“Thus they have so increased in numbers,” continued the Ambassador, “that I quite believe what your Majesty says, that not a ship can pass with safety over the seas.  More over, your Majesty has been graciously pleased to pardon several of these corsairs, in consequence of which they have become so impudent as to swarm everywhere, even in the river Thames, where they are perpetually pillaging honest merchantmen.”

“I confess,” said the King, “to having pardoned a certain Manning, but this was for the sake of his old father, and I never did anything so unwillingly in my life.  But I swear that if it were the best nobleman in England, I would never grant one of them a pardon again.”

Caron expressed his joy at hearing such good intentions on the part of his Majesty, and assured him that the States-General would be equally delighted.

In the course of the summer the Dutch ambassador had many opportunities of seeing the King very confidentially, James having given him the use of the royal park at Bayscot, so that during the royal visits to that place Caron was lodged under his roof.

On the whole, James had much regard and respect for Noel de Caron.  He knew him to be able, although he thought him tiresome.  It is amusing to observe the King and Ambassador in their utterances to confidential friends each frequently making the charge of tediousness against the other.  “Caron’s general education,” said James on one occasion to Cecil, “cannot amend his native German prolixity, for had I not interrupted him, it had been tomorrow morning before I had begun to speak.  God preserve me from hearing a cause debated between Don Diego and him! . . .  But in truth it is good dealing with so wise and honest a man, although he be somewhat longsome.”

Subsequently James came to Whitehall for a time, and then stopped at Theobalds for a few days on his way to Newmarket, where he stayed until Christmas.  At Theobalds he sent again for the Ambassador, saying that at Whitehall he was so broken down with affairs that it would be impossible to live if he stayed there.

He asked if the States were soon to send the commissioners, according to his request, to confer in regard to the cloth-trade.  Without interference of the two governments, he said, the matter would never be settled.  The merchants of the two countries would never agree except under higher authority.

“I have heard both parties,” he said, “the new and the old companies, two or three times in full council, and tried to bring them to an agreement, but it won’t do.  I have heard that My Lords the States have been hearing both sides, English and the Hollanders, over and over again, and that the States have passed a provisional resolution, which however does not suit us.  Now it is not reasonable, as we are allies, that our merchants should be obliged to send their cloths roundabout, not being allowed either to sell them in the United Provinces