History of the United Netherlands, 1587




CHAPTER XIII.

Barneveld's Influence in the Provinces--Unpopularity of Leicester
intrigues--of his Servants--Gossip of his Secretary--
Its mischievous Effects--The Quarrel of Norris and Hollock--
The Earl's Participation in the Affair--His increased Animosity to
Norris--Seizure of Deventer--Stanley appointed its Governor--York
and Stanley--Leicester's secret Instructions--Wilkes remonstrates
with Stanley--Stanley's Insolence and Equivocation--Painful Rumours
as to him and York--Duplicity of York--Stanley's Banquet at
Deventer--He surrenders the City to Tassis--Terms of the Bargain--
Feeble Defence of Stanley's Conduct--Subsequent Fate of Stanley and
York--Betrayal of Gelder to Parma--These Treasons cast Odium on the
English--Miserable Plight of the English Troops--Honesty and Energy
of Wilkes--Indignant Discussion in the Assembly.

The government had not been laid down by Leicester on his departure. It
had been provisionally delegated, as already mentioned to the state-
council. In this body-consisting of eighteen persons--originally
appointed by the Earl, on nomination by the States, several members were
friendly to the governor, and others were violently opposed to him. The
Staten of Holland, by whom the action of the States-General was mainly
controlled, were influenced in their action by Buys and Barneveld. Young
Maurice of Nassau, nineteen years of age, was stadholder of Holland and
Zeeland. A florid complexioned, fair-haired young man, of sanguine-