Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/496

4*2 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 56. a league with England for the liberation of the Nether- lands. ' It would be as much honour to Elizabeth/ he said, ' to unite Zealand to the English Crown, as the loss of Calais had been shame to her sister.' 1 There was no reason to suppose Charles insincere. The Admiral was invited to the Court. The ships of the Prince of Orange" were entertained at Rochelle. When the Spaniards complained, the King replied that the Prince of Orange was a Prince of the Empire, and could not be denied the use of the ports of France ; Count Louis was neither subject nor pensioner of Spain, and the Catholic King should not think he could give laws to other countries than his own. 2 'The Queen-mother/ said Walsing- ham, ' is incensed against Spain, being persuaded that her daughter was poisoned/ The ambassador however was obliged to admit that his own expectations were not shared by every one. 3 France feared that England would go over to Spain. It was equally possible that the Catholics might recover their ascendency at the Louvre, and England might be left to fight out, single-handed, a quarrel which it had entered at the side of France. To Cecil as well as to Catherine the failure of the marriage seemed fatal to an aggressive policy. Zealand and Holland might be- 1 Walsingham to Cecil, August 12 : MS8. DIGGES. 2 Ibid. 8 'Some,' he wrote, 'do judge these things only to be colours and to tend to some dangerous issue : but they that think so have nothing but jealousy for ground. The Admiral himself believing that good may come of his access means to proceed, laying all fear aside, and to commit himself to God's protection.' "Wal- singhamto Cecil, August 12 : MSS. France.