History of the United Netherlands, 1598 | Page 3

execrably lodged.
Nevertheless they thought the town in other respects agreeable, and
apparently beginning to struggle out of the general desolation of,
France. On the end April they slept at Langeais, and on the night of the
3rd reached Saumur, where they were disappointed at the absence of

the illustrious Duplessis Mornay, then governor of that city. A glance at
any map of France will show the course of the journey taken by the
travellers, which, after very hard work and great fatigue, had thus
brought them from Dieppe to Saumur in about as much time as is now
consumed by an average voyage from Europe to America. In their
whole journey from Holland to Saumur, inclusive of the waiting upon
the wind and other enforced delays, more than two months had been
consumed. Twenty-four hours would suffice at present for the
excursion.
At Saumur they received letters informing them that the king was
"expecting them with great devotion at Angiers." A despatch from
Cecil, who was already with Henry, also apprised them that he found
"matters entirely arranged for a peace." This would be very easily
accomplished, he said, for France and England, but the great difficulty
was for the Netherlands. He had come to France principally for the sake
of managing affairs for the advantage of the States, but he begged the
envoys not to demean themselves as if entirely bent on war.
They arrived at Angiers next day before dark, and were met at a
league's distance from the gates by the governor of the castle, attended
by young Prince Frederic Henry of Nassau; followed by a long train of
nobles and mounted troops. Welcomed in this stately manner on behalf
of the king, the envoys were escorted to the lodgings provided for them
in the city. The same evening they waited on the widowed princess of
Orange, Louisa of Coligny, then residing temporarily with her son in
Angiera, and were informed by her that the king's mind was irrevocably
fixed on peace. She communicated, however, the advice of her step-son
in law, the Duke of Bouillon, that they should openly express their
determination to continue the war, notwithstanding that both their
Majesties of England and France wished to negotiate. Thus the
counsels of Bouillon to the envoys were distinctly opposed to those of
Cecil, and it was well known to them that the duke was himself
sincerely anxious that the king should refuse the pacific offers of Spain.
Next morning, 5th April, they were received at the gates of the castle
by the governor of Anjou and the commandant of the citadel of Angiers,
attended by a splendid retinue, and were conducted to the king, who
was walking in the garden of the fortress. Henry received them with
great demonstrations of respect, assuring them that he considered the

States- General the best and most faithful friends that he possessed in
the world, and that he had always been assisted by them in time of his
utmost need with resoluteness and affection.
The approach of the English ambassador, accompanied by the
Chancellor of France and several other persons, soon brought the
interview to a termination. Barneveld then presented several gentlemen
attached to the mission, especially his son and Hugo Grotius, then a lad
of fifteen, but who had already gained such distinction at Leyden that
Scaliger, Pontanus; Heinsius, Dousa, and other professors, foretold that
he would become more famous than Erasmus. They were all very
cordially received by the king, who subsequently bestowed especial
marks of his consideration upon the youthful Grotius.
The same day the betrothal of Monsieur Caesar with the daughter of the
Duke of Mercoeur was celebrated, and there was afterwards much
dancing and banqueting at the castle. It was obvious enough to the
envoys that the matter of peace and war was decided. The general of
the Franciscans, sent by the pope, had been flitting very busily for
many months between Rome, Madrid, Brussels, and Paris, and there
could be little doubt that every detail of the negotiations between
France and Spain had been arranged while Olden-Barneveld and his
colleague had been waiting for the head-wind to blow itself out at the
Brill.
Nevertheless no treaty had as yet been signed, and it was the business
of the republican diplomatists to prevent the signature if possible. They
felt, however, that they were endeavouring to cause water to run up hill.
Villeroy, De Maisse, and Buzanval came to them to recount, by the
king's order, everything that had taken place. This favour was, however,
the less highly appreciated by them, as they felt that the whole world
was in a very short time to be taken as well into the royal confidence.
These French politicians stated that the king, after receiving the most
liberal offers of