This process was soon to be repeated throughout the two insubordinate provinces Utrecht and Holland.

The Prince was accused of aiming at the sovereignty of the whole country, and one of his grief’s against the Advocate was that he had begged the Princess-Widow, Louise de Coligny, to warn her son-in-law of the dangers of such ambition.  But so long as an individual, sword in hand, could exercise such unlimited sway over the whole municipal, and provincial organization of the Commonwealth, it mattered but little whether he was called King or Kaiser, Doge or Stadholder.  Sovereign he was for the time being at least, while courteously acknowledging the States-General as his sovereign.

Less than three weeks afterwards the States-General issued a decree formally disbanding the Waartgelders; an almost superfluous edict, as they had almost ceased to exist, and there were none to resist the measure.  Grotius recommended complete acquiescence.  Barneveld’s soul could no longer animate with courage a whole people.

The invitations which had already in the month of June been prepared for the Synod to meet in the city of Dortor Dordtrecht-were now issued.  The States of Holland sent back the notification unopened, deeming it an unwarrantable invasion of their rights that an assembly resisted by a large majority of their body should be convoked in a city on their own territory.  But this was before the disbandment of the Waartgelders and the general change of magistracies had been effected.

Earnest consultations were now held as to the possibility of devising some means of compromise; of providing that the decisions of the Synod should not be considered binding until after having been ratified by the separate states.  In the opinion of Barneveld they were within a few hours’ work of a favourable result when their deliberations were interrupted by a startling event.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Fruitless Interview between Barneveld and Maurice—­The Advocate, warned of his Danger, resolves to remain at the Hague—­Arrest of Barneveld, of Qrotius, and of Hoogerbeets—­The States-General assume the Responsibility in a “Billet”—­The States of Holland protest—­ The Advocate’s Letter to his Family—­Audience of Boississe—­ Mischief-making of Aerssens—­The French Ambassadors intercede for Barneveld—­The King of England opposes their Efforts—­Langerac’s Treachery to the Advocate—­Maurice continues his Changes in the Magistracy throughout the Country—­Vote of Thanks by the States of Holland.

The Advocate, having done what he believed to be his duty, and exhausted himself in efforts to defend ancient law and to procure moderation and mutual toleration in religion, was disposed to acquiesce in the inevitable.  His letters giving official and private information of those grave events were neither vindictive nor vehement.

“I send you the last declaration of My Lords of Holland,” he said to Caron, “in regard to the National Synod, with the counter-declaration of Dordtrecht and the other five cities.  Yesterday was begun the debate about cashiering the enrolled soldiers called Waartgelders.  To-day the late M. van Kereburg was buried.”