the liberties of your Country, and the favour you shewed to those who
were beginning to bring back the truth to it: I have done all that my
situation and my master's service would permit to alleviate your
misfortunes, and procure your deliverance. It has pleased God you should
owe it entirely to him, and not to the interposition of earthly powers,
that being freed from worldly cares, you might employ the many rare
talents, with which he has intrusted you, in advancing the work most
agreeable to him, which is the common peace of Christendom, by reuniting
the members which are separated from their spiritual mother, by whom
they or their fathers were conceived. And forasmuch as I see so many
honourable men hope for it from you, I cannot but rejoice with them, and
encourage by my applauses your happy career. I promise myself, the King,
whose liberality for the present only supplies your necessities, will
then reward your virtues and merit; and give them honourable employment
in the affairs of state, in the management whereof you have acquired
great knowledge and dexterity. I shall never be the last to promote what
may be agreeable to you, and shall always highly value, as I now do, the
friendship of such an extraordinary personage; offering all you can
desire of him who is, Sir, yours most affectionately to serve you. G. Du
Vair, Bishop of Lisieux. Camp at St. John d'Angeli, June 13, 1621."

Grotius answers this obliging Letter on the 24th of June following[133].
He owns he was always a lover of Learning; but modestly acknowledges
that his friends, by engaging him too early in the study of the law and
public business, retarded the progress which he might otherwise have
made. He hopes, with God's grace, that no worldly motives shall induce
him to act or speak against his conscience; and that if he has the
misfortune to be deceived, God will graciously enlighten him, or pardon
him for his good intention: and prays for the return of peace among
Christians, without prejudice to truth. "Some thousands, says he, of