PErsons of my quality , being placed on the Theatre of the World , and their lives exposed to publike view ; by how much their Estate is the greater , by so much their liberty is the lesse . For although they are not tyed in Conscience , to give an account of their Actions to any but to God , who is the sole Judge of their duty ; yet , their Honor inforceth them many times to lay open , even their secret thoughts to men , who are the Judges of their reputation .

If then my arrivall in Flanders heretofore , hath given so much occasion of discourse to all Christendome , my departure lately from thence hath caused little lesse throughout all Europe . But as ill Fortune hath as little , wherewithall to recompence just prayses , as good hath too much to reward flatteries ; The misery of mine in either time hath beene cause , that more interessed tongues and pennes have beene found to blame me , then charitable to defend me .

So I understand now from all parts , that they endeavour by divers meanes to condemne the designe and manner of my departure out of the Low-Countreys , as well by letters , written in severall places , as also by memorialls , relations and Gazetts , published and dispersed , and by manifests , set forth even under my owne name ; amongst which one is come to my hand in Print , a piece indeed , which seemes to be to my Justification ; But in effect , tends not but to trouble and imbroyle me on all fides . Briefly , I perceive no Imaginary thing omitted , to give sinister Interpretations to my retreat .

Now , as I have cause to feare , that so many devises may prevaile against the sincerity of my intentions , and inclinations : and to the end , that this pretended Manifest , which passeth for my owne , may not hereafter be of any force in this nature , especially having been publikely seene in my hands , which might serve as a tacit Approbation of it , if I should dissemble it : e thought it but due to my reputation , and true Interests , to set forth this publike Declaration , containing the disadvowing of that piece , and such like , if there be any to be found , together with the principall motives , which made me retire from the Low-Countreys , the occasions which made me passe into England , and the resolutions wherein hitherto I remaine , that there may be no cause left of such various discourse to my disadvantage .

I desire then that every one may know , That when I took Flanders for my refuge , I look't upon that place , but as a neighbour Port , whereto I repaired to avoid the tempest , that then disordered me ; and not as a Countrey I would have chosen to have remained or setled in , my obligation to France , being too strict to admit of such a thought .

I would likewise have it knowne , that in all the time I sojourned in Flanders , as well during the Peace , as since the rupture betwixt the two Crownes , my principall cares , have tended to my reconciliation with the King my Sonne , and I never concealed this desire , which even my Sonne in Law the King of Spaine did ever professe to esteeme both just and commendable .

It is true , that having for the space of seaven yeeres in vaine laboured an accommodation , and now discovering by advise of the wiser , neither passionate , nor interessed , and even by reason and experience , that after all possible care imployed , it hath rather beene reconded then advanced ; And that the place , wherein I remained seemed a perpetuall obstacle to all encounters , which might lead toward it , as well by reason of the breach continued , as also for other powerfull Considerations : At last , I found it would be most agreeable with my affaires , to live ( at least for a time ) in some place free from Suspition ; And the Season being then proper for drinking the Spaw Waters , when I first entred into this deliberation , I resolved to make some stay in the Country of Liege , a place Newtrall , hoping thereby , to finde as well remedy for my indispositions , as expedients for the advancement of my reconciliation .

This was my cleere Intention without any resolution concerning my returne into Flanders ; And to speake the truth , this incertainity wherein I found my selfe , hindred me from communicating the particulars of my designe to my Nephew the Cardinall Infante ; besides , his imployments in the warres , held him at such a distance from me at the time of my departure , that I could not have opportunity so much as to take my leave of him .

Parting then from Brussells , I went directly towards Liege , where the expectation of those people was as observable as the applause , wherewith I was received in all the Cities of that Dominion . And I have reason , to acknowledge an oblation to these Magistrates for the orders , they had given for my reception , wheresoever I was to stay . Neverthelesse , having before dispatch'd into Holland and other parts , to make provision for my security , during the time I stayed in the Country of Liege ; besides , foreseeing many difficulties in the safety of my abode there , I discovered that there would have beene yet more in my departure thence , if I should have beene necessitated to have left that place , so that finding all these accidents , as well by advice from such as I had employed abroad , as by the observations I made upon the place , where I was , and having yet free passage for Holland , I thought no time was to be lost in seeking some safe and quiet habitation which to me was then of most importance , considering my inconstant condition . So that for avoyding further hazard , I resolved presently to passe into England , as to the place of most security .

