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