History of the United Netherlands, 1584-85 | Page 9

Otherwise, it was argued that her Majesty would be "so
impeached by Scotland in favour of the King of Spain, that her action
against that King would be greatly weakened."
Other measures necessary to be taken in view of the Spanish war were
also discussed. The ex-elector of Cologne, "a man of great account in
Germany," was to be assisted with money to make head against his
rival supported by the troops of Philip.
Duke Casimir of the Palatinate was to be solicited to make a diversion
in Gelderland.

The King of France was to be reminded of his treaty with England for
mutual assistance in case of the invasion by a foreign power of either
realm, and to be informed "not only of the intentions of the Spaniards
to invade England, upon their conquest of the Netherlands, but of their
actual invasion of Ireland."
It was "to be devised how the King of Navarre and Don Antonio of
Portugal, for their respective titles, might be induced to offend and
occupy the King of Spain, whereby to diminish his forces bent upon the
Low Countries."
It was also decided that Parliament should be immediately summoned,
in which, besides the request of a subsidy, many other necessary,
provisions should be made for her Majesty's safety.
"The conclusions of the whole," said Lord Burghley, with much
earnestness, "was this. Although her Majesty should hereby enter into a
war presently, yet were she better to do it now, while she may make the
same out of her realm, having the help of the people of Holland, and
before the King of Spain shall have consummated his conquests in
those countries, whereby he shall be so provoked with pride, solicited
by the Pope, and tempted by the Queen's own subjects, and shall be so
strong by sea, and so free from all other actions and quarrels,--yea,
shall be so formidable to all the rest of Christendom, as that her
Majesty shall no wise be able, with her own power, nor with aid of any
other, neither by sea nor land, to withstand his attempts, but shall be
forced to give place to his insatiable malice, which is most terrible to be
thought of, but miserable to suffer."
Thus did the Lord Treasurer wisely, eloquently, and well, describe the
danger by which England was environed. Through the shield of
Holland the spear was aimed full at the heart of England. But was it a
moment to linger? Was that buckler to be suffered to fall to the ground,
or to be raised only upon the arm of a doubtful and treacherous friend?
Was it an hour when the protection of Protestantism and of European
liberty against Spain was to be entrusted to the hand of a feeble and
priest-ridden Valois? Was it wise to indulge any longer in doubtings
and dreamings, and in yet a little more folding of the arms to sleep,
while that insatiable malice, so terrible to be thought of, so miserable to
feel, was bowing hourly more formidable, and approaching nearer and
nearer?

Early in December, William Davison, gentleman-in-ordinary of her
Majesty's household, arrived at the Hague; a man painstaking, earnest,
and zealous, but who was fated, on more than one great occasion, to be
made a scape-goat for the delinquencies of greater personages than
himself.
He had audience of the States General on the 8th December. He then
informed that body that the Queen had heard, with, sorrowful heart, of
the great misfortunes which the United Provinces had sustained since
the death of the Prince of Orange; the many cities which they had lost,
and the disastrous aspect of the common cause. Moved by the affection
which she had always borne the country, and anxious for its
preservation, she had ordered her ambassador Stafford to request the
King of France to undertake, jointly with herself, the defence of the
provinces against the king of Spain. Not till very lately, however, had
that envoy succeeded in obtaining an audience, and he had then
received "a very cold answer." It being obvious to her Majesty,
therefore, that the French government intended to protract these matters
indefinitely, Davison informed the States that she had commissioned
him to offer them "all possible assistance, to enquire into the state of
the country, and to investigate the proper means of making that
assistance most useful." He accordingly requested the appointment of a
committee to confer with him upon the subject; and declared that the
Queen did not desire to make herself mistress of the Provinces, but
only to be informed how she best could aid their cause.
A committee was accordingly appointed, and a long series of somewhat
concealed negotiations was commenced. As the deputies were upon the
eve of their departure for France, to offer the sovereignty