Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 3.djvu/460

452 Fourthly, as to the tenth article there is nothing to be added, unless that the States-general may repair and increase the fortifications of the towns, places, and forts where they shall have their garrisons; but this at their own expense. Otherwise, under that pretext, they might seize all the revenues of the country.

Fifthly, as to the eleventh article they think the States ought not to have the revenues of the chattellanies and dependencies of these towns and places, which are to be their barrier against France; this being a sort of sovereignty, and very prejudicial to the ecclesiastical and civil economy of the country. But the said prince and count are of opinion, that the States general ought to have, for the maintenance of their garrisons and fortifications, a sum of money of a million and half, or two millions of florins, which they ought to receive from the king's officers, who shall be ordered to pay that sum before any other payment.

Sixthly, and the convention which shall be made on this affair between his catholick majesty and the States-general shall be for a limited time.

These are the utmost conditions to which the said prince and count think it possible for his catholick majesty to be brought; and they declare at the same time, that their imperial and catholick majesties will sooner abandon the Low-countries than to take them upon other conditions, which would be equally expensive, shameful, and unacceptable to them.

On the other side, the said prince and count are persuaded, that the advantages at this time yielded to the States-general may hereafter be very prejudicial to themselves; forasmuch as they may put the people