as they ought towards a veritably grand monarch, without hunting up any of their old quibbles, or reservations of provinces, or any thing else which could inspire suspicion.  I have sent into Gelderland and Friesland, for I find I must stay here in Holland and Zeeland myself.  These two provinces are the gates and ramparts through which we must enter.  ’Tis, in my opinion, what could be called superb, to command all the sea, thus subject to the crown of France.  And France, too, with assistance of this country, will command the land as well.  They are much astonished here, however, that I communicate nothing of the intention of your Majesty.  They say that if your Majesty does not accept this offer of their country, your Majesty puts the rope around their necks.”

The French envoy was more and more struck with the brilliancy of the prize offered to his master.  “If the King gets these Provinces,” said he to Catharine, “’t will be the most splendid inheritance which Prince has ever conquered.”

In a very few weeks the assiduity of the envoy and of the French party was successful.  All the other provinces had very soon repeated the offer which they had previously made through Asseliers and La Mouillerie.  By the beginning of October the opposition of Holland was vanquished.  The estates of that Province—­three cities excepted, however—­determined “to request England and France to assume a joint protectorate over the Netherlands.  In case the King of France should refuse this proposition, they were then ready to receive him as prince and master, with knowledge and consent of the Queen of England, and on such conditions as the United States should approve.”

Immediately afterwards, the General Assembly of all the States determined to offer the sovereignty to King Henry “on conditions to be afterwards settled.”

Des Pruneaux, thus triumphant, received a gold chain of the value of two thousand florins, and departed before the end of October for France.

The departure of the solemn embassy to that country, for the purpose of offering the sovereignty to the King, was delayed till the beginning of January.  Meantime it is necessary to cast a glance at the position of England in relation to these important transactions.

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