In regard to constitutional polity, the condition of the Netherlands was at least, as satisfactory as that of England.  The great amount of civil freedom enjoyed by those countries—­although perhaps an objection—­in the eyes of Elizabeth Tudor—­should certainly have been a recommendation to her liberty-loving subjects.  The question of defence had been satisfactorily answered.  The Provinces, if an integral part of the English empire, could protect themselves, and would become an additional element of strength—­not a troublesome encumbrance.

The difference of language was far, less than that which already existed between the English and their Irish fellow-subjects, while it was counterbalanced by sympathy, instead of being aggravated by mutual hostility in the matter of religion.

With regard to the great question of abstract sovereignty, it was certainly impolitic for an absolute monarch to recognize the right of a nation to repudiate its natural allegiance.  But Elizabeth had already countenanced that step by assisting the rebellion against Philip.  To allow the rebels to transfer their obedience from the King of Spain to herself was only another step in the same direction.  The Queen, should she annex the Provinces, would certainly be accused by the world of ambition; but the ambition was a noble one, if, by thus consenting to the urgent solicitations of a free people, she extended the region of civil and religious liberty, and raised up a permanent bulwark against sacerdotal and royal absolutism.

A war between herself and Spain was inevitable if she accepted the sovereignty, but peace had been already rendered impossible by the treaty of alliance.  It is true that the Queen imagined the possibility of combining her engagements towards the States with a conciliatory attitude towards their ancient master, but it was here that she committed the gravest error.  The negotiations of Parma and his sovereign with the English court were a masterpiece of deceit on the part of Spain.  We have shown, by the secret correspondence, and we shall in the sequel make it still clearer, that Philip only intended to amuse his antagonists; that he had already prepared his plan for the conquest of England, down to the minutest details; that the idea of tolerating religious liberty had never entered his mind; and that his fixed purpose was not only thoroughly to chastise the Dutch rebels, but to deprive the heretic Queen who had fostered their rebellion both of throne and life.  So far as regarded the Spanish King, then, the quarrel between him and Elizabeth was already mortal; while in a religious, moral, political, and financial point of view, it would be difficult to show that it was wrong, or imprudent for England to accept the sovereignty over his ancient subjects.  The cause of human, freedom seemed likely to gain by the step, for the States did not consider themselves strong enough to maintain the independent republic which had already risen.