"She gathereth from your letter," wrote Walsingham, "that the only salve for this sore is to make herself proprietary of the country, and to put in such an army as may be able to make head to the enemy.

These two things being so contrary to her Majesty's disposition--the one, for that it breedeth a doubt of a perpetual war, the other, for that it requireth an increase of charges--do marvellously distract her, and make her repent that ever she entered into the action." Upon the great subject of the sovereignty, therefore, she was unable to adopt the resolution so much desired by Leicester and by the people of the Provinces; but she answered the Earl's communications concerning Maurice and Hohenlo, Sir John Norris and the treasurer, in characteristic but affectionate language.

And thus she wrote: "Rob, I am afraid you will suppose, by my wandering writings, that a midsummer's moon hath taken large possession of my brains this month; but you must needs take things as they come in my head, though order be left behind me.

When I remember your request to have a discreet and honest man that may carry my mind, and see how all goes there, I have chosen this bearer (Thomas Wilkes), whom you know and have made good trial of.

I have fraught him full of my conceipts of those country matters, and imparted what way I mind to take and what is fit for you to use.