He wished at this supreme moment to have a personal interview with the Prince in order to devise some means for calming the universal agitation and effecting, if possible, a reconciliation among conflicting passions and warring sects.  He had stood at the side of Maurice and of Maurice’s great father in darker hours even than these.  They had turned to him on all trying and tragical occasions and had never found his courage wavering or his judgment at fault.  “Not a friend to the House of Nassau, but a father,” thus had Maurice with his own lips described the Advocate to the widow of William the Silent.  Incapable of an unpatriotic thought, animated by sincere desire to avert evil and procure moderate action, Barneveld saw no reason whatever why, despite all that had been said and done, he should not once more hold council with the Prince.  He had a conversation accordingly with Count Lewis, who had always honoured the Advocate while differing with him on the religious question.  The Stadholder of Friesland, one of the foremost men of his day in military and scientific affairs, in administrative ability and philanthropic instincts, and, in a family perhaps the most renowned in Europe for heroic qualities and achievements, hardly second to any who had borne the name, was in favour of the proposed interview, spoke immediately to Prince Maurice about it, but was not hopeful as to its results.  He knew his cousin well and felt that he was at that moment resentful, perhaps implacably so, against the whole Remonstrant party and especially against their great leader.

Count Lewis was small of stature, but dignified, not to say pompous, in demeanour.  His style of writing to one of lower social rank than himself was lofty, almost regal, and full of old world formality.

Noble, severe, right worshipful, highly learned and discreet, special good friend,” he wrote to Barneveld; “we have spoken to his Excellency concerning the expediency of what you requested of us this forenoon.  We find however that his Excellency is not to be moved to entertain any other measure than the National Synod which he has himself proposed in person to all the provinces, to the furtherance of which he has made so many exertions, and which has already been announced by the States-General.

“We will see by what opportunity his Excellency will appoint the interview, and so far as lies in us you may rely on our good offices.  We could not answer sooner as the French ambassadors had audience of us this forenoon and we were visiting his Excellency in the afternoon.  Wishing your worship good evening, we are your very good friend.”

Next day Count William wrote again.  “We have taken occasion,” he said, “to inform his Excellency that you were inclined to enter into communication with him in regard to an accommodation of the religious difficulties and to the cashiering of the Waartgelders.  He answered that he could accept no change in the matter of the National Synod, but nevertheless would be at your disposal whenever your worship should be pleased to come to him.”