It would have been possible—­had the transactions of the past six months, so far as regarded Holland and England, been the reverse of what they had been—­to save the city; and, by a cordial and united effort, for the two countries to deal the Spanish power such a blow, that summer, as would have paralyzed it for a long time to come, and have placed both commonwealths in comparative security.

Instead of all this, general distrust and mutual jealousy prevailed.  Leicester had, previously to his departure from England, summoned the States to meet him at Dort upon his arrival.  Not a soul appeared.  Such of the state-councillors as were his creatures came to him, and Count Maurice made a visit of ceremony.  Discussions about a plan for relieving the siege became mere scenes of bickering and confusion.  The officers within Sluys were desirous that a fleet should force its way into the harbour, while, at the same time, the English army, strengthened by the contingent which Leicester had demanded from the States, should advance against the Duke of Parma by land.  It was, in truth, the only way to succour the place.  The scheme was quite practicable.  Leicester recommended it, the Hollanders seemed to favour it, Commandant Groenevelt and Roger Williams urged it.

“I do assure you,” wrote the honest Welshman to Leicester, “if you will come afore this town, with as many galliots and as many flat-bottomed boats as can cause two men-of-war to enter, they cannot stop their passage, if, your mariners will do a quarter of their duty, as I saw them do divers times.  Before, they make their entrance, we will come with our boats, and fight with the greatest part, and show them there is no such great danger.  Were it not for my wounded arm, I would be, in your first boat to enter.  Notwithstanding, I and other Englishmen will approach their boats in such sort, that we will force them to give their saker of artillery upon us.  If, your Excellency will give ear unto those false lewd fellows (the Captain meant the States-General), you shall lose great opportunity.  Within ten or twelve days the enemy will make his bridge from Kadzand unto St. Anne, and force you to hazard battle before you succour this town.  Let my Lord Willoughby and Sir William Russell land at Terhoven, right against Kadzand, with 4000, and entrench hard by the waterside, where their boats can carry them victual and munition.  They may approach by trenches without engaging any dangerous fight . . . .  We dare not show the estate of this town more than we have done by Captain Herte.  We must fight this night within our rampart in the fort.  You may sure the world here are no Hamerts, but valiant captains and valiant soldiers, such as, with God’s help, had rather be buried in the place than be disgraced in any point that belongs to such a number of men-of-war.”