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In the other monarchical states of Europe in England, in Germany, in Spain, and in Italy divers principles, at one time election, and at another right of conquest, have been mingled with or substituted for the heredity of the throne; different dynasties have reigned; and England has had her Saxon, Danish, and Norman kings, her Plantagenets, her Tudors, her Stuarts, her Nassaus, her Brunswicks.
Villiers, who had been a confidential friend of William the Silent, and a strong favourer of France, in vain endeavoured to keep alive the ancient sentiments towards that country, although he was thought to be really endeavouring to bring about a submission of the Nassaus to Spain.
Sooner would the face of nature be changed than the cardinal maxim of Catholic statesmanship be abandoned. But the influence of the Nassaus, of the province of Zeeland, of the clergy, and of the war-party in general, had been overbalanced by Barneveld and the city corporations, aided by the strenuous exertions of the French ambassadors.
It is passing strange, however, that the character of the Nassaus and of the Dutch nation should after the last fifty years have been still so misunderstood. It seemed in France possible that Maurice would thus defile his honour and the Netherlanders barter their liberty, by accepting a new tyrant in place of the one so long ago deposed.
This seemed a heroic resolution, worthy the sympathy of a brave Englishman, but the Earl's only comment upon it was, that it proved the ringleaders "either to be traitors or else the most blindest asses in the world." He never scrupled, on repeated occasions, to insinuate that Barneveld, Hohenlo, Buys, Roorda, Sainte Aldegonde, and the Nassaus, had organized a plot to sell their country to Spain.
The Earl of Leicester His Triumphal Entrance into Holland English Spies about him Importance of Holland to England Spanish Schemes for invading England Letter of the Grand Commander Perilous Position of England True Nature of the Contest wealth and Strength of the Provinces Power of the Dutch and English People Affection of the Hollanders for the Queen Secret Purposes of Leicester Wretched condition of English Troops The Nassaus and Hohenlo The Earl's Opinion of them Clerk and Killigrew Interview with the States Government General offered to the Earl Discussions on the Subject The Earl accepts the Office His Ambition and Mistakes His Installation at the Hague Intimations of the Queen's Displeasure Deprecatory Letters of Leicester Davison's Mission to England Queen's Anger and Jealousy Her angry Letters to the Earl and the States Arrival of Davison Stormy Interview with the Queen The second one is calmer Queen's Wrath somewhat mitigated Mission of Heneago to the States Shirley sent to England by the Earl His Interview with Elizabeth
The count was with difficulty brought off with a whole skin and put to bed. Yet despite these disgraceful pranks there is no doubt that a better and braver officer than he was hardly to be found even among the ten noble Nassaus who at that moment were fighting for the cause of Dutch liberty fortunately with more sobriety than he at all times displayed.
Such amenities as these did not increase the popularity of Ernest with the high-spirited Spaniards, nor was it palatable to them that it should be proposed to supersede the old fighting Portuguese, Verdugo, as governor and commander-in-chief for the king in Friesland, by Frederic van den Berg, a renegade Netherlander, unworthy cousin of the Nassaus, who had never shown either military or administrative genius.
Meantime, a consultation of civilians and of the family council of Count Maurice was held, and it was determined that the Count should assume the title of Prince more formally than he had hitherto done, in order that the actual head of the Nassaus might be superior in rank to Leicester or to any man who could be sent from England.
We have seen the strenuous exertions of the Nassaus and their adherents by public appeals and private conversation to defeat all schemes of truce. The people were stirred by the eloquence of the two stadholders. They were stung to fury against Spain and against Barneveld by the waspish effusions of the daily press.
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