He said he did not mean to assist the princes by halves, but as became a King of France, and the princes expressed suspicion of him, talked of the example of Metz, and called the Emperor their very clement lord.

It was not strange that Henry was indignant and jealous.  He was holding the wolf by the ears, as he himself observed more than once.  The war could not long be delayed; yet they in whose behalf it was to be waged treated him with a disrespect and flippancy almost amounting to scorn.

They tried to borrow money of him through the post, and neglected to send him an ambassador.  This was most decidedly putting the cart before the oxen, so Henry said, and so thought all his friends.  When they had blockaded the road to Julich, in order to cut off Leopold’s supplies, they sent to request that the two French regiments in the States’ service might be ordered to their assistance, Archduke Albert having threatened to open the passage by force of arms.  “This is a fine stratagem,” said Aerssens, “to fling the States-General headlong into the war, and, as it were, without knowing it.”

But the States-General, under the guidance of Barneveld, were not likely to be driven headlong by Brandenburg and Neuburg.  They managed with caution, but with perfect courage, to move side by side with Henry, and to leave the initiative to him, while showing an unfaltering front to the enemy.  That the princes were lost, Spain and the Emperor triumphant, unless Henry and the States should protect them with all their strength, was as plain as a mathematical demonstration.

Yet firm as were the attitude and the language of Henry, he was thought to be hoping to accomplish much by bluster.  It was certain that the bold and unexpected stroke of Leopold had produced much effect upon his mind, and for a time those admitted to his intimacy saw, or thought they saw, a decided change in his demeanour.  To the world at large his language and his demonstrations were even more vehement than they had been at the outset of the controversy; but it was believed that there was now a disposition to substitute threats for action.  The military movements set on foot were thought to be like the ringing of bells and firing of cannon to dissipate a thunderstorm.  Yet it was treason at court to doubt the certainty of war.  The King ordered new suits of armour, bought splendid chargers, and gave himself all the airs of a champion rushing to a tournament as gaily as in the earliest days of his king-errantry.  He spoke of his eager desire to break a lance with Spinola, and give a lesson to the young volunteer who had sprung into so splendid a military reputation, while he had been rusting, as he thought, in pacific indolence, and envying the laurels of the comparatively youthful Maurice.  Yet those most likely to be well informed believed that nothing would come of all this fire and fury.

The critics were wrong.  There was really no doubt of Henry’s sincerity, but his isolation was terrible.  There was none true to him at home but Sully.  Abroad, the States-General alone were really friendly, so far as positive agreements existed.  Above all, the intolerable tergiversations and suspicions of those most interested, the princes in possession, and their bickerings among themselves, hampered his movements.