History of the United Netherlands, 1587b | Page 5

false persuasions.
Believe boldly that I can play an excellent game without your
assistance, and a better one than I ever did with it! Nevertheless, I do
not choose to do that, nor do I wish you so much harm. But likewise do
I not choose that you should hold such language to me. It is true that I
should not wish the Spaniard so near me if he should be my enemy. But
why should I not live in peace, if we were to be friends to each other?
At the commencement of my reign we lived honourably together, the
King of Spain and I, and he even asked me to, marry him, and, after

that, we lived a long time very peacefully, without any attempt having
been made against my life. If we both choose, we can continue so to do.
"On the other hand, I sent you the Earl of Leicester, as lieutenant of my
forces, and my intention was that he should have exact knowledge of
your finances and contributions. But, on the contrary, he has never
known anything about them, and you have handled them in your own
manner and amongst yourselves. You have given him the title of
governor, in order, under this name, to cast all your evils on his head.
That title he accepted against my will, by doing which he ran the risk of
losing his life, and his estates, and the grace and favour of his Princess,
which was more important to him than all. But he did it in order to
maintain your tottering state. And what authority, I pray you, have you
given him? A shadowy authority, a purely imaginary one. This is but
mockery. He is, at any rate, a gentleman, a man of honour and of
counsel. You had no right to treat him thus. If I had accepted the title
which you wished to give me, by the living God, I would not have
suffered you so to treat me.
"But you are so badly advised that when there is a man of worth who
discovers your tricks you wish him ill, and make an outcry against him;
and yet some of you, in order to save your money, and others in the
hope of bribes, have been favouring the Spaniard, and doing very
wicked work. No, believe me that God will punish those who for so
great a benefit wish to return me so much evil. Believe, boldly too, that
the King of Spain will never trust men who have abandoned the party
to which they belonged, and from which they have received so many
benefits, and will never believe a word of what they promise him. Yet,
in order to cover up their filth, they spread the story that the Queen of
England is thinking of treating for peace without their knowledge. No, I
would rather be dead than that any one should have occasion to say that
I had not kept my promise. But princes must listen to both sides, and
that can be done without breach of faith. For they transact business in a
certain way, and with a princely intelligence, such as private persons
cannot imitate.
"You are States, to be sure, but private individuals in regard to princes.
Certainly, I would never choose to do anything without your
knowledge, and I would never allow the authority which you have
among yourselves, nor your privileges, nor your statutes, to be

infringed. Nor will I allow you to be perturbed in your consciences.
What then would you more of me? You have issued a proclamation in
your country that no one is to talk of peace. Very well, very good. But
permit princes likewise to do as they shall think best for the security of
their state, provided it does you no injury. Among us princes we are not
wont to make such long orations as you do, but you ought to be content
with the few words that we bestow upon you, and make yourself quiet
thereby.
"If I ever do anything for you again, I choose to be treated more
honourably. I shall therefore appoint some personages of my council to
communicate with you. And in the first place I choose to hear and see
for myself what has taken place already, and have satisfaction about
that, before I make any reply to what you have said to me as to greater
assistance. And so I will leave you to-day, without troubling you
further."
With this her Majesty swept from the apartment, leaving the deputies
somewhat astounded at the fierce but adroit manner in which the tables
had for a moment been turned upon them.
It was certainly a most unexpected blow, this charge of the States
having left the English