CHAPTER XX.

Bush Advocate, Issue 351, 9 August 1890, Page 5

CHAPTER XX.

THE "SPANISH FUBY." In a very short time the countess and her daughter returned to tho room where Ned was await ing them. Each curried a hand-bag. " Wo are ready now," the countess said. " I have my jewels and purse. As for the tilings we leave behind, they are scarce worth tho taking by the Spaniards." j Locking the door of tho house behind thorn the three women accompanied Ned down to the river side. He took tho first boat that came to j hand and rowed them down to the fleet, which | was moored a quarter ot' a mile below the towu. He passed tho lirst ship or two, and then rowed ; to one with whose captain ho was acquainted, j " Captain Enkin," he oaid, " 1 have brought on board two ladies who have long been in hiding, waiting an opportunity of beiug taken to Holland— the Countess Yon Harp and her daughter. I i ear greatly that Antwerp will fall i to-day, and wi3h, therefore, to place them in \ safety before the fi^ht begins. Before sunset, unless 1 am mistaken, you will have a crowd of fugitives on board." " I am very pleased, madam," the captain said, bowing to the countess, " to receive you, and bog to hand over my cabin for your uae. The uame you bear is known to. all Dutchmen ; and even were it not bo, anyone introduced to me by my good friend Captain .Martin would be heaitily welcome. Are you going to return on shore?" he asked Ned. " Yes, 1 must do so," Ned replied. " I promised the governor to stand by him to the last ; and aa ho has scarce a soul on whom ho can rely, it is clearly my duty to do so. It is not for ma to shirk doiug my duty as long as I can, because I fear that the day will go against us." " You will have difficulty in getting off again if tho Spaniards onco enter the city," the captain said. "There will bo such a rash to tho boats that they will be swamped before they leave the shore."" " I have a, boat hidden away in which I hope to bring off the governor with me," Ned replied. "Ac to {myself, I can swim like a fish." " jtfind and get rid of your armour before you try it. All tli9 swimming in the world could not save you if you jumped in withali that steel mail on you." "I will bsar it in mind," Ned said. " Goodbyo, countess. Good-bye, Fraukin Gertrude. I tru9t to Bee you at uighfrf&li, if not before.'" " Thatisa very gallant young officer, "Ouptmn Enkin said aa the two Jadies sat watching Ned as he rowed to the shore. " You addressed him as Captain Martin ?'' the countess said. "Yes, ho has been a captain in the prince's Borvioe fully three years," tho sailor said ; " and fought nobly at Alfcmaar. at tho naval battleon the Zuider- Zee, and in the sea- light when wo irovc Ilomero's fleot back in Bergen. He «tand3 very high in the confidence of thopriuce, out 1 do not think he h in our servico now. He is often with the prince, but I believe he comes and gees between England and Holland, and is, men say, tho messenger by whom private amitnunicHxionK between the, Queen of England and the prince are chiefly carried," " Ho is young to have such confidence re--josed in him," the countess stiid. " Yes, he is young," Captain Enkin replied. " Not, I suppose, beyond eevtm ami eight and twenty. He was a captahi^ aud high in the prince's confidence when 1 iirsL knew Lini threeyears ago, so he must surely have been four und five and twenty then ; (induct, indeed, now yon speak of it, mothiuks ho is greatly bigger now than he was then. I do not think ho was much taller than I am, and how he tops me by nigh a head. But I muat surely be mistaken as to that, for the prince would ecarcoly place his confidence in a mere lad." The couHtcsa made no reply, though she exanged a quiet smile with her daughter. They ew that Ned could not bj.inuoh more than enty. Ho was, he had B.ikl, about three years older than Gertrade, and sho had passed seventeen but by a, few months. Ned, on returning to shore, tied up the boat, and then proceeded to tho palace ot the go ver--1 nor. A servant was holding a horao at the ; door. [ *' The governor ordered this horse to be ready | and saddled for you, sir, when you arrived, and begged you to join him at once in the marketplace, whero ho is telling oii tho troops to their various stations." Leaping on the horse, Nod rode to the ! market-place, and at once placed himself under [ orders ot tho governor. '♦ There is nothing much for you to do at present," Champagny said. " Tho troops are all iv their places, and wo are ready when they deliver the assault." It was not until II o'clock fh.it tho Spaniards advanced to tho attack— 3,ooo of them, under their Eletto, by the street of St. Michael ; tho remainder with the Germans, commanded by Romero, by that of St. George. No Boouer did ! tho compact masses approach tho barricades than the Walloons, who had been so loud in their boasts of valour, and had insisted upon having the