He wanted no conditions but theirs; "nor would he directly, or indirectly," he said, "separate himself from the cause on which hung all his evil or felicity." He knew that it was the object of the enemy to deprive the country of its head, and no inducements were sufficient to make him a party to the plot.

At the same time, he was unwilling to be an obstacle, in his own person, to the conclusion of an honorable peace.

He would resign his offices which he held at the solicitation of the whole country, if thus a negotiation were likely to be more successful.

"The Prince of Parma and the disunited provinces," said he to the states-general, "affect to consider this war as one waged against me and in my name--as if the question alone concerned the name and person of the general.

If it be so, I beg you to consider whether it is not because I have been ever faithful to the land.