History of the United Netherlands, 1587c | Page 3

often enough that he
was more given to performances than promises. "We doubt not your
Majesty will succour us," he said, "for our honest mind and plain
dealing toward your royal person and dear country;" adding, as a bit of
timely advice, "Royal Majesty, believe not over much your
peacemakers. Had they their mind, they will not only undo your
friend's abroad, but, in the end, your royal estate."
Certainly it was from no want of wholesome warning from wise
statesmen and blunt soldiers that the Queen was venturing into that
labyrinth of negotiation which might prove so treacherous. Never had
been so inopportune a moment for that princess to listen to the voice of
him who was charming her so wisely, while he was at the same
moment battering the place, which was to be the basis of his operations
against her realm. Her delay in sending forth Leicester, with at least a
moderate contingent, to the rescue, was most pernicious. The
States--ignorant of the Queen's exact relations with Spain, and
exaggerating her disingenuousness into absolute perfidy became on
their own part exceedingly to blame. There is no doubt whatever that
both Hollanders and English men were playing into the hands of Parma
as adroitly as if he had actually directed their movements. Deep were
the denunciations of Leicester and his partisans by the States' party, and
incessant the complaints of the English and Dutch troops shut up in
Sluys against the inactivity or treachery of Maurice and Hohenlo.
"If Count Maurice and his base brother, the Admiral (Justinus de
Nassau), be too young to govern, must Holland and Zeeland lose their
countries and towns to make them expert men of war?" asked Roger
Williams.' A pregnant question certainly, but the answer was, that by
suspicion and jealousy, rather than by youth and inexperience, the arms
were paralyzed which should have saved the garrison. "If these base
fellows (the States) will make Count Hollock their instrument,"
continued the Welshman; "to cover and maintain their folly and lewd
dealing, is it necessary for her royal Majesty to suffer it? These are too
great matters to be rehearsed by me; but because I am in the town, and
do resolve to, sign with my blood my duty in serving my sovereign and
country, I trust her Majesty will pardon me." Certainly the gallant

adventurer on whom devolved at least half the work of directing the
defence of the city, had a right to express his opinions. Had he known
the whole truth, however, those opinions would have been modified.
And he wrote amid the smoke and turmoil of daily and nightly battle.
"Yesterday was the fifth sally we made," he observed: "Since I
followed the wars I never saw valianter captains, nor willinger soldiers.
At eleven o'clock the enemy entered the ditch of our fort, with trenches
upon wheels, artillery-proof. We sallied out, recovered their trenches,
slew the governor of Dam, two Spanish captains, with a number of
others, repulsed them into their artillery, kept the ditch until yesternight,
and will recover it, with God's help, this night, or else pay dearly for
it . . . . . I care not what may become of me in this world, so that her
Majesty's honour,--with the rest of honourable good friends, will think
me an honest man."
No one ever doubted the simple-hearted Welshman's honesty, any more
than his valour; but he confided in the candour of others who were
somewhat more sophisticated than himself. When he warned her, royal
Majesty against the peace-makers, it was impossible for him to know
that the great peace-maker was Elizabeth herself.
After the expiration of a month the work had become most fatiguing.
The enemy's trenches had been advanced close to the ramparts, and
desperate conflicts were of daily occurrence. The Spanish mines, too,
had been pushed forward towards the extensive wine-caverns below the
city, and the danger of a vast explosion or of a general assault from
beneath their very feet, seemed to the inhabitants imminent. Eight days
long, with scarcely an intermission, amid those sepulchral vaults,
dimly-lighted with torches, Dutchmen, Englishmen, Spaniards, Italians,
fought hand to hand, with pike, pistol, and dagger, within the bowels of
the earth.
Meantime the operations of the States were not commendable. The
ineradicable jealousy between the Leicestrians and the Barneveldians
had done its work. There was no hearty effort for the relief of Sluys.
There were suspicions that, if saved, the town would only be taken
possession of by the Earl of Leicester, as an additional vantage-point
for coercing the country into subjection to his arbitrary authority.
Perhaps it would be transferred to Philip by Elizabeth as part of the
price for peace. There was a growing feeling in Holland and Zeeland

that as those Provinces bore all