Expressing plain by manners of the doom
That kings and lords such properties should have
As have the beasts whose name he to them gave!"

In France every thing now wore the aspect of an approaching civil war
between the partisans of the two religions, under the conduct on one
side of the Guises, on the other of the princes of the house of Conde.
Elizabeth judged it her duty, or her policy, to make a last effort for
the reconciliation of these angry factions, and she dispatched an
ambassador to Charles IX. charged with her earnest representations on
the subject. They were however ineffectual, and produced apparently no
other valuable result than that of rendering her majesty better
acquainted with the talents and merit of the eminent person whom she had
honored with this delicate commission.

This person was sir Henry Sidney, one of the most upright as well as
able of the ministers of Elizabeth:--that he was the father of sir
Philip Sidney was the least of his praises; and it may be cited as one
of the caprices of fame, that he should be remembered by his son, rather
than his son by him. Those qualities which in sir Philip could afford
little but the promise of active virtue, were brought in sir Henry to
the test of actual performance; and lasting monuments of his wisdom and
his goodness remain in the institutions by which he softened the
barbarism of Wales, and appeased the more dangerous turbulence of
Ireland by promoting its civilization.

Sir Henry was the son of sir William Sidney, a gentleman of good
parentage in Kent, whose mother was of the family of Brandon and nearly
related to the duke of Suffolk of that name, the favorite and
brother-in-law of Henry VIII. Sir William in his youth had made one of a
band of gentlemen of figure, who, with their sovereign's approbation,
travelled into Spain and other countries of Europe to study the manners
and customs of their respective courts. He likewise distinguished
himself in the field of Flodden. The king stood godfather to his son
Henry, born in 1529, and caused him to be educated with the prince of
Wales, to whom sir William was appointed tutor, chamberlain, and
steward.

The excellent qualities and agreeable talents of young Sidney soon
endeared him to Edward, who made him his inseparable companion and often
his bed-fellow; kept him in close attendance on his person during his
long decline, and sealed his friendship by breathing his last in his
arms.