have given you warning.  And I give you one now.”  He then stated, as a fact known to him on unquestionable authority, that the Earl of Leicester had assassins at that moment in his employ to take the life of Count Lewis, adding that as for the trumpeter, who had just been hanged for the crime suborned by the writer, he was a most notorious lunatic.  In reply, Lewis, while he ridiculed this plea of insanity set up for a culprit who had confessed his crime succinctly and voluntarily, expressed great contempt for the counter-charge against Leicester.  “His Excellency,” said the sturdy little Count, “is a virtuous gentleman, the most pious and God-fearing I have ever known.  I am very sure that he could never treat his enemies in the manner stated, much less his friends.  As for yourself, may God give me grace, in requital of your knavish trick, to make such a war upon you as becomes an upright soldier and a man of honour.”

Thus there was at least one man—­and a most important, one—­in the opposition—­party who thoroughly believed in the honour of the governor-general.

The Queen then proceeded to lecture Lord Buckhurst very severely for having tolerated an instant the States’ proposition to her for a loan of L50,000.  “The enemy,” she observed, “is quite unable to attempt the siege of any town.”

Buckhurst was, however, instructed, in case the States’ million should prove insufficient to enable the army to make head against the enemy, and in the event of “any alteration of the good-will of the people towards her, caused by her not yielding, in this their necessity, some convenient support,” to let them then understand, “as of himself, that if they would be satisfied with a loan of ten or fifteen thousand pounds, he, would do his best endeavour to draw her Majesty to yield unto the furnishing of such a sum, with assured hope to obtaining the same at her hands.”

Truly Walsingham was right in saying that charges of any kind were difficult of digestion:  Yet, even at that moment, Elizabeth had no more attached subjects in England than sere the burghers of the Netherlands; who were as anxious ever to annex their territory to her realms.

’Thus, having expressed an affection for Leicester which no one doubted, having once more thoroughly brow-beaten the states, and having soundly lectured Buckhurst—­as a requital for his successful efforts to bring about a more wholesome condition of affairs—­she gave the envoy a parting stab, with this postscript;—­“There is small disproportion,” she said “twist a fool who useth not wit because he hath it not, and him that useth it not when it should avail him.”  Leicester, too, was very violent in his attacks upon Buckhurst.  The envoy had succeeded in reconciling Hohenlo with the brothers Norris, and had persuaded Sir John to offer the hand of friendship to Leicester, provided it were sure of being accepted.  Yet in this desire to conciliate, the Earl found renewed