es having nothing more at heart than to see the Low
Countries and the inhabitants thereof delivered from the miseries of
war, declare, by these presents, and with mature deliberation, that
they are content to treat with the States-General of the United
Provinces, in quality, and as holding them _for free Countries,
Provinces, and States, to which their Highnesses pretend nothing_,
either by way perpetual peace, or truce, or cessation of arms for
twelve, fifteen, or twenty years, at the election of the said States,
and on reasonable conditions;' then follow certain propositions for a
truce, &c. and afterwards a condition, 'That the States agree to the
aforesaid provisional truce in eight days after the delivery of these
presents, and shall make a declaration to their Highnesses in writing,
before the 1st of September next ensuing, touching the principal
treaty aforesaid of truce or cessation of arms, with the time and
place which they may have chosen. Done at Brussels, under the
signatures and the seal of their Highnesses, the 13th of March, 1607.'

"To this declaration and offer, the States answered, 'That the
States-General in quality of, and as free States, Countries, and
Provinces, over which their Highnesses have nothing to pretend, and
being equally desirous of nothing more than to consent to a Christian,
honorable, and sure issue to, and deliverance from the miseries of
this war, after mature deliberation, and with the advice of his
Excellency, and of the Council of State, _have accepted_ the said
declaration of the Archdukes _to regard their United Provinces as free
Countries, to which their Highnesses have nothing to pretend_, and
also a truce for eight months, &c. &c. Their Highnesses further
promising to obtain and deliver to the said States-General within
three months next ensuing, the agreement of the King of Spain touching
the treaty, under all the necessary renunciations and obligations, as
well general as special.'

"On the last of June, 1607, the King of Spain ratified the truce, but
_omitted an acknowledgment of their independence_.

"The States-General, on the 9th and 11th of August, 'declared these
ratifications to be imperfect both in substance and in form.' The
Archduke promised to procure a more complete one.

"On the 18th of September, 1607, the King of Spain made a new
ratification _containing the acknowledgment in question_, but
declaring that the said ratification should be void, unless the