A fierce controversy—­to which at a later period it will be necessary to call the reader’s attention, because it is intimately connected with dark scenes afterwards to be enacted—­took place between the late ambassador and Cornelis van der Myle.  Meantime Barneveld pursued the policy which he had marked out for the States-General in regard to France.

Certainly it was a difficult problem.  There could be no doubt that metamorphosed France could only be a dangerous ally for the Republic.  It was in reality impossible that she should be her ally at all.  And this Barneveld knew.  Still it was better, so he thought, for the Netherlands that France should exist than that it should fall into utter decomposition.  France, though under the influence of Spain, and doubly allied by marriage contracts to Spain, was better than Spain itself in the place of France.  This seemed to be the only choice between two evils.  Should the whole weight of the States-General be thrown into the scale of the malcontent and mutinous princes against the established but tottering government of France, it was difficult to say how soon Spain might literally, as well as inferentially, reign in Paris.

Between the rebellion and the legitimate government, therefore, Barneveld did not hesitate.  France, corporate France, with which the Republic had bean so long in close and mutually advantageous alliance, and from whose late monarch she had received such constant and valuable benefits, was in the Advocate’s opinion the only power to be recognised, Papal and Spanish though it was.  The advantage of an alliance with the fickle, self-seeking, and ever changing mutiny, that was seeking to make use of Protestantism to effect its own ends, was in his eyes rather specious than real.

By this policy, while making the breach irreparable with Aerssens and as many leading politicians as Aerssens could influence, he first brought on himself the stupid accusation of swerving towards Spain.  Dull murmurs like these, which were now but faintly making themselves heard against the reputation of the Advocate, were destined ere long to swell into a mighty roar; but he hardly listened now to insinuations which seemed infinitely below his contempt.  He still effectually ruled the nation through his influence in the States of Holland, where he reigned supreme.  Thus far Barneveld and My Lords the States-General were one personage.

But there was another great man in the State who had at last grown impatient of the Advocate’s power, and was secretly resolved to brook it no longer.  Maurice of Nassau had felt himself too long rebuked by the genius of the Advocate.  The Prince had perhaps never forgiven him for the political guardianship which he had exercised over him ever since the death of William the Silent.  He resented the leading strings by which his youthful footstep had been sustained, and which he seemed always to feel about his limbs so long as Barneveld existed.  He had never forgotten the unpalatable advice given to him by the Advocate through the Princess-Dowager.