History of the United Netherlands, 1584-1609, Complete

emes of the Pretender

cret Wishes of France-

Netherlanders-Their

tatesmen of the Provi

ingham, Burghley, and

-Davison at the Hagu

-Consequent Dissatis

spicion of France-In

d for

nch and English governments, in behalf of the Netherlands-a joint protectorate of the Provinces, until such time as adequate concessions on the religious question could be obtained from Spain. She was unwilling to plunge into the peril and expense of a war with the strongest power in the world. She disliked the necessity under which she should be placed of making repeated applications to her parliament, and of thus fostering the political importance of the Commons; she was reluctant to encourage rebe

he Netherlands, to submit to the tyranny of an overwhelming absolutism. The instinct of the English sovereign, of English statesmen, of the English nation, taught them that the cause of the Netherlands was their own. Nevertheless, they were inclined to look on yet a little longer, although the part of spectator ha

eat from his post of English ambassador, was now established in Paris, as representative of Philip. He succeeded Tasais-a Netherlander by birth, and one of the ablest diplomatists in the Spanish service-and h

it be the duty of a good ambassador to expend largely, it would be difficult to find a better one than he; for they say 'tis his intention to spend sixte

s skill as a negotiator. He was, of course, watching with much fierceness the progress of these underhand proceedings between the French court and the rebellious subjects of his master, and using t

gs, in the mountains of Spain, where he had been tracked like a wild beast, with a price of thirty thousand crowns placed upon his head, he was now most anxious to stir the governments of Europe into espousing his cause, and into attacking Spain through the recently acq

or them to have a governor and head, and him to be at her Majesty's devotion, if her Majesty would be at the means to work it for him, she should be assured

by dangers; for the Duke of Guise and his brother had undertaken to deliver him into the hands of Philip the Second, or those of his ministers, before the feast of St. John of the coming year. Fifty thousand dollars were t

himself as useful as he could, in picking up information for Sir

ould never dare to enter the lists against the king of Spain, yet he was accurately informed of the secre

ool so much," he wrote

to decipher the cause o

the offers that they ma

r of dealing

very secret, and was angry at the motion," when he endeavoured to discover the business in which they were engaged. Yet he had th

them, rather than to hinder them-though they do not deserve it-ye

e, who had been received at Chambery with "great triumphs and tourneys," brought back only a broken wrist, without bringing the Duke of Savoy; that potentate s

g disposed for the sudden flight out of window suggested by Agrippa D' Aubigne; so that, on the

lthough it was now very certain that active exertions were making by Des Pruneaux in the Provinces, it was not believed by the most sagacious that a seri

ought that if the King of Spain marry, he will not live a year. Whensoever the marriage be," added the envoy, "I would to God

rs, and it was not easy to sound the dep

rival of the new deputies from the Netherlands; and Stafford wa

in the matter, and in what sort I shall behave myself. Some badly affected have gone about to put into the King's head, that they never meant to offer the sovereignty, which, though the King be not thoroughly per

difficult than ever for the envoy to know what course to pursue. Some persons went so far as to suggest that the whole negotiation was a mere phantasmagoria devised by Queen Elizabeth-her purpos

s mean to do anything here with the King, and if her. Majesty and the council think it fit, they would delay no time, but go roundly either to an agreement or to a breach with the King. Otherwise,

s a perpetual inconvenience to France. The King, or rather the Queen-Mother and her advisers-for Henry himself hardly indulged in any profound reflections on state-affairs,-desired and

o that necessity and danger, as that they should offer unto him simply the possession of a

put the cold part in the King's hand. He had accordingly made a secret offer to William of Orange, through the Princess, of two millions of livres in ready money, or, if he preferred it, one hundred thousand livres yearly of perpetual inheritance, if he w

sary, in his opinion; to maintain the cause of the reformed churches in France, and to keep up the antagonism betwe

en of the Netherlands, Advocate of Holland, and a confidential friend of William the Silent up to the time of his death, now became th

e commanding character inspired great respect. At the same time warmer sentiments of adhesion seem to have bee

g all in her power to advance his interests; the Count Maurice, of gentle hopes, as also most desirous of remaining his Majes

minent Netherlanders, declared that Maurice, "who had a mind entirely French, deplored infinitely the misfortunes of France, and reg

the German general was known to French and English), "with whom I have passed three weeks on board the fleet of the States, is now wholly French, and does not love the English at all. The very first time I saw him, he protested twice or thr

ished persons-the wido

tor Truchsess, Count H

r confidential agent,

irely at that sov

t he had in his mind and determination faithfully vowed his service to your Majesty, which should be continued in his actions with

the same occasion "as recommending their service unto her Majesty with a most tender affection, as to a lady of all ladies." "Espe

o, after many grave and sincere words had of her Majesty's virtue, calling her 'la fille unique de

lusion to the Count's propensity for strong potations), was said "to desire humbly to be known for

nted his face and wore satin petticoats, and the woman who entertained ambassadors, each in his own language, on gravest affairs of state, who matched in her wit and wisdom the deepest or the most sparkling intellects of her c

