; that they had not _recognised him_ for their sovereign,
and that though she respected him as the brother of the Emperor and
Archduke of Austria, yet as the Lieutenant of the King of Spain she
held him as an enemy.

"On the 16th of August, 1598, the Queen of England entered into a new
convention with the United Provinces, confirming the treaty of 1585,
with certain other stipulations.

"On the 28th of August, 1598, the Archduke wrote a letter to the
States-General, to persuade them to accept him for their sovereign. To
this letter they resolved _not to give any answer_.

"On the 13th of September, 1598, Philip II, King of Spain, died. In
the year 1599, the Emperor again commissioned Ambassadors to persuade
the United Provinces to treat of peace, &c. The States, in their
answer of the 2d of December, 1599, refuse to treat, because among
other reasons, 'the insolence of the Archduke and Infanta was such
that although they knew very well that they could claim no right to
the said United Provinces under the beforementioned donation, or by
any other title, yet so it was, that by placards, by public and
notorious libels, and by indecent and unjust acts, which they could
never excuse, they held them for rebels.'

"On the 7th of June, 1600, the States, in their answer to another
application to the Emperor, say among other things that the Archduke
had 'treated the inhabitants barbarously, proclaiming those to _be
rebels who had nothing to do with him_, and that well considering all
these things, they had good reason to judge, that it would neither be
consistent with their honor nor their interest to acknowledge the
Archduke, or treat either with him or with Spain.'

"On the 3d of April, 1602, the Queen of England died.

"On the accession of James, the Archduke immediately sent Nicholas
Schossy to sound the King on the subject of peace, and the next year
sent Count Arembergh there for the same purpose. King James sent
Rudolph Winwood to inform the States, that the Archduke had proposed
to him to treat of peace, but that he would do nothing till he had
informed them of it, and should be advised of their inclinations.

"On the 30th of July, 1603, the Kings of France and England concluded
a treaty of confederation, principally for the defence of the United
Provinces against the King of Spain. This treaty was secret.

"In May, 1604, conferences for a peace were opened at London between
the Deputies of Spain and the Archduke