Title:  History of the United Netherlands, 1586

Author:  John Lothrop Motley

Release Date:  January, 2004 [EBook #4845] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 2, 2002]

Edition:  10

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

*** Start of the project gutenberg EBOOK history united Netherlands, 1586 ***

This eBook was produced by David Widger widger@cecomet.net

[Note:  There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of the file for those who may wish to sample the author’s ideas before making an entire meal of them.  D.W.]

HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS From the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year’s Truce—­1609

By John Lothrop Motley

MOTLEY’S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg Edition, Volume 45

History United Netherlands, Volume 45, 1586

CHAPTER VII., Part 2.

Leicester’s Letters to his Friends—­Paltry Conduct of the Earl to Davison—­He excuses himself at Davison’s Expense—­His Letter to Burghley—­Effect of the Queen’s Letters to the States—­Suspicion and Discontent in Holland—­States excuse their Conduct to the Queen—­ Leicester discredited in Holland—­Evil Consequences to Holland and England—­Magic:  Effect of a Letter from Leicester—­The Queen appeased—­Her Letters to the States and the Earl—­She permits the granted Authority——­Unhappy Results of the Queen’s Course—­Her variable Moods—­She attempts to deceive Walsingham—­Her Injustice to Heneage—­His Perplexity and Distress—­Humiliating Position of Leicester—­His melancholy Letters to the Queen—­He receives a little Consolation—­And writes more cheerfully—­The Queen is more benignant—­The States less contented than the Earl—­His Quarrels with them begin.

While these storms were blowing and “overblowing” in England, Leicester remained greatly embarrassed and anxious in Holland.  He had sown the wind more extensively than he had dreamed of when accepting the government, and he was now awaiting, with much trepidation, the usual harvest:  And we have seen that it was rapidly ripening.  Meantime, the good which he had really effected in the Provinces by the course he had taken was likely to be neutralized by the sinister rumours as to his impending disgrace, while the enemy was proportionally encouraged.  “I understand credibly,” he said, “that the Prince of Parma feels himself in great jollity that her Majesty doth rather mislike than allow of our doings here, which; if it be true, let her be sure her own sweet self shall first smart.”