He adverted with respectfully subdued scorn to King James's proposition
that Spinola should give a guarantee. "I doubt if he accepts the
suggestion," said Barneveld, "unless as a notorious trick, and if he did,
what good would the promise of Spinola do us? We consider Spinola a
great commander having the purses and forces of the Spaniards and the
Leaguers in his control; but should they come into other hands, he would
not be a very considerable personage for us. And that may happen any
day. They don't seem in England to understand the difference between
Prince Maurice in his relations to our state and that of Marquis Spinola
to his superiors. Try to make them comprehend it. A promise from
the Emperor, King of Spain, and the princes of the League, such as
his Majesty in his wisdom has proposed to Spinola, would be most
tranquillizing for all the Protestant princes and estates of the Empire,
especially for the Elector and Electress Palatine, and for ourselves.
In such a case no difficulty would be made on our side."

After expressing his mind thus freely in regard to James and his policy,
he then gave the Ambassador a word of caution in characteristic fashion.
"Cogita," he said, "but beware of censuring his Majesty's projects. I do
not myself mean to censure them, nor are they publicly laughed at here,
but look closely at everything that comes from Brussels, and let me know
with diligence."

And even as the Advocate was endeavouring with every effort of his skill
and reason to stir the sluggish James into vigorous resolution in behalf
of his own children, as well as of the great cause of Protestantism and
national liberty, so was he striving to bear up on his strenuous
shoulders the youthful king of France, and save him from the swollen
tides of court intrigue and Jesuitical influence fast sweeping him to
destruction.