Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/187

 1572.] THE MASSACRE OF St BARTHOLOMEW. 167 delay, and by seeing that nothing is done for us. We are driