History of the United Netherlands, 1588a | Page 4

crooked, hump-backed
young gentleman, dwarfish in stature, but with a face not irregular in
feature, and thoughtful and subtle in expression, with reddish hair, a
thin tawny beard, and large, pathetic, greenish-coloured eyes, with a
mind and manners already trained to courts and cabinets, and with a
disposition almost ingenuous, as compared to the massive
dissimulation with which it was to be contrasted, and with what was, in
aftertimes, to constitute a portion of his own character, Cecil, young as
he was, could not be considered the least important of the envoys. The
Queen, who loved proper men, called him "her pigmy;" and "although,"
he observed with whimsical courtliness, "I may not find fault with the
sporting name she gives me, yet seem I only not to mislike it, because
she gives it." The strongest man among them was Valentine Dale, who
had much shrewdness, experience, and legal learning, but who valued
himself, above all things, upon his Latinity. It was a consolation to him,
while his adversaries were breaking Priscian's head as fast as the Duke,
their master, was breaking his oaths, that his own syntax was as clear as
his conscience. The feeblest commissioner was James-a-Croft, who had
already exhibited himself with very anile characteristics, and whose
subsequent manifestations were to seem like dotage. Doctor Rogers,
learned in the law, as he unquestionably was, had less skill in reading
human character, or in deciphering the physiognomy of a Farnese,
while Lord Derby, every inch a grandee, with Lord Cobham to assist
him, was not the man to cope with the astute Richardot, the profound
and experienced Champagny, or that most voluble and most rhetorical
of doctors of law, Jacob Maas of Antwerp.
The commissioners, on their arrival, were welcomed by Secretary
Garnier, who had been sent to Ostend to greet them. An adroit, pleasing,
courteous gentleman, thirty-six years of age, small, handsome, and
attired not quite as a soldier, nor exactly as one of the long robe,
wearing a cloak furred to the knee, a cassock of black velvet, with plain

gold buttons, and a gold chain about his neck, the secretary delivered
handsomely the Duke of Parma's congratulations, recommended great
expedition in the negotiations, and was then invited by the Earl of
Derby to dine with the commissioners. He was accompanied by a
servant in plain livery, who--so soon as his master had made his bow to
the English envoys--had set forth for a stroll through the town. The
modest-looking valet, however, was a distinguished engineer in
disguise, who had been sent by Alexander for the especial purpose of
examining the fortifications of Ostend--that town being a point much
coveted, and liable to immediate attack by the Spanish commander.
Meanwhile Secretary Gamier made himself very agreeable, showing
wit, experience, and good education; and, after dinner, was
accompanied to his lodgings by Dr. Rogers and other gentlemen, with
whom--especially with Cecil--he held much conversation.
Knowing that this young gentleman "wanted not an honourable father,"
the Secretary was very desirous that he should take this opportunity to
make a tour through the Provinces, examine the cities, and especially
"note the miserable ruins of the poor country and people." He would
then feelingly perceive how much they had to answer for, whose mad
rebellion against their sovereign lord and master had caused so great an
effusion of blood, and the wide desolation of such goodly towns and
territories.
Cecil probably entertained a suspicion that the sovereign lord and
master, who had been employed, twenty years long, in butchering his
subjects and in ravaging their territory to feed his executioners and
soldiers, might almost be justified in treating human beings as beasts
and reptiles, if they had not at last rebelled. He simply and
diplomatically answered, however, that he could not but concur with
the Secretary in lamenting the misery of the Provinces and people so
utterly despoiled and ruined, but, as it might be matter of dispute; "from
what head this fountain of calamity was both fed and derived, he would
not enter further therein, it being a matter much too high for his
capacity." He expressed also the hope that the King's heart might
sympathize with that of her Majesty, in earnest compassion for all this
suffering, and in determination to compound their differences.
On the following day there was some conversation with Gamier, on
preliminary and formal matters, followed in the evening by a dinner at

Lord Cobham's lodgings--a banquet which the forlorn condition of the
country scarcely permitted to be luxurious. "We rather pray here for
satiety," said Cecil, "than ever think of variety."
It was hoped by the Englishmen that the Secretary would take his
departure after dinner; for the governor of Ostend, Sir John Conway,
had an uneasy sensation, during his visit, that the unsatisfactory
condition of