These people do now honour and love her Majesty in marvellous sort." There was but one feeling on this most important subject among the English who went to the Netherlands.

All held the same language.

The question was plainly presented to England whether she would secure to herself the great bulwark of her defence, or place it in the hands of her mortal foe?
How could there be doubt or supineness on such a momentous subject?
"Surely, my Lord," wrote Richard Cavendish to Burghley, "if you saw the wealth, the strength, the shipping, and abundance of mariners, whereof these countries stand furnished, your heart would quake to think that so hateful an enemy as Spain should again be furnished with such instruments; and the Spaniards themselves do nothing doubt upon the hope of the consequence hereof, to assure themselves of the certain ruin of her Majesty and the whole estate." And yet at the very outset of Leicester's administration, there was a whisper of peace-overtures to Spain, secretly made by Elizabeth in her own behalf, and in that of the Provinces.

We shall have soon occasion to examine into the truth of these rumours, which, whether originating in truth or falsehood, were most pernicious in their effects.

The Hollanders were determined never to return to slavery again, so long as they could fire a shot in their own defence.