As for himself he had already had enough of government.

"I am weary, Mr.Secretary," he plaintively exclaimed, "indeed I am weary; but neither of pains nor travail.

My ill hap that I can please her Majesty no better hath quite discouraged me." He had recently, however--as we have seen--received some comfort, and he was still further encouraged, upon the eve of Heneage's departure, by receiving another affectionate epistle from the Queen.

Amends seemed at last to be offered for her long and angry silence, and the Earl was deeply grateful.
"If it hath not been, my most dear and gracious Lady," said he in reply, "no small comfort to your poor old servant to receive but one line of your blessed hand-writing in many months, for the relief of a most grieved, wounded heart, how far more exceeding joy must it be, in the midst of all sorrow, to receive from the same sacred hand so many comfortable lines as my good friend Mr.George hath at once brought me.
Pardon me, my sweet Lady, if they cause me to forget myself.

Only this I do say, with most humble dutiful thanks, that the scope of all my service hath ever been to content and please you; and if I may do that, then is all sacrifice, either of life or whatsoever, well offered for you." The matter of the government absolute having been so fully discussed during the preceding four months, and the last opinions of the state-council having been so lucidly expounded in the despatches to be carried by Heneage to England, the matter might be considered as exhausted.