Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/394

374 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 60. observed. They required the free exercise of their re- ligion in every part of France, with eight large towns to be selected by themselves out of those already in their possession, to be garrisoned by their own men. Conde asked besides for Boulogne, and Casimir for the pay- ment of his expenses with Metz, Verdun, and Toul as securities. The Queen-mother promised everything but the Huguenot leaders refused to dissolve their forces till their terms were actually complied with. Alencon sent to Elizabeth, to tell her that she was his chief hope on earth ; that he longed to see her ; that his chief motive in escaping was, that he might be sure of access to her most precious person ; and that meanwhile he relied on her support. If she would join in a formal league with himself and Casimir, they might dictate terms to Europe ; if that could not be, he begged her to lend him, at all events, some money ; and undertook to make no peace in which she was herself not comprehended. 1 Elizabeth's position towards France was briefly this. She could not yet trust the King, who had been the chief instrument in the massacre of St Bartholomew. If the Guises became dominant they were likely to join Spain, and interfere in England for Mary Stuart. If the Huguenots got the better of them without help from her- self, they would support the Prince of Orange, and earn the gratitude of France by the annexation of the Nether- lands. A hold upon Alencon was therefore extremely 1 Instructions to La Porte sent to I d'Alen<jon, November 27, 1575 : '.he Queen of England by the Due | MSS. France.