History of the United Netherlands, 1586c | Page 3

and expressing
the opinion that "the matter, if well handled, would break the neck of
all dangerous practices during her Majesty's reign."
The tragedy of Mary Stuart--a sad but inevitable portion of the vast
drama in which the emancipation of England and Holland, and, through
them, of half Christendom, was accomplished--approached its
catastrophe; and Leicester could not restrain his anxiety for her
immediate execution. He reminded Walsingham that the great seal had
been put upon a warrant for her execution for a less crime seventeen
years before, on the occasion of the Northumberland and Westmorland
rebellion. "For who can warrant these villains from her," he said, "if
that person live, or shall live any time? God forbid! And be you all
stout and resolute in this speedy execution, or be condemned of all the
world for ever. It is most. certain, if you will have your Majesty safe, it
must be done, for justice doth crave it beside policy." His own personal
safety was deeply compromised. "Your Lordship and I," wrote
Burghley, "were very great motes in the traitors' eyes; for your
Lordship there and I here should first, about one time, have been killed.
Of your Lordship they thought rather of poisoning than slaying. After
us two gone, they purposed her Majesty's death."
But on this great affair of state the Earl was not swayed by such
personal considerations. He honestly thought--as did all the statesmen
who governed England--that English liberty, the very existence of the
English commonwealth, was impossible so long as Mary Stuart lived.
Under these circumstances he was not impatient, for a time at least, to
leave the Netherlands. His administration had not been very successful.

He had been led away by his own vanity, and by the flattery of artful
demagogues, but the immense obstacles with which he had to contend
in the Queen's wavering policy, and in the rivalry of both English and
Dutch politicians have been amply exhibited. That he had been
generous, courageous, and zealous, could not be denied; and, on the
whole, he had accomplished as much in the field as could have been
expected of him with such meagre forces, and so barren an exchequer.
It must be confessed, however, that his leaving the Netherlands at that
moment was a most unfortunate step, both for his own reputation and
for the security of the Provinces. Party-spirit was running high, and a
political revolution was much to be dreaded in so grave a position of
affairs, both in England and Holland. The arrangements--and
particularly the secret arrangements which he made at his
departure--were the most fatal measures of all; but these will be
described in the following chapter.
On the 31st October; the Earl announced to the state-council his
intention of returning to England, stating, as the cause of this sudden
determination, that he had been summoned to attend the parliament
then sitting in Westminster. Wilkes, who was of course present, having
now succeeded Killigrew as one of the two English members, observed
that "the States and council used but slender entreaty to his Excellency
for his stay and countenance there among them, whereat his Excellency
and we that were of the council for her Majesty did not a little marvel."
Some weeks later, however, upon the 21st November, Leicester
summoned Barneveld, and five other of the States General, to discuss
the necessary measures for his departure, when those gentlemen
remonstrated very earnestly upon the step, pleading the danger and
confusion of affairs which must necessarily ensue. The Earl declared
that he was not retiring from the country because he was offended,
although he had many causes for offence: and he then alluded to the,
Navigation Act, to the establishment council, and spoke of the finance
of Burgrave and Reingault, for his employment of which individuals so
much obloquy had been heaped upon his, head. Burgrave he
pronounced, as usual, a substantial, wise, faithful, religious personage,

entitled to fullest confidence; while Reingault-- who had been thrown
into prison by the States on charges of fraud, peculation, and
sedition--he declared to be a great financier, who had promised, on
penalty of his head, to bring "great sums into the treasury for carrying
on the war, without any burthen to the community." Had he been able
to do this, he had certainly claim to be considered the greatest of
financiers; but the promised "mountains of gold" were never discovered,
and Reingault was now awaiting his trial.
The deputies replied that the concessions upon the Navigation Act had
satisfied the country, but that Reingault was a known instrument of the
Spaniards, and Burgrave a mischief-making demagogue, who consorted
with malignants, and sent slanderous reports concerning the States and
the country to her Majesty. They had in consequence felt obliged to
write private despatches to envoy Ortel