Those were not the days of steam and magnetic telegraphs--inventions by which the nature of man and the aspect of history seem altered--and the Queen had nothing for it but to fret, and the envoys to concert with her ministers expedients to mitigate her spleen.

Towards the end of the month, the commissioners chartered a vessel which they despatched for news to Holland.

On his way across the sea the captain was hailed on the 28th October by a boat, in which one Hans Wyghans was leisurely proceeding to England with Netherland despatches dated on the 5th of the same month.

This was the freshest intelligence that had yet been received.
So soon as the envoys were put in possession of the documents, they obtained an audience of the Queen.

This was the last day of October.
Elizabeth read her letters, and listened to the apologies made by the deputies for the delay with anything but a benignant countenance.