Yet although the people as such were not sovereigns, but subjects, and rarely spoken of by the aristocratic magistrates save with a gentle and patronizing disdain, they enjoyed a larger liberty than was known anywhere else in the world.
Buzenval was astonished at the "infinite and almost unbridled freedom" which he witnessed there during his embassy, and which seemed to him however "without peril to the state." The extraordinary means possessed by Aerssens to be important and useful vanished with the King's death.

His secret despatches, painting in sombre and sarcastic colours the actual condition of affairs at the French court, were sent back in copy to the French court itself.

It was not known who had played the Ambassador this vilest of tricks, but it was done during an illness of Barneveld, and without his knowledge.

Early in the year 1613 Aerssens resolved, not to take his final departure, but to go home on leave of absence.

His private intention was to look for some substantial office of honour and profit at home.