ambitious and dangerous designs. We see the possessory princes treated
as enemies upon their own estates, and many thousand souls of the
Reformed religion cruelly oppressed by the Papistical League. For myself
I am confirmed in my apprehensions and believe that neither our religion
nor our Union can endure such indignities. The enemy is making use of
the minority in France and the divisions among the princes of Germany to
their great advantage . . . . I believe that the singular wisdom of
his Majesty will enable him to apply promptly the suitable remedies, and
that your Parliament will make no difficulty in acquitting itself well in
repairing those disorders."

The year dragged on to its close. The supineness of the Protestants
deepened in direct proportion to the feverish increase of activity on the
part of Austria and the League. The mockery of negotiation in which
nothing could be negotiated, the parade of conciliation when war of
extermination was intended, continued on the part of Spain and Austria.
Barneveld was doing his best to settle all minor differences between the
States and Great Britain, that these two bulwarks of Protestantism might
stand firmly together against the rising tide. He instructed the
Ambassador to exhaust every pacific means of arrangement in regard to
the Greenland fishery disputes, the dyed cloth question, and like causes
of ill feeling. He held it more than necessary, he said, that the
inhabitants of the two countries should now be on the very best terms
with each other. Above all, he implored the King through the Ambassador
to summon Parliament in order that the kingdom might be placed in
position to face the gathering danger.

"I am amazed and distressed," he said, "that the statesmen of England do
not comprehend the perils with which their fellow religionists are
everywhere threatened, especially in Germany and in these States.