The orator went on to show the absurdity, in his opinion, of permitting one province to continue the war, when all seven united had not the means to do it without the assistance of their allies.  He pointed out, too, the immense blunders that would be made, should it be thought that the Kings of France and England were so much interested in saving the provinces from perdition as to feel obliged in any event to render them assistance.

“Beware of committing an irreparable fault,” he said, “on so insecure a foundation.  You are deceiving yourselves:  And, in order that there may be no doubt on the subject, we declare to you by express command that if your adversaries refuse the truce, according to the articles presented to you by us, it is the intention of our kings to assist you with armies and subsidies, not only as during the past, but more powerfully than before.  If, on the contrary, the rupture comes from your side, and you despise the advice they are giving you, you have no succour to expect from them.  The refusal of conditions so honourable and advantageous to your commonwealth will render the war a useless one, and they are determined to do nothing to bring the reproach upon themselves.”

The president then intimated; not without adroitness, that the republic was placing herself in a proud position by accepting the truce, and that Spain was abasing herself by giving her consent to it.  The world was surprised that the States should hesitate at all.

There was much more of scholastic dissertation in the president’s address, but enough has been given to show its very peremptory character.

If the war was to go on it was to be waged mainly by Zeeland alone.  This was now plain beyond all peradventure.  The other provinces had resolved to accept the proposed treaty.  The cities of Delft and Amsterdam, which had stood out so long among the estates of Holland, soon renounced their opposition.  Prince Maurice, with praiseworthy patriotism, reconciled himself with the inevitable, and now that the great majority had spoken, began to use his influence with the factious minority.

On the day after Jeannin’s speech he made a visit to the French ambassadors.  After there had been some little discussion among them, Barneveld made his appearance.  His visit seemed an accidental one, but it had been previously arranged with the envoys.

The general conversation went on a little longer, when the Advocate, frankly turning to the Prince, spoke of the pain which he felt at the schism between them.  He defended himself with honest warmth against the rumours circulated, in which he was accused of being a Spanish partisan.  His whole life had been spent in fighting Spain, and he was now more determined than ever in his hostility to that monarchy.  He sincerely believed that by the truce now proposed all the solid advantages of the war would be secured, and that such a result was a triumphant one for the republic.  He was also most desirous of being restored to the friendship and good opinion of the house of Nassau; having proved during his whole life his sincere attachment to their interests—­a sentiment never more lively in his breast than at that moment.