RudolphII.uponhisbeingEmperermany,butuhedutiesoftheformalembassywasthechargeofwatgforopportunitiesofhelpingforrotestantLeagueamongtheprincesofGermany.OnhiswayhomethroughtheherlaoveyQueenElizabethsgratulationstoWilliameohofhisfirstchild,andressionhemadeuponthatleaderofmenisshownbyamessageWilliamsentafterwardsthroughFulkeGrevilletoQueenElizabeth.Hesaid"thatifhecouldjudge,herMajestyhadoheripestaestsellorsofStateinPhilipSidhatthenlivedinEurope;tothetrialofwhichheleasedtoleavehisoweilherMajestyleasedtoemploythisgentlemaheramongstherfriendsorenemies."

    SidurnedfromhisembassyinJune,1577.Atthetimeofhisdeparture,inthepregFebruary,hissisterMary,theyyearsold,hadbeethethirdwifeofHenryHerbert,EarlofPembroke,andhernewhomeastessofPembrokewasinthegreathouseatWilton,aboutthreemilesfromSalisbury.Shehadameasureofherbrenius,andwasoflikerain.Spenserdescribedheras"Thegeshepherdessthatlivesthisday,Andmostresembling,bothinshapeandspright,Herbrotherdear."

    BenJonson,longafterherbrotherhadpassedfromearth,wroteuponherdeaththewell-kaph:-"UnderhissableherseLiesthesubjectofallverse,Sidneyssister,Pembrokesmother.Death,erethouhastslainanother,Learnd,andfair,andgoodasshe,Timeshallthrowadartatthee."

    SidneyssisterbecamePembrokesmotherin1580,whileherbrotherPhilipwasstayingwithheratWilton.HehadearlyintheyearwrittenalumenttotheQueenagainsttheprojectofhermarriagewiththeDukeofAnjou,whichshethenfounditpolititofavour.ShelikedSidneywell,butresented,orappearedtoresent,hi