In the preceding articles in this series' it has been my endeavor to show that Spenser, like the other men of the brilliant circle with which he was connected, sought to win glory through political service. At first, he seems to have hoped to take an active part, for he wrote to Harvey in October, 1579, that he was about to be sent abroad in Leicester's service, that he had no time to think on such toys as verses, and that he looked forward to corresponding with Sidney. This hope, however, was soon dispelled, probably because of his speaking too plainly, in Mother Hubberds Tale, about the plot to make Alenron the king consort. At about the same time, the Shepheards Calender was published, and in it was a carefully constructed and cumulative argument warning Leicester and the Queen that the activities of the papal propaganda in England and Ireland, together with factional troubles in the government, would lead to Catholic supremacy and perhaps the overthrow of Elizabeth. As a result of these publications by a man not yet powerful enough to venture on such boldness, he was shipped to Ireland as secretary to Lord Grey. Moreover, Spenser was from the first a student of theories of government. Harvey writes: "What though Il Magnifico Segnior Immerito Benivolo hath noted this amongst his politique discourses and matters of state and governmente that the most courageous and valorous minds have evermore bene where was most furniture of