ments on either side. "It was now time," said Cecil, who began the conference with little preface, to show the effects of that faith which he had sworn to her whose merits were neither small nor unknown; and, to the intent, that he might see that she would leave him no ground of jealousy, I desired him to resolve me clearly whether he did desire peace or war, which he should do no sooner than I would open to him her majesty's purpose to either way." To this plain question, Henry returned a plain answer : — "He was sorry to find himself in this extremity, that either he must ruin himself, or offend the queen. But he must plainly tell us, that his necessities were such as that he could not stand out."

There were now some mutual accusations as to failures of exertion. Henry reproached the English ministers with delay in answering his requisitions. They said "they would have been ready to succour him in the siege of Blavet, when their ships had refitted after the Spanish expeditions." "Well," said Henry, who seemed disposed to come to a point, "it is now past, and I am like a man clothed in velvet, who has not meat to put in his mouth. Your coming had been welcome; but your long stay, and the estates lingering, have drawn on the time so far, as I am in extremity. I hope the queen will not look that I should undo myself, for that would be no pleasure to her." The commissioners pressed him hard upon his breach of treaty, and so stoutly contradicted him when he said that the English succours were neither timely nor sufficient, that he at last acknowledged that "they were brave troops indeed, and his necessities only made him break all promises." "We told him we would fain know in what manner to deal with him; for, although we had no power presently to offer him satisfaction in particular, if he would leave the treaty, seeing the States could not be comprised, yet we would assure him that the queen would aid them ; and therefore desired him to speak plainly what numbers he would have, and to what end. For if the design was fit and good for all parties, as we knew the States

would aid him, so when her majesty should understand it, we were sure that the queen would also strain herself upon any reasonable probability to accommodate him." Henry adverted to the queen's desire of Calais; but it was in vain to think of that now. "He might lose an army before it, and when he had it, he should have no more than he should have by peace." "We told

him it was in vain, as now we saw things to dispute of any thing but his peace; we would therefore proceed with him in that point." He said, "it was the best."-"Then we asked him, how he would dispense with leaving out the States, either in honour or safety.” To this pinching question, Henry answered, “he had told them his mind, for necessity had no law; they might defend themselves awhile well enough, while their friends reposed." But he then questioned Elizabeth's ministers, with almost equal advantage: “What will you treat, or can you, or have you any commission? It hath been otherwise a strange legation, and must confirm that which the world says, that the queen means no peace herself, but to keep me in war." After a little sparring, produced by this remark, the commissioners owned that they had no power to treat of particulars. "His majesty had thus far opened himself, that no war must be made, and that he would leave the States; her majesty being informed of it, he should hear what she would answer. 'Oh, but,' said the king, 'I cannot tarry it.' With that, I, the secretary, said, 'Sir, why then, I beseech you, let us have our passports, if that be the point; for if her majesty's benefits passed, and your honour only ties you to respect yourself, the queen knows what to expect hereafter.'

“He was with that, and many former contestations of ours, much chafed; and said unto me, that he had not used me like an ordinary ambassador, to dispute thus freely and particularly. I answered, that I took myself to be sent from a prince that ought to be extraordinarily respected; and, if without arrogancy I might speak it, I might take myself, considering my

place for no common ordinary ambassador. - He said it was true, and so slubbered up some speeches of kindness again.— From thence, I told him of his letter last written, and how far it was short of his speech delivered to us both together. He said, for that point, I was too curious: he would not be tempted to write ; he had said enough to us both of all that, and had good reason to write no more. I answered him, that if any body had told him that I desired to appoint the style, he did me wrong, for that I was not so ill-bred to do it; and yet I had not kneeled at the foot of such a prince as my sovereign seven years, but I could guess what letters usually passed between princes when they meant to give satisfaction, and what in other letters."

