LEICESTER, ROBERT DUDLEY

EARL OF (c, 1531-88), favorite of Queen, Elizabeth. Early became courtier; Master of Horse on Elizabeth’s acce ion; soon rose in her favor; m. Amy Robsart; suspected. of compa ing her death, 1560, so as to marry Elizabeth; cr. Earl of L., 1564; secretly m. Lady E ex; commanded expedition to Low Countries, 1585; became gov.; lieut.- gen. of forces to resist Spaniards, 1588. 10’ W.), inland county, England; area, c. 823 sq. miles. L. came under domination of the Danes in X. cent.; was held by Lancastrians during Wars of Roses; in Civil War of Charles I.’s reign most of county supported Round heads; surface undulating, rising to c. 900 ft. in N.W.; drained by Soar, Wreak; produces coal, iron, limestone, fireclay, pipeclay; sheep and cattle raised; manufactures hosiery, boots, agricultural implements Pop. 1921, 494,522., 30’ E.), town, Holland; besieged by Spaniards, 1574; has famous _ univ., established 1575, and a ociated with Heinsius, and other scholars; magnificent library, museums of art, antiquities, natural history, and ethnography. Manufactures cloth, cotton; connected with Amsterdam and Rotter dam by canal. Pop. 65,000.