which suggestion your grace may infer, that he expects no less than that
your grace should again decline the offer. I took the liberty of arguing
with him that this unreasonable jealousy was hardly to be conceived, and
that I was at a loss to imagine from whence it could proceed; that the
States-general in their letter to the emperor objected only that the barrier
was not yet settled, which I had orders to treat of, whenever they would
come to reasonable methods. To this he answered short, that there were
no thoughts of proceeding here to that treaty as long as there was any
probability of your grace's accepting the said patent. And Count Rech-
teren afterwards told me they would never allow the emperor and the
king of Spain, without their approbation and consent, to dispose of the
government of a country wherein their barrier and security was so nearly
concerned. All I could do was to desire them to forbear that clamour
and censure till your grace thought fit to explain your own mind, and
thereby either leave your grace the merit of declining once more this
offer, by your own free act, or to hear in what methods you thought fit
to avail yourself of what the king of Spain might have generously pro-
posed to you, and not to come to such warm discourses before the matter
of fact was certain, and rightly stated. I added, it might appear very
strange in the world that the States-general, who had been so near wit-
nesses of your grace's zeal, conduct, and success, should be the chief
opposers of any advantage which was proposed to you, by a prince who
could not but acknowledge your grace, under God, to have been the
main instrument of his recovering those provinces. But all that can
been said makes no impression at present, and it may require your
grace's serious attention in what manner these people are to be brought
to other thoughts, which I scarce think any thing but your own presence
will effect. I beg leave to congratulate your grace on the juster sense which
her majesty and the parliament have of your important services, and I
heartily wish that generous example may be imitated here. When you
shall be pleased to direct me what I shall do for your service, I shall en-
deavour to approve myself with all duty."

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