post of danger, broke and fled, their commander, Havre, at their head; and tho Spaniards, springing over tho ramparte, poured into the streets. j " Fetch up the Germansfrom tho exchange !" ' Champagny Bkoutod to Ned ; aud leaping his 1 horse over a garden wall, ho himself rode to another station and brought up tho troops I there, and led them in person to bar the road to the enemy, trying in vain to rally the flying i Walloons. he met ou the way. JPor a few minutes the two parties of Germans made a brave stand ; but they wore unable to resist tho weight and number of the Spaniards, who bore them down by sheer force. Champagny had fought gallantly in tho mcli'e, and Ned, keeping closely beside him, had well seconded hie I efforts ; but when tho Germans were borne j down they rodo off, dashing through tho streets | and shouting to the burghers everywhere to j rise in defence of their homes. They answered to the appeal. Tho bodies already collected at tho exchange andcattlo market moved forward, and from every house tho men poured out. Tho Spanish columns had I already divided, and were pouring down the \ streets with savage cries. Tho German cavalry J of Havre under Van Eudo at once deserted, and joining the Spanish cavalry fell upon the townsmen. In vain the burghers and such of the German infantry as remained faithful strove to resist their assailants. Although they had been beaten off in their assaults upon breaches, the Spaniards had over proved themselves invincible on level ground ; and now, inspired alike by the fury for slaughter aud the lust for gold, there was no withstanding them. Bound the exchange some of the bravest defenders made a rally, and burghers and (Germans, mingled together, fought stoutly until they were all skun. There was another leng struggle round the town-hall, one of the most magnificent buildings in Europe ; and for a time the resistance

was effective, until the Spanish cavalry and the Germans under the traitor Van Eude charged down upon the defenders. Then they took refuge in.the buildings, and every house became a fortress, nnd from window and balcony a hot tiro was poured into the square. But now a large number of carnp-followors who had accompanied the Spaniards came up with torches, which had been specially prepared for firing the town, and in a short time the city hall and other edifices in the square were in flames. The fire spread rapidly from house to house and from street to street, until nearly a thousand buildings in the most splendid and wealthy portion of the city were in a blaze. In the street behind the town-hall a last stand was made. Here the Margrave of the city, the burgomasters, senators, soldiers, and citizens fought to the last, until not ono remained to wield a sword. When resistance had ceased the massacre began. Women, childron, and old men were killed in vast numbers, or driven into the river to drown there. Then the soldiers scattered on the work of plunder. The flames had already snatched treasures estimated at six millions from their grasp, but there was still abundance for all. The most horrible tortures were inflicted upon men, •women, and children to forco them to reveal thu hiding-places, where they were sup-' posed to havo concealed their wealth, and for three days a pandemonium reigned in the city. Two thousand five hundred had been slain, double that number burned and drowned. Thesß are tho lowest estimates, many placing tho killed at very much higher figures. Chatnpagny had fought very valiantly, joining any party of soldiers or citizens he saw making a defence. At last, when the townhall was in flames aud all hope was over, he said to Ned, who had kept throughout the day at bis side ; *' It is no use tiirowir.g away our lives. Let us cut our way out of tho city.'"' " I have a boU. lying in re.idiness at tho bridge," Ned said. *' If we can ouco reach the stairs wo can make our way oil" to the fleet." As (hey approached the river (hoy saw a Spanish column crossing the street ahead of" them. Putting spurs to their horses they galloped on at lull speed, and bursting into it heiveil their way through aud continued their j course, followed, however, by a number of the i S;>nni?h infantry. . I "These arc tho steps!" Ned exclaimed, leaping from his horse. Cijainpaßny followed hia example. Tho Spaniards were but twenty yards behind. v 111 yon pull on that rope attached to the ring a boat. lying under the. bridge will come to you," Ned said. " I will keep them back till you are ready." Ned turned and faced the Spaniards, and for two or three minutes kept, them at bay. His tumour was good, and though many blows struck him he was uninjured, while several of the Spaniards fell under his sweeping blows. They fell back for a moment, surprised' at his strength; anji at this instant tho governor called out that all was ready. Ned turned and rushed down the steps. The governor