History of the United Netherlands, 1586 part 1 | Page 7

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