Philip Sidney Corp Booklet

knight, courtier, gentleman

Sir

(1554 – 1587)

philipsidney

Text Michiel Haans

EditingPeter CornetEllen de Man Lapidoth

DesignFrederik de Wal

© Copyright Philip Sidney, 2015All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, stored in a computer data file or published, in any form or manner, whether electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded or any other method, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Production and realisationPavlovwww.pavlovpubliceert.nl

http://www.pavlovpubliceert.nl

SIR PHILIP SIDNEY, BY UNKNOWN ARTIST, C.1576.

PORTRAIT OF ROBERT DUDLEY, EARL OF LEICESTER,

BY STEVEN VAN HERWIJCK, C.1650.

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PHILIP SIDNEYknight, courtier, gentleman

FOREWORD

I RESPECT & TRUST Youth&studies (1554–1571)

II COURTESY GrandTouranddiplomatictraining (1572–1581)

III DEDICATION Knightandhusband (1581–1585)

IV INTEGRITY BattleatZutphen&death (1586–1587)

A SPIRIT WITHOUT SPOT

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philip sidney

FOREWORD

Tempus volat, hora fugit.Timeflies,thehourflees.Andwithitgoesmuchofourcollectivememory.Once-impor-tantandfamouseventsorpeopleareforgottenandcon-signedtothequietcavernsofhistory.LouiseBrookswasworld-famousasanactressinthe1920s,butfewpeoplewill recall her these days. Who still remembers Cleis-thenesofAthens,FrederickIIIorJamesKnox?There’sagoodchance that thenextgenerationwillmorereadilyassociatethenameVanillaIcewithadessertthanwiththerapper from the 1990s. And sometimes history hasbecomedistorted.Oftenallthatremainsisaneventwhicheclipsestheactualindividualandhisdeeds.O.J.Simp-sonbecamemorerenownedforthecourtcasethanforhiscareerasafootballplayerandfilmactor.

Occasionally this ‘historic depreciation’ is unjustified.Certainpeopledeserve to remain in thehistorybooks.PhilipSidneyisjustsuchaperson.Hereandtherequota-tionsbyhimstillflutteraround,andthereisstillaforgot-tenstatue,but intheyear2013thereareveryfewwhoknow this poet and nobleman other than a handful ofhistoriansandliteraryacademics.Thingswereoncevery

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different.Intheseventeenthcenturynofewerthanninereprints(!)weremadeofhisprosework,‘Arcadia’,morethanthecollectedworksofShakespeare.InitspompandcircumstancehisfuneralwasonlysurpassedbythestatefuneralofChurchill in 1965.Anactual cult spranguparoundhimfollowinghisdeathin1587.QueenElizabethissaidtohaveremarkedthatshewouldhavelikedtohavebought back his life ‘with many millions’, and entirebookshelveshavebeenwrittenabouthim.Notsurpris-ingly.SirPhilipwasanexceptionallytalentedman.Adip-lomat,poet,militarymanandaboveall,thearchetypeofthe complete gentleman. ‘The most accomplished noble-manofhistimes’,ashewascalled.Acourtierwithanenormous degree of ambition, who was almost forcedintoMachiavellianchoicesthroughpoliticalintriguesandschemingatcourt,butwhopersistedunshakeablyalonghisowncourse.Amanwhodiedfartooyoungandwhoweshouldcontinuetoremember.

GertDemminkPartner Philip Sidney

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‘Theonlydisadvantageofanhonest

heartiscredulity.’

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RESPECT & TRUST

YOUTH & STUDIES (1554 – 1571)

PhilipSidneycamefromanaristocraticbackground.Hewas‘borninsilksheetsandgrewupwithasilverspoon’as biographer Alan Stewart notes so strikingly. On 30November1554,‘onFridaythelastofNovember,beingSt.Andrewsday,aquarterbeforefiveinthemorning’hefirstsawthelightofday,inthesplendidestateofPenhurstinthegreenhillsofKent,thefamilydomainofmotherLadyMaryDudleyandfatherHenrySidney.Thepsalm-bookrecallsthehappyeventandallowsnomisunderstandingofthefactthatthisyoungnoblemanstemmedfromhighbeginnings:

...His godfathers were the great King Philip, King of Spain, and the noble John Russell Earl of Bedford. And his godmother, the most virtuous Lady Jane Duchess of Northumberland his grandmother.[AlanStewart,PhilipSidney,2000]

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ThatSpain’sKingPhilipIIwasnamedashisgodfatherrequiressomehistoricalexplanation.PhilipSidneywasbornduringanextremelyturbulentperiodinEnglishhis-tory.Ayearearlier,in1553,KingEdwarddiedandProtes-tantismhadgainedsomanysupportersinEnglandthattheDukeofNorthumberlandput forwardaProtestantcandidateforthethrone:LadyJaneGrey.HoweverherCatholiccousinMariaTudorwasfarmorelovedbythepeople,andafterjustninedaysJanehadtoabdicate.ShewassucceededbyMary,whose fanaticalstyleofrulingquicklygainedherthepredicate‘Bloody’.Attheendof1553shelaunchedanumberofdrasticmeasurestorein-troduceRomanCatholicismintoEngland.LadyGreyandtheDukewereimprisonedandbeheadedintheTowerofLondon.

However,theDukeofNorthumberlandhadadaughter,MaryDudley.Shewasmarried toSirHenrySidney, anoblemanwhogrewupinthecourtofKingEdward.Hisauntsweretheladies-in-waitingtotheyoungMaryTudor,andperhapsthiswasthereasonSirHenryandhiswifewerenotpunishedforthe‘shameful’behaviourofNorth-umberland.ThecoupleproducedasontheynamedPhil-ip, after the Spanish king, so as to somewhat appeaseMaryandherSpanish followers.The tactic succeeded,becausetheSidneyswerenotpursuedanyfurther.

ThustheyoungPhilipwasabletogrowupwithoutcon-cerns.Hespenthisinitialyearsingilt-edgedlaceclothingin the splendid Penhurst Place, a fourteenth-century

PHILIP II OF SPAIN, BY SOFONISBA ANGUISSOLA, AFTER 1570.