was already in tho bout. Ned leaped on board, and with a Btioke of his sword severed the hoad rope. Before the leading Spaniard reached the bottom oi the steps ths boat wae a length away. Ned seated himself, and seizing the oars rowed down the river. Several shots were fired at them from the bridge and wharves as they went, but they passed on uninjured. Ned rowed to the admiral's ship and left the governor there, and then rowed to that of Captain Enkin--41 Welcome back," the captain said heartily. " I had begun to fear that ill had befallen you. A few fugitives camo off at noon with the news that the Spaniards had entered the city and all was lost. Since then the roar of musketry, mingled with shouts and yolU, has been uucoasing, and that tremendous firo in the heart of the city told its own tale. For the last three hours the river has been full of floating corpses; and the countess and her daughter, who until then had remained on deck, retired to pray in thoir cabin. The number of fugitives who have reached the ship 3is very small. Doubtless they crowded into such boats as there were and sank them. At any rate, but few have made their way out, and those chiefly at the beginning of tho fight. Now we had best let the ladies know you are here, for they have been in the greatest anxiety about you." Nod went to the cabin door and knocked. 14 I have returned, countess." In a moment the door opened. "Welcome back, indeed, Captain Martin," she said. " We had begun to fear that we should never *ccc you again. Thankful indeed am I that you Jiave escaped through this terrible day. Aro *you u»huit ?" she asked, looking at his bruised and dented armour and at hia clothes, which were splashed with" blood. "I have a few trifling cuts," he replied, " but nothing worth speaking of. lam truly thankful, countess, that you aud your daughter put ofi with mo this morning." 41 Yes, indeed," tho countess 6iid. " I shudder when I think what would have happened had we been therein tho oi'y. What a terrible eight it isi" 41 Itis. indeed," Nod replied. The shades of night had now fallen, and over a vast spaco the fUmes were mounting high, and a pall of rod. smoke, interspersed with myriads of sparks and flakes of fire, hung over the captured city. Occasional discharges of guns were still heard, and the shrieks of women and the shouts of men rose in confused din. It was an immense relief to all on board when an hour later the admiral, fearing that the Spaniards might bring artillery to bear upon the fleet, ordered tho anchors to bo weighed, aud the fleet to drop down a few milca below the town. After taking off his armour, washing the blood from his wounds and having them bound up, and attiring himself in a suit l&nt him by ' the captain until ho should get to Delft, where he had left his valise, Ned partook of a good . meal, for he had takeu nothing but a monahet of bread and a cup of wino eiuco the previous night. Ho then went into the cabin aud spout tho evening in conversation with tho countess and her daughter, the latter of whom had changed since they had Just met to the full as much as lio had hmvjelf done. She had then been a girl of fouvieen — slim and somewhat tall for her age, ami looking pale and de'icale from the life of confinement and anxiety they had lod at Brussels, and thoir still greater anxiety at Maastricht. She was dow budding into womanhood. Her figure was lissom and (graceful, her face was thoughtful and intelligent, and gave promise of rare beauty in another year or two. Ho learned that they had remained for «. time in tho village to whicti they had first gone, and had then moved to another a few miles away, and had there lived quietly in a small house placed at their disposal by one of thoir f rioutlß. Here they had remained unmolested until two mouths before, when the oxcesoets committed throughout (he country by the mutinous soldiery rendered it unsafe for anyone to live outside tao wails of tho town. They then removed to Antwerp, whero there was far moro religious toinration than at Brussels ; und the countess had resumed her own name, though still living m complete retirement in tho house iv which Ned hud 60 fortunately found her. 41 Tho> tunes have altered with mo for the better," the countesa said. " The Spaniards have retired from that part of Friosland where come of my estates aro situated, and those; o whom Alvu granted them liavo bad to fly. 1 have a. Mthrul steward there, and since they havo left ho has collected the rents and baa remitted to me such portions as I required, fceuding ovoi tho wst to England to the charge of a banker there. As it may bo that tho Spaniards will again sweep over Friusland, where thoy still hold some of the principal towns, I thought it best, instead of having my money placed in Holland, where no ono cau foresee tho future, to send it to England, whore at least one can find t, refuge