"For our long quietness, which it hath pleased God to send us," said Stanley, "they think their money very ill bestowed which they expend on armour or weapon, for that they be in hope they shall never have occasion to use it, so they may pass muster, as they have done heretofore.

I want greatly powder, for there is little or none at all." The day was fast approaching when all the power in England would be too little for the demand.

But matters had not very much mended even at midsummer.

It is true that Leicester, who was apt to be sanguine-particularly in matters under his immediate control--spoke of the handful of recruits assembled at his camp in Essex, as "soldiers of a year's experience, rather than a month's camping;" but in this opinion he differed from many competent authorities, and was somewhat in contradiction to himself.

Nevertheless he was glad that the Queen had determined to visit him, and encourage his soldiers.
"I have received in secret," he said, "those news that please me, that your Majesty doth intend to behold the poor and bare company that lie here in the field, most willingly to serve you, yea, most ready to die for you.