[147] Bayle.

[148] Ep. 280. p. 104.

[149] Ep. 91. p. 782

[150] Barbeyrac’s Preface.

[151] M. Daube, Essais sur les principes du Droit, Preface, p. 6.

[152] Ep. 183. p. 798.

X. In the mean time Grotius began to grow tired at Paris:  his pension was ill paid, and his revenue insufficient to keep him decently with a wife and a numerous family.  July 12, 1623, he writes to his brother, “Pensions are no longer paid here, which embarrasses me greatly.  If any Prince, such as the King of Denmark or the Elector of Saxony, would employ me, and offer me a handsome salary, it would be worth my notice.  At present nobody thinks of me, because they imagine I am employed by a great King.  I have lost some powerful friends:  those who are now in power wish me well; but they have too much business on their hands, and I don’t love to importune.”

M. D’Aligre being made Keeper of the Seals, Grotius flattered himself that it would be an advantage to his affairs.  “He is a good man, says he, and I shall be well recommended to him.  I shall go to see him when he is less harrass’d with visits; and try whether his friendship can be of use to me.  However (he writes to his father and brother, Jan. 21, 1624) if any thing favourable should offer in Denmark or the Maritime Towns, I would consider of it.”  He made a visit to the new Lord Keeper, and received a promise of more than he hoped for:  but he began to build no longer on compliments:  he wished his friends would try to get him a settlement in the North; but would not have it known that he set them on.  Some advised him to go to Spires, where there was an Imperial Chamber, and follow the profession of an Advocate:  the writings there were all in Latin, the Roman law was followed, and the Augsburg confession the religion professed.  January 26, 1624, he begs of his father to inform himself of the manner of living in that country, for he must soon come to some resolution.

In the mean time hopes were given him of his pension[153]:  though no pensions were paid, the Keeper of the Seals promised that he would take particular care of him; and was in fact as good as his word:  one of the first things he did was to speak to the King in favour of Grotius[154], and to obtain an order for the payment of the greatest part of the arrears owing to him.  However he still pressed his father and brother to seek out a settlement for him[155].  Feb. 16, 1624, he wrote to them that he persisted in his resolution of going to some town of the Augsburg confession, where he might live cheap, and wait for better times.  “The state of the kingdom, says he, makes me uneasy; and I have no prospect of a certainty for myself.  These negotiations must be managed with precaution and secrecy, lest the knowledge of them should lessen the consideration in which I am held.  It is sufficient that those who wish me well know that I am not so fixed here but I can come away if any thing better offers.”  In the mean time the Keeper of the Seals and the Ministry heaped civilities on him[156]; they spoke of him to the King, and at length he received three thousand Francs, part in money, and part in bills.