By the advice of the States, Vorstius replied to his royal adversary in a most respectful manner; still, the royal adversary was not satisfied.  Finally, the States condemned the obnoxious doctrines of Vorstius, divested him of all his offices; and sentenced him to perpetual banishment.  Vorstius remained concealed during two years; then found an asylum in the dominions of the Duke of Holstein, who, as we have mentioned, took the remains of the Arminians into his protection.

Vorstius died in 1622.

CHAPTER IX.

GROTIUS AFTER HIS ESCAPE FROM PRISON, TILL HIS APPOINTMENT OF AMBASSADOR FROM SWEDEN TO THE COURT OF FRANCE.

1621-1634.

Soon after the escape of Grotius from prison, he repaired to Paris:  in this, he followed the advice of Du Maurier, the French ambassador at the Hague.  His works had made him known in every part of Europe, in which learning was cultivated:  but persons properly qualified to appreciate their merit, existed no where in such abundance as at Paris:  he was personally esteemed and regarded by the monarch; and the principal officers of state were attached to him.  Paris was also recommended to him by its libraries, the easy access to them, and the habitual intercourse of the men of letters, who, during, at least, a great part of the year, made that city their place of residence.

[Sidenote:  From the Escape of Grotius till his appointment of Ambassador.]

Grotius arrived at Paris on the 13th of April 1621.  He was immediately noticed by a multitude of persons of distinction and rank; but it was not till March 1622, that he was presented to the king.  His majesty received him graciously, and settled upon him a pension of 3,000 livres.  The Prince of Conde, the Chancellor, and the Keeper of the Seals, had exerted themselves to dispose the king in his favour.  His majesty professed kindness towards those, who had been persecuted by the States; and issued an edict, dated the 22d April 1622, by which he took them under his protection, in the same manner as if they were his own subjects; he even extended this benefit to their children.  The celebrated President Jeannin was one of the most active and useful of Grotius’s friends; but he died soon after Grotius arrived at Paris.

Grotius, during his stay in that city, attended frequently the courts of justice.  He observed the wretched style of oratory, which at that time, prevailed in them.  It was, in some measure, corrected by Patru and Le Maitre; but it did not reach its best state, till the end of the reign of Lewis XIV.  The rhetorical march and laboured amplifications allowed at the French bar, are offensive to English ears.  Has any nation produced a more perfect style of forensic or judicial eloquence, than that of Sir William Grant?  The wisdom and justice of Lord Stowell’s decisions, and the admirable arguments by which he explains or illustrates them, are known and acknowledged by every Court.