It was the custom for the general of an English army to serve without salary and to contribute generously to his own expenses and those of his troops. The general, then, must be a rich man, and in order to have the most perfect control over his soldiers he must be a man who was known to be in the confidence of the queen. No one was better qualified in these important respects to lead an army than Leicester, and he was put at the head of the forces that were sent to the aid of the Dutch states then revolting against Philip. Their leader had been assassinated, and they asked to be annexed to England. Elizabeth saw clearly that to grant their request would bring on war with Spain at once, and she refused. When Leicester was appointed commander, she gave him the most positive orders to accept no such position for her as ruler of the Low Countries. News soon came that Leicester had been made governor general. "Your Majesty," said her informer, "it is said that Lord Leicester is shown great honor in the Low Countries." "That is well," said the queen. "The commander of an army should ever be treated with deference." "The Dutch states prove by the respect given to Lord Leicester what honor they would show to your Majesty if you were with them." [Illustration: Mary Stuart receiving her death sentence.--_From painting by Carl Piloty_.] "In what fashion do they show their respect?" asked the queen so gently that Leicester's enemy took courage and ventured to go a step further. "He is called governor-general, and they say that men kneel before him to kiss his hand, and that he has already a court as brilliant as that of England." "Is that true?" asked Elizabeth with a feigned indifference. "Do you know more of this court of his?" "Little now, but there will be more and greater news, for it is said that Lady Leicester is about to go to Holland and that with her will go such a train of ladies and gentlemen and such rich coaches, litters, and sidesaddles, that your Majesty has none such in England." Then Elizabeth's wrath broke forth. "I will let the upstart know," said she, "how easily the hand that has exalted him can beat him down." She wrote an angry letter to her absent favorite which said:-- "I have raised you from the dust and shown you favor above all others, and I should never have imagined you would dare to break my express commandment to accept any such title." It was a hard position for Burleigh, since he himself and the rest of the council had wished Leicester to accept the title and so force the queen to become sovereign of the Dutch states, whether she would or not. The queen's rage was visited upon even her old friend and adviser, and to Burleigh himself she declared, "You are nothing but a presumptuous fellow."