Inhabitants thereof: so that in the chiefe Treatie, nothing shall or may be propounded against the same; (vnlesse that men should seeke to preuent and contrarie the aforesaid formall and solemne promise.) Lastly it was concluded by the Generall States, that the Deputies of the said King and the Arch-dukes, might come vnto the Hague, there to intreat and agree vpon the said Treatie, with full information, charge, and authoritie to shew their meanings plainly and sincerely therein: as also to vn­derstand the States intent and meaning, that so they might make a short and breefe resolution therein.

The said Deputies being come vnto the Hague, and hauing entred into Treatie with the Deputies of the said States, at the beginning there was a new cleere and expresse promise and ratification made, not onely to the saide States, but also vnto all the particular Prouinces, and Lordships, thereunto depen­ding, as also vnto the Quarters, Lordships, Townes and Places of other Prouinces holden by the said States, accord­ing to the foresaid promises, dated the 24. of Aprill, both in the name of the King of Spaine, and the Arch-dukes, being procured and to be procured from them, and all and euerie one of their heires and successors, in their Kingdomes, Coun­tries and States, decreeing and declaring that they pretend not any title in or vnto the aforesaid Vnited Prouinces, Lord­ships, Lands, Townes and Places, as then holden and posses­sed by the said States, and that they held and accounted them [Page 14]for free States, Prouinces, Lordships, Countries, Townes and Places, with promise vpon their words and honours, and vp­on the words of Princes, not to doe any thing contrary vnto the same, nor permit it to be done, (no not in vsing the names, titles, or armes of the said Prouinces, or otherwise) directly or indirectly in any wise whatsoeuer: as also that from thence­forth, at all times and for euer, there should be a good, firme, indissoluble Peace betweene the aforesaid high and mightie King and the Archdukes their children, and successors, and the aforesayd States, in the qualitie aforesayd, for all the King­domes, Lands, Lordships, Townes and Places which the a­foresayd Kings, Archdukes, and States held and possessed, with their respectiue subiects and inhabitants, which reside therein at this time, or that heereafter shall dwell therein, without exception of any man whatsoeuer. Also, that the sayd King and Archdukes, and the sayd States, in qualitie a­foresaid, together with their respectiue subiects and inhabi­tants should from thencefoorth liue in good friendship, with­out vsing any more hostilitie, with forgetting of all forepas­sed causes and actions. But in the processe of the Treatie, the Deputies in the behalfe of the said King and Arch-dukes, sought to abridge and diminish the aforesaid acknowledged freedome of the Vnited Prouinces, in the principallest point thereof, and to make it of no effect, as amongst the rest, ex­presly in the generall trafficke and nauigation, with the con­sequences thereof, wherein the chiefe and principall welfare of the aforesaid Prouinces consisteth. Also, in the pretences (onely to the euident and manifest ouerthrow of the Vnited Prouinces, without cause or reason) of dismembring some of the vnited Prouinces of that which without deniall (according to the agreement made) belonged vnto them. Also in the dis­putation touching the freedome and soueraigntie of certaine Townes, held and possessed by the States, as also of the Villa­ges appointed for places of receit and accounts, in demand­ing of certaine lands, which by former Princes had been con­quered, and otherwise, coucrtly speaking of the point-of Reli­gion, [Page 15]without making any free or open proposi [...]ion thereof: and being vrged to speake their mindes freely and fully there­in, sometime they said, that they would not doe any thing contrarie to the freedome and soueraigntie (to the dislike or discontentment of the States of the vnited Prouinces) touch­ing the point of Religion; and yet at another time, they said they must consult with them of Spaine touching the point of Religion, and that touching the same, and concerning the point of generall trafficke and nauigation, some of them must expresly goe into Spaine. And although that the afore­said States Generall, perceiuing the said proceedings might well haue broken vp the said Treatie, notwithstanding con­sidering the great importance thereof, and desiring for their parts before God, and before all Kings, Potentates, Princes, and Common-wealths of Europe, and specially before the Commons of the vnited Prouinces, to make knowne, that they with all their hearts, and vprightly desire to alter and change the long, hurtfull, and bloodie warres of the Nether­lands, into a godly, honorable, and an assured peace, for the comfort and vnburthening not onely of the Inhabitants of the Netherlands, but also of the neighbour countries and king­domes; thought good by the aduice and good counsell of the Ambassadors of the Kings of Great Britaine, France, Denmarke, &c. and of the Euangelicall Electors and Princes of Germanie (who at their earnest requests, were sent vnto the Netherlands, to aide and assist them in the said Treatie and businesse of so great importance) that one of the Depu­ties for the King and the Arch-dukes, should goe into Spaine, to vnderstand