Suspicion grew darker than ever, not only as to York and Stanley, but as to all the English commanders, as to the whole English nation.

An Anjou plot, a general massacre, was expected by many, yet there were no definite grounds for such dark anticipations.

In vain had painstaking, truth-telling Wilkes summoned Stanley to his duty, and called on Leicester, time after time, to interfere.

In vain did Sir John Norris, Sir John Conway, the members of the state-council, and all others who should have had authority, do their utmost to avert a catastrophe.
Their hands were all tied by the fatal letter of the 24th November.

Most anxiously did all implore the Earl of Leicester to return.