and a right to exercise, our religion." "I would that you would go there at once, countess ; for surely at present Holland is no place for two unprotected ladies. Nothing would give my mother greater pleasure than to receive you until you can find a suitable homo for yourselves. Aly sisters aro but little older than your daughter, a,nd would do all in their power to mako her at home. They, too, speak your la,uguago ? and there aro thousands of your compatriots in London." "What do you say, Gertrude ?" the countess asked. " But I know that your mind has been bo long made up that it is ncedloss to question you." " Yes, indeed, mother, I would gladly go away anywhere from here, whore for the last six years there has been nothing but war and bloodshed. If we could go back aud live in Friesland among our own peoplo in safoty and peace I should bo delighted to do bo, but this country is as strange to us as England would be. Our friends stand aloof from us, aud we are ever in fear either of persecution or murdor by tho Spanish soldiers. I should bo so glad to be away trom it all ; and, aa Captain Martin says, there aro so many of our own people in London, that it would scarce feel a strange land to us. " You havo said over and over agaiu that you would gladly go if you could get away, and now that wo can do no, surely it will be better and happier for us than to go on as wo have done. Of course it would be bettor in Holland than it has been here for tho last four yoars, becauso we should be amongst Protestants ; but we should be still exposed to tho dangers of invasion aud the horrors of sieges. ' * " It ia aa my daughter says, Captain Martin ; our thoughts have long been turning to 'ling-

laud as a refuge. In the early days of the troubles I had thought of France, where so mauy of our people went, but trinceSt. Bartholomew it has been but too evident tnat there is neither peace nor safety for those of the religion there, and that in England alone can wo hope to bo pormitted to worship unmolested. Therefore, now that the chance is open to us, we will not refuse it. Ido uot say that we will cross at once. We have many friends at ■Rr.tterdum and Delft, and the prince held ray husband in high esteem in tho happy days j before the troubles ; therefore 1 shall tarry there for a while, but it will bo for a time only. It will not be long before the Spanish again reeurae their war of conquest ; besides, wo are sick of the tales of horror that corae to us daily, and long for calm and trauquility, which we cannot hope to obtain in Holland. Had I a husband or brothers I would share their fato whatever it was, but being alone and unable to aid the cause in any way it would bo folly^ to continue here and endure trials and risks. You say that you corae backwards and forwards often, well then in two months we shall be ready to put ourselves under your protection and to Rail with you for England." Tho next morning the admiral despatched a ship to Rotterdam with the news of the fate of Antwerp, and Ned obtained a passage in her for -himself, the ladies, and servant, and on arriving at Rotterdam saw them bestowed in comfortable lodgings. He then, afteran interview with the prince, went on board a ship just leaving for England, and upon his arrival reported to the Minister, and afterwards to the queen herself, the- terrible massacre of which he had been a witness in Antwerp. The Spanish fury, as tho sack of Antwerp was termed, vastly enriched the soldiers, but did small benefit to tho causo of Spain. The attack was wanton and uuprovoked. Antwerp liad not risen in rebellion against Philip, but had been attacked solely ior tho sake of plunder ; and all Europo was chocked at the atrocities that had taken place, and the slaughter, which was even greater than the massacre in Paris on the eve of St. Bartholomew. Tho queen remonstrated in indignant terms, the feeling among the Protestants in Germany was equally .strong, and even in France public feeling condemned the i act. In the Netherlands the feeling of horror and indignation was uuiversal. The fate that had befallen Antwerp might be that of any other sister city. Everywhere petitions were signed in favour of 't.hra unity of all tho Netherlands under tho Prince of Orange. Philip's new governor, Don John, had reached tho Netherlands on the vory day o£ the sack of Antwerp^ and endeavoured to allay the storm of indignation it had excited by various concessions ; but the feeling of unity, and with it of strength, had grown so rapidly that the demands of the commissioners _ advanced in due proportion, and they insisted upon nothing lose than the restoration of their ancient constitution, tho right to manage their internal ail'airs, and the departure of all the' Spanish troops from the country. Don John parleyed and parried the demands, and months wore spent in unprofitable discussions, while all the timo ho