uade his allies, the queen of
England and the United Provinces, to enter into the negotiations for a
general pacification. But Philip II. still refused to acknowledge the
independence of his revolted subjects, the only basis on which the new
republic would condescend to treat. Elizabeth, besides that she
disdained to desert those whom she had so long and so zealously
supported, was in no haste to terminate a war from which she and her
subjects anticipated honor with little peril, and plunder which would
more than repay its expenses; and both from England and Holland agents
were sent to remonstrate with Henry against the breach of treaty which
he was about to commit by the conclusion of a separate peace. Elizabeth
wrote to admonish him that the true sin against the Holy Ghost was
ingratitude, of which she had so much right to accuse him; that fidelity
to engagements was the first of duties and of virtues; and that union,
according to the ancient apologue of the bundle of rods, was the source
of strength. But to all her eloquence and all her invectives Henry had
to oppose the necessity of his affairs, and the treaty of Vervins was
concluded; but not without some previous stipulations on the part of the
French king which softened considerably the resentment of his ally. Of
the commissioners named by Elizabeth to arrange this business with
Henry, Robert Cecil was the chief; who held before his departure many
private conferences with Essex, and would not move from court till he
had bound him by favors and promises to do him no injury by promoting
his enemies in his absence. The earl of Southampton having given some
offence to her majesty for which she had ordered him to absent himself
awhile from court, took the opportunity to obtain license to travel, and
attended the secretary to France, perhaps in the character of a spy upon
his motions on behalf of Essex, who seems to have prepared him for the
service by much private instruction.

"I acquainted you," says Rowland Whyte to his correspondent, "with the
care had to bring my lady of Leicester to the queen's presence. It was
often granted, and she brought to the privy galleries, but the queen
found some occasion not to come. Upon Shrove Monday the queen was
persuaded to go to Mr. Comptroller's at the tilt end, and there was my
lady of Leicester with a fair jewel of three hundred pounds. A great
dinner was prepared by my lady Chandos; the queen's coach ready, and all
the world