Barneveld was not the man to brook it.
He replied with great indignation.

"I was born in liberty," he said with rising choler, "I cannot digest this kind of language.

The King of Spain himself never dared to speak in so high a style." "I well understand that logic," returned the Ambassador with continued insolence.

"You hold your argument to be drawn 'a majori ad minus;' but I pray you to believe that the King of Great Britain is peer and companion to the King of Spain, and that his motto is, 'Nemo me impune lacessit.'" And so they parted in a mutual rage; Winwood adding on going out of the room, "Whatsoever I propose to you in his Majesty's name can find with you neither goust nor grace." He then informed Lord Rochester that "the man was extremely distempered and extremely distasted with his Majesty.
"Some say," he added, "that on being in England when his Majesty first came to the throne he conceived some offence, which ever since hath rankled in his heart, and now doth burst forth with more violent malice." Nor was the matter so small as it superficially appeared.

Dependence of one nation upon the dictation of another can never be considered otherwise than grave.