The affair of Vorstius dragged its slow length along, and few things are more astounding at this epoch than to see such a matter, interesting enough certainly to theologians, to the University, and to the rising generation of students, made the topic of unceasing and embittered diplomatic controversy between two great nations, who had most pressing and momentous business on their hands.  But it was necessary to humour the King, while going to the verge of imprudence in protecting the Professor.  In March he was heard, three or four hours long, before the Assembly of Holland, in answer to various charges made against him, being warned that “he stood before the Lord God and before the sovereign authority of the States.”  Although thought by many to have made a powerful defence, he was ordered to set it forth in writing, both in Latin and in the vernacular.  Furthermore it was ordained that he should make a complete refutation of all the charges already made or that might be made during the ensuing three months against him in speech, book, or letter in England, Germany, the Netherlands, or anywhere else.  He was allowed one year and a half to accomplish this work, and meantime was to reside not in Leyden, nor the Hague, but in some other town of Holland, not delivering lectures or practising his profession in any way.  It might be supposed that sufficient work had been thus laid out for the unfortunate doctor of divinity without lecturing or preaching.  The question of jurisdiction was saved.  The independence of the civil authority over the extreme pretensions of the clergy had been vindicated by the firmness of the Advocate.  James bad been treated with overflowing demonstrations of respect, but his claim to expel a Dutch professor from his chair and country by a royal fiat had been signally rebuked.  Certainly if the Provinces were dependent upon the British king in regard to such a matter, it was the merest imbecility for them to affect independence.  Barneveld had carried his point and served his country strenuously and well in this apparently small matter which human folly had dilated into a great one.  But deep was the wrath treasured against him in consequence in clerical and royal minds.

Returning from Wesel after the negotiations, Sir Ralph Winwood had an important interview at Arnheim with Prince Maurice, in which they confidentially exchanged their opinions in regard to the Advocate, and mutually confirmed their suspicions and their jealousies in regard to that statesman.

The Ambassador earnestly thanked the Prince in the King’s name for his “careful and industrious endeavours for the maintenance of the truth of religion, lively expressed in prosecuting the cause against Vorstius and his adherents.”

He then said: 

“I am expressly commanded that his Majesty conferring the present condition of affairs of this quarter of the world with those advertisements he daily receives from his ministers abroad, together with the nature and disposition of those men who have in their hands the managing of all business in these foreign parts, can make no other judgment than this.