Richard Cavendish—­than whom few had better opportunities of judging—­spoke in strong language on the subject.  “It is a thing almost incredible,” said he, “that the care and diligence of any, one man living could, in so small time; have so much repaired so disjointed and loose an estate as my Lord found this country, in.  But lest he should swell in pride of that his good success, your Lordship knoweth that God hath so tempered the cause with the construction thereof, as may well hold him in good consideration of human things.”  He alluded with bitterness—­as did all men in the Netherlands who were not open or disguised Papists—­to the fatal rumours concerning the peace-negotiation in connection with the recall of Leicester.  “There be here advertisements of most fearful instance,” he said, “namely, that Champagny doth not spare most liberally to bruit abroad that he hath in his hands the conditions of peace offered by her Majesty unto the King his master, and that it is in his power to conclude at pleasure—­which fearful and mischievous plot, if in time it be not met withal by some notable encounter, it cannot but prove the root of great ruin.”

The “false boys” about Leicester were indefatigable in spreading these rumours, and in taking advantage—­with the assistance of the Papists in the obedient Provinces and in England—­of the disgraced condition in which the Queen had placed the favourite.  Most galling to the haughty Earl—­most damaging to the cause of England, Holland, and, liberty—­were the tales to his discredit, which circulated on the Bourse at Antwerp, Middelburg, Amsterdam, and in all the other commercial centres.  The most influential bankers and merchants, were assured—­by a thousand chattering—­but as it were invisible—­tongues, that the Queen had for a long time disliked Leicester; that he was a man of no account among the statesmen of England; that he was a beggar and a bankrupt; that, if he had waited two months longer, he would have made his appearance in the Provinces with one man and one boy for his followers; that the Queen had sent him thither to be rid of him; that she never intended him to have more authority than Sir John Norris had; that she could not abide the bestowing the title of Excellency upon him, and that she had not disguised her fury at his elevation to the post of governor-general.

All who attempted a refutation of these statements were asked, with a sneer, whether her Majesty had ever written a line to him, or in commendation of him, since his arrival.  Minute inquiries were made by the Dutch merchants of their commercial correspondents, both in their own country and in England, as to Leicester’s real condition and character. at home.  What was his rank, they asked, what his ability, what:  his influence at court?  Why, if he were really of so high quality as had been reported, was he thus neglected, and at last disgraced?  Had he any landed property in England?  Had he really ever held any