Conde, Bouillon, and the other malcontent princes with their followers had taken possession of the fortress of Mezieres, and issued a letter in the name of Conde to the Queen-Regent demanding an assembly of the States-General of the kingdom and rupture of the Spanish marriages.

Both parties, that of the government and that of the rebellion, sought the sympathy and active succour of the States.

Maurice, acting now in perfect accord with the Advocate, sustained the Queen and execrated the rebellion of his relatives with perfect frankness.

Conde, he said, had got his head stuffed full of almanacs whose predictions he wished to see realized.

He vowed he would have shortened by a head the commander of the garrison who betrayed Mezieres, if he had been under his control.