To make war without an army, to support an army without pay, to frame the hearts of a whole people to peace who were unanimous for war, and this without saying a word either in private or public; to dispose the Netherlanders favourably to herself and to Leicester, by refusing them men and money, brow-beating them for asking for it, and subjecting them to a course of perpetual insults, which she called "corrosives," to do all this and more seemed difficult.

If not to do it, were to spill the cause and to lose the bargain, it was more than probable that they would be spilt and lost.
But the ambassador was no OEdipus--although a man of delicate perceptions and brilliant intellect--and he turned imploringly to a wise counsellor for aid against the tormentor who chose to be so stony-faced and enigmatical.
"Touching the matter of peace," said he to Walsingham, "I have written somewhat to her Majesty in cipher, so as I am sure you will be called for to decipher it.

If you did know how infinitely her Majesty did at my departure and before--for in this matter of peace she hath specially used me this good while--command me, pray me, and persuade me to further and hasten the same with all the speed possible that might be, and how, on the other side, I have continually been the man and the mean that have most plainly dehorted her from such post-haste, and that she should never make good peace without a puissant army in the field, you would then say that I had now cause to fear her displeasure for being too slow, and not too forward.

And as for all the reasons which in my last letters are set down, her Majesty hath debated them with me many times." And thus midsummer was fast approaching, the commonwealth was without a regular government, Leicester remained in England nursing his wrath and preparing his schemes, the Queen was at Greenwich, corresponding with Alexander Farnese, and sending riddles to Buckhurst, when the enemy--who, according to her Majesty, was "quite unable to attempt the siege of any town" suddenly appeared in force in Flanders, and invested Sluy's.

This most important seaport, both for the destiny of the republic and of England at that critical moment, was insufficiently defended.