was working secretly among the nobles of Brabant and Flaudors, who were little disposed to see with complacency the triumph of the democracy of the towns and tho establishment of religious toleration. Upon all other points Don John and his master were ready to yield. The Spanish troops were sent away to Italy, the Germans only being retained. The constitutional rights would all have been conceded, but on the questiou of religious tolerance Philip stood firm. At last, 6eeing that no agreement would ever bo arrived at, both parties a gain prepared for war. The Queen of England had lent £100,000 on the security of the cities, and the pause in hostilities during tho negotiations had not been altogether wasted in Holland. There had been a municipal insurrection in Amsterdam ; the magistrates devoted to Philip had been driven out, and to the great delight of Holland, Amsterdam, its capital, that had Ion" been a stronghold of tho enemy, a gate through which he could at will pour his forces, was restored to it. In Antwerp, and several other of tho cities of Brabant and Flaudors, the citizens razed the citadels by which they had been overawed ; men, women, and children uniting in the work, tearing down aud carrying away the stones of the fortresses that had worked them such ovil. Antwerp had at the departure of tho Spanish troops been again garrisoned by Germans who bad remained inactive during thio exhibition of the popular will. The I' rhico of Orange himself had paid a visit to the city, and had, at the invitation of Brussels, proceeded there, and had received an onthusiatic reception, aud for a time it seamed that the plans for which 80 many years ho had struggled were at. last to bo crownod with success. But his hopes were frustrated by the treachery of tlto nobles and the cjwardice of tho army the patroita had engajred in their service. Many of tho Spanish troops had been swrctly brought back again, aad Bon John was preparing for a renewal of tho war. Unknown to the Prince of Orange, numbers of the nobles had invited the Archduke Matthias, brother of tho Emperor Rudolph of Germany, to assumo the Government. Mathias, without consultation with his brother, accepted the invitation and journeyed privately to tho Netherlands. Had the Priuco of Orange declared against him he must at once have returned to Vienna, but this would have aroused the anger of tho Emperor and the whole of Germany. Had tho princo upon tho other hand abandoned the field and retired into Holland, ha would have played into the hands of his adversaries. Accordingly ho received Mathias at Antwerp with great state, and tho archduke was well satisfied to place himself in the hands of the most powerful man in the country. The prince's position was strengthened by tho queen instructing her Ministers to inform the envoy ol tho Netherlands that sho would be compelled to withdraw nil succour of tho States if the Prince of Orange was deprived of his leadership, as it was upon him alone that eho relied for success. The prince was thereupon appointed Ruward of Brabant, a position almost analogous to that* of dictator. Ghent, which was second only_ in importance to Antwerp, roaa almost immediately, turned out tho Catholic authorities, and d eddied iv favour of tho prince. Anew act of union was signed at Brussels, and the Estate- general passed a resolution declaring Don .1 ohn to be no longer governor or stadtholder of the Netherlands. Tho Princo of Orange was appointed lieutenant-general for M:iilnas, and the actual power of the latter was redm-ed to a nullity, but he was installed at Brussels with the greatest pomp and ceremony. Dou John, who had by this time collected an array of "20.000 veteran* at N.umur, and had been joined by the-Prinee of Parma, a general of jiTOiit vigour and ability, now marched aeramat the 'army of the Estates, of which tho command had been given to tlte nobles of the country in tho hope oi binding them firmly to the national, cause. The patriot army foil back before that of the Spaniards, but were Boon engaged by a small body ' of cavalry. Alexander of Parma camo up with ."oine 1, 200 horso, dashed boldly across a dangerous swamp, aud fell upon their Hunk. The Estates cavalry at ouco turned and fled, and Parma then fell upon tho infantry, aud in the course of an hour not ouly defeated but almost exterminated them, from 7,000 to 8,000 being killed, and GOO taken prisoners, tho latter being executed without mercy by Don John. Tho loss of tho Spaniards was only about ten men. This extraordinary disproportion oi : numbers, and tho fact that 1,200 men so easily defeated a force- ten times move numerous, completely .dashed to the ground tho hopes of tho ISothor-lan-.ls, and showed how utterly incapable woro its soldiers of' contending in the .Held with tho veterans of Spain. The battle was followed by the rapid reduction of a large number of towns, most