The same agent of the princes, de Monbaran by name, was also privately accredited by them to the States with instructions to borrow 200,000 crowns of them if he could.  But so long as the policy of the Republic was directed by Barneveld, it was not very probable that, while maintaining friendly and even intimate relations with the legitimate government, she would enter into negotiations with rebels against it, whether princes or plebeians, and oblige them with loans.  “He will call on me soon, no doubt,” said Caron, “but being so well instructed as to your Mightinesses intentions in this matter, I hope I shall keep him away from you.”  Monbaran was accordingly kept away, but a few weeks later another emissary of Conde and Bouillon made his appearance at the Hague, de Valigny by name.  He asked for money and for soldiers to reinforce Bouillon’s city of Sedan, but he was refused an audience of the States-General.  Even the martial ardour of Maurice and his sympathy for his relatives were cooled by this direct assault on his pocket.  “The Prince,” wrote the French ambassador, du Maurier, “will not furnish him or his adherents a thousand crowns, not if they had death between their teeth.  Those who think it do not know how he loves his money.”

In the very last days of the year (1615) Caron had another interview with the King in which James was very benignant.  He told the Ambassador that he should wish the States to send him some special commissioners to make a new treaty with him, and to treat of all unsettled affairs which were daily arising between the inhabitants of the respective countries.  He wished to make a firmer union and accord between Great Britain and the Netherlands.  He was very desirous of this, “because,” said he, “if we can unite with and understand each other, we have under God no one what ever to fear, however mighty they may be.”

Caron duly notified Barneveld of these enthusiastic expressions of his Majesty.  The Advocate too was most desirous of settling the troublesome questions about the cloth trade, the piracies, and other matters, and was in favour of the special commission.  In regard to a new treaty of alliance thus loosely and vaguely suggested, he was not so sanguine however.  He had too much difficulty in enforcing the interests of Protestantism in the duchies against the infatuation of James in regard to Spain, and he was too well aware of the Spanish marriage delusion, which was the key to the King’s whole policy, to put much faith in these casual outbursts of eternal friendship with the States.  He contented himself therefore with cautioning Caron to pause before committing himself to any such projects.  He had frequently instructed him, however, to bring the disputed questions to his Majesty’s notice as often as possible with a view to amicable arrangement.