Leicester and the Belgians tremble; and the explanations and humble
submissions of both parties were found scarcely sufficient to appease
her. At the same time, the incapacity and misconduct of Leicester as a
commander were daily becoming more conspicuous and offensive in the eyes
of the Dutch authorities; and the most serious evils would immediately
have ensued, but for the prudence, the magnanimity, the conciliating
behaviour, and the strenuous exertions, by which his admirable nephew
labored unceasingly to remedy his vices and cover his deficiencies.

The brilliant valor of the English troops, and particularly of the young
nobility and gentry who led them on, was conspicuous in every encounter;
but the want of a chief able to cope with that accomplished general the
prince of Parma, precluded them from effecting any important object.
Philip Sidney distinguished himself by a well-conducted surprise of the
town of Axel, and received in reward among a number of others the honor
of knighthood from the hands of his uncle. Afterwards, having made an
attack with the horse under his command on a reinforcement which the
enemy was attempting to throw into Zutphen, a hot action ensued, in
which though the advantage remained with the English, it was dearly
purchased by the blood of their gallant leader, who received a shot
above the knee, which after sixteen days of acute suffering brought his
valuable life to its termination.

Thus perished at the early age of thirty-two sir Philip Sidney, the
pride and pattern of his time, the theme of song, the favorite of
English story. The beautiful anecdote of his resigning to the dying
soldier the draught of water with which he was about to quench his
thirst as he rode faint and bleeding from the fatal field, is told to
every child, and inspires a love and reverence for his name which never
ceases to cling about the hearts of his countrymen. He is regarded as
the most perfect example which English history affords of the _preux
Chevalier_; and is named in parallel with the spotless and fearless
Bayard the glory of Frenchmen, whom he excelled in all the
accomplishments of peace as much as the other exceeded him in the number
and splendor of his military achievements.

The demonstrations of grief for his loss, and the honors paid to his
memory, went far beyond all former example, and appeared to exceed what
belonged to a private citizen. The court went into mourning for him, and
his remains