“Under favor, my liege,” remarks Cecil, “you said to munition and arm the Gueux well and thoroughly. I have done so. The more powder I give them, the more ball I give them, the harder it will be for your friend of Alva.” “Very well,” answers Her Majesty, “this I forgive you if you gave a good wholesome dinner and plenty of strong wine to those poor famishing officers of the Gueux, Van Tresslong and Lord de la Mark.” “Your Majesty’s orders in that respect were obeyed also,” replies Burleigh. “They had every delicacy of the season and wine of finest vintage. Oho! I can see them eat now. No such assault was ever made on provender and wassail since the time of giant Glutton himself. Your Majesty will know how they ate by the bill that is already with your treasurer.” “The bill with my treasurer!” screams Elizabeth. “Out upon you for a miserable, thieving knave! Burleigh, you’re robbing me; robbing your sovereign, you vile caitiff traitor—and my gear women and millinery scores still due and unpaid. Look to your weazened head if the Gueux win not victory over Alva!” And with these words the Queen of England strides from the room in anger and dismay. CHAPTER X. THE SECRET OF THE STATUE. This matter of ammunition delays Guy in England several days. But the fleet little Dover Lass soon makes the trip to the Netherlands, carrying every inch of canvas she can show, and early in April Chester finds himself once more off the mouth of the Schelde, and sighting the town of Flushing is astounded but delighted to see the yellow, white and blue flag of Orange floating over the place. “Zounds!” he cries to his first lieutenant, “the Gueux have landed and taken Flushing! There are two vessels sailing in with the flag of Orange at their peaks. Overhaul them and get me the news, Dalton.” In the course of half an hour the Dover Lass comes alongside the vessels that are commanded by Captain De Ryk of Amsterdam. From him he learns that the Gueux have not only taken Flushing, but have taken Briel, a strongly fortified town upon the island of Voorne, where the Rhine estuary reaches the German ocean. Their success has been the spark to illuminate the patriotism of Holland and the Netherlands. Town after town is declaring for the Prince of Orange as the Staatholder of Philip Second, and against Alva, for curiously enough, such was the respect with which royalty was regarded at that time that Orange still announced himself as the vassal of the Spanish crown, though fighting against its sovereign with all his might of arm and strength of brain. Curiously enough also the two vessels of De Ryk, having left England somewhat later than the rest of the Gueux, have on board five hundred stout English volunteers, who greet Guy with shouts of Saxon welcome. For Burleigh, pondering upon Elizabeth’s remarks, is anxious for his weazened head, and is now giving every aid in his power to this raid of the Beggars of the Sea.