d thought her a proper person to be entrusted with
the management of some important affairs, during the Dutch war; which
occasioned her going into Flanders, and residing at Antwerp. Here, by
her political intrigues, she discovered the design formed by the Dutch,
of sailing up the river Thames, and burning the English ships in their
harbours, which she communicated to the court of England; but her
intelligence, though well grounded, as appeared by the event, being only
laughed at and slighted, she laid aside all other thoughts of state
affairs, and amused herself during her stay at Antwerp with the
gallantries in that city. But as we have mentioned that she discovered
the design of the Dutch to burn our ships, it would be injustice to the
lady, as well as to the reader, not to give some detail of her manner
of doing it. She made this discovery by the intervention of a Dutchman,
whom her life-writer calls by the name of Vander Albert. As an
ambassador, or negociator of her sex could not take the usual means of
intelligence; of mixing with the multitude, and bustling in the cabals
of statesmen, she fell upon another way, perhaps more efficacious, of
working by her eyes. This Vander Albert had been in love with her before
her marriage with Mr. Behn, and no sooner heard of her arrival at
Antwerp, than he paid her a visit; and after a repetition of his former
vows, and ardent professions for her service, pressed her to receive
from him some undeniable proofs of the vehemence and sincerity of his
passion, for which he would ask no reward, 'till he had by long and
faithful services convinced her that he deserved it. This proposal was
so suitable to her present aim in the service of her country, that she
accepted it, and employed Albert in such a manner, as made her very
serviceable to the King. The latter end of the year 1666, he sent
her word, by a special messenger, that he would be with her at a day
appointed, at which time, he revealed to her, that Cornelius de Wit,
who, with the rest of that family, had an implacable hatred to the
English nation and the house of Orange, had, with de Ruyter, proposed to
the States the expedition abovementioned. This proposal, concurring with
the advice which the Dutch spies in England had given them, of the total
neglect of all naval preparations, was well received, and was resolved
to be put in execution, as a thing neither dangerous nor difficult.
Albert having communicated a secret of this