It was the policy of Queen Elizabeth and her Government
at this time to remain at peace; and the Duke of Alva's commissioners
had been urging on her that the continued countenance afforded by the
English to the Beggars of the Sea must inevitably lead to a war with
Spain. Towards the end of March, therefore, De la Marck received a
peremptory order from Elizabeth to quit the shores of England, while her
subjects were forbidden to supply them with meat, bread, beer, or any
other necessaries. The rover fleet set sail, therefore, from Dover, on
one of the last days in March, with scarcely any provisions on board.
They stood over, accordingly, towards the coast of Zealand; and finally
entered, as has been described, the river Meuse.

Peter quickly reached the town, and pushed through the crowd of
inhabitants, who came round him, asking him all sorts of questions, to
none of which he would reply, except to say that a large force of the
Water-beggars, some thousands, as far as he could tell, were about to
enter the city, and cut all their throats if they were opposed, or if
they found that any of their friends had been injured.

"Take care what the Inquisitors are about," he added. "If these people
whom they have condemned to death are executed, depend upon it the
Water-beggars will put every man and woman in the place to death. Just
see about that matter."

Pushing on, he made his appearance in the town-house, where the
magistrates were assembled. He told them that he had been sent by the
fierce Admiral De la Marck, and by Treslong, who was well known to them;
that two commissioners on the part of the city should be sent out to
confer with them. He had to assure them that the deputies would be
courteously treated, and he was ordered to say that the only object of
those who had sent him was to free the land, and to overthrow the
tyranny of the Spaniards.

"And how many men under him has De la Marck, do you think?" asked the
chief magistrate.

"It would be difficult for me to count them," answered Peter,
carelessly, "considering I only saw some of their ships; but there are
probably some five thousand in all, more or less; but they are desperate
fellows, and equal to twice the number of ordinary mortals."

On hearing this, the magistrates made long faces at each other.

"It is clear that we cannot resist such a force," observed one; "but
what shall we do? Shall we negotiate, or shall we fly?"

"In my opinion, it