“If her Majesty means to have Holland and Zeeland,” said he, “she must resolve presently.  Aldegonde hath promised the enemy to bring them to compound.  Here arrived already his ministers which knew all his dealings about Antwerp from first to last.  Count Maurice is governed altogether by Villiers, and Villiers was never worse for the English than at this hour.  To be short, the people say in general, they will accept a peace, unless her Majesty do sovereign them presently.  All the men of war will be at her Highness’ devotion, if they be in credit in time.  What you do, it must be done presently, for I do assure your honour there is large offers presented unto them by the enemies.  If her Majesty deals not roundly and resolutely with them now, it will be too late two months hence.”

Her Majesty meant to deal roundly and resolutely.  Her troops had already gone in considerable numbers.  She wrote encouraging letters with her own hand to the States, imploring them not to falter now, even though the great city had fallen.  She had long since promised never to desert them, and she was, if possible, more determined than ever to redeem her pledge.  She especially recommended to their consideration General Norris, commander of the forces that had been despatched to the relief of Antwerp.

A most accomplished officer, sprung of a house renowned for its romantic valour, Sir John was the second of the six sons of Lord Norris of Rycot, all soldiers of high reputation, “chickens of Mars,” as an old writer expressed himself.  “Such a bunch of brethren for eminent achievement,” said he, “was never seen.  So great their states and stomachs that they often jostled with others.”  Elizabeth called their mother, “her own crow;” and the darkness of her hair and visage was thought not unbecoming to her martial issue, by whom it had been inherited.  Daughter of Lord Williams of Tame, who had been keeper of the Tower in the time of Elizabeth’s imprisonment, she had been affectionate and serviceable to the Princess in the hour of her distress, and had been rewarded with her favour in the days of her grandeur.  We shall often meet this crow-black Norris, and his younger brother Sir Edward—­the most daring soldiers of their time, posters of sea and land—­wherever the buffeting was closest, or adventure the wildest on ship-board or shore, for they were men who combined much of the knight-errantry of a vanishing age with the more practical and expansive spirit of adventure that characterized the new epoch.

Nor was he a stranger in the Netherlands.  “The gentleman to whom we have committed the government of the forces going to the relief of Antwerp,” said Elizabeth, “has already given you such proofs of his affection by the good services he has rendered you, that without recommendation on our part, he should stand already recommended.  Nevertheless, in respect for his quality, the house from which he is descended, and the valour which he has manifested in your own country, we desire to tell you that we hold him dear, and that he deserves also to be dear to you.”