Spinola and Neuburg, in case of the mutual disbanding, stood ready at an instant’s warning to re-enlist for the League not only all the troops that the Catholic army should nominally discharge, but those which would be let loose from the States’ army and that of Brandenburg as well.  They would hold Rheinberg, Groll, Lingen, Oldenzaal, Wachtendonk, Maestricht, Aachen, and Mulheim with a permanent force of more than 20,000 men.  And they could do all this in four days’ time.

A week or two later all his prophesies had been fulfilled.  “The Prince of Neuburg,” he said, “and Marquis Spinola have made game of us most impudently in the matter of the treaty.  This is an indignity for us, their Majesties, and the electors and princes.  We regard it as intolerable.  A despatch came from Spain forbidding a further step in the negotiation without express order from the King.  The Prince and Spinola are gone to Brussels, the ambassadors have returned to the Hague, the armies are established in winter-quarters.  The cavalry are ravaging the debateable land and living upon the inhabitants at their discretion.  M. de Refuge is gone to complain to the Archdukes of the insult thus put upon his sovereign.  Sir Henry Wotton is still here.  We have been plunged into an immensity of extraordinary expense, and are amazed that at this very moment England should demand money from us when we ought to be assisted by a large subsidy by her.  We hope that now at least his Majesty will take a vigorous resolution and not suffer his grandeur and dignity to be vilipended longer.  If the Spaniard is successful in this step, he is ready for greater ones, and will believe that mankind is ready to bear and submit to everything.  His Majesty is the first king of the religion.  He bears the title of Defender of the Faith.  His religion, his only daughter, his son-in-law, his grandson are all especially interested besides his own dignity, besides the common weal.”

He then adverted to the large subsidies from Queen Elizabeth many years before, guaranteed, it was true, by the cautionary towns, and to the gallant English regiments, sent by that great sovereign, which had been fighting so long and so splendidly in the Netherlands for the common cause of Protestantism and liberty.  Yet England was far weaker then, for she had always her northern frontier to defend against Scotland, ever ready to strike her in the back.  “But now his Majesty,” said Barneveld, “is King of England and Scotland both.  His frontier is free.  Ireland is at peace.  He possesses quietly twice as much as the Queen ever did.  He is a king.  Her Majesty was a woman.  The King has children and heirs.  His nearest blood is engaged in this issue.  His grandeur and dignity have been wronged.  Each one of these considerations demands of itself a manly resolution.  You will do your best to further it.”

The almost ubiquitous power of Spain, gaining after its exhaustion new life through the strongly developed organization of the League, and the energy breathed into that mighty conspiracy against human liberty by the infinite genius of the “cabinet of Jesuits,” was not content with overshadowing Germany, the Netherlands, and England, but was threatening Savoy with 40,000 men, determined to bring Charles Emmanuel either to perdition or submission.