wished they might make their peace at the same time he did: but the
States would have no peace on the conditions on which Spain pretended to
grant it: the French king's resolution, of consequence, put them in a
great consternation, because they foresaw the whole force of Philip II.
was coming to fall on them. They took a resolution to send to Henry, in
1598, Count Justin of Nassau and the Grand Pensionary Barnevelt, to
intreat him to continue the war, and not make a separate peace.

The Dutch Ambassadors, in conjunction with Lord Cecil, Ambassador from
England, omitted nothing to determine the King to conclude a new treaty
of perpetual alliance with Holland and England against Spain. The King
prayed them to consider, that the state of his affairs required him to
make peace; but, for the rest, it would not hinder him, in case the
Queen of England and the States did not chuse to be comprehended in the
treaty, from doing them service; that the peace itself would enable him
to assist them with money, without leaving Spain any room to complain,
as he could pretend that he only repaid what money they had lent him in
his greatest wants.

The congress of Vervins, already begun, was still continued. Henry
sincerely desired a general peace: and accordingly ordered Mess. de
Bellievre and de Silleri, his plenipotentiaries, to obtain from the
Archduke Albert a truce of four months between Spain and Holland; hoping
that means of reconciliation might be found in that interval. The
Archduke at first refused it: and this denial had well nigh broke off
the congress: he consented at last to a truce of two months: but the
Dutch would not accept it, finding the term too short. The only
advantage which the States drew from this embassy was a promise from the
King to assist them, in four years, with two millions nine hundred
thousand florins; as Barnevelt informs us.

Grotius, who had a strong inclination to see France, seized the
opportunity of the Dutch ambassadors journey: he accompanied the Grand
Pensionary, for whom he had the highest esteem, and justly regarded as
one of the principal supports of the infant Republic.

The learned Youth was advantageously known in France before. M. de
Buzanval, who had been ambassador in Holland, introduced him to the
King, by whom he was graciously received: that great prince presented
him with his picture and a gold chain. Grotius was so transported with
this present, that he caused a print of hims