the Kings absolute intent and meaning, not­withstanding it was expresly signified and declared by the States, that they would not consent vnto the like delibera­tion, but onely for that time, and that the said Deputie should expresly returne againe with the said resolution, with­in two moneths then next after ensuing. And to that end the Truce for the moneths of Aprill and May was continued and prolonged. After that by meanes of the long staying of him [Page 14] [...] [Page 15] [...] [Page 16]that was sent into Spayne, before the end of the moneth of May, the aforesaid Truce by common consent, was prolong­ed vntill the last of December last past: but the States once again and plainly told the Deputies for the said King and the Arch-dukes, that their meaning was, within two moneths at the farthest, after the moneth of May, they would haue a finall end and breaking vp of the said Treatie. Whereupon as in the beginning of the moneth of Iune, and after from time to time, diuers letters and aduices were brought and came from seuerall Countries and Kingdomes, that the said king of Spaine and the Spanish Counsell did not proceed tru­ly and vprightly in the said Treatie, but by delaies and all the meanes they could, sought to vndermine the State of the vnited Prouinces: Presently thereupon, as about the middle of Iune, the said Deputies for the King and the Arch-dukes were aduertised by the Generall States of the said aduice sent them, with earnest request by them made, to vnderstand and know their vttermost intent and meaning: and withall it being told them, that notwithstanding the Truce was pro­longed and continued for the whole yeere, yet it was the States meaning, not to suffer the delay of the end of the sayd Treatie any longer than vntill the last of Iuly, and that they might then presently breake vp and depart, if their intents were not to bring the Treaty to any good end: Wherupon the sayd Deputies made answer, That they held those aduices to be wholly vntrue, and that they were otherwise fully certified and assured, after that some few dayes, before the expiration of the moneth of Iuly, certifying the States, that they had ad­uice out of Spaine, that the Commissarie generall was com­manded to attend at the Court vpon the fifteenth of Iuly, to receiue his dispatch, and that without doubt hee would be there very shortly: whereupon the matter being considered of, vntill the twentieth of August, and in the meane time newes of the continuance of the King of Spaines intent com­ming from all places, it was thought good the same day to haue another conference with the sayd Deputies, to vnder­stand [Page 17]their vttermost authoritie and meanings: who at the same time declared, That the King of Spaines and the Arch-dukes resolute intents were, that the agreement made should be obserued and kept, and that the vnited Prouinces by their sayd acknowledgement and agreement should be free and so­uereigne countreys, without pretence of any right, vassallage, or other souereignty to be sought or pretended by them there­in or thereunto, vpon condition that in regard thereof, the Romish Catholike religion should be reestablished in the sayd Prouinces; and that the subiects and inhabitants of the sayd Prouinces should presently and from that time forth leaue off and desist from trade, traffike, and nauigation into India; de­claring also, that they still persisted in the difficulties touch­ing the raising of conuoyes, the dismembring of the Duke­dome of Gelder, touching all the high quarter thereof, the holding of the places vpon and being on the other side of the Reyn, as also vpon the borders of the Empire, which without all controuersie are neutrall Townes, belonging to the terri­tories of the Empire, as also touching the pretence of villages and the head banks or chambers of accounts in Townes be­longing vnto the States in other Prouinces; also that the Arch-dukes ought to enioy the lands belonging vnto the Princes of the houses of Burgondie and Austria, being Lords in the time of the respectiue vnited Prouinces. And for that the most part of the aforesayd points can not be holden nor esteemed, but as pretences against the decreed, maintained, confirmed and confessed freedome of the vnited Prouinces, and conse­quently, openly repugning against the sayd Treatie and the confirmation thereof, and withall against the first Ar­ticle that is thereby agreed vpon: therefore the States Ge­nerall of the vnited Prouinces vnderstand, that they for the state of the sayd countreys, and of the good inhabitants there­of, can not finde it good to enter into any further Treatie with the sayd Deputies, being heartily sory, that contrary to their intents, the sayd Treatie hath been so vnprofitably broken off, neuerthelesse contenting themselues, that they, before God [Page 18]and all the world, may be held inculpable, that the bloodie and long continued warres of the Netherlands are not chan­ged into a Christian, honourable, and an assured peace, and a finall end made and procured of all the calamities, miseries, hurts, and hinderances which the sayd Netherlands, and their neighbors, together with the good inhabitants of the same haue endured, and are like to endure, by meanes of the vnlawfull pretences of their aduerse parties.

Done in the Hague in full assemblie of the Generall States of the vnited Prouinces, &c.