"At length, wearied by their importunity, moved with their reasons, and

compelled by necessity, he thought it better to take the course he did,"

proceeded the diplomatist, "for otherwise he must have been an

eye-witness of the dismemberment of the whole country, which could not be

kept together but by a reposed hope in her Majesty's found favour, which

had been utterly despaired of by his refusal. He thought it better by

accepting to increase the honour, profit; and surety, of her Majesty, and

the good of the cause, than, by refusing, to utterly hazard the one, and

overthrow the other."

To all this and more, well and warmly urged by Davison; the Queen

listened by fits and starts, often interrupting his discourse by violent

abuse of Leicester, accusing him of contempt for her, charging him with

thinking more of his own particular greatness than of her honour and

service, and then "digressing into old griefs," said the envoy, "too long

and tedious to write." She vehemently denounced Davison also for

dereliction of duty in not opposing the measure; but he manfully declared

that he never deemed so meanly of her Majesty or of his Lordship as to

suppose that she would send him, or that he would go to the Provinces,

merely, "to take command of the relics of Mr. Norris's worn and decayed

troops." Such a change, protested Davison, was utterly unworthy a person

of the Earl's quality, and utterly unsuited to the necessity of the time

and state.

But Davison went farther in defence of Leicester. He had been present at

many of the conferences with the Netherland envoys during the preceding

summer in England, and he now told the Queen stoutly to her face that she

herself, or at any rate one of her chief counsellors, in her hearing and

his, had expressed her royal determination not to prevent the acceptance

of whatever authority the states might choose to confer, by any one whom

she might choose to send. She had declined to accept it in person, but

she had been willing that it should be wielded by her deputy; and this

remembrance of his had been confirmed by that of one of the commissioners

since their return. She had never--Davison maintained--sent him one

single line having any bearing on the subject. Under such circumstances,

"I might have been accused of madness,", said he, "to have dissuaded an

action in my poor opinion so necessary and expedient for your Majesty's

honour, surety, and greatness." If it were to do over again, he avowed,

and "were his opinion demanded, he could give no other advice than that

which he had given, having received no contrary, commandment from her

Highness."

And so ended the first evening's long and vehement debate, and Davison

departed, "leaving her," as he said, "much qualified, though in many

points unsatisfied." She had however, absolutely refused to receive a

letter from Leicester, with which he had been charged, but which, in her

opinion, had better have been written two months before.

The next day, it seemed, after all, that Heneage was to be despatched,

"in great heat," upon his mission. Davison accordingly requested an

immediate audience. So soon as admitted to the presence he burst into

tears, and implored the Queen to pause before she should inflict the

contemplated disgrace on one whom she had hitherto so highly esteemed,

and, by so doing, dishonour herself and imperil both countries. But the

Queen was more furious than ever that morning, returning at every pause

in the envoy's discourse to harp upon the one string--"How dared he come

to such a decision without at least imparting it to me?"--and so on, as

so many times before. And again Davison, with all the eloquence and with

every soothing art he had at command; essayed to pour oil upon the waves.

Nor was he entirely unsuccessful; for presently the Queen became so calm

again that he ventured once more to present the rejected letter of the

Earl. She broke the seal, and at sight of the well-known handwriting she

became still more gentle; and so soon as she had read the first of her

favourite's honied phrases she thrust the precious document into her

pocket, in order to read it afterwards, as Davison observed, at her

leisure.

The opening thus successfully made, and the envoy having thus, "by many

insinuations," prepared her to lend him a "more patient and willing ear

than she had vouchsafed before," he again entered into a skilful and

impassioned argument to show the entire wisdom of the course pursued by

the Earl.

It is unnecessary to repeat the conversation. Since to say that no man

could have more eloquently and faithfully supported an absent friend

under difficulties than Davison now defended the Earl. The line of

argument is already familiar to the reader, and, in truth, the Queen had

nothing to reply, save to insist upon the governor's delinquency in

maintaining so long and inexplicable a silence. And--at this thought, in

spite of the envoy's eloquence, she went off again in a paroxysm of

anger, abusing the Earl, and deeply censuring Davison for his "peremptory

and partial dealing."

"I had conceived a better opinion of you," she said, "and I had intended

more good to you than I now find you worthy of."

"I humbly thank your Highness," replied the ambassador, "but I take

yourself to witness that I have never affected or sought any such grace

at your hands. And if your Majesty persists in the dangerous course on

which you are now entering, I only pray your leave, in recompense for all

my travails, to retire myself home, where I may spend the rest of my life

in praying for you, whom Salvation itself is not able to save, if these

purposes are continued. Henceforth, Madam, he is to be deemed happiest

who is least interested in the public service."

And so ended the second day's debate. The next day the Lord-Treasurer,

who, according to Davison, employed himself diligently--as did also

Walsingham and Hatton--in dissuading the Queen from the violent measures

which she had resolved upon, effected so much of a change as to procure

the insertion of those qualifying clauses in Heneage's instructions which

had been previously disallowed. The open and public disgrace of the Earl,

which was to have been peremptorily demanded, was now to be deferred, if

such a measure seemed detrimental to the public service. Her Majesty,

however, protested herself as deeply offended as ever, although she had

consented to address a brief, somewhat mysterious, but benignant letter

of compliment to the States.

Soon after this Davison retired for a few days from the court, having

previously written to the Earl that "the heat of her Majesty's offence to

his Lordship was abating every day somewhat, and that she was disposed

both to hear and to speak more temperately of him."

He implored him accordingly to a "more diligent entertaining of her by

wise letters and messages, wherein his slackness hitherto appeared to

have bred a great part of this unkindness." He observed also that the

"traffic of peace was still going on underhand; but whether to use it as

a second string to our bow, if the first should fail, or of any settled

inclination thereunto, he could not affirm."

Meantime Sir Thomas Heneage was despatched on his mission to the Staten,

despite all the arguments and expostulations of Walsingham, Burghley,

Hatton, and Davison. All the Queen's counsellors were unequivocally in

favour of sustaining Leicester; and Heneage was not a little embarrassed

as to the proper method of conducting the affair. Everything, in truth,

was in a most confused condition. He hardly understood to what power he

was accredited. "Heneage writes even now unto me," said Walsingham to

Davison, "that he cannot yet receive any information who be the States,

which he thinketh will be a great maimer unto him in his negotiation. I

have told him that it is an assembly much like that of our burgesses that

represent the State, and that my Lord of Leicester may cause some of them

to meet together, unto whom he may deliver his letters and messages."

Thus the new envoy was to request the culprit to summon the very assembly

by which his downfall and disgrace were to be solemnized, as formally as

had been so recently his elevation to the height of power. The prospect

was not an agreeable one, and the less so because of his general want of

familiarity with the constitutional forms of the country he was about to

visit. Davison accordingly, at the request of Sir Francis, furnished

Heneage with much valuable information and advice upon the subject.

Thus provided with information, forewarned of danger, furnished with a

double set of letters from the Queen to the States--the first expressed

in language of extreme exasperation, the others couched in almost

affectionate terms--and laden with messages brimfull of wrathful

denunciation from her Majesty to one who was notoriously her Majesty's

dearly-beloved, Sir Thomas Heneage set forth on his mission. These were

perilous times for the Davisons and the Heneages, when even Leicesters

and Burghleys were scarcely secure.

Meantime the fair weather at court could not be depended upon from one

day to another, and the clouds were perpetually returning after the rain.

"Since my second and third day's audience," said Davison, "the storms I

met with at my arrival have overblown and abated daily. On Saturday again

she fell into some new heat, which lasted not long. This day I was myself

at the court, and found her in reasonable good terms, though she will not

yet seem satisfied to me either with the matter or manner of your

proceeding, notwithstanding all the labour I have taken in that behalf.

Yet I find not her Majesty altogether so sharp as some men look, though

her favour has outwardly cooled in respect both of this action and of our

plain proceeding with her here in defence thereof."

The poor Countess--whose imaginary exodus, with the long procession of

coaches and side-saddles, had excited so much ire--found herself in a

most distressing position. "I have not seen my Lady these ten or twelve

days," said Davison. "To-morrow I hope to do my duty towards her. I found

her greatly troubled with tempestuous news she received from court, but

somewhat comforted when she understood how I had proceeded with her

Majesty . . . . But these passions overblown, I hope her Majesty will

have a gracious regard both towards myself and the cause."

But the passions seemed not likely to blow over so soon as was desirable.

Leicester's brother the Earl of Warwick took a most gloomy view of the

whole transaction, and hoarser than the raven's was his boding tone.

"Well, our mistress's extreme rage doth increase rather than diminish,"

he wrote, "and she giveth out great threatening words against you.

Therefore make the best assurance you can for yourself, and trust not her

oath, for that her malice is great and unquenchable in the wisest of

their opinions here, and as for other friendships, as far as I can learn,

it is as doubtful as the other. Wherefore, my good brother, repose your

whole trust in God, and He will defend you in despite of all your

enemies. And let this be a great comfort to you, and so it is likewise to

myself and all your assured friends, and that is, that you were never so

honoured and loved in your life amongst all good people as you are at

this day, only for dealing so nobly and wisely in this action as you have

done; so that, whatsoever cometh of it, you have done your part. I praise

God from my heart for it. Once again, have great care of yourself, I mean

for your safety, and if she will needs revoke you, to the overthrowing of

the cause, if I were as you, if I could not be assured there, I would go

to the farthest part of Christendom rather than ever come into England

again. Take heed whom you trust, for that you have some false boys about

you."

And the false boys were busy enough, and seemed likely to triumph in the

result of their schemes. For a glance into the secret correspondence of

Mary of Scotland has already revealed the Earl to us constantly

surrounded by men in masks. Many of those nearest his person, and of

highest credit out of England, were his deadly foes, sworn to compass his

dishonour, his confusion, and eventually his death, and in correspondence

with his most powerful adversaries at home and abroad. Certainly his path

was slippery and perilous along those icy summits of power, and he had

need to look well to his footsteps.

Before Heneage had arrived in the Netherlands, Sir Thomas Shirley,

despatched by Leicester to England with a commission to procure supplies

for the famishing soldiers, and, if possible, to mitigate the Queen's

wrath, had, been admitted more than once to her Majesty's presence. He

had fought the Earl's battle as manfully as Davison had done, and, like

that envoy, had received nothing in exchange for his plausible arguments

but bitter words and big oaths. Eight days after his arrival he was

introduced by Hatton into the privy chamber, and at the moment of his

entrance was received with a volley of execrations.

"I did expressly and peremptorily forbid his acceptance of the absolute

government, in the hearing of divers of my council," said the Queen.

Shirley.--"The necessity of the case was imminent, your Highness. It was

his Lordship's intent to do all for your Majesty's service. Those

countries did expect him as a governor at his first landing, and the

States durst do no other than satisfy the people also with that opinion.

The people's mislike of their present government is such and so great as

that the name of States is grown odious amongst them. Therefore the

States, doubting the furious rage of the people, conferred the authority

upon his Lordship with incessant suit to him to receive it.

