as nominated one of the commissioners
for the trial of Mary Queen of Scots, and at that time was of the
privy council, but his lordship is not mentioned amongst the peers
who met at Fotheringay Castle and condemned the Queen; yet when the
parliament had confirmed the sentence, he was made choice of to convey
the news to her Majesty, and see their determination put in execution
against that beauteous Princess; possibly because he was a man of fine
accomplishments, and tenderness of disposition, and could manage so
delicate a point with more address than any other courtier. In the
succeeding year he was sent ambassador to the States of the United
Provinces, upon their dislike of the earl of Leicester's proceedings
in a great many respects, there to examine the business, and compose
the difference: He faithfully discharged this invidious office, but
thereby incurred the earl of Leicester's displeasure; who prevailed
with the Queen, as he was her favourite, to call the lord Buckhurst
home, and confine him to his house for nine months; but surviving
that earl, the Queen's favour returned, and he was elected the April
following, without his knowledge, one of the Knights of the most noble
Order of the Garter. He was one of the peers that sat on the trial of
Philip Howard, earl of Arundel. In the 4th year of the Queen's reign
he was joined with the Lord Treasurer Burleigh, in promoting a peace
with Spain; in which trust he was so successful, that the High Admiral
of Holland was sent over by the States, of the United Provinces, to
renew their treaty with the crown of England, being afraid of its
union with Spain. Lord Buckhurst had the sole management of that
negotiation (as Burleigh then lay sick) and Concluded a treaty with
him, by which his mistress was eased of no less than 120,000 l. per
annum, besides other advantages.

His lordship succeeded Sir Christopher Hatton, in the Chancellorship
of the university of Oxford, in opposition to Robert Devereux, earl
of Essex, Master of the Horse to the Queen, who a little before was
incorporated master of arts in the said university, to capacitate him
for that office; but on receipt of letters from her Majesty in favour
of lord Buckhurst, the Academicians elected him Chancellor on the
17th of December following. On the death of lord Burleigh, the Queen
considering the great services he had done his country, which had cost
him immense expences, was pleased to constitute him in the 41st