This resolution of the council—­a body which stood much under the influence of the Nassaus—­was adopted next day by the States-General, and duly communicated to the friendly ambassadors.

The foreign commissioners, when apprised of this decision, begged for six weeks’ time; in order to be able to hear from Madrid.

Even the peace party was disgusted with this impertinence.  Maurice boiled over with wrath.  The ambassadors recommended compliance with the proposal.  Their advice was discussed in the States-General, eighty members being present, besides Maurice and Lewis William.  The stadholder made a violent and indignant speech.

He was justified in his vehemence.  Nothing could exceed the perfidy of their great ally.

“I know that the King of France calculates thus”—­wrote Aerssens at that moment from Paris—­“’If the truce lasts seven years, my son will be old enough to accomplish the proposed marriage, and they will be obliged to fulfil their present offers.  Otherwise; I would break the truce in the Netherlands, and my own peace with them, in order to take from the Spaniard by force what he led me to hope from alliance.’  Thus it is,” continued the States’ envoy, “that his Majesty condescends to propose, to us a truce, which may have a double interpretation, according to the disposition of the strongest, and thus our commonwealth will be kept in perpetual disquiet, without knowing whether it is sovereign or not.  Nor will it be sovereign unless it shall so please our neighbour, who by this means will always keep his foot upon our throat.”

“To treat with the States as if they were free,” said Henry to the Nuncius soon afterwards, “is not to make them free.  This clause does no prejudice to the rights of the King of Spain, except for the time of the truce.”  Aerssens taxed the king with having said this.  His Majesty flatly denied it.  The republican envoy bluntly adduced the testimony of the ambassadors of Venice and of Wirtemberg.  The king flew into a rage on seeing that his secrets had been divulged, and burst out with these words:  “What you demand is not reasonable.  You wish the king of Spain to renounce his rights in order to arrive at a truce.  You wish to dictate the law to him.  If you had just gained four battles over him, you could not demand more.  I have always held you for sovereigns, because I am your friend, but if you would judge by equity and justice, you are not sovereigns.  It is not reasonable that the king of Spain should quit the sovereignty for always, and you ought to be satisfied with having it so long as the treaty shall last.”

Here was playing at sovereignty with a vengeance.  Sovereignty was a rattle for the States to amuse themselves with, until the royal infants, French and Spanish, should be grown old enough to take the sovereignty for good.  Truly this was indeed keeping the republic under the king’s heel to be crushed at his pleasure, as Aerssens, with just bitterness, exclaimed.