The Envoy was likewise instructed to do his best to further the matrimonial alliance which had begun to be discussed between the Prince of Wales and the second daughter of France.  Had it been possible at that moment to bring the insane dream of James for a Spanish alliance to naught, the States would have breathed more freely.  He was also to urge payment of the money for the French regiments, always in arrears since Henry’s death and Sully’s dismissal, and always supplied by the exchequer of Holland.  He was informed that the Republic had been sending some war ships to the Levant, to watch the armada recently sent thither by Spain, and other armed vessels into the Baltic, to pursue the corsairs with whom every sea was infested.  In one year alone he estimated the loss to Dutch merchants by these pirates at 800,000 florins.  “We have just captured two of the rovers, but the rascally scum is increasing,” he said.

Again alluding to the resistance to be made by the States to the Imperial pretensions, he observed, “The Emperor is about sending us a herald in the Julich matter, but we know how to stand up to him.”

And notwithstanding the bare possibility which he had admitted, that the Prince of Neuburg might not yet have wholly sold himself, body and soul, to the Papists, he gave warning a day or two afterwards in France that all should be prepared for the worst.

“The Archdukes and the Prince of Neuburg appear to be taking the war earnestly in hand,” he said.  “We believe that the Papistical League is about to make a great effort against all the co-religionists.  We are watching closely their movements.  Aachen is first threatened, and the Elector-Palatine likewise.  France surely, for reasons of state, cannot permit that they should be attacked.  She did, and helped us to do, too much in the Julich campaign to suffer the Spaniards to make themselves masters there now.”

It has been seen that the part played by France in the memorable campaign of 1610 was that of admiring auxiliary to the States’ forces; Marshal de la Chatre having in all things admitted the superiority of their army and the magnificent generalship of Prince Maurice.  But the government of the Dowager had been committed by that enterprise to carry out the life-long policy of Henry, and to maintain his firm alliance with the Republic.  Whether any of the great king’s acuteness and vigour in countermining and shattering the plans of the House of Austria was left in the French court, time was to show.  Meantime Barneveld was crying himself hoarse with warnings into the dull ears of England and France.

A few weeks later the Prince of Neuburg had thrown off the mask.  Twelve thousand foot and 1500 horse had been raised in great haste, so the Advocate informed the French court, by Spain and the Archdukes, for the use of that pretender.  Five or six thousand Spaniards were coming by sea to Flanders, and as many Italians were crossing the mountains, besides a great number mustering for the same purpose in Germany and Lorraine.  Barneveld was constantly receiving most important intelligence of military plans and movements from Prague, which he placed daily before the eyes of governments wilfully blind.