[Sidenote:  CHAP.  IX. 1621—­1634]

Grotius’s love of his native country continued unabated; all his views, all his hopes, were directed thither.  With these feelings he wrote his Apology.  He composed it in the Dutch language, and translated it afterwards into Latin:  it was published in 1622.  He dedicated it to the people of Holland and West Friesland.  It is divided into twenty chapters; in the first, he argues the important point, that each of the United Provinces is sovereign and independent of the States General, and that the authority of these is confined to the defence of the provinces against their enemies.  In the second chapter, he applies the position to ecclesiastical concerns; these, he says, are subject to the sovereign power of each State.  In the following chapters, he descends into the particular charges against him; defending himself against all the crimes and irregularities of which he was accused, and shewing the informality of the judicial proceedings by which he and his companions in misfortune were tried and condemned.

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

His answer was universally read and approved:  It greatly incensed the States General:  They proscribed it, and forbade all persons to have it in their possession, under pain of death; but no answer to it was published.  The edict made Grotius and his friends entertain apprehensions for his personal safety.  On this account, he obtained from the French monarch letters of naturalization, dated the 26th February 1623:  By these, his majesty took him under his special protection.

Grotius retained many friends in every part of the United Provinces:  Prince Frederick Henry, the brother of Maurice, was among them.  He had never entered into his brother’s persecuting projects.

“The Count d’Estrades has given us,” says Burigni, “some anecdotes on this subject, which we shall relate on his authority.  He assures us, that, being one day tete a tete with Prince Henry Frederick in his coach, he heard him say, that he had much to do to keep well with his brother Maurice, who suspected him of secretly favouring Barneveldt and the Arminians.  He told me, (these were the Count’s own words), it was true that he kept a correspondence with them, to prevent their opposing his election, in case his brother should die; but that, as it imported him to be on good terms with his brother, and to efface the notion he had of his connection with the Arminians, he made use of Vandenuse, one of his particular friends, and Barneveldt’s son-in-law, to let the cabal know, that it was necessary for him to accommodate himself to his brother, that he might be better able to serve them,—­which Barneveldt approved of.”

[Sidenote:  CHAP.  IX. 1621—­1634.]

In the meantime, the situation of Grotius at Paris, became very uncomfortable.  His resources, and those of his wife, were small; and his pension was paid irregularly.  Cardinal de Richelieu wished to attach Grotius; but required from him an absolute and unqualified devotion to him, which was utterly irreconcileable with the slightest degree of honourable independence.  Grotius therefore declined the offers of the Cardinal.  From this time, the Cardinal regarded him with an evil eye, and often made him feel the effects of his displeasure.