On the other hand, Sir John maintained that his uncle’s accounts were always ready for examination, and earnestly begged the home-government not to condemn that functionary without a hearing.  For himself, he complained that he was uniformly kept in the background, left in ignorance of important enterprises, and sent on difficult duty with inadequate forces.  It was believed that Leicester’s course was inspired by envy, lest any military triumph that might be gained should redound to the glory of Sir John, one of the first commanders of the age, rather than to that of the governor-general.  He was perpetually thwarted, crossed, calumniated, subjected to coarse and indecent insults, even from such brave men as Lord North and Roger Williams, and in the very presence of the commander-in-chief, so that his talents were of no avail, and he was most anxious to be gone from the country.

Thus with the tremendous opposition formed to his government in the States-General, the incessant bickerings with the Norrises, the peculations of the treasurer, the secret negotiations with Spain, and the impossibility of obtaining money from home for himself or for his starving little army, the Earl was in anything but a comfortable position.  He was severely censured in England; but he doubted, with much reason, whether there were many who would take his office, and spend twenty thousand pounds sterling out of their own pockets, as he had done.  The Earl was generous and brave as man could be, full of wit, quick of apprehension; but inordinately vain, arrogant, and withal easily led by designing persons.  He stood up manfully for the cause in which he was embarked, and was most strenuous in his demands for money.  “Personally he cared,” he said, “not sixpence for his post; but would give five thousand sixpences, and six thousand shillings beside, to be rid of it;” but it was contrary to his dignity to “stand bucking with the States” for his salary.  “Is it reason,” he asked, “that I, being sent from so great a prince as our sovereign is, must come to strangers to beg my entertainment:  If they are to pay me, why is there no remembrance made of it by her Majesty’s letters, or some of the lords?”

The Earl and those around him perpetually and vehemently urged upon the Queen to reconsider her decision, and accept the sovereignty of the Provinces at once.  There was no other remedy for the distracted state of the country—­no other safeguard for England.  The Netherland people anxiously, eagerly desired it.  Her Majesty was adored by all the inhabitants, who would gladly hang the fellows called the States.  Lord North was of this opinion—­so was Cavendish.  Leicester had always held it.  “Sure I am,” he said, “there is but one way for our safety, and that is, that her Majesty may take that upon her which I fear she will not.”  Thomas Wilkes, who now made his appearance on the scene, held the same language.  This distinguished civilian had been sent by the Queen, early in August,