Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/150

136 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. 53. with them. 1 The ambassador declined to advise, and they did nothing ; but other gentlemen hurried over with the news of the rising. Though Philip had been cold, he had left the Duke free to act if there was an opportunity; and so confident was Don Guerau that he would not allow the occasion to pass, that he sent word to the Earls that if they could but keep a single seaport open, they would have assistance in a fortnight. ' Never/ he told Philip, ' was there a fairer chance of punishing the men who had so long insulted Spain, or of restoring the Catholic religion/ 2 All turned at that moment on the success of the adventure at Tutbury. Had the Queen of Scots reached the camp of the rebels, Southampton, Montague, Morley, Worcester, in all likelihood the Earl of Derby, would have immediately risen. Alva had a fleet already col- lected in Zealand with guns and powder on board ; and he was understood to be waiting only to hear that she was at liberty, to launch them upon England. If re- ports which reached Cecil spoke true, it was even arranged that the members of the infamous Blood Council would accompany the expedition to assist the Catholics in their expected revenge ; 3 and La Mothe 1 'Milord Montagu yelCondede Southampton me envi&ron a decir si les aconsejaba que tomasen las arm as 6 pasasen a V a Excellencia, y les dixe que no podia darles consejo hasta tener la orden conveniente para cllo.' Don Guerau to the Duke of Alva, December i : MSS. Simancas. ~ Don Guerau to Philip, Novem- ber 20 : MSS. Simancas. 3 ' Le Due d'Alva a eu en tend e- ment avecqucs quelqu'ungs Sei- gneurs d'Angleterre, et il les a promis assistance a 1'encontre da la Reyne et la religion, pour quelle fin ledict Due avoit faict apprester en Holland et Zeeland certain nombre de navires. les quelles sont deia oquippez et