Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/461

I578-] THE ALENCON MARRIAGE. 441 but when Mendoza answered that it did not rest with princes to suspend the law of God, she allowed the rejoinder to pass. 1 Davison being too feeble a negotia- tor, she despatched Sir Francis Walsingham himself, with Lord Cobham, to compel or persuade Orange to suspend his negotiations with Monsieur, and she per- suaded herself once more that she could bring Don John to consent to an arrangement. 2 They were sent to accomplish what in itself they knew to be impos- sible. The administration of Alva and the massacre at Antwerp had dug a river of blood between Spain and the Protestants of the Batavian Provinces, and Elizabeth's admitted object ( was to bring about a peace, leaving them under the Spanish King still.' 3 It could not be ; vet Elizabeth was determined that it should be. To strengthen her 'diplomacy, she used a strange weapon, forged in Mendoza' s armoury. It was not without rea- son that the city merchants had warned the Fuggers to be cautious. To prevent the States from raising more money, she repudiated the promises on the faith of which they had obtained their loan. The bonds had passed the great seal ; but she refused to issue them ; and as the sole fruit of their application to her for assistance, they found themselves required, with their ruined exchequer, to redeem obligations at par, which 1 ' A que respond! que no estaba en manos de los Principes el alargar 6 estrechar la religion, habiendolo dado Dios y ley en que se habia de vivir.' Mendoza al Rey, 17 de Junio : MSS. Simancas. 2 Commission to Cobham and Walsingham, June 12 : MSS. Sol- land. 3 Walsingham to Davison, May 22 : MSS. Ibid.