It is very doubtful whether the action now in hand will be accompanied by very hard success, unless they of the country there may be drawn to bear the greatest part of the burden of the wars." And now the great favourite of all had received the appointment which he coveted.

The Earl of Leicester was to be Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty's forces in the Netherlands, and representative of her authority in those countries, whatever that office might prove to be.

The nature of his post was anomalous from the beginning.

It was environed with difficulties, not the least irritating of which proceeded from the captious spirit of the Queen.

The Earl was to proceed in great pomp to Holland, but the pomp was to be prepared mainly at his own expense.
Besides the auxiliary forces that had been shipped during the latter period of the year, Leicester was raising a force of lancers, from four to eight hundred in number; but to pay for that levy he was forced to mortgage his own property, while the Queen not only refused to advance ready money, but declined endorsing his bills.
It must be confessed that the Earl's courtship of Elizabeth was anything at that moment but a gentle dalliance.