The Life and Death of John of Barneveld, Advocate of Holland, 1614-23 | Page 7

. . . . I
believe that the singular wisdom of his Majesty will enable him to
apply promptly the suitable remedies, and that your Parliament will
make no difficulty in acquitting itself well in repairing those disorders."
The year dragged on to its close. The supineness of the Protestants
deepened in direct proportion to the feverish increase of activity on the
part of Austria and the League. The mockery of negotiation in which
nothing could be negotiated, the parade of conciliation when war of
extermination was intended, continued on the part of Spain and Austria.
Barneveld was doing his best to settle all minor differences between the
States and Great Britain, that these two bulwarks of Protestantism
might stand firmly together against the rising tide. He instructed the
Ambassador to exhaust every pacific means of arrangement in regard to
the Greenland fishery disputes, the dyed cloth question, and like causes
of ill feeling. He held it more than necessary, he said, that the
inhabitants of the two countries should now be on the very best terms

with each other. Above all, he implored the King through the
Ambassador to summon Parliament in order that the kingdom might be
placed in position to face the gathering danger.
"I am amazed and distressed," he said, "that the statesmen of England
do not comprehend the perils with which their fellow religionists are
everywhere threatened, especially in Germany and in these States. To
assist us with bare advice and sometimes with traducing our actions,
while leaving us to bear alone the burthens, costs, and dangers, is not
serviceable to us." Referring to the information and advice which he
had sent to England and to France fifteen months before, he now gave
assurance that the Prince of Neuburg and Spinola were now in such
force, both foot and cavalry, with all necessary munitions, as to hold
these most important territories as a perpetual "sedem bedli," out of
which to attack Germany at their pleasure and to cut off all possibility
of aid from England and the States. He informed the court of St. James
that besides the forces of the Emperor and the House of Austria, the
Duke of Bavaria and Spanish Italy, there were now several thousand
horse and foot under the Bishop of Wurzburg, 8000 or 9000 under the
Bishop-Elector of Mayence, and strong bodies of cavalry under Count
Vaudemont in Lorraine, all mustering for the war. The pretext seems
merely to reduce Frankfurt to obedience, even as Donauworth had
previously been used as a colour for vast designs. The real purpose was
to bring the Elector-Palatine and the whole Protestant party in Germany
to submission. "His Majesty," said the Advocate, "has now a very great
and good subject upon which to convoke Parliament and ask for a large
grant. This would be doubtless consented to if Parliament receives the
assurance that the money thus accorded shall be applied to so
wholesome a purpose. You will do your best to further this great end.
We are waiting daily to hear if the Xanten negotiation is broken off or
not. I hope and I fear. Meantime we bear as heavy burthens as if we
were actually at war."
He added once more the warning, which it would seem superfluous to
repeat even to schoolboys in diplomacy, that this Xanten treaty, as
proposed by the enemy, was a mere trap.
Spinola and Neuburg, in case of the mutual disbanding, stood ready at
an instant's warning to re-enlist for the League not only all the troops
that the Catholic army should nominally discharge, but those which

would be let loose from the States' army and that of Brandenburg as
well. They would hold Rheinberg, Groll, Lingen, Oldenzaal,
Wachtendonk, Maestricht, Aachen, and Mulheim with a permanent
force of more than 20,000 men. And they could do all this in four days'
time.
A week or two later all his prophesies had been fulfilled. "The Prince of
Neuburg," he said, "and Marquis Spinola have made game of us most
impudently in the matter of the treaty. This is an indignity for us, their
Majesties, and the electors and princes. We regard it as intolerable. A
despatch came from Spain forbidding a further step in the negotiation
without express order from the King. The Prince and Spinola are gone
to Brussels, the ambassadors have returned to the Hague, the armies are
established in winter-quarters. The cavalry are ravaging the debateable
land and living upon the inhabitants at their discretion. M. de Refuge is
gone to complain to the Archdukes of the insult thus put upon his
sovereign. Sir Henry Wotton is still here. We have been plunged into
an immensity of extraordinary expense, and are amazed that at this very
moment England should demand money from us when we ought