“For myself, I promise you, in truth, that so long as I live, and even to my last sigh, I will never forsake you.  Go home and tell this boldly to the States which sent you hither.”

Menin then replied with fresh expressions of thanks and compliments, and requested, in conclusion, that her Majesty would be pleased to send, as soon as possible, a personage of quality to the Netherlands.

“Gentlemen,” replied Elizabeth, “I intend to do this, so soon as our treaty shall be ratified, for, in contrary case, the King of Spain, seeing your government continue on its present footing, would do nothing but laugh at us.  Certainly I do not mean this year to provide him with so fine a banquet.”

     ETEXT editor’s bookmarks: 

     Anarchy which was deemed inseparable from a non-regal form
     Dismay of our friends and the gratification of our enemies
     Her teeth black, her bosom white and liberally exposed (Eliz.)
     Holland was afraid to give a part, although offering the whole
     Resolved thenceforth to adopt a system of ignorance
     Say “’tis pity he is not an Englishman”
     Seeking protection for and against the people
     Three hundred and upwards are hanged annually in London
     We must all die once
     Wrath of bigots on both sides

HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS

From the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year’s Truce—­1609

By John Lothrop Motley

History United Netherlands, Volume 43, 1585

CHAPTER VI., Part 2.

Sir John Norris sent to Holland—­Parsimony of Elizabeth—­Energy of Davison—­Protracted Negotiations—­Friendly Sentiments of Count Maurice—­Letters from him and Louisa de Coligny—­Davison vexed by the Queen’s Caprice—­Dissatisfaction of Leicester—­His vehement Complaints—­The Queen’s Avarice—­Perplexity of Davison—­Manifesto of Elizabeth—­Sir Philip Sidney—­His Arrival at Flushing.

The envoys were then dismissed, and soon afterwards a portion of the deputation took their departure from the Netherlands with the proposed treaty.  It was however, as we know, quite too late for Saguntum.  Two days after the signing of the treaty, the remaining envoys were at the palace of Nonesuch, in conference with the Earl of Leicester, when a gentleman rushed suddenly into the apartment, exclaiming with great manifestations of anger: 

“Antwerp has fallen!  A treaty has been signed with the Prince of Parma.  Aldegonde is the author of it all.  He is the culprit, who has betrayed us;” with many more expressions of vehement denunciation.

The Queen was disappointed, but stood firm.  She had been slow in taking her resolution, but she was unflinching when her mind was made up.  Instead of retreating from her, position, now that it became doubly dangerous, she advanced several steps nearer towards her allies.  For it was obvious, if more precious time should be lost, that Holland and Zeeland would share the fate of Antwerp.  Already the belief, that, with the loss of that city, all had been lost, was spreading both in the Provinces and in England, and Elizabeth felt that the time had indeed come to confront the danger.