December 12, 1618, they presented to the States-General a Writing from the King, asking that the prisoners might have justice done them; that their judges might be persons impartial and dispassionate; that the States would rather chuse mild, than rigorous measures:  “And, said the Ministers, his Majesty will take for a high offence the little regard you pay to his counsels, his prayers, and his friendship, which for the future will be as much cooled as it was heretofore warm in your interest.”

The States made answer on the nineteenth of December following, that they would act with all the lenity and clemency which justice and the safety of the State would permit; and that they hoped the King would leave it to their prudence.

The French Ambassadors continued their solicitations[88]; but the answer made them March 23, 1619, must have left them no hope:  it represented the Prisoners as turbulent men, suspected of very heinous crimes, and almost convicted of conspiring against the Republic, and projecting and attempting to destroy the Union and the State.  This answer was certainly concerted with Prince Maurice, who was highly offended that the King of France should interest himself so much to save men whom he looked on as his declared enemies.  Boissise quitted Holland, leaving Du Maurier alone to act in favour of the Accused.  On Monday morning, May 13, 1619, the Ambassador was informed, that sentence had been passed the Day before, and that Barnevelt was to be executed that day.  He went immediately to the Assembly of the States to get the execution suspended, but was refused audience:  he wrote to the States, conjuring them by the regard they ought to have for the King his master, not to spill the blood of a Minister who had served them so faithfully; and, if they would not pardon him, to confine him to one of his country houses, his friends being bound for him; or banish him the country for ever.  This Letter had no effect:  their resolution was taken to destroy him.  When the Grand Pensionary was informed of his sentence, he seemed less moved at it, than for the fate of Grotius and Hoogerbetz:  he asked if they also were to die? adding, It would be great pity:  they are still able to do great service to the Republic.  The scaffold for his execution was erected in the court of the Castle at the Hague, facing the Prince of Orange’s apartments.  He made a short speech to the people, which is preserved in the Mercure Francois:  “Burghers, said he, I have been always your faithful countryman:  believe not that I die for treason; but for maintaining the Rights and Liberties of my Country.”  After this Speech the executioner struck off his head at one blow.  It is affirmed that the Prince of Orange, to feast himself with the cruel pleasure of seeing his enemy perish, beheld the execution with a glass.  The people looked on it with other eyes:  for many came to gather the sand wet with his blood, to keep it carefully in phials:  and the croud of those who had the same curiosity continued next day, notwithstanding all they could do to hinder them.