counts of the Spanish weakness in those
countries, as served extremely to inflame the spirits of the nation to
future enterprises. The great mortality which the climate had produced
in his fleet was, as is usual, but a feeble restraint on the avidity and
sanguine hopes of young adventurers.[*] It is thought that Drake's fleet
first introduced the use of tobacco into England.

* Camden, p. 509.

The enterprises of Leicester were much less successful than those of
Drake. This man possessed neither courage nor capacity equal to the
trust reposed in him by the queen; and as he was the only bad choice she
made for any considerable employment, men naturally believed that she
had here been influenced by an affection still more partial than that of
friendship. He gained, at first, some advantage in an action against the
Spaniards; and threw succors into Grave, by which that place was enabled
to make a vigorous defence: but the cowardice of the governor, Van
Hemert, rendered all these efforts useless. He capitulated after a
feeble resistance; and being tried for his conduct, suffered a capital
punishment from the sentence of a court martial. The prince of Parma
next undertook the siege of Venlo, which was surrendered to him after
some resistance. The fate of Nuys was more dismal; being taken by
assault, while the garrison was treating of a capitulation. Rhimberg,
which was garrisoned by twelve hundred English, under the command of
Colonel Morgan, was afterwards besieged by the Spaniards; and Leicester,
thinking himself too weak to attempt raising the siege, endeavored to
draw off the prince of Parma by forming another enterprise. He first
attacked Doesberg, and succeeded: he then sat down before Zutphen, which
the Spanish general thought so important a fortress, that he hastened to
its relief. He made the marquis of Guasto advance with a convoy, which
he intended to throw into the place. They were favored by a fog; but
falling by accident on a body of English cavalry, a furious action
ensued, in which the Spaniards were worsted, and the marquis of Gonzaga,
an Italian nobleman of great reputation and family was slain. The
pursuit was stopped by the advance of the prince of Parma with the main
body of the Spanish army; and the English cavalry, on their return from
the field, found their advantage more than compensated by the loss
of Sir Philip Sidney, who, being mortally wounded in the action,
was carried off by the soldiers