As I am a suitor to you to be his good friend to her Majesty, so I must heartily pray you, good my Lord, to procure his coming hither shortly to me again, for I know not almost how to do without him.

I confess it is a wrong to the gentleman, and I protest before God, if it were for mine own particular respect, I would not require it for L5000.

But your Lordship doth little think how greatly I have to do, as also how needful for her Majesty's service his being here will, be.

Wherefore, good my Lord, if it may not offend her Majesty, be a mean for this my request, for her own service' sake wholly." Such were the personages who surrounded the Earl on his arrival in the Netherlands, and such their sentiments respecting the position that it was desirable for him to assume.

But there was one very important fact.
He had studiously concealed from Davison that the Queen had peremptorily and distinctly forbidden his accepting the office of governor-general.