The States’ ambassador begged his masters to reflect whether this “puissant and experienced corsair” should be permitted to serve Spaniard or Frenchman, and whether they could devise no expedient for turning him into another track.  “He is now with his fine ships at Marseilles,” said Aerssens.  “He is sought for in all quarters by the Spaniard and by the directors of the new French East India Company, private persons who equip vessels of war.  If he is not satisfied with this king’s offers, he is likely to close with the King of Spain, who offers him 1000 crowns a month.  Avarice tickles him, but he is neither Spaniard nor Papist, and I fear will be induced to serve with his ships the East India Company, and so will return to his piracy, the evil of which will always fall on our heads.  If My Lords the States will send me letters of abolition for him, in imitation of the French king, on condition of his returning to his home in Zealand and quitting the sea altogether, something might be done.  Otherwise he will be off to Marseilles again, and do more harm to us than ever.  Isaac Le Maire is doing as much evil as he can, and one holds daily council with him here.”

Thus the slippery Simon skimmed the seas from Marseilles to the Moluccas, from Java to Mexico, never to be held firmly by Philip, or Henry, or Barneveld.  A dissolute but very daring ship’s captain, born in Zealand, and formerly in the service of the States, out of which he had been expelled for many evil deeds, Simon Danzer had now become a professional pirate, having his head-quarters chiefly at Algiers.  His English colleague Warde stationed himself mainly at Tunis, and both acted together in connivance with the pachas of the Turkish government.  They with their considerable fleet, one vessel of which mounted sixty guns, were the terror of the Mediterranean, extorted tribute from the commerce of all nations indifferently, and sold licenses to the greatest governments of Europe.  After growing rich with his accumulated booty, Simon was inclined to become respectable, a recourse which was always open to him—­France, England, Spain, the United Provinces, vieing with each other to secure him by high rank and pay as an honoured member of their national marine.  He appears however to have failed in his plan of retiring upon his laurels, having been stabbed in Paris by a man whom he had formerly robbed and ruined.

Villeroy, having delivered the letters with his own hands to the ambassadors, was asked by them when and where it would be convenient for the King to arrange the convention of close alliance.  The Secretary of State—­in his secret heart anything but kindly disposed for this loving union with a republic he detested and with heretics whom he would have burned—­answered briefly that his Majesty was ready at any time, and that it might take place then if they were provided with the necessary powers.  He said in parting that the States should “have an eye to everything, for occasions like the present were irrecoverable.”  He then departed, saying that the King would receive them in final audience on the following day.