The Princess, in a graceful letter to her husband, desiring that her acknowledgments should be presented to her English Majesty, accepted the present as significative.

"Tis the fabled virtue of the lizard (she said) to awaken sleepers whom a serpent is about to sting.

You are the lizard, and the Netherlands the sleepers,--pray Heaven they may escape the serpent's bite." The Prince was well aware, therefore, of the plots which were weaving against him.

He had small faith in the great nobles, whom he trusted "as he would adders fanged," and relied only upon the communities, upon the mass of burghers.

They deserved his confidence, and watched over his safety with jealous care.