Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/319

I570-] EXCOMMUNICATION OF ELIZABETH. 305 marauders would be diverted upon Spain. Don Guerau wrote that Hawkins was fitting out a squadron to cruise for the gold fleet ; and that the Government took no pains to prevent their depredations. It is certain that Philip had not as yet deserved at Elizabeth's hands so inveterate an animosity. For political reasons he had prevented France from declaring war against her. He had shown extraordinary forbearance in enduring in- juries to which a great Power like Spain could scarcely submit without dishonour. He had empowered Alva to act in concert with the English Catholics if he saw a fair opportunity ; but the seizure of his treasure would have justified more immediate and decisive measures , and the discretion which he had left to Alva could have been no more than an excuse to his own subjects for his inaction, for he knew Alva to be as reluctant to move as himself. The Spanish nation was furious. The feelings of the proud and bigoted Castilians found ex- pression in the intrigues of the ambassadors in Eng- land and in the successive entreaties of de Feria, the Bishop of Aquila, and now again Don Guerau for a descent from Flanders upon the English coast. But Philip lagged behind his people, and Alva knew or feared that if he struck at England France would send an army over his frontier, and the Netherlands would again be on fire. The danger of this last contingency was increased by the prospect of a reconciliation between the Court of Paris and the Huguenots. If the Protestant lead- ers came back to power, the anti-Spanish policy of VOL. IX. 20