Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/497

I57J-] THE R1DOLFI CONSPIRACY. 483 coine English provinces, but they would probably be purchased by the loss of Ireland ; it was folly to risk a kingdom in possession in seeking other countries by conquest ; l and the loss of Ireland might prove, ' in the end, the loss of all else,' for Spain would then ac- quire the command of the sea. ' When England and Spain were enemies, France might be accorded with Spain by practice of the Pope, and on small quarrel, fall off from England/ 2 The English share of the war would be chiefly naval, ' and the loss of men and ships by tempest, shot, and fire would be most costly/ 3 So thought Cecil, having lost heart from his mis- tress's inconstancy. If the French would be content with a defensive alliance, in which the German princes were comprehended, each power to assist the rest in case of invasion, that would be most welcome but he feared that their disappointment would not incline them to so mild a policy. They would make a league if England would go along with them in a war of conquest. Other- wise, it was too likely that they would change their front and fall back on Spain. 4 Walsingham, in Paris, where he was in daily inter- course with the Huguenot leaders, viewed the situation more hopefully. He thought that whatever Elizabeth might do or forbear to do, war between England and Spain was surely approaching ; and being so, it would 1 Objections to the league with France, August 22, Cecil's hand: MSS. France. 2 Ibid. Ibid. 4 Ibid.