Dire was her wrath against Bodman, De Loo, Graafigni, and the rest, at their misrepresentations on the subject.

But she would "lend her ear." And that royal ear was lent, and almost fatal was the distillment poured into its porches.

The pith and marrow of the great Netherland enterprise was sapped by the slow poison of the ill-timed negotiation.

The fruit of Drake's splendid triumphs in America was blighted by it.

The stout heart of the vainglorious but courageous Leicester was sickened by it, while, meantime, the maturing of the great armada-scheme, by which the destruction of England was to be accomplished, was furthered, through the unlimited procrastination so precious to the heart of Philip.
Fortunately the subtle Walsingham was there upon the watch to administer the remedy before it was quite too late; and to him England and the Netherlands were under lasting obligations.