History of the United Netherlands, 1584-85 | Page 7

to be done in the Queen's
service," he said to Walsingham; "but I do persuade myself she makes
no account of me. Had it not been for the duty that nature bound me
towards her and my 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 refused large offers, in the misery of Alost, of
the Prince of Parma. Last of all, Verdugo offered me very fair, being in
Loccum, to quit the States' service, and accept theirs, without treachery
or betraying of place or man."

Not feeling inclined to teach Latin in Spain, like the late Mr. Newell, or
to violate oaths and surrender fortresses, like brave soldiers of fortune
whose deeds will be afterwards chronicled, he was disposed to cultivate
the "acquaintance of divers Pollacks," from which he had received
invitations. "Find I nothing there," said he, "Duke Matthias has
promised me courtesy if I would serve in Hungary. If not, I will offer
service to one of the Turk's bashaws against the Persians."
Fortunately, work was found for the trusty Welshman in the old fields.
His brave honest face often reappeared; his sharp sensible tongue
uttered much sage counsel; and his ready sword did various solid
service, in leaguer, battle-field, and martial debate, in Flanders, Holland,
Spain, and France.
For the present, he was casting his keen glances upon the negotiations
in progress, and cavilling at the general policy which seemed
predominant.
He believed that the object of the French was to trifle with the States, to
protract interminably their negotiations, to prevent the English
government from getting any hold upon the Provinces, and then to
leave them to their fate.
He advised Walsingham to advance men and money, upon the security
of Sluys and Ostend.
"I dare venture my life," said he, with much energy, "that were Norris,
Bingham, Yorke, or Carlisle, in those ports, he would keep them during
the Spanish King's life."
But the true way to attack Spain--a method soon afterwards to be
carried into such brilliant effect by the naval heroes of England and the
Netherlands--the long-sighted Welshman now indicated; a combined
attack, namely, by sea upon the colonial possessions of Philip.
"I dare be bound," said he, "if you join with Treslong, the States
Admiral, and send off, both, three-score sail into his Indies, we will
force him to retire from conquering further, and to be contented to let
other princes live as well as he."
In particular, Williams urged rapid action, and there is little doubt, that
had the counsels of prompt, quick-witted, ready-handed soldiers like
himself, and those who thought with him, 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 might have been saved, the trifling and treacherous
diplomacy of Catharine de' Medici neutralized, and an altogether more
fortunate aspect given at once to the state of Protestant affairs.
"If you mean to do anything," said he, "it is more than time now. If you
will send some man of credit about it, will it please your honour, I will
go with him, because I 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 affairs, and
perhaps will find means to send messengers to Ghent, and to other
places, better than the States; for the message of one soldier is better
than twenty boors."
It was ultimately decided--as will soon be related--to send a man of
credit to the Provinces. Meantime, the policy of England continued to
be expectant and dilatory, and Advocate Buys, after having 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 even contemplated
for a moment taking service in Denmark, but renounced the notion of
abandoning his country, and he will accordingly be found, at a later
period, conspicuous in public affairs.
The deliberations in the English councils were grave and anxious, for it
became daily more obvious that the Netherland question was the hinge
upon which the, whole fate of Christendom 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. This
was felt by all the statesmen in the land; but some of them, more than
the rest, had a vivid perception of the