But before I proceed further in this discourse , I must not omit the successe , wherewith it pleased God to favour my voyage , which indeed was beyond all that I could desire . My Cousin , the prince of Orange , who met me at my very first entrance into the Country , received me in the Equipage , I was ( which indeed might have made me unknowne ) as if my adversity had served me for ornaments , and as if I had been in as great splendor as in my highest prosperity . And as for the States , they did not entertaine me , as a Princesse of my condition , desiring passage , but rather as a triumphant King , comming to visite them , and impart his victories to them . And for my Cousin the Princesse of Orange , who accompanied me through all Holland , she lived with me so respectfully and obliegeingly , and made the Country and her houses wherein I lodged , so agreeable to me , as that I could have almost thought them my owne , had not my ill fortune already too much accustomed me to know , that they are no more mine . And as to the entertainment given me by the King of Great Brittaine , my Sonne in Law , all that I can say of it , would but derogate from what was publikely seen , and my selfe must acknowledge : By His extraordidinary magnificence at my entrance into London , he hath published the esteem he had of my Person , by the cheerefulnesse appearing in his own Countenance , and in that of all his Subjects ; he shewed how deare my presence was to him . But above all , I acknowledge the true friendship , which I read in his heart , the freenes of his proceeding , and the tender affections of the Queen my Daughter , towards me , which have few examples , and haue given so much ease to my pressing afflictions , that it could not have been more , if God had sent an angel from heaven to comfort me . Insomuch , that I could not have had in all my voyage other occasion then of joy , if those things , which were prepared for my delight had not likewise beene Subjects of my Sorrow : In that they made me thinke , that the late King , my lord , appeared yet living in my person in strange Countrys , but in effect his very memory seemed dead for my sake in his owne Kingdome .

Now to returne to my discourse ; I must say , that having runne over all that hath past in this my retreat from Flanders , I cannot thinke , that any can charge me with neglect of my reputation for my diligence in the good of my affaires , nor that it will be hard to perswade such , as will indifferently judge thereof , that in this Retreat I have done any thing , either in Circumstances or Consequences , more , then all the time I sojourned in the Low-Countries , which may be repugnant to gratitude : And I adde , that I had done nothing unseemly , if , when I had left the territories of Spain , I had remained in Holland , though it be an Enemies Country ; because in this Occasion I had not sought Holland , as an Enemy to Spaine , but as an Allie and Confederate with France . And this quality of Holland , which was then advantagious to me , was not hurtfull to Spaine , in profiting me , So that remaining in Holland , I should not have prejudiced Spaine , in doing my selfe good .

And as for the bruites spread abroad , that I went into Holland to doe ill offices to Spaine , and that some of my people by order from me , had given up to my Cousin the Prince of Orange the Mappe of sundry places of the Low-Countries ; It is a rumour so ridiculous , that it deserves no answer but of scorne . Surely it had been much to my credit , by this example to have demonstrated to my Cousin the Prince of Orange , who received me so courteously , how well I used my hosts when I was gone from them , and besides , in giving him a good impression of my integrity , I had also made him know that I had a better of his providence , judging it such , as that he had not care enough to provide himselfe of a Plattforme of all the places of the Low-Countries . Truly this would have passed for a faire Compliment at my arrivall .

And this rumor is not more contemptible then another quite contrary is false , savoring of a malicious Invention , That I should go into Holland to treat of the Truce , or to practise against that State , and against my Cousin the Prince of Orange , under the pretence of hospitality .

But time having made appear even to the most simple , that these rumours were altogether false , and reason having made the wisest apprehend , that they had no resemblance of truth : I will rely upon that which is of more weight , and for Justification of all my designes , declare ingeniously , what were the motives of my resolution , in regard both of France and Spaine , whilst I remained in the Low-Countreys , and , why I retired from thence .

All the time I passed in Flanders , I kept this Temper , that my affections , as well as my behaviour , were al waies Neutrall in respect of Publique affaires betweene France and Spaine . The assistance which I received from Spaine on one side , and the Obligations , which I had to France on the other side , obliged me to carry my selfe in that Manner . And to speake cleerely , I should have held it as unjust , whilest I remained in the Dominions of Spaine , and lived at their expence , to take part with France , to the prejudice of Spain , as contrary to my owne inclination to have taken part with Spaine to the prejudice of France . And howsoever that pretended Manifest aggravating the complaints , which it makes under my name of Spaine , doth artificially insinuate , that I have borne much affection to the good of their affaires , which is but a hidden venome , to perplex me on the part of France , The truth is , that Spain in that point hath no more obligation to me then that I have ever passionately longed for that Union and Concord between those two Crowns , whereof in former times I had laid the foundations by a double Alliance . And that besides I have alwayes endeavoured since the rupture , to contribute all I was able to the reestablishment of Peace .