We do not find that the Prince of Orange, on whose friendship he had some reason to depend, protected him on this essential occasion.  The intrigues of his enemies diverted him from it.  They were at great pains to prejudice the Stadtholder against Grotius, by representing that he professed an inviolable attachment to the privileges of his Country; and, being of Barnevelt’s principles, would support them with equal firmness; and that the Prince could never agree with him because he would always oppose his views.  These reasons made an impression on Frederic, who being of the same character with all the Princes, of his house, wanted, says Du Maurier, to be Prince of Holland.  He approved therefore of the proceedings of the States-General, who intended to give Grotius to understand by their last Ordonnances, that they condemned him to perpetual banishment.

It will perhaps be wondered at that a wise man, such as Grotius, would hazard a journey to Holland without succeeding in the projects he had formed for obtaining permission to stay there:  but on some occasions it is prudent to run hazards.  The point is whether the appearance of success was such as a man of sense ought to build on.  He was sensible this would be objected to him, and in some of his letters he endeavours to justify his return.  He writes to Martinus Ruarus, January 19, 1632, that he came to Holland at the solicitations of his Friends, who imagined time and his services had mollified his enemies; but that immediately on his arrival he perceived his well-wishers would find great difficulty in bringing them to more moderate sentiments.  He complains in another letter, written to Du Maurier Feb. 6, 1632[174], that he found a want of courage in good men, and his misfortunes prevented them from speaking with freedom.

Vossius explains his friend’s reasons for coming to Holland in a letter of the thirteenth of February, 1632[175], to William Laud, Bishop of London.  “Grotius is returned to his Country by the advice of several illustrious men, some of whom are in great place.  He has done this without the knowledge of such as condemned him twelve years ago to perpetual imprisonment, and of those who in that time of trouble attained to the highest dignities by deposing such as were in power.  All these, excepting a few, think it their interest that this great man, whose merit they know, should be buried in obscurity; and therefore spoke against him with great warmth in the Assembly of the States.  He had several illustrious friends who stood up for him:  the nobility, three cities, Rotterdam, of which he was Pensionary; Delft, where he was born; and Amsterdam, no less famous for her prudence than her riches.  Leyden is much against him:  because the first Burgomaster was one of his Judges:  Harlem, for the like reason, is of the same sentiments.  Of the other towns some take a middle course:  most of them join Leyden; especially the smaller towns, in which the preachers