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castle hidden in the green hills south of London. Thisgiganticbuilding,withan18-metre-highhall,madeasig-nificantimpressiononthenobleinfant.Helaterdescribedthecastleinhisnovel,Arcadia:

The house itself was built of fair and strong stone, not affecting so much any extraordinary kind of fineness, as an honourable representing of firm stateliness; the lights, doors and stairs, rather directed to the use of the guest than to the eye of the artificer, and yet, as the one chiefly heeded, so the other not neglected; each place handsome without curiosity, and homely without loathsomeness, not so dainty as not to be trod on, nor yet slubbered up with good fellowship – all more lasting than beautiful (but that the consideration of the exceeding lastingness made the eye believe it was exceeding beautiful).

WhenPhilipwasjusteighteenmonthsoldhisfather,SirHenry,decidedtocontinuehiscareerinIreland:hispolit-ical position had turned out to be too problematic toremaininEnglandafterall.HebeganworkthereasLordDeputy(atypeofviceroy)andwithhiswifespentmostofhis time in the IrishAthloneCastle.TheyoungPhilipremainedinKentand–likemostnobleyouthsofthattime–wasbroughtupbyservantsandladies-in-waiting.Intheearlyyearsfollowinghisbirthhewasfollowedbythreesisters,whoalldiedyoung.Onlyin1563,whenPhil-ipwasalreadynine,wasabrotherborn:Robert.Attheageof sevenhewasgivenaprivate tutor,who taughthim

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FrenchandLatinandeducatedhimin‘suitablemannersandmorals’,ashisparentswished.

Philipturnedouttobeanindustriousstudent,andeventhoughhisparentsallowedhim‘completefreedom’inhisstudies,hecouldalmostalwaysbefoundwithhisnoseinabook:‘Scarcelywasheunoccupiedatbreakfast,andstillmorerarelyatluncheon.’AttheageofninePhilipwasenrolledasapupilatShrewsburyCollege,foundedin1552,wherethe‘younggentlemen’satattheirdesksfromsixinthemorninguntilsixintheeveningandwheretheironrulesofCalvinapplied,underthewatchfuleyeofrectorThomasAshton.In1561some260boyswereenrolled.OneofthemwasFulkeGreville,whowouldlaterbeknownasLordBrookeandwouldremainPhilip’sbestfriendthroughouthis life.Philip’soldestcousinJamesHarringtonwasalsoapupil.FounderAshtonwashappywiththearrivaloftheseyoungaristocrats.Theschoolreg-istergoesintogreatdetailaboutthenobleoriginsofFulkeandSidney.Hardlysurprising,giventhattheyputwhathadbeenafairlyunknowncountryschooluptothattime,onthenationalmap.

Shrewsbury changed Philip’s life. Suddenly he foundhimself not among lackeys and ladies-in-waiting, butamongcontemporaries.HereadproseandpoetryfromthegreatLatinandGreekwriters.AlongsideCalvin’scat-echismhelearnedFrenchandtherulesofrhetoricandpoeticart.Therewasalsotheatre:thepupilsperformed

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classicplayseveryyearwhichattractedmanyvisitors.Ofcourse suchaneliteupbringingdoesn’t comecheaply.Philip’s personal servant Thomas Marshall kept a log-book,showingexactlywhatmoneywasbeingspenton:

– Washing the linen of Philip and his companions, 3s 4d– Wiping and making clean their boots, 6d– Item, upon Monday the 10th day for the mending of the lock of Mr Philip’s coffer, and for an iron bolt for his chamber door, 12d. – Item, upon Thursday the 13th day for black silk buttons 8d, for quills 2d, for a black silk lace 2d– Item, for a pen and inkhorn and sealing-wax, 6d. – Item, for two quire of paper for example-books, phrases and sentences in Latin and French, 8d. – Item, for mending a glass window in his chamber, 4d.

The money for all this came, naturally, from Philip’sfather: ‘Sums of money received by me, Thomas Mar-shall,yourLordship’shumbleservant,totheuseofmyyoungmasterMrPhilipSidneyinmycaresinceyourhon-our’sdeparturewithmyLadyfromWestchestertowardsIreland,namelyMondaythe3rdofDecember,1565’.InthatyearPhilip’sfatherleftforIreland.Hewrotealettertohisyoungsonin1566,thankinghimfortwoearlierlet-ters in Latin and French, and pointing out to him theimportanceofgratitude,piety,obedienceandcourtesy.‘Thinkuponeverywordthatyouwillspeakbeforeyouutterit,andrememberhownaturehathrampartedup,asitwere,thetonguewithteeth,lips–yea,andhairwithout

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[outside]thelips,andallbetokeningreinsandbridlesforthe looseuseof thatmember.Aboveall things, tellnountruth;no,notintrifles.’InthatsameyearthepursehadtobedippedintomoredeeplyforatriptoOxford.Equippedwithnew‘doublets,breeches,coatsandshoesmadeofdamask,velvet, silkandsatininavarietyofcoloursandfinishedinsilverandgoldedging’,PhiliptravelledtoOxfordunderthesupervi-sionoftherector,theretoattendwithhisuncleRobertDudley(therenownedEarlofLeicester)theceremonialentryofElizabeth.The‘mostsereneprincess’enteredthecityinanopentriumphalcarriage,precededbyaretinueof registrars and high functionaries, dressed in scarletandgoldandanerminecloak.Itmustallhavemadeanenormousimpressiononhim.Equippedwithanewsad-dleandasuitcaseembossedwiththefamilycrestoftheDudleys,herodebackhomewards.

In 1568, on his thirteenth birthday, Philip establishedhimselfdefinitivelyinOxford,whereheattendedChristChurchCollege.HisuncleensuredthathewouldcomeunderthewingoftutorThomasCooper,theProtestantdeanthere.His‘reader’wasThomasThornton,theologi-anandlaterVice-ChancellorofOxford,laterpraisedful-somelybySidney.Thefeelingwasinfactmutual:Thorn-tonwasinturnextremelygratefultoPhilip,becausehis‘unaccustomedmannerofwriting’ensuredthatThorn-tonobtainedgoodreferencesforapostascanoninChristChurch.ThiswasPhilip’sfirstappearanceasadiplomat.

