iyo HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

e h a p. civil liberty. Those intolerable conditions, de-i.xv. manded by their insolent enemies, he exhortedthe States to reject with scorn ; and by his ad-vice they put an end to negociations, whichserved only to break the courage of their fellow-citizens, and delay the assistance of their allies.He showed them, that the numbers and riches ofthe people, aided by the advantages of situation,would still be sufficient, if they abandoned notthemselves to despair, to resist, at least retard,the progress of their enemies, and preserve theremaining provinces, till the other nations ofEurope, sensible of the common danger, couldcome to their relief. He represented, that, asenvy at their opulence and liberty had producedthis mighty combination against them , they wouldin vain expect by concessions to satisfy foes,whose pretensions were as little bounded bymoderation as by justice. He exhorted them toremember the generous valor of their ancestors,who, yet in the infancy of the state, preferredliberty to every human consideration; and rousingtheir spirits to an obstinate defence, repelled allthe power, riches, and military discipline ofSpain. And he professed himself willing to treadin the steps of his illustrious predecessors, andhoped, that, as they had honored him with thesame affection, which their ancestors paid to theformer princes of Orange, they would secondhis efforts with the same constancy and manlyfortitude.