r peace, without previously informing the
queen or him of it; that they should enter into no league without
her consent; that if any discord arose among themselves, it should be
referred to her arbitration; and that, if any prince, on any pretext,
should attempt hostilities against her, they should send to her
assistance an army equal to that which she had employed in their
defence. This alliance was signed on the seventh of January, 1578.[**]

* Camden, p. 466. Grotius, lib. iii.

** Camden, p. 466.

One considerable inducement to the queen for entering into treaty with
the states, was to prevent their throwing themselves into the arms of
France; and she was desirous to make the king of Spain believe that it
was her sole motive. She represented to him, by her ambassador, Thomas
Wilkes, that hitherto she had religiously acted the part of a good
neighbor and ally; had refused the sovereignty of Holland and Zealand
when offered her, had advised the prince of Orange to submit to the
king; and had even accompanied her counsel with menaces, in case of his
refusal. She persevered, she said, in the same friendly intentions; and,
as a proof of it, would venture to interpose with her advice for the
composure of the present differences: let Don John, whom she could not
but regard as her mortal enemy, be recalled; let some other prince more
popular be substituted in his room; let the Spanish armies be withdrawn;
let the Flemings be restored to their ancient liberties and privileges;
and if, after these concessions, they were still obstinate not to return
to their duty, she promised to join her arms with those of the king of
Spain, and force them to compliance. Philip dissembled his resentment
against the queen, and still continued to supply Don John with money and
troops. That prince, though once repulsed at Rimenant by the valor of
the English, under Norris, and though opposed, as well by the army of
the states as by Prince Casimir, who had conducted to the Low Countries
a great body of Germans paid by the queen, gained a great advantage
over the Flemings at Gemblours; but was cut off in the midst of his
prosperity by poison, given him secretly, as was suspected, by orders
from Philip, who dreaded his ambition. The prince of Parma succeeded to
the command; who, uniting valor and clemency, negotiation and military
exploits, made great progress against the revolted Flemings, and
advanced the progress of the Spaniards by