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IntheintellectualworldofOxfordPhilipestablishedcon-tactswhichwoulddeterminetherestofhiscareer.HegottoknowtheCatholicmathematicianThomasAllen,thehistorian Philip Camden (author of Britannia, the firstbook on the history of England), the explorer WalterRaleighandEdmundSpenser,poetofthefamousFaerie Queene.

Philip’sstayinOxfordwasinterruptedsuddenlyinApril1571whenplaguebrokeoutandthecampuswasclosedfor a year. Perhaps Sidney was also ill for some time,becauseanOxfordlogbookofthetimementions£38paid‘forexpensesofMrPhilipSidney,intimeofsicknessatReading, and other’. Whatever the case, educating theyoungSidneywascompletedin1571.Withoutanacadem-ic degree, to be sure, but this made little difference toyouthsofnobleorigin,andcertainlynottoSidney,whohadalreadyprovedhimselfentirelyinthreeyears: ‘norcouldhistutorspourinsofastashewasreadytoreceive,’accordingtoacontemporary.Philipwasreadyforthenextstepinhislife:joiningtheflourishingculturalworldatthecourtofElizabethI.

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leave me, o love, which reachest but to dust

Leaveme,OLove,whichreachestbuttodust;Andthou,mymind,aspiretohigherthings;Growrichinthatwhichnevertakethrust;Whateverfadesbutfadingpleasurebrings.DrawinthybeamsandhumbleallthymightTothatsweetyokewherelastingfreedomsbe;Whichbreaksthecloudsandopensforththelight,Thatbothdothshineandgiveussighttosee.Otakefasthold;letthatlightbethyguideInthissmallcoursewhichbirthdrawsouttodeath,Andthinkhowevilbecomethhimtoslide,Whoseekethheav’n,andcomesofheav’nlybreath.Thenfarewell,world;thyuttermostIsee:EternalLove,maintainthylifeinme.

From: Certain Sonnets

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‘Ohthatgoodgentleman,

havemecommendeduntohim.’

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COURTESY

GRAND TOUR AND DIPLOMATIC TRAINING

(1572 – 1581)

AttheendofthesixteenthcenturyitwascustomaryinEnglandthatafter theireducation,youngmenofgoodupbringingwouldundertakeanextendedjourneyacrosstheEuropeancontinent:theGrand Tour.Heretheywouldoften follow a regular route past all the major culturalattractions,becomingacquaintedwithothercultures,lan-guagesandcustoms.Suchagrandtourwasalsoasensi-blewayforparentstolettheirsonssowtheirwildoatsfarfrom home while also preparing them for their futurecareers.

PhilipSidneyundertooksuchagrandtourin1572.Armedwith a letter from his uncle Leicester for the BritishAmbassador in France, Philip arrived on the Frenchmainlandin1572.HisfirstdestinationwasParis,wherehestayedforthreemonthsandmet,amongothers,LouisofNassau,brotherofWilliamofOrange.Fromthehome

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oftheEnglishAmbassadorhewitnessedtheSt.Bartho-lomew’sDaymassacre,thewholesaleslaughterofFrenchProtestants,wheresome20,000Huguenotsweremas-sacredunderthesupervisoryeyeoftheking.ItmadeahugeimpressiononhislaterviewsonCatholicism.ThehomefrontbackinEnglandwasnaturallyveryconcernedaboutthisdangeroussituation,butPhiliphadalreadyleft.Togetherwiththe55-year-oldHubertLanguet,areformeddiplomat, he crossed the Rhine, to spend the summermonthstogetherinFrankfurt,StrasbourgandVienna.Aclosefriendshipdevelopedbetweenthetwo,andwouldlast until Languet’s death in 1581. Languet introducedPhiliptoseveralheadsofstateanddiplomats,andwhenPhilipagaindeparted intheautumntheycontinuedtoconductanintensecorrespondence,keepingeachotherabreast of philosophical, religious and political issues.The‘Dutchissue’wasalsomentionedinalmosteverylet-ter:LanguetkeptinsistingthatthestruggleagainsttheSpanish occupiers was also an English issue. SidneycountedonavictoryforOrange:‘AsfarastheDutchareconcerned, truly I cannot see how it could go better.Becauseeventhoughthathighlybeautifulcountryisinflames,oneshouldconsiderthattheSpaniardswillnotbeable tobedrivenoutwithout sucha conflagration,’hewrotetoLanguetfromVenice.

QUEEN ELIZABETH I OF ENGLAND

IN HER CORONATION ROBES, C.1600.

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AfterashortstayinCracow,PragueandatripthroughHungary,SidneytravelledontoItaly.Becauseofallthe‘spiritual dangers’ Languet had impressed on him, hedecidedtobypassRomeandtotravelontoVeniceandPadua,whereheimmersedhimselffurtherinAristotleandthemajorRomanandItalianwriters.HealsomadehimselffamiliarwithItalianandSpanish,whichwouldlaterstandhimingoodsteadinhisdiplomaticpositions.Back in Venice he had his portrait painted by PaoloVeronese,givingitlatertoLanguetduringashortvisittoVienna.In1575heleftAntwerptoreturntoEngland.HisGrandTourhadlastedthreeyears,familiarisinghimwithEurope’s complicated political relationships, new andclassical literary trendsanda varietyof scientificdisci-plines.

Philip’sexpectationsoftheEnglishcourtwerehigh.Hewasconvincedhewascontemplatingabrilliantpoliticalcareergivenhisoriginsandeducation.Butthingsturnedoutdifferently:intheinitialyearshisactivitiescomprisedmainly ceremonial duties and a representative role.TogetherwithhisparentsandhissisterMaryhepartici-patedinoneofthefirstroyaltoursbyElizabeth,theRoyalProgressions.Herethequeen,inthecompanyofanenor-mousretinuefromtheroyalcourt,letherselfberegaledby celebrations, musical performances, masquerades,huntsandbear-fightswhichcouldlastweeksandwereunrivalledinscopeandspectacle.

