The Life and Death of John of Barneveld, Advocate of Holland, 1610-12 | Page 9

of the
Advocate's confidential letters.
"Sound well the gentleman you wot of," said Barneveld, "and other
personages as to the conclusive opinions over there. The course of the
propositions does not harmonize with what I have myself heard out of
the King's mouth at other times, nor with the reports of former
ambassadors. I cannot well understand that the King should, with such
preciseness, condemn all other opinions save those of Calvin and Beza.
It is important to the service of this country that one should know the
final intention of his Majesty."
And this was the misery of the position. For it was soon to appear that
the King's definite and final intentions, varied from day to day. It was
almost humorous to find him at that moment condemning all opinions

but those of Calvin and Beza in Holland, while his course to the
strictest confessors of that creed in England was so ferocious.
But Vorstius was a rival author to his Majesty on subjects treated of by
both, so that literary spite of the most venomous kind, stirred into
theological hatred, was making a dangerous mixture. Had a man with
the soul and sense of the Advocate sat on the throne which James was
regarding at that moment as a professor's chair, the world's history
would have been changed.
"I fear," continued Barneveld, "that some of our own precisians have
been spinning this coil for us over there, and if the civil authority can
be thus countermined, things will go as in Flanders in your time. Pray
continue to be observant, discreet, and moderate."
The Advocate continued to use his best efforts to smooth the rising
waves. He humoured and even flattered the King, although perpetually
denounced by Winwood in his letters to his sovereign as tyrannical,
over-bearing, malignant, and treacherous. He did his best to counsel
moderation and mutual toleration, for he felt that these needless
theological disputes about an abstract and insoluble problem of
casuistry were digging an abyss in which the Republic might be
swallowed up for ever. If ever man worked steadily with the best lights
of experience and inborn sagacity for the good of his country and in
defence of a constitutional government, horribly defective certainly, but
the only legal one, and on the whole a more liberal polity than any then
existing, it was Barneveld. Courageously, steadily, but most patiently,
he stood upon that position so vital and daily so madly assailed; the
defence of the civil authority against the priesthood. He felt
instinctively and keenly that where any portion of the subjects or
citizens of a country can escape from the control of government and
obey other head than the lawful sovereignty, whether monarchical or
republican, social disorder and anarchy must be ever impending.
"We are still tortured by ecclesiastical disputes," he wrote a few weeks
later to Caron. "Besides many libels which have appeared in print, the
letters of his Majesty and the harangues of Winwood have been
published; to what end you who know these things by experience can
judge. The truth of the matter of Vorstius is that he was legally called
in July 1610, that he was heard last May before My Lords the States
with six preachers to oppose him, and in the same month duly accepted

and placed in office. He has given no public lectures as yet. You will
cause this to be known on fitting opportunity. Believe and cause to be
believed that his Majesty's letters and Sir R. Winwood's propositions
have been and shall be well considered, and that I am working with all
my strength to that end. You know the constitution of our country, and
can explain everything for the best. Many pious and intelligent people
in this State hold themselves assured that his Majesty according to his
royal exceeding great wisdom, foresight, and affection for the welfare
of this land will not approve that his letters and Winwood's
propositions should be scattered by the press among the common
people. Believe and cause to be believed, to your best ability, that My
Lords the States of Holland desire to maintain the true Christian,
Reformed religion as well in the University of Leyden as in all their
cities and villages. The only dispute is on the high points of
predestination and its adjuncts, concerning which moderation and a
more temperate teaching is furthered by some amongst us. Many think
that such is the edifying practice in England. Pray have the kindness to
send me the English Confession of the year 1572, with the corrections
and alterations up to this year."
But the fires were growing hotter, fanned especially by Flemish
ministers, a brotherhood of whom Barneveld had an especial distrust,
and who certainly felt great animosity to him. His moderate counsels
were but