d the
"throne" that was offered to him; and it was only after ten days had
elapsed that he deigned to despatch a messenger to Elizabeth with news
of his promotion. Meanwhile, and long before his envoy, who was delayed
by storms on his journey, could reach the English Court, Elizabeth had
heard news of her favourite's presumption, and her Royal anger blazed
into flame at his insolence in daring to accept such honours without
consulting her pleasure.

She promptly despatched Sir Thomas Heneage, his whilom rival, to the
Netherlands armed with a scathing letter in which the Queen poured out
the vials of her wrath on Leicester's head.

"How contemptuously we conceive ourselves to have been
used," she wrote, "you shall by the bearer understand. We
could never have imagined, had we not seen it fall out in
experience, that a man raised up by ourself, and
extraordinarily favoured by us above any other subject of
this land, would have in so contemptible a sort broken
our commandment in a cause that so greatly toucheth us in
honour ... and therefore, our express pleasure and
commandment is that, all delays and excuses laid apart,
you do presently, upon the duty of your allegiance, obey
and fulfil whatsoever the bearer hereof shall direct you
to do in our name. Whereof fail you not, as you will
answer the contrary at your uttermost peril."

One can imagine Leicester's feelings on reading such words of Royal
anger and reproach from the woman who had always shown such indulgence
to him. His impulse was to resign his governorship forthwith, and to
hasten back to London to beg forgiveness on his knees; but before he
could give effect to this decision he had learned that Burghley had
interceded for him with the Queen to such effect that, supported by a
petition from the States-General, he was to be allowed to retain his
office with Elizabeth's reluctant consent.

A few months of rule, however, were sufficient to disillusionise the
Dutchmen. Leicester proved as incapable to govern a country, as to lead
an army. His arrogance, his outspoken contempt for his subjects, his
incompetence and his capricious temper, so thoroughly disgusted the
nation that had welcomed him with open arms, that he was asked to resign
his office as unanimously as he had been invited to accept it; and in
November of 1587, the Earl returned ignominiously to England, eager to
repair his damaged cr