acclamations-the laurels he had won, fading on his brow, and the memory of the people affectionately turned to the victim of his ambition; while a medal was struck to celebrate his virtues, by which he was held up as a martyr for the liberties of his country-were events which, as they preyed on his mind, generated a feverish anxiety, and operated as incipient disease, that marked him as one speedily to fall the victim of his own folly, injustice, and tyranny; and not long after the execution of Barneveldt, he was seized with a lingering malady, which, says Mr. Grattan, it is hoped, for the sake of his better feelings, was accompanied with regret and remorse for the past. The intimation here thrown out by this writer is confirmed by the testimony of others, though in proof of the salutary character of the remorse we have not the same weight of evidence; and in the absence of those feelings which, though to a great extent undefinable, yet form a source of solace and hope to the true penitent, we are afraid he was taught to rely upon the admission of certain theological sentiments as the ground of safety and acceptance with his Maker when passing from the presence of man and the twilight of time to the bright visions of eternity. In confirmation of this statement, we shall mention a circumstance which took place previous to the death of this unhappy prince. Struggling with his own feelings under a remembrance of the past, he had an interview with Bogerman, to whom he stated the secret misgivings of his heart as to his safety, and the uneasiness he felt at the idea of entering the awful presence of his Judge. Bogerman attempted to console him by the application of promises suited to the case of the penitent. "But," asked the prince, "how can these passages of Scripture, which promise grace and pardon to penitents, apply to me, since I do not discover in myself any of the true signs of repentance or contrition ?" To which the minister rejoined, "But do you not feel a wish to repent?" "Certainly I do," said the other. "Then," added Bogerman, "such a wish to be able to repent is an infallible sign of regeneration."*

On a review of this case, in connection with other events

* See Epistolæ Ecclesiasticæ et Theologica, p. 811.

But

distinguishing the previous history of this prince, it is impossible for us not to see a striking resemblance between him and our countryman, Cromwell, the circumstances of whose life and death seem to be so very similar to those of Maurice. Cromwell, it is true, was undistinguished by princely descent, while his chief crime was that of being the prime instrument in the death of royalty itself. Maurice, on the contrary, was eminent by birth, while the victim of his ambition was great, only as talents, virtue, patriotism, and eminent services gave him greatness. Charles and Barneveldt* each alike stood in the way of aspirants to sovereign authority and government; and though the Dutch statesman and the English monarch were different in rank, yet each fell the victim of the ambition of a successful soldier. Oliver, disconsolate and agitated, when viewing the past, as he was hastening to his final hour, was also consoled by his ghostly comforters in a way similar to Prince Maurice. For when feeling in himself no meltings of compunction or cheering confidence in the Divine favour, he was called away from solicitude to obtain them, by an intimation that he was placing himself under a covenant of works, which is fatal to him who attempts it. Let not the reader suppose that in thus briefly noticing these striking points of coincidence in the conduct and end of these successful and aspiring chieftains, we thereby intend to intimate that their hyper-Calvinism was the occasion of their vices; only we may be permitted to remark that Bishop Womack, when descanting upon the conduct of Cromwell's chaplain, in thus attempting to produce the calm of con

* Sir James Mackintosh, speaking of the murder of John and Cornelius de Witt, says, "It was perpetrated with such brutal ferocity, and encountered with such heroic serenity, that it may almost seem to be doubtful, whether the glory of having produced such pure sufferers may not, in some degree, console a country for having given birth to assassins so atrocious. These excesses are singularly at variance with the calm and orderly character of the Dutch; but it is mere justice to observe that their commonwealth was fruitful in great men, who acted and suffered with equal dignity in those tragic scenes, of which the contemplation strengthens and exalts human nature. Perhaps no free state has, in proportion to its magnitude, contributed more amply than it to the amendment of mankind by the examples of public virtue."-History of the Revolution in 1688, p. 316.

fidence in his mind, so similar to the conduct of Bogerman in the case of Maurice, justly designates such acting as "the result of false principles."

CHAPTER XIV.