Notwithstanding this, however, he did deny it until he saw plainly both

confusion and ruin of that country if he should refuse. On the other

hand, when he had seen into their estates, his lordship found great

profit and commodity like to come unto your Majesty by your acceptance of

it. Your Highness may now have garrisons of English in as many towns as

pleaseth you, without any more charge than you are now at. Nor can any

peace be made with Spain at any time hereafter, but through you: and by

you. Your Majesty should remember, likewise, that if a man of another

nation had been chosen governor it might have wrought great danger.

Moreover it would have been an indignity that your lieutenant-general

should of necessity be under him that so should have been elected.

Finally, this is a stop to any other that may affect the place of

government there."

Queen (who has manifested many signs of impatience during this

discourse).--"Your speech is all in vain. His Lordship's proceeding is

sufficient to make me infamous to all princes, having protested the

contrary, as I have done, in a book which is translated into divers and

sundry languages. His Lordship, being my servant, a creature of my own,

ought not, in duty towards me, have entered into this course without my

knowledge and good allowance."

Shirley.--"But the world hath conceived a high judgment of your Majesty's

great wisdom and providence; shown by your assailing the King of Spain at

one time both in the Low Countries and also by Sir Francis Drake. I do

assure myself that the same judgment which did first cause you to take

this in hand must continue a certain knowledge in your Majesty that one

of these actions must needs stand much better by the other. If Sir

Frances do prosper, then all is well. And though he should not prosper,

yet this hold that his Lordship hath taken for you on the Low Countries

must always assure an honourable peace at your Highness's pleasure. I

beseech your Majesty to remember that to the King of Spain the government

of his Lordship is no greater matter than if he were but your

lieutenant-general there; but the voyage of Sir Francis is of much

greater offence than all."

Queen (interrupting).--"I can very well answer for Sir Francis. Moreover,

if need be, the gentleman careth not if I should disavow him."

Shirley.--"Even so standeth my Lord, if your disavowing of him may also

stand with your Highness's favour towards him. Nevertheless; should this

bruit of your mislike of his Lordship's authority there come unto the

ears of those people; being a nation both sudden and suspicious, and

having been heretofore used to stratagem--I fear it may work some strange

notion in them, considering that, at this time, there is an increase of

taxation raised upon them, the bestowing whereof perchance they know not

of. His Lordship's giving; up of the government may leave them altogether

without government, and in worse case than they were ever in before. For

now the authority of the States is dissolved, and his Lordship's

government is the only thing that holdeth them together. I do beseech

your Highness, then, to consider well of it, and if there be any private

cause for which you take grief against his Lordship, nevertheless, to

have regard unto the public cause, and to have a care of your own safety,

which in many wise men's opinions, standeth much upon the good

maintenance and upholding of this matter."

Queen.--"I believe nothing of, what you say concerning the dissolving of

the authority of the States. I know well enough that the States do remain

states still. I mean not to do harm to the cause, but only to reform that

which his Lordship hath done beyond his warrant from me."

And with this the Queen swept suddenly from the apartment. Sir Thomas, at

different stages of the conversation, had in vain besought her to accept

a letter from the Earl which had been entrusted to his care. She

obstinately refused to touch it. Shirley had even had recourse to

stratagem: affecting ignorance on many points concerning which the Queen

desired information, and suggesting that doubtless she would find those

matters fully explained in his Lordship's letter. The artifice was in

vain, and the discussion was, on the whole, unsatisfactory. Yet there is

no doubt that the Queen had had the worst of the argument, and she was

far too sagacious a politician not to feel the weight of that which had

been urged so often in defence of the course pursued. But it was with her

partly a matter of temper and offended pride, perhaps even of wounded

affection.

On the following morning Shirley saw the Queen walking in the garden of

the palace, and made bold to accost her. Thinking, as he said, "to test

her affection to Lord Leicester by another means," the artful Sir Thomas

stepped up to her, and observed that his Lordship was seriously ill. "It

is feared," he said, "that the Earl is again attacked by the disease of

which Dr. Goodrowse did once cure him. Wherefore his Lordship is now a

humble suitor to your Highness that it would please you to spare

Goodrowse, and give him leave to go thither for some time."

The Queen was instantly touched.

"Certainly--with all my heart, with all my heart, he shall have him," she

replied, "and sorry I am that his Lordship hath that need of him."

"And indeed," returned sly Sir Thomas, "your Highness is a very gracious

prince, who are pleased not to suffer his Lordship to perish in health,

though otherwise you remain deeply offended with him."

"You know my mind," returned Elizabeth, now all the queen again, and

perhaps suspecting the trick; "I may not endure that any man should alter

my commission and the authority that I gave him, upon his own fancies and

without me."

With this she instantly summoned one of her gentlemen, in order to break

off the interview, fearing that Shirley was about to enter again upon a

discussion of the whole subject, and again to attempt the delivery of the

Earl's letter.

In all this there was much of superannuated coquetry, no doubt, and much

of Tudor despotism, but there was also a strong infusion of artifice. For

it will soon be necessary to direct attention to certain secret

transactions of an important nature in which the Queen was engaged, and

which were even hidden from the all-seeing eye of Walsingham--although

shrewdly suspected both by that statesman and by Leicester--but which

were most influential in modifying her policy at that moment towards the

Netherlands.

There could be no doubt, however, of the stanch and strenuous manner in

which the delinquent Earl was supported by his confidential messengers

and by some of his fellow-councillors. His true friends were urgent that

the great cause in which he was engaged should be forwarded sincerely and

without delay. Shirley had been sent for money; but to draw money from

Elizabeth was like coining her life-blood, drachma by drachma.

"Your Lordship is like to have but a poor supply of money at this time,"

said Sir Thomas. "To be plain with you, I fear she groweth weary of the

charge, and will hardly be brought to deal thoroughly in the action."

He was also more explicit than he might have been--had he been better

informed as to the disposition of the chief personages of the court,

concerning whose temper the absent Earl was naturally anxious. Hatton was

most in favour at the moment, and it was through Hatton that the

communications upon Netherland matters passed; "for," said Shirley, "she

will hardly endure Mr. Secretary (Walsingham) to speak unto her therein."

"And truly, my Lord," he continued, "as Mr. Secretary is a noble, good,

and true friend unto you, so doth Mr. Vice-Chamberlain show himself an

honourable, true, and faithful gentleman, and doth carefully and most

like a good friend for your Lordship."

And thus very succinctly and graphically had the envoy painted the

situation to his principal. "Your Lordship now sees things just as they

stand," he moralized. "Your Lordship is exceeding wise. You know the

Queen and her nature best of any man. You know all men here. Your

Lordship can judge the sequel by this that you see: only this I must tell

your Lordship, I perceive that fears and doubts from thence are like to

work better effects here than comforts and assurance. I think it my part

to send your Lordship this as it is, rather than to be silent."

And with these rather ominous insinuations the envoy concluded for the

time his narrative.

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

Intolerable tendency to puns

New Years Day in England, 11th January by the New Style

Peace and quietness is brought into a most dangerous estate

HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS

From the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce--1609

By John Lothrop Motley

History United Netherlands, Volume 45, 1586

CHAPTER VII., Part 2.

Leicester's Letters to his Friends--Paltry Conduct of the Earl to

Davison--He excuses himself at Davison's Expense--His Letter to

Burghley--Effect of the Queen's Letters to the States--Suspicion and

Discontent in Holland--States excuse their Conduct to the Queen--

Leicester discredited in Holland--Evil Consequences to Holland and

England--Magic: Effect of a Letter from Leicester--The Queen

appeased--Her Letters to the States and the Earl--She permits the

granted Authority----Unhappy Results of the Queen's Course--Her

variable Moods--She attempts to deceive Walsingham--Her Injustice to

Heneage--His Perplexity and Distress--Humiliating Position of

Leicester--His melancholy Letters to the Queen--He receives a little

Consolation--And writes more cheerfully--The Queen is more

benignant--The States less contented than the Earl--His Quarrels

with them begin.

While these storms were blowing and "overblowing" in England, Leicester

remained greatly embarrassed and anxious in Holland. He had sown the wind

more extensively than he had dreamed of when accepting the government,

and he was now awaiting, with much trepidation, the usual harvest: And we

have seen that it was rapidly ripening. Meantime, the good which he had

really effected in the Provinces by the course he had taken was likely to

be neutralized by the sinister rumours as to his impending disgrace,

while the enemy was proportionally encouraged. "I understand credibly,"

he said, "that the Prince of Parma feels himself in great jollity that

her Majesty doth rather mislike than allow of our doings here, which; if

it be true, let her be sure her own sweet self shall first smart."

Moreover; the English troops were, as we have seen, mere shoeless,

shivering, starving vagabonds. The Earl had generously advanced very

large sums of money from his own pocket to relieve their necessity. The

States, on the other hand, had voluntarily increased the monthly

contribution of 200,000 florins, to which their contract with Elizabeth

obliged them, and were more disposed than ever they had been since the

death of Orange to proceed vigorously and harmoniously against the common

enemy of Christendom. Under such circumstances it may well be imagined

that there was cause on Leicester's part for deep mortification at the

tragical turn which the Queen's temper seemed to be taking.

"I know not," he said, "how her Majesty doth mean to dispose of me. It

hath grieved me more than I can express that for faithful and good

service she should so deeply conceive against me. God knows with what

mind I have served her Highness, and perhaps some others might have

failed. Yet she is neither tied one jot by covenant or promise by me in

any way, nor at one groat the more charges, but myself two or three

thousand pounds sterling more than now is like to be well spent. I will

desire no partial speech in my favour. If my doings be ill for her

Majesty and the realm, let me feel the smart of it. The cause is now well

forward; let not her majesty suffer it to quail. If you will have it

proceed to good effect, send away Sir William Pelham with all the haste

you can. I mean not to complain, but with so weighty a cause as this is,

few men have been so weakly assisted. Her Majesty hath far better choice

for my place, and with any that may succeed me let Sir William Pelham be

first that may come. I speak from my soul for her Majesty's service. I am

for myself upon an hour's warning to obey her good pleasure."

Thus far the Earl had maintained his dignity. He had yielded to the

solicitations of the States, and had thereby exceeded his commission, and

gratified his ambition, but he had in no wise forfeited his self-respect.

But--so soon as the first unquestionable intelligence of the passion to

which the Queen had given way at his misdoings reached him--he began to

whimper, The straightforward tone which Davison had adopted in his

interviews with Elizabeth, and the firmness with which he had defended

the cause of his absent friend, at a moment when he had plunged himself

into disgrace, was worthy of applause. He deserved at least a word of

honest thanks.

Ignoble however was the demeanor of the Earl towards the man--for whom he

had but recently been unable to invent eulogies sufficiently warm--so

soon as he conceived the possibility of sacrificing his friend as the

scape-goat for his own fault. An honest schoolboy would have scorned to

leave thus in the lurch a comrade who had been fighting his battles so

honestly.

