Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/115

1572-1 THE DUKE Of NORFOLK. 95 tremendous issues were hanging upon Elizabeth's de- cision than she knew of. But she did know that France was looking to her reply was looking to her general conduct, to ascertain whether she would or would not be a safe ally in a war with Spain, and that' on her depended at that moment whether the French Government would take its place once for all on the side of the Reformation. An event which had just taken place on the coast of Holland had increased the gravity of the situation, and made the Queen's decision more than ever mo- mentous. It was seen that the expulsion of Don Guerau was a signal for the refugees to make fresh efforts to rouse Philip. The language of Reginald Pole was revived by the ultramontane faction, whose own desire was to see Don John of Austria come northward with the squadron of Lepanto, and commence another crusade against the Turks of their own country. 1 As the Catholic 1 ' Our contraries say they will have help now, in consequence of the great overthrow that Duke John of Austria hath given to the Turk ; and that his next enterprise shall be to subdue the English Turks, which may easily be performed as they say, considering the great force of foreign powers which he shall bring with him, together with the great aid he shall have as well with us us with the Scots.' Lee to Burghley, De- cember 7, 1571. Lee was one of Cecil's spies in Flanders. Sir Francis Englefield writes in the same strain to some one in Spain: ' Ego quidem nee breviorem ncc commodiorem viam his malis sub- veniendis video, quam ut Suae Majes- tatis mandate Illustrissimus Princeps Don John de Austria revocetur et in Oceanum ex Mari Mediterraneo cum spe suis copiis veniat remque feliciter aggrediatur. Quod si fecerit, spes remedii certa est ; nee profecto ita luculenta spes lucri ad Rempublicam Christianam perventuri effulget, si tarn numerosa veterum Christiano- rum multitudo permittatur se in novos Turcas convertere ; dum in