use.  I am sure you can credit him, and so I will be short with these few notes.  First, that Count Maurice and Count Hollock (Hohenlo) find themselves trusted of you, esteemed of me, and to be carefully regarded, if ever peace should happen, and of that assure them on my word, that yet never deceived any.  And for Norris and other captains that voluntarily, without commandment, have many years ventured their lives and won our nation honour and themselves fame, let them not be discouraged by any means, neither by new-come men nor by old trained soldiers elsewhere.  If there be fault in using of soldiers, or making of profit by them, let them hear of it without open shame, and doubt not I will well chasten them therefore.  It frets me not a little that the poor soldiers that hourly venture life should want their due, that well deserve rather reward; and look, in whom the fault may truly be proved, let them smart therefore.  And if the treasurer be found untrue or negligent, according to desert he shall be used.  But you know my old wont, that love not to discharge from office without desert.  God forbid!  I pray you let this bearer know what may be learned herein, and for the treasure I have joined Sir Thomas Shirley to see all this money discharged in due sort, where it needeth and behoveth.

“Now will I end, that do imagine I talk still with you, and therefore loathly say farewell one hundred thousand times; though ever I pray God bless you from all harm, and save you from all foes.  With my million and legion of thanks for all your pains and cares,

“As you know ever the same,

“E.  R.

“P.  S. Let Wilkes see that he is acceptable to you.  If anything there be that W. shall desire answer of be such as you would have but me to know, write it to myself.  You know I can keep both others’ counsel and mine own.  Mistrust not that anything you would have kept shall be disclosed by me, for although this bearer ask many things, yet you may answer him such as you shall think meet, and write to me the rest.”

Thus, not even her favourite Leicester’s misrepresentations could make the Queen forget her ancient friendship for “her own crow;” but meantime the relations between that “bunch of brethren,” black Norris and the rest, and Pelham, Hollock, and other high officers in Leicester’s army, had grown worse than ever.

One August evening there was a supper-party at Count Hollock’s quarters in Gertruydenberg.  A military foray into Brabant had just taken place, under the lead of the Count, and of the Lord Marshal, Sir William Pelham.  The marshal had requested Lord Willoughby, with his troop of horse and five hundred foot, to join in the enterprise, but, as usual, particular pains had been taken that Sir John Norris should know nothing of the affair.  Pelham and Hollock—­who was “greatly in love with Mr. Pelham”—­had invited several other gentlemen high in Leicester’s confidence to accompany the expedition; and, among the rest, Sir