settlement in the North; but would not have it known that he set them
on. Some advised him to go to Spires, where there was an Imperial
Chamber, and follow the profession of an Advocate: the writings there
were all in Latin, the Roman law was followed, and the Augsburg
confession the religion professed. January 26, 1624, he begs of his
father to inform himself of the manner of living in that country, for he
must soon come to some resolution.

In the mean time hopes were given him of his pension[153]: though no
pensions were paid, the Keeper of the Seals promised that he would take
particular care of him; and was in fact as good as his word: one of the
first things he did was to speak to the King in favour of Grotius[154],
and to obtain an order for the payment of the greatest part of the
arrears owing to him. However he still pressed his father and brother to
seek out a settlement for him[155]. Feb. 16, 1624, he wrote to them that
he persisted in his resolution of going to some town of the Augsburg
confession, where he might live cheap, and wait for better times. "The
state of the kingdom, says he, makes me uneasy; and I have no prospect
of a certainty for myself. These negotiations must be managed with
precaution and secrecy, lest the knowledge of them should lessen the
consideration in which I am held. It is sufficient that those who wish
me well know that I am not so fixed here but I can come away if any
thing better offers." In the mean time the Keeper of the Seals and the
Ministry heaped civilities on him[156]; they spoke of him to the King,
and at length he received three thousand Francs, part in money, and part
in bills.

There were at that time Dutch Ambassadors in France, who carried their
malice so far as to tell the King he could not be too much on his guard
against Grotius, who carried on a private correspondence with the