He was informed that the Republic had been sending some war ships to the Levant, to watch the armada recently sent thither by Spain, and other armed vessels into the Baltic, to pursue the corsairs with whom every sea was infested.

In one year alone he estimated the loss to Dutch merchants by these pirates at 800,000 florins.

"We have just captured two of the rovers, but the rascally scum is increasing," he said.
Again alluding to the resistance to be made by the States to the Imperial pretensions, he observed, "The Emperor is about sending us a herald in the Julich matter, but we know how to stand up to him." And notwithstanding the bare possibility which he had admitted, that the Prince of Neuburg might not yet have wholly sold himself, body and soul, to the Papists, he gave warning a day or two afterwards in France that all should be prepared for the worst.
"The Archdukes and the Prince of Neuburg appear to be taking the war earnestly in hand," he said.

"We believe that the Papistical League is about to make a great effort against all the co-religionists.

We are watching closely their movements.