It was a blunder in Gilpin, intelligent as he generally showed himself, to write in such sanguine style before the event.

But it was the greatest blunder of all for Queen Elizabeth to suspend her cooperation at the very instant when, as the result showed, it was likely to prove most successful.

It was a chapter of blunders from first to last, but the most fatal of all the errors was the one thus prompted by the great Queen's most traitorous characteristic, her obstinate parsimony.
And now began a series of sharp chafferings on both sides, not very much to the credit of either party.

The kingdom of England, and the rebellious Provinces of Spain, were drawn to each other by an irresistible law of political attraction.

Their absorption into each other seemed natural and almost inevitable; and the weight of the strong Protestant organism, had it been thus completed, might have balanced the great Catholic League which was clustering about Spain.
It was unfortunate that the two governments of England and the Netherlands should now assume the attitude of traders driving a hard bargain with each other, rather than that of two important commonwealths, upon whose action, at that momentous epoch, the weal and wo of Christendom was hanging.