s the very worst specific that could
be adopted--delay--which the Netherland statesmen, as well as the Queen's
wisest counsellors, most deprecated, which Alexander and Philip most
desired, and by indulging in which her Majesty was most directly playing
into her adversary's hand. Elizabeth was preparing to put cards upon the
table against an antagonist whose game was close, whose honesty was
always to be suspected, and who was a consummate master in what was then
considered diplomatic sleight of hand. So Lord Buckhurst was to go forth
to expostulate at the Hague, while transports were loading in Cadiz and
Lisbon, reiters levying in Germany, pikemen and musketeers in Spain and
Italy, for a purpose concerning which Walsingham and Barneveld had for a
long time felt little doubt.

Meantime Lord Leicester went to Bath to drink the waters, and after he
had drunk the waters, the Queen, ever anxious for his health, was
resolved that he should not lose the benefit of those salubrious draughts
by travelling too soon, or by plunging anew into the fountains of
bitterness which flowed perennially in the Netherlands.

CHAPTER XV.

Buckhurst sent to the Netherlands--Alarming State of Affairs on his
Arrival--His Efforts to conciliate--Democratic Theories of Wilkes--
Sophistry of the Argument--Dispute between Wilkes and Barneveld--
Religious Tolerance by the States--Their Constitutional Theory--
Deventer's bad Counsels to Leicester--Their pernicious Effect--Real
and supposed Plots against Hohenlo--Mutual Suspicion and Distrust--
Buckhurst seeks to restore good Feeling--The Queen angry and
vindictive--She censures Buckhurst's Course--Leicester's wrath at
Hohenlo's Charges of a Plot by the Earl to murder him--Buckhurst's
eloquent Appeals to the Queen--Her perplexing and contradictory
Orders--Despair of Wilkes--Leicester announces his Return--His
Instructions--Letter to Junius--Barneveld denounces him in the
States.

We return to the Netherlands. If ever proof were afforded of the
influence of individual character on the destiny of nations and of the
world, it certainly was seen in the year 1587. We have lifted the curtain
of the secret council-chamber at Greenwich. We have seen all Elizabeth's
advisers anxious to arouse her from her fatal credulity, from her almost
as fatal parsimony. We have seen Leicester anxious to return, despite all
fancied indignities, Walsingham eager to expedite the