Page "Eighty Years' War" Paragraph 74

There was continual contact between Maurice and the government in Brussels during 1620 and 1621 regarding a possible renewal of the Truce.

Albert was in favor of it, especially after Maurice falsely gave him the impression that a peace would be possible on the basis of a token recognition by the Republic of the sovereignty of the king of Spain.

When Albert sent the chancellor of Brabant, Petrus Peckius, to The Hague to negotiate with the States-General on this basis, he fell into this trap and innocently started talking about this recognition, instantly alienating his hosts.

Because nothing was as certain to unite the northern provinces as the suggestion that they should abandon their hard-fought sovereignty.

If this incident had not come up, the negotiations might well have been successful as a number of the provinces were amenable to simply renewing the Truce on the old terms.

Now the formal negotiations were broken off, however, and Maurice was authorized to conduct further negotiations in secret.

His attempts to get a better deal met with counter-demands from the new Spanish government for more substantive Dutch concessions, however.

The Spaniards demanded Dutch evacuation of the West and East Indies ; lifting of the restrictions on Antwerp's trade by way of the Scheldt ; and toleration of the public practice of the Catholic religion in the Republic.

These demands were unacceptable to Maurice and the Truce expired in April, 1621.