"How earnest I was," he wrote to the lords of the council, 9th March,

1586, "not only to acquaint her Majesty, but immediately upon the first

motion made by the States, to send Mr. Davison over to her with letters,

I doubt not but he will truly affirm for me; yea, and how far against my

will it was, notwithstanding any reasons delivered me, that he and others

persisted in, to have me accept first of this place. . . . The

extremity of the case, and my being persuaded that Mr. Davison might have

better satisfied her Majesty, than I perceive he can, caused, me-neither

arrogantly nor contemptuously, but even merely and faithfully--to do her

Majesty the best service."

He acknowledged, certainly, that Davison had been influenced by honest

motives, although his importunities had been the real cause of the Earl's

neglect of his own obligations. But he protested that he had himself,

only erred through an excessive pliancy to the will of others. "My

yielding was my own fault," he admitted, "whatsoever his persuasions; but

far from a contemptuous heart, or else God pluck out both heart and

bowels with utter shame."

So soon as Sir Thomas Heneage had presented himself, and revealed the

full extent of the Queen's wrath, the Earl's disposition to cast the

whole crime on the shoulders of Davison became quite undisguised.

"I thank you for your letters," wrote Leicester to Walsingham, "though

you can send me no comfort. Her Majesty doth deal hardly to believe so

ill of me. It is true I faulted, but she doth not consider what

commodities she hath withal, and herself no way engaged for it, as Mr.

Davison might have better declared it, if it had pleased him. And I must

thank him only for my blame, and so he will confess to you, for, I

protest before God, no necessity here could have made me leave her

Majesty unacquainted with the cause before I would have accepted of it,

but only his so earnest pressing me with his faithfull assured promise to

discharge me, however her Majesty should take it. For you all see there

she had no other cause to be offended but this, and, by the Lord, he was

the only cause; albeit it is no sufficient allegation, being as I am . .

. . . He had, I think, saved all to have told her, as he promised me. But

now it is laid upon me, God send the cause to take no harm, my grief must

be the less.

"How far Mr. Heneage's commission shall deface me I know not. He is wary

to observe his commission, and I consent withal. I know the time will be

her Majesty will be sorry for it. In the meantime I am too, too weary of

the high dignity. I would that any that could serve her Majesty were

placed in it, and I to sit down with all my losses."

In more manful strain he then alluded to the sufferings of his army.

"Whatsoever become of me," he said, "give me leave to speak for the poor

soldiers. If they be not better maintained, being in this strange

country, there will be neither good service done, nor be without great

dishonour to her Majesty. . . . Well, you see the wants, and it is one

cause that will glad me to be rid of this heavy high calling, and wish me

at my poor cottage again, if any I shall find. But let her Majesty pay

them well, and appoint such a man as Sir William Pelham to govern them,

and she never wan more honour than these men here will do, I am

persuaded."

That the Earl was warmly urged by all most conversant with Netherland

politics to assume the government was a fact admitted by all. That he

manifested rather eagerness than reluctance on the subject, and that his

only hesitation arose from the proposed restraints upon the power, not

from scruples about accepting the power, are facts upon record. There is

nothing save his own assertion to show any backwardness on his part to

snatch the coveted prize; and that assertion was flatly denied by

Davison, and was indeed refuted by every circumstance in the case. It is

certain that he had concealed from Davison the previous prohibitions of

the Queen. He could anticipate much better than could Davison, therefore,

the probable indignation of the Queen. It is strange then that he should

have shut his eyes to it so wilfully, and stranger still that he should

have relied on the envoy's eloquence instead of his own to mitigate that

emotion. Had he placed his defence simply upon its true basis, the

necessity of the case, and the impossibility of carrying out the Queen's

intentions in any other way, it would be difficult to censure him; but

that he should seek to screen himself by laying the whole blame on a

subordinate, was enough to make any honest man who heard him hang his

head. "I meant not to do it, but Davison told me to do it, please your

Majesty, and if there was naughtiness in it, he said he would make it all

right with your Majesty." Such, reduced to its simplest expression, was

the defence of the magnificent Earl of Leicester.

And as he had gone cringing and whining to his royal mistress, so it was

natural that he should be brutal and blustering to his friend.

"By your means," said he, "I have fallen into her Majesty's deep

displeasure . . . . If you had delivered to her the truth of my

dealing, her Highness never could have conceived, as I perceive she doth

. . . . Nor doth her Majesty know how hardly I was drawn to accept this

place before I had acquainted her--as to which you promised you would not

only give her full satisfaction, but would, procure me great thanks. . . .

You did chiefly persuade me to take this charge upon me . . . . You

can remember how many treaties you and others had with the States, before

I agreed; for all yours and their persuasion to take it. . . . You

gave me assurance to satisfy her Majesty, but I see not that you have

done anything . . . . I did not hide from you the doubt I had of her

Majesty's ill taking it . . . . You chiefly brought me into it . . . .

and it could no way have been heavy to you, though you had told the

uttermost of your own doing, as you faithfully promised you would . . . .

I did very unwillingly come into the matter, doubting that to fall out

which is come to pass . . . . and it doth so fall out by your negligent

carelessness, whereof I many hundred times told you that you would both

mar the goodness of the matter, and breed me her Majesty's displeasure.

. . . Thus fare you well, and except your embassages have better

success, I shall have no cause to commend them."

And so was the unfortunate Davison ground into finest dust between the

upper and lower millstones of royal wrath and loyal subserviency.

Meantime the other special envoy had made his appearance in the

Netherlands; the other go-between between the incensed Queen and the

backsliding favourite. It has already been made sufficiently obvious, by

the sketch given of his instructions, that his mission was a delicate

one. In obedience to those instructions, Heneage accordingly made his

appearance before the council, and, in Leicester's presence, delivered to

them the severe and biting reprimand which Elizabeth had chosen to

inflict upon the States and upon the governor. The envoy performed his

ungracious task as daintily, as he could, and after preliminary

consultation with Leicester; but the proud Earl was deeply mortified.

"The fourteenth day of this month of March," said he, "Sir Thomas Heneage

delivered a very sharp letter from her Majesty to the council of estate,

besides his message--myself being, present, for so was her Majesty's

pleasure, as he said, and I do think he did but as he was commanded. How

great a grief it must be to an honest heart and a true, faithful servant,

before his own face, to a company of very wise and grave counsellors, who

had conceived a marvellous opinion before of my credit with her Majesty,

to be charged now with a manifest and wilful contempt! Matter enough to

have broken any man's heart, that looked rather for thanks, as God doth

know I did when I first heard of Mr. Heneage's arrival--I must say to

your Lordship, for discharge of my duty, I can be no fit man to serve

here--my disgrace is too great--protesting to you that since that day I

cannot find it in my heart to come into that place, where, by my own

sufferings torn, I was made to be thought so lewd a person."

He then comforted himself--as he had a right to do--with the reflection

that this disgrace inflicted was more than he deserved, and that such

would be the opinion of those by whom he was surrounded.

"Albeit one thing," he said, "did greatly comfort me, that they all best

knew the wrong was great I had, and that her Majesty was very wrongfully

informed of the state of my cause. I doubt not but they can and will

discharge me, howsoever they shall satisfy her Majesty. And as I would

rather wish for death than justly to deserve her displeasure; so, good my

Lord, this disgrace not coming for any ill service to her, pray procure

me a speedy resolution, that I may go hide me and pray for her. My heart

is broken, though thus far I can quiet myself, that I know I have done

her Majesty as faithful and good service in these countries as ever she

had done her since she was Queen of England . . . . Under correction,

my good Lord, I have had Halifax law--to be condemned first and inquired

upon after. I pray God that no man find this measure that I have done,

and deserved no worse."

He defended himself--as Davison had already defended him--upon the

necessities of the case.

"I, a poor gentleman," he said, "who have wholly depended upon herself

alone--and now, being commanded to a service of the greatest importance

that ever her Majesty employed any servant in, and finding the occasion

so serving me, and the necessity of time such as would not permit such

delays, flatly seeing that if that opportunity were lost, the like again

for her service and the good of the realm was never, to be looked for,

presuming upon the favour of my prince, as many servants have done,

exceeding somewhat thereupon, rather than breaking any part of my

commission, taking upon me a place whereby I found these whole countries

could be held at her best devotion, without binding her Majesty to any

such matter as she had forbidden to the States before finding, I say,

both the time and opportunity to serve, and no lack but to trust to her

gracious acceptation, I now feel that how good, how honourable, how

profitable soever it be, it is turned to a worse part than if I had

broken all her commissions and commandments, to the greatest harm, and

dishonour, and danger, that may be imagined against her person, state,

and dignity."

He protested, not without a show of reason, that he was like to be worse

punished "for well-doing than any man that had committed a most heinous

or traitorous offence," and he maintained that if he had not accepted the

government, as he had done, "the whole State had been gone and wholly

lost." All this--as we have seen--had already been stoutly urged by

Davison, in the very face of the tempest, but with no result, except to

gain the enmity of both parties to the quarrel. The ungrateful Leicester

now expressed confidence that the second go-between would be more adroit

than the first had proved. "The causes why," said he, "Mr. Davison could

have told--no man better--but Mr. Heneage can now tell, who hath sought

to the uttermost the bottom of all things. I will stand to his report,

whether glory or vain desire of title caused me to step one foot forward

in the matter. My place was great enough and high enough before, with

much less trouble than by this, besides the great indignation of her

Majesty . . . . If I had overslipt the good occasion then in danger, I

had been worthy to be hanged, and to be taken for a most lewd servant to

her Majesty, and a dishonest wretch to my country."

But diligently as Heneage had sought to the bottom of all things, he had

not gained the approbation of Sidney. Sir Philip thought that the new man

had only ill botched a piece of work that had been most awkwardly

contrived from the beginning. "Sir Thomas Heneage," said he, "hath with

as much honesty, in my opinion done as much hurt as any man this

twelve-month hath done with naughtiness. But I hope in God, when her

Majesty finds the truth of things, her graciousness will not utterly,

overthrow a cause so behooveful and costly unto her."

He briefly warned the government that most disastrous effects were likely

to ensue, if the Earl should be publicly disgraced, and the recent action

of the States reversed. The penny-wise economy, too, of the Queen, was

rapidly proving a most ruinous extravagance. "I only cry for Flushing;"

said Sidney, "but, unless the monies be sent over, there will some

terrible accident follow, particularly to the cautionary towns, if her

Majesty mean to have them cautions."

The effect produced by the first explosion of the Queen's wrath was

indeed one of universal suspicion and distrust. The greatest care had

been taken, however, that the affair should be delicately handled, for

Heneage, while, doing as much hurt by honesty as, others by naughtiness,

had modified his course as much as he dared in deference to the opinions

of the Earl himself, and that of his English counsellors. The great

culprit himself, assisted by his two lawyers, Clerk and Killigrew--had

himself drawn the bill of his own indictment. The letters of the Queen to

the States, to the council, and to the Earl himself, were, of necessity,

delivered, but the reprimand which Heneage had been instructed to

fulminate was made as harmless as possible. It was arranged that he

should make a speech before the council; but abstain from a protocol. The

oration was duly pronounced, and it was, of necessity, stinging.

