I was not a little glad to receive such a letter from him at this time." And from on board the 'Amity,' ready to set sail, he expressed his thanks to Burghley, at finding him so "earnestly bent for the good supply and maintenance of us poor men sent in her Majesty's service and our country's." As for Walsingham, earnestly a defender of the Netherland cause from the beginning, he was wearied and disgusted with fighting against the Queen's parsimony and caprice.

"He is utterly discouraged," said Leicester to Burghley, "to deal any more in these causes.

I pray God your Lordship grow not so too; for then all will to the ground; on my poor side especially." And to Sir Francis himself, he wrote, even as his vessel was casting off her moorings:--"I am sorry, Mr.Secretary," he said, "to find you so discouraged, and that her Majesty doth deem you so partial.

And yet my suits to her Majesty have not of late been so many nor great, while the greatest, I am sure, are for her Majesty's own service.

For my part, I will discharge my duty as far as my poor ability and capacity shall serve, and if I shall not have her gracious and princely support and supply, the lack will be to us, for the present, but the shame and dishonour will be hers." And with these parting words the Earl committed himself to the December seas.
Davison had been meantime doing his best to prepare the way in the Netherlands for the reception of the English administration.