Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/129

 1572.] THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. 109 than fear. If the Prince fail, the edicts cannot be maintained.' l Her own interests, her obligations to Orange, her duty to the cause of which she was made by her posi- tion the principal representative, alike urged Elizabeth into one bold honourable course : what motive could have prompted her to the step which has now to be de- scribed, it would be unsafe and unjust, in the absence of proof, to conjecture. At every difficult stage in her career there was always in her conduct something strange, something unexpected, and on the surface re- prehensible. It seemed for ever as if she doubted the success or disliked the character of Burghley's general policy, and as if she desired to secure for herself, in case of difficulty, a retreat into another and an opposite course. It is possible now that she was worried out of her senses by her troubles with Alen9on ; it is possible that she was disheartened by the defeat of Genlis ; it is possible that she was trying some cunning stroke of diplomatic treachery: or again but conjectures are useless. It is enough to say that if she was sincere, she was without excuse ; if she was insincere, never was a trick more stupidly played, or a moment more unfortunate selected to play it. On learning that the French were in Mons, the Duke of Alva had made fresh overtures for a reconciliation with England. De Gruaras, 2 in a private audience, gave 1 "Walsingham to Burghley and Leicester, July 26 : DJGGES. 's commissioner, to be care- fully distinguished from Don Guerau, the expelled ambassador.