Otherwise the disobedience to the Queen, would have been flagrant. But

the pain inflicted was to disappear with the first castigation. The

humiliation was to be public and solemn, but it was not to be placed on

perpetual record.

"We thought best," said Leicester, Heneage, Clerk, and Killigrew--"In

according to her Majesty's secret instructions--to take that course which

might least endanger the weak estate of the Provinces--that is to say, to

utter so much in words as we hoped might satisfy her excellent Majesty's

expectation, and yet leave them nothing in writing to confirm that which

was secretly spread in many places to the hindrance of the good course of

settling these affairs. Which speech, after Sir Thomas Heneage had

devised, and we both perused and allowed, he, by our consent and advice,

pronounced to the council of state. This we did think needful--especially

because every one of the council that was present at the reading of her

Majesty's first letters, was of the full mind, that if her Majesty should

again show the least mislike of the present government, or should not by

her next letters confirm it, they, were all undone--for that every man

would cast with himself which way to make his peace."

Thus adroitly had the "poor gentleman, who could not find it in his heart

to come again into the place, where--by his own sufferings torn--he was

made to appear so lewd a person"--provided that there should remain no

trace of that lewdness and of his sovereign's displeasure, upon the

record of the States. It was not long, too, before the Earl was enabled

to surmount his mortification; but the end was not yet.

The universal suspicion, consequent on these proceedings, grew most

painful. It pointed to one invariable quarter. It was believed by all

that the Queen was privately treating for peace, and that the transaction

was kept a secret not only from the States but from her own most trusted

counsellors also. It would be difficult to exaggerate the pernicious

effects of this suspicion. Whether it was a well-grounded one or not,

will be shown in a subsequent chapter, but there is no doubt that the

vigour of the enterprise was thus sapped at a most critical moment. The

Provinces had never been more heartily banded together since the fatal

10th of July, 1584, than they were in the early spring of 1586. They were

rapidly organizing their own army, and, if the Queen had manifested more

sympathy with her own starving troops, the united Englishmen and

Hollanders would have been invincible even by Alexander Farnese.

Moreover, they had sent out nine war-vessels to cruise off the Cape Verd

Islands for the homeward-bound Spanish treasure fleet from America, with

orders, if they missed it, to proceed to the West Indies; so that, said

Leicester, "the King of Spain will have enough to do between these men

and Drake." All parties had united in conferring a generous amount of

power upon the Earl, who was, in truth, stadholder-general, under grant

from the States--and both Leicester and the Provinces themselves were

eager and earnest for the war. In war alone lay the salvation of England

and Holland. Peace was an impossibility. It seemed to the most

experienced statesmen of both countries even an absurdity. It may well be

imagined, therefore, that the idea of an underhand negotiation by

Elizabeth would cause a frenzy in the Netherlands. In Leicester's

opinion, nothing short of a general massacre of the English would be the

probable consequence. "No doubt," said he, "the very way it is to put us

all to the sword here. For mine own part it would be happiest for me,

though I wish and trust to lose my life in better sort."

Champagny, however, was giving out mysterious hints that the King of

Spain could have peace with England when he wished for it. Sir Thomas

Cecil, son of Lord Burghley, on whose countenance the States especially

relied, was returning on sick-leave from his government of the Brill, and

this sudden departure of so eminent a personage, joined with the public

disavowal of the recent transaction between Leicester and the Provinces,

was producing a general and most sickening apprehension as to the Queen's

good faith. The Earl did not fail to urge these matters most warmly on

the consideration of the English council, setting forth that the States

were stanch for the war, but that they would be beforehand with her if

she attempted by underhand means to compass a peace. "If these men once

smell any such matter," wrote Leicester to Burghley, "be you sure they

will soon come before you, to the utter overthrow of her Majesty and

state for ever."

The Earl was suspecting the "false boys," by whom he was surrounded,

although it was impossible for him to perceive, as we have been enabled

to do, the wide-spread and intricate meshes by which he was enveloped.

"Your Papists in England," said he, "have sent over word to some in this

company, that all that they ever hoped for is come to pass; that my Lord

of Leicester shall be called away in greatest indignation with her

Majesty, and to confirm this of Champagny, I have myself seen a letter

that her Majesty is in hand with a secret peace. God forbid! for if it be

so, her Majesty, her realm, and we, are all undone."

The feeling in the Provinces was still sincerely loyal towards England.

"These men," said Leicester, "yet honour and most dearly love her

Majesty, and hardly, I know, will be brought to believe ill of her any

way." Nevertheless these rumours, to the discredit of her good faith,

were doing infinite harm; while the Earl, although keeping his eyes and

ears wide open, was anxious not to compromise himself any further with

his sovereign, by appearing himself to suspect her of duplicity. "Good,

my Lord," he besought Burghley, "do not let her Majesty know of this

concerning Champagny as coming from me, for she will think it is done for

my own cause, which, by the Lord God, it is not, but even on the

necessity of the case for her own safety, and the realm, and us all. Good

my Lord, as you will do any good in the matter, let not her Majesty

understand any piece of it to come from me."

The States-General, on the 25th March, N.S., addressed a respectful

letter to the Queen, in reply to her vehement chidings. They expressed

their deep regret that her Majesty should be so offended with the

election of the Earl of Leicester as absolute governor.

They confessed that she had just cause of displeasure, but hoped that

when she should be informed of the whole matter she would rest better

satisfied with their proceedings. They stated that the authority was the

same which had been previously bestowed upon governors-general; observing

that by the word "absolute," which had been used in designation of that

authority, nothing more had been intended than to give to the Earl full

power to execute his commission, while the sovereignty of the country was

reserved to the people. This commission, they said, could not be without

danger revoked. And therefore they most humbly besought her Majesty to

approve what had been done, and to remember its conformity with her own

advice to them, that a multitude of heads, whereby confusion in the

government is bred, should be avoided.

Leicester, upon the same occasion, addressed a letter to Burghley and

Walsingham, expressing himself as became a crushed and contrite man,

never more to raise his drooping head again, but warmly and manfully

urging upon the attention of the English government--for the honour and

interest of the Queen herself--"the miserable state of the poor

soldiers." The necessity of immediate remittances in order to keep them

from starving, was most imperious. For himself, he was smothering his

wretchedness until he should learn her Majesty's final decision, as to

what was to become of him. "Meantime," said he, "I carry my grief inward,

and will proceed till her Majesty's full pleasure come with as little

discouragement to the cause as I can. I pray God her Majesty may do that

may be best for herself. For my own part my heart is broken, but not by

the enemy."

There is no doubt that the public disgrace thus inflicted upon the

broken-hearted governor, and the severe censure administered to the

States by the Queen were both ill-timed and undeserved. Whatever his

disingenuousness towards Davison, whatever his disobedience to Elizabeth,

however ambitious his own secret motives may, have been, there is no

doubt at all that thus far he had borne himself well in his great office.

Richard Cavendish--than whom few had better opportunities of

judging--spoke in strong language on the subject. "It is a thing almost

incredible," said he, "that the care and diligence of any, one man living

could, in so small time; have so much repaired so disjointed and loose an

estate as my Lord found this country, in. But lest he should swell in

pride of that his good success, your Lordship knoweth that God hath so

tempered the cause with the construction thereof, as may well hold him in

good consideration of human things." He alluded with bitterness--as did

all men in the Netherlands who were not open or disguised Papists--to the

fatal rumours concerning the peace-negotiation in connection with the

recall of Leicester. "There be here advertisements of most fearful

instance," he said, "namely, that Champagny doth not spare most liberally

to bruit abroad that he hath in his hands the conditions of peace offered

by her Majesty unto the King his master, and that it is in his power to

conclude at pleasure--which fearful and mischievous plot, if in time it

be not met withal by some notable encounter, it cannot but prove the root

of great ruin."

The "false boys" about Leicester were indefatigable in spreading these

rumours, and in taking advantage--with the assistance of the Papists in

the obedient Provinces and in England--of the disgraced condition in

which the Queen had placed the favourite. Most galling to the haughty

Earl--most damaging to the cause of England, Holland, and, liberty--were

the tales to his discredit, which circulated on the Bourse at Antwerp,

Middelburg, Amsterdam, and in all the other commercial centres. The most

influential bankers and merchants, were assured--by a thousand

chattering--but as it were invisible--tongues, that the Queen had for a

long time disliked Leicester; that he was a man of no account among the

statesmen of England; that he was a beggar and a bankrupt; that, if he

had waited two months longer, he would have made his appearance in the

Provinces with one man and one boy for his followers; that the Queen had

sent him thither to be rid of him; that she never intended him to have

more authority than Sir John Norris had; that she could not abide the

bestowing the title of Excellency upon him, and that she had not

disguised her fury at his elevation to the post of governor-general.

All who attempted a refutation of these statements were asked, with a

sneer, whether her Majesty had ever written a line to him, or in

commendation of him, since his arrival. Minute inquiries were made by the

Dutch merchants of their commercial correspondents, both in their own

country and in England, as to Leicester's real condition and character.

at home. What was his rank, they asked, what his ability, what: his

influence at court? Why, if he were really of so high quality as had been

reported, was he thus neglected, and at last disgraced? Had he any landed

property in England? Had he really ever held any other office but that of

master of the horse? "And then," asked one particular busy body, who made

himself very unpleasant on the Amsterdam Exchange, "why has her Majesty

forbidden all noblemen and gentlemen from coming hither, as was the case

at the beginning? Is it because she is hearkening to a peace? And if it

be so, quoth he, we are well handled; for if her Majesty hath sent a

disgraced man to amuse us, while she is secretly working a peace for

herself, when we--on the contrary--had broken off all our negotiations,

upon confidence of her Majesty's goodness; such conduct will be

remembered to the end of the world, and the Hollanders will never abide

the name of England again."

On such a bed of nettles there was small chance of repose for the

governor. Some of the rumours were even more stinging. So

incomprehensible did it seem that the proud sovereign of England should

send over her subjects to starve or beg in the streets of Flushing and

Ostend, that it was darkly intimated that Leicester had embezzled the

funds, which, no doubt, had been remitted for the poor soldiers. This was

the most cruel blow of all. The Earl had been put to enormous charges.

His household at the Hague cost him a thousand pounds a month. He had

been paying and furnishing five hundred and fifty men out of his own

purse. He had also a choice regiment of cavalry, numbering seven hundred

and fifty horse; three hundred and fifty of which number were over and

above those allowed for by the Queen, and were entirely at his expense.

He was most liberal in making presents of money to every gentleman in his

employment. He had deeply mortgaged his estates in order to provide for

these heavy demands upon him, and professed his willingness "to spend

more, if he might have got any more money for his land that was left;"

and in the face of such unquestionable facts--much to the credit

certainly of his generosity--he was accused of swindling a Queen whom

neither Jew nor Gentile had ever yet been sharp enough to swindle; while

he was in reality plunging forward in a course of reckless extravagance

in order to obviate the fatal effects of her penuriousness.

