THE FAITHFVLL AND WISE PREVENTER OR COVNSELLER: OR, NECESSARY CONSIDERATIONS to be thought vpon by the high and noble Prince Maurice, by the grace of God, Prince of Orange, &c.  
Touching the Reasons delivered by the ambassadors, for the better declaration, defence and furthering of their Propositions made touching a Truce to be observed for many yeares.  
By the which Considerations( being weighed according to the state of the present time) every man may plainly see what is now further to be done for the security of the state of these Countries.  
Written by a lover of the Countries welfare.  
Veritas temporis filia.  
IN GRAVEN-HAGE, Printed by Aert Meuris Boeckvercooper. 1621.   


Touching the first Article, beginning, First it is said, that the liberty, &c.  
SEeing that the whole substance of the Article, onely retaineth this point, that the country after forty yeares times of war may be brought to peace and freedom: it is before all other things necessary, that the sovereignty may be declared and set down, with sufficient, clear, and no doubtful words, in regard that the King of spain may otherwise at all times seek his advantage. Now every man that is of a sound iudgement, may well understand, that the words which men seek to make us beleeue, do in no sort contain nor include that which we desire. For we seek not, neither is there any need of declaring or manifesting of our freedom, or of a free state, because that we were always free under our Princes that lawfully ruled over us according to the laws and privileges of these countries, but wholly to get out of the long and continual war that hath been holden therein. Therefore it is requisite that our adverse parties should clearly set down their meaning, that they promise never to pretend any thing touching the sovereignty of these countries. For without that, we can haue no hope at any time to live peaceably, as by all resolutions made touching this proposition, it was manifestly understood: otherwise that which they promise unto us, without the said declaration, serves to no other end, then to depend vpon pretences, and to bring these countries under subiection, and the rather, because the words, not to pretend any thing touching our freedom, take not away the pretence touching the sovereignty, in respect that the freedom and the sovereignty are two several things; and withall that whatsoever is contained in the treaty, doth expire with the ending of the truce. So that the whole treaty, after it is expired, is esteemed as not to haue been made, unless the continuance of the point for ever might be expressly urged; and the rather, for that the Popes Nuncios lying in France, and the Iesuites use all the means they can, to the end that this form set down by the ambassadors, might be found to be good and sufficient, therefore also this word for ever ought the rather to be required, in regard that in treaties of peace commonly there is an article inserted, that the same shall continue for ever. But for that in a treaty of truce, the words for ever are not set down, thereby the sovereignty also is pretended to end and to cease with the expiration of the truce. And the States meaning is, that the sovereignty shall continue for ever; but the Deputies of the Archduke haue roundly and manifestly declared the contrary, that is, that their Masters understand that the same shall continue no longer then the time of the truce.   

Touching the Article beginning, It is also to be considered, &c.  
WE seek not for any grant or gift of freedom, as knowing manifestly that we haue the same of ourselves; but herein it is spoken of ceasing from arms, and of reducing the country into security: which cannot be done, unless the King of spain doth wholly renounce his pretence of sovereignty over these countries for ever. For that he which this day pretendeth nothing, the next day may pretend some thing; whereby we may see the captiousnesse and danger contained in the aforesaid form and manner of proceeding.   

Touching the Article beginning; You ought to desire no more, &c.  
WHat doth this otherwise pretend, then that we should aclowledge the Archduke, or to speak plainly, the King of spain for oursoueraign Lord: which maketh us by all reason to fear, that this truce shall serve onely for a preparation. And whereunto can the same otherwise tend, but that when the enemy shall once haue put us out of doubt and suspicion, and redressed his state and revenue, he may fall vpon us, and bring our country into utter ruin, without any means for us to relieve ourselves in any maner, which in truth is his onely desiring and purpose. It being worth the noting, that the Emperor Charles the fifth did not content himself peaceably and quietly to haue enjoyed and freely possessed the country of Flanders for the spake of 70 yeares, but also that he compelled Francis the first, King of France, to renounce the sovereignty thereof, and that in another maner then is here set down unto vs.   

