that the knowledge and judicature of the matter belongs anywhere else than to My Lords the States of Holland, in whose service he has legally been during four months before his Majesty made the least difficulty about it.  Called hither legally a year before, with the knowledge and by the order of his Excellency and the councillors of state of Holland, he has been countermined by five or six Flemings and Frisians, who, without recognizing the lawful authority of the magistrates, have sought assistance in foreign countries—­in Germany and afterwards in England.  Yes, they have been so presumptuous as to designate one of their own men for the place.  If such a proceeding should be attempted in England, I leave it to those whose business it would be to deal with it to say what would be done.  I hope therefore that one will leave the examination and judgment of this matter freely to us, without attempting to make us—­against the principles of the Reformation and the liberties and laws of the land—­executors of the decrees of others, as the man here wishes to obtrude it upon us.”

He alluded to the difficulty in raising the ways and means; saying that the quota of Holland, as usual, which was more than half the whole, was ready, while other provinces were in arrears.  Yet they were protected, while Holland was attacked.

“Methinks I am living in a strange world,” he said, “when those who have received great honour from Holland, and who in their conscience know that they alone have conserved the Commonwealth, are now traduced with such great calumnies.  But God the Lord Almighty is just, and will in His own time do chastisement.”

The affair of Vorstius dragged its slow length along, and few things are more astounding at this epoch than to see such a matter, interesting enough certainly to theologians, to the University, and to the rising generation of students, made the topic of unceasing and embittered diplomatic controversy between two great nations, who had most pressing and momentous business on their hands.  But it was necessary to humour the King, while going to the verge of imprudence in protecting the Professor.  In March he was heard, three or four hours long, before the Assembly of Holland, in answer to various charges made against him, being warned that “he stood before the Lord God and before the sovereign authority of the States.”  Although thought by many to have made a powerful defence, he was ordered to set it forth in writing, both in Latin and in the vernacular.  Furthermore it was ordained that he should make a complete refutation of all the charges already made or that might be made during the ensuing three months against him in speech, book, or letter in England, Germany, the Netherlands, or anywhere else.  He was allowed one year and a half to accomplish this work, and meantime was to reside not in Leyden, nor the Hague, but in some other town of Holland, not delivering lectures or practising his profession in any way.  It might