bringing about a reconciliation, provided that the Duke were acting in good faith.  If his Highness were now sincerely desirous of conforming to the original treaty, and willing to atone for the faults committed by him on the same day in so many cities—­offences which could not be excused upon the ground of any affronts which he might have received from the citizens of Antwerp—­it might even now be possible to find a remedy for the past.  He very bluntly told the envoy, however, that the frivolous excuses offered by the Duke caused more bitterness than if he had openly acknowledged his fault.  It were better, he said, to express contrition, than to excuse himself by laying blame on those to whom no blame belonged, but who, on the contrary, had ever shown themselves faithful servants of his Highness.

The estates of the Union, being in great perplexity as to their proper course, now applied formally, as they always did in times of danger and doubt, to the Prince, for a public expression of his views.  Somewhat reluctantly, he complied with their wishes in one of the most admirable of his state papers.

He told the states-that he felt some hesitation in expressing his views.  The blame of the general ill success was always laid upon his shoulders; as if the chances of war could be controlled even by a great potentate with ample means at his disposal.  As for himself, with so little actual power that he could never have a single city provided with what he thought a sufficient garrison, it could not be expected that he could command fortune.  His advice, he said, was always asked, but ever judged good or evil according to the result, as if the issue were in any hands but God’s.  It did not seem advisable for a man of his condition and years, who had so often felt the barb of calumny’s tongue, to place his honor, again in the judgment scale of mankind, particularly as he was likely to incur fresh censure for another man’s crime.  Nevertheless, he was willing, for the love he bore the land, once more to encounter this danger.

He then rapidly reviewed the circumstances which had led to the election of Anjou, and reminded the estates that they had employed sufficient time to deliberate concerning that transaction.  He recalled to their remembrance his frequent assurances of support and sympathy if they would provide any other means of self-protection than the treaty with the French Prince.  He thought it, therefore, unjust, now that calamity had sprung from the measure, to ascribe the blame entirely to him, even had the injury been greater than the one actually sustained.  He was far from palliating the crime, or from denying that the Duke’s rights under the Treaty of Bordeaux had been utterly forfeited.  He was now asked what was to be done.  Of three courses, he said, one must be taken:  they must make their peace with the King, or consent to a reconciliation with Anjou, or use all the strength which God had given them to resist, single-handed,