An urgent and last appeal was now written late at night, and signed by each member of the family, to his Excellency the Prince and the judge commissioners, to this effect: 

“The afflicted wife and children of M. van Barneveld humbly show that having heard the sorrowful tidings of his coming execution, they humbly beg that it may be granted them to see and speak to him for the last time.”

The two sons delivered this petition at four o’clock in the morning into the hands of de Voogd, one of the judges.  It was duly laid before the commission, but the prisoner was never informed, when declining a last interview with his family, how urgently they had themselves solicited the boon.

Louise de Coligny, on hearing late at night the awful news, had been struck with grief and horror.  She endeavoured, late as it was, to do something to avert the doom of one she so much revered, the man on whom her illustrious husband had leaned his life long as on a staff of iron.  She besought an interview of the Stadholder, but it was refused.  The wife of William the Silent had no influence at that dire moment with her stepson.  She was informed at first that Maurice was asleep, and at four in the morning that all intervention was useless.

The faithful and energetic du Maurier, who had already exhausted himself in efforts to save the life of the great prisoner, now made a last appeal.  He, too, heard at four o’clock in the morning of the 13th that sentence of death was to be pronounced.  Before five o’clock he made urgent application to be heard before the Assembly of the States-General as ambassador of a friendly sovereign who took the deepest interest in the welfare of the Republic and the fate of its illustrious statesman.  The appeal was refused.  As a last resource he drew up an earnest and eloquent letter to the States-General, urging clemency in the name of his king.  It was of no avail.  The letter may still be seen in the Royal Archives at the Hague, drawn up entirely in du Maurier’s clear and beautiful handwriting.  Although possibly a, first draft, written as it was under such a mortal pressure for time, its pages have not one erasure or correction.

It was seven o’clock.  Barneveld having observed by the preacher (La Motte’s) manner that he was not likely to convey the last messages which he had mentioned to his wife and children, sent a request to the judges to be allowed to write one more letter.  Captain van der Meulen came back with the permission, saying he would wait and take it to the judges for their revision.

The letter has been often published.

“Must they see this too?  Why, it is only a line in favour of John,” said the prisoner, sitting quietly down to write this letter: 

“Very dear wife and children, it is going to an end with me.  I am, through the grace of God, very tranquil.  I hope that you are equally so, and that you may by mutual love, union, and peace help each other to overcome all things, which I pray to the Omnipotent as my last request.  John Franken has served me faithfully for many years and throughout all these my afflictions, and is to remain with me to the end.  He deserves to be recommended to you and to be furthered to good employments with you or with others.  I request you herewith to see to this.