England—he said that they had resolved unanimously what was to be done, and were gone to consult their principals; but they were under an oath, and could not tell what was resolved on.
the pretence of leaving their Lordships to he guided by their own interests, and at the same time urging that the instances of the French King were rather too pressing for a free Republic. It is not to be presumed that these alternate batteries of words made any further impression than as they were played by the two factions against each other, and on the issue it appeared that the Orange had now the best engineers. For the States of Holland (the Province, not the Republic) at last unanimously resolved to reject the French proposals, and ordered their deputies to declare the same to the States General, from whom Monsieur D'Avaux was to receive his answer in form, and who immediately on this gave out that he should very suddenly be called home. That the King his Master would order all his subjects to quit the service of the States, &c. On the other hand, that these intimidating expressions might not answer the end they were calculated for, a letter from the King of England to the Prince of Orange was read in the General Assembly of the States, not only overflowing with assurances of his Majesty's unalterable resolution to assist the Republic in case of need, but also of his intention to give his Parliament a meeting in April, if their Lordships' interest required it. And these promises, supported with the whole weight and influence of his Highness, wholly turned the scale against the threats of France. Guelderland, Utrecht, and Zealand immediately followed the example of Holland, as did also, soon after, Overyssell, and Groninghen and Friezland adhered to France, after their usual custom. The majority of the Provinces, in the case of a negative, had a right to decide for all. Accordingly, about the middle of March, the Prince of Orange