BEFORE proceeding to notice the sentence of banishment pronounced upon the cited Remonstrants, we can but remark that we have been struck with the heroism they displayed, in protesting against the illegitimacy of the synod as their judge, though they knew that it was appointed by the dictum of Maurice. This courage appears still more striking when it is known that reports of the probable execution of the imprisoned Barneveldt were conveyed to them for the purpose of terrifying them into submission. But while their heroism commanded our admiration, we were disposed to believe that it might contribute to hasten the fall of that distinguished statesman, as being their principal support. This impression we discovered to be correct, for in turning to Sir Dudley Carlton's letter of the sixteenth of April, we found that he plainly declares "that from the commencement of the process against Barneveldt until now there was no speech of death; but now the consideration of the opinionatrity of the Remonstrants hath much altered the business, and most voices run upon making all sure," [that is, to give sentence of death upon all the prisoners.] Thus Maurice, who had pledged himself to the wife of Barneveldt that her husband's life should not be taken, now found his jealousy and vindictive passions quickened from the sup. position that in this the Remonstrants openly opposed him, and that the cited assumed such bearing in the synod from encouragement from without; and, therefore, took the fatal resolution of proceeding to the lengths narrated in our last chapter. One would fain not identify any of the ministers of religion or members of the synod with this foul deed, but broad intimations had been given by many of them of the necessity of such extreme measures, and the fact of some of them afterward calling upon the people from the pulpit to rejoice after the execution of the

advocate, at the deliverance of the Church from one of its greatest enemies,* and the profane sporting of Diodati on the occasion, with the odious colours in which many of the Contra-Remonstrant writers attempted to hold up this distinguished Dutchman to public execration, seem too much like laboured efforts at vilifying the memory of this victim, in order to prove the justice of the proceed. ings adopted against him, in which they were involved, and to establish their own righteousness in contributing to his death, by attempting to demonstrate his guiltiness.

We now proceed to the Remonstrants, who, after the lay commissioners had read to them the condemnation of the ecclesiastical president, were left unnoticed until the twentieth of May, when they were summoned into the presence of these gentlemen, who were directed to ascertain from them whether they would desist from the discharge of their ministerial duties. They were accordingly asked individually by their lordships, "whether, since they had been deprived of their ministry, they would abstain from all ecclesiastical ministrations, such as preach. ing, exhorting, administering the sacrament, and visiting the sick;" promising them, at the same time, that if they would cease from attending to these duties, a comfortable competency should be allowed them to live as private citizens. Beside the above requirement, it was especially demanded of Episcopius that he should promise neither to write letters, nor books, in order to confirm the people in the opinions of the Remonstrants, and draw them away from the doctrine of the synod. We need not say that the speciality of the request made to Episcopius thus to impose silence upon him, was paying high homage to the vast powers of his mind. The men answered like themselves, save one : "We are ready to obey their high mightinesses, so far as we can do it with a safe conscience, but beyond this, we can make no promises. We will desist from attempts to preach in churches belonging to the government, but not to minister elsewhere to large or small assemblies of those who are attached to us, we cannot engage. When we took upon us holy orders, we bound ourselves to our Lord Jesus Christ to preach his word both in prosperity and adversity, and we dare not

* See Brandt.

recall our vows. We know that punishment awaits him who hides his talent through terror, as well as him who squanders it through neglect. It is our duty, therefore, to place our lights upon a candlestick, and not put them under a bushel through fear; and we hope your lordships will neither attempt to hinder us, or be displeased with us for so doing." "But," said one of the commissioners, "suppose a proclamation is issued to prevent you." "We hope better things," it was replied, "from their high mightinesses, than that they should attempt such measures in these free Netherlands. Nevertheless, should it be so, we are bound to obey God rather than man." A second time they were summoned into the presence of the commissioners, who again attempted to induce them to promise to desist, but they remained unmoved in their former determination.

The friends of the cited now began to be alarmed, apprehending that violent measures would be adopted against them, and wished them to seek their safety in flight. But they had too much manly courage to listen to these suggestions. Uitenbogaerdt was tremblingly alive to the danger which he thought hung over Episcopius, and in writing to him, said, "It is well known in what esteem the opposite party hold you, and there is no doubt but they will endeavour to adopt measures to cast you into prison, or send you into exile. If I were fully certain that the latter was to be the extent of their designs upon you, I should exhort you to submit to it; but if there is a probability of the former, I say do not forget the case of the lord advocate." By this remark it is evident Uitenbogaerdt wished Episcopius to escape, which he easily could have done, but he refused, and, therefore, with the rest of the Remonstrants, went to the Hague, on the second of July, to receive his sentence. Prior to this, however, they addressed both the States of Holland and the States-General, on the injustice of their being detained at Dort so long after the synod had closed; asserting that, as a safe conduct had been promised to them, they hoped that their governors would not violate their promises, otherwise they would act more unjustly than the Catholics did at the Council of Trent, who kept their engagements with the Protestants; and, therefore, they