E P I S T L E

...what is more, his credit In this context, his financial standing and international reputation., and the hearts of his subjects; which forced him Referring to the King of Spain, Philip IV. to receive the law To accept the terms of a treaty or peace agreement, likely the Peace of Münster. from those whom he believed for so long he could reduce to their former slavery, and to choose as Intermediaries those very people whom he could not resolve to name as anything other than Rebels.

These, MY LORD, are the paths original: "brisées"; a hunting term referring to branches broken and scattered to mark a trail for others to follow. upon which you walk; these are the tracks that you are going to follow; and what should we not expect from your progress, since your first attempts original: "coups d'essay"; the initial demonstrations of a young noble's skill in military or state affairs. have been so admirable?

This advantage is even found in Your Highness original: "V. A." (Votre Altesse). for the happiness of the Fatherland original: "Patrie"; referring to the Dutch Republic (the United Provinces)., that in the youth in which you find yourself, you will be able to maintain its splendor for a long time, and carry even higher than your Fathers this marvelous Edifice A metaphor for the Dutch state and its political structure., to which they have given such solid foundations, and which they have so happily raised to the point where we see it today.

Today, MY LORD, everyone contemplates you as a noble Scion original: "Rejetton"; literally a "shoot" or "offshoot" of a plant, used here to describe the Prince as the budding hope of his family line.