States-General the more, as they could not give a reasonable answer to
it. The approbation it met with throughout Europe would not suffer them
to remain silent; this would have confirmed all the disagreeable truths
which the necessity of a just defence obliged Grotius to advance: thus
destitute of any good arguments, they had recourse to authority, and
made themselves judges in their own cause. They proscribed the Apology,
and condemned it as slanderous, and tending to asperse by falshoods the
sovereign authority of the government of the Provinces, the person of
the Prince of Orange, the States of the particular Provinces, and the
towns themselves; and therefore forbad all persons to have it in their
custody on pain of death. The _Mercure François_ mentions this in the
following terms. "The Apology is prohibited; and all persons of what
quality soever are forbid to have it in their possession on pain of
death; thus making Grotius as it were a prey to any person who shall
apprehend him."

These menaces gave him uneasiness: he consulted the French Ministry, his
friends and protectors, how to behave in this situation, and what was to
be done to prevent the consequence which might result from the
proscription: he had several conferences on this subject with the
Chancellor de Silleri and the President Jeannin. The Chancellor, who was
naturally irresolute, contented himself with blaming the rigour of the
edict, and making general offers of service. The President Jeannin was
of opinion he should write a letter to a friend, shewing the injustice
of the proscription: others advised him to despise these vain threats,
and publish a new edition of the _Apology_ in which he might put the
Authors of the Edict to confusion: some were of opinion he ought to
complain to the States-General themselves; but others represented there
would be danger in having recourse to this last expedient, as he might
seem by it to acknowledge their authority. Against writing to the