History of the United Netherlands, 1584-85 | Page 4

Henry himself hardly indulged in any profound
reflections. on state-affairs,--desired and had made a sine qua non of
those Provinces. It had been the French policy, from the beginning, to
delay matters, in order to make the States feel the peril of their position
to the full.
"The King, differing and temporising," wrote Herle to the Queen,
"would have them fall into that necessity and danger, as that they
should offer unto him simply the possession of all their estates.
Otherwise, they were to see, as in a glass, their evident and hasty ruin."
Even before the death of Orange, Henry had been determined, if
possible, to obtain possession of the island of Walcheren, which

controlled the whole country. "To give him that," said Herle, "would be
to turn the hot end of the poker towards themselves, and 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 would secure to him the island of
Walcheren. In that case he promised to declare war upon the King of
Spain, to confirm to the States their privileges, and to guarantee to the
Prince the earldoms of Holland and Zeeland, with all his other lands
and titles."
It is superfluous to say that such offers were only regarded by the
Prince as an affront. It was, however, so necessary, in his opinion; to
maintain the cause of the reformed churches in France, and to keep up
the antagonism between that country and Spain, that the French policy
was not abandoned, although the court was always held in suspicion.
But on the death of William, there was a strong reaction against France
and in favour of England. Paul Buys, one of the ablest statesmen of the
Netherlands, Advocate of Holland, and a confidential friend of William
the Silent up to the time of his death, now became the leader of the
English party, and employed his most strenuous efforts against the
French treaty-having "seen the scope of that court."
With regard to the other leading personages, there was a strong
inclination in favour of Queen Elizabeth, whose commanding character
inspired great respect. At the same time warmer sentiments of adhesion
seem to have been expressed towards the French court, by the same
individuals, than the, mere language of compliment justified.
Thus, the widowed Princess of Orange was described by Des Pruneaux
to his sovereign, as "very desolate, but nevertheless doing all in her
power to advance his interests; the Count Maurice, of gentle hopes, as
also most desirous of remaining his Majesty's humble servant, while
Elector Truchsess was said to be employing himself, in the same cause,
with very great affection."
A French statesman resident in the Provinces, whose name has not been
preserved, but who was evidently on intimate terms with many eminent
Netherlanders, declared that Maurice, "who had a mind entirely French,
deplored infinitely the misfortunes of France, and regretted that all the
Provinces could not be annexed to so fair a kingdom. I do assure you,"

he added, "that he is in no wise English."
Of Count Hohenlo, general-in-chief of the States' army under Prince
Maurice, and afterwards his brother-in-law, the same gentleman spoke
with even greater confidence. "Count d'Oloc," said he (for by that
ridiculous transformation of his name 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
thrice, in presence of members of the States General and of the State
Council, that if he had no Frenchmen he could never carry on the war.
He made more account," he said, "of two thousand French than of six
thousand others, English, or Germans."
Yet all these distinguished persons--the widowed Princess of Orange,
Count Maurice, ex-elector Truchsess, Count Holenlo--were described
to Queen Elizabeth by her confidential agent, then employed in the
Provinces, as entirely at that sovereign's devotion.
"Count Maurice holds nothing of the French, nor esteems them," said
Herle, "but humbly desired me to signify unto your Majesty that he had
in his mind and determination faithfully vowed his service to your
Majesty, which should be continued in his actions with all duty, and
sealed with his blood; for he knew how much his father and the cause
were beholden ever to your Highness's goodness."
The Princess, together with her sister-in-law Countess Schwartzenburg,
and the young daughters of the late Prince were described on the same
occasion "as recommending their service unto her Majesty with a most
tender affection,