The Queen.—­“I mean the States-General, not the States of any particular
Province.”

De Dieu.—­“The greater part of the States-General is Popish.”

The Queen.—­“I mean the three estates—­the clergy, the nobles, and the cities.”  The Queen—­as the deputies observed—­here fell into an error.  She thought that prelates of the reformed Church, as in England, had seats in the States-General.  Daniel de Dieu explained that they had no such position.

The Queen.—­“Then how were you sent hither?”

De Dieu.—­“We came with the consent of Count Maurice of Nassau.”

The Queen.—­“And of the States?”

De Dieu.—­“We came with their knowledge.”

The Queen.—­“Are you sent only from Holland and Zeeland?  Is there no envoy from Utrecht and the other Provinces?”

Helmichius.—­“We two,” pointing to his colleague Sossingius, “are from
Utrecht.”

The Queen.—­“What?  Is this young man also a minister?” She meant
Helmichius, who had a very little beard, and looked young.

Sossingius.—­“He is not so young as he looks.”

The Queen.—­“Youths are sometimes as able as old men.”

De Dieu.—­“I have heard our brother preach in France more than fourteen years ago.”

The Queen.—­“He must have begun young.  How old were you when you first became a preacher?”

Helmichius.—­“Twenty-three or twenty-four years of age.”

The Queen.—­“It was with us, at first, considered a scandal that a man so young as that should be admitted to the pulpit.  Our antagonists reproached us with it in a book called ‘Scandale de l’Angleterre,’ saying that we had none but school-boys for ministers.  I understand that you pray for me as warmly as if I were your sovereign princess.  I think I have done as much for the religion as if I were your Queen.”

Helmichius.—­“We are far from thinking otherwise.  We acknowledge willingly your Majesty’s benefits to our churches.”

The Queen.—­“It would else be ingratitude on your part.”

Helmichius.—­“But the King of Spain will never keep any promise about the religion.”

The Queen.—­“He will never come so far:  he does nothing but make a noise on all sides.  Item, I don’t think he has much confidence in himself.”

De Dieu.—­“Your Majesty has many enemies.  The Lord hath hitherto supported you, and we pray that he may continue to uphold your Majesty.”

The Queen.—­“I have indeed many enemies; but I make no great account of them.  Is there anything else you seek?”

De Dieu.—­“There is a special point:  it concerns our, or rather your Majesty’s, city of Flushing.  We hope that Russelius—­(so he called Sir William Russell)—­may be continued in its government, although he wishes his discharge.”

“Aha!” said the Queen, laughing and rising from her seat, “I shall not answer you; I shall call some one else to answer you.”