The international, theological, and personal jealousy of the King against Holland’s Advocate having been thus plainly developed, the Ambassador proceeded to pour into the Prince’s ear the venom of suspicion, and to inflame his jealousy against his great rival.  The secret conversation showed how deeply laid was the foundation of the political hatred, both of James and of Maurice, against the Advocate, and certainly nothing could be more preposterous than to imagine the King as the director and head of the great Protestant League.  We have but lately seen him confidentially assuring his minister that his only aim was “to wind himself handsomely out of the whole business.”  Maurice must have found it difficult to preserve his gravity when assigning such a part to “Master Jacques.”

“Although Monsieur Barneveld has cast off all care of religion,” said Maurice, “and although some towns in Holland, wherein his power doth reign, are infected with the like neglect, yet so long as so many good towns in Holland stand sound, and all the other provinces of this confederacy, the proposition would at the first motion be cheerfully accepted.

“I confess I find difficulty in satisfying your second question,” continued the Prince, “for I acknowledge that Barneveld is wholly devoted to the service of France.  During the truce negotiations, when some difference arose between him and myself, President Jeannin came to me, requiring me in the French king’s name to treat Monsieur Barneveld well, whom the King had received into his protection.  The letters which the States’ ambassador in France wrote to Barneveld (and to him all ambassadors address their despatches of importance), the very autographs themselves, he sent back into the hands of Villeroy.”

Here the Prince did not scruple to accuse the Advocate of doing the base and treacherous trick against Aerssens which he had expressly denied doing, and which had been done during his illness, as he solemnly avowed, by a subordinate probably for the sake of making mischief.

Maurice then discoursed largely and vehemently of the suspicious proceedings of Barneveld, and denounced him as dangerous to the State.  “When one man who has the conduct of all affairs in his sole power,” he said, “shall hold underhand intelligence with the ministers of Spain and the Archduke, and that without warrant, thereby he may have the means so to carry the course of affairs that, do what they will, these Provinces must fall or stand at the mercy and discretion of Spain.  Therefore some good resolutions must be taken in time to hold up this State from a sudden downfall, but in this much moderation and discretion must be used.”

The Prince added that he had invited his cousin Lewis William to appear at the Hague at May day, in order to consult as to the proper means to preserve the Provinces from confusion under his Majesty’s safeguard, and with the aid of the Englishmen in the States’ service whom Maurice pronounced to be “the strength and flower of his army.”