“To whom did he make that promise?” asked the Earl.

“To Sir Philip Sidney,” answered the Captain.

“To my nephew Sidney,” said Leicester, musingly; “very well; do as you think best, and I will do for you what I can.”

And the governor then added many kind expressions concerning the interest he felt in the young man’s reputation.  Passing to other matters, Morris then spoke of the great charges he had recently been put to by reason of having exchanged out of the States’ service in order to accept a commission from his Lordship to levy a company of horse.  This levy had cost him and his friends three hundred pounds, for which he had not been able to “get one groat.”

“I beseech your Lordship to stand good for me,” said he; “considering the meanest captain in all the country hath as good entertainment as I.”

“I can do but little for you before my departure,” said Leicester; “but at my return I will advise to do more.”

After this amicable conversation Morris thanked his Lordship, took his leave, and straightway wrote his letter to Count Hollock.

That personage, in his answer, expressed astonishment that Norris should summon him, in his “weakness and indisposition;” but agreed to give him the desired meeting; with sword and dagger, so soon as he should be sufficiently recovered.  Morris, in reply, acknowledged his courteous promise, and hoped that he might be speedily restored to health.

The state-council, sitting at the Hague, took up the matter at once however, and requested immediate information of the Earl.  He accordingly sent for Norris and his brother Sir John, who waited upon him in his bed-chamber, and were requested to set down in writing the reasons which had moved them in the matter.  This statement was accordingly furnished, together with a copy of the correspondence.  The Earl took the papers, and promised to allow most honourably of it in the Council.

Such is the exact narrative, word for word, as given by Sir John and Edward Norris, in a solemn memorial to the Lords of Her Majesty’s privy council, as well as to the state-council of the United Provinces.  A very few days afterwards Leicester departed for England, taking Edward Norris with him.

Count Hohenlo was furious at the indignity, notwithstanding the polite language in which he had accepted the challenge. “’T was a matter punishable with death,” he said, “in all kingdoms and countries, for a simple captain to send such a summons to a man of his station, without consent of the supreme authority.  It was plain,” he added, “that the English governor-general had connived at the affront,” for Norris had been living in his family and dining at his table.  Nay, more, Lord Leicester had made him a knight at Flushing just before their voyage to England.  There seems no good reason to doubt the general veracity of the brothers Norris, although, for the express purpose of screening Leicester, Sir