and his friends chose to consider the Duke of Savoy as the chief element in the war.  Sully thoroughly distrusted the Duke, whom he deemed to be always put up at auction between Spain and France and incapable of a sincere or generous policy.  He was entirely convinced that Villeroy and Epernon and Jeannin and other earnest Papists in France were secretly inclined to the cause of Spain, that the whole faction of the Queen, in short, were urging this scattering of the very considerable forces now at Henry’s command in the hope of bringing him into a false position, in which defeat or an ignominious peace would be the alternative.  To concentrate an immense attack upon the Archdukes in the Spanish Netherlands and the debateable duchies would have for its immediate effect the expulsion of the Spaniards out of all those provinces and the establishment of the Dutch commonwealth on an impregnable basis.  That this would be to strengthen infinitely the Huguenots in France and the cause of Protestantism in Bohemia, Moravia and Austria, was unquestionable.  It was natural, therefore, that the stern and ardent Huguenot should suspect the plans of the Catholics with whom he was in daily council.  One day he asked the King plumply in the presence of Villeroy if his Majesty meant anything serious by all these warlike preparations.  Henry was wroth, and complained bitterly that one who knew him to the bottom of his soul should doubt him.  But Sully could not persuade himself that a great and serious war would be carried on both in the Netherlands and in Italy.

As much as his sovereign he longed for the personal presence of Barneveld, and was constantly urging the States’ ambassador to induce his coming to Paris.  “You know,” said Aerssens, writing to the French ambassador at the Hague, de Russy, “that it is the Advocate alone that has the universal knowledge of the outside and the inside of our commonwealth.”

Sully knew his master as well as any man knew him, but it was difficult to fix the chameleon hues of Henry at this momentous epoch.  To the Ambassador expressing doubts as to the King’s sincerity the Duke asserted that Henry was now seriously piqued with the Spaniard on account of the Conde business.  Otherwise Anhalt and the possessory princes and the affair of Cleve might have had as little effect in driving him into war as did the interests of the Netherlands in times past.  But the bold demonstration projected would make the “whole Spanish party bleed at the nose; a good result for the public peace.”

Therefore Sully sent word to Barneveld, although he wished his name concealed, that he ought to come himself, with full powers to do everything, without referring to any superiors or allowing any secrets to be divulged.  The King was too far committed to withdraw, unless coldness on part of the States should give him cause.  The Advocate must come prepared to answer all questions; to say how much in men and money the States would