is young suitor had unawares
engaged her affections. To render Simier odious, he availed himself of
the credulity of the times, and spread reports, that that minister had
gained an ascendant over the Queen, not by any natural principles of her
constitution, but by incantations and love potions. Simier, in revenge,
endeavored to discredit Leicester with the queen; and he revealed to
her a secret, which none of her courtiers dared to disclose, that this
nobleman was secretly, without her consent, married to the widow of the
earl of Essex; an action which the queen interpreted either to
proceed from want of respect to her, or as a violation of their mutual
attachment; and which so provoked her, that she threatened to send him
to the Tower.[*]

* Camden, p. 471.

The quarrel went so far between Leicester and the French agent, that the
former was suspected of having employed one Tudor, a bravo, to take
away the life of his enemy and the queen thought it necessary, by
proclamation, to take Simier under her immediate protection. It
happened, that while Elizabeth was rowed in her barge on the Thames,
attended by Simier and some of her courtiers, a shot was fired, which
wounded one of the bargemen; but the queen, finding, upon inquiry, that
the piece had been discharged by accident, gave the person his liberty
without further punishment. So far was she from entertaining any
suspicion against her people, that she was often heard to say, "that
she would lend credit to nothing against them, which parents would not
believe of their own children."[*]

The duke of Anjou, encouraged by the accounts sent him of the queen's
prepossessions in his favor, paid her secretly a visit at Greenwich; and
after some conference with her, the purport of which is not known, he
departed. It appeared that, though his figure; was not advantageous, he
had lost no ground by being personally known to her; and soon after, she
commanded Burleigh, now treasurer, Sussex, Leicester, Bedford, Lincoln,
Hatton, and Secretary Walsingham, to concert with the French ambassadors
the terms of the intended contract of marriage. Henry had sent over,
on this occasion, a splendid embassy, consisting of Francis de Bourbon,
prince of Dauphiny, and many considerable noblemen; and as the queen
had in a manner the power of prescribing what terms she pleased, the
articles were soon settled with the English commissioners. It was
agreed, that the marriage should be celebra