Certainly, when the blasts of royal rage are remembered, by which the envoy had been, as it were, blown out of England into Holland, it is astonishing to find his actions censured for undue precipitancy.  But it was not the, first, nor was it likely to be the last time, for comparatively subordinate agents in Elizabeth’s government to be, distressed by, contradictory commands, when the sovereign did not know or did not chose to make known, her own mind on important occasions.  “Well, my Lord,” said plaintive Sir Thomas, “wiser men may serve more pleasingly and happily, but never shall any serve her Majesty more, faithfully and heartily.  And so I cannot be persuaded her Majesty thinketh; for from herself I find nothing but most sweet and—­gracious, favour, though by others’ censures I may gather otherwise of her judgment; which I confess, doth cumber me.”

He was destined to be cumbered more than once before these negotiations should be concluded; but meantime; there was a brief gleam of sunshine.  The English friends of Leicester in the Netherlands were enchanted with the sudden change in the Queen’s humour; and to Lord Burghley, who was not, in reality, the most stanch of the absent Earl’s defenders, they poured themselves out in profuse and somewhat superfluous gratitude.

Cavendish, in strains exultant, was sure that Burghley’s children, grand-children, and remotest posterity, would rejoice that their great ancestor, in such a time of need had been “found and felt to be indeed a ‘pater patria,’ a good-father to a happy land.”  And, although unwilling to “stir up the old Adam” in his Lordship’s soul, he yet took the liberty of comparing the Lord Treasurer, in his old and declining years with Mary Magdalen; assuring him, that for ever after; when the tale of the preservation of the Church of God, of her Majesty; and of the Netherland cause; which were all one, should be told; his name and well-doing would be held in memory also.

And truly there was much of honest and generous enthusiasm, even if couched in language somewhat startling to the ears of a colder and more material age; in the hearts of these noble volunteers.  They were fighting the cause of England, of the Netherland republic, and of human liberty; with a valour worthy the best days of English’ chivalry, against manifold obstacles, and they were certainly; not too often cheered by the beams of royal favour.

It was a pity that a dark cloud was so soon again to sweep over the scene:  For the temper of Elizabeth at this important juncture seemed as capricious:  as the:  April weather in which the scenes were enacting.  We have seen the genial warmth of her letters and messages to Leicester, to Heneage,—­to the States-General; on the first of the month.  Nevertheless it was hardly three weeks after they had been despatched when Walsingham and Burghley found, her Majesty one morning a towering passion, because, the Earl had not already laid down the government.