CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

CHAPTER I.

Murder of Orange-Extension of Protestantism-Vast Power of Spain-Re-

ligious Origin of the Revolt-Disposal of the Sovereignty-Courage of the

Estates of Holland-Children of William the Silent-Provisional Council of

State-Firm Attitude of Holland and Zeeland-Weakness of Flanders-Fall

"of Ghent-Adroitness of Alexander Farnese..

PAGE

1

CHAPTER II.

Relations of the Republic to France-Queen Elizabeth's Severity towards

Catholics and Calvinists-Relative Positions of England and France-

Timidity of Germany-Apathy of Protestant Germany-Indignation of the

Netherlanders-Henry III. of France-The King and his Minions-Henry

of Guise-Henry of Navarre-Power of France-Embassy of the States

to France-Ignominious Position of the Envoys-Views of the French

Huguenots-Efforts to procure Annexation-Success of Des Pruneaux....

25

CHAPTER III.

Policy of England-Schemes of the Pretender of Portugal-Hesitation of the

French Court-Secret Wishes of France-Contradictory Views as to the

Opinions of Netherlanders-Their Love for England and Elizabeth-Prom-

inent Statesmen of the Provinces-Roger Williams the Welshman-Views

of Walsingham, Burghley, and the Queen-An Embassy to Holland decided

upon-Davison at the Hague-Cautious and Secret Measures of Burghley

-Consequent Dissatisfaction of Walsingham-English and Dutch Suspicion

of France-Increasing Affection of Holland for England..

63

CHAPTER IV.

Reception of the Dutch Envoys at the Louvre-Ignominious Result of the

Embassy-Secret Influences at work-Bargaining between the French

and Spanish Courts-Claims of Catharine de' Medici upon Portugal-

Letters of Henry and Catharine-Secret Proposal by France to invade

England-States' Mission to Henry of Navarre-Subsidies of Philip to

Guise-Treaty of Joinville-Philip's Share in the League denied by

Parma-Philip in reality its Chief-Manifesto of the League-Attitude of

Henry III. and of Navarre-The League demands a Royal Decree-

Designs of France and Spain against England-Secret Interview of Men-

doza and Villeroy-Complaints of English Persecution-Edict of Nemours

-Excommunication of Navarre and his Reply.......

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94

CHAPTER V.

Position and Character of Farnese-Preparations for Antwerp Siege—Its

Characteristics Foresight of William the Silent-Sainte Aldegonde, the

Burgomaster-Anarchy in Antwerp-Character of Sainte Aldegonde-

Admiral Treslong-Justinus de Nassau-Hohenlo-Opposition to the Plan

of Orange-Liefkenshoek-Head-Quarters of Parma at Kalloo-Difficulty

of supplying the City-Results of not piercing the Dykes-Preliminaries

of the Siege-Successes of the Spaniards—Energy of Farnese with Sword

and Pen-His Correspondence with the Antwerpers-Progress of the

Bridge-Impoverished Condition of Parma-Patriots attempt Bois-le-Duc

-Their Misconduct-Failure of the Enterprise-The Scheldt Bridge com-

pleted-Description of the Structure-Position of Alexander and his Army

-La Motte attempts in vain Ostend-Patriots gain Liefkenshoek-Pro-

jects of Gianibelli-Alarm on the Bridge-The Fire-Ships-The Explosion

-Its Results-Death of the Viscount of Ghent-Perpetual Anxiety of

Farnese-Impoverished State of the Spaniards-Intended Attack on the

Kowenstyn-Second Attack on the Kowenstyn-A Landing effected-A

sharp Combat-The Dyke pierced-Rally of the Spaniards-Parma comes

to the Rescue-Fierce Struggle on the Dyke-The Spainards successful

-Premature Triumph at Antwerp-Defeat of the Patriots-The Ship

'War's End'-Despair of the Citizens-Sainte Aldegonde Discouraged―

His critical Position-His Negotiations with the Enemy-Correspondence

with Richardot-Commotion in the City-Interview of Marnix with Parma

-Suspicious Conduct of Marnix-Deputation to the Prince-Oration of

Marnix-Private Views of Parma-Capitulation of Antwerp-Mistakes of

Marnix-Philip on the Religious Question-Triumphal Entrance of Alex-

ander-Rebuilding of the Citadel-Gratification of Philip-Note on Sainte

Aldegonde....

