AN ANSVVER To the LATE MEMORIAL OF THE Count D' Avaux, Ambassadour Extraordinary of FRANCE; IN A MEMORIAL Presented to the States General, By the Marquiss De Castell Moncayo, Envoy Extraordinary OF SPAIN On the 3d of MAY (84.) at the HAGUE.
THe Marquess de Castell Moncayo, Envoy Extraordinary of Spain, has been at Brussels, for the reason he declared in the last Conference, where he had the honour to concurr with the Deputies of your Lordships, and the Miniter of your High Allies; and being in company with the Marquess d'Grana, he received a Copy of the Memorial, which the French Ambassadour presented to your Lordshpis on the 29th past, & they [Page]considering the Contents of the said Memorial, resolved that the Marquess d Castell Moncayo, should forthwith return and make known to your Lordships, that the orders which the Marquess d'Grana, and the Extraordinary Envoy of Spain, have received from the King their Master, are such as have been heretofore declared to your Lordships. to wit,
Not to give ear to any unjust, unpracticable, or Artificial Propositions of France, nor to enter into Negotiation with them, but upon such terms as are requisite between Kings, Princes and Sovereigns of equal rank, and not to conclude any accommodation that is not warrantable and sure in general, including all their Allies.
Upon these Principles his Majesty is resolved to hazard the rest of the Low Countryes, never to Yeild to have Laws Prescribed him, unless compelled by Violence.
The new Propositions that France makes to your Lordships, are more Arrogant and Unreasonable then any hitherto delivered to your Lordships, and therefore they are still the same, for this only design hath been and still is to amuse your Lordships, and to expose you to danger and render you unfaithful in your Treatys, and cause you to pass in the Opinion of the World, as States of little foresight, and to take from you intirely your Liberty, since the delay that France makes not to act on one side, while he besieges a place as Luxemburg on the other, is but a new device, found for an Imaginary pretence of repose, which he hath made use of so long to ruin us by these kind of wayes.
And therefore since your Lordships are not only to assist Spain in the Low Countrys, but also in any other place whatsoever, all the progress that France pretends to make upon Spain any where else, other then the Low Countries will feel its effects there, for which way soever the French conquers the Low Countries, your Lordships will thereby immediately fall under the Slavery of France.
Which the Subscrib'd Envoy of Spain doubts not but that your Lordships know too well the rancour and venome couched in the Memorial of France, which cannot but be discerned by you: It's to be hoped that by the Assistance of the Good God, we may with United Forces prevent or repair the loss of Luxemburg, assuring your Lordships again and again, that the Resolutions of his Majesty will be unalterable (come what will) since they have been taken pursuant to his Conscience, Honour and Interest.