CHAPTER XV.
Buckhurst sent to the Netherlands--Alarming State of Affairs on his Arrival--His Efforts to conciliate--Democratic Theories of Wilkes-- Sophistry of the Argument--Dispute between Wilkes and Barneveld-- Religious Tolerance by the States--Their Constitutional Theory-- Deventer's bad Counsels to Leicester--Their pernicious Effect--Real and supposed Plots against Hohenlo--Mutual Suspicion and Distrust-- Buckhurst seeks to restore good Feeling--The Queen angry and vindictive--She censures Buckhurst's Course--Leicester's wrath at Hohenlo's Charges of a Plot by the Earl to murder him--Buckhurst's eloquent Appeals to the Queen--Her perplexing and contradictory Orders--Despair of Wilkes--Leicester announces his Return--His Instructions--Letter to Junius--Barneveld denounces him in the States.
We return to the Netherlands.

If ever proof were afforded of the influence of individual character on the destiny of nations and of the world, it certainly was seen in the year 1587.

We have lifted the curtain of the secret council-chamber at Greenwich.

We have seen all Elizabeth's advisers anxious to arouse her from her fatal credulity, from her almost as fatal parsimony.

We have seen Leicester anxious to return, despite all fancied indignities, Walsingham eager to expedite the enterprise, and the Queen remaining obdurate, while month after month of precious time was melting away.
In the Netherlands, meantime, discord and confusion had been increasing every day; and the first great cause of such a dangerous condition of affairs was the absence of the governor.