At that particular moment, when Leicester's deferred resignation, the rebellion of Sonoy in North Holland, founded on a fictitious allegiance to the late governor-general, the perverse determination of the Queen to treat for peace against the advice of all the leading statesmen of the Netherlands, and the sharp rebukes perpetually administered by her, in consequence, to the young stadholder and all his supporters, had not tended to produce the most tender feelings upon their part towards the English government, it was not surprising that the handsome soldier should look askance at the crooked little courtier, whom even the great Queen smiled at while she petted him.

Cecil was very angry with Maurice.
"In my life I never saw worse behaviour," he said, "except it were in one lately come from school.

There is neither outward appearance in him of any noble mind nor inward virtue." Although Cecil had consumed nearly the whole month of March in his tour, he had been more profitably employed than were the royal commissioners during the same period at Ostend.
Never did statesmen know better how not to do that which they were ostensibly occupied in doing than Alexander Farnese and his agents, Champagny, Richardot, Jacob Maas, and Gamier.

The first pretext by which much time was cleverly consumed was the dispute as to the place of meeting.

Doctor Dale had already expressed his desire for Ostend as the place of colloquy.