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HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS
From the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce—1609
By John Lothrop Motley
MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg Edition, Vol. 77
History of the United Netherlands, 1604-1605
CHAPTER XLIII.
Policy of the King of France—Operations of Prince Maurice—Plans for a Flemish Campaign—Passage into Flanders—Fort St. Catharine— Flight of its garrison, and occupation by Maurice—Surrender of Ysendyke and Aardenburg—Skirmish at Stamper's Hook—Siege of Sluys by Prince Maurice—Ineffectual attempt of Spinola to relieve the town—Its capitulation and restoration to the States—Death of Lewis Gunther of Nassau—Operations at Ostend—Surrender of the garrison— Desolation of the scene after its evacuation.
The States-General had begun to forget the severe lesson taught them inthe Nieuport campaign. Being determined to hold Ostend, they became veryimpatient, in the early part of the present year, that Maurice shouldonce more invade Flanders, at the head of a relieving army, and drive thearchdukes from before the town.
They were much influenced in this policy by the persistent advice of theFrench king. To the importunities of their envoy at Paris, Henry had,during the past eighteen months, replied by urging the States to invadeFlanders and seize its ports. When they had thus something to place aspledges in his hands, he might accede to their clamour and declare waragainst Spain. But he scarcely concealed his intention, in such case, toannex both the obedient and the United Netherlands to his own dominions.Meantime, before getting into the saddle, he chose to be guaranteedagainst loss. "Assure my lords the States that I love them," he said,"and shall always do my best for them." His affection for the territoryof my lords was even warmer than the sentiments he entertained forthemselves. Moreover, he grudged the preliminary expenses which would benecessary even should he ultimately make himself sovereign of the wholecountry. Rosny assured the envoy that he was mistaken in expecting adeclaration of war against Spain. "Not that he does not think it usefuland necessary," said the minister, "but he wishes to have war and peaceboth at once—peace because he wishes to make no retrenchments in hispleasures of women, dogs, and buildings, and so war would be veryinopportune. In three months he would be obliged to turn tail for wantof means (to use his own words), although I would furnish him fundsenough, if he would make the use of them that he ought."
The Queen of England, who, with all her parsimony and false pretences,never doubted in her heart that perpetual hostility to Spain was thechief bulwark of her throne, and that the republic was fighting herbattles as well as its own, had been ready to make such a lively war inconjunction with France as would drive the Spaniard out of all theNetherlands. But Henry was not to be moved. "I know that if I shouldtake her at her word," said he, "she would at once begin to screw me formoney. She has one object, I another." Villeroy had said plainly toAerssens, in regard to the prevalent system of Englishmen, Spaniards, andFrenchmen being at war with each other, while the Governments might benominally at peace, "Let us take off