ther instructions.

"On the 7th of September, they received an answer from Brussels, and
they declared, that they had no instruction to agree to a long truce
with the States, on condition to acknowledge them to be States
absolutely free, and without comprehending the re-establishment of the
Roman religion, and the relinquishment of _all navigation to the
Indies_, but that the Archduke would send the proposition to Spain,
from whence he might expect an answer by the end of September.

"They then proposed either to wait for the answer of Spain, or
continue the present truce for seven years, observing, that it had
been made with an express declaration to hold the United Provinces for
free countries, and that as to the trade to the Indies, the Archduke
would promise to _get it ratified by the King of Spain for that space
of time_.

"The States unanimously rejected this new proposition, but gave them
the time they had demanded for the answer of Spain. On the 28th of
September, the Spanish Deputies applied to the Ambassadors of France,
&c. to ask ten days more from the States. The Ambassadors agreed to do
it _in the name of the Deputies_, but they declined it.

"On the last of September they took their leave.

"The States-General became possessed by accident of the instructions
given to Spinola, and the other Deputies; they were signed by the
Archdukes, and dated at Brussels, the 6th of January, 1608. They were
thereby instructed to insist on the free exercise of the Roman
Catholic religion.

"As to independence the instructions say;

'As to the subject of liberty, since you know what we have granted,
make no difficulty of arranging it as they wish; doing or saying
nothing in opposition, which may make them suspect that we desire to
revoke our declaration on that point, as we are determined to abide by
it in all respects.'

"These instructions also directed them to insist, that the States
should renounce, and entirely and absolutely desist from the trade of
the East and West Indies, and should agree to punish those who might
undertake such voyages, &c. &c.

"On the departure of the Spanish Deputies, the Ambassadors of France
and Great Britain endeavored to prevail upon the States-General to
listen to a truce, and proposed to their consideration certain
articles, which they had prepared. The States after much deliberation,
agreed to enter into further negotiations on that subject.

"On the 25th of March, 1609, the