This reasoning was particularly convincing to Prince Maurice, whose fame, with a large portion of his authority and revenues, depended on the continuance of hostilities:  it was also strongly relished and supported in Zealand generally, and in the chief towns, which dreaded the rivalry of Antwerp.  But those who bore the burden of the war saw the subject under a different aspect.  They feared that the present state of things would lead to their conquest by the enemy, or to the ruin of their liberty by the growing power of Maurice.  They hoped that peace would consolidate the republic and cause the reduction of the debt, which now amounted to twenty-six million florins.  At the head of the party who so reasoned was De Barneveldt; and his name is a guarantee with posterity for the wisdom of the opinion.

To allow the violent opposition to subside, and to prevent any explosion of party feuds, the prudent Barneveldt suggested a mere suspension of arms, during which the permanent interests of both states might be calmly discussed.  He even undertook to obtain Maurice’s consent to the armistice.  The prince listened to his arguments, and was apparently convinced by them.  He, at any rate, sanctioned the proposal; but he afterward complained that Barneveldt had deceived him, in representing the negotiation as a feint for the purpose of persuading the kings of France and England to give greater aid to the republic.  It is more than likely that Maurice reckoned on the improbability of Spain’s consenting to the terms of the proposed treaty; and, on that chance, withdrew an opposition which could scarcely be ascribed to any but motives of personal ambition.  It is, however, certain that his discontent at this transaction, either with himself or Barneveldt, laid the foundation of that bitter enmity which proved fatal to the life of the latter, and covered his own name, otherwise glorious, with undying reproach.

The United Provinces positively refused to admit even the commencement of a negotiation without the absolute recognition of their independence by the archdukes.  A new ambassador was accordingly chosen on the part of these sovereigns, and empowered to concede this important admission.  This person attracted considerable attention, from his well-known qualities as an able diplomatist.  He was a monk of the order of St. Francis, named John de Neyen, a native of Antwerp, and a person as well versed in court intrigue as in the studies of the cloister.  He, in the first instance, repaired secretly to The Hague; and had several private interviews with Prince Maurice and Barneveldt, before he was regularly introduced to the states-general in his official character.  Two different journeys were undertaken by this agent between The Hague and Brussels, before he could succeed in obtaining a perfect understanding as to the specific views of the archdukes.  The suspicions of the states-general seem fully justified by the dubious tone of the various communications, which avoided the direct admission of the required preliminary as to the independence of the United Provinces.  It was at length concluded in explicit terms; and a suspension of arms for eight months was the immediate consequence.