Fifteen persons were executed for the conspiracy.  If ever mercy was becoming to a man, it would have been pre-eminently so to Maurice on this occasion; but he was inflexible as adamant.  The mother, the wife, and the son of Groeneveld, threw themselves at his feet, imploring pardon.  Prayers, tears and sobs were alike ineffectual.  It is even said that Maurice asked the wretched mother “why she begged mercy for her son, having refused to do as much for her husband?” To which cruel question she is reported to have made the sublime answer—­“Because my son is guilty, and my husband was not.”

These bloody executions caused a deep sentiment of gloom.  The conspiracy excited more pity for the victims than horror for the intended crime.  Maurice, from being the idol of his countrymen, was now become an object of their fear and dislike.  When he moved from town to town, the people no longer hailed him with acclamations; and even the common tokens of outward respect were at times withheld.  The Spaniards, taking advantage of the internal weakness consequent on this state of public feeling in the States, made repeated incursions into the provinces, which were now united but in title, not in spirit.  Spinola was once more in the field, and had invested the important town of Breda, which was the patrimonial inheritance of the princes of Orange.  Maurice was oppressed with anxiety and regret; and, for the sake of his better feelings, it may be hoped, with remorse.  He could effect nothing against his rival; and he saw his own laurels withering from his careworn brow.  The only hope left of obtaining the so much wanted supplies of money was in the completion of a new treaty with France and England.  Cardinal Richelieu, desirous of setting bounds to the ambition and the successes of the House of Austria, readily came into the views of the States; and an obligation for a loan of one million two hundred thousand livres during the year 1624, and one million more for each of the two succeeding years, was granted by the king of France, on condition that the republic made no new truce with Spain without his mediation.

An alliance nearly similar was at the same time concluded with England.  Perpetual quarrels on commercial questions loosened the ties which bound the States to their ancient allies.  The failure of his son’s intended marriage with the infanta of Spain had opened the eyes of King James to the way in which he was despised by those who seemed so much to respect him.  He was highly indignant; and he undertook to revenge himself by aiding the republic.  He agreed to furnish six thousand men, and supply the funds for their pay, with a provision for repayment by the States at the conclusion of a peace with Spain.