[40] Gassendi’s Life of Pyresc, lib. 2. p. 79.

[41] Ep. 99.  Feb. 3, 1602.

[42] Ep. 87. ad Vossium, p. 34.

[43] Casaub.  Ep. 597. p. 313.

[44] Ep. 313. p. 317.

[45] Ep. 527. p. 204.

[46] Scaligerana p. 178. ed. 1695.

[47] Ep. 1089.

[48] Ep.  Baudii, 100.  Cent. 3.  Scal.  Poemata, p. 359.

[49] Discus.  Apolog.  Rivetiani, p. 740.  Ep. 504, p. 885.  Ep. 558. p. 924.  Ep. 664. p. 956.  Ep. 736. p. 974.

XIV.  The United Provinces still bravely maintained their liberty against the efforts of Spain, who since the peace of Vervins had collected her whole force against them.  The glory they acquired by this illustrious defence determined them to make choice of an Historian who might transmit with dignity to after-ages the signal exploits of this memorable war.  Several learned men made great interest for the place; among others Baudius, the famous Professor of Eloquence in the university of Leyden:  but the States thought young Grotius (who had taken no step to obtain it) deserved the preference:  and what is still more singular, Baudius himself did not find fault with their choice, because he looked upon Grotius to be already a very great man.

XV.  His high reputation was on the point of procuring him, about the same time, a very honourable settlement in France.  King Henry IV. sensible that he ought to have a man of the greatest merit at the head of his Library, had, at the recommendation of M. de Villeroi, while Gosselin his librarian was yet living, fixed upon Casaubon, who at that time had the greatest name for literature.  This affair was carried on mysteriously:  The King desired to see Casaubon in private:  he told him, that he intended to make him his librarian; and that Gosselin could not live above a year; adding, with the frank and noble air which so well became that great Prince:  “You shall see my fine books, and tell me what they contain; for I don’t understand them myself.”

Gosselin lived three years after this conversation, till 1603.  The Jesuits being informed Casaubon was to be set over the King’s Library, represented to his majesty the inconveniences of confiding a treasure of that nature to the most obstinate of all heretics.  This made some impression on the king:  nevertheless he was afraid of a clamour were it known that he refused an employment promised to a Protestant on account of his religion.  He consulted with some persons; and they advised him to send to Holland for Grotius, whom he knew, and appoint him his librarian; which would make the Public ascribe the change to some private discontent, and not to religion.  Casaubon, apprised of what was doing, remained perfectly quiet:  but the President de Thou, thinking the King’s honour concerned in keeping his word, warmly solicited in his favour, and, after the affair had been suspended some weeks, Casaubon was at length nominated.  Grotius had had no part in this whole proceeding:  accordingly Casaubon was so far from being offended with him, that, writing to Daniel Heinsius, December 29, 1603, he assures him if the place could have made Grotius’s fortune, he wished he had got it, because he loved him, and admired his prodigious genius.