History of the United Netherlands, 1587



CHAPTER XIV.

Leicester in England--Trial of the Queen of Scots--Fearful
Perplexity at the English Court--Infatuation and Obstinacy of the
Queen--Netherland Envoys in England--Queen's bitter Invective
against them--Amazement of the Envoys--They consult with her chief
Councillors--Remarks of Burghley and Davison--Fourth of February
Letter from the States--Its severe Language towards Leicester--
Painful Position of the Envoys at Court--Queen's Parsimony towards
Leicester.

The scene shifts, for a brief interval, to England. Leicester had
reached the court late in November. Those "blessed beams," under whose
shade he was wont to find so much "refreshment and nutrition," had again
fallen with full radiance upon him. "Never since I was born," said he,
"did I receive a more gracious welcome."--[Leicester to 'Wilkes, 4 Dec.
1587. (S. P. Office MS)]--Alas, there was not so much benignity for the
starving English soldiers, nor for the Provinces, which were fast growing
desperate; but although their cause was so intimately connected with the
"great cause," which then occupied Elizabeth, almost to the exclusion of
other matter, it was, perhaps, not wonderful, although unfortunate, that
for a time the Netherlands should be neglected.

The "daughter of debate" had at last brought herself, it was supposed,
within the letter of the law, and now began those odious scenes of
hypocrisy on the part of Elizabeth, that frightful comedy--more