dition of the Dutch
Republic--Willoughby reluctantly takes Command--English
Commissioners come to Ostend--Secretary Gamier and Robert Cecil--
Cecil accompanies Dale to Ghent--And finds the Desolation complete--
Interview of Dale and Cecil with Parma--His fervent Expressions in
favour of Peace--Cecil makes a Tour in Flanders--And sees much that
is remarkable--Interviews of Dr. Rogers with Parma--Wonderful
Harangues of the Envoy--Extraordinary Amenity of Alexander--With
which Rogers is much touched--The Queen not pleased with her Envoy--
Credulity of the English Commissioners--Ceremonious Meeting of all
the Envoys--Consummate Art in wasting Time--Long Disputes about
Commissions--The Spanish Commissions meant to deceive--Disputes
about Cessation of Arms--Spanish Duplicity and Procrastination--
Pedantry and Credulity of Dr. Dale--The Papal Bull and Dr. Allen's
Pamphlet--Dale sent to ask Explanations--Parma denies all Knowledge
of either--Croft believes to the last in Alexander.

The year 1588 had at last arrived--that fatal year concerning which the
German astrologers--more than a century before had prognosticated such
dire events. As the epoch approached it was firmly believed by many that
the end of the world was at hand, while the least superstitious could not
doubt that great calamities were impending over the nations. Portents
observed during the winter and in various parts of Europe came to
increase the prevailing panic. It rained blood in Sweden, monstrous
births occurred in France, and at Weimar it was gravely reported by
eminent chroniclers that the sun had appeared at mid-day holding a drawn
sword in his mouth--a warlike portent whose meaning could not be
mistaken.

But, in truth, it needed no miracles nor prophecies to enforce the
conviction that a long procession of disasters was steadily advancing.
With France rent asunder by internal convulsions, with its imbecile king
not even capable of commanding a petty faction among his own subjects,
with Spain the dark cause of unnumbered evils, holding Italy in its
grasp, firmly allied with the Pope, already having reduced and nearly
absorbed France, and now, after long and patient preparation, about to
hurl the concentrated vengeance and hatred of long years upon the little
kingdom of England, and its only ally--the just organized commonwealth of
the Netherlands--it would have been strange indeed if the dullest
intellect h