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.
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CHAPTER VII. 1586, 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.