I have always thought it for the advantage of his Majesty to sustain us in such wise as would make us useful in his service.

As to his remaining permanently at peace with Spain, that would seem quite out of the question." The King had long kept, according to treaty, a couple of French regiments in the States' service, and furnished, or was bound to furnish, a certain yearly sum for their support.

But the expenses of the campaigning had been rapidly increasing and the results as swiftly dwindling.

The Advocate now explained that, "without loss both of important places and of reputation," the States could not help spending every month that they took the field 200,000 florins over and above the regular contributions, and some months a great deal more.

This sum, he said, in nine months, would more than eat up the whole subsidy of the King.