Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/410

390 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 60. dealings with such people, that an interference with the Inquisition in their behalf was a thing that was not tc be endured. But Alva had this time a distinct majority on his side. He persuaded the most influential of Philip's advisers that they had to thank Elizabeth that the entire Provinces were not in arms against them, that on the score of religion they had nothing to fear from her, that she had thrown her weight upon the orthodox side, and that she was an invaluable ally to the Catholic Powers, in resisting the demand for toleration. 1 For her own sake she would not ask for others what she did not allow in England ; all else that she might desire the King could reasonably concede ; and if the Spanish troops were really forced to leave the Netherlands, her friendship would be indispensable. 2 The reasoning was entirely convincing. Philip wrote an affectionate letter to Elizabeth thanking her for her proposal of mediation. He said that he would gladly avail himself of it if Don John failed to come to an understanding with the States without her. For himself meanwhile he assured her that he was, and ever would remain, her constant friend. 3 The Inquisition difficulty still remained. The In- quisition, as Secretary Cayas explained, was an eccle- siastical tribunal, over which the King himself had no 1 ' No osara pedir lo de la Re- ligion, pues demas que sabe quan mal lo tomaria V. Mag d , ella liaria contra su misma, que quiere que sus vassallos la obedezcan con la religion que tiene, y no podria pedir otra cosa a su Mag d .' Parecer de Alva, 1577 : MSS. Simancas. 2 ' Saliendo los Espanoles es fuerqa que V. Mag d tenga por amiga a aquella Eeyna y obligada como lo quedaria contra los Estados quando no cumplieren lo que hubieren pro- metido.' MSS. Ibid. 3 Carta de su Mag d a la Inglesa con Juan Smith.