negotiation for peace on the basis of their independence by permitting
the archduke to call himself their sovereign, and to seal solemn state
papers with their signet. It might seem picturesque to genealogical
minds, it might be soothing to royal vanity, that paste counterfeits
should be substituted for vanished jewels. It would be cruelty to
destroy the mock glitter without cause. But there was cause. On this
occasion the sham was dangerous. James Stuart might call himself King of
France. He was not more likely to take practical possession of that
kingdom than of the mountains in the moon. Henry of Bourbon was not at
present contemplating an invasion of the hereditary possessions of the
house of Albret. It was a matter of indifference to the Netherlands
whether Philip III. were crowned in Jerusalem that very day, or the week
afterwards, or never. It was very important however that the United
Provinces should have it thoroughly recognised that they were a free and
independent republic, nor could that recognition be complete so long as
any human being in the whole world called himself their master, and
signed with their seals of state. "'Tis absurd," said the Hollanders,
"to use the names and arms of our provinces. We have as yet no precedent
to prove that you consider the United Provinces as lost, and name and
arms to be but wind." Barneveld reminded them that they had all
expressed the most straightforward intention, and that the father
commissary especially had pledged his very soul for the sincerity of the
king and the archdukes. "We ourselves never wished and never could
deceive any one," continued the Advocate, "and it is also very difficult
for others to deceive us."

This being the universal sentiment of the Netherlanders, it was thought
proper to express it in respectful but vigorous language. This was done
and the session was terminated. Tile Spanish envoys, knowing very well
that neither the king nor the archduke regarded the retention of the