"I do assure you," said-Williams, "that your captains and mariners do not their duty unless they enter with no great loss; but you must consider that no wars may be made without danger.

What you mean to do, we beseech you to do with expedition, and persuade yourself that we will die valiant, honest-men.

Your Excellency will do well to thank the old President de Meetkerk far the honesty and valour of his son." Count Maurice and his natural brother, the Admiral, now undertook the succour by sea; but, according to the Leicestrians, they continued dilatory and incompetent.

At any rate, it is certain that they did nothing.

At last, Parma had completed the bridge; whose construction, was so much dreaded: The haven was now enclosed by a strong wooden structure, resting an boats, on a plan similar to that of the famous bridge with which he had two years before bridled the Scheldt, and Sluys was thus completely shut in from the sea.