London. "Grotius is returned to his Country by the advice of several
illustrious men, some of whom are in great place. He has done this
without the knowledge of such as condemned him twelve years ago to
perpetual imprisonment, and of those who in that time of trouble
attained to the highest dignities by deposing such as were in power. All
these, excepting a few, think it their interest that this great man,
whose merit they know, should be buried in obscurity; and therefore
spoke against him with great warmth in the Assembly of the States. He
had several illustrious friends who stood up for him: the nobility,
three cities, Rotterdam, of which he was Pensionary; Delft, where he was
born; and Amsterdam, no less famous for her prudence than her riches.
Leyden is much against him: because the first Burgomaster was one of his
Judges: Harlem, for the like reason, is of the same sentiments. Of the
other towns some take a middle course: most of them join Leyden;
especially the smaller towns, in which the preachers have great
authority. Hence it is uncertain how this affair will end: he has the
flower of Holland for him; but it often happens with us that the
Zealots, like the rigid Puritans, by their menaces and clamour bear down
the honest party, who are more modest. If it should so happen I fear
much that this great man, fatigued with these squabbles, will of himself
quit his ungrateful Country: I am the more apprehensive of this as I
know for certain that some Kings and several Princes are endeavouring to
draw him to their courts by offers of great honours and a considerable
salary. If he is destined to live out of his Country, I shall be jealous
of any place he settles in if it be not Great-Britain, where, I foresee,
he would be of much service to the king and kingdom." Laud, in his
answer to this letter, owns[176] that he always looked on Grotius's
recall as a thing not to be expected: as to the proposal of employing
him in England, he tells him it was in vain to think of it in the
present circumstances.