IV.  In the beginning of the year 1635 Grotius set out from Mentz on his embassy to France.  He was obliged to go a great way about, to avoid being surprised by the enemies parties.  Beginning his journey in very rainy weather, succeeded by a hard frost, he arrived at Metz much later than he expected, and indisposed with a cholic occasioned by the great cold; which obliged him to continue there some time till he recovered.  It was five days before he could write to the High Chancellor.  January 30, as soon as his pain abated, he wrote to him that he hoped to be able to continue his journey in two or three days, and that the vexation of his mind at being hindered from getting so soon as he wished to the place of his destination, was greater than the indisposition of his body.  He was extremely well received by the Commandants of Haguenau and Saverne.  At the former of those towns he met some waggons going to the army with a million of money, which it was said would soon be followed by other two.

He left Metz February 2[217], and was at Meaux the 7th, from whence he went to St. Denis.  On the 14th he wrote to the High Chancellor, that by the advice of his friends he had given the introductors of Ambassadors notice of his arrival, that they might pay him the usual honours; and that he would write to the Queen of Sweden as soon as he had his audience of the King[218].  Francis de Thou, hearing of his arrival, came immediately to visit him.

Grotius was suffered to remain long at St. Denis:  February 12, he wrote to Oxenstiern[219] that Count Brulon, introductor of Ambassadors, had been with him to acquaint him that the troubles of the Court had hitherto prevented the appointing a day for his entry.  In fact, the Duke de Puy-Laurens, and some other Lords, accused of giving bad counsels to Gaston of France Duke of Orleans, had been just arrested.

But Grotius suspected that his entry was deferred for other reasons; that they waited for the answers of La Grange and Feuquieres, employed by the Court of France in Germany, to know whether the High Chancellor would conform to the intentions of the French Ministry, and in consequence to proportion the honours to be paid Sweden’s Ambassador to Oxenstiern’s compliance.  Count Brulon assured Grotius that in two or three days every obstruction to his entry would be removed, and in the mean time gave him an invitation to see incognito the ballets and entertainments that were to be given the Sunday following, in the King’s apartments:  which the Ambassador thought fit to decline.  February 23[220] Count Brulon came to make Grotius another visit, and asked, who sent him into France?  Grotius answered, that he was the Queen of Sweden’s Ambassador, and was nominated to that employment by the High Chancellor of Sweden, by virtue of the powers given to his Excellency.  Brulon said, that the King of Spain had formerly empowered the Duke of Mentz to nominate Ambassadors; but they