REIGN OF ELIZA BETH. [CH. 60. that the alliance could not be permanent. England's turn, as the Prince said, must and would come at last, Meanwhile the sea towns were untakeil the two pro- vinces were at Elizabeth's disposition if she would have them ; with the certainty, at the same time, of a sharp and severe war, and the possibility of an insurrection at home. The parties into which England was divided J574- were both represented in the council. Wai- August, gingham and Leicester were for joining the Prince, but Burghley and Bacon, who had hitherto acted with them, threw their powerful weight into the other scale. Don Pedro de Yaldez was coming with an armada from Cadiz to assist Requescens. Walsingham would have had him set upon and destroyed in the Channel. Burghley thought that with division at home, and with Ireland so vulnerable behind them, the risk was too great to be ventured. If the Prince threw himself as he threatened upon France, even Burghley considered that it would be even better to join Philip actively, and assist in the reduction of the Provinces. England would thus earn a right to a voice in the con- clusion, and secure the Hollanders some kind of terms. 1 The Spanish trade was of great importance : and a fresh interruption of it would lead to serious discontent 1 'El gran Tesorero y el gran Chanciller respondieron a sus cora- pafieros del Consejo que si la Eeyna se pusiese en ello, que con buena causa el Key de Espana les ponria cisipa y fuego en su reyno por Ir- landa, y que no eran de parecer de tal acceptacion ; y que en caso que a Franceses se entregase el de Orange que lo estorbarian por lo que tocaba a Inglaterra en favor del Eey de Esparla.' Antonio de Guaras a Cayas ; 25 de Agosto, 1574:
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