Yet these sinister reports were beginning to have a poisonous effect.

Already an alteration of mien was perceptible in the States-General.

"Some buzzing there is amongst them," said Leicester, "whatsoever it be.

They begin to deal very strangely within these few days." Moreover the

industry of the Poleys, Blunts, and Pagets, had turned these unfavourable

circumstances to such good account that a mutiny had been near breaking

out among the English troops. "And, before the Lord I speak it," said the

Earl, "I am sure some of these good towns had been gone ere this, but for

my money. As for the States, I warrant you, they see day at a little

hole. God doth know what a forward and a joyful country here was within a

month. God send her Majesty to recover it so again, and to take care of

it, on the condition she send me after Sir Francis Drake to the Indies,

my service here being no more acceptable."

Such was the aspect of affairs in the Provinces after the first explosion

of the Queen's anger had become known. Meanwhile the court-weather was

very changeable in England, being sometimes serene, sometimes

cloudy,--always treacherous.

Mr. Vavasour, sent by the Earl with despatches to her Majesty and the

council, had met with a sufficiently benignant reception. She accepted

the letters, which, however, owing to a bad cold with a defluxion in the

eyes, she was unable at once to read; but she talked ambiguously with the

messenger. Yavasour took pains to show the immediate necessity of sending

supplies, so that the armies in the Netherlands might take the field at

the earliest possible moment. "And what," said she, "if a peace should

come in the mean time?"

"If your Majesty desireth a convenient peace," replied Vavasour, "to take

the field is the readiest way to obtain it; for as yet the King of Spain

hath had no reason to fear you. He is daily expecting that your own

slackness may give your Majesty an overthrow. Moreover, the Spaniards are

soldiers, and are not to be moved by-shadows."

But the Queen had no ears for these remonstrances, and no disposition to

open her coffers. A warrant for twenty-four thousand pounds had been

signed by her at the end of the month of March, and was about to be sent,

when Vavasour arrived; but it was not possible for him, although assisted

by the eloquence of Walsingham and Burghley, to obtain an enlargement of

the pittance. "The storms are overblown," said Walsingham, "but I fear

your Lordship shall receive very scarce measure from hence. You will not

believe how the sparing humour doth increase upon us."

Nor were the storms so thoroughly overblown but that there were not daily

indications of returning foul weather. Accordingly--after a conference

with Vavasour--Burghley, and Walsingham had an interview with the Queen,

in which the Lord Treasurer used bold and strong language. He protested

to her that he was bound, both by his duty to himself and his oath as her

councillor, to declare that the course she was holding to Lord Leicester

was most dangerous to her own honour, interest and safety. If she

intended to continue in this line of conduct, he begged to resign his

office of Lord Treasurer; wishing; before God and man, to wash his bands

of the shame and peril which he saw could not be avoided. The Queen,

astonished at the audacity of Burghley's attitude and language, hardly

knew whether to chide him for his presumption or to listen to his

arguments. She did both. She taxed him with insolence in daring to

address her so roundly, and then finding he was speaking even in

'amaritudine animae' and out of a clear conscience, she became calm

again, and intimated a disposition to qualify her anger against the

absent Earl.

Next day, to their sorrow, the two councillors found that the Queen had

again changed her mind--"as one that had been by some adverse counsel

seduced." She expressed the opinion that affairs would do well enough in

the Netherlands, even though Leicester were displaced. A conference

followed between Walsingham, Hatton, and Burghley, and then the three

went again to her Majesty. They assured her that if she did not take

immediate steps to satisfy the States and the people of the Provinces,

she would lose those countries and her own honour at the same time; and

that then they would prove a source of danger to her instead of

protection and glory. At this she was greatly troubled, and agreed to do

anything they might advise consistently with her honour. It was then

agreed that Leicester should be continued in the government which he had

accepted until the matter should be further considered, and letters to

that effect were at once written. Then came messenger from Sir Thomas

Heneage, bringing despatches from that envoy, and a second and most secret

one from the Earl himself. Burghley took the precious letter which the

favourite had addressed to his royal mistress, and had occasion to

observe its magical effect. Walsingham and the Lord Treasurer had been

right in so earnestly remonstrating with him on his previous silence.

"She read your letter," said Burghley, "and, in very truth, I found her

princely heart touched with favourable interpretation of your actions;

affirming them to be only offensive to her, in that she was not made

privy to them; not now misliking that you had the authority."

Such, at fifty-three, was Elizabeth Tudor. A gentle whisper of idolatry

from the lips of the man she loved, and she was wax in his hands. Where

now were the vehement protestations of horror that her public declaration

of principles and motives had been set at nought? Where now were her

vociferous denunciations of the States, her shrill invectives against

Leicester, her big oaths, and all the 'hysterica passio,' which had sent

poor Lord Burghley to bed with the gout, and inspired the soul of

Walsingham with dismal forebodings? Her anger had dissolved into a shower

of tenderness, and if her parsimony still remained it was because that

could only vanish when she too should cease to be.

And thus, for a moment, the grave diplomatic difference between the crown

of England and their high mightinesses the United States--upon the

solution of which the fate of Christendom was hanging--seemed to shrink

to the dimensions of a lovers' quarrel. Was it not strange that the

letter had been so long delayed?

Davison had exhausted argument in defence of the acceptance by the Earl

of the authority conferred by the States and had gained nothing by his

eloquence, save abuse from the Queen, and acrimonious censure from the

Earl. He had deeply offended both by pleading the cause of the erring

favourite, when the favourite should have spoken for himself. "Poor Mr.

Davison," said Walsingham, "doth take it very grievously that your

Lordship should conceive so hardly of him as you do. I find the conceit

of your Lordship's disfavour hath greatly dejected him. But at such time

as he arrived her Majesty was so incensed, as all the arguments and

orators in the world could not have wrought any satisfaction."

But now a little billet-doux had done what all the orators in the world

could not do. The arguments remained the same, but the Queen no longer

"misliked that Leicester should have the authority." It was natural that

the Lord Treasurer should express his satisfaction at this auspicious

result.

"I did commend her princely nature," he said, "in allowing your good

intention, and excusing you of any spot of evil meaning; and I thought

good to hasten her resolution, which you must now take to come from a

favourable good mistress. You must strive with your nature to throw over

your shoulder that which is past."

Sir Walter Raleigh, too, who had been "falsely and pestilently"

represented to the Earl as an enemy, rather than what he really was, a

most ardent favourer of the Netherland cause, wrote at once to

congratulate him on the change in her Majesty's demeanour. "The Queen is

in very good terms with you now," he said, "and, thanks be to God, well

pacified, and you are again her 'sweet Robin.'"

Sir Walter wished to be himself the bearer of the comforting despatches

to Leicester, on the ground that he had been represented as an "ill

instrument against him," and in order that he might justify himself

against the charge, with his own lips. The Queen, however, while

professing to make use of Shirley as the messenger, bade Walsingham

declare to the Earl, upon her honour, that Raleigh had done good offices

for him, and that, in the time of her anger, he had been as earnest in

his defence as the best friend could be. It would have been--singular,

indeed, had it been otherwise. "Your Lordship," said Sir Walter, "doth

well understand my affection toward Spain, and how I have consumed the

best part of my fortune, hating the tyrannous prosperity of that state.

It were strange and monstrous that I should now become an enemy to my

country and conscience. All that I have desired at your Lordship's hands

is that you will evermore deal directly with me in all matters--of

suspect doubleness, and so ever esteem me as you shall find me deserving

good or bad. In the mean time, let no poetical scribe work your Lordship

by any device to doubt that I am a hollow or cold servant to the action."

It was now agreed that letters should be drawn, up authorizing Leicester

to continue in the office which he held, until the state-council should

devise some modification in his commission. As it seemed, however, very

improbable that the board would devise anything of the kind, Burghley

expressed the belief that the country was like to continue in the Earl's

government without any change whatever. The Lord Treasurer was also of

opinion that the Queen's letters to Leicester would convey as much

comfort as he had received discomfort; although he admitted that there

was a great difference: The former letters he knew had deeply wounded his

heart, while the new ones could not suddenly sink so low as the wound.

The despatch to the States-General was benignant, elaborate, slightly

diffuse. The Queen's letter to 'sweet Robin' was caressing, but

argumentative.

"It is always thought," said she, "in the opinion of the world, a hard

bargain when both parties are losers, and so doth fall out in the case

between us two. You, as we hear, are greatly grieved in respect of the

great displeasure you find we have conceived against you. We are no less

grieved that a subject of ours of that quality that you are, a creature

of our own, and one that hath always received an extraordinary portion of

our favour above all our subjects, even from the beginning of our reign,

should deal so carelessly, not to say contemptuously, as to give the

world just cause to think that we are had in contempt by him that ought

most to respect and reverence us, which, we do assure you, hath wrought

as great grief in us as anyone thing that ever happened unto us.

"We are persuaded that you, that have so long known us, cannot think that

ever we could have been drawn to have taken so hard a course therein had

we not been provoked by an extraordinary cause. But for that your grieved

and wounded mind hath more need of comfort than reproof, who, we are

persuaded, though the act of contempt can no ways be excused, had no

other meaning and intent than to advance our service, we think meet to

forbear to dwell upon a matter wherein we ourselves do find so little

comfort, assuring you that whosoever professeth to love you best taketh

not more comfort of your well doing, or discomfort of your evil doing

than ourself."

After this affectionate preface she proceeded to intimate her desire that

the Earl should take the matter as nearly as possible into his own hands.

It was her wish that he should retain the authority of absolute governor,

but--if it could be so arranged--that he should dispense with the title,

retaining only that of her lieutenant-general. It was not her intention

however, to create any confusion or trouble in the Provinces, and she was

therefore willing that the government should remain upon precisely the

same footing as that on which it then stood, until circumstances should

permit the change of title which she suggested. And the whole matter was

referred to the wisdom of Leicester, who was to advise with Heneage and

such others as he liked to consult, although it was expressly stated that

the present arrangement was to be considered a provisional and not a

final one.

Until this soothing intelligence could arrive in the Netherlands the

suspicions concerning the underhand negotiations with Spain grew daily

more rife, and the discredit cast upon the Earl more embarrassing. The

private letters which passed between the Earl's enemies in Holland and in

England contained matter more damaging to himself and to the cause which

he had at heart than the more public reports of modern days can

disseminate, which, being patent to all, can be more easily contradicted.

Leicester incessantly warned his colleagues of her Majesty's council

against the malignant manufacturers of intelligence. "I pray you, my

Lords, as you are wise," said he, "beware of them all. You shall find

them here to be shrewd pick-thinks, and hardly worth the hearkening

unto."