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CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

xi

CHAPTER VI.

Policy of England-Diplomatic Coquetry-Dutch Envoys in England-Con-

ference of Ortel and Walsingham-Interview with Leicester-Private

Audience of the Queen-Letters of the States'-General-Ill Effects of

Gilpin's Despatch-Close Bargaining of the Queen and States-Guarantees

required by England-England's comparative Weakness-The English

characterized-Paul Hentzner-The Envoys in London-Their Characters

-Olden-Barneveld described-Reception at Greenwich-Speech of Menin

-Reply of the Queen-Memorial of the Envoys-Discussions with the

Ministers-Second Speech of the Queen-Third Speech of the Queen-Sir

John Norris sent to Holland-Parsimony of Elizabeth-Energy of Davison

-Protracted Negotiations-Friendly Sentiments of Count Maurice-Let-

ters from him and Louisa de Coligny-Davison vexed by the Queen's

Caprice-Dissatisfaction of Leicester-His vehement Complaints-The

Queen's Avarice-Perplexity of Davison-Manifesto of Elizabeth-Sir

Philip Sidney-His Arrival at Flushing..

....

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285

CHAPTER VII.

The Earl of Leicester-IIis Triumphal Entrance into Holland-English Spies

about him-Importance of Holland to England-Spanish Schemes for

invading England-Letter of the Grand Commander-Perilous Position

of England-True Nature of the Contest-Wealth and Strength of the

Provinces-Power of the Dutch and English People-Affection of the

Hollanders for the Queen-Secret Purposes of Leicester-Wretched Con-

dition of English Troops-The Nassaus and Hohenlo-The Earl's Opinion

of them-Clerk and Killigrew-Interview with the States-Government-

General offered to the Earl-Discussions on the Subject—The Earl accepts

the Office-His Ambition and Mistakes-His Installation at the Hague-

Intimations of the Queen's Displeasure-Deprecatory Letters of Leicester-

Davison's Mission to England-Queen's Anger and Jealousy-Her Angry

Letters to the Earl and the States-Arrival of Davison-Stormy Interview

with the Queen-The second one is calmer-Queen's Wrath somewhat

mitigated-Mission of Heneage to the States-Shirley sent to England by

the Earl-His Interview with Elizabeth-Leicester's Letters to his Friends

-Paltry Conduct of the Earl to Davison-He excuses himself at Davison's

Expense-His Letter to Burghley-Effect of the Queen's Letters to the

States-Suspicion and Discontent in Holland-States excuse their Con-

duct to the Queen-Leicester discredited in Holland-Evil Consequences

to Holland and England-Magic Effect of a Letter from Leicester-The

Queen appeased-Her Letters to the States and the Earl-She permits

the granted Authority-Unhappy Results of the Queen's Course-Her

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variable Moods-She attempts to deceive Walsingham-Her Injustice

to Heneage His Perplexity and Distress-Humiliating Position of Lei-

cester-His melancholy Letters to the Queen-He receives a little Con-

solation-And writes more cheerfully-The Queen is more benignant-

The States less contented than the Earl-His Quarrels with them begin... 365

CHAPTER VIII.

Forlorn Condition of Flanders-Parma's secret Negotiations with the Queen

-Grafigni and Bodman-Their Dealings with English Counsellors—-

Duplicity of Farnese-Secret Offers of the English Peace-Party-Letters

and Intrigues of De Loo-Drake's Victories and their Effect-Parma's

Perplexity and Anxiety-He is relieved by the News from England-

Queen's secret Letters to Parma-His Letters and Instructions to Bodman

-Bodman's secret Transactions at Greenwich-Walsingham detects and

exposes the Plot-The Intriguers baffled-Queen's Letter to Parma and

his to the King-Unlucky Results of the Peace-Intrigues-Unhandsome

Treatment of Leicester-Indignation of the Earl and Walsingham-Secret

Letter of Parma to Philip-Invasion of England recommended-Details of

the Project.

488