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.”