weapons which were left them, viz. firmness and resolution, they were
sufficiently powerful to surmount their difficulties, in the same
manner as the virtue of the Romans had made them triumph over
Carthage.' They also reminded the Earl, that by pretext of treating of
peace on a former occasion, they had lost Artois, Hainault, and other
countries. That the treaties at Ghent and Bruges, which were prior to
their independence, had cost the lives of more than a hundred thousand
persons; that negligence and false security were always the
consequences of such negotiations.

"On the 30th of October, 1588, the Queen again proposed their entering
into negotiations for peace, and they again refused.

"In 1590 and 1591, the Emperor endeavored to persuade the United
Provinces to enter into negotiations by the mediation of his good
offices for a _reconciliation_ with the King of Spain. And on the 7th
of April, 1592, they gave a formal answer to the Emperor, containing
their reasons for declining his proposal; on this occasion they struck
a medal representing a Spaniard offering peace to a Zealander, who
points to a snake in the grass, with these words, '_latet anguis in
herba_.'

"On the 6th of May, 1594, the Archduke of Austria sent a letter to the
States on the same subject, and received the like answer, accompanied
with a full state of their reasons for it.

"In the same year the United Provinces sent Ambassadors to Denmark,
and received others from King James of Scotland, who desired them to
send some persons on their behalf to assist at the baptism of his son,
and to renew ancient treaties, &c.

"On the 31st of October, 1596, the King of France entered into a
treaty of alliance with the United Provinces against Spain.

"On the 9th of August, 1597, the Emperor by his Ambassador, then at
the Hague, proposed to the States to treat of peace. They refused,
_alleging that they had been lawfully separated from the dominion of
the King of Spain, and had formed alliances with England, France, &c._

"On the 15th of October, 1597, Ambassadors from the King of Denmark
arrived at the Hague, among other things to dispose the States to
peace. On the 24th of October, the States gave them a long answer,
recapitulating their reasons for refusing to negotiate.

"On the 2d of November, 1597, the King of France, having been offered
advantageous terms of peace by Spain, hinted his pacific inclinations
to the States. They earnestly dissuade