On the contrary, she complained: that they daily
increased their offences, most notoriously in the
sight of—the world and in so many points
that she lacked words to express them in one letter.
She however thought it worth while to allude to some
of their transgressions. She, declared that their
sinister, or rather barbarous interpretation of her
conduct had been notorious in perverting and falsifying
her princely and Christian intentions; when she imparted
to them the overtures that had been made to her for
a treaty of peace for herself and for them with the
King of Spain. Yet although she had required
their allowance, before she would give her assent,
she had been grieved that the world should see what
impudent untruths had been forged upon her, not only
by their. sufferance; but by their special permission
for her Christian good meaning towards them.
She denounced the statements as to her having concluded
a treaty, not only without their knowledge; but with
the sacrifice of their liberty and religion, as utterly
false, either for anything done in act, or intended
in thought, by her. She complained that upon
this most false ground had been heaped a number of
like untruths and malicious slanders against her cousin
Leicester, who had hazarded his life, spend his substance,
left his native country, absented himself from her,
and lost his time, only for their service. It
had been falsely stated among them, she said, that
the Earl had come over the last time, knowing that
peace had been secretly concluded. It was false
that he had intended to surprise divers of their towns,
and deliver them to the King of Spain. All such
untruths contained matter so improbable, that it was
most, strange that any person; having any sense, could
imagine them correct. Having thus slightly animadverted
upon their wilfulness, unthankfulness, and bad government,
and having, in very plain English, given them the
lie, eight distinct and separate times upon a single
page, she proceeded to inform them that she had recalled
her cousin Leicester, having great cause to use his
services in England, and not seeing how, by his tarrying
there, he could either profit them or herself.
Nevertheless she protested herself not void of compassion
for their estate, and for the pitiful condition of
the great multitude of kind and godly people, subject
to the miseries which, by the States government, were
like to fall upon them, unless God should specially
interpose; and she had therefore determined, for the
time, to continue her subsidies, according to the
covenant between them. If, meantime, she should
conclude a peace with Spain, she promised to them
the same care for their country as for her own.