Now supreme executive authority had been delegated to the state-council by the Governor-General during his absence.  Command in chief over all the English forces, whether in the Queen’s pay or the State’s pay, had been conferred upon Norris, while command over the Dutch and German troops belonged to Hohenlo; but, by virtue of the Earl’s secret paper, Stanley and York were now made independent of all authority.  The evil consequences natural to such a step were not slow in displaying themselves.

Stanley at once manifested great insolence towards Norris.  That distinguished general was placed in a most painful position.  A post of immense responsibility was confided to him.  The honour of England’s Queen and of England’s soldiers was entrusted to his keeping; at a moment full of danger, and in a country where every hour might bring forth some terrible change; yet he knew himself the mark at which the most powerful man in England was directing all his malice, and that the Queen, who was wax in her great favourite’s hands, was even then receiving the most fatal impressions as to his character and conduct.  “Well I know,” said he to Burghley, “that the root of the former malice borne me is not withered, but that I must look for like fruits therefrom as before;” and he implored the Lord-Treasurer, that when his honour and reputation should be called in question, he might be allowed to return to England and clear himself.  “For myself,” said he, “I have not yet received any commission, although I have attended his Lordship of Leicester to his ship.  It is promised to be sent me, and in the meantime I understand that my Lord hath granted separate commissions to Sir William Stanley and Roland York, exempting them from obeying of me.  If this be true, ’tis only done to nourish factions, and to interrupt any better course in our doings than before hath been.”  He earnestly requested to be furnished with a commission directly from her Majesty.  “The enemy is reinforcing,” he added.  “We are very weak, our troops are unpaid these three months, and we are grown odious, to our friends.”

Honest Councillor Wilkes, who did his best to conciliate all parties, and to do his duty to England and Holland, to Leicester and to Norris, had the strongest sympathy with Sir John.  “Truly, besides the value, wisdom, and many other good parts that are in him,” he said, “I have noted wonderful patience and modesty in the man, in bearing many apparent injuries done unto him, which I have known to be countenanced and nourished, contrary to all reason, to disgrace him.  Please therefore continue your honourable opinion of him in his absence, whatsoever may be maliciously reported to his disadvantage, for I dare avouch, of my own poor skill, that her Majesty hath not a second subject of his place and quality able to serve in those countries as he . . . . .  I doubt not God will move her Majesty, in despite of the devil, to respect him as he deserves.”