with their dependent principalities, was closely connected with
him, and was ready to supply him with troops for every enterprise. All
the treasures of the West Indies were in his possession; and the present
scarcity of the precious metals in every country of Europe, rendered the
influence of his riches the more forcible and extensive. The Netherlands
seemed on the point of relapsing into servitude; and small hopes were
entertained of their withstanding those numerous and veteran armies,
which, under the command of the most experienced generals, he employed
against them. Even France, which was wont to counterbalance the Austrian
greatness, had lost all her force from intestine commotions; and as the
Catholics, the ruling party, were closely connected with him, he rather
expected thence an augmentation than a diminution of his power. Upon the
whole, such prepossessions were every where entertained concerning the
force of the Spanish monarchy, that the king of Sweden, when he heard
that Elizabeth had openly embraced the defence of the revolted Flemings,
scrupled not to say, that she had now taken the diadem from her head,
and had adventured it upon the doubtful chance of war.[*]

* Camden, p 508.

Yet was this princess rather cautious than enterprising in her
natural temper: she ever needed more to be impelled by the vigor,
than restrained by the prudence, of her ministers: but when she saw
an evident necessity, she braved danger with magnanimous courage; and
trusting to her own consummate wisdom, and to the affections, however
divided, of her people, she prepared herself to resist, and even to
assault, the whole force of the Catholic monarch.

The earl of Leicester was sent over to Holland at the head of the
English auxiliary forces. He carried with him a splendid retinue; being
accompanied by the young earl of Essex, his son-in-law, the lords Audley
and North, Sir William Russel, Sir Thomas Shirley, Sir Arthur Basset,
Sir Walter Waller, Sir Gervase Clifton, and a select troop of five
hundred gentlemen. He was received on his arrival at Flushing by his
nephew, Sir Philip Sidney, the governor; and every town through which he
passed expressed their joy by acclamations and triumphal arches, as
if his presence and the queen's protection had brought them the most
certain deliverance. The states, desirous of engaging Elizabeth still
further in their defence, and knowing the interest which Leicester
possessed with her,