History of the United Netherlands, 1585 part 4 | Page 8

said Sir Francis, "her Majesty would not
have you accompany the commissioners who are coming from the Low
Countries; but to come over, either before them or after them, lest it be
thought they come over by her Majesty's procurement."
As if they were not coming over by her Majesty's most especial
procurement, and as if it would matter to Philip--the union once made
between England and Holland--whether the invitation to that union
came first from the one party or the other!
"I am retired for my health from the court to mine own house," said
Walsingham, "but I find those in whose judgment her Majesty reposeth
greatest trust so coldly affected unto the cause, as I have no great hope
of the matter; and yet, for that the hearts of princes are in the hands of
God, who both can will and dispose them at his pleasure, I would be
loath to hinder the repair of the commissioners."
Here certainly, had the sun gone most suddenly into a cloud. Sir
Francis would be loath to advise the commissioners to stay at home,

but he obviously thought them coming on as bootless an errand as that
which had taken their colleagues so recently into France.
The cause of the trouble was Flushing. Hence the tears, and the
coldness, and the scoldings, on the part of the imperious and the
economical Queen. Flushing was the patrimony--a large portion of that
which was left to him--of Count Maurice. It was deeply mortgaged for
the payment of the debts of William the Silent, but his son Maurice, so
long as the elder brother Philip William remained a captive in Spain,
wrote himself Marquis of Flushing and Kampveer, and derived both
revenue and importance from his rights in that important town. The
States of Zeeland, while desirous of a political fusion of the two
countries, were averse from the prospect of converting, by exception,
their commercial, capital into an English city, the remainder of the
Provinces remaining meanwhile upon their ancient footing. The
negociations on the subject caused a most ill-timed delay. The States
finding the English government cooling, affected to grow tepid
themselves. This was the true mercantile system, perhaps, for managing
a transaction most thriftily, but frankness and promptness would have
been more statesmanlike at such a juncture.
"I am sorry to understand," wrote Walsingham, "that the States are not
yet grown to a full resolution for the delivering of the town of Flushing
into her Majesty's hands. The Queen finding the people of that island so
wavering and inconstant, besides that they can hardly, after the so long
enjoying a popular liberty, bear a regal authority, would be loath to
embark herself into so dangerous a war without some sufficient caution
received from them. It is also greatly to be doubted, that if, by practice
and corruption, that town might be recovered by the Spaniards, it
would put all the rest of the country in peril. I find her Majesty, in case
that town may be gotten, fully resolved to receive them into her
protection, so as it may also be made probable unto her that the
promised three hundred thousand guilders the month will be duly paid."
A day or two after writing this letter, Walsingham sent one afternoon,
in a great hurry, for Ortel, and informed him very secretly, that,
according to information just received, the deputies from the States
were coming without sufficient authority in regard to this very matter.
Thus all the good intentions of the English government were likely to
be frustrated, and the Provinces to be reduced to direful extremity.

"What can we possibly advise her Majesty to do?" asked Walsingham,
"since you are not willing to put confidence in her intentions. You are
trying to bring her into a public war, in which she is to risk her treasure
and the blood of her subjects against the greatest potentates of the
world, and you hesitate meantime at giving her such security as is
required for the very defence of the Provinces themselves. The deputies
are coming hither to offer the sovereignty to her Majesty, as was
recently done in France, or, if that should not prove acceptable, they are
to ask assistance in men and money upon a mere 'taliter qualiter'
guaranty. That's not the way. And there are plenty of ill-disposed
persons here to take advantage of this position of affairs to ruin the
interest of the Provinces now placed on so good a footing. Moreover, in
this perpetual sending of despatches back and forth, much precious
time is consumed; and this is exactly what our enemies most desire."
In accordance with Walsingham's urgent suggestions, Ortel wrote at
once to his constituents, imploring them to remedy this matter. Do not
allow," he said, any, more