The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Aarsens, Frans Van

AARSENS, Frans Van, är′sens, Dutch diplomat: b. The Hague, 1572; d. 1641. From 26 on he represented the States-General at the court of France for many years, first as agent and then as ambassador; and Richelieu ranked him one of three greatest politicians of his time. He also held embassies to Venice, Germany, and England. The judicial murder of John of Barnveld by Maurice of Orange in 1619 was greatly helped by Aarsens, who was gained a tardy popular opprobrium for it through Motley's life of John.