of which surrendered without resistance as soon as the Spanish troops approached. In tho meantime tho Estates had asaombled another army, which was joined by ouo composed of rijOOO^Gormans under Duke Casimir. Both aruiios were rendered inactive by want of funds, and the situation was complicated by the entry of tho Duko Aleugoa, the brother of tho King of Franco, into tho Netherlands. Don John, tho hero of tho battle of L'?p rinto, who had shown himself on many batik iiolds to bo at once a great commander and a valiant 6oldicr, was proatrato by disease, brought on by voxation, partly at the difliciUtin3 ho had met with since his arrival iv tho Netherlands, partly at the neglect of Spain to furnish him with money with which ho could Bet his army, now numbering 30,000, in motiou, and sweep aside all resistance. At this critical moment hia malady increased, and after a week's illness he expired, just two years after his arrival in the Netherlands. Ho was succeeded at first temporarily and afterwards permanently by Alexander of Parma, alao a great commander, and possessing far greater resolution than hit) uufortunato predecessor. The two years had been spent by Edward Martin iv almost iuconsaut journoyings between London and the Netherlands. He now held, however, a position much superior to that which ho had formerly occupied. The qucon, after hearing from him his account of tho sack of Antwerp and hie eharo in the struggle, had said to the secretary, " I think it is only just

that wo should bestow upon Captain Martin some signal mark of our approbation at the manner in which he has for two years devoted himself to our service, and that without pay or reward, but solely from his loyalty to our person, and t'rom his good will towarda tho State. Ifneel, Captain Martin." The queen took the sword that "VValsinghain handed to her, and said, " Rise, Sir Edward Martin. You will draw out, Mr. Secretary, our new knight's appointment as our special envoy to the Prince of Orange ; and sec that he has proper appointments for such a post. His duties will, as before, be particular to myself and the prince, and will not clash in any way with those of our envoy at tho Hague." The delight of Ned's mother and sisters when he returned homo and informed them of the honour that the queen had been plenscd to bestow upon him was great indeed. His father said : " Well, Ned, I must congratulate you with the others ; though 1 had hoped to ir.ake a sailor of you. However, circumstances have been too nVuch for me. I own that you have been thrust into this work rather by fortune than design ; p.nd as it is so, I am heartily glnct that you have succeeded. It seems strange to mo that my boy should havo become Sir Edward Martin, an officer in the service of I lor. Majesty, and I say frankly that ji'st ;it present I would rather that it hud beon otherwise. But I suppose I .shall ;, p <;t accustomed to it in time, and asmnv.-dly none but myself will doubt for a moment Ilia fc you have gained greatly by all this honour and dignity." Queen Elizabeth, although in some reminds parsimonious in the extreme, was Jilwral Ti> her favourites, and the new-made knight stood high in her liking. Slio loved to have jjood-lookiug ' men about her ; and, without bein<j siotually I handsome, Ned Martin, with his height and breadth of shoulder, his easy -and upright car--1 riago, hie frank, open face and sunny sniile was pleasant to look upon. Ho had sowed Her Excellency for two years, had asked for no euch rewards or favours, but h:ul borne himself modestly, and been com lent to wait. Therefore tho queen was pleased to order her Treasurer to issue a commission to Sir Edward Martin, as Her M::.je-ly\s special envoy to the Prince of Orange, wifheiidi , appointment as would enable him htui'l.-wm-ly to supjwrt his now dignity and his position as her representative. Even Captain Martin was now bound to confess that Ned had gained profit as well as honour. He did indeed warn his sou not to place too much confidence in princes ; but Ned replied : *' I do not think the queen is fickle in her likes and dislikes, father. But I rely not upon this but on doing my duty to the State- tor further employment. I have had extraordinary good fortune, too ; and have, without any merit Eave that of always doing my best, mounted step by step from the deck of the Good Vouture to knighthood ;md employment by the State. The war appears to me to be as far from coming to an end as it did six years ago; ami if I continue to acquit myself to the satisfaction of tho Lord Treasurer and Council, I hope that at its conclusion I may be employed upon such further work as I am fitted for." " You speak rightly, Ned ; and I am wrong to feel anxiety about your future when you have already done so well. And now, Nod, you had best go into tho city and order from some tailor who supplies tho Court such suits as are fitting