Secretary to the legation to France in 1594, he had been successively advanced to the post of resident agent, and when the Republic had been acknowledged by the great powers, to that of ambassador.

The highest possible functions that representatives of emperors and kings could enjoy had been formally recognized in the person of the minister of a new-born republic.

And this was at a moment when, with exception of the brave but insignificant cantons of Switzerland, the Republic had long been an obsolete idea.
In a pecuniary point of view, too, he had not fared badly during his twenty years of diplomatic office.

He had made much money in various ways.

The King not long before his death sent him one day 20,000 florins as a present, with a promise soon to do much more for him.
Having been placed in so eminent a post, he considered it as due to himself to derive all possible advantage from it.