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LittleisknownofPhilip’sexactactivitiesintheseyears.WedoknowthathewenttovisithisfatherinIrelandin1576,accompaniedbytheEarlofEssex,WalterDevereux.Hereheunderwenthisfirstmilitary experience,whenwithhisfatherhewasabletosurroundabandofrebelsinDublin.Thesewerelong,rigorousjourneysintheunwel-coming Irish nation and it was miles away from thedreamshehadentertainedasachildinPenhurstPlace,ofheroic campaigns and glorious chivalrous conquests.During his Irish stay the Earl of Essex became ill andexpressed the wish on his deathbed that Philip wouldmarryhisdaughterPenelope,butforanunknownreasonthiswishwasnotfulfilled.Philipjourneyedbacktothecourt.PenelopewouldinspirehimintheguiseofStellainhissonnetcycle,Astrophel and Stella.

InMay1577Sidneydepartedagainforthecontinent,thistimeforhisfirstdiplomaticmission,inthecompanyofhisfriendsFulkeGrevilleandEdwardDyer.Officiallytheassignment was to convey condolences to the GermanEmperoronthedeathofhisfather,butinrealityitwastoassessthepoliticalsituationonthemainlandforEliza-beth. She was in a delicate position between CatholicSpainononesideandtheProtestantnorthernstateslikethe Netherlands on the other. She wanted to remainfriendlywithboth,inthiswaysecuringEngland’sposi-tion.ItbecameadifficulttaskforPhilip,whopresentedhimselfeverywhereasanactualprince,nephewof theEarlsofLeicesterandWarwickandsonoftheIrishvice-roy.HefirstvisitedSpanishGovernorDonJuan(known

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particularly for his arrogance), who was immediatelyimpressedby ‘thatbraveandhigh-mindedPrince’.Hethen continued on to Heidelberg, where the Electorunfortunately appeared to be largely uninterested in atypeofProtestantalliance.Thenheundertookamaterni-ty visit to the Netherlands, and met Prince William ofOrangeinMiddelburg,alongwithCharlottedeBourbonandPhilipsofMarnix,LordofSaint-Aldegonde(mayorofAntwerp,WilliamofOrange’sright-handandtheproba-bleauthoroftheDutchnationalanthem).Thingsclickedimmediately between Philip and the prince, who latercomplimentedtheEnglishqueenon‘oneoftheripestandgreatest counsellors of Estate that at this day lived inEurope’andsuggestedsheshouldquicklypromotePhiliptoahigherposition.Therewasalsodiscussionofapossi-blemarriagebetweenPhilipandMarieofNassau,theold-estdaughterofthePrinceofOrange.Thiswouldstrength-en the relationship between both countries, while alsoopening the way for an administrative position (vice-regent)forPhilipintheNetherlands.InalettertoEliza-beth,WilliamofOrangeraised the ideaofanEnglish-Dutch alliance, where Elizabeth would gain ports inHollandandZeeland,inreturnforEnglishportsbeingclosedtoSpanishships.

WILLIAM I (1533-1584) , PRINCE OF ORANGE, CALLED WILLIAM

THE SILENT, BY ADRIAEN THOMASZ. KEY , C.1570.

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BackinEnglanditturnedoutthattheplansforaProtes-tantAlliancewerenotreallyabletogetofftheground.ElizabethfeltthepoweroftheDutchrebelstobetoogreat,anddecidedtobecomeengagedtoFrancisofAnjou,theCatholicDukeofAlençon(‘mylittlefrog’)whowas22yearsherjunior,restoringthebalancebetweenHugue-notsandCatholics.Avisitfollowedbythedukeandhisretinue.Asalways,Sidneywaslaudatoryabouthisbelov-edqueenandwrote:

Like sparkling gems her virtue draws the sightAnd in her conduct she is always brightWhen she imparts her thoughts, her words have forceAnd sense and wisdom flow in sweet discourse.

Philipwaslesslaudatoryabouttheduke’sstay,andhisbetrothaltoElizabeth.Afewmonthslater,attheendof1580, he wrote a subtle letter (probably partially at therequestofagroupoffellowCalvinistswhowereagainstanypossiblemarriage),pointingouttoherthedangersofherproposedmarriage.Philippointedouttheduke’soriginsandhis involvementintheviciousslaughteroftheHuguenotsearlierinFrance.ToasignificantextentAnjou’smotherCatharinewasresponsibleforthenotori-ousSt.Bartholomew’sNightin1572,alowpointinthecontinent’sreligiousquarrels.

Sidneymadenofriendswithhiscourteousbutextreme-lysincereletter.AnexchangeofwordswiththeEarlofOxford,theinitiatoroftheweddingplan,almostledtoa

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharina_de%27_Medici

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duelwhichwasonlyavoidedattheverylastminute.TheengagementbetweenAnjouandthequeenwouldeven-tuallycometonothing,buttherelationshipbetweenthequeenandSidneywasupset.Sidneywasmadeinactiveforseveralyears,andinpoliticaltermstheyearsafter1580werequietforthecourtierpoet,givinghimtheopportu-nitytopursuehisliteraryambitionsfurther.

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most feared and beloved, most sweet and gracious sovereign,

Oseekoutexcusesofthismyboldness,andtoarmtheacknowledgingofafaultwithreasonsforit,mightbettershowIknewIdidamiss,thananywaydiminishtheattempt,especiallyinyourjudgment;whobeingabletodiscernlivelyintothenatureofthethingdone,itwerefollytohope,bylayingonbettercolours,tomakeitmoreacceptable.Therefore,carryingnootherolivebranchofintercession,thanthelayingofmyselfatyourfeet;nornootherinsinuation,eitherforattentionorpardon,butthetruevowedsacrificeofunfeignedlove;Iwill,insimpleanddirectterms(ashopingtheyshallonlycometoyourmercifuleyes),setdowntheoverflowingofmymindinthismostimportantmatter,importing,asIthink,thecontinuanceofyoursafety;and,asIknow,thejoysofmylife.Andbecausemywords(Iconfessshallow,butcomingfromthedeepwell-springofmostloyalaffec-tion)havedeliveredtoyourmostgraciousear,whatisthegeneralsumofmytravellingthoughtstherein;Iwillnowbutonlydeclare,whatbethereasonsthatmakemethink,thatthemarriagewithMonsieurwillbeunprofit-ableuntoyou;thenwillIanswertheobjectionofthosefears,whichmightprocuresoviolentarefuge.

Introduction from Sidney’s ‘Letter to Queen Elizabeth’ (1580)

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‘Ifyouneglectyour

work,youwilldislikeit;

ifyoudoitwell,youwill

enjoyit.’

