The Prince accordingly set out, accompanied by the Deputies of the States-General, in the year 1618.  Beginning with the Province of Gueldres, he removed from the Senate of Nimeguen all who were known or suspected to favour Arminianism; and turned out the Ministers, obliging them instantly to leave the town.  At Overyssel he met with no opposition.  In Arnheim there was a numerous garrison of Attendant Soldiers; but the Prince having intelligence in the place, got into it by night:  and the soldiers seeing themselves betrayed, laid down their arms.  Some Senators were deposed, and the Secretary of the Council banished the City.

The States of Holland, knowing that the Prince was to treat Utrecht in the same manner, sent thither Grotius, and Hoogerbetz, Pensionary of Leyden.  Their instructions bore, first that they should consider and resolve on some method of opposing the commission given by the States-General to Prince Maurice:  secondly, that they should consult in what manner the union between the particular States of the Provinces might be strengthened, for their mutual aid and assistance.

The Magistrates of Utrecht, in consequence of the advices given them, doubled the guards at the gates, and armed all the militia they could assemble.  Grotius and Hoogerbetz promised that the States of Holland would not abandon them on this occasion when their sovereignty was at stake:  they also brought Letters from the States to the principal officers of the ordinary garrison, tending to persuade them that it was their duty to obey the States of Utrecht, who paid them, and to resist the Stadtholder.

Every thing seemed ready for enabling the city to make a vigorous resistance:  the Burghers had taken up arms, and the Attendant Soldiers were posted in the principal quarters of the town.  These dispositions did not divert the Prince from his design of seizing it.  The old garrison, from a jealousy of the new, declared for him; this occasioned a mutiny:  some of the Burghers left the interest of the city, which being unprovided of good officers, the Prince and the Deputies of the States found means to enter, and reduce it.  The Prince being now master of the town, disbanded the Attendant Soldiers, made Ledenberg, Secretary of the States, and some Senators, prisoners, and turned out of their places those who had distinguished themselves by their resistance, putting in their room such as he could depend on.  The States-General at the same time published an Ordonnance at the Hague for disbanding the new levies.  Grotius, who was returned to Rotterdam, finding resistance would only occasion new troubles, advised the city even before receiving the Ordonnance of the States-General, to dismiss the Attendant Soldiers.

FOOTNOTES: 

[82] La Neuvill’s Hist. of Holland.  B. iii. c. 5.