disapproved.  In the mean time he was much embarrassed in what manner to behave, and consulted the most able lawyers on the subject, who refused to take any fee from him.  He had no objection to writing to the States-General, provided the letter contained nothing to the disadvantage of his innocence.  He met with more difficulties than he imagined:  and wrote to his brother (November 28, 1631) “I am threatened with a storm; but I can live elsewhere, and I leave all to God’s disposal.”

He left Rotterdam, and came in the end of the year 1631 to Amsterdam, where he was extremely well received[170].  He did not, however, trust his stay in the Low-Countries to the success of his negotiation, for he wrote to his father, December 10, 1631, “You may say you understand that I have taken my resolution to quit this cruel Country.”  He was not satisfied with the Magistrates of Rotterdam:  but he spoke extremely well of the town of Delft[171]:  however no City ventured publickly to protect him[172].  His great friend Gerard Vossius did every thing in his power to engage all who had any friendship for himself to befriend Grotius, and keep him in Holland.  We have a letter written by him on that subject to Bevovicius, Magistrate of Amsterdam[173], who was in the interest of his friend:  he represents to him what dishonour the States would bring on themselves by not permitting a man to live in their Country who was its greatest ornament, and the wonder of the age.  He exhorts him to continue his good offices to prevent Amsterdam from disgracing herself by opposing that great man’s return, and assures him that France, Germany, England, and all nations are waiting to see what Holland will do on this occasion.  “Let us not, says he, have ground to regret the loss of a man whom it depends entirely on ourselves to keep.”

Vossius’s desire to have Grotius continue in Holland was so great, that his friend’s inflexibility gave him much uneasiness.  He wanted him to make application to the Prince of Orange, and, after obtaining his consent, to write to those in power, asking permission to stay in the Country:  but this was precisely the step to which Grotius had the greatest aversion.

To employ himself till his fate should be determined, he resolved to exercise the profession of Consulting Advocate:  with this view he desired his brother, in a letter dated February 16, 1632, to send him what law books he had, and which he might need for the proper discharge of his office.

He could make no use of these books:  for the States-General, thinking themselves affronted by his boldness in continuing in the Country without their leave, and by the repugnance he shewed to ask them pardon, on the tenth of December, 1631, issued an Ordonnance enjoining all the Bailiffs of the Country to seize his person, and give them notice.  No body would execute it:  which obliged the States to renew it, on the tenth of March in the year following, upon pain to those who would not obey of losing their places; and with a promise of two thousand florins to any one who would deliver Grotius into the hands of justice.  There were many who interested themselves for him:  besides private persons he was favoured by the Nobles, the Towns of Rotterdam, Delft, and Amsterdam.  But the States-General were his Judges and his Adversaries.