His worst enemies here procure me to win him, for sure, just matter for his life there is none.

He would fain come into England, so far is he come already, and doth extol her Majesty for this work of hers to heaven, and confesseth, till now an angel could not make him believe it." Here certainly was a noble tribute paid unconsciously, as it were, to the character of the maligned statesman.

"Above all the men in the country for his word, if he give it." What wonder that Orange had leaned upon him, that Alexander had sought to gain him, and how much does it add to our bitter regret that his prejudices against England should not have been removed until too late for Antwerp and for his own usefulness.

Had his good angel really been present to make him believe in that "work of her Majesty," when his ear was open to the seductions of Parma, the destiny of Belgium and his own subsequent career might have been more fortunate than they became.
The Queen was slow to return from her prejudices.

She believed--not without reason--that the opposition of Ste.