History of the United Netherlands, 1586 part 1 | Page 8

secretly working a peace for herself, when we--on the
contrary--had broken off all our negotiations, upon confidence of her
Majesty's goodness; such conduct will be remembered to the end of the
world, and the Hollanders will never abide the name of England again."
On such a bed of nettles there was small chance of repose for the
governor. Some of the rumours were even more stinging. So
incomprehensible did it seem that the proud sovereign of England
should send over her subjects to starve or beg in the streets of Flushing
and Ostend, that it was darkly intimated that Leicester had embezzled
the funds, which, no doubt, had been remitted for the poor soldiers.
This was the most cruel blow of all. The Earl had been put to enormous
charges. His household at the Hague cost him a thousand pounds a
month. He had been paying and furnishing five hundred and fifty men
out of his own purse. He had also a choice regiment of cavalry,
numbering seven hundred and fifty horse; three hundred and fifty of
which number were over and above those allowed for by the Queen,
and were entirely at his expense. He was most liberal in making
presents of money to every gentleman in his employment. He had
deeply mortgaged his estates in order to provide for these heavy
demands upon him, and professed his willingness "to spend more, if he
might have got any more money for his land that was left;" and in the
face of such unquestionable facts--much to the credit certainly of his
generosity--he was accused of swindling a Queen whom neither Jew
nor Gentile had ever yet been sharp enough to swindle; while he was in
reality plunging forward in a course of reckless extravagance in order
to obviate the fatal effects of her penuriousness.
Yet these sinister reports were beginning to have a poisonous effect.
Already an alteration of mien was perceptible in the States-General.
"Some buzzing there is amongst them," said Leicester, "whatsoever it
be. They begin to deal very strangely within these few days." Moreover
the industry of the Poleys, Blunts, and Pagets, had turned these
unfavourable circumstances to such good account that a mutiny had
been near breaking out among the English troops. "And, before the
Lord I speak it," said the Earl, "I am sure some of these good towns had
been gone ere this, but for my money. As for the States, I warrant you,
they see day at a little hole. God doth know what a forward and a joyful
country here was within a month. God send her Majesty to recover it so

again, and to take care of it, on the condition she send me after Sir
Francis Drake to the Indies, my service here being no more
acceptable."
Such was the aspect of affairs in the Provinces after the first explosion
of the Queen's anger had become known. Meanwhile the court-weather
was very changeable in England, being sometimes serene, sometimes
cloudy,-- always treacherous.
Mr. Vavasour, sent by the Earl with despatches to her Majesty and the
council, had met with a sufficiently benignant reception. She accepted
the letters, which, however, owing to a bad cold with a defluxion in the
eyes, she was unable at once to read; but she talked ambiguously with
the messenger. Yavasour took pains to show the immediate necessity of
sending supplies, so that the armies in the Netherlands might take the
field at the, earliest possible moment. "And what," said she, "if a peace
should come in the mean time?"
"If your Majesty desireth a convenient peace," replied Vavasour, "to
take the field is the readiest way to obtain it; for as yet the King of
Spain hath had no reason to fear you. He is daily expecting that your
own slackness may give your Majesty an overthrow. Moreover, the
Spaniards are soldiers, and are not to be moved by-shadows."
But the Queen had no ears for these remonstrances, and no disposition
to open her coffers. A warrant for twenty-four thousand pounds had
been signed by her at the end of the month of March, and was about to
be sent, when Vavasour arrived; but it was not possible for him,
although assisted by the eloquence of Walsingham and Burghley, to
obtain an enlargement of the pittance. "The storms are overblown," said
Walsingham, "but I fear your Lordship shall receive very scarce
measure from hence. You will not believe how the sparing humour
doth increase upon us."
Nor were the storms so thoroughly overblown but that there were not
daily indications of returning foul weather. Accordingly--after a
conference with Vavasour--Burghley, and Walsingham had an
interview with the Queen, in which the Lord Treasurer used bold and
strong language. He protested to her that he was bound, both