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DEDICATION

KNIGHT AND HUSBAND (1581 – 1585)

Sidneydrewhisconclusionsfollowinghisexperiencesatcourt.HesettledtemporarilyinWilton,thehomeofhissisterMary,wifeoftheEarlofPembroke.Herehefoundtheidealenvironmentfordevotinghimselffurthertohisliterary occupations. He took great inspiration in thisfrom Mary, who also wrote poetry. At her request hebeganhisbest-knownwork,The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia.Itbecameacomprehensiveworkofprose,withsplendid descriptions of nature and a wide variety ofpoeticforms,inspiredashewasbythegreatGreekandSpanish novelists. In the Arcadia he also deployed anumberofclassicalpoetryforms,whichwasextremelymodernatthetime.Sincethe‘father’ofEnglishlitera-ture,GeoffreyChaucer,littlehadinfactchangedintheartofpoetry.Sidney(again)encounteredhisformerfel-lowstudentEdmundSpenser,whodedicatedhisShep-herd’s Calendar to him. With Spenser and his friendsFulkeGrevilleandEdwardDyer,Sidneyformedasmall

FRONTISPIECE TO ‘THE COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE’S ARCADIA’

BY SIR PHILIP SIDNEY, 1605.

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literarygroup,calledtheAreopagus,inimitationoftheFrenchPleiadegroup.

ThemostsignificantoccurrencesofSidney’slifefoundtheirwayintohisliteraryworks.InhispoemAstrophel and Stellahe sings thepraisesof theunhappy loveofPenelope,withwhomhecouldhavebeenmarriedhadhesaidyesafewyearsearlierinIreland.Theyear1581prob-ably also saw the publication of his well-known pam-phlet,The Defence of Poesie,infactthefirstworkofliterarycriticisminEnglishhistory.InthisbrilliantargumentSidneysumsupanumberofcriteriahebelievespoetrymustmeet.Theessenceofthepieceisthattheartofpoet-ryistheultimatemediumforachievinggreaterinsightandknowledge–evenmorethanahistoricorphilosoph-icalwork,giventhatitmanagestocombinethefactual-ness of history in an ideal manner with philosophy’sethicalfocus.Despitehisenormousliteraryproductivityintheseyears,forSidney itwasnot literaturebuthispolitical careerwhichheregardedashislife’smainobjective.After1581wealsoseenomoreworksfromhishand.OnNewYear’sDay1581heisbackinthecourt,whereheoffersElizabethanitemofjewellery,‘consistingofasmallwhipsetwithdiamonds and pearls’. Perhaps with this Sidney wasalludingthathewasandalwayswouldbeafaithfulcour-tier.Inanycasethegestureachieveditseffect:overthefollowingyearshewasvisiblyactiveinanynumberofcommissions,andin1583hewasevenknighted,when

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hetooktheplaceofJohnCasimirofthePalatinate-Sim-mern,whowasmadeaKnightoftheGarter.Forthisman-dateitwasnecessarythatheheldaknighthood.Hisnameandtitlethuschanged,andfromthenonhecouldintro-ducehimselfasSir Philip Sidney of Penhurst.

Thefreshnewknightworkedtirelesslyonmaintaininghisforeigncontacts.HereceivedhisoldfriendsLanguet,CasimirandCharlesdel’Ecluse,andbefriendedthelaw-yerJeanHotman.HealsocameincontactwithGiordanoBruno,aninfluentialItalianphilosopherandoneofthemostenlightenedmindsofthetime.HedevotedhisbookSpaccio de la bestia trionfantetoSidney,andagainSidneywassubjectedtoallmannerofpraise:

‘The Italian likes to talk with someone who can under-stand. The poetry in the book is under the criticism and protection of a poet; the philosophy is nakedly revealed to so clear an intellect as yours; and the heroic matters are directed to an heroic and noble mind, with which you have shown yourself to be endowed.’

Thankstoallhisforeigncontacts,Sidneyreceivedthereq-uisiteoffersandinvitations.DonAntonio,candidateforthe Portuguese crown, invited Sidney to join him inEurope,butElizabethputaspokeintheworks.AnotherplanwasthathewouldleadacolonialenterpriseinAmer-ica,butthistooturnedoutdifferently.AtthattimePhilipwasstillunmarried,andintheyear1580thisnaturallycaused some raised eyebrows. His father, Sir Henry,

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madecontactwithSirFrancisWalsingham,theSecretaryofStateandElizabeth’s‘spymaster’(orheadofthesecretservice).Hisfifteen-year-olddaughterFranceswasinfactavailable.Thissnippetofnewsquicklyspreadthroughthecourtandin1583SidneymarriedFrancesWalsingham,theCountessofEssexandClanricarde.

Sidney did however remain involved in the Americaplans. In parliament, where he represented Kent, hearguedwithgreatconvictionforanexpeditionbyWalterRaleightoAmerica.SidneywasconvincedthatEnglandcouldaffectCatholicSpainthemostbyeliminatingthatcountry’shelpontheothersideoftheocean.Heproposedalarge-scalenavaloperation,withafleetledbyFrancisDrake.TheproblemwasthatDrakehadverylittleinclina-tiontosharecommandwithSidney,andatthetimeSid-neywas toreceiveaPortuguesedelegation,hesecretlyinformedthequeen.Shepreferredtohavehercourtierclosertohome.SheappointedhimGovernorofVlissin-gen/FlushingandGeneralofthecavalry,apositionSid-neyhad always coveted.On 16November 1586he leftEnglandinthecompanyofhisbrotherRobertandsettledwithhiswife andnew-borndaughterElizabethatFortRammekens,WesternEurope’soldestfort.

