CHAPTER XVIII. Part 2. Dangerous Discord in North Holland--Leicester's Resignation arrives --Enmity of Willoughby and Maurice--Willoughby's dark Picture of Affairs--Hatred between States and Leicestrians--Maurice's Answer to the Queen's Charges--End of Sonoy's Rebellion--Philip foments the Civil War in France--League's Threats and Plots against Henry--Mucio arrives in Paris--He is received with Enthusiasm--The King flies, and Spain triumphs in Paris--States expostulate with the Queen-- English Statesmen still deceived--Deputies from Netherland Churches --Hold Conference with the Queen--And present long Memorials--More Conversations with the Queen--National Spirit of England and Holland--Dissatisfaction with Queen's Course--Bitter Complaints of Lord Howard--Want of Preparation in Army and Navy--Sanguine Statements of Leicester--Activity of Parma--The painful Suspense continues.But it is necessary-in order to obtain a complete picture of that famousyear 1588, and to understand the cause from which such great events werespringing--to cast a glance at the internal politics of the States mostinvolved in Philip's meshes.Certainly, if there had ever been a time when the new commonwealth of theNetherlands should be both united in itself and on thoroughly friendlyterms with England, it was exactly that epoch of which we are treating.There could be no reasonable doubt that the designs of Spain againstEngland were hostile, and against Holland revengeful. It was at leastpossible that Philip meant to undertake the conquest of England, and toundertake it as a stepping-stone to the conquest of Holland. Both thekingdom and the republic should have been alert, armed, full of suspiciontowards the common foe, full of confidence in each other. What decisiveblows might have been struck against Parma in the Netherlands, when histroops were starving, sickly, and mutinous, if the Hollanders and