Such as were displeased with these pacific sentiments, objected to him that he had formerly thought otherwise.  Laurentius wrote a piece on this subject, which is mentioned by Grotius in a letter to his brother[632], “Laurentius, says he, objects to me that what I have formerly written contradicts my later works:  however, if they be examined by the true rules of criticism, no such contradiction will be found.  Farther, if, as I have advanced in years, conversation with able men, and a more perfect examination, have made me change my sentiments, I ought not on that account to be accused of inconstancy, no more than St. Augustin, who retracted many things.”  He again touches on this point in his Votum pro pace[633].  “If in my youth, says he, having less knowledge than now, the prejudices of education, or a blind attachment to authors of same, carried me too great lengths, shall I not be permitted at present, when I am old, to adopt more reasonable sentiments, after long enquiry and a renunciation of all party spirit?”

It is not surprising that after such a declaration the zealous Clergy sought to render him odious.  They printed a book against him, under the title of Grotius papista[634].  It is certain that he gave the preference to the Roman Catholic religion above all the others, and it has even been reported that he promised to M. Bignon, before leaving Paris, to declare himself openly a Roman Catholic[635].  It has also been said that M. Arnaud asserted, that he was informed by a man of honour, who had it from M. Bignon, that Grotius, on setting out for Sweden, declared to this last Gentleman, that as soon as he came back he would make profession of the Roman Catholic Religion.  The Jesuits have published a Flemish book under the title of the Testament of Grotius[636], in which they advance that he was ready to turn Roman Catholic:  the Author of Vindiciae Grotianae has pretended to confute this assertion by some passages in Grotius’s earlier works:  but his reasoning must appear absurd, since it was only in the latter part of his life that he preferred the Romish Religion.  A Protestant, who could not deny that Grotius gave the preference to the Roman Catholic religion, has ventured to advance, that it was perhaps with a view to be made a Cardinal:  this wretched conjecture is Osiander’s; but besides that Grotius had a wife of whom he was very fond, he was a man incapable of embracing an opinion from motives of interest.

It is very certain that Grotius was most intimate with Father Petau, who cultivated his friendship (as this learned Jesuit tells us himself in one of his letters) in hopes of bringing him to an open profession of the Roman Catholic faith.  This gave M. Varlois occasion to say, in his elogium of Father Petau[637], “What did he not do to gain over the illustrious Grotius to the Catholic Religion?  He did not dislike us, he was even almost one of us, since he publicly declared his acceptance of the doctrine of the Council