It had now become quite obvious that the game of Leicester was played out.  His career—­as it has now been fully exhibited—­could have but one termination.  He had made himself thoroughly odious to the nation whom he came to govern.  He had lost for ever the authority once spontaneously bestowed; and he had attempted in vain, both by fair means and foul, to recover that power.  There was nothing left him but retreat.  Of this he was thoroughly convinced.  He was anxious to be gone, the republic most desirous to be rid of him, her Majesty impatient to have her favourite back again.  The indulgent Queen, seeing nothing to blame in his conduct, while her indignation, at the attitude maintained by the Provinces was boundless, permitted him, accordingly, to return; and in her letter to the States, announcing this decision, she took a fresh opportunity of emptying her wrath upon their heads.

She told them, that, notwithstanding her frequent messages to them, signifying her evil contentment with their unthankfulness for her exceeding great benefits, and with their gross violations of their contract with herself and with Leicester, whom they had, of their own accord, made absolute governor without her instigation; she had never received any good answer to move, her to commit their sins to oblivion, nor had she remarked, any amendment in their conduct.  On the contrary, she complained:  that they daily increased their offences, most notoriously in the sight of—­the world and in so many points that she lacked words to express them in one letter.  She however thought it worth while to allude to some of their transgressions.  She, declared that their sinister, or rather barbarous interpretation of her conduct had been notorious in perverting and falsifying her princely and Christian intentions; when she imparted to them the overtures that had been made to her for a treaty of peace for herself and for them with the King of Spain.  Yet although she had required their allowance, before she would give her assent, she had been grieved that the world should see what impudent untruths had been forged upon her, not only by their. sufferance; but by their special permission for her Christian good meaning towards them.  She denounced the statements as to her having concluded a treaty, not only without their knowledge; but with the sacrifice of their liberty and religion, as utterly false, either for anything done in act, or intended in thought, by her.  She complained that upon this most false ground had been heaped a number of like untruths and malicious slanders against her cousin Leicester, who had hazarded his life, spend his substance, left his native country, absented himself from her, and lost his time, only for their service.  It had been falsely stated among them, she said, that the Earl had come over the last time, knowing that peace had been secretly concluded.  It was false that he had intended to surprise divers of their towns, and deliver them to the King of Spain.