History of the United Netherlands, 1585 part 5

History of the United
Netherlands, 1585 part 5

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Title: History of the United Netherlands, 1585
Author: John Lothrop Motley
Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4843] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 2,
2002]

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY
UNITED NETHERLANDS, 1585 ***

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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
CHAPTER VI
., Part 2.
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 the
deputation took their departure from the Netherlands with the proposed
treaty. It was however, as we know, quite too late for Saguntum. Two
days after the signing of the treaty, the remaining envoys were at the
palace of Nonesuch, in conference with the Earl of Leicester, when a

gentleman rushed suddenly into the apartment, exclaiming with great
manifestations 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 betrayed
us;" with many more expressions of vehement denunciation.
The Queen was disappointed, but stood firm. She had been slow in
taking her resolution, but she was unflinching when her mind was made
up. Instead of retreating from her, position, now that it became doubly
dangerous, she advanced several steps nearer towards her allies. For it
was obvious, if more precious time should be lost, that Holland and
Zeeland would share the fate of Antwerp. Already the belief, that, with
the loss of that city, all had been lost, was spreading both in the
Provinces and in England, and Elizabeth felt that the time had indeed
come to confront the danger.
Meantime the intrigues of the enemy in the independent Provinces were
rife. 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
must resolve presently. Aldegonde hath promised the enemy to bring
them to compound. Here arrived already his ministers which knew all
his dealings about Antwerp from first to last. Count Maurice is
governed altogether by Villiers, and Villiers was never worse for the
English than at this hour. 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 will be 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 large offers presented unto them by the enemies. If her
Majesty deals not roundly and resolutely with them now, it will be too
late two months hence."
Her Majesty meant to deal roundly and resolutely. Her troops had
already gone in considerable numbers. She wrote encouraging letters
with her own hand to the States, imploring them not to falter now, even
though the great 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 their