The war could not long be delayed; yet they in whose behalf it was to be waged treated him with a disrespect and flippancy almost amounting to scorn.
They tried to borrow money of him through the post, and neglected to send him an ambassador.

This was most decidedly putting the cart before the oxen, so Henry said, and so thought all his friends.

When they had blockaded the road to Julich, in order to cut off Leopold's supplies, they sent to request that the two French regiments in the States' service might be ordered to their assistance, Archduke Albert having threatened to open the passage by force of arms.

"This is a fine stratagem," said Aerssens, "to fling the States-General headlong into the war, and, as it were, without knowing it." But the States-General, under the guidance of Barneveld, were not likely to be driven headlong by Brandenburg and Neuburg.

They managed with caution, but with perfect courage, to move side by side with Henry, and to leave the initiative to him, while showing an unfaltering front to the enemy.