On Monday, 6th February, van Dyk had a closing interview with Stoutenburg and his brother at the house of Groeneveld, and informed them that the execution of the plot had been deferred to the following day.  Stoutenburg expressed disgust and impatience at the delay.  “I should like to tear the Stadholder to pieces with my own hands!” he cried.  He was pacified on hearing that the arrangements had been securely made for the morrow, and turning to his brother observed, “Remember that you can never retract.  You are in our power and all your estates at our mercy.”  He then explained the manner in which the magistracies of Leyden, Gouda, Rotterdam, and other cities were to be instantly remodelled after the death of Maurice, the ex-regents of the Hague at the head of a band of armed peasants being ready at a moment’s warning to take possession of the political capital.

Prince Frederic Henry moreover, he hinted darkly and falsely, but in a manner not to be mistaken, was favourable to the movement, and would after the murder of Maurice take the government into his hands.

Stoutenburg then went quietly home to pass the day and sleep at his mother’s house awaiting the eventful morning of Tuesday.

Van Dyk went back to his room at the “Golden Helmet” and began inspecting the contents of the arms and ammunition chest which Jerome Ewouts and his three mates had brought the night before from Rotterdam.  He had been somewhat unquiet at having seen nothing of those mariners during the day; when looking out of window, he saw one of them in conference with some soldiers.  A minute afterwards he heard a bustle in the rooms below, and found that the house was occupied by a guard, and that Gerritsen, with the three first engaged sailors Dirk, Peter, and Herman, had been arrested at the Zotje.  He tried in vain to throw the arms back into the chest and conceal it under the bed, but it was too late.  Seizing his hat and wrapping himself in his cloak, with his sword by his side, he walked calmly down the stairs looking carelessly at the group of soldiers and prisoners who filled the passages.  A waiter informed the provost-marshal in command that the gentleman was a respectable boarder at the tavern, well known to him for many years.  The conspirator passed unchallenged and went straight to inform Stoutenburg.

The four mariners, last engaged by Slatius at Rotterdam, had signally exemplified the danger of half confidences.  Surprised that they should have been so mysteriously entrusted with the execution of an enterprise the particulars of which were concealed from them, and suspecting that crime alone could command such very high prices as had been paid and promised by the ex-clergyman, they had gone straight to the residence of the Stadholder, after depositing the chest at the “Golden Helmet.”

Finding that he had driven as usual to Ryswyk, they followed him thither, and by dint of much importunity obtained an audience.  If the enterprise was a patriotic one, they reasoned, he would probably know of it and approve it.  If it were criminal, it would be useful for them to reveal and dangerous to conceal it.