But the Great Church, although a very considerable Catholic cathedral before the Reformation, was not big enough now to hold both Henry Rosaeus and John Uytenbogaert.  Those two eloquent, learned, and most pugnacious divines were the respective champions in the pulpit of the opposing parties, as were the Advocate and the Stadholder in the council.  And there was as bitter personal rivalry between the two as between the soldier and statesman.

“The factions begin to divide themselves,” said Carleton, “betwixt his Excellency and Monsieur Barneveld as heads who join to this present difference their ancient quarrels.  And the schism rests actually between Uytenbogaert and Rosaeus, whose private emulation and envy (both being much applauded and followed) doth no good towards the public pacification.”  Uytenbogaert repeatedly offered, however, to resign his functions and to leave the Hague.  “He was always ready to play the Jonah,” he said.

A temporary arrangement was made soon afterwards by which Rosaeus and his congregation should have the use of what was called the Gasthuis Kerk, then appropriated to the English embassy.

Carleton of course gave his consent most willingly.  The Prince declared that the States of Holland and the city magistracy had personally affronted him by the obstacles they had interposed to the public worship of the Contra-Remonstrants.  With their cause he had now thoroughly identified himself.

The hostility between the representatives of the civil and military authority waxed fiercer every hour.  The tumults were more terrible than ever.  Plainly there was no room in the Commonwealth for the Advocate and the Stadholder.  Some impartial persons believed that there would be no peace until both were got rid of.  “There are many words among this free-spoken people,” said Carleton, “that to end these differences they must follow the example of France in Marshal d’Ancre’s case, and take off the heads of both chiefs.”

But these decided persons were in a small minority.  Meantime the States of Holland met in full assembly; sixty delegates being present.

It was proposed to invite his Excellency to take part in the deliberations.  A committee which had waited upon him the day before had reported him as in favour of moderate rather than harsh measures in the church affair, while maintaining his plighted word to the seceders.

Barneveld stoutly opposed the motion.

“What need had the sovereign states of Holland of advice from a stadholder, from their servant, their functionary?” he cried.

But the majority for once thought otherwise.  The Prince was invited to come.  The deliberations were moderate but inconclusive.  He appeared again at an adjourned meeting when the councils were not so harmonious.

Barneveld, Grotius, and other eloquent speakers endeavoured to point out that the refusal of the seceders to hold communion with the Remonstrant preachers and to insist on a separation was fast driving the state to perdition.  They warmly recommended mutual toleration and harmony.  Grotius exhausted learning and rhetoric to prove that the Five Points were not inconsistent with salvation nor with the constitution of the United Provinces.