d engaging children, and with a similarity of
tastes. It is impossible to imagine anything more stately, more devout,
more regular, more innocent, more utterly dismal and insipid, than the
lives of this wedded pair.

This interior view of the court and council of Spain will suffice to
explain why, despite the languor and hesitations with which the
transactions were managed, the inevitable tendency was towards a peace.
The inevitable slowness, secrecy, and tergiversations were due to the
dignity of the Spanish court, and in harmony with its most sacred
traditions.

But what profit could the Duke of Lerma expect by the continuance of the
Dutch war, and who in Spain was to be consulted except the Duke of Lerma?

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

A man incapable of fatigue, of perplexity, or of fear
Converting beneficent commerce into baleful gambling
Gigantic vices are proudly pointed to as the noblest
No generation is long-lived enough to reap the harvest
Proclaiming the virginity of the Virgin's mother
Steeped to the lips in sloth which imagined itself to be pride
To shirk labour, infinite numbers become priests and friars

CHAPTER XLIX. 1607

Peace deliberations in Spain--Unpopularity of the project--
Disaffection of the courtiers--Complaints against Spinola--
Conference of the Catholic party--Position of Henry IV. towards the
republic--State of France Further peace negotiations--Desire of King
James of England for the restoration of the States to Spain--Arrival
of the French commissioners President Jeannin before the States-
General--Dangers of a truce with Spain--Dutch legation to England--
Arrival of Lewis Verreyken at the Hague with Philip's ratification--
Rejection of the Spanish treaty--Withdrawal of the Dutch fleet from
the Peninsula--The peace project denounced by the party of Prince
Maurice--Opposition of Maurice to the plans of Barneveld--Amended
ratification presented to the States-General--Discussion of the
conditions--Determination to conclude a peace--Indian trade--
Exploits of Admiral Matelieff in the Malay peninsula--He lays siege
to Malacca--Victory over the Spanish fleet--Endeavour to open a
trade with China--Return of Matelieff to Holland.

The Marquis Spinola had informed the Spanish Government that if 300,000
dollars a month could be furnished, the war might be continued, but that
otherwise it would be be