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aught, that so you might give to your country sons likeyourself. Whatever is to happen in the matter, Ipray God it may turn out well and happily for you.You see," he goes on, " with what high courage ourfriend Wotton has passed through this peril ; his bold-ness seems to convict you of cowardice. Destiny hasa good deal to do with the matter, and so you mustnot suppose that by your own foresight you can soconduct it as to be entirely happ)^, and that all shall turnout as you desire." Languet's counsel would not have been very cheeringto an ardent lover ; but whether, when Sidney receivedit, he deserved that name, is hard to decide. All thisyear, we are told, he was a frequent visitor to the Earlof Essex, at Durham House, and the Earl began to callhim his son by adoption. About this time also SirHeniy Sidney by his despatches from Ireland incurredLeicester's displeasure by his warm sympathy withEssex. On May 9th, 1576, that nobleman obtainedthe appointment of Earl Marshal of Ireland, and leftHolyhead for Dublin the following July 21st.Probably Philip Sidney crossed with him, but afterthe ceremony of the EarPs investiture in August,followed his father into Galway. There, a week ortwo later, he heard that Essex was dangerously ill, and INTRODUCTION, xi • he himself " most lovingly and earnestly wished for "by him. Sidney hastened at once towards Dublin, buttravelling over Irish roads was slow. On September19th, Essex was within two days of death, and Philiphad not yet arrived. " Oh that good gentleman," thedying man exclaimed, when his name was mentioned," have me commended unto him. And tell him Isent him nothing, but I wish him well — so well, thatif God do move their hearts, I wish that he mightmatch with my daughter. I call him son — he so wise,virtuous and godly. If he go on in the course he hathbegun, he will be as famous and worthy a gentlemanas ever England bred." The message was given toSidney when he at last arrived, and we have evidencethat the idea of a match between him and the LadyPenelope soon gained ground. On November 14thof the same year {1576), Edward Waterhouse, a con-fidential agent of the Sidneys, wrote to Sir Henry ofthe favour shown at Court to the little Earl of Essex :" and all these Lords," he Q:ontinues, " that wish wellto the children, and I suppose all the best sort of theEnglish Lords besides, do expect what will become ofthe treaty between Mr. Philip and my Lady Penelope.Truly my I^rd, I must say to your Lordship, as I havesaid to my Lord of Leicester and Mr. Philip, thebreaking o£F from this match, if the default be on your xii INTRODUCTION. parts will turn to more dishonour than can be repairedwith any other marriage in Europe." With thisallusion to a definite treaty of marriage, and strongopinion on the advisability of its fulfilment, thecurtain falls on the first Act of the Astrophel andStella love-drama. For the opening of Act II. of our tragedy wemust once more quote a letter, one that three hundredyears after it has accomplished its work of misery isstill preserved among the Lansdowne MSS. in theBritish Museum ; its ink brown, but as clear as ever. To the right honourable my very good Lord, the LordTreasurer. May yt please your Lordship, hearyng that Godhathe takyn to hys mercye my Lord Ryche, who hathe lefte toliys heyre a propper gentleman and one in yeares verry fytte formy ladye Penelope Devereux, yf with the favor and lykyng ofhyr majestic the matter myghte be broughte to passe. Andl^ecause I knowe your Lordship's good affection to their fathergone, and also your favor to hys chyldren, I am bolde to prayeyour furtherance nowe in thys matter, which may, I truste, byyour good meanes bee broughte to soche passe as I desyre.Hyr majestie was pleased the last yeare to geave me leave attymes convenient to put hyr hyghnes in mynde of thease youngeladyes (Penelope and her sister), and therfore I am by thysoccasion of my Lordes death the bolder to move your Lordshipin thys matter. I have also wrytten to Mr. SecretaryWalsingham hearin. And so hopyng of your Lordship's favor,I doo comytte you to the tuition of the Allmyghtye. At Newcastle, the loth of Marche 1580 (o.s., t>., 1581).Your Lordship's most assured
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