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 importance, and with such
marks of truth, that she had no room to doubt of it: as soon as the
interview was at an end, she dispatched an account of what she had
discovered, to England[2].

But we cannot conclude Mrs. Behn's gallantries at Antwerp, without being
a little more particular, as we find her attacked by other lovers, and
thought she found means to preserve her innocence, yet the account
that she herself gives of her affairs there, is both humorous and
entertaining.

In a letter to a friend she proceeds thus, 'My other lover is about
twice Albert's age, nay and bulk too, tho' Albert "be not the most
Barbary shape you have seen, you must know him by the name of Van Bruin,
and he was introduced to me by Albert his kinsman, and was obliged by