He complained bitterly of the disgrace that was heaped upon him, both

publicly and privately, and of the evil consequences which were sure to

follow from the course pursued. "Never was man so villanously handled by

letters out of England as I have been," said he, "not only advertising

her Majesty's great dislike with me before this my coming over, but that

I was an odious man in England, and so long as I tarried here that no

help was to be looked for, that her Majesty would send no more men or

money, and that I was used here but for a time till a peace were

concluded between her Majesty and the Prince of Parma. What the

continuance of a man's discredit thus will turn out is to be thought of,

for better I were a thousand times displaced than that her Majesty's

great advantage of so notable Provinces should be hindered."

As to the peace-negotiations--which, however cunningly managed, could not

remain entirely concealed--the Earl declared them to be as idle as they

were disingenuous. "I will boldly pronounce that all the peace you can

make in the world, leaving these countries," said he to Burghley, "will

never prove other than a fair spring for a few days, to be all over

blasted with a hard storm after." Two days later her Majesty's comforting

letters arrived, and the Earl began to raise his drooping head. Heneage,

too, was much relieved, but he was, at the same time, not a little

perplexed. It was not so easy to undo all the mischief created by the

Queen's petulance. The "scorpion's sting"--as her Majesty expressed

herself--might be balsamed, but the poison had spread far beyond the

original wound.

"The letters just brought in," wrote Heneage to Burghley, "have well

relieved a most noble and sufficient servant, but I fear they will not

restore the much-repaired wrecks of these far-decayed noble countries

into the same state I found them in. A loose, disordered, and unknit

state needs no shaking, but propping. A subtle and fearful kind of

people--should not be made more distrustful, but assured." He then

expressed annoyance at the fault already found with him, and surely if

ever man had cause to complain of reproof administered him, in quick

succession; for not obeying contradictory directions following upon each

other as quickly, that man was Sir Thomas Heneage. He had been, as he

thought, over cautious in administering the rebuke to the Earl's

arrogance, which he had been expressly sent over to administer but

scarcely had he accomplished his task, with as much delicacy as he could

devise, when he found himself censured;--not for dilatoriness, but for

haste. "Fault I perceive," said he to Burghley, "is found in me, not by

your Lordship, but by some other, that I did not stay proceeding if I

found the public cause might take hurt. It is true I had good warrant for

the manner, the place, and the persons, but, for the matter none, for

done it must be. Her Majesty's offence must be declared. Yet if I did not

all I possibly could to uphold the cause, and to keep the tottering cause

upon the wheels, I deserve no thanks, but reproof."

Certainly, when the blasts of royal rage are remembered, by which the

envoy had been, as it were, blown out of England into Holland, it is

astonishing to find his actions censured for undue precipitancy. But it

was not the first, nor was it likely to be the last time, for

comparatively subordinate agents in Elizabeth's government to be,

distressed by, contradictory commands, when the sovereign did not know or

did not chose to make known, her own mind on important occasions. "Well,

my Lord," said plaintive Sir Thomas, "wiser men may serve more pleasingly

and happily, but never shall any serve her Majesty more, faithfully and

heartily. And so I cannot be persuaded her Majesty thinketh; for from

herself I find nothing but most sweet and--gracious, favour, though by

others' censures I may gather otherwise of her judgment; which I confess,

doth cumber me."

He was destined to be cumbered more than once before these negotiations

should be concluded; but meantime; there was a brief gleam of sunshine.

The English friends of Leicester in the Netherlands were enchanted with

the sudden change in the Queen's humour; and to Lord Burghley, who was

not, in reality, the most stanch of the absent Earl's defenders, they

poured themselves out in profuse and somewhat superfluous gratitude.

Cavendish, in strains exultant, was sure that Burghley's children,

grand-children, and remotest posterity, would rejoice that their great

ancestor, in such a time of need had been "found and felt to be indeed a

'pater patria,' a good-father to a happy land." And, although unwilling

to "stir up the old Adam" in his Lordship's soul, he yet took the liberty

of comparing the Lord Treasurer, in his old and declining years with Mary

Magdalen; assuring him, that for ever after; when the tale of the

preservation of the Church of God, of her Majesty; and of the Netherland

cause; which were all one, should be told; his name and well-doing would

be held in memory also.

And truly there was much of honest and generous enthusiasm, even if

couched in language somewhat startling to the ears of a colder and more

material age; in the hearts of these noble volunteers. They were fighting

the cause of England, of the Netherland republic, and of human liberty;

with a valour worthy the best days of English' chivalry, against manifold

obstacles, and they were certainly; not too often cheered by the beams of

royal favour.

It was a pity that a dark cloud was so soon again to sweep over the

scene: For the temper of Elizabeth at this important juncture seemed as

capricious: as the April weather in which the scenes were enacting. We

have seen the genial warmth of her letters and messages to Leicester, to

Heneage,--to the States-General; on the first of the month. Nevertheless

it was hardly three weeks after they had been despatched when Walsingham

and Burghley found, her Majesty one morning a towering passion, because,

the Earl had not already laid down the government. The Lord Treasurer

ventured to remonstrate, but was bid to bold his tongue. Ever variable

and mutable as woman, Elizabeth was perplexing and baffling to her

counsellors, at this epoch, beyond all divination. The "sparing humour"

was increasing fearfully, and she thought it would be easier for her to

slip out of the whole expensive enterprise, provided Leicester were

merely her lieutenant-general, and not stadholder for the Provinces.

Moreover the secret negotiations for peace were producing a deleterious

effect upon her mind. Upon this subject, the Queen and Burghley,

notwithstanding his resemblance to Mary Magdalen, were better informed

than the Secretary, whom, however, it had been impossible wholly to

deceive. The man who could read secrets so far removed as the Vatican,

was not to be blinded to intrigues going on before his face. The Queen,

without revealing more than she could help, had been obliged to admit

that informal transactions were pending, but had authorised the Secretary

to assure the United States that no treaty would be made without their

knowledge and full concurrence. "She doth think," wrote Walsingham to

Leicester, "that you should, if you shall see no cause to the contrary,

acquaint the council of state there that certain overtures of peace are

daily made unto her, but that she meaneth not to proceed therein without

their good liking and privity, being persuaded that there can no peace be

made profitable or sure for her that shall not also stand with their

safety; and she doth acknowledge hers to be so linked with theirs as

nothing can fall out to their prejudice, but she must be partaker of

their harm."

This communication was dated on the 21st April, exactly three weeks after

the Queen's letter to Heneage, in which she had spoken of the "malicious

bruits" concerning the pretended peace-negotiations; and the Secretary

was now confirming, by her order, what she had then stated under her own

hand, that she would "do nothing that might concern them without their

own knowledge and good liking."

And surely nothing could be more reasonable. Even if the strict letter of

the August treaty between the Queen and the States did not provide

against any separate negotiations by the one party without the knowledge

of the other, there could be no doubt at all that its spirit absolutely

forbade the clandestine conclusion of a peace with Spain by England

alone, or by the Netherlands alone, and that such an arrangement would be

disingenuous, if not positively dishonourable.

Nevertheless it would almost seem that Elizabeth had been taking

advantage of the day when she was writing her letter to Heneage on the

1st of April. Never was painstaking envoy more elaborately trifled with.

On the 26th of the month--and only five days after the communication by

Walsingham just noticed--the Queen was furious that any admission should

have been made to the States of their right to participate with her in

peace-negotiations.

"We find that Sir Thomas Heneage," said she to Leicester, "hath gone

further--in assuring the States that we would make no peace without their

privity and assent--than he had commission; for that our direction

was--if our meaning had been well set down, and not mistaken by our

Secretary--that they should have been only let understand that in any

treaty that might pass between us and Spain, they might be well assured

we would have no less care of their safety than of our own." Secretary

Walsingham was not likely to mistake her Majesty's directions in this or

any other important affair of state. Moreover, it so happened that the

Queen had, in her own letter to Heneage, made the same statement which

she now chose to disavow. She had often a convenient way of making

herself misunderstood, when she thought it desirable to shift

responsibility from her own shoulders upon those of others; but upon this

occasion she had been sufficiently explicit. Nevertheless, a scape-goat

was necessary, and unhappy the subordinate who happened to be within her

Majesty's reach when a vicarious sacrifice was to be made. Sir Francis

Walsingham was not a man to be brow-beaten or hood-winked, but Heneage

was doomed to absorb a fearful amount of royal wrath.

"What phlegmatical reasons soever were made you," wrote the Queen, who

but three weeks before had been so gentle and affectionate to her,

ambassador, "how happeneth it that you will not remember, that when a man

hath faulted and committed by abettors thereto, neither the one nor the

other will willingly make their own retreat. Jesus! what availeth wit,

when it fails the owner at greatest need? Do that you are bidden, and

leave your considerations for your own affairs. For in some things you

had clear commandment, which you did not, and in others none, and did. We

princes be wary enough of our bargains. Think you I will be bound by your

own speech to make no peace for mine own matters without their consent?

It is enough that I injure not their country nor themselves in making

peace for them without their consent. I am assured of your dutiful

thoughts, but I am utterly at squares with this childish dealing."

Blasted by this thunderbolt falling upon his head out of serenest sky,

the sad. Sir. Thomas remained, for a time, in a state of political

annihilation. 'Sweet Robin' meanwhile, though stunned, was

unscathed--thanks to the convenient conductor at his side. For, in

Elizabeth's court, mediocrity was not always golden, nor was it usually

the loftiest mountains that the lightnings smote. The Earl was deceived

by his royal mistress, kept in the dark as to important transactions,

left to provide for his famishing' soldiers as he best might; but the

Queen at that moment, though angry, was not disposed, to trample upon

him. Now that his heart was known to be broken, and his sole object in

life to be retirement to remote regions--India or elsewhere--there to

languish out the brief remainder of his days in prayers for Elizabeth's

happiness, Elizabeth was not inclined very bitterly to upbraid him. She

had too recently been employing herself in binding up his broken heart,

and pouring balm into the "scorpion's sting," to be willing so soon to

deprive him of those alleviations.

Her tone--was however no longer benignant, and her directions were

extremely peremptory. On the 1st of April she had congratulated

Leicester, Heneage, the States, and all the world, that her secret

commands had been staid, and that the ruin which would have followed,

had, those decrees been executed according to her first violent wish, was

fortunately averted. Heneage was even censured, not by herself, but by

courtiers in her confidence, and with her concurrence, for being over

hasty in going before the state-council, as he had done, with her

messages and commands. On the 26th of April she expressed astonishment

that Heneage had dared to be so dilatory, and that the title of governor

had not been laid down by Leicester "out of hand." She marvelled greatly,

and found it very strange that "ministers in matters of moment should

presume to do things of their own head without direction." She

accordingly gave orders that there should be no more dallying, but that

the Earl should immediately hold a conference with the state-council in

order to arrange a modification in his commission. It was her pleasure

that he should retain all the authority granted to him by the States, but

as already intimated by her, that he should abandon the title of

"absolute governor," and retain only that of her lieutenant-general.

Was it strange that Heneage, placed in so responsible a situation, and

with the fate of England, of Holland, and perhaps of all Christendom,

hanging in great measure upon this delicate negotiation, should be amazed

at such contradictory orders, and grieved by such inconsistent censures?

