The Political Allegory in " The Faerie Oiteene" 33 



The young earl was the ward of Burleigh and early became a 

 court favorite. He was always wayward and extravagant. On 

 several occasions he came into conflict with the Queen. In 1571 

 he objected to the execution of Norfolk. To break away from 

 Court in 1574. he escaped to Flanders to attach himself to Orange 

 (Satyrane). Elizabeth was furious at his contempt and had him 

 sent back at once (the quarrel before the castle of Malbecco when 

 Paridell was overthrown). After a return from Italy he aped 

 foreign manners and dress (Paridell's elegance). In 1571 he 

 suddenly married Anne Cecil, Burleigh's daughter (Malbecco's 

 wife), and his extravagance was a perpetual drain on his father- 

 in-law's purse. When he found that Burleigh would no longer 

 pav his bills, he deserted his wife (abandonment of Hellenore). 

 There are also some traces of similarity between Burleigh and 

 Malbecco. Burleigh was in his later years extremely jealous of 

 younger men, especially of Essex. See Colin Clout's Come Home 

 Again. Here he is described as follows : 



" Therein a cancred crabbed carle does dwell, 

 That has no skill of court nor courtesie, 

 Ne cares what men say of him ill or well : 

 For all his dayes he drownes in privitie, 

 Yet has full large to live and spend at libertie. 



But all his mind is set on mucky pelfe, 



To hoord up heapes of evill-gotten masse, 



For which he others wrongs, and wreckes himselfe : " 



Burleigh's love of money was notorious. Spenser, too, had no 

 love for Burleigh, as, according to the story, Burleigh was directly 

 responsible for Spenser's want of preferment. 



There are several other points well worthy of attention. 

 Satyrane and Paridell wanted assistance from Malbecco which 

 he begrudged. Orange, with Oxford and other young English 

 hotheads, was anxious for Burleigh to espouse a war against 

 Philip, to save Holland. Burleigh was for counting the cost, and 

 preferred a diplomatic peace with Spain. *^ Oxford took advan- 

 tage of his nearness to Anne Cecil to arrange what would be a 



**This is clearly brought out in Martin Hume's Great Lord Burleigh 



191 



