History of the United Netherlands, 1608




CHAPTER LI.

Designs of Henry IV.--New marriage project between France and Spain
Formal proposition of negotiating for a truce between the States and
Spain--Exertions of Prince Maurice to counteract the designs of
Barneveld--Strife between the two parties in the republic--Animosity
of the people against Barneveld--Return of the Spanish
commissioners--Further trifling--Dismissal of the commissioners--
Close of the negotiations--Accidental discovery of the secret
instructions of the archdukes to the commissioners--Opposing
factions in the republic--Oration of President Jeannin before the
States-General--Comparison between the Dutch and Swiss republics--
Calumnies against the Advocate--Ambassador Lambert in France--
Henry's letter to Prince Maurice--Reconciliation of Maurice and
Barneveld--Agreement of the States to accept a truce.

President Jeannin had long been prepared for this result. It was also by
no means distasteful to him. A peace would not have accorded with the
ulterior and secretly cherished schemes of his sovereign, and during his
visit to Paris, he had succeeded in persuading Henry that a truce would
be far the most advantageous solution of the question, so far as his
interests were concerned.

For it had been precisely during that midsummer vacation of the President
at Paris that Henry had completed his plot against the liberty of the