CHAPTER XV.

Buckhurst sent to the Netherlands—­Alarming State of Affairs on his Arrival—­His Efforts to conciliate—­Democratic Theories of Wilkes—­ Sophistry of the Argument—­Dispute between Wilkes and Barneveld—­ Religious Tolerance by the States—­Their Constitutional Theory—­ Deventer’s bad Counsels to Leicester—­Their pernicious Effect—­Real and supposed Plots against Hohenlo—­Mutual Suspicion and Distrust—­ Buckhurst seeks to restore good Feeling—­The Queen angry and vindictive—­She censures Buckhurst’s Course—­Leicester’s wrath at Hohenlo’s Charges of a Plot by the Earl to murder him—­Buckhurst’s eloquent Appeals to the Queen—­Her perplexing and contradictory Orders—­Despair of Wilkes—­Leicester announces his Return—­His Instructions—­Letter to Junius—­Barneveld denounces him in the States.

We return to the Netherlands.  If ever proof were afforded of the influence of individual character on the destiny of nations and of the world, it certainly was seen in the year 1587.  We have lifted the curtain of the secret council-chamber at Greenwich.  We have seen all Elizabeth’s advisers anxious to arouse her from her fatal credulity, from her almost as fatal parsimony.  We have seen Leicester anxious to return, despite all fancied indignities, Walsingham eager to expedite the enterprise, and the Queen remaining obdurate, while month after month of precious time was melting away.

In the Netherlands, meantime, discord and confusion had been increasing every day; and the first great cause of such a dangerous condition of affairs was the absence of the governor.  To this all parties agreed.  The Leicestrians, the anti-Leicestriana, the Holland party, the Utrecht party, the English counsellors, the English generals, in private letter, in solemn act, all warned the Queen against the lamentable effects resulting from Leicester’s inopportune departure and prolonged absence.

On the first outbreak of indignation after the Deventer Affair, Prince Maurice was placed at the head of the general government, with the violent Hohenlo as his lieutenant.  The greatest exertions were made by these two nobles and by Barneveld, who guided the whole policy of the party, to secure as many cities as possible to their cause.  Magistrates and commandants of garrisons in many towns willingly gave in their adhesion to the new government; others refused; especially Diedrich Sonoy, an officer of distinction, who was governor of Enkhuyzen, and influential throughout North Holland, and who remained a stanch partisan of Leicester.  Utrecht, the stronghold of the Leicestrians, was wavering and much torn by faction; Hohenlo and Moeurs had “banquetted and feasted” to such good purpose that they had gained over half the captains of the burgher-guard, and, aided by the branch of nobles, were making a good fight against the Leicester magistracy and the clerical force, enriched by the plunder of the old Catholic livings, who denounced as Papistical and Hispaniolized all who favoured the party of Maurice and Barneveld.