History of the United Netherlands from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce — Complete (1584-1609) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,620 pages of information about History of the United Netherlands from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce — Complete (1584-1609).

History of the United Netherlands from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce — Complete (1584-1609) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,620 pages of information about History of the United Netherlands from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce — Complete (1584-1609).
On the contrary, she complained:  that they daily increased their offences, most notoriously in the sight of—­the world and in so many points that she lacked words to express them in one letter.  She however thought it worth while to allude to some of their transgressions.  She, declared that their sinister, or rather barbarous interpretation of her conduct had been notorious in perverting and falsifying her princely and Christian intentions; when she imparted to them the overtures that had been made to her for a treaty of peace for herself and for them with the King of Spain.  Yet although she had required their allowance, before she would give her assent, she had been grieved that the world should see what impudent untruths had been forged upon her, not only by their. sufferance; but by their special permission for her Christian good meaning towards them.  She denounced the statements as to her having concluded a treaty, not only without their knowledge; but with the sacrifice of their liberty and religion, as utterly false, either for anything done in act, or intended in thought, by her.  She complained that upon this most false ground had been heaped a number of like untruths and malicious slanders against her cousin Leicester, who had hazarded his life, spend his substance, left his native country, absented himself from her, and lost his time, only for their service.  It had been falsely stated among them, she said, that the Earl had come over the last time, knowing that peace had been secretly concluded.  It was false that he had intended to surprise divers of their towns, and deliver them to the King of Spain.  All such untruths contained matter so improbable, that it was most, strange that any person; having any sense, could imagine them correct.  Having thus slightly animadverted upon their wilfulness, unthankfulness, and bad government, and having, in very plain English, given them the lie, eight distinct and separate times upon a single page, she proceeded to inform them that she had recalled her cousin Leicester, having great cause to use his services in England, and not seeing how, by his tarrying there, he could either profit them or herself.  Nevertheless she protested herself not void of compassion for their estate, and for the pitiful condition of the great multitude of kind and godly people, subject to the miseries which, by the States government, were like to fall upon them, unless God should specially interpose; and she had therefore determined, for the time, to continue her subsidies, according to the covenant between them.  If, meantime, she should conclude a peace with Spain, she promised to them the same care for their country as for her own.

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History of the United Netherlands from the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce — Complete (1584-1609) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.