t this
offer of Charles IX. to Elizabeth is recorded. Hume, Camden, Rapin, are
all silent respecting it; but as it seems that Catherine dei Medici was
at the time desirous of the appearance of a closer connexion with
Elizabeth, it is not improbable that she might throw out some hint of
this nature without any real wish of bringing about an union in all
respects so unsuitable.]

The splendid dream of Leicester's ambition was dissipated for ever by
these negotiations; and a diminution of the queen's partiality towards
him, distinctly visible to the observant eyes of her courtiers, either
preceded or accompanied her entertaining so long, and with such an air
of serious deliberation, the proposals of a foreign prince. The enemies
of Leicester,--a large and formidable party, comprehending almost all
the highest names among the nobility and the greater part of the
ministers,--openly and zealously espoused the interest of the archduke.
Leicester at first with equal warmth and equal openness opposed his
pretensions; but he was soon admonished by the frowns of his royal
mistress, that if he would preserve or recover his influence, he must
now be content to take a humbler tone, and disguise a disappointment
which there was arrogance in avowing.

The disposition of Elizabeth partook so much more of the haughty than
the tender, that the slightest appearances of presumption would always
provoke her to take a pleasure in mortifying the most distinguished of
her favorites; and it might be no improbable guess, that almost the
whole of the encouragement given by her to the addresses of the archduke
was prompted by the desire of humbling the pride of Leicester, and
showing him that his ascendency over her was not so complete or so
secure as he imagined.

A circumstance is related which we may conjecture to have occurred about
this time, and which sets in a strong light this part of the character
of Elizabeth. "Bowyer, a gentleman of the Black Rod, being charged by
her express command to look precisely into all admissions into the
privy-chamber, one day stayed a very gay captain, and a follower of my
lord of Leicester's, from entrance; for that he was neither well known,
nor a sworn servant to the queen: at which repulse, the gentleman,
bearing high on my lord's favor, told him, he might perchance procure
him a discharge. Leicester coming into the contestation, said publicly
(which was none of his wont) that he was a knave, and should