On the 6th February, 1607, Werner Cruwel, an insolvent tradesman of Brussels, and a relative of Recorder Aerssens, father of the envoy at Paris, made his appearance very unexpectedly at the house of his kinsman at the Hague.  Sitting at the dinner-table, but neither eating nor drinking, he was asked by his host what troubled him.  He replied that he had a load on his breast.  Aerssens begged him, if it was his recent bankruptcy that oppressed him, to use philosophy and patience.  The merchant answered that he who confessed well was absolved well.  He then took from his pocket-book a letter from President Richardot, and said he would reveal what he had to say after dinner.  The cloth being removed, and the wife and children of Aerssens having left the room, Cruwel disclosed that he had been sent by Richardot and Father Neyen on a secret mission.  The recorder, much amazed and troubled, refused to utter a word, save to ask if Cruwel would object to confer with the Advocate.  The merchant expressing himself as ready for such an interview, the recorder, although it was late, immediately sent a message to the great statesman.  Barneveld was in bed and asleep, but was aroused to receive the communication of Aerssens.  “We live in such a calumnious time,” said the recorder, “that many people believe that you and I know more of the recent mission of Wittenhorst than we admit.  You had best interrogate Cruwel in the presence of witnesses.  I know not the man’s humour, but it seems to me since his failure, that, in spite of his shy and lumpish manner, he is false and cunning.”

The result was a secret interview, on the 8th February, between Prince Maurice, Barneveld, and the recorder, in which Cruwel was permitted to state the object of his mission.  He then produced a short memorandum, signed by Spinola and by Father Neyen, to the effect that the archdukes were willing to treat for a truce of ten or twelve years, on the sole condition that the States would abstain from the India navigation.  He exhibited also another paper, signed only by Neyen, in which that friar proposed to come secretly to the Hague, no one in Brussels to know of the visit save the archdukes and Spinola; and all in the United Provinces to be equally ignorant except the prince, the Advocate, and the recorder.  Cruwel was then informed that if Neyen expected to discuss such grave matters with the prince, he must first send in a written proposal that could go on all fours and deserve attention.  A week afterwards Cruwel came back with a paper in which Neyen declared himself authorized by the archdukes to treat with the States on the basis of their liberty and independence, and to ask what they would give in return for so great a concession as this renunciation of all right to “the so-called United Provinces.”

This being a step in advance, it was decided to permit the visit of Neyen.  It was, however, the recorded opinion of the distinguished personages to whom the proposal was made that it was a trick and a deception.  The archdukes would, no doubt, it was said, nominally recognise the provinces as a free State, but without really meaning it.  Meantime, they would do their best to corrupt the Government and to renew the war after the republic had by this means been separated from its friends.