In France both king and people declared themselves disgusted with war.  Sully disapproved of the treaty just concluded between Spain and the Netherlands, feeling sure that the captious and equivocal clauses contained in it would be interpreted to the disadvantage of the Republic and of the Reformed religion whenever Spain felt herself strong enough to make the attempt.  He was especially anxious that the States should make no concessions in regard to the exercise of the Catholic worship within their territory, believing that by so doing they would compromise their political independence besides endangering the cause of Protestantism everywhere.  A great pressure was put upon Sully that moment by the King to change his religion.

“You will all be inevitably ruined if you make concessions in this regard,” said he to Aerssens.  “Take example by me.  I should be utterly undone if I had listened to any overture on this subject.”

Nevertheless it was the opinion of the astute and caustic envoy that the Duke would be forced to yield at last.  The Pope was making great efforts to gain him, and thus to bring about the extirpation of Protestantism in France.  And the King, at that time much under the influence of the Jesuits, had almost set his heart on the conversion.  Aerssens insinuated that Sully was dreading a minute examination into the affairs of his administration of the finances—­a groundless calumny—­and would be thus forced to comply.  Other enemies suggested that nothing would effect this much desired apostasy but the office of Constable of France, which it was certain would never be bestowed on him.

At any rate it was very certain that Henry at this period was bent on peace.

“Make your account,” said Aerssens to Barneveld, as the time for signing the truce drew nigh, “on this indubitable foundation that the King is determined against war, whatever pretences he may make.  His bellicose demeanour has been assumed only to help forward our treaty, which he would never have favoured, and ought never to have favoured, if he had not been too much in love with peace.  This is a very important secret if we manage it discreetly, and a very dangerous one if our enemies discover it.”

Sully would have much preferred that the States should stand out for a peace rather than for a truce, and believed it might have been obtained if the King had not begun the matter so feebly, and if he had let it be understood that he would join his arms to those of the Provinces in case of rupture.

He warned the States very strenuously that the Pope, and the King of Spain, and a host of enemies open and covert, were doing their host to injure them at the French court.  They would find little hindrance in this course if the Republic did not show its teeth, and especially if it did not stiffly oppose all encroachments of the Roman religion, without even showing any deference to the King in this regard, who was much importuned on the subject.