Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/133

 1572.] THE DUKE Of NORFOLK. assistance he would not be able to bear the brunt of so puissant an enemy ; ' ' without England the expedition would miscarry ; ' and she had entreated ' with tears ' that he would at least wait till Elizabeth had declared herself. Her misgivings were confirmed by a repre- sentation through Walsingham that Alencon would not be accepted. She felt more than ever that the marriage and the marriage only could give her the security which she required. She would not accept the refusal. She told Walsingham 'that the marriage was now the only means of establishing a perfect amity between the Crowns/ She sent M. de la Mole, Alenon's dearest friend, to England to make one more effort. She said she trusted ' God would so dispose the Queen of Eng- land's heart as she should prefer public before private affairs/ The King himself wrote to La Mothe telling him that he must do his very best, and even if he failed or was likely to fail, that he must prevent the negoti- ation from being finally broken off; while Walsingham could but add his own prayers that either she would take Alengon, or if not that she would join openly with France in assisting the Prince of Orange. He implored Burghley and he implored Leicester not ' to allow her to be deceived by the fair words of Spain/ for Spain would change its language when its difficulties were over, and ' fearful effects would follow unless God put to His helping hand/ l 1 The King to M. de La Mothe Fenelon, July 20, August 9 ; The Queen-mother to M. de La Mothe Fenelon, August 10 : Depeches, vol. vii. De La Mothe Fenelon to the King, July 29, August 3, August VOL. x.