the war.  “Besides our stipulated contributions,” said the pensionary, “of 200,000 florins the month, we have furnished 500,000 as an extraordinary grant; making for the year 2,900,000 florins, and this over and above the particular and special expenditures of the Provinces, and other sums for military purposes.  We confess, Madam, that the succour of your Majesty is a truly royal one, and that there have been few princes in history who have given such assistance to their neighbours unjustly oppressed.  It is certain that by means of that help, joined with the forces of the United Provinces, the Earl of Leicester has been able to arrest the course of the Duke of Parma’s victories and to counteract his designs.  Nevertheless, it appears, Madam, that these forces have not been sufficient to drive the enemy out of the country.  We are obliged, for regular garrison work and defence of cities, to keep; up an army of at least 27,000 foot and 3500 horse.  Of this number your Majesty pays 5000 foot and 1000 horse, and we are now commissioned, Madam, humbly to request an increase of your regular succour during the war to 10,000 foot and 2000 horse.  We also implore the loan of L60,000 sterling, in order to assist us in maintaining for the coming season a sufficient force in the field.”

Such, in brief, was the oration of pensionary Menyn, delivered in the French language.  He had scarcely concluded, when the Queen—­evidently in a great passion—­rose to her feet, and without any hesitation, replied in a strain of vehement eloquence in the same tongue.

“Now I am not deceived, gentlemen,” she said, “and that which I have been fearing has occurred.  Our common adage, which we have in England, is a very good one.  When one fears that an evil is coming, the sooner it arrives the better.  Here is a quarter of a year that I have been expecting you, and certainly for the great benefit I have conferred on you, you have exhibited a great ingratitude, and I consider myself very ill treated by you.  ’Tis very strange that you should begin by soliciting still greater succour without rendering me any satisfaction for your past actions, which have been so extraordinary, that I swear by the living God I think it impossible to find peoples or states more ungrateful or ill-advised than yourselves.

“I have sent you this year fifteen, sixteen, aye seventeen or eighteen thousand men.  You have left them without payment, you have let some of them die of hunger, driven others to such desperation that they have deserted to the enemy.  Is it not mortifying for the English nation and a great shame for you that Englishmen should say that they have found more courtesy from Spaniards than from Netherlanders?  Truly, I tell you frankly that I will never endure such indignities.  Rather will I act according to my will, and you may do exactly, as you think best.