"To tell you my griefs and my lacks," said he to Walsingham, "would

little please you or help me. Therefore I will say nothing, but think

there was never man in so great a service received so little comfort and

so contrarious directions. But 'Dominus est adjutor in tribulationibus.'

If it be possible, let me receive some certain direction, in following

which I shall not offend her Majesty, what good or hurt soever I do

besides."

This certainly seemed a loyal and reasonable request, yet it was not one

likely to be granted. Sir Thomas, perplexed, puzzled, blindfolded, and

brow-beaten, always endeavoring to obey orders, when he could comprehend

them, and always hectored and lectured whether he obeyed them or

not--ruined in purse by the expenses, of a mission on which he had been

sent without adequate salary--appalled at the disaffection waging more

formidable every hour in Provinces which were recently so loyal to her

Majesty, but which were now pervaded by a suspicion that there was

double-dealing upon her part became quite sick of his life. He fell

seriously ill, and was disappointed, when, after a time, the physicians

declared him convalescent. For when when he rose from his sick-bed, it

was only to plunge once more, without a clue, into the labyrinth where he

seemed to be losing his reason. "It is not long," said he to Walsingham,

"since I looked to have written you no more letters, my extremity was so

great. . . But God's will is best, otherwise I could have liked better to

have cumbered the earth no longer, where I find myself contemned, and

which I find no reason to see will be the better in the wearing . . . It

were better for her Majesty's service that the directions which come were

not contrarious one to another, and that those you would have serve might

know what is meant, else they cannot but much deceive you, as well as

displease you."

Public opinion concerning the political morality of the English court was

not gratifying, nor was it rendered more favourable by these recent

transactions. "I fear," said Heneage, "that the world will judge what

Champagny wrote in one of his letters out of England (which I have lately

seen) to be over true. His words be these, 'Et de vray, c'est le plus

fascheux et le plus incertain negocier de ceste court, que je pense soit

au monde.'" And so "basting," as he said, "with a weak body and a willing

mind; to do, he feared, no good work," he set forth from Middelburgh to

rejoin Leicester at Arnheim, in order to obey, as well as he could, the

Queen's latest directions.

But before he could set to work there came more "contrarious" orders. The

last instructions, both to Leicester and himself, were that the Earl

should resign the post of governor absolute "out of hand," and the Queen

had been vehement in denouncing any delay on such an occasion. He was now

informed, that, after consulting with Leicester and with the

state-council, he was to return to England with the result of such

deliberations. It could afterwards be decided how the Earl could retain

all the authority of governor absolute, while bearing only the title of

the Queen's lieutenant general. "For her meaning is not," said

Walsingham, "that his Lord ship should presently give it over, for she

foreseeth in her princely judgment that his giving over the government

upon a sudden, and leaving those countries without a head or director,

cannot but breed a most dangerous alteration there." The secretary

therefore stated the royal wish at present to be that the "renunciation

of the title" should be delayed till Heneage could visit England, and

subsequently return to Holland with her Majesty's further directions.

Even the astute Walsingham was himself puzzled, however, while conveying

these ambiguous orders; and he confessed that he was doubtful whether he

had rightly comprehended the Queen's intentions. Burghley, however, was

better at guessing riddles than he was, and so Heneage was advised to

rely chiefly upon Burghley.

But Heneage had now ceased to be interested in any enigmas that might be

propounded by the English court, nor could he find comfort, as Walsingham

had recommended he should do, in railing. "I wish I could follow your

counsel," he said, "but sure the uttering of my choler doth little ease

my grief or help my case."

He rebuked, however, the inconsistency and the tergiversations of the

government with a good deal of dignity. "This certainly shall I tell her

Majesty," he said, "if I live to see her, that except a more constant

course be taken with this inconstant people, it is not the blaming of her

ministers will advance her Highness's service, or better the state of

things. And shall I tell you what they now say here of us--I fear not

without some cause--even as Lipsius wrote of the French, 'De Gallis

quidem enigmata veniunt, non veniunt, volunt, holunt, audent, timent,

omnia, ancipiti metu, suspensa et suspecta.' God grant better, and ever

keep you and help me."

He announced to Burghley that he was about to attend a meeting of the

state-council the next day, for the purpose of a conference on these

matters at Arnheim, and that he would then set forth for England to

report proceedings to her Majesty. He supposed, on the whole, that this

was what was expected of him, but acknowledged it hopeless to fathom the

royal intentions. Yet if he went wrong, he was always, sure to make

mischief, and though innocent, to be held accountable for others'

mistakes. "Every prick I make," said he, "is made a gash; and to follow

the words of my directions from England is not enough, except I likewise

see into your minds. And surely mine eyesight is not so good. But I will

pray to God for his help herein. With all the wit I have, I will use all

the care I can--first, to satisfy her Majesty, as God knoweth I have ever

most desired; then, not to hurt this cause, but that I despair of."

Leicester, as maybe supposed, had been much discomfited and perplexed

during the course of these contradictory and perverse directions. There

is no doubt whatever that his position bad been made discreditable and

almost ridiculous, while he was really doing his best, and spending large

sums out of his private fortune to advance the true interests of the

Queen. He had become a suspected man in the Netherlands, having been, in

the beginning of the year, almost adored as a Messiah. He had submitted

to the humiliation which had been imposed upon him, of being himself the

medium to convey to the council the severe expressions of the Queen's

displeasure at the joint action of the States-General and himself. He had

been comforted by the affectionate expressions with which that explosion

of feminine and royal wrath had been succeeded. He was now again

distressed by the peremptory command to do what was a disgrace to him,

and an irreparable detriment to the cause, yet he was humble and

submissive, and only begged to be allowed, as a remedy for all his

anguish, to return to the sunlight of Elizabeth's presence. He felt that

her course; if persisted in, would lead to the destruction of the

Netherland commonwealth, and eventually to the downfall of England; and

that the Provinces, believing themselves deceived by the Queen; were

ready to revolt against an authority to which, but a short time before,

they were so devotedly loyal Nevertheless, he only wished to know what

his sovereign's commands distinctly were, in order to set himself to

their fulfilment. He had come from the camp before Nymegen in order to

attend the conference with the state-council at Arnheim, and he would

then be ready and anxious to, despatch Heneage to England, to learn her

Majesty's final determination.

He protested to the Queen that he had come upon this arduous and perilous

service only, because he, considered her throne in danger, and that this

was the only means of preserving it; that, in accepting the absolute

government, he had been free from all ambitious motives, but deeply

impressed with the idea that only by so doing could he conduct the

enterprise entrusted to him to the desired consummation; and he declared

with great fervour that no advancement to high office could compensate

him for this enforced absence from her. To be sent back even in disgrace

would still be a boon to him, for he should cease to be an exile from her

sight. He knew that his enemies had been busy in defaming him, while he

had been no longer there to defend himself, but his conscience acquitted

him of any thought which was not for her happiness and glory. "Yet

grievous it is to me," said he in, a tone of tender reproach, "that

having left all--yea, all that may be imagined--for you, you have left me

for very little, even to the uttermost of all hard fortune. For what have

I, unhappy man, to do here either with cause or country but for you?"

He stated boldly that his services had not been ineffective, that the

enemy had never been in worse plight than now, that he had lost at least

five thousand men in divers overthrows, and that, on the other hand, the

people and towns of the Seven Provinces had been safely preserved. "Since

my arrival," he said, "God hath blessed the action which you have taken

in hand, and committed to the charge of me your poor unhappy servant. I

have good cause to say somewhat for myself, for that I think I have as

few friends to speak for me as any man."

Nevertheless--as he warmly protested--his only wish was to return; for

the country in which he had lost her favour, which was more precious than

life, had become odious to him.

The most lowly office in her presence was more to be coveted than the

possession of unlimited power away from her. It was by these tender and

soft insinuations, as the Earl knew full well, that he was sure to obtain

what he really coveted--her sanction for retaining the absolute

government in the Provinces. And most artfully did he strike the key.

"Most dear and gracious Lady," he cried, "my care and service here do

breed me nothing but grief and unhappiness. I have never had your

Majesty's good favour since I came into this charge--a matter that from

my first beholding your eyes hath been most dear unto me above all

earthly treasures. Never shall I love that place or like that soil which

shall cause the lack of it. Most gracious Lady, consider my long, true,

and faithful heart toward you. Let not this unfortunate place here

bereave me of that which, above all the world, I esteem there, which is

your favodr and your presence. I see my service is not acceptable, but

rather more and more disliketh you. Here I can do your Majesty no

service; there I can do you some, at the least rub your horse's heels--a

service which shall be much more welcome to me than this, with all that

these men may give me. I do, humbly and from my heart, prostrate at your

feet, beg this grace at your sacred hands, that you will be pleased to

let me return to my home-service, with your favour, let the revocation be

used in what sort shall please and like you. But if ever spark of favour

was in your Majesty toward your old servant, let me obtain this my humble

suit; protesting before the Majesty of all Majesties, that there was no

cause under Heaven but his and yours, even for your own special and

particular cause, I say, could have made me take this absent journey from

you in hand. If your Majesty shall refuse me this, I shall think all

grace clean gone from me, and I know: my days will not be long."

She must melt at this, thought 'sweet Robin' to himself; and meantime

accompanied by Heneage; he proceeded with the conferences in the

state-council-chamber touching the modification of the title and the

confirmation of his authority. This, so far as Walsingham could divine,

and Burghley fathom, was the present intention of the Queen. He averred

that he had ever sought most painfully to conform his conduct to her

instructions as fast as they were received, and that he should continue

so to do. On the whole it was decided by the conference to let matters

stand as, they were for a little longer, and until: after Heneage should

have time once more to go and come. "The same manner of proceeding that

was is now," said Leicester, "Your pleasure is declared to the council

here as you have willed it. How it will fall out again in your Majesty's

construction, the Lord knoweth."

Leicester might be forgiven for referring to higher powers, for any

possible interpretation of her Majesty's changing humour; but meantime;

while Sir. Thomas was getting ready, for his expedition to England, the

Earl's heart was somewhat gladdened by more gracious messages from the

Queen. The alternation of emotions would however prove too much for him,

he feared, and he was reluctant to open his heart to so unwonted a tenant

as joy.

"But that my fear is such, most dear and gracious Lady," he said, "as my

unfortunate destiny will hardly permit; whilst I remain here; any

good-acceptation of so simple a service as, mine, I should, greatly

rejoice and comfort myself with the hope of your Majesty's most

prayed-for favour. But of late, being by your own sacred hand lifted even

up into Heaven with joy of your favour, I was bye and bye without any new

desert or offence at all, cast down and down: again into the depth of all

grief. God doth know, my dear and dread Sovereign, that after I first

received your resolute pleasure by Sir Thomas Heneage, I made neither

stop nor stay nor any excuse to be rid of this place, and to satisfy your

command. . . . So much I mislike this place and fortune of mine; as I

desire nothing in the world so much, as to be delivered, with your

favours from all charge here, fearing still some new cross of your

displeasure to fall upon me, trembling continually with the fear thereof,

in such sort as till I may be fully confirmed in my new regeneration of

your wonted favour I cannot receive that true comfort which doth

appertain to so great a hope. Yet I will not only acknowledge with all

humbleness and dutiful thanks the exceeding joy these last blessed lines

brought to my long-wearied heart, but will, with all true loyal

affection, attend that further joy from your sweet self which may

utterly, extinguish all consuming fear away."

