But, in truth, it needed no miracles nor prophecies to enforce the conviction that a long procession of disasters was steadily advancing.  With France rent asunder by internal convulsions, with its imbecile king not even capable of commanding a petty faction among his own subjects, with Spain the dark cause of unnumbered evils, holding Italy in its grasp, firmly allied with the Pope, already having reduced and nearly absorbed France, and now, after long and patient preparation, about to hurl the concentrated vengeance and hatred of long years upon the little kingdom of England, and its only ally—­the just organized commonwealth of the Netherlands—­it would have been strange indeed if the dullest intellect had not dreamed of tragical events.  It was not encouraging that there should be distraction in the counsels of the two States so immediately threatened; that the Queen of England should be at variance with her wisest and most faithful statesmen as to their course of action, and that deadly quarrels should exist between the leading men of the Dutch republic and the English governor, who had assumed the responsibility of directing its energies against the common enemy.

The blackest night that ever descended upon the Netherlands—­more disappointing because succeeding a period of comparative prosperity and triumph—­was the winter of 1587-8, when Leicester had terminated his career by his abrupt departure for England, after his second brief attempt at administration.  For it was exactly at this moment of anxious expectation, when dangers were rolling up from the south till not a ray of light or hope could pierce the universal darkness, that the little commonwealth was left without a chief.  The English Earl departed, shaking the dust from his feet; but he did not resign.  The supreme authority—­so far as he could claim it—­was again transferred,—­with his person, to England.

The consequences were immediate and disastrous.  All the Leicestrians refused to obey the States-General.  Utrecht, the stronghold of that party, announced its unequivocal intention to annex itself, without any conditions whatever, to the English crown, while, in Holland, young Maurice was solemnly installed stadholder, and captain-general of the Provinces, under the guidance of Hohenlo and Barneveld.  But his authority was openly defied in many important cities within his jurisdiction by military chieftains who had taken the oaths of allegiance to Leicester as governor, and who refused to renounce fidelity to the man who had deserted their country, but who had not resigned his authority.  Of these mutineers the most eminent was Diedrich Sonoy, governor of North Holland, a soldier of much experience, sagacity, and courage, who had rendered great services to the cause of liberty and Protestantism, and had defaced it by acts of barbarity which had made his name infamous.  Against this refractory chieftain it was necessary for Hohenlo and Maurice to lead an