A few days after the three nobles had despatched their last letter to the King, they had handed her a formal remonstrance.

In this document they stated their conviction that the country was on the high road to ruin, both as regarded his Majesty's service and the common weal.

The bare, the popular discontent daily increasing, the fortresses on the frontier in a dilapidated condition.

It was to be apprehended daily that merchants and other inhabitants of the provinces would be arrested in foreign countries, to satisfy the debts owed by his Majesty.

To provide against all these evils, but one course, it was suggested, remained to the government--to summon the states-general, and to rely upon their counsel and support.