The Kings of France and of Spain always acted in concert, for religion was the most potent of bonds.  Witness the sacrifice of thousands of French soldiers to Alva by their own sovereign at Mons, witness the fate of Genlis, witness the bloody night of St. Bartholomew, witness the Antwerp fury.  Men cited and relied upon the advice of William of Orange as to this negotiation with France.  But Orange never dreamed of going so far as now proposed.  He was ever careful to keep the Provinces of Holland and Zeeland safe from every foreign master.  That spot was to be holy ground.  Not out of personal ambition.  God forbid that they, should accuse his memory of any such impurity, but because he wished one safe refuge for the spirit of freedom.

Many years long they had held out by land and sea against the Spaniards, and should they now, because this Des Pruneaux shrugged his shoulders, be so alarmed as to open the door to the same Spaniard wearing the disguise of a Frenchman?

Prince Maurice also made a brief representation to the States’ Assembly of Holland, in which, without distinctly opposing the negotiation with France, he warned them not to proceed too hastily with so grave a matter.  He reminded them how far they had gone in the presentation of the sovereignty to his late father, and requested them, in their dealings with France, not to forget his interests and those of his family.  He reminded them of the position of that family, overladen with debt contracted in their service alone.  He concluded by offering most affectionately his service in any way in which he, young and inexperienced as he knew himself to be, might be thought useful; as he was long since resolved to devote his life to the welfare of his country.

These passionate appeals were answered with equal vehemence by those who had made up their minds to try the chances of the French sovereignty.  Des Pruneaux, meanwhile, was travelling from province to province, and from city to city, using the arguments which have already been sufficiently indicated, and urging a speedy compliance with the French King’s propositions.  At the same time, in accordance with his instructions, he was very cautious to confine himself to generalities, and to avoid hampering his royal master with the restrictions which had proved so irksome to the Duke of Anjou.

“The States General demanded a copy of my speech,” he wrote the day after that harangue had been delivered, “but I only gave them a brief outline; extending myself [25th August, 1584] as little as I possibly could, according to the intention and command of your Majesty.  When I got here, I found them without hope of our assistance, and terribly agitated by the partizans of Spain.  There was some danger of their going over in a panic to the enemy.  They are now much changed again, and the Spanish partizans are beginning to lose their tongues.  I invite them, if they intend to address your Majesty, to proceed