to your new rank. The queen loves brave dresses and bright colours, and you must cut as good a figure as the rest. You have been somewhat of an expenso to me these last two years ; but that is over now, and I can well afford the additional outlay to start, you worthily. What was good enough for Captain Martin is not good enough for Sir Edward Martin ; therefore stint not expense in any way. I should not like that you should not hold your own with the young fops of the Court." It was well that Ned had provided himself with a new outfit, for he was not sent abroad again for more than a month, and during that time he was almost daily at Court, receiving from tho Royal chamberlain a notification that the queen uxpeefcod to Bee him at all entertainments. At the first of these Lord Walniiigham introduced him to many of the young nobles of the Court, speaking very highly of the services he had rendered ; and as the queen was pleased to speak often to him and to show him marked favour, he was exceedingly well received, and soon found himself at his ease. Ho was, nevertheless, glad when the ordor came for him to proceed again to Holland with messages to the Prince of Orange. Upon his au-ival there he was warmly congratulated by the priuce. " You have well earned your rank,'" tho prince said. " I take some pride to myself in : having co soon discovered that you had good stuff in you. There are some friends of yours here who will be glad to hear o£ tho honour that has befallen you. The Countess Von Hurp and her daughter have been here for the last six weeks. I have scon them several times, and upon each occasion they spoke to me of their gratitude for the services you have rendered them. One of my p;»ge3 will show you where they are lodging. They are about to proceed to !'!i<-];u>d, and I think their decision is a wise one, for this country is at present no place ior unprotected women." The countess and her daughter were alike surprised and pleased when Ned was announced a? Sir Edward Martin. And when, a fortnight later, Nod Bailed for Eoglnnd, they took paes igo in i.he samo ship. Ned had sent , word to his mother by a vessel that sailed v week previously that they would .n-rlve with him, and the best room in tiio i house had been got in rending for i them, and they received a henrty ivcl- ; come from Ned's parents and sisters, i They stayed a fortnight thero arid then i established themselves in a pretty little house in tho village of Dulwich. One of Netf'e. sisters ■ accompanied them lo stay for a time as (ier- '_ trwle's friend and companion. Whenever Ned retuniod homo he w;u» a frequent visitor at Dulwich, and at tbe end of two • years his sisters were delighted but not (surprised when lio returned one day and told them that Gertrude Von Harp had accepted him. Tho marriage whs not to tak« place for ■ a time; for Ned was still young, and tho countess thought it had best bo delayed. She was now receiving a re:inl:ir in- ; come from her estates ; for it had Iwun v time of comparative peace iv Holland, ar.d Ihut country was increasing fastiu wealth and prosperity. Alexander of Parma hud by means of his agents corrupted the greater part ot tho r.obility of Flanders and Brabant, hau liiiil sie^e to Maastricht, and, alter a defence even laoro gallant and desperate than that oi Haarlem, and several terrible repulses of Ids soldiers, bad .captured tho cit.y and put the greater part of its inhabitan'.s— men and women — to tho sword, Ai'fcur v;un cntreuties to Rr.«:»WftJ» to iwstur.e lha sovereignty of thn Notharlanda, this had been j offered to the Duke of Aujou, brother of the King of France. Tho choice appeared to be a politic one, for Anjou wus at the tune the all but accepted suitor o£ Queen Elkabcth, and it was thought that tho choico would unite both powers in ' defence of Holland. The duke, however, speedily proved his incapacity. Irritated sit the smallncßS of the authority granted him, and ! tho independent attitude? of tho great towjio, he attempted to capture them by force. 310 was successful in soveral plai-es ; but at Antwerp, where the French thought to roj-eat the Spanish success and sack tho city, the burghers gathered so strongly and fiercely that tho rYimch troops employed were for tho most part, lulled, those who survived being ignonriniously taken prisoners. Anjou retired with his army, losing f^large number o/ men on his retreat by the burnt iug of a dyke and the Hooding of the countiy. 13y this time tho Priucc of Orange hud accepted 'he soveignty of Holland and Zealand, which was now completely separated from tho rest of tho Netherlands. Aftui 1 the flight of Anjou he received many invitations from the othwr provinces to accept t hair sovereignty; bur. unsteadily refused, having no personal ambition, and knowing well that no roHaneo whatever could be placwl upon the nobles of Brabant and" I'landors, (TO UK CONTINUED.)