er could be made fully sensible of his
vices and incapacity: the submissions which he made her restored him to
her wonted favor; and Lord Buckhurst, who had accused him of misconduct
in Holland, lost her confidence for some time, and was even committed to
custody.

* Bentivoglio, part ii. lib. iv. Strype, vol. iv. No. 246.

* Rymer, tom. xv. p. 66.

Sir Christopher Hatton was another favorite who at this time received
some marks of her partiality. Though he had never followed the
profession of the law, he was made chancellor, in the place of Bromley,
deceased; but, notwithstanding all the expectations, and perhaps
wishes of the lawyers, he behaved in a manner not unworthy of that high
station: his good natural capacity supplied the place of experience and
study; and his decisions were not found deficient, either in point of
equity or judgment. His enemies had contributed to this promotion, in
hopes that his absence from court, while he attended the business of
chancery, would gradually estrange the queen from him, and give them an
opportunity of undermining him in her favor.

{1568.} These little intrigues and cabals of the court were silenced by
the account which came from all quarters, of the vast preparations
made by the Spaniards for the invasion of England, and for the entire
conquest of that kingdom. Philip, though he had not yet declared war on
account of the hostilities which Elizabeth every where committed upon
him, had long harbored a secret and violent desire of revenge against
her. His ambition also, and the hopes of extending his empire, were
much encouraged by the present prosperous state of his affairs; by the
conquest of Portugal, the acquisition of the East Indian commerce and
settlements, and the yearly importation of vast treasures from America.
The point on which he rested, his highest glory, the perpetual object of
his policy, was to support orthodoxy and exterminate heresy; and as the
power and credit of Elizabeth were the chief bulwark of the Protestants,
he hoped, if he could subdue that princess, to acquire the eternal
renown of reuniting the whole Christian world in the Catholic communion.
Above all, his indignation against his revolted subjects in the
Netherlands instigated him to attack the English, who had encouraged
that insurrection; and who, by their vicinity, were so well enabled to
support the Hollanders, that he could never hope to reduce these rebels,
while the power of