History of the United Netherlands, 1607b | Page 9

state, but
chiefly occupied in putting dishes on the court table, handing ewers and
napkins to their Highnesses, or in still more menial offices--so much
enjoyment might be had, was reduced to a mere parade ground for

Spanish soldiery. It was ridiculous, said the politicians of Madrid, to
suppose that a great empire like Spain would not be continually at war
in one direction or another, and would not perpetually require the use of
large armies. Where then could there be a better mustering place for
their forces than those very provinces, so easy of access, so opulent, so
conveniently situate in the neighbourhood of Spain's most insolent
enemies? It was all very fine for the archduke, who knew nothing of
war, they declared, who had no hope of children, who longed only for a
life of inglorious ease, such as he could have had as archbishop, to
prate of peace and thus to compromise the dignity of the realm. On the
contrary by making proper use of the Netherlands, the repose and
grandeur of the monarchy would be secured, even should the war
become eternal.
This prospect, not agreeable certainly for the archdukes or their
subjects, was but little admired outside the Spanish court.
Such then were the sentiments of the archdukes, and such the schemes
and visions of Spain, France, and England. On two or three points,
those great powers were mainly, if unconsciously, agreed. The
Netherlands should not be sovereign; they should renounce the India
navigation; they should consent to the re-establishment of the Catholic
religion.
On the other hand, the States-General knew their own minds, and made
not the slightest secret of their intentions.
They would be sovereign, they would not renounce the India trade, they
would not agree to the re-establishment of the Catholic religion.
Could the issue of the proposed negotiations be thought hopeful, or was
another half century of warfare impending?
On the 28th May the French commissioners came before the
States-General.
There had been many wild rumours flying through the provinces in
regard to the king's secret designs upon the republic, especially since
the visit made to the Hague a twelvemonth before by Francis Aerssens,
States' resident at the French court. That diplomatist, as we know, had
been secretly commissioned by Henry to feel the public pulse in regard
to the sovereignty, so far as that could be done by very private and
delicate fingering. Although only two or three personages had been
dealt with-- the suggestions being made as the private views of the

ambassadors only --there had been much gossip on the subject, not only
in the Netherlands, but at the English and Spanish courts. Throughout
the commonwealth there was a belief that Henry wished to make
himself king of the country.
As this happened to be the fact, it was natural that the President,
according to the statecraft of his school, should deny it at once, and
with an air of gentle melancholy.
Wearing therefore his most ingenuous expression, Jeannin addressed
the assembly.
He assured the States that the king had never forgotten how much
assistance he had received from them when he was struggling to
conquer the kingdom legally belonging to him, and at a time when they
too were fighting in their own country for their very existence.
The king thought that he had given so many proofs of his sincere
friendship as to make doubt impossible; but he had found the contrary,
for the States had accorded an armistice, and listened to overtures of
peace, without deigning to consult him on the subject. They had proved,
by beginning and concluding so important a transaction without his
knowledge, that they regarded him with suspicion, and had no respect
for his name. Whence came the causes of that suspicion it was difficult
to imagine, unless from certain false rumours of propositions said to
have been put forward in his behalf, although he had never authorised
anyone to make them, by which men had been induced to believe that
he aspired to the sovereignty of the provinces.
"This falsehood," continued the candid President, "has cut our king to
the heart, wounding him more deeply than anything else could have
done. To make the armistice without his knowledge showed merely
your contempt for him, and your want of faith in him. But he blamed
not the action in itself, since you deemed it for your good, and God
grant that you may not have been deceived. But to pretend that his
Majesty wished to grow great at your expense, this was to do a wrong
to his reputation, to his good faith, and to the desire which he has
always shown to secure the prosperity of your state." Much more spoke
Jeannin, in this vein, assuring the assembly that those abominable
falsehoods