the
perusal of many pious works, and the study of Boethius on consolation,
which she even undertook the task of translating. Essex, whom she
honored with a sight of her performance, was adroit enough to suggest to
the royal author, as a principal motive of his urgency with her to
restore Francis Bacon to her favor, the earnest desire which he felt
that her majesty's excellent translations should be viewed by those most
capable of appretiating their merits.

The indignation of Elizabeth against Henry's apostasy was not however so
violent as to exclude the politic consideration, that it was still her
interest to support the king of France against the king of Spain; and
besides continuing her wonted supplies, she soon after entered with him
into a new engagement, purporting that they should never make peace but
by mutual consent.

Bretagne was still the scene of action to the English auxiliaries. Under
sir John Norris, their able commander, they shared in the service of
wresting from the Spaniards, by whom they had been garrisoned, the towns
of Morlaix, Quimpercorentin and Brest; their valor was every where
conspicuous; and the eagerness of the young courtiers of Elizabeth to
share in the glory of these enterprises rose to a passion, which she
sometimes thought it necessary to repress with a show of severity; as in
the following instance related by Naunton.

Sir Charles Blount, afterwards lord Montjoy, "having twice or thrice
stolen away into Bretagne (where under sir John Norris he had then a
company) without the queen's leave and privity, she sent a messenger
unto him, with a strict charge to the general to see him sent home. When
he came into the queen's presence, she fell into a kind of reviling,
demanding how he durst go over without her leave? 'Serve me so,' quoth
she, 'once more, and I will lay you fast enough for running; you will
never leave it until you are knocked on the head, as that inconsiderate
fellow Sidney was. You shall go when I send you, and in the meantime
see that you lodge in the court,' (which was then at Whitehall) 'where
you may follow your book, read and discourse of the wars.'"

Philip II., unable to win glory or advantage against Elizabeth in open
and honorable warfare, sought a base revenge upon her by proposing
through secret agents vast rewards to any who could be brought to
attempt her destruction. It was no easy task to discover persons
sufficiently rash, as well as wicked, to underta