William Grotius wrote about this time the lives of the Advocates, under the title of Vitae Jurisconsultorum quorum in Pandectis exstant nomina, conscriptae a Gulielmo Grotio Jurisconsulto Delphensi.  He sent this book to his brother, who writes to him that he read it with pleasure, and was delighted to see a work which demonstrated his brother’s genius, learning, and good sense.

William Grotius, whose marriage had prevented his going to France to see his brother, went thither however in 1629:  he returned again to Holland.  William being desirous to have his brother’s picture, Hugo had the complaisance to sit for it, and send it to him.  The enmity of the Magistrates was still so violent at this time, that William made a mystery of this picture; in which Grotius thought he acted very prudently.  In 1638 there was a talk of making William Grotius Pensionary of Delft.  The conditions on which the place was offered did not suit him, and he declined it.  This refusal was approved of by Grotius; for he writes to him, March 13, 1638, “As to the place of Pensionary of our native town, the more I think of it, the happier I imagine you in having got rid of it, and in preferring honour to profit:  for in these times it would have been impossible to have preserved that place and your honour.”

The East-India Company chose him for their Advocate in 1639.  Grotius compliments his brother on it March 26, that year.  “I always loved that Company, he says:  I look upon it as the support of the Republic; and if I could be at present of any use to it, I would most gladly embrace the opportunity.”

Grotius’s writings concerning Antichrist were approved of by William and their Father.  However, as there was reason to apprehend that the printing of these pieces might increase the number and animosity of his enemies, Grotius proposed to his Brother not to take upon him their publication, especially as he might easily find persons that were far from a factious spirit, who would willingly undertake it:  but William Grotius ran the hazard of this publication, without being frightened at the consequences.

Grotius had always discovered great impatience when denied the tides of honour due to the Ambassadors of crowned heads.  He imagined it to be the consequence of a plot of his enemies to depreciate him.  William did not approve of his brother’s great heat on this subject:  and thought there was reason to presume that it was owing rather to inattention, than a premeditated design.  Grotius, whose mildness of temper was greatly altered by his late disputes with the Reformed Ministers, as Henry de Villeneuve observes in a letter to the Abbe Barcellini, was much dissatisfied with his brother’s manner of excusing those of whom he thought he had reason to complain; and wrote to him very sharply on this subject, December 12, 1643.  “I imagine, says he, I see and hear you pleading at the Bar:  you find reasons to excuse my enemies for things for which no body