"Your length in resolving;" Wilkes had said, "whatsoever your secret purposes may be--will put us to new plunges before long." The mission of Buckhurst was believed to be "but a stale, having some other intent than was expressed." And at last, the new plunge had been fairly taken.

It seemed now impossible for Leicester to regain the absolute authority, which he coveted; and which he had for a brief season possessed.

The States-General, under able leaders, had become used to a government which had been forced upon them, and which they had wielded with success.

Holland and Zeeland, paying the whole expense of the war, were not likely to endure again the absolute sovereignty of a foreigner, guided by a back stairs council of reckless politicians--most of whom were unprincipled, and some of whom had been proved to be felons--and established, at Utrecht, which contributed nothing to the general purse.

If Leicester were really-coming, it seemed certain that he would be held to acknowledge the ancient constitution, and to respect the sovereignty of the States-General.