Walsingham (with much show of vexation).—­“This conduct on the part of the French court has been most pernicious.  Your envoys have been delayed, fed with idle hopes, and then disgracefully sent away, so that the best part of the year has been consumed, and it will be most difficult now, in a great hurry, to get together a sufficient force of horse and foot folk, with other necessaries in abundance.  On the contrary, the enemy, who knew from the first what result was to be expected in France, has been doing his best to be beforehand with you in the field:  add, moreover, that this French negotiation has given other princes a bad taste in their mouths.  This is the case with her Majesty.  The Queen is, not without reason, annoyed that the States have not only despised her friendly and good-hearted offers, but have all along been endeavouring to embark her in this war, for the defence of the Provinces, which would have cost her several millions, without offering to her the slightest security.  On the contrary, others, enemies of the religion, who are not to be depended upon—­who had never deserved well of the States or assisted them in their need, as she has done—­have received this large offer of sovereignty without any reserve whatever.”

Ortel (not suffering himself to be disconcerted at this unjust and somewhat insidious attack).—­“That which has been transacted with France was not done except with the express approbation and full foreknowledge of her Majesty, so far back as the lifetime of his Excellency (William of Orange), of high and laudable memory.  Things had already gone so far, and the Provinces had agreed so entirely together, as to make it inexpedient to bring about a separation in policy.  It was our duty to hold together, and, once for all, thoroughly to understand what the King of France, after such manifold presentations through Monsieur Des Pruneaulx and others, and in various letters of his own, finally intended to do.  At the same time, notwithstanding these negotiations, we had always an especial eye upon her Majesty.  We felt a hopeful confidence that she would never desert us, leaving us without aid or counsel, but would consider that these affairs do not concern the Provinces alone or even especially, but are just as deeply important to her and to all other princes of the religion.”

After this dialogue, with much more conversation of a similar character, the Secretary and the envoy set themselves frankly and manfully to work.  It was agreed between them that every effort should be made with the leading members of the Council to induce the Queen “in this terrible conjuncture, not to forsake the Provinces, but to extend good counsel and prompt assistance to them in their present embarrassments.”

There was, however, so much business in Parliament just then, that it was impossible to obtain immediately the desired interviews.