THE States of Freezeland having seen and examined two Messages from H. H. M. dated February 1684. tending to the end that H. E. M. with the first, would bring in their Consent for Levying 16000 Men, upon which, this Government, upon a serious Consideration, and full Agreement of all parties, concluded to bring in their Advice, That H. E. M. cannot understand of what Necessity or Advantage it will be to agree to the said Leveys; but that it ought to be rather apprehended and lookt upon, as that which will tend to a ruining destructive War: To carry on which, this Province do look upon themselves unable to bear their part, by reason of their being so much in Arrear already; As also by reason of the Low Prices of their Corn, Fat Cattle, and their Estates; as also other Inconveniences that attend them; but especial­ly, considering that the States are destitute of all Alleys, from whence they may certainly expect any assistance; and therefore it must be lookt upon as a Matter of so much the more Danger; for that in the former War they received several assistances from others, and yet ob­tained no Remarkable advantages against France: Besides which, it ought to be considered, That the Forces which are to be raised, will not be so easie to be attained, but if raised not of sufficient strength, to obtain a better Peace from the K. of France, then he himself hath [Page 2] offered. As also it is considered and apprehended, and not without great reason, the unexpressable Disasters which may befall this Pro­vince in particular, from the French Confederates, as being deprived of all the Forces of this City for their defence, which will be little enough to oppose the French Force in the Netherlands, where the Spa­niards shew so little Zeal in their Conduct, and do hardly put any Or­der in execution with earnestness, except such as may serve to ingage this State in a War, and have hardly one share of those Troops ready which they ought to have, before this State was obliged to send them any assistance; much less to think of a Rupture for their sakes, it be­ing Notorious, That none of those Alternatives are so considerable as to equalize the greatness of the Danger to which this State must not only expose themselves, but all the Spanish Netherlands, by a War; and not only England but the Emperour, have already declared their [...]i [...]atisfaction, as also very unacceptable to this State, That His Catholick Majesty should publish a Declaration of War, without accquainting His Alleys therewith.

The King of England hath also already declared, That it were bet­ter to accept of those Alternatives, as so suddenly to engage in so de­structive a VVar▪ Adding withal, That he is not obliged in such Case to assist either Us or Spain. For all which reasons, VVe think it best to desist from those Leveys, and to let the Spaniards see by that, that this State cannot think it good, That for preservation of a little, for which they take so little care of the whole, to expose themselves to such e­minent Dangers; and therefore they do give their Advice, That they be earnestly pressed to accept of one of the Alternatives, and that such Methods be used with all speed; with Conferences and Treatys, as may tend to the securing of this State in a desired Peace, and that the Bar­reir may remain without danger. The States of this Province do ap­prehend, That if a Peace cannot be obtained, that then a Truce for 20 years is more to be desired, then a VVar in the Spanish Netherlands; especially considering, that in process of time, the Emperour may be freed from his Turkish VVar, and the K. of England from his National Troubles, and so in a better Capacity to secure the Peace. Thus con­cluded in our Stadt-House.