only in his own land but throughout Christendom, would not be like parrying a lance’s thrust with a bulrush.  In truth the senior captain of the Waartgelders, Harteveld by name, had privately informed the leaders of the Barneveld party in Utrecht that he would not draw his sword against Prince Maurice and the States-General.  “Who asks you to do so?” said some of the deputies, while Ledenberg on the other hand flatly accused him of cowardice.  For this affront the Captain had vowed revenge.

And in the midst of this scene of jollity and confusion, that midsummer night, entered the stern Stadholder with his fellow commissioners; the feeble plans for shutting the gates upon him not having been carried into effect.

“You hardly expected such a guest at your fair,” said he to the magistrates, with a grim smile on his face as who should say, “And what do you think of me now I have came?”

Meantime the secret conference of Grotius and colleagues with the States of Utrecht proceeded.  As a provisional measure, Sir John Ogle, commander of the forces paid by Holland, had been warned as to where his obedience was due.  It had likewise been intimated that the guard should be doubled at the Amersfoort gate, and a watch set on the river Lek above and below the city in order to prevent fresh troops of the States-General from being introduced by surprise.

These precautions had been suggested a year before, as we have seen, in a private autograph letter from Barneveld to Secretary Ledenberg.

Sir John Ogle had flatly refused to act in opposition to the Stadholder and the States-General, whom he recognized as his lawful superiors and masters, and he warned Ledenberg and his companions as to the perilous nature of the course which they were pursuing.  Great was the indignation of the Utrechters and the Holland commissioners in consequence.

Grotius in his speech enlarged on the possibility of violence being used by the Stadholder, while some of the members of the Assembly likewise thought it likely that he would smite the gates open by force.  Grotius, when reproved afterwards for such strong language towards Prince Maurice, said that true Hollanders were no courtiers, but were wont to call everything by its right name.

He stated in strong language the regret felt by Holland that a majority of the States of Utrecht had determined to disband the Waartgelders which had been constitutionally enlisted according to the right of each province under the 1st Article of the Union of Utrecht to protect itself and its laws.

Next day there were conferences between Maurice and the States of Utrecht and between him and the Holland deputies.  The Stadholder calmly demanded the disbandment and the Synod.  The Hollanders spoke of securing first the persons and rights of the magistracy.

“The magistrates are to be protected,” said Maurice, “but we must first know how they are going to govern.  People have tried to introduce five false points into the Divine worship.  People have tried to turn me out of the stadholdership and to drive me from the country.  But I have taken my measures.  I know well what I am about.  I have got five provinces on my side, and six cities of Holland will send deputies to Utrecht to sustain me here.”