History of the United Netherlands, 1586 part 1

History of the United
Netherlands, 1586 part 1

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Title: History of the United Netherlands, 1586
Author: John Lothrop Motley
Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4845] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 2,
2002]

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Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY
UNITED NETHERLANDS, 1586 ***

This eBook was produced by David Widger

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HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS From the Death of
William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce--1609
By John Lothrop Motley

MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg
Edition, Volume 45
History United Netherlands, Volume 45, 1586

CHAPTER VII
., Part 2.
Leicester's Letters to his Friends--Paltry Conduct of the Earl to
Davison--He excuses himself at Davison's Expense--His Letter to
Burghley--Effect of the Queen's Letters to the States--Suspicion and
Discontent in Holland--States excuse their Conduct to the Queen--
Leicester discredited in Holland--Evil Consequences to Holland and
England--Magic: Effect of a Letter from Leicester--The Queen
appeased--Her Letters to the States and the Earl--She permits the
granted Authority----Unhappy Results of the Queen's Course--Her
variable Moods--She attempts to deceive Walsingham--Her Injustice to

Heneage--His Perplexity and Distress--Humiliating Position of
Leicester--His melancholy Letters to the Queen--He receives a little
Consolation--And writes more cheerfully--The Queen is more
benignant--The States less contented than the Earl--His Quarrels with
them begin.
While these storms were blowing and "overblowing" in England,
Leicester remained greatly embarrassed and anxious in Holland. He
had sown the wind more extensively than he had dreamed of when
accepting the government, and he was now awaiting, with much
trepidation, the usual harvest: And we have seen that it was rapidly
ripening. Meantime, the good which he had really effected in the
Provinces by the course he had taken was likely to be neutralized by the
sinister rumours as to his impending disgrace, while the enemy was
proportionally encouraged. "I understand credibly," he said, "that the
Prince of Parma feels himself in great jollity that her Majesty doth
rather mislike than allow of our doings here, which; if it be true, let her
be sure her own sweet self shall first smart."
Moreover; the English troops were, as we have seen, mere shoeless,
shivering, starving vagabonds. The Earl had generously advanced very
large sums of money from his own pocket to relieve their necessity.
The States, on the other hand, had voluntarily increased the monthly
contribution of 200,000 florins, to which their contract with Elizabeth
obliged them, and were more disposed than ever they had been since
the death of Orange to proceed vigorously and harmoniously against
the common enemy of Christendom. Under such circumstances it may
well be imagined that there was cause on Leicester's part for deep
mortification at the tragical turn which the Queen's temper seemed to
be taking.
"I know not," he said, "how her Majesty doth mean to dispose of me. It
hath grieved me more than I can express that for faithful and good
service she should so deeply conceive against me. God knows with
what mind I have served her Highness, and perhaps some others might
have failed. Yet she is neither tied one jot by covenant or promise by
me in any way, nor at one groat the more charges, but myself two or
three thousand pounds sterling more than now is like to be well spent. I
will desire no partial speech in my favour. If my doings be ill for her
Majesty and the realm, let me feel the smart of it. The cause is now

well forward; let not her majesty suffer it to quail.