1. _They would stipulate by a secret article not to oppose the settlement of Succession which the ~Emperor~ might make for his Territories in ~Italy~, and which should be freely accepted by the States thereof; and they would engage to guaranty that Settlement._ 2. _They would stipulate by a secret article, that they would not oppose the advantages of Succession, which the ~Emperor~, with the consent of the different States of ~Italy~, might procure in favour of the archdutchess his daughter; and contribute to maintain what he shall so establish for his daughters, or for any one he shall pitch upon, with regard to his Territories in ~Italy~; and even to guaranty what may be established by the ~Emperor~ in consequence of that Settlement._ _Seville, Jan. 16._ Couriers are continually arriving upon the heels of one another, which occasion frequent councils. _Hague._ About the latter end of this month their High Mightinesses wrote a letter to the United Provinces, for the celebration of the 28th of _Feb._ as a day of solemn thanksgiving, fasting and prayer, which imports in substance, _That altho’ it has pleas’d God, in his infinite patience and clemency, that we have enjoy’d peace last year, this peace was nevertheless attended with so much uneasiness and difficulty, in relation to the small success of the negotiations set on foot for terminating amicably the differences in ~Europe~, and establishing a general tranquillity, that we are still in a very uncertain and difficult scituation, and have great reason to fear that a war may at last happen, wherein this State may be engag’d, contrary to its inclination: That our apprehension in this respect increases so much the more when we consider, that notwithstanding all the blessings which it hath pleased God to shower down upon our dear Country, the sins and iniquities thereof, far from diminishing, increase daily, to such a degree, that last year horrible, abominable sins appear’d, almost unknown before in this Country; and that we ought to fear, that the patience of the Lord, justly provok’d, ceasing, his Judgments may at last fall upon our dear Country, unless we endeavour to prevent them, by an unfeigned repentance and conversion._ FAIRS _From the beginning of ~February~ to the 12th of ~March~._