and Zeeland, paying the whole expense of the war, were not likely to endure again the absolute sovereignty of a foreigner, guided by a back stairs council of reckless politicians—­most of whom were unprincipled, and some of whom had been proved to be felons—­and established, at Utrecht, which contributed nothing to the general purse.  If Leicester were really-coming, it seemed certain that he would be held to acknowledge the ancient constitution, and to respect the sovereignty of the States-General.  It was resolved that he should be well bridled.  The sensations of Barneveld and his party may therefore be imagined, when a private letter of Leicester, to his secretary “the fellow named Junius,” as Hohenlo called him—­having been intercepted at this moment, gave them an opportunity of studying the Earl’s secret thoughts.

The Earl informed his correspondent that he was on the point of starting for the Netherlands.  He ordered him therefore to proceed at once to reassure those whom he knew well disposed as to the good intentions of her Majesty and of the governor-general.  And if, on the part of Lord Buckhurst or others, it should be intimated that the Queen was resolved to treat for peace with the King of Spain; and wished to have the opinion of the Netherlanders on that subject, he was to say boldly that Lord Buckhurst never had any such charge, and that her Majesty had not been treating at all.  She had only been attempting to sound the King’s intentions towards the Netherlands, in case of any accord.  Having received no satisfactory assurance on the subject, her Majesty was determined to proceed with the defence of these countries.  This appeared by the expedition of Drake against Spain, and by the return of the Earl, with a good cumber of soldiers paid by her Majesty, over and above her ordinary subsidy.

“You are also;” said the Earl, “to tell those who have the care of the people” (the ministers of the reformed church and others), “that I am returning, in the confidence that they will, in future, cause all past difficulties to cease, and that they will yield to me a legitimate authority, such as befits for administering the sovereignty of the Provinces, without my being obliged to endure all the oppositions and counter-minings of the States, as in times past.  The States must content themselves with retaining the power which they claim to have exercised under the governors of the Emperor and the King—­without attempting anything farther during my government—­since I desire to do nothing of importance without the advice of the council, which will be composed legitimately of persons of the country.  You will also tell them that her Majesty commands me to return unless I can obtain from the States the authority which is necessary, in order not to be governor in appearance only and on paper.  And I wish that those who are good may be apprized of all this, in order that nothing may happen to their prejudice and ruin, and contrary to their wishes.”