Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/130

 1 10 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 57. the Queen a letter from Mm, and de Gruaras may him- self relate what followed : ' She told me/ he wrote, ' that emissaries were com- ing every day from Flushing to her, proposing to place the town in her hands. If it was for the service of his Majesty, and if his Majesty approved, she said that she would accept their offer. With the English who were already there, and with others whom she would send over for the purpose, it would be easy for her to take entire possession of the place, and she would then make it over to the Duke of Alva or to any one whom the Duke would appoint to receive it.' 1 On such a subject, and at such a moment, it is not credible that the Spanish emissary would have mis- represented the language of the English Queen. It is barely possible, though that too is most unlikely, that he could have allowed himself to misunderstand her words. The reader will determine the interpretation which he will place upon them. There were those about Elizabeth who, at a later period, deliberately recom- mended her to do what de Gruaras says that she herself proposed to do. She then refused to listen to them, and received the thanks of the Prince of Orange for refus- ing. The substantial uprightness of her conduct in the 1 'La Eeyna de Inglaterra le habia dicho, dandole el unas cartas del Duque de Alva, que los de Frexe- lingas le venian cada dia a offrescer de entregarle aquella villa. Si con- venia al servicio y contentamiento de su Mag d que estuviese en su poder, ella lo acceptaria, y se apoderaria dello con los Ingleses que en ella habia, y con los que a este effecto enviaria, para entregarle luego al Duque de Alva 6 a quien elordenase.' Puntos de Cartas de Anton de Guaras al Duque de Alva, June 30. MSS. Simancas