Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/380

REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 60 Time was pressing. The Prince sent the Queen word that ' she had offers made her that, if she would embrace them, her posterity would thank God for her ; ' submit to Spain however they never would, ' for they feared a massacre of Paris ; ' and if she refused they would 'seek other aid/ It was the dilemma which Elizabeth had foreseen when she told Philip that if he would not make peace, she must act on her own judg- ment ; she could not let the Provinces become French. Had she been so disposed, she could not move with decency till Cobham came ; she sent again to Eeques- cens however urging peace, and bidding the messenger use his eyes and ascertain the dimensions of the Spanish forces. 1 She wrote more gently to Orange. She called herself the best real friend that he possessed in Chris- tendom. She wished to help him, but a war with such a power as Spain was a serious consideration. She had sent a minister to Philip, she said, and she had still hopes that he would consent to a compromise. Mean- while she as^ked for an account of his resources, and im- plied and all but promised that if the King was obsti- nate she would assist him. 2 Requescens, frightened at her attitude, despatched M. de Champagny 3 to protest, while St Aldegonde, the Prince's most faithful friend, and two councillors, Paul Prince of Orange and Estates in Holland. In Lord Burghley's hand, October 17, 1575 : MSS. Flanders. 1 Instructions to Mr Corbet, October 21. Burghley's hand: If 88. Ibid. 2 Instructions to John Hastings sent to the Prince of Orange, Octo- ber 29: MSS. Ibid. 3 Brother of Cardinal Granville, and Governor of Antwerp.