elements in the States had already produced discord, and was threatening destruction to the whole country.  To avert such dangers the splendour of royal authority was necessary, according to the venerable commands of Holy Writ; and therefore the Netherland churches acknowledged themselves the foster-children of England, and begged that in political matters also the inhabitants of the Provinces might be accepted as the subjects of her Majesty.  They also implored the Queen to break off these accursed negotiations with Spain, and to provide that henceforth in the Netherlands the reformed religion might be freely exercised, to the exclusion of any other.

Thus it was very evident that these clerical envoys, although they were sent by permission of the States, did not come as the representatives of the dominant party.  For that ‘Beelzebub,’ Barneveld, had different notions from theirs as to the possibility of a republic, and as to the propriety of tolerating other forms of worship than his own.  But it was for such pernicious doctrines, on religious matters in particular, that he was called Beelzebub, Pope John, a papist in disguise, and an atheist; and denounced, as leading young Maurice and the whole country to destruction.

On the basis of these instructions, the deputies drew up a memorial of pitiless length, filled with astounding parallels between their own position and that of the Hebrews, Assyrians, and other distinguished nations of antiquity.  They brought it to Walsingham on the 12th July, 1588, and the much enduring man heard it read from beginning to end.  He expressed his approbation of its sentiments, but said it was too long.  It must be put on one sheet of paper, he said, if her Majesty was expected to read it.

“Moreover,” said the Secretary of State, “although your arguments are full of piety, and your examples from Holy Writ very apt, I must tell you the plain truth.  Great princes are not always so zealous in religious matters as they might be.  Political transactions move them more deeply, and they depend too much on worldly things.  However there is no longer much danger, for our envoys will return from Flanders in a few days.”

“But,” asked a deputy, “if the Spanish fleet does not succeed in its enterprise, will the peace-negotiations be renewed?”

“By no means,” said Walsingham; “the Queen can never do that, consistently with her honour.  They have scattered infamous libels against her—­so scandalous, that you would be astounded should you read them.  Arguments drawn from honour are more valid with princes than any other.”

He alluded to the point in their memorial touching the free exercise of the reformed religion in the Provinces.

“’Tis well and piously said,” he observed; “but princes and great lords are not always very earnest in such matters.  I think that her Majesty’s envoys will not press for the free exercise of the religion so very much; not more than for two or three years.  By that time—­should our negotiations succeed—­the foreign troops will have evacuated the Netherlands on condition that the States-General shall settle the religious question.”