History of the United Netherlands, 1587b | Page 4

more sparing than
heretofore hath been accustomed."
Such being the portentous state of the political atmosphere, and such
the stormy condition of the royal mind, it may be supposed that the
interviews of the Netherland envoys with her Majesty during this
period were not likely to be genial. Exactly at the most gloomy
moment-- thirteen days before the execution of Mary--they came first
into Elizabeth's presence at Greenwich.

The envoys were five in number, all of them experienced and able
statesmen--Zuylen van Nyvelt, Joos de Menyn, Nicasius de Silla, Jacob
Valck, and Vitus van Kammings. The Queen was in the privy council-
chamber, attended by the admiral of England, Lord Thomas Howard,
Lord Hunsdon, great-chamberlain, Sir Christopher Hatton,
vice-chamberlain, Secretary Davison, and many other persons of
distinction.
The letters of credence were duly presented, but it was obvious from
the beginning of the interview that the Queen was ill-disposed toward
the deputies, and had not only been misinformed as to matters of fact,
but as to the state of feeling of the Netherlanders and of the
States-General towards herself.
Menyu, however, who was an orator by profession--being pensionary
of Dort--made, in the name of his colleagues, a brief but pregnant
speech, to which the Queen listened attentively, although, with frequent
indications of anger and impatience. He commenced by observing that
the United Provinces still entertained the hope that her Majesty would
conclude, upon further thoughts, to accept the sovereignty over them,
with reasonable conditions; but the most important passages of his
address were those relating to the cost of the war. "Besides our
stipulated contributions," said the pensionary, "of 200,000 florins the
month, we have furnished 500,000 as an extraordinary grant; making
for the year 2,900,000 florins, and this over and above the particular
and special expenditures of the Provinces, and other sums for military
purposes. We confess, Madam, that the succour of your Majesty is a
truly royal one, and that there have been few princes in history who
have given such assistance to their neighbours unjustly oppressed. It is
certain that by means of that help, joined with the forces of the United
Provinces, the Earl of Leicester has been able to arrest the course of the
Duke of Parma's victories and to counteract his designs. Nevertheless,
it appears, Madam, that these forces have not been sufficient to drive
the enemy out of the country. We are obliged, for regular garrison work
and defence of cities, to keep; up an army of at least 27,000 foot and
3500 horse. Of this number your Majesty pays 5000 foot and 1000
horse, and we are now commissioned, Madam, humbly to request an
increase of your regular succour during the war to 10,000 foot and 2000
horse. We also implore the loan of L60,000 sterling, in order to assist

us in maintaining for the coming season a sufficient force in the field."
Such, in brief, was the oration of pensionary Menyn, delivered in the
French language. He had scarcely concluded, when the
Queen--evidently in a great passion--rose to her feet, and without any
hesitation, replied in a strain of vehement eloquence in the same
tongue.
"Now I am not deceived, gentlemen," she said, "and that which I have
been fearing has occurred. Our common adage, which we have in
England, is a very good one. When one fears that an evil is coming, the
sooner it arrives the better. Here is a quarter of a year that I have been
expecting you, and certainly for the great benefit I have conferred on
you, you have exhibited a great ingratitude, and I consider myself very
ill treated by you. 'Tis very strange that you should begin by soliciting
still greater succour without rendering me any satisfaction for your past
actions, which have been so extraordinary, that I swear by the living
God I think it impossible to find peoples or states more ungrateful or
ill-advised than yourselves.
"I have sent you this year fifteen, sixteen, aye seventeen or eighteen
thousand men. You have left them without payment, you have let some
of them die of hunger, driven others to such desperation that they have
deserted to the enemy. Is it not mortifying for the English nation and a
great shame for you that Englishmen should say that they have found
more courtesy from Spaniards than from Netherlanders? Truly, I tell
you frankly that I will never endure such indignities. Rather will I act
according to my will, and you may do exactly, as you think best.
"If I chose, I could do something very good without you, although
some persons are so fond of saying that it was quite necessary for the
Queen of England to do what she does for her own protection. No, no!
Disabuse yourselves of that impression. These are but