While he was writing, Sylla said with some authority, “Beware, my lord, what you write, lest you put down something which may furnish cause for not delivering the letter.”

Barneveld paused in his writing, took the glasses from his eyes, and looked Sylla in the face.

“Well, Sylla,” he said very calmly, “will you in these my last moments lay down the law to me as to what I shall write to my wife?”

He then added with a half-smile, “Well, what is expected of me?”

“We have no commission whatever to lay down the law,” said van Leeuwen.  “Your worship will write whatever you like.”

While he was writing, Anthony Walaeus came in, a preacher and professor of Middelburg, a deputy to the Synod of Dordtrecht, a learned and amiable man, sent by the States-General to minister to the prisoner on this supreme occasion; and not unworthy to be thus selected.

The Advocate, not knowing him, asked him why he came.

“I am not here without commission,” said the clergyman.  “I come to console my lord in his tribulation.”

“I am a man,” said Barneveld; “have come to my present age, and I know how to console myself.  I must write, and have now other things to do.”

The preacher said that he would withdraw and return when his worship was at leisure.

“Do as you like,” said the Advocate, calmly going on with his writing.

When the letter was finished, it was sent to the judges for their inspection, by whom it was at once forwarded to the family mansion in the Voorhout, hardly a stone’s throw from the prison chamber.

Thus it ran: 

“Very dearly beloved wife, children, sons-in-law, and grandchildren, I greet you altogether most affectionately.  I receive at this moment the very heavy and sorrowful tidings that I, an old man, for all my services done well and faithfully to the Fatherland for so many years (after having performed all respectful and friendly offices to his Excellency the Prince with upright affection so far as my official duty and vocation would permit, shown friendship to many people of all sorts, and wittingly injured no man), must prepare myself to die to-morrow.

“I console myself in God the Lord, who knows all hearts, and who will judge all men.  I beg you all together to do the same.  I have steadily and faithfully served My Lords the States of Holland and their nobles and cities.  To the States of Utrecht as sovereigns of my own Fatherland I have imparted at their request upright and faithful counsel, in order to save them from tumults of the populace, and from the bloodshed with which they had so long been threatened.  I had the same views for the cities of Holland in order that every one might be protected and no one injured.

“Live together in love and peace.  Pray for me to Almighty God, who will graciously hold us all in His holy keeping.

“From my chamber of sorrow, the 12th May 1619.