A longing to grapple, once for all, with the great enemy of civil and religious liberty inspired both.

In Holland, the States-General and all the men to whom the people looked for guidance, had been long deprecating the peace-negotiations.

Extraordinary supplies--more than had ever been granted before--were voted for the expenses of the campaign; and Maurice of Nassau, fitly embodying the warlike tendencies of his country and race, had been most importunate with Queen Elizabeth that she would accept his services and his advice.

Armed vessels of every size, from the gun-boat to the galleon of 1200 tons--then the most imposing ship in those waters--swarmed in all the estuaries and rivers, and along the Dutch and Flemish coast, bidding defiance to Parma and his armaments; and offers of a large contingent from the fleets of Jooat de Moor and Justinua de Nassau, to serve under Seymour and Howard, were freely made to the States-General.
It was decided early in July, by the board of admiralty, presided over by Prince Maurice, that the largest square-rigged vessels of Holland and Zeeland should cruise between England and the Flemish coast, outside the banks; that a squadron of lesser ships should be stationed within the banks; and that a fleet of sloops and fly-boats should hover close in shore, about Flushing and Rammekens.

All the war-vessels of the little republic were thus fully employed.