Of enthusiasm and courage, then, there was enough, while of drill and discipline, of powder and shot, there was a deficiency.  No braver or more competent soldier could be found than Sir Edward Stanley—­the man whom we have seen in his yellow jerkin, helping himself into Fort Zutphen with the Spanish soldier’s pike—­and yet Sir Edward Stanley gave but a sorry account of the choicest soldiers of Chester and Lancashire, whom he had been sent to inspect.  “I find them not,” he said, “according to your expectation, nor mine own liking.  They were appointed two years past to have been trained six days by the year or more, at the discretion of the muster-master, but, as yet, they have not been trained one day, so that they have benefited nothing, nor yet know their leaders.  There is now promise of amendment, which, I doubt, will be very slow, in respect to my Lord Derby’s absence.”

My Lord Derby was at that moment, and for many months afterwards, assisting Valentine Dale in his classical prolusions on the sands of Bourbourg.  He had better have been mustering the trainbands of Lancashire.  There was a general indisposition in the rural districts to expend money and time in military business, until the necessity should become imperative.  Professional soldiers complained bitterly of the canker of a long peace.  “For our long quietness, which it hath pleased God to send us,” said Stanley, “they think their money very ill bestowed which they expend on armour or weapon, for that they be in hope they shall never have occasion to use it, so they may pass muster, as they have done heretofore.  I want greatly powder, for there is little or none at all.”

The day was fast approaching when all the power in England would be too little for the demand.  But matters had not very much mended even at midsummer.  It is true that Leicester, who was apt to be sanguine-particularly in matters under his immediate control—­spoke of the handful of recruits assembled at his camp in Essex, as “soldiers of a year’s experience, rather than a month’s camping;” but in this opinion he differed from many competent authorities, and was somewhat in contradiction to himself.  Nevertheless he was glad that the Queen had determined to visit him, and encourage his soldiers.

“I have received in secret,” he said, “those news that please me, that your Majesty doth intend to behold the poor and bare company that lie here in the field, most willingly to serve you, yea, most ready to die for you.  You shall, dear Lady, behold as goodly, loyal, and as able men as any prince Christian can show you, and yet but a handful of your own, in comparison of the rest you have.  What comfort not only these shall receive who shall be the happiest to behold yourself I cannot express; but assuredly it will give no small comfort to the rest, that shall be overshined with the beams of so gracious and princely a party, for what your royal Majesty shall do to these will be accepted as done