arms, heart and soul, had they been cordially extended at that moment of their distress; but she was coy, hesitating, and, for reasons already sufficient

ir common and private speeches, to the Queen of England's only favour and goodness, whom they call their saviour, and the Princess of greatest perfection in wisdom and sincerity that ever governed. Notwithstanding their tr

egotiations should take place, however secret and confidential, that were not laid before her Majesty. "He has the chief administration among the States," said Herle, "and to his credit and dexterity they attribute the despatch of most

re lucid and comprehensive. It will also be seen whether his strenuous exertions in favour of th

lish government acquainted with the capacity, dis

he same to be altered and disposed as should seem good to your Highness's own authority; affirming to me sincerely that Holland and Zeeland, with the rest of the provinces, for the estimation they had of your high virtue an

were to keep on foot an army of 15,000 foot and 5000 horse, with which they should be able, "to expulse the enemy and to reconquer their towns and country lost, within three months." Of this army they hoped to induce the Queen to furnish 5000 English footmen and 500 horse, to be paid monthly by a treasurer of her own; and for the assistance thus to be furnished they proposed to give Ostend and Sluys as pledge of payment. According to this scheme the e

tch community of the reformed religion in London subscribed nine thousand and five florins. This sum, with other contributions, proved sufficient to set Morgan's regiment on

for the undertaking. While procuring this assistance in English troops he had been very urgent with the Queen to further the negotiations between the States and France; and Paul Buys was offended with him as

f character; having had great experience in the diplomatic service of the country on many important occasions. "He stands second in reputation here," said Herle, "and both Buys and he have

country, was rather inclined, at this period, to favour the French party; a

ing and resources of the Netherlands, by Buys, Meetkerk, and William Herle, Walsingh

ts, but was still more distressed in mind, from his sagacious reading of the signs of the times. Fearing that England was growing lukewarm, and the Provinces desperate, he was beginning to find himself out of work, and was already casting about him for other employment. Poor, honest, and proud, he had repeatedly declined to enter the Spanish service. Bribes, such as at a little later period were sufficient to sully conspicuous reputations and noble names, among his countrymen in better circumstances than his own, had been freely but

country, I needed not to have been in that case that I am in. Perhaps I could have fingered more pistoles than Mr. Newell, the late Latiner, and had better usage and pension of the Spaniards than he. Some can tell that I re

will be afterwards chronicled, he was disposed to cultivate the "acquaintance of divers Pollacks," from which he had received invitations. "Find I nothing ther

reappeared; his sharp sensible tongue uttered much sage counsel; and his ready sword did various so

upon the negotiations in progress, and cavillin

rotract interminably their negotiations, to prevent the English government fr

to advance men and mon

and

at were Norris, Bingham, Yorke, or Carlisle, in those po

ant effect by the naval heroes of England and the Netherlands-the long-sighted Welshman

end off, both, three-score sail into his Indies, we will force him to retire from

m, been taken; had the stealthy but quick-darting policy of Walsingham prevailed over the solemn and stately but somewhat ponderous proceedings of Burghley, both Ghent and Antwerp mig

know the humour of the people, and am acquainted with a number of the best. I shall be able to show him a number of their dealings, as well with the French as in other

ing in vain attempted to conquer the French influence, and bring about the annexation of the Provinces to England, threw down his office in disgust, and retired for a time from the contest. He

ristendom was slowly turning. To allow the provinces to fall back again into the grasp of Philip, was to offer England herself as a last sacrifice to the Spanish Inquisition

ible Armada, wafting defiance and destruction to England, became dimly visible. He felt that the great Netherland bulwa

less determined, was still dispo

uld not resolve, frankly and fearlessly, to assume, the burthen of their protection. Under the inspiration of Burghley, she was therefore willing to encourage the Netherlanders underhand; preventing them at every hazard from slackening in their determined hostility to Spain; discountenancing, without absolutely forbidding, their proposed absorption by France; intimating, without pro

pidly tending to bec

l, "upon the question whether her Majesty should p

if the King of Spain should recover Holland and Zeeland, as he had the other countries,

ties in the way of effectual assistan

on the other," it was concluded that the Queen would be obliged to succumb to the power of Spain, and the liberties of England be ho

of France, and, if such should prove to be the case, to enquire whether that sovereign had pledged himself to declare war upon Philip. In this ev

the Provinces were likely to fall again victims to the "Spanish tyranny," her Majesty would then "st

