Yet the Earl of all men, was originally least to blame for the transaction.
It has been seen that Sir Philip Sidney had borne Norris's cartel to Hohenlo, very soon after the outrage had been committed.

The Count had promised satisfaction, but meantime was desperately wounded in the attack on Fort Zutphen.

Leicester afterwards did his best to keep Edward Norris employed in distant places, for he was quite aware that Hohenlo, as lieutenant-general and count of the empire, would consider himself aggrieved at being called to the field by a simple English captain, however deeply he might have injured him.

The governor accordingly induced the Queen to recall the young man to England, and invited him--much as he disliked his whole race--to accompany him on his departure for that country.
The Captain then consulted with his brother Sir John, regarding the pending dispute with Hohenlo.

His brother advised that the Count should be summoned to keep his promise, but that Lord Leicester's permission should previously be requested.
A week before the governor's departure, accordingly, Edward Norris presented himself one morning in the dining-room, and, finding the Earl reclining on a window-seat, observed to him that "he desired his Lordship's favour towards the discharging of his reputation." "The Count Hollock is now well," he proceeded, "and is fasting and banqueting in his lodgings, although he does not come abroad." "And what way will you take ?" inquired Leicester, "considering that he keeps his house." "'Twill be best, I thought," answered Norris, "to write unto him, to perform his promise he made me to answer me in the field." "To whom did he make that promise ?" asked the Earl.
"To Sir Philip Sidney," answered the Captain.
"To my nephew Sidney," said Leicester, musingly; "very well; do as you think best, and I will do for you what I can." And the governor then added many kind expressions concerning the interest he felt in the young man's reputation.