TheNetherlandswasinchaos.TheEnglishsoldiershadnotbeenpaidforages,werebarelytrainedandwerepoor-lyarmed.ThepoliticalsituationintheNetherlandswasalsoextremelytense.IntheirstruggleagainsttheSpanishthedesperateprovinceshadlongsoughtanewgovernor,

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aftercontactswiththeDukeofAnjouturnedintoafiasco.SomecontactshadalreadybeenestablishedbetweenEng-landandtheNetherlands, inwhichithadbeenagreedthatElizabethwouldsendreinforcementtroops,againstthesuretyofthecitiesofVlissingen/Flushing,DenBriel/BrillandFortRammekens.On17August1585thesitua-tionescalatedwhenAntwerpfelltotheSpanish,raisingtensionstoapeak.IngreathastetheTreatyofNonsuchwassigned,whereEnglandreceivedthe‘surety’citiesandsentfivethousandsoldierstotheNetherlandstosupportthe government troops, with Robert Dudley, Earl ofLeicester, in command. His entry into Vlissingen fol-lowedin1586,commandingmorethanahundredships,twohundredlordsandgentlemenofficers,withservants,pages,lackeys,kitchenstaff,clergymen,musiciansandactors. Prince Maurice and Sidney welcomed the Earl.Receptions followed in Middelburg, Dordrecht, Rotter-dam,DelftandLeiden,wheretheretinuewastreatedtofireworks, triumphal arches, speeches, eulogies andgiganticfeasts.

Butthegaietyoftheentranceswasshort-lived.LeicesterofferednoresistancewhatsoevertotheDutchwelcomes,allowinghimselftoassumefartooimportantapositionwiththeDutch.Andthiswasnottheintention:Elizabethhadassignedhimtoworkwithspecificreserveandcare.ThemorepowerwasaccordedtoEnglandofficially,theworseitwouldappeartotheSpanish,withwhomshewasconductingsecretnegotiations.Throughfearofdisgrace,Leicesterattemptedtoshifttheblametoothers.

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philip sidney

These developments were difficult for Sidney. He alsoencounteredresistancefromtheDutch.WhenLeicesterpromotedhimtoColonelinchargeoftheZeeuwsregi-ment,theDutchcommandersimmediatelysubmittedaprotestagainsttheappointmentofthisinexperiencedfor-eigner. Sidney was happy when he finally saw action.TogetherwithPrinceMauriceheundertookasuccessfulattackagainstthefortressofAxel.Sidneyrewardedthesoldiers who had swum across the moat handsomelyfromhisownpocket.Hebelieved thatpayment to thetroopsleftmuchtobedesired,andthatpartoftheirpaywas deliberately being withheld. He asked Elizabethmanytimetoresolvethis.

1586wasagrimyearforSidney.HisfatherdiedinMay,followed by his mother three months later. Given thetensesituationintheNetherlands,hewasnotpermittedtoreturntoEnglandtowinduptheiraffairsandbidhisfarewell.SidneyneverthelessremainedmotivatedandinSeptember1586hejoinedLeicester’sarmyinArnhemforhisfinalmilitaryoperation.

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AXEL (ZEELAND) CONQUERED BY MAURICE OF NASSAU, PRINCE OF

ORANGE AND PHLIP SIDNEY, 1586, BY SIMON FRISIUS, C.1613.

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ring out your bells

Ringoutyourbells,letmourningshowsbespread;ForLoveisdead–Allloveisdead,infectedWithplagueofdeepdisdain;Worth,asnoughtworth,rejected,AndFaithfairscorndothgain.Fromsoungratefulfancy,Fromsuchafemalefranzy,Fromthemthatusementhus,GoodLord,deliverus!

Weep,neighbours,weep;doyounothearitsaidThatLoveisdead?Hisdeath-bed,peacock’sfolly;Hiswinding-sheetisshame;Hiswill,false-seemingholy;Hissoleexec’tor,blame.Fromsoungratefulfancy,Fromsuchafemalefranzy,Fromthemthatusementhus,GoodLord,deliverus!

43Letdirgebesungandtrentalsrightlyread,ForLoveisdead;SirWronghistombordainethMymistress’marbleheart,Whichepitaphcontaineth,“Hereyeswereoncehisdart.”Fromsoungratefulfancy,Fromsuchafemalefranzy,Fromthemthatusementhus,GoodLord,deliverus!

Alas,Ilie,ragehaththiserrorbred;Loveisnotdead;Loveisnotdead,butsleepethInherunmatchedmind,Whereshehiscounselkeepeth,Tillduedesertshefind.Thereforefromsovilefancy,Tocallsuchwitafranzy,WhoLovecantemperthus,GoodLord,deliverus!

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philip sidney

‘Thynecessityisgreaterthan

mine.’

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philip sidney

INTEGRITY

BATTLE OF ZUTPHEN & DEATH (1586 – 1587)

Thedateis22September1586.Inthedeadofnight,inthethickmistsoftheWarnsveldforest,aSpanishconvoyapproachesZutphen’scitywalls.Theconvoy,ledbyAlfon-soFelicedeAvalos,thefifthMarquisofPescara(whohadalreadyconqueredAntwerp),comprisedsometwothou-sandfusiliers,cavalryandlance-bearers.Theyhadarrivedto relieveZutphen,whichhadbeenbesieged forsomeweeksbyanEnglishcontingentofaround6,000men,ledbyRobertDudley,thefirstEarlofLeicester.PhilipSid-neywasalsoamongthegroup;togetherwithhisbrotherhehadvolunteeredtoliberatethecityfromtheSpaniards.

ThusfartheSpanishconvoyhadnotbeenspottedbyDud-ley and his men. A courier was despatched to quietlyappriseJohanBaptistevanTaxis,theSpanishlieutenantin Zutphen, of the night-time arrival of the reinforce-ments.Taxisdecidedtorideoutofthecitywitharoundathousandsoldiers,toformasinglefrontagainstthehuge

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Englishpresence.Butathousandsetsofarmour,horsesandwagonscreateagreatdealofnoise.Englishscoutswereawokenandmadegreathastetotellthealliedforces.Cavalry and infantry mobilised and surged en massetowardstheenemyhiddeninthefog.

‘There came to my remembrance a vanity wherein I had taken delight, whereof I had not rid myself. It was the Lady Rich. But I rid myself of it, and presently my joy and comfort returned.’

Itwasabloodybattle.CertainlytheEnglishhadthegreat-ernumbers,butbecamedisorientatedinthemist.TheirSpanishopponentswerebetterpreparedfortheterrainandtheconditions.Butaboveall:moralewaslowamongtheEnglishtroops.EarlierthatyearPhiliphadwrittentohisfatherthatthemenwerecomplainingbitterly.Theyhadwaitedmonthsforpay,andthecourtshouldnotbesurprisediftheysoonlaiddowntheirarms.Thatitwouldcertainlynotbehisfaulthenotedinhisletters:‘Awiseandfaithfulmanshouldneverbeovertakenbyregret,aslongashehasfulfilledhisduty,asitwere,evenifothersshould relinquish theirs.’ Philip regarded himself as asensibleanddecentmanofhisword,whowouldcontinuetodohisdutyasheshouldatalltimes.