" upon the matter of succour, and, if the terms seemed reasonable, he would

voke them to offer to the Queen the ports of Flushing and Middelburg and the Brill, wherein she meant not t

of troops and of ships of war that they would pledge themselves to maintain. These investigations were very important, because the Queen, although very

ut such a pacification might be, it was certain that a "great deal more would be expended in defending the realm against Scotland," while England was engaged in hostilities with

ed. The ex-elector of Cologne, "a man of great account in Germany," was to be ass

tinate was to be solicit

der

nvasion by a foreign power of either realm, and to be informed "not only of the intentions of the Spani

how the King of Nava

pective titles, might b

n, whereby to diminish

ountr

moned, in which, besides the request of a subsidy, many other

of Spain shall have consummated his conquests in those countries, whereby he shall be so provoked with pride, solicited by the Pope, and tempted by the Queen's own subjects, and shall be so strong by sea, and so free from all other actions and quarrels,-yea, shall be so formidable to all th

ll to the ground, or to be raised only upon the arm of a doubtful and treacherous friend? Was it an hour when the protection of Protestantism and of European liberty against Spain was to be entrusted to the hand of a feeble and priest-ridden Valois? Was it w

at the Hague; a man painstaking, earnest, and zealous, but who was fated, on more than one gre

d ordered her ambassador Stafford to request the King of France to undertake, jointly with herself, the defence of the provinces against the king of Spain. Not till very lately, however, had that envoy succeeded in obtaining an audience, and he had then received "a very cold answer." It being obvious to her Majesty, therefore, that the French government intended to protract these matters indefinitely, Davison informed the Sta

ced. As the deputies were upon the eve of their departure for France, to offer the sovereignty of the

gland. The delusion of a joint protectorate was still clung to by the Queen, although the conduct of France was becom

rn his back upon the Provinces, and leave them a prey to Philip. Still she would not yet renounce the hope of bringing the French King over to an ingenuous course of action. It was thought, too, that something might be d

and Havres, Chimays, and Lalaings, might arouse themselves to more patrio

ected," said Burghley, "that except they shall admit the French King to the absolute dominion, he will not aid them, and they, for lack of succour, be forced to yield to the Spaniard, it may be answered that rath

cause of liberty the greatest possible amount of assistance from Henry, and to allow him to acquire in return the leas

French will keep touch and covenants with them, when any opportunity shall be offered to break them; so that her Majesty thinketh no good can be looked for to those countries by yielding this large authority to the French. If th

st finding himself too far advanced to retreat. He was rarely decided, however, and never lucid; and least

puzzling to others, he rarely permitted the Netherlanders, or even his own agents, to perceive his drift. It was fair enough, pe

l for the stay of this French course, and yet, so to use it (as near as you may) that they of the French faction there be not able to charge you therewith, by-advertising into France. For it hath already appeared, by some speeches past between our ambassador

, to insinuate the probability of their not "keeping touch and covenant," to represent their rule as "cumbersome and perilous," was wholesome conduct enough towar

d for a season in a round game of de

observed by the French faction, and therefore you cannot proceed so closely but it will be espied. Howsoever it be, see

o much accustomed to penetrate the designs of his anta

herlanders had none of it to spare. "With time and myself, there are two of us," was Philip II.'s favourite observation; and the Prince of Parma was at this

rs in mud and water; and German mercenaries, in the obedient Provinces, were burning the peasants' houses in order to sell the iron to buy food withal; while grave

n a course that is like to work so great peril. I know you will do your best endeavour to keep all things upright, and yet it is hard-the disease being now c

t suffer others to do it. I am not ignorant that in time to come the annexing of these countries to the crown of France may prove prejudicial to England, but if France refuse to deal with them, and the rather for that we shall minister some cause of impediment

overruled, and the Queen's government had decided to watch the course of the French negotiation, doing what it could, underhand, to prevent that negotiation

ed to do things for God's sake; neither do they mean to use our advice or assistance in making of the bargain. For they still hold a jealous conceit that when Spain and

usiasm which had been created in favour of France, as well as the prejudice against England, began to die out. It became probable in the opinion of those most accustomed to read the signs of the times, that the French court was acting in connivance with Philip, and that the negotiation was

elsewhere, especially in England, or else some pleasing motion of peace, wherein the French King will offer his mediation with Spain. Meantime the people, wearied with the troubles, charges, and hazard of the war, shall be rocked asleep, the provision for their defence neglected, s

ealousy of England, and that he was unlikely, for the sake of those whose "religion, popular liberty, and rebellion against their sovereign," he

received from the Dutch envoys in France became less and less encouraging, and as the Queen was informed by her ambassador in Paris of the tergiversations in Paris, she became the more anxious lest the States should

y at the expatriation of wealthy merchants and manufacturers going so rapidly forward, now that Ghent had fallen and Brussels and Antwerp were in such imminent peril. She feared that, while so much valuable time had been thrown away, the Provinces had become too much impoverished to do their own part in the

al indignation against the French party. The letters of the deputies occasioned "murmur and mislike" of most per

r, "after long dalliance and entertainment, than either a flat refusal or such a masked embracing of their cause, as would rather tend to the increasing of their miseries and

years ago had nearly proved fatal to the cause of liberty in the Provinces. A committee of the States had an interview with the Queen's envoy at the Hague; implored her Majesty through him not to

to France, and the articles proposed for the acceptance of the King. The envoy knew his business better than not to

he really knew by heart. "After some pretended quarrel," said he, "for their not acquaintin

s during the absence of the deputies in France. It