Touching the Article beginning, You need not therefore further to seek, &c.  
THis point is answered before in the first and second Article, in this manner: That it is specially needful that the sovereignty should be well expressed, in respect of the nature of the truce; which being expired, all ceaseth; as also the country is full of itself, and cannot be secured, unless the King of spain doth renounce and abandon his pretence thereunto.   

Touching the Article beginning, We also made this declaration, &c.  
THe Article touching the sovereignty, is not onely made by the premeditated advice of the ambassadors, but also by the same not sufficiently set down, but rather to be esteemed of no force, without the words, for the present and future time, and for them and their successors: it being always formerly declared, that in the treaty of truce we must consequently and necessary haue the said sovereignty for ever.   

Touching the Article beginning, But it is objected, &c.  
IT is not sufficient that the enemy saith it; for 〈◇〉 the declaration that the ambassadors made at the general assembly of the Lords the States vpon the 28 of this month( when they propounded and delivered the Articles of the truce) that they had done all that possibly they could, and yet continued and insisted to set down a firmer and stronger declaration of the sovereignty, when they always haue insisted, and yet insist, to the Deputies of the Archdukes, touching these words, We hold and declare them to be free States, manifestly sheweth a notable contradiction, that is, that the form set down cannot be holden for sufficient, but rather that they do it by a manner of a discharge, leaving it unto ourselves to judge of our own cause. And which is more, not onely the Archdukes are to hold their promises, but also the King of spain hath expressly promised by his act of aggregation, bearing date the 18 of September 1607. to observe and keep, and cause to be observed and kept, all and every point, as well touching the truce, as the peace, binding himself thereunto by his princely word, together with all general and particular renunciation and acquitald necessary and belonging thereunto. Whereupon the Deputies, as well in the name of the Archdukes, as of the King of spain, haue by the treaty of peace agreed unto the article of sovereignty, in such manner and form as it standeth, which is far otherwise then it is now set down unto vs.   

Touching the Article beginning, Therefore we esteem, &c.  
THere is no appearance that the Truce will become a full peace, but for the advantage of the enemy, when by means thereof, at the last they may become Masters of these countries, for the utter destruction and miserable subversion of the same.   

Touching the Article beginning, If these reasons content you not, &c.  
IT is not sufficient that the Princes hold us to be free, but it is necessary that all the inhabitants also should be sufficiently persuaded thereof in their mindes, that they may not be forced to look after the rising of another sun. Likewise also the Kings and Princes are bound no longer then the continuance of the Truce, but all the doubt consisteth and dependeth vpon the expiration thereof.   

Touching the Article beginning, Then it is certain, &c.  
THere is great difference between the state of a sovereignty that is clear without question, and a sovereignty which may be doubly understood and taken. For that which is clear maketh the cause of the war to be of jesse force; and by the other we give the enemy matter whereby to justify his pretences, and a pretence to estrange himself from us, and to draw our confederates unto himself, as by death and process of time all things in the world are altered.   

Touching the Article beginning, Then it is, the adventure of arms, &c.  
BY the clearness of the treaty, not onely hard and cruel war would ensue, but also lawful and unlawful; therefore the clearness thereof is most needful for this State: and according to the contents of this Article, there is no need of any treaty at all, seeing that all differences may be ended and determined by arms.   

Touching the Article beginning. It is said, that the King of spain, &c.  
IT is most dangerous to trust unto these uncertainties, the rather, seeing that the French King may serve us for an example to the contrary: but we must rather beleeue, that the King of so great a nation, and one that hath a most great treasure, by lust or for his pleasure may be moved, being thereunto incited and provoked by his proud glorious nation, to gather a great treasure, with the same to bring these countries under his obedience, being they that for the most part haue been a let and hindrance unto him, from making himself monarch of all Europe.   

Touching the same that in the said Article is contained, You to the contrary shall not think, &c.  
WE are so far from gathering any treasure, that to the contrary our means and trade will rather lessen: for the enemies havens being open, the trade will be driven thitherward, as already by this ceasing from arms we certainly find, and the commons of these countries complain thereof.   

Touching the Article beginning, Some also add thereunto, &c.  
NO man desireth, that in regard of this fear, the war may continue, but those that know the humors and practices of the enemy, as also the manner of our state, ought not to reject this inconvenience.   

