The Life of the Truly Eminent and Learned Hugo Grotius: Containing a Copious and Circumstantial History of the Several Important and Honourable Negotiations in Which He Was Employed; together with a Critical Account of His WorksBurigny, M. de (Jean Lévesque)
History
The Life of the Truly Eminent and Learned Hugo Grotius: Containing a Copious and Circumstantial History of the Several Important and Honourable Negotiations in Which He Was Employed; together with a Critical Account of His Works
Burigny, M. de (Jean Lévesque)
Grotius, Hugo, 1583-1645
He had left many friends in France. William De Lusson, First President
of the Court of Moneys, was one who adhered to him most steadily: and
we find by Grotius' letter to him that he was very active to obtain the
payment of his pension though absent: In a letter whose date is
false[178], Grotius informs him[179], that while he lived he would never
forget the King's goodness and the gracious reception with which that
Prince honoured him: and promises to write to Boutillier, Superintendant
of the finances, as soon as an occasion offered. It is probable this
Minister had made him an offer of service; for in speaking of him
Grotius says, "It is very agreeable to me to be approved by a man who in
such a high station has not lost the taste for polite literature: I wish
him and his family uninterrupted prosperity, and the art of enjoying
it."
His wife, who had been in Zealand, came to join him, and the pleasure of
seeing her again was a consolation under all his troubles. He writes to
Vossius, August 17, 1632[180], "Oppressed by the violence of my enemies,
to which hand shall I turn me, and to whom shall I have recourse, but to
her who has been the faithful companion of my good and bad fortune; and
to you who have given me public marks of your attachment in my greatest
calamities? I have not yet (he adds) come to a resolution in my own
affair; but as far as I can see I shall have it in my power to chuse. It
ought not to appear hard to me to live under a Master, when I see that
after so many efforts for preserving your liberty you have little more
than the name of it. I am resolved to expose myself to every thing
rather than stoop to those who have treated me so unworthily after many
years patience. I value not that man who lays aside all sentiments of
generosity." He no doubt means the Prince of Orange, of whom he thought
he had reason to complain.
He was well pleased with the air of the place where he resided, and met
with so many Dutchmen[181], that he did not look upon himself as a
stranger. He wanted his books; but the learned Lindenbrogius gave him
access to his library to use it as his own.
When winter came on, he lodged at Hamburg with Van Sorgen, a Merchant,
who had a regard for men of learning: he was brother to Nicholas Van
Sorgen an eminent Advocate at the Hague.
Notwithstanding the embarrassment of his affairs he tells the First
President of the Court of Moneys, that he did not pretend to draw money
from the King of France for the future. "I shall always," says he,
"retain a most grateful sense of the King's liberality: but it is enough
to have been chargeable to you when in France. I have never done you any
service, though I made an offer of myself. But it would not be proper
that I should now live like a hornet on the goods of other men. I shall
never forget, however, the kindness of so great a King, and the good
offices of so many friends."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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