It was equally plain that the Provinces could only be kept at her Majesty's disposition by choosing the course which, at their own suggestion, had been adopted.

The offer of the government by the States, and its acceptance by the Earl, were the logical consequence of the step which the Queen had already taken.

It was thus only that England could retain her hold upon the country, and even upon the cautionary towns.

As to a reconciliation of the Provinces with Spain--which would have been the probable result of Leicester's rejection of the proposition made by the Stateait was unnecessary to do more than allude to such a catastrophe.

No one but a madman could doubt that, in such an event, the subjugation of England was almost certain.
But before the arrival of the ambassador, the Queen had been thoroughly informed as to the whole extent of the Earl's delinquency.