Backtotheturmoilinthemist.TheEnglishlosseswereconsiderable,anditlookedasthoughtheSpanishwouldwinthisbattle.Philipconductedachargeatleastthreetimesonhorseback,inthehopeofadvancingthebattlefurtherinthefray.Thistimetheconsequencewasfatal.

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philip sidney

Duringamanoeuvrehisthigh-bonewasshatteredbyabullet.Heavilywounded,hewasconveyedaway.InthisdistressPhilip remained thenoblemanhehadso longbeen–hegaveawoundedsoldierhiswater-bottle,withthewords:‘Thynecessityisgreaterthanmine’.Thisfineexample of magnanimity would become famous; evenmore, this phrase by Philip Sidney became one of themostfamousquotesinEnglishhistory.Philipbelievedthesoldiercravedwatermorethanhedid,thepoetandthecourtier,whoselifehadalwaysbeenintheserviceofoth-ers.OnastretchertheherowascarriedtoArnhem,wherehediedthreeweekslaterasaconsequenceoftraumaticfever,onMonday17October1586attwoo’clockintheafternoon,attheageof32.

VictoryhadgonetotheSpanish–notleastthankstotheappallingmilitaryleadershipbyDudley.HisofficersWil-liamStanleyandRowlandYorkplayedadubiousrole,notonlybysurrenderingtheredoubtinfrontofZutphentotheSpaniards,but lateralsobysquanderingthecityofDeventertotheenemy.Zutphen,Deventerandlargeare-astotheireastcontinuedtobeoccupiedbySpainforfivemoreyears,whentheyfelloncemoretotheUnitedProv-incesfollowingtheSiegeofZutphen,inacampaignledbyPrinceMaurice.

Sidney’sbodywastakenfromArnhemtoVlissingen,andwas carried to England aboard his own ship. He wasburiedamidgreatpompandcircumstanceinSt.Paul’sCathedralon26February 1587.TheEarlsofLeicester,

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Huntingdon,PembrokeandEssextookpartinthecere-mony,andalltheDutchregionswerealsorichlyrepre-sented.Thequeen,LeicesterandmanystatesmenwereinmourningforthegreatestlossithadfallentoEnglandtosuffer.

philip sidney

EPILOGUE

PhilipSidneywasheldinhighesteeminvirtuallyallcir-cles,frompoliticaltocultural.Initiallythiswasbecauseofhisliterarywork.NoteverythingSidneywrotehasstoodthetestoftimeintheyear2013,butthemostsuccessfulexamplesofhisworkrightlyestablishhishighrankinthehistoryofEnglishliterature,asoneoftheleadingrepre-sentativesoftheEnglishrenaissance.HisworkandstylewerecontinuedbygreatnameslikeShakespeare,Addi-son,RichardsonandCowper.

AsastatesmanandsoldierSidneydidnotplayaleadingrole,yetitwascertainlyadeterminedone.QueenEliza-bethlethimoccupyasubordinatepositionforaconsider-abletime,butdespitethislimitationhewasabletomakeextremelygooduseofhisdiplomaticskills.Thefranknesswithwhichheexpressedhisopinionssometimesbroughthimintoconflictwiththoseattheheadofthecourt,butSidneycontinuedtoargueforhisbeliefsandpoliticalcon-victions,nomatterhowdifficultthecircumstances.Hisexceptionalvirtuelayinthestrengthofhischaracterandhisuniquegiftas‘thecompletegentleman’.

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Withaswordthoumayestkillthyfather,andwithaswordthoumayestdefendthyprinceandcountry.

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PHILIP SIDNEY

A SPIRIT

WITHOUT SPOT

A spirit without spot, a man of impeccable character. This accolade is carved in the plinth of the statue of Sir Philip Sidney in Zutphen.Noble, righteous, single-minded, loyal, passionate, diplo-matic, strategically astute and respected. With these char-acter traits, Sir Philip Sidney was, in fact, a compliance manager avant la lettre. This is why, when we founded our company in 2008, we were proud to name it after him.

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PHILIP SIDNEY

INTEGRITY AND TRUST

Almost five centuries on, Sir Philip Sidney would fit right into our team. Some things never change throughout the ages. There were opposing interests of different parties at play in the foreign policy of Queen Elizabeth I. Achieving your goal in such arena requires knowledge and insight. Philip Sidney, adviser to the British Crown, knew how to get things done. He understood the art of diplomacy like no other. He was admired for his tact and courtesy, but these were only exte-rior traits. Here was a diplomat who understood what this profession was really about: integrity and trust.Things are no different now. Those operating in the interna-tional business world also have to contend with the conflict-ing interests of stakeholders. If you want to bring parties together, you have to step into the arena fully prepared. A carefully considered vision, strategy and policy are abso-lutely vital. But it is our firm belief that bringing parties to-gether should always be based on trust. The success of a company stands or falls with the trust of the stakeholders; trust in the company, in the vision of management and in the (financial) accountability. Trust is not for sale, it is not a shiny layer, not a bow on a gift. Trust must be one of the pil-lars a company is founded on. Integrity has to be anchored in the corporate culture. This is where PHILIP SIDNEY can help: integrity, from the coffee machine to the boardroom.

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WALK THE TALK

You don’t just get respect, you have to earn it. This applies to any organisation, but particularly to a compliance organi-sation like PHILIP SIDNEY. Anyone asking for transparency and uprightness from clients has to meet these very stand-ards. Practice what you preach, it is that simple. It goes without saying that trust, integrity and uprightness are hard-wired into the DNA of PHILIP SIDNEY. We always operate based on openness. We are honest in our dealings with our clients, but also loyal and discreet. We never lose sight of our clients’ interests and good name.

