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HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS
From the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce—1609
By John Lothrop Motley
MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg Edition, Volume 43
History United Netherlands, 1585
Sir John Norris sent to Holland—Parsimony of Elizabeth—Energy of Davison—Protracted Negotiations—Friendly Sentiments of Count Maurice—Letters from him and Louisa de Coligny—Davison vexed by the Queen's Caprice—Dissatisfaction of Leicester—His vehement Complaints—The Queen's Avarice—Perplexity of Davison—Manifesto of Elizabeth—Sir Philip Sidney—His Arrival at Flushing.
The envoys were then dismissed, and soon afterwards a portion of thedeputation took their departure from the Netherlands with the proposedtreaty. It was however, as we know, quite too late for Saguntum. Twodays after the signing of the treaty, the remaining envoys were at thepalace of Nonesuch, in conference with the Earl of Leicester, when agentleman rushed suddenly into the apartment, exclaiming with greatmanifestations of anger:
"Antwerp has fallen! A treaty has been signed with the Prince of Parma.Aldegonde is the author of it all. He is the culprit, who has betrayedus;" with many more expressions of vehement denunciation.
The Queen was disappointed, but stood firm. She had been slow in takingher resolution, but she was unflinching when her mind was made up.Instead of retreating from her, position, now that it became doublydangerous, she advanced several steps nearer towards her allies. Forit was obvious, if more precious time should be lost, that Holland andZeeland would share the fate of Antwerp. Already the belief, that, withthe loss of that city, all had been lost, was spreading both in theProvinces and in England, and Elizabeth felt that the time had indeedcome to confront the danger.
Meantime the intrigues of the enemy in the independent Provinces wererife. Blunt Roger Williams wrote in very plain language to Walsingham,a very few days after the capitulation of Antwerp:
"If her Majesty means to have Holland and Zeeland," said he, "she mustresolve presently. Aldegonde hath promised the enemy to bring them tocompound. Here arrived already his ministers which knew all his dealingsabout Antwerp from first to last. Count Maurice is governed altogetherby Villiers, and Villiers was never worse for the English than at thishour. To be short, the people say in general, they will accept a peace,unless her Majesty do sovereign them presently. All the men of war willbe at her Highness' devotion, if they be in credit in time. What you do,it must be done presently, for I do assure your honour there is largeoffers presented unto them by the enemies. If her Majesty deals notroundly and resolutely with them now, it will be too late two monthshence."
Her Majesty meant to deal roundly and resolutely. Her troops had alreadygone in considerable numbers. She wrote encouraging letters with her ownhand to the States, imploring them not to falter now, even though thegreat city had fallen. She had long since promised never to desert them,and she was, if possible, more determined than ever to redeem her pledge.She especially recommended to