History of the United Netherlands, 1598 | Page 4

peace on the part of Spain, had communicated all the
facts to the queen, and had proposed, notwithstanding these most
profitable overtures, to continue the war as long as her Majesty and the
States-General would assist him in it. De Maisse had been informed,
however, by the queen that she had no means to assist the king withal,
and was, on the contrary, very well disposed to make peace. The lord
treasurer had avowed the same opinions as his sovereign, had declared

himself to be a man of peace, and had exclaimed that peace once made
he would sing "Nunc dimitte servum tuum Domine." Thereupon, at the
suggestion of the legate, negotiations had begun at Vervins, and
although nothing was absolutely concluded, yet Sir Robert Cecil,
having just been sent as special ambassador from the queen, had
brought no propositions whatever of assistance in carrying on the war,
but plenty of excuses about armadas, Irish rebellions, and the want of
funds. There was nothing in all this, they said, but want of good will.
The queen had done nothing and would do nothing for the league
herself, nor would she solicit for it the adherence of other kings and
princes. The king, by making peace, could restore his kingdom to
prosperity, relieve the distress of his subjects, and get back all his lost
cities--Calais, Ardres, Dourlens, Blavet, and many more--without any
expense of treasure or of blood.
Certainly there was cogency in this reasoning from the point of view of
the French king, but it would have been as well to state, when he was
so pompously making a league for offensive and defensive war, that his
real interests and his real purposes were peace. Much excellent
diplomacy, much ringing of bells, firing of artillery, and singing of
anthems in royal chapels, and much disappointment to honest
Dutchmen, might have thus been saved. It is also instructive to observe
the difference between the accounts of De Maisse's negotiations in
England given by that diplomatist himself, and those rendered by the
queen to the States' envoy.
Of course the objurgations of the Hollanders that the king, in a very
fallacious hope of temporary gain to himself, was about to break his
solemn promises to his allies and leave them to their fate, drew but few
tears down the iron cheeks of such practised diplomatists as Villeroy
and his friends.
The envoys visited De Rosuy, who assured them that he was very much
their friend, but gave them to understand that there was not the slightest
possibility of inducing the king to break off the negotiations.
Before taking final leave of his Majesty they concluded, by advice of
the Princess of Orange and of Buzanval, to make the presents which
they had brought with them from the States-General. Accordingly they
sent, through the hands of the princess, four pieces of damask linen and
two pieces of fine linen to the king's sister, Madame Catherine, two

pieces of linen to Villeroy, and two to the beautiful Gabrielle. The two
remaining pieces were bestowed upon Buzanval for his pains in
accompanying them on the journey and on their arrival at court.
The incident shows the high esteem in which the Nethcrland fabrics
were held at that period.
There was a solemn conference at last between the leading counsellors
of the king, the chancellor, the Dukes of Espernon and Bouillon, Count
Schomberg, and De Sancy, Plessis, Buzanval, Maisse, the Dutch
envoys, and the English ambassador and commissioner Herbert. Cecil
presided, and Barneveld once more went over the whole ground,
resuming with his usual vigour all the arguments by which the king's
interest and honour were proved to require him to desist from the peace
negotiations. And the orator had as much success as is usual with those
who argue against a foregone conclusion. Everyone had made up his
mind. Everyone knew that peace was made. It is unnecessary, therefore,
to repeat the familiar train of reasoning. It is superfluous to say that the
conference was barren. On the same evening Villeroy called on the
States' envoys, and informed them plainly, on the part of the king, that
his Majesty had fully made up his mind.
On the 23rd April--three mortal weeks having thus been wasted in
diplomatic trilling--Barneveld was admitted to his Majesty's dressing-
room. The Advocate at the king's request came without his colleague,
and was attended only by his son. No other persons were present in the
chamber save Buzanval and Beringen. The king on this occasion
confirmed what had so recently been stated by Villeroy. He had
thoroughly pondered, he said, all the arguments used by the States to
dissuade him from the negotiation, and had found them of much weight.
The necessities of his kingdom, however, compelled him to accept a
period of