All were surprised, but none more than Buckhurst, Wilkes, and Norris; for no intimation of this sudden resolution had been received by them, nor any answer given to various propositions, considered by her Majesty as indispensable preliminaries to the governor's visit.
The council adjourned till after dinner, and Buckhurst held conference meantime with various counsellors and deputies.

On the reassembling of the board, it was urged by Barneveld, in the name of the States, that the election of Prince Maurice should still hold good.

"Although by these letters," said he, "it would seem that her Majesty had resolved upon the speedy return of his Excellency, yet, inasmuch as the counsels and resolutions of princes are often subject to change upon new occasion, it does not seem fit that our late purpose concerning Prince Maurice should receive any interruption." Accordingly, after brief debate, both resolutions, voted in the morning, were confirmed in the afternoon.
"So now," said Wilkes, "Maurice is general of all the forces, 'et quid sequetur nescimus.'" But whatever else was to follow, it was very certain that Wilkes would not stay.

His great enemy had sworn his destruction, and would now take his choice, whether to do him to death himself, or to throw him into the clutch of the ferocious Hohenlo.

"As for my own particular," said the counsellor, "the word is go, whosoever cometh or cometh not," and he announced to Walsingham his intention of departing without permission, should he not immediately receive it from England.