He warmly recommended the Union of the Provinces.
He then led the conversation to the religious controversies in the Netherlands, and in reply to his enquiries was informed that the points in dispute related to predestination and its consequences.
"I have studied that subject," said James, "as well as anybody, and have come to the conclusion that nothing certain can be laid down in regard to it.

I have myself not always been of one mind about it, but I will bet that my opinion is the best of any, although I would not hang my salvation upon it.

My Lords the States would do well to order their doctors and teachers to be silent on this topic.

I have hardly ventured, moreover, to touch upon the matter of justification in my own writings, because that also seemed to hang upon predestination." Thus having spoken with the air of a man who had left nothing further to be said on predestination or justification, the King rose, took off his hat, and drank a bumper to the health of the States-General and his Excellency Prince Maurice, and success to the affair of Cleve.
After dinner there was a parting interview in the gallery.

The King, attended by many privy councillors and high functionaries of state, bade the commissioners a cordial farewell, and, in order to show his consideration for their government, performed the ceremony of knighthood upon them, as was his custom in regard to the ambassadors of Venice.