Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/38

iS REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 57. he had written from Brussels, on his return from Spain, to be delivered. The Pope still urged Philip, and Philip, still harping upon God, believed that it was not yet too late. Angels, he thought, would fight for the good cause, and he could not stand by while the Ca- tholics were persecuted into apostasy ; Hawkins too, the great admiral, was on their side, and was himself an army; if there was danger in making the venture, there was danger and dishonour also in remaining pas- sive. 1 But neither Pope, nor King, nor trust in Haw- kins, could move the resolve of Alva; whose only anxiety was to shake himself free from the clamours and complaints of the refugees. 2 I 1 Philip to Alva, September 14. 2 4 The affair is upset,' Alva wrote to Don Juan at Rome, ' and for the present nothing can be done. The Queen has arrested all the noblemen who would have assisted us. For my own part, I looked for nothing better with such light people to deal with. You will explain to his Holi- ness how things stand, and you will let him see that my fear of what has actually taken place was the cause of the caution with which I pro- ceeded. To run hastily into ill- concerted enterprises stains our re- putation, turns our hands against ourselves, and injures rather than benefits the service of God. God, it is clear, can bring about His own purposes without man's assistance. 1 doubt not He will put His hand to the work when we least look for it, and will reward his Holiness for the zeal which he has shown in His cause by bringing about a happy end to these troubles in his Holiness' s life- time. ' At present his Holiness and I bear the whole blame in England, and although the Queen is not acting as in justice she ought to do, yet she has made it impossible for us to at- tempt anything with a hope of suc- cess. 1 have gone to a great expense in preparing for the expedition. His Majesty bade me spare nothing, and all is lost. I fear we have been betrayed by the French. M. de Foix, a few days before he left Eng- land, told a friend in confidence that the Duke of Norfolk was about to be arrested. Had the Duke been equal to the work, he might now have been in the place of those who have thrown him into the Tower and will cut off his head. You shall hear