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First steps toward peace between Spain & the Netherlands

ALBERT & ISABELLA, Archduke of Austria and Spanish Infanta, and the STATES GENERAL.
Brief van hare Hoocheden aende E. Moghende Heeren Staten der Vrye Vereenichde Nederlantsche Provintien Ghesonden, gedateert binnen Brussel den 13. Martij, anno 1607. Mitsgaders seeckere antwoorde der E. Heeren Staten voorn. ende Syne Ex. aen hare Hoocheden.

With a woodcut rampant lion holding a sword within a garden fence (symbolizing the Dutch Republic) surrounded by a wreath, and 1 woodcut decorated initial letter.<BR>

(Amsterdam?), 1607 (= 1608?). Small 4to. Modern plain paper wrappers. With a woodcut rampant lion holding a sword within a garden fence (symbolizing the Dutch Republic) surrounded by a wreath, and 1 woodcut decorated initial letter.
(4) pp.

The text of Spain's official recognition of the independence of the Dutch Republic on 13 March 1607 and expression of their willingness to negotiate peace, by Archduke Albert of Austria, appointed governor of the Netherlands by King Phillip of Spain, and his wife Isabella, the King's daughter. Following it is the reply by the Dutch States General Assembly on 12 April 1607. Spain proposes an eight-month cease-fire to negociate a permanent peace or a truce for 12, 15 or 20 years, with both sides maintaining the territories they now hold. Although peace negotiations broke down when the Dutch refused to accept Spain's demands for limitations on their trade in the East and especially West Indies, they resumed and finally resulted in the Twelve Years' Truce (1609-1621). This is the only edition to include the definitive text of the reply.
Although the States General's reply notes that the cease-fire was to take effect on 4 May 1607, the present edition may have been printed after that date. The first three editions listed in Knuttel contain an undated draft version of the reply, while this fourth and last has the final dated version, and some edition was issued with each of the three editions of the Nederlandtsche Bye-Korf in 1608 (one of the few pamphlets in that collection that was not banned). Moreover, the paper stock appears to match that of the third edition of the Bye-Korf , watermarked: pot (bearing the letter "M" and with the base delineated with a double line) topped by grapes. The woodcut on the title-page appears to match that used by Jan Andriesz. in Knuttel 1382.
A seminal document that lead to the truce with Spain, which in turn inaugurated the Dutch golden age.

Good copy.- (Slightly browned, with water stains in the gutter margin, minor abrasions affecting a few letters at the ends of the lines on the last page, and a small piece cut out of the foot margin and repaired at an early date, not affecting the text).

Asher 28/7; Knuttel 1364; Simoni N51; Tiele 589; cf. OCLC WorldCat (6 copies of at least 2 printings, not specified).

Related Subjects: 17th Century History Low Countries Pamphlets Politics Spain

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