He instructed the new ambassador in Paris to urge upon the French government the absolute necessity of punctuality in furnishing the payment of their contingent in the Netherlands according to convention.  The States of Holland themselves had advanced the money during three years’ past, but this anticipation was becoming very onerous.  It was necessary to pay the troops every month regularly, but the funds from Paris were always in arrear.  England contributed about one-half as much in subsidy, but these moneys went in paying the garrisons of Brielle, Flushing, and Rammekens, fortresses pledged to that crown.  The Ambassador was shrewdly told not to enlarge on the special employment of the English funds while holding up to the Queen’s government that she was not the only potentate who helped bear burthens for the Provinces, and insisted on a continuation of this aid.  “Remember and let them remember,” said the Advocate, “that the reforms which they are pretending to make there by relieving the subjects of contributions tends to enervate the royal authority and dignity both within and without, to diminish its lustre and reputation, and in sum to make the King unable to gratify and assist his subjects, friends, and allies.  Make them understand that the taxation in these Provinces is ten times higher than there, and that My Lords the States hitherto by the grace of God and good administration have contrived to maintain it in order to be useful to themselves and their friends.  Take great pains to have it well understood that this is even more honourable and more necessary for a king of France, especially in his minority, than for a republic ’hoc turbato seculo.’  We all see clearly how some potentates in Europe are keeping at all time under one pretext or another strong forces well armed on a war footing.  It therefore behoves his Majesty to be likewise provided with troops, and at least with a good exchequer and all the requirements of war, as well for the security of his own state as for the maintenance of the grandeur and laudable reputation left to him by the deceased king.”

Truly here was sound and substantial advice, never and nowhere more needed than in France.  It was given too with such good effect as to bear fruit even upon stoniest ground, and it is a refreshing spectacle to see this plain Advocate of a republic, so lately sprung into existence out of the depths of oppression and rebellion, calmly summoning great kings as it were before him and instructing them in those vital duties of government in discharge of which the country he administered already furnished a model.  Had England and France each possessed a Barneveld at that epoch, they might well have given in exchange for him a wilderness of Epernons and Sillerys, Bouillons and Conde’s; of Winwoods, Lakes, Carrs, and Villierses.  But Elizabeth with her counsellors was gone, and Henry was gone, and Richelieu had not come; while in England James and his minions were diligently opening an abyss between government and people which in less than half a lifetime more should engulph the kingdom.