“There is a general ligue and confederation complotted far the subversion and ruin of religion upon the subsistence whereof his Majesty doth judge the main welfare of your realms and of these Provinces solely to consist.

“Therefore his Majesty has given me charge out of the knowledge he has of your great worth and sufficiency,” continued Winwood,” and the confidence he reposes in your faith and affection, freely to treat with you on these points, and withal to pray you to deliver your opinion what way would be the most compendious and the most assured to contrequarr these complots, and to frustrate the malice of these mischievous designs.”

The Prince replied by acknowledging the honour the King had vouchsafed to do him in holding so gracious an opinion of him, wherein his Majesty should never be deceived.

“I concur in judgment with his Majesty,” continued the Prince, “that the main scope at which these plots and practices do aim, for instance, the alliance between France and Spain, is this, to root out religion, and by consequence to bring under their yoke all those countries in which religion is professed.

“The first attempt,” continued the Prince, “is doubtless intended against these Provinces.  The means to countermine and defeat these projected designs I take to be these:  the continuance of his Majesty’s constant resolution for the protection of religion, and then that the King would be pleased to procure a general confederation between the kings, princes, and commonwealths professing religion, namely, Denmark, Sweden, the German princes, the Protestant cantons of Switzerland, and our United Provinces.

“Of this confederation, his Majesty must be not only the director, but the head and protector.

“Lastly, the Protestants of France should be, if not supported, at least relieved from that oppression which the alliance of Spain doth threaten upon them.  This, I insist,” repeated Maurice with great fervour, “is the only coupegorge of all plots whatever between France and Spain.”

He enlarged at great length on these points, which he considered so vital.

“And what appearance can there be,” asked Winwood insidiously and maliciously, “of this general confederation now that these Provinces, which heretofore have been accounted a principal member of the Reformed Church, begin to falter in the truth of religion?

“He who solely governs the metropolitan province of Holland,” continued the Ambassador, with a direct stab in the back at Barneveld, “is reputed generally, as your Excellency best knows, to be the only patron of Vorstius, and the protector of the schisms of Arminius.  And likewise, what possibility is there that the Protestants of France can expect favour from these Provinces when the same man is known to depend at the devotion of France?”