“Gracious Elector,” answered one of the gentlemen, “we were sent hither, in the name of the states of the duchy of Cleves, to present to you in person their wishes and requests.  But since your Electoral Highness would not have the kindness to grant us an audience, but referred us to your minister, his excellency Count Schwarzenberg, we have preferred to intrude upon your Electoral Highness with a written document, in order that your highness might be made acquainted with the desires and petitions of the duchy of Cleves by means of our own writing, rather than by the mouth of his excellency your minister.”

“It pleases you, gentlemen, to impugn the character of my minister, Count Schwarzenberg?” asked the Elector.  “You would insinuate that he might represent things differently from what they actually are?  I give you to know, though, that Schwarzenberg is a servant singularly true and devoted to his Elector, and that I have much more reason to trust him than the estates of the duchy of Cleves, who have dared to make known to me through you their strange requests.  I have had you summoned now in order to have confirmed by you orally what is stated in this paper, for it seems to me nothing less than sheer impossibility that the estates should venture to propose to their liege lord what you have proposed.  Repeat to me, therefore, by word of mouth the demands of the states of Cleves, then I will return you my answer.  Which of you is spokesman?”

“I, Baron van Velsen, your Electoral Highness.”

“A Dutch name, as it seems to me.”

“My family came originally from Holland, but settled in the duchy of Cleves fifty years ago.”

“Speak then, Baron van Velsen.  I am ready to hear you.”

“Your Electoral Highness, the states of the duchy of Cleves send us to seek succor from you their liege lord in this time of their necessity and distress.  On all sides we are oppressed by soldiers, and perpetually in danger of being seized and consumed by one or other of the contending potentates, princes, and lords.  In the Netherlands the contest is still going on between the States and the Spaniards, and daily threatens to involve us in the calamities and perils of war, and equally alarming to us is the neighborhood of the Imperial and Swedish troops.  Oppressed by all, downtrodden by all, there is only one assured means of deliverance.  It is this, that your highness nominate the Electoral Prince stadtholder of the duchy of Cleves, and permit him to take up his residence among the trusty people of Cleves.”

“Just tell me, you wise and prudent deputies from Cleves, what advantage can accrue to you from the stadtholdership of the Electoral Prince?” asked the Elector hastily.  “And how far would that go in furnishing redress for your difficulties?”