[History of the United Netherlands<br> 1584-1609 by John Lothrop Motley]@TWC D-Link book
History of the United Netherlands
1584-1609

CHAPTER XIII
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It might easily be judged whether such conduct were likely to win the hearts of Netherlanders to Leicester and to England.
"Albeit, for my own part," said Wilkes, "I do hold Sir William Stanley to be a wise and a discreet gent., yet when I consider that the magistracy is such as was established by your Lordship, and of the religion, and well affected to her Majesty, and that I see how heavily the matter is conceived of here by the States and council, I do fear that all is not well.

The very bruit of this doth begin to draw hatred upon our nation.
Were it not that I doubt some dangerous issue of this matter, and that I might be justly charged with negligence, if I should not advertise you beforehand, I would, have forborne to mention this dissension, for the States are about to write to your Lordship and to her Majesty for reformation in this matter." He added that he had already written earnestly to Sir William, "hoping to persuade him to carry a mild hand over the people." Thus wrote Councillor Wilkes, as in duty bound, to Lord Leicester, so early as the 9th December, and the warning voice of Norris had made itself heard in England quite as soon.

Certainly the governor-general, having, upon his own responsibility; and prompted, it would seem, by passion more than reason, made this dangerous appointment, was fortunate in receiving timely and frequent notice of its probable results.
And the conscientious Wilkes wrote most earnestly, as he said he had done, to the turbulent Stanley.
"Good Sir William," said he, "the magistrates and burgesses of Deventer complain to this council, that you have by violence wrested from them the keys of one of their gates, that you assemble your garrison in arms to terrify them, that you have seized one of their forts, that the Irish soldiers do commit many extortions and exactions upon the inhabitants, that you have imprisoned their burgesses, and do many things against their laws and privileges, so that it is feared the best affected, of the inhabitants towards her Majesty will forsake the town.

Whether any of these things be true, yourself doth best know, but I do assure you that the apprehension thereof here doth make us and our government hateful.
For mine own part, I have always known you for a gentleman of value, wisdom; and judgment, and therefore should hardly believe any such thing.
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