De Dieu.—"But the majority of the States is Popish."
The Queen.—"I mean the States-General, not the States of any particular Province."
De Dieu.—"The greater part of the States-General is Popish."
The Queen.—"I mean the three estates—the clergy, the nobles, and the cities." The Queen—as the deputies observed—here fell into an error. She thought that prelates of the reformed Church, as in England, had seats in the States-General. Daniel de Dieu explained that they had no such position.
The Queen.—"Then how were you sent hither?"
De Dieu.—"We came with the consent of Count Maurice of Nassau."
The Queen.—"And of the States?"
De Dieu.—"We came with their knowledge."
The Queen.—"Are you sent only from Holland and Zeeland? Is there no envoy from Utrecht and the other Provinces?"
Helmichius.—"We two," pointing to his colleague Sossingius, "are from Utrecht."