History of the United Netherlands, 1588a | Page 9

the Netherlands; the impoverishment of Spain, and the
downfall of her ancient grandeur compared to the glory of establishing

the Inquisition in England and Holland?
While at dinner in Lanfranchi's house; Cecil was witness to another
characteristic of the times, and one which afforded proof of even more
formidable freebooters abroad than those for whom the bailiff of
Waasland had erected his gibbets. A canal-boat had left Antwerp for
Brussels that morning, and in the vicinity of the latter city had been set
upon by a detachment from the English garrison of Bergen-op-Zoom,
and captured, with twelve prisoners and a freight of 60,000 florins in
money. "This struck the company at the dinner-table all in a dump;"
said Cecil. And well it might; for the property mainly belonged to
themselves, and they forthwith did their best to have the marauders
waylaid on their return. But Cecil, notwithstanding his gratitude for the
hospitality of Lanfranchi, sent word next day to the garrison of Bergen
of the designs against them, and on his arrival at the place had the
satisfaction of being informed by Lord Willoughby that the party had
got safe home with their plunder.
"And, well worthy they are of it," said young Robert, "considering how
far they go for it."
The traveller, on, leaving Antwerp, proceeded down the river to
Bergen- op-Zoom, where he was hospitably entertained by that doughty
old soldier Sir William Reade, and met Lord Willoughby, whom he
accompanied to Brielle on a visit to the deposed elector Truchsess, then
living in that neighbourhood. Cecil--who was not passion's slave--had
small sympathy with the man who could lose a sovereignty for the sake
of Agnes Mansfeld. "'Tis a very goodly gentleman," said he, "well
fashioned, and of good speech, for which I must rather praise him than
for loving a wife better than so great a fortune as he lost by her
occasion." At Brielle he was handsomely entertained by the magistrates,
who had agreeable recollections of his brother Thomas, late governor
of that city. Thence he proceeded by way of Delft--which, like all
English travellers, he described as "the finest built town that ever he
saw"--to the Hague, and thence to Fushing, and so back by sea to
Ostend.--He had made the most of his three weeks' tour, had seen many
important towns both in the republic and in the obedient Netherlands,
and had conversed with many "tall gentlemen," as he expressed himself,
among the English commanders, having been especially impressed by
the heroes of Sluys, Baskerville and that "proper gentleman Francis

Vere."
He was also presented by Lord Willoughby to Maurice of Nassau, and
was perhaps not very benignantly received by the young prince. At that
particular moment, when Leicester's deferred resignation, the rebellion
of Sonoy in North Holland, founded on a fictitious allegiance to the late
governor-general, the perverse determination of the Queen to treat for
peace against the advice of all the leading statesmen of the Netherlands,
and the sharp rebukes perpetually administered by her, in consequence,
to the young stadholder and all his supporters, had not tended to
produce the most tender feelings upon their part towards the English
government, it was not surprising that the handsome soldier should
look askance at the crooked little courtier, whom even the great Queen
smiled at while she petted him. Cecil was very angry with Maurice.
"In my life I never saw worse behaviour," he said, "except it were in
one lately come from school. There is neither outward appearance in
him of any noble mind nor inward virtue."
Although Cecil had consumed nearly the whole month of March in his
tour, he had been more profitably employed than were the royal
commissioners during the same period at Ostend.
Never did statesmen know better how not to do that which they were
ostensibly occupied in doing than Alexander Farnese and his agents,
Champagny, Richardot, Jacob Maas, and Gamier. The first pretext by
which much time was cleverly consumed was the dispute as to the
place of meeting. Doctor Dale had already expressed his desire for
Ostend as the place of colloquy. "'Tis a very slow old gentleman, this
Doctor Dale," said Alexander; "he was here in the time of Madam my
mother, and has also been ambassador at Vienna. I have received him
and his attendants with great courtesy, and held out great hopes of
peace. We had conversations about the place of meeting. He wishes
Ostend: I object. The first conference will probably be at some point
between that place and Newport."
The next opportunity for discussion and delay was afforded by the
question of powers. And it must be ever borne in mind that Alexander
was daily expecting the arrival of the invading fleets and armies of
Spain, and was holding himself in readiness to