"I cannot, all in a moment, change from white to black all the ancient maxims of this crown," said the king.

He obtained no encouragement from Spain, and he began to make preparations, in anticipation, for war.
In this view and with these prospects, he needed the alliance of the Hollanders.

Shattered as it had been by the behavior of the United Provinces at the Congress of Munster and by their separate peace with Spain, the friendship between the States General and France had been re-soldered by the far-sighted policy of John Van Witt, grand pensionary of Holland, and preponderant, with good right, in the policy of his country.

Bold and prudent, courageous and wise, he had known better than anybody how to estimate the true interests of Holland, and how to maintain them everywhere, against Cromwell as well as Mazarin, with high-spirited moderation.

His great and cool judgment had inclined him towards France, the most useful ally Holland could have.