k still of her
majesty, being glad if his hurt and death might any way honor her
majesty; for hers he was whilst he lived, and God's he was sure to be if
he died. Prayed all men to think the cause was as well her majesty's as
the country's; and not to be discouraged; for you have seen such success
as may encourage us all; and this my hurt is the ordinance of God by the
hap of the war. Well, I pray God, if it be his will, save me his life;
even as well for her majesty's service sake, as for mine own
comfort[95]."

[Note 95: "Sidney Papers."]

Sir Henry Sidney was spared the anguish of following such a son to the
grave, having himself quitted the scene a few months before. It was in
1578 that he received orders to resign the government of Ireland, having
become obnoxious to the gentlemen of the English pale by his rigor in
levying certain assessments for the maintenance of troops and the
expenses of his own household, which they affirmed to be illegally
imposed. There is every reason to believe that their complaint was well
founded; but Elizabeth, refusing as usual to allow her prerogative to be
touched, imprisoned several Irish lawyers, who came to England to appeal
against the tax; and sir Henry, being able to prove that he had royal
warrant for what he had done, was finally exonerated by the
privy-council from all the charges which had been preferred against him,
and retained to the last his office of lord-president of Wales.

The sound judgement of sir Henry Sidney taught him, that his near
connexion with the earl of Leicester had its dangers as well as its
advantages; and observing the turn for show and expense with which it
served to inspire the younger members of his family, he would frequently
enjoin them "to consider more whose sons than whose nephews they were."
In fact, he was not able to lay up fortunes for them;--the offices he
held were higher in dignity than emolument; his spirit was noble and
munificent; and the following, among other anecdotes, may serve to show
that he himself was not averse to a certain degree of parade; at least
on particular occasions. The queen, standing once at a window of her
palace at Hampton-court, saw a gentleman approach escorted by two
hundred attendants on horseback; and turning to her courtiers, she asked
with some surprise, who this might be? But on being informed that it was
sir Henry Sidney, her lord deputy of Ireland and president of Wales, she
answered, "And he may w