Poor Heneage--who likewise received a kind word or two after having been

so capriciously and petulantly dealt with was less extravagant in his

expressions of gratitude. "The Queen hath sent me a paper-plaister which

must please for a time," he said. "God Almighty bless her Majesty ever,

and best direct her." He was on the point of starting for England, the

bearer of the States' urgent entreaties that Leicester might retain the

government, and of despatches; announcing the recent success of the

allies before Grave. "God prospereth the action in these countries beyond

all expectation," he said, "which all amongst you will not be over glad

of, for somewhat I know." The intrigues of Grafigni, Champagny, and

Bodman, with Croft, Burghley, and the others were not so profound a

secret as they could wish.

The tone adopted by Leicester has been made manifest in his letters to

the Queen. He had held the same language of weariness and dissatisfaction

in his communications to his friends. He would not keep the office, he

avowed, if they should give him "all Holland and Zeeland, with all their

appurtenances," and he was ready to resign at any moment. He was not

"ceremonious for reputation," he said, but he gave warning that the

Netherlanders would grow desperate if they found her Majesty dealing

weakly or carelessly with them. As for himself he had already had enough

of government. "I am weary, Mr. Secretary," he plaintively exclaimed,

"indeed I am weary; but neither of pains nor travail. My ill hap that I

can please her Majesty no better hath quite discouraged me."

He had recently, however--as we have seen--received some comfort, and he

was still further encouraged, upon the eve of Heneage's departure, by

receiving another affectionate epistle from the Queen. Amends seemed at

last to be offered for her long and angry silence, and the Earl was

deeply grateful.

"If it hath not been, my most dear and gracious Lady," said he in reply,

"no small comfort to your poor old servant to receive but one line of

your blessed hand-writing in many months, for the relief of a most

grieved, wounded heart, how far more exceeding joy must it be, in the

midst of all sorrow, to receive from the same sacred hand so many

comfortable lines as my good friend Mr. George hath at once brought me.

Pardon me, my sweet Lady, if they cause me to forget myself. Only this I

do say, with most humble dutiful thanks, that the scope of all my service

hath ever been to content and please you; and if I may do that, then is

all sacrifice, either of life or whatsoever, well offered for you."

The matter of the government absolute having been so fully discussed

during the preceding four months, and the last opinions of the

state-council having been so lucidly expounded in the despatches to be

carried by Heneage to England, the matter might be considered as

exhausted. Leicester contented himself, therefore, with once more calling

her Majesty's attention to the fact that if he had not himself accepted

the office thus conferred upon him by the States, it would have been

bestowed upon some other personage. It would hardly have comported with

her dignity, if Count Maurice of Nassau, or Count William, or Count

Moeurs, had been appointed governor absolute, for in that case the Earl,

as general of the auxiliary English force, would have been subject to the

authority of the chieftain thus selected. It was impossible, as the

state-council had very plainly shown, for Leicester to exercise supreme

authority, while merely holding the military office of her Majesty's

lieutenant-general. The authority of governor or stadholder could only be

derived from the supreme power of the country. If her Majesty had chosen

to accept the sovereignty, as the States had ever desired, the requisite

authority could then have been derived from her, as from the original

fountain. As she had resolutely refused that offer however, his authority

was necessarily to be drawn from the States-General, or else the Queen

must content herself with seeing him serve as an English military

officer, only subject to the orders of the supreme power, wherever that

power might reside. In short, Elizabeth's wish that her general might be

clothed with the privileges of her viceroy, while she declined herself to

be the sovereign, was illogical, and could not be complied with.

Very soon after inditing these last epistles to the Provinces, the Queen

became more reasonable on the subject; and an elaborate communication was

soon received by the state-council, in which the royal acquiescence was

signified to the latest propositions of the States. The various topics,

suggested in previous despatches from Leicester and from the council,

were reviewed, and the whole subject was suddenly placed in a somewhat

different light from that in which it seemed to have been previously

regarded by her Majesty. She alluded to the excuse, offered by the

state-council, which had been drawn from the necessity of the case, and

from their "great liking for her cousin of Leicester," although in

violation of the original contract. "As you acknowledge, however," she

said, "that therein you were justly to be blamed, and do crave pardon for

the same, we cannot, upon this acknowledgment of your fault, but remove

our former dislike."

Nevertheless it would now seem that her "mistake" had proceeded, not from

the excess, but from the insufficiency of the powers conferred upon the

Earl, and she complained, accordingly, that they had given him shadow

rather than substance.

Simultaneously with this royal communication, came a joint letter to

Leicester, from Burghley, Walsingham; and Hatton, depicting the long and

strenuous conflict which they had maintained in his behalf with the

rapidly varying inclinations of the Queen. They expressed a warm sympathy

with the difficulties of his position, and spoke in strong terms of the

necessity that the Netherlands and England should work heartily together.

For otherwise, they said, "the cause will fall, the enemy will rise, and

we must stagger." Notwithstanding the secret negotiations with the enemy,

which Leicester and Walsingham suspected, and which will be more fully

examined in a subsequent chapter, they held a language on that subject,

which in the Secretary's mouth at least was sincere. "Whatsoever speeches

be blown abroad of parleys of peace," they said, "all will be but smoke,

yea fire will follow."

They excused themselves for their previous and enforced silence by the

fact that they had been unable to communicate any tidings but messages of

distress, but they now congratulated the Earl that her Majesty, as he

would see by her letter to the council, was firmly resolved, not only to

countenance his governorship, but to sustain him in the most thorough

manner. It would be therefore quite out of the question for them to

listen to his earnest propositions to be recalled.

Moreover, the Lord Treasurer had already apprized Leicester that Heneage

had safely arrived in England, that he, had made his report to the Queen,

and that her Majesty was "very well contented with him and his mission."

It may be easily believed that the Earl would feel a sensation of relief,

if not of triumph, at this termination to the embarrassments under which

he had been labouring ever since, he listened to the oration of the wise

Leoninus upon New Years' Day. At last the Queen had formally acquiesced

in the action of the States, and in his acceptance of their offer. He now

saw himself undisputed "governor absolute," having been six months long a

suspected, discredited, almost disgraced man. It was natural that he

should express himself cheerfully.

"My great comfort received, oh my most gracious Lady," he said, "by your

most favourable lines written by your own sacred hand, I did most humbly

acknowledge by my former letter; albeit I can no way make testimony of

enough of the great joy I took thereby. And seeing my wounded heart is by

this means almost made whole, I do pray unto God that either I may never

feel the like again from you, or not be suffered to live, rather than I

should fall again into those torments of your displeasure. Most gracious

Queen, I beseech you, therefore, make perfect that which you have begun.

Let not the common danger, nor any ill, incident to the place I serve you

in, be accompanied with greater troubles and fears indeed than all the

horrors of death can bring me. My strong hope doth now so assure me, as I

have almost won the battle against despair, and I do arm myself with as

many of those wonted comfortable conceits as may confirm my new revived

spirits, reposing myself evermore under the shadow of those blessed beams

that must yield the only nourishment to this disease."

But however nourishing the shade of those blessed beams might prove to

Leicester's disease, it was not so easy to bring about a very sunny

condition in the Provinces. It was easier for Elizabeth to mend the

broken heart of the governor than to repair the damage which had been

caused to the commonwealth by her caprice and her deceit. The dispute

concerning the government absolute had died away, but the authority of

the Earl had got a "crack in it" which never could be handsomely made

whole. The States, during the long period of Leicester's

discredit--feeling more and more doubtful as to the secret intentions of

Elizabeth--disappointed in the condition of the auxiliary troops and in

the amount of supplies furnished from England, and, above all, having had

time to regret their delegation of a power which they began to find

agreeable to exercise with their own hands, became indisposed to entrust

the Earl with the administration and full inspection of their resources.

To the enthusiasm which had greeted the first arrival of Elizabeth's

representative had succeeded a jealous, carping, suspicious sentiment.

The two hundred thousand florins monthly were paid, according to the

original agreement, but the four hundred thousand of extra service-money

subsequently voted were withheld, and withheld expressly on account of

Heneage's original mission to disgrace the governor.

"The late return of Sir Thomas Heneage," said Lord North, "hath put such

busses in their heads, as they march forward with leaden heels and

doubtful hearts."

In truth, through the discredit cast by the Queen upon the Earl in this

important affair, the supreme authority was forced back into the hands of

the States, at the very moment when they had most freely divested

themselves of power. After the Queen had become more reasonable, it was

too late to induce them to part, a second time, so freely with the

immediate control of their own affairs. Leicester had become, to a

certain extent, disgraced and disliked by the Estates. He thought

himself, by the necessity of the case, forced to appeal to the people

against their legal representatives, and thus the foundation of a

nominally democratic party, in opposition to the municipal one, was

already laid. Nothing could be more unfortunate at that juncture; for we

shall, in future, find the Earl in perpetual opposition to the most

distinguished statesmen in the Provinces; to the very men indeed who had

been most influential in offering the sovereignty to England, and in

placing him in the position which he had so much coveted. No sooner

therefore had he been confirmed by Elizabeth in that high office than his

arrogance broke forth, and the quarrels between himself and the

representative body became incessant.

"I stand now in somewhat better terms than I did," said he; "I was not in

case till of late to deal roundly with them as I have now done. I have

established a chamber of finances, against some of their wills, whereby I

doubt not to procure great benefit to increase our ability for payments

hereafter. The people I find still best devoted to her Majesty, though of

late many lewd practices have been used to withdraw their good wills. But

it will not be; they still pray God that her Majesty may be their

sovereign. She should then see what a contribution they will all bring

forth. But to the States they will never return, which will breed some

great mischief, there is such mislike of the States universally. I would

your Lordship had seen the case I had lived in among them these four

months, especially after her Majesty's mislike was found. You would then

marvel to see how I have waded, as I have done, through no small

obstacles, without help, counsel, or assistance."

Thus the part which he felt at last called upon to enact was that

of an aristocratic demagogue, in perpetual conflict with the

burgher-representative body.

It is now necessary to lift a corner of the curtain, by which some

international--or rather interpalatial--intrigues were concealed, as much

as possible, even from the piercing eyes of Walsingham. The Secretary

was, however, quite aware--despite the pains taken to deceive him--of the

nature of the plots and of the somewhat ignoble character of the actors

concerned in them.

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

A hard bargain when both parties are losers

Condemned first and inquired upon after

Disordered, and unknit state needs no shaking, but propping

Upper and lower millstones of royal wrath and loyal subserviency

Uttering of my choler doth little ease my grief or help my case

HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS

From the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce--1609

By John Lothrop Motley

History of the United Netherlands, Volume 46, 1586