OUR EXPERIENCE

The team at PHILIP SIDNEY has many years of experience in the international business world. In previous positions, we supported big multinationals and banks with legal and fi-nancial matters. But we also worked on ‘the other side’, at regulatory bodies like the Dutch Central Bank. We combine this wide-ranging experience and apply it to our current roles at PHILIP SIDNEY. We know the rules of doing business. We know the market, the world of regulatory and licensing bodies. And we bring these two parties together with great care.

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PHILIP SIDNEY

OUR APPROACH

‘If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.’ This popular quote by Albert Einstein should be dis-played above every compliance manager’s desk. Interna-tional legislation and regulations are no piece of cake. This is a complex world of constant, fast change. But it is our job to understand it inside out and translate it to the day-to-day reality of our clients. We create compliance programmes and technology control plans which are understandable to everyone. We ensure that the compliance policy is not a ‘dead letter’ but a living, breathing frame of reference for the whole organisation.A good compliance programme helps things progress and doesn’t impede. PHILIP SIDNEY doesn’t put a stop to your plans with a wagging finger. ‘Can’t do this, not allowed to do this,’ is not something you will hear us say anytime soon. Instead, we come up with alternative scenarios.Another hobbyhorse of PHILIP SIDNEY’S: no duplication, no hiatuses. By laying down a clear compliance framework or control plan, we are defining responsibilities; thus prevent-ing inefficient working practices, as well as certain areas from being left unchecked. A critical test of effectiveness enables us to evaluate how well our compliance programme is working. What results does our work produce? Through training and communication, we ensure that compliance be-comes an intrinsic part of day-to-day operations. The more this is the case, the less you will see us. Ultimately, we want to make ourselves redundant.

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IN PRACTICE

No blueprint, no one-size-fits-all solution pulled out of the drawer. It goes without saying that PHILIP SIDNEY approaches every client, every assignment and case with a fresh per-spective. Following intensive conversations with our clients, we begin to design the internal compliance programme. We do a risk analysis and list the relevant laws and regulations and create a framework with measures and procedures. The next step is implementation. Which department has to deal with this legislation and these regulations? What processes are affected? Who is responsible? These are the people we get to work with. In a lot of cases, this means that, apart from the boardroom, we also head into the field. Everyone in the organisation – and specifically the people bringing in the contracts – has to know and comply with the regulations and codes of conduct.Clients can implement the recommended measures and pro-cedures themselves. Some, however, choose to let us take care of part of this. For instance, we screen customers, sup-pliers and also transactions of our clients for straightfor-wardness. In other words, are these legitimate transactions and authorised and reliable parties?As mentioned earlier, we feel right at home in the world of li-censing and regulatory bodies. We help our clients apply for the permits and licences they need for specific transactions. If our clients are contacted by regulatory bodies, we act as an intermediary. In case of a conflict, we stand by our clients and make sure that the situation comes to a good end.

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PHILIP SIDNEY

OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS

Complying with regulations while simultaneously seizing opportunities. That is our mission for clients. PHILIP SIDNEY immerses itself in the world of its clients. We research the market and help companies identify, assess and manage risks. We map risks and examine what impact they have on the client’s operational management. We advise our clients on how to deal with risks: take (accept), treat (manage), transfer (pass on to third party/insure) or terminate (end). When doing so, we specifically don’t focus on what can’t be done but rather on what can be done. Many of our clients are involved in innovation and development. As they are pio-neers in the market, so are we. Where feasible, we present ingenious solutions to new problems.

WHO ARE OUR CLIENTS?

We work for companies, banks, insurance companies and supply chains & delivery channels. Our client base consists mostly of companies involved in trade and related sectors. Anyone who has to deal with trade restrictions related to the development and transfer of technology, the sale, transport, financing and (re)insuring of goods will find the required knowledge and expertise at our company. Whether you are active in Research & Development, Life Sciences, Pharma-ceuticals & Chemicals, Manufacturing, the Energy sector (oil & gas/offshore), Logistics, Banking, Private Equity, Trust and/or (Re)Insurance, PHILIP SIDNEY is the right partner for

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you. We provide support in the field of UN, US, EU sanctions & export controls (military and dual-use items, including ITAR) anti-money laundering legislation (specifically trade-based money-laundering) and anti-corruption and anti-brib-ery legislation (OECD, FCPA, UK Bribery Act).We are happy to help you carry out a risk analysis, tailor-made to the nature, size of your company or institution. Based on this, we can advise you on setting up an internal compliance programme and drawing up policies and proce-dures, including on ERP and other business support sys-tems. We are always happy to implement a compliance pro-gramme together with you, thus ensuring a lasting result.Naturally, we also gladly assist you with your daily opera-tions. We carry out technology and goods classifications for you, checking them with the authorities, submit (re-)export or transit licence applications and help you with a complete transaction due diligence, for example with re-gard to comprehensive financial sanctions and dual-use goods, but also to money laundering risks. We screen all your customers, suppliers, agents and distributers based on all sorts of lists (denied persons, PEP, UBO et cetera).

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PHILIP SIDNEY

SOAPBOX

PHILIP SIDNEY advises organisations on risk management and compliance, but also looks beyond the company walls. We make connections, see the big picture and have views on this. Strong views! For example, on the increasing regula-tory burden. We feel the responsibility to share these views. That is why we regularly enter into discussions with legisla-tors and regulators on the issue of how to encourage com-panies, without new sector legislation, to behave differently. We also like to get on our soapbox. We look for opportuni-ties to make our views public. Consequently, PHILIP SIDNEY frequently publishes essays and white papers, for example on the impact of legislation and regulations on various sec-tors, also compared to other countries.

IN CONCLUSION

PHILIP SIDNEY is to clients what Sir Philip Sidney was to Queen Elizabeth I: loyal, strategically astute and decisive. In our vision, loyalty means: to be loyal to the client and pro-vide the best possible advice to them in any circumstances, wherever in the world. We are transparent, righteous and helpful. We weigh the risks and point out possibilities: pro-viding perspective. We know the market and the relevant leg-islation and regulations of our clients like the back of our hand. We talk to regulatory bodies and the people who mat-ter. We draw on our expertise to create opportunities for the client from this cocktail of knowledge. We look for the right

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way to get things done. Even if this requires ingenuity and creativity. Sir Philip Sidney, our historical predecessor, sum-marised this beautifully for us: either I will find a way, or I will make one.

Documents

Philip Sidney Corp Booklet