History of the United Netherlands, 1587b

History of the United
Netherlands, 1587b

The Project Gutenberg EBook History of The United Netherlands,
1587
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Title: History of the United Netherlands, 1587
Author: John Lothrop Motley
Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4852] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 5,
2002]

Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY
UNITED NETHERLANDS, 1587 ***

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, Vol. 52
History of the United Netherlands, 1587

CHAPTER XIV
.
Leicester in England--Trial of the Queen of Scots--Fearful Perplexity at
the English Court--Infatuation and Obstinacy of the Queen--Netherland
Envoys in England--Queen's bitter Invective against them--Amazement
of the Envoys--They consult with her chief Councillors--Remarks of
Burghley and Davison--Fourth of February Letter from the States--Its
severe Language towards Leicester-- Painful Position of the Envoys at
Court--Queen's Parsimony towards Leicester.
The scene shifts, for a brief interval, to England. Leicester had reached
the court late in November. Those "blessed beams," under whose shade

he was wont to find so much "refreshment and nutrition," had again
fallen with full radiance upon him. "Never since I was born," said he,
"did I receive a more gracious welcome."--[Leicester to 'Wilkes, 4 Dec.
1587. (S. P. Office MS)]--Alas, there was not so much benignity for the
starving English soldiers, nor for the Provinces, which were fast
growing desperate; but although their cause was so intimately
connected with the "great cause," which then occupied Elizabeth,
almost to the exclusion of other matter, it was, perhaps, not wonderful,
although unfortunate, that for a time the Netherlands should be
neglected.
The "daughter of debate" had at last brought herself, it was supposed,
within the letter of the law, and now began those odious scenes of
hypocrisy on the part of Elizabeth, that frightful comedy--more
melancholy even than the solemn tragedy which it preceded and
followed-- which must ever remain the darkest passage in the history of
the Queen.
It is unnecessary, in these pages, to make more than a passing allusion
to the condemnation and death of the Queen of Scots. Who doubts her
participation in the Babington conspiracy? Who doubts that she was the
centre of one endless conspiracy by Spain and Rome against the throne
and life of Elizabeth? Who doubts that her long imprisonment in
England was a violation of all law, all justice, all humanity? Who
doubts that the fineing, whipping, torturing, hanging, embowelling of
men, women, and children, guilty of no other crime than adhesion to
the Catholic faith, had assisted the Pope and Philip, and their band of
English, Scotch, and Irish conspirators, to shake Elizabeth's throne and
endanger her life? Who doubts that; had the English sovereign been
capable of conceiving the great thought of religious toleration, her reign
would have been more glorious than, it was, the cause of Protestantism
and freedom more triumphant, the name of Elizabeth Tudor dearer to
human hearts? Who doubts that there were many enlightened and noble
spirits among her Protestant subjects who lifted up their voices, over
and over again, in parliament and out of it, to denounce that wicked
persecution exercised upon their innocent Catholic brethren, which was
fast converting loyal Englishmen, against their will, into traitors and
conspirators? Yet who doubts that it would have required, at exactly
that moment, and in the midst of that crisis; more elevation of soul than

could fairly be predicated of any individual, for Elizabeth in 1587 to
pardon