6

"Well,' saith he, as much as I do mean to commit to a letter's peril, my letter carries. If the queen trust you not, why did she send you?' We answered that it became us to get as much satisfaction as we could from himself, finding that her majesty had so much cause of doubt; and that we must be content, since his majesty was so resolved: but if he would have me to expound his letter more effectual than it was, I must crave pardon, and that I did contest chiefly that with his ministers, that by his letter the king did disavow nothing, but that he had not given them commandments to sign anything; whereas, in speech, he both disavowed the having given them warrant to promise it, as well as not to do it. Well,' said he, "I said enough for that matter; and where you presume with benefits past, the world will say the queen did herself no harm in it, and shall find me her faithful and kind brother to the uttermost of her life.' I answered, that however partial men might construe her majesty's help of him to be out of her own respect, sure I was that, if her majesty had had a purpose to have served herself of the time, and his necessities, she might have served her turn upon France, when it was in so many cantons, with the same charge that she had been at with him.' And for my part, I did humbly beseech

*

him to pardon me, though for that I had no warrant as ambassador to speak it from the queen, yet, seeing France did so partially regard itself, as whensoever, by the help of others, it was made able to recover good conditions of the enemy, they must presently be taken without other respect of his allies, or giving liberty to such a prince as mine was to be informed, or to understand and advise what way to take for himself - 'that I would pray to God that England might never have more need of France, though I would ever think reverently of his majesty, hoping that he would be more respectful, than to lose so good a reputation, and the hearts of so many, by doing so great an injury to her who never had failed him; who, notwithstanding that she had showed herself to be contented at his entreaty to hearken unto an enemy, yet she would let the world see that she disdained to seek peace by any man's means in Europe; and that I durst avow it, she was resolved at this time, as much as ever, to maintain her honour against her enemy, howsoever her friends should use her.' 'Well,' said he, 'Ie combattrai contre querellest, we will advise further; and I will appoint the best of my council, whereof Villeroy shall be one, to speak further with you; and then we will grow to some further resolution; for I would be as loth to discontent my sister as anybody.''

vous ....

Henry, however, though not insensible to the danger to which his Dutch allies might be exposed, was resolved upon peace, and determined to counteract the attempts of the English to prevent it. The treaty of Vervins, between France and Spain, was concluded on the 2d of May, 1598.§

A question then arose in Elizabeth's council, whether

* Considerate, regardful of proprieties.

+ Sic.

See his letters to his ministers, 4th of April, and 1st of May, 1598. Birch, Neg. 157. 165.

Dumont, v. fol. 1. p. 361. Sismondi speaks of this treaty, as the abandonment of a powerful ally; and says, "that though Henry and his ministers pretended to have saved their honour, the ambassadors did not regard the matter in the same light, and their language was very severe." xxi. 477.

to continue the war with Spain. Essex was for war; the Cecils for peace. * The result was, the mission of sir Francis Vere, to ascertain whether the States were inclined to peace; or, if not, to press them to reimburse to England, the money which she had advanced. † The States resolved upon continuing the war, and communicated this resolution by an embassy to England.

Although the ministers of Elizabeth did not imitate the French government, in making peace with Spain, they exacted from the Dutch a more adequate compensation for the succours afforded to them. A treaty was negotiated with the States, whereby the engagement to assist the United Provinces was renewed; but new and more stringent stipulations were required, for the repayment of the pecuniary advances of England, and the maintenance of her troops. This treaty was not concluded until after the death of Burleigh, which occurred on the 4th of August, 1598. Camden styles it a striking instance of the prudent foresight of the elder Cecil, and ascribes the merit of it, after him, to sir Thomas Bodley, and to George Gilpin, who succeeded Bodley in the council of the States.

Robert Cecil, it would appear, had no particular share in this treaty; but he now became the principal minister of Elizabeth, and made no change in her foreign policy.

His first measure was, to insist upon a rigid neutrality on the part of France. Elizabeth had at first issued a proclamation, declaring, out of respect for the French king, "that no ship carrying a French flag should be molested." But when the preparations became great, and suspicious, that king was required to forbid his subjects to carry even corn (not generally a contraband article) to Spain. Henry denied our right to enforce this prohibition; he, nevertheless, undertook to enforce it for a time. §