It was at last agreed that the sum of the debt should be fixed at L800,000, and that the cautionary towns should be held in Elizabeth's hands by English troops until all the debt should be discharged.

Thus England for a long time afterwards continued to regard itself, as in a measure the sovereign and proprietor of the Confederacy, and Barneveld then and there formed the resolve to relieve the country of the incubus, and to recover those cautionary towns and fortresses at the earliest possible moment.

So long as foreign soldiers commanded by military governors existed on the soil of the Netherlands, they could hardly account themselves independent.

Besides, there was the perpetual and horrid nightmare, that by a sudden pacification between Spain and England those important cities, keys to the country's defence, might be handed over to their ancient tyrant.
Elizabeth had been pacified at last, however, by the eloquence of the Ambassador.

"I will assist you even if you were up to the neck in water," she said.