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THE LIFE AND DEATH of JOHN OF BARNEVELD, ADVOCATE OF HOLLAND
By John Lothrop Motley, D.C.L., LL.D.
MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg Edition, Volume 91
Life of John of Barneveld, 1613-15
Aerssens remains Two Years longer in France—Derives many Personal
Advantages from his Post—He visits the States-General—Aubery du
Maurier appointed French Ambassador—He demands the Recall of
Aerssens—Peace of Sainte-Menehould—Asperen de Langerac appointed
in Aerssens' Place.
Francis Aerssens had remained longer at his post than had been intendedby the resolution of the States of Holland, passed in May 1611.
It is an exemplification of the very loose constitutional framework ofthe United Provinces that the nomination of the ambassador to Francebelonged to the States of Holland, by whom his salary was paid, although,of course, he was the servant of the States-General, to whom his publicand official correspondence was addressed. His most important despatcheswere however written directly to Barneveld so long as he remained inpower, who had also the charge of the whole correspondence, public orprivate, with all the envoys of the States.
Aerssens had, it will be remembered, been authorized to stay one yearlonger in France if he thought he could be useful there. He stayed twoyears, and on the whole was not useful. He had too many eyes and toomany ears. He had become mischievous by the very activity of hisintelligence. He was too zealous. There were occasions in France atthat moment in which it was as well to be blind and deaf. It wasimpossible for the Republic, unless driven to it by dire necessity, toquarrel with its great ally. It had been calculated by Duplessis-Mornaythat France had paid subsidies to the Provinces amounting from first tolast to 200 millions of livres. This was an enormous exaggeration. Itwas Barneveld's estimate that before the truce the States had receivedfrom France eleven millions of florins in cash, and during the truce upto the year 1613, 3,600,000 in addition, besides a million still due,making a total of about fifteen millions. During the truce France kepttwo regiments of foot amounting to 4200 soldiers and two companies ofcavalry in Holland at the service of the States, for which she was boundto pay yearly 600,000 livres. And the Queen-Regent had continued all thetreaties by which these arrangements were secured, and professed sincereand continuous friendship for the States. While the French-Spanishmarriages gave cause for suspicion, uneasiness, and constant watchfulnessin the States, still the neutrality of France was possible in the comingstorm. So long as that existed, particularly when the relations ofEngland with Holland through the unfortunate character of King James wereperpetually strained to a point of imminent rupture, it was necessary tohold as long as it vas possible to the slippery embrace of France.
But Aerssens was almost aggressive in his attitude. He rebuked thevacillations, the shortcomings, the imbecility, of the Queen's governmentin offensive terms. He consorted openly with the princes who were on thepoint of making war upon the Queen-Regent. He made a boas