As a matter of course the new ambassador lifted up his voice, immediately after setting foot on shore, in favour of the starving soldiers of his Queen. “’Tis a most lamentable thing,” said he, “to hear the complaints of soldiers and captains for want of pay.” . . . .  Whole companies made their way into his presence, literally crying aloud for bread.  “For Jesus’ sake,” wrote Buckhurst, “hasten to send relief with all speed, and let such victuallers be appointed as have a conscience not to make themselves rich with the famine of poor soldiers.  If her Majesty send not money, and that with speed, for their payment, I am afraid to think what mischief and miseries are like to follow.”

Then the ambassador proceeded to the Hague, holding interviews with influential personages in private, and with the States-General in public.  Such was the charm of his manner, and so firm the conviction of sincerity and good-will which he inspired, that in the course of a fortnight there was already a sensible change in the aspect of affairs.  The enemy, who, at the time of their arrival, had been making bonfires and holding triumphal processions for joy of the great breach between Holland and England, and had been “hoping to swallow them all up, while there were so few left who knew how to act,” were already manifesting disappointment.

In a solemn meeting of the States-General with the State-council, Buckhurst addressed the assembly upon the general subject of her Majesty’s goodness to the Netherlands.  He spoke of the gracious assistance rendered by her, notwithstanding her many special charges for the common cause, and of the mighty enmities which she had incurred for their sake.  He sharply censured the Hollanders for their cruelty to men who had shed their blood in their cause, but who were now driven forth from their towns; and left to starve on the highways, and hated for their nation’s sake; as if the whole English name deserved to be soiled “for the treachery of two miscreants.”  He spoke strongly of their demeanour towards the Earl of Leicester, and of the wrongs they had done him, and told them, that, if they were not ready to atone to her Majesty for such injuries, they were not to wonder if their deputies received no better answer at her hands.  “She who embraced your cause,” he said, “when other mighty princes forsook you, will still stand fast unto you, yea, and increase her goodness, if her present state may suffer it.”

After being addressed in this manner the council of state made what Counsellor Clerk called a “very honest, modest, and wise answer;” but the States-General, not being able “so easily to discharge that which had so long boiled within them,” deferred their reply until the following day.  They then brought forward a deliberate rejoinder, in which they expressed themselves devoted to her Majesty, and, on the whole, well disposed to the Earl.  As to the 4th February letter, it had been written “in amaritudine cordis,” upon hearing the treasons of York and Stanley, and in accordance with “their custom and liberty used towards all princes, whereby they had long preserved their estate,” and in the conviction that the real culprits for all the sins of his Excellency’s government were certain “lewd persons who sought to seduce his Lordship, and to cause him to hate the States.”