Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/572

 5S2 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 46. The letter never reached its destination ; it fell into English hands. Yet in the 'tickle' state of Europe and with the progress made by Mary Stuart, French in- terference was an alarming possibility. More anxious and more disturbed than ever, Elizabeth made Sidney her scapegoat. Lord Sussex, ill repaying Sir Henry's generous palliation of his own shortcomings, envious of the ability of Leicester's brother-in-law, and wishing to escape the charge which he had so well deserved of being the cause of Shan's ' greatness,' whispered in her ear that in times past Sidney had been thought to favour ' that great rebel ; ' that he had addressed him long be- fore in a letter by the disputed title of ' O'Neil,' and was perhaps his secret ally. Elizabeth did not seriously believe this preposterous story ; but it suited her humour to listen to a suspicion which she could catch at as an excuse for economy. The preparations for war were suspended, and instead of re- ceiving supplies, Sidney learnt only that the Queen had spoken unworthy words of him. Sidney's blood was hot ; he was made of bad mate- rials for a courtier. He wrote at once to Elizabeth her- self, ' declaring his special grief at hearing that he was fallen from her favour,' and ' that she had given credit to that improbable slander raised upon him by the Earl of Sussex.' He wrote to the council, entreating them not to allow these idle stories to relax their energies in suppressing the rebellion ; but he begged them at the same time to consider his own ' unaptness to reside any longer in Ireland, or to be an actor in the war.' The words