“But,” asked Schetz, “what security do you offer us that you will yourselves maintain the Pacification?”

“We are not bound to give assurances,” answered the Prince.  “The Pacification is itself an assurance.  ’Tis a provisional arrangement, to be maintained by both parties, until after the decision of the assembly.  The Pacification must therefore be maintained or disavowed.  Choose between the two.  Only, if you mean still to acknowledge it, you must keep its articles.  This we mean to do, and if up to the present time you have any complaint to make of our conduct, as we trust you have not, we are ready to give you satisfaction.”

“In short,” said an envoy, “you mean, after we shall have placed in your hands the government of Utrecht, Amsterdam:  and other places, to deny us any pledges on your part to maintain the Pacification.”

“But,” replied the Prince, “if we are already accomplishing the Pacification, what more do you wish?”

“In this fashion,” cried the others, “after having got all that you ask, and having thus fortified yourselves more than you were ever fortified before, you will make war upon us.”

“War?” cried the Prince, “what are you afraid of?  We are but a handful of people; a worm compared to the King of Spain.  Moreover, ye are fifteen provinces to two.  What have you to fear?”

“Ah,” said Meetkercke, “we have seen what you could do, when you were masters of the sea.  Don’t make yourselves out quite so little.”

“But,” said the Prince, “the Pacification of Ghent provides for all this.  Your deputies were perfectly satisfied with the guarantees it furnished.  As to making war upon you, ’tis a thing without foundation or appearance of probability.  Had you believed then that you had anything to fear, you world not have forgotten to demand pledges enough.  On the contrary, you saw how roundly we were dealing with you then, honestly disgarnishing the country, even before the peace had been concluded.  For ourselves, although we felt the right to demand guarantees, we would not do it, for we were treating with you on terms of confidence.  We declared expressly that had we been dealing with the King, we should have exacted stricter pledges.  As to demanding them of us at the moment, ’tis nonsense.  We have neither the means of assailing you, nor do we deem it expedient to do so.”

“To say the truth,” replied Schetz, “we are really confident that you will not make war upon us.  On the other hand, however, we see you spreading your religion daily, instead of keeping it confined within your provinces.  What assurance do you give us that, after all your demand shall have been accorded, you will make no innovation in religion.”

“The assurance which we give you,” answered the Prince, “is that we will really accomplish the Pacification.”

“But,” persisted Schetz, “do you fairly, promise to submit to all which the states-general shall ordain, as well on this point of religious exercise in Holland and Zealand, as on all the others?”