There is at Penshurst, among many other interesting memorials of the
Dudleys, an original portrait of Elizabeth's Earl of Leicester, with the
following painted upon it: "Robert, E. of Leicester, Stadtholder of
Holland, A.D. 1585." After this comes the ragged staff, but without its
usual accompaniment, the bear. Under the staff follow these enigmatical
lines, which I request any of your correspondents to translate and explain.
I send you a translation in rhyme; I should thank them the more if they
would do the same: as to explanation, the longer the better.
"Principis hic Baculus, patriae columenque, decusque,
Hoc uno, ingratos quo beet, ipse miser."
This ragged staff by Leicester's potent hand,
Brought succour, safety, to this threaten'd land:
One thing alone embitters every thought,
He to ungrateful men these blessings brought.
Now for a word of commentary: and first as to "Stadtholder of Holland, A.D.
1585." The good woman who showed the picture informed us that it was
painted by order of the stadtholder, and presented to Leicester; if so,
there would have been a _jussu provinciarum foederatarum depictus_, or
something of that sort; but no such compliment was to be expected from the
Dutch, for they hated him, complained of his conduct, memorialised the
queen against him: see the pamphlets in the British Museum, 4to. 1587, C.
32. a. 2. But though it was most unlikely that the Dutch or their
stadtholder should have presented this picture to Leicester, it well
accorded with Leicester's vanity and presumption, and still more with that
vanity and presumption as displayed in his conduct as commander-in-chief of
the forces in Holland, to call himself _The Stadtholder_, and to order his
painter to put that title under his portrait.
The verses may now be referred to in support of this view of the subject.
Leicester therein represents himself as unhappy, because he had bestowed
blessings on the ungrateful Dutch.
In conclusion, take the following full-length portrait of Leicester's
indignation (_Leicester, a Belgis vituperatus, loquitur_):
"This ragged staff my resolution shows,
To save my Queen and Holland from their foes:
Still deeply seated in my heart remains
One cause, one fruitful cause, of all my pains;
'Tis base ingratitude--'tis Holland's hate.
My presence sav'd that country, chang'd its fate.
But the base pedlars gain'd my sov'reign's ear,
And at my counsels and my courage sneer;
They call me tyrant, breaker of my word,
Fond of a warrior's garb without his sword.
A servile courtier, saucy cavalier,
Bold as a lion when no danger's near,
They say I seek their country for myself,
To fill my bursting bags with plunder'd pelf;
They say with goose's, not with eagle's wing,
I wish to soar, and make myself a king.
Dutchmen! to you I came, I saw, I sav'd:
Where'er my staff, my bear, my banner wav'd,
The daunted Spaniard fled without a blow,
And bloodless chaplets crown'd my conquering brow.
Dutchmen! with minds more stagnant than your pools,
(But in reproachful words more knaves than fools),
You will not see, nor own the debt you owe
To him who conquers a retreating foe.
Such base ingratitude as this alloys
My triumph's glory, and my bosom's joys."