to inflict great injuries upon their cause. Two powerful nations like
France and Spain would be too much to have on their hands at once. How
much danger, too, would be incurred by braving at once the open wrath of
the French King, and, the secret displeasure of the English Queen. She
had warmly recommended the Duke of Anjou. She had said--that honors to
him were rendered to herself; and she was now entirely opposed to their
keeping the present quarrel alive. If France became their enemy, the
road was at once opened through that kingdom for Spain. The estates were
to ponder well whether they possessed the means to carry on such a double
war without assistance. They were likewise to remember how many cities
still remained in the hands of Anjou, and their possible fate if the Duke
were pushed to extremity.

The third point was then handled with vigor. He reminded the states of
the perpetual difficulty of raising armies, of collecting money to pay
for troops, of inducing cities to accept proper garrisons, of
establishing a council which could make itself respected. He alluded
briefly and bitterly to the perpetual quarrels of the states among
themselves; to their mutual jealousy; to their obstinate parsimony; to
their jealousy of the general government; to their apathy and inertness
before impending ruin. He would not calumniate those, he said, who
counselled trust in God. That was his sentiment also: To attempt great
affairs, however, and, through avarice, to-withhold sufficient means, was
not trusting, but tempting God.--On the contrary, it was trusting God to
use the means which He offered to their hands.

With regard, then, to the three points, he rejected the first.
Reconciliation with the King of Spain was impossible. For his own part,
he would much prefer the third course. He had always been in favor of
their maintaining independence by their own means and the assistance of