XI.  In fine, upon mature consideration, trusting to the good-will of his friends, and the protestations of friendship from the Prince of Orange, he ventured to return to Holland.  He had always secretly wished to be restored; but, however ardent this desire might be, he was incapable of purchasing his restoration by any acts of meanness.  They had discovered his inclination; and in 1623 a rumour spread that he was seeking to be reconciled to the States-General.  He was sensible this report had reached Du Maurier, and therefore wrote to him on the 24th of September[162] that there was nothing in it; that the times were not favourable, and that the publication of his Apology put an obstacle in the way of his return.  Du Maurier was of the same opinion[163], and no body had better opportunities of knowing the disposition of mens minds and the situation of affairs.

However in the year following Du Maurier began to entertain better hopes.  Being come back from Holland to France, he wrote to Grotius that his affairs went on so well, he might flatter himself with the prospect of returning:  but this agreed ill with other advices received by Grotius; and he wrote to Du Maurier, July 30, 1624, that he consulted his ancient friendship more than the situation of affairs; that his enemies were so powerful he did not see there could be any hopes for him; and that he was endeavouring to provide himself with patience to support perpetual banishment and the inconveniences annexed to that unhappy situation.

One would imagine the death of Prince Maurice must make a speedy revolution in Grotius’ favour:  the friendship with which he was honoured by Prince Frederic Henry gave his friends ground to hope for it; but he himself was of a different opinion.  July 31, 1625[164], he wrote to his father that his return was an affair of great consequence, which perhaps must not be mentioned at present.  He sent his wife into Holland in the spring 1627[165], that she might enquire herself how matters stood.  She found many friends[166]; but as she was convinced of her husband’s innocence, and knew that in all Holland there was not a man capable of labouring so effectually for the interest of his Country, she imagined they ought to make the first advances, ask him to forget what was past, and pray him to return.  This was to suppose the return of the Golden age; and experience ought to have informed her better.  She would not therefore have recourse to petitions and entreaties to obtain Grotius’ return, lest they should be taken for some acknowledgment of a fault.  This encreased the malevolence of his enemies, and they fought to revenge themselves on his brother-in-law Reigersberg, to whom they wanted to make a crime of his corresponding with Grotius by letters; but their malice was ineffectual, because the calumnies to which they had recourse were too easily confuted.  However his friends bestirred themselves in his favour:  of which Grotius being informed, he begged of them to promise nothing in his name, that there might be no ground to imagine he solicited leave to return.  “For (he writes to his brother) that is what my enemies want, that they may reproach me with asking pardon for my pretended faults.”  The endeavours of his friends were fruitless; and his brother wrote to him (February 21, 1630) that there was no hope of success.