“For mine own part,” he said, “I have taken upon me this voyage, not as a desperate nor forlorn man, but as one as well contented with his place and calling at home as any subject was ever.  My cause was not, nor is, any other than the Lord’s and the Queen’s.  If the Queen fail, yet must I trust in the Lord, and on Him, I see, I am wholly to depend.  I can say no more, but pray to God that her Majesty never send General again as I am sent.  And yet I will do what I can for her and my country.”

The Earl had raised a choice body of lancers to accompany him to the Netherlands, but the expense of the levy had come mainly upon his own purse.  The Queen had advanced five thousand pounds, which was much less than the requisite amount, while for the balance required, as well as for other necessary expenses, she obstinately declined to furnish Leicester with funds, even refusing him, at last, a temporary loan.  She violently accused him of cheating her, reclaimed money which he had wrung from her on good security, and when he had repaid the sum, objected to give him a discharge.  As for receiving anything by way of salary, that was quite out of the question.  At that moment he would have been only too happy to be reimbursed for what he was already out of pocket.  Whether Elizabeth loved Leicester as a brother, or better than a brother, may be a historical question, but it is no question at all that she loved money better than she did Leicester.  Unhappy the man, whether foe or favourite, who had pecuniary transactions with her Highness.

“I am sorry,” said the Earl, “that her Majesty hath so hard a conceit of me, that I should go about to cozen her, as though I had got a fee simple from her, and had it not before, or that I had not had her full release for payment of the money I borrowed.  I pray God, any that did put such scruple in her, have not deceived her more than I have done.  I thank God I have a clear conscience for deceiving her, and for money matters.  I think I may justly say I have been the only cause of more gain to her coffers than all her chequer-men have been.  But so is the hap of some, that all they do is nothing, and others that do nothing, do all, and have all the thanks.  But I would this were all the grief I carry with me; but God is my comfort, and on Him I cast all, for there is no surety in this world beside.  What hope of help can I have, finding her Majesty so strait with myself as she is?  I did trust that—­the cause being hers and this realm’s—­if I could have gotten no money of her merchants, she would not have refused to have lent money on so easy prized land as mine, to have been gainer and no loser by it.  Her Majesty, I see, will make trial of me how I love her, and what will discourage me from her service.  But resolved am I that no worldly respect shall draw me back from my faithful discharge of my duty towards her, though she shall show to hate me, as it goeth very near; for I find no love or favour