Touching the Article beginning, And yet rather in peace, &c.  
THis inconvenience is more to be doubted by a truce then a pieces for they that are so addicted, in the time of truce shall be more sought unto by the enemy, wherein they will always persuade themselves that they may do it; whereas in time of peace all such likelihoods may be forgotten: and although reason requireth, that in time of truce, men should be wary, yet our state permitteth it not, but our carelessness, which by the truce we may fall into, will give the enemy more occasion to put his accustomend practices in effect, and so in one place or other to lay hold on vs.   

Touching the Article beginning, It is further to be considered, &c.  
FEw men may do much in our state, either to good or bad intents, as diuers former examples sufficiently declare. And it clearly appeareth, that many also that are born in these countries, nevertheless are much affencted to the enemy, because they haue not tried nor found the rooted Spanish cruelty, as others that are of longer continuance.   

Touching the Article beginning, The danger of practices and corruption, &c.  
THis is certainly to be cared for, lest any misfortune should happen. Yet the enemy hath not so good an opportunity to practise his subtle pretences in the time of war, as when it is truce; because in time of war all conversation ceaseth. And all these reasons are sufficient, touching our particular, not to further any kind of truce whatsoever, but the preservation of our native country must always be preferred, for it is impossible to prevent all inconveniences; and honest men that haue done the best they could, may in conscience comfort themselves.   

Touching the Article beginning, There are also some that affirm, &c.  
THis certainly is a good & convenient means to assure ourselves, and such as both in peace and truce ought to be preferred: for according to the manner of our State, it cannot afterward be brought to pass.   

Touching the Article beginning, But they add thereunto, &c.  
THe weakening of our traffics which truce bringeth with it, and the lessening of our contributions which will follow, will not hinder us from sparing some things for other matters: and also if it should be so, that a great part of our souldiers should be discharged, which nevertheless cannot be done without some great hazard of our state, which is far from that, that we might spare more then the one half, and the necessity or want of means which men propound, is none such that it should be the cause of the total ruin of these countries by a sheet of paper, seeing that in former times it hath been found, that God did not reject our righteous cause for want of means: besides that the services which men continually shall then pay, will also amount unto a great sum of money, that in some consideration they may well be esteemed to be able to defray the charges of an army in the field.   

Touching the Article beginning, It is also further alleged, &c.  
BEfore Lipsius began to be in some reputation, the best experienced and wisest men on the enemies side, as among the rest, the President Vig●lius, Hopperus, Assenvills, and Richardot, as also Taxis and others among the Spaniards held the way of truce to be the fittest means to bring us into subiection. And to the contrary, the best and faithfullest men on our side did esteem all kindes of truce to be a means to ●uinate our countries; and the enemy manifestly sheweth, that he hopeth by this. Truce to attain his desire; for that in the beginning of this treaty he hath sought by bribes to bring the same to effect: and Lipsius letter sufficiently sheweth, how much the subiects are to doubt of their sovereignty; and without having the full sovereignty, these countries in that respect shal be brought into the state of subiection.   

Touching the Article beginning, And examples manifest, &c.  
IF we will help ourselves with examples, it is ten to one that all those that too lightly believed and credited their enemy, were deceived, and utterly spoiled.   

Touching the Article beginning, Therefore you must vpon this subject remember the creatis, &c.  
THe pacification of Gaunt, was made by the States of the provinces themselves: but in all other Treaties that we haue made with the King of spain, we were deceived; and the treaty of Colen did not onely cause a great division among us, but also separated a great part of our provinces from us, which by this coniunction we may well perceive.   

Touching the Article beginning, The example of the swissers, &c.  
THis comparison is altogether unlikely; for the swissers made a Truce with an earl of Habsburch, against whom in four and twenty yeares they could bring a great number of souldiers; whereas we, to the contrary, haue to deal with the mightiest King in Europe, with whom, in respect of our offences, we are unreconcilable. As also the example set down in the proposition of the Ambassadors touching Christiernus King of denmark, is here of no force, because it was an elective kingdom, wherein the son doth not succeed the father, without a former election, and the said King also was committed to prison, and another chosen in his place.   

Touching the Article beginning, Now you may hope, &c.  
And the following beginning, It is God onely, &c.  
THe forces by water, and the number of expert sailors, are here not to be reckoned, in regard that all the danger that we are to fear, is by land, against the which the situation and the strong riuers cannot help us, without a great force of men, and for that all the strength of these provinces onely consisteth in foreign souldiers; it is certain, that after the loss thereof, which might fall vpon us, aid would come too late out of France, Great britain, and without a clear and evident sovereignty, there are as many reasons after the Truce to doubt of aid, as we haue to assure ourselves thereof.   

Touching the Article beginning, Then make not your resolution, &c.  
TO this they may answer that haue made and sent forth some writings, thereby to move the people to rebellion, and such as haue not addressed themselves thereunto as they ought to haue done.   

Touching the Article beginning, Some will persuade themselves, &c.  
DOn Pedro de Toledo being yet in spain, his excellency received certain and true intelligence, that the said Don Pedro should be sent into France, to break this treaty of peace, and to practise a truce, for that the Archdukes Deputies had given way, by treaty of peace, into the sovereignty; which therefore by means of a Truce they must seek to repair: all which his excellency, after the breaking of the treaty of peace, and before the Propositions made by the ambassadors touching a Truce, declared in a full assembly of the Lords the States general, and in all occurrents, the note made by Richardot touching the Truce, forgotten here behind him in the Hage among his other instructions, contains the same words that are inserted in the aforesaid proposition.   

Touching the Article beginning, Therefore we do not doubt, &c.  
WE may well guess, that the ambassadors from the King and the Princes haue their particular insights tending to the good and benefit of their state, which we willingly understand and take in the best meaning, hoping that they also will not mislike that we respect the profit and preservation of this State, whereunto we are so strictly bound, and therein haue so great an interest; their Honors entreating us constantly to trust, that we herein deal sincerely and uprightly, as for the best service and benefit of the land, and also of their respective Kings and Princes, we find most convenient, assuring ourselves that in time their majesties themselves shall judge it to be so, and see that we herein haue used the wisest and best counsel that we could get.   

Touching the Article beginning, We will further add thus much more &c.  
IF in the time of the Truce, if any mischance should happen the whole country were lost, without any hope of redress: whereas to the contrary, the hurt and misfortunes that would happen by war, are to be repaired, as by experience it appeareth, that we haue preseru●d the body of the Land without the frontiers, which by Gods blessing we haue won, and by means of them haue redressed our state, and now it is time that we should enjoy the fruits of our forty yeares war, and at least to make good conditions, while we haue an advantage vpon our enemy, which being out of our hands, we shall never haue so good an occasion again: for after the Truce, we shall be compelled to humble ourselves unto the enemy, or to enter into a most dangerous, yea and a desperate war. And as at diuers times a blank paper hath been presented unto us to make a Truce, the like without doubt will be done unto us as often and as many times as we will suffer ourselves to be blindfolded, and concent ourselves with so obscure and lame a sovereignty.  
Therefore our meaning and special aim is, to be well secured in these countries by the Truce, that at the least the sovereignty may be set in a good, clear, sufficient form, such as the same shall not onely continue, and haue and hold her force for the time of the Truce, but also for ever after the expiration thereof: and that the same shall not be shadowed nor covered over with captiousnesse and double meanings, but made with the same words, according to the foot of the beginning thereof, wifely and with one consent taken by the resolutions of the 24 of April, the second of november, and the 23 of December in the last yeares and the prorogation touching the breaking off of the treaty of peace, dated the 24 of August, and the acts of the 13 of September last past; as also the advice of the ambassadors given touching the sovereignty, and likewise the obligation and renouncing contained in the acts, not only from the King of spain, but also from the Archduke. That so the country may effectually enjoy that, whereon this treaty wholly dependeth; and that this propounded sovereignty may not serve for a pretence to bring us into a treaty, that may be hurtful and injurious to this state: which the better to effect, and to hold and maintain the provinces in a good peace, unity and security, for our advice we think it fit, that before we enter into treaty of this matter, the Archdukes shall take care to produce the King of Spaines act of clearing the sovereignty, which shall be true, sufficient, and wholly conformable unto the aforesaid resolutions, prorogation, acts, advices, obligations and renunciations, specially the aforesaid articles, to the end that we may not another time( as by the treaty of peace) be deceived.