This statement is worthy of notice, as Grotius was one of those commissioners, and, as will subsequently appear, was accused of being the author of the letters.

“I understand from others,” continued the Advocate, “that the gentleman well known to you—­[Obviously Francis Aerssens]—­is not well pleased that through other agency than his these letters have been written and presented.  I think too that the other business is much against his grain, but on the whole since your departure he has accommodated himself to the situation.”

But if Aerssens for the moment seemed quiet, the orthodox clergy were restive.

“I know,” said Barneveld, “that some of our ministers are so audacious that of themselves, or through others, they mean to work by direct or indirect means against these letters.  They mean to show likewise that there are other and greater differences of doctrine than those already discussed.  You will keep a sharp eye on the sails and provide against the effect of counter-currents.  To maintain the authority of their Great Mightinesses over ecclesiastical matters is more than necessary for the conservation of the country’s welfare and of the true Christian religion.  As his Majesty would not allow this principle to be controverted in his own realms, as his books clearly prove, so we trust that he will not find it good that it should be controverted in our state as sure to lead to a very disastrous and inequitable sequel.”

And a few weeks later the Advocate and the whole party of toleration found themselves, as is so apt to be the case, between two fires.  The Catholics became as turbulent as the extreme Calvinists, and already hopes were entertained by Spanish emissaries and spies that this rapidly growing schism in the Reformed Church might be dexterously made use of to bring the Provinces, when they should become fairly distracted, back to the dominion of Spain.

“Our precise zealots in the Reformed religion, on the one side,” wrote Barneveld, “and the Jesuits on the other, are vigorously kindling the fire of discord.  Keep a good lookout for the countermine which is now working against the good advice of his Majesty for mutual toleration.  The publication of the letters was done without order, but I believe with good intent, in the hope that the vehemence and exorbitance of some precise Puritans in our State should thereby be checked.  That which is now doing against us in printed libels is the work of the aforesaid Puritans and a few Jesuits.  The pretence in those libels, that there are other differences in the matter of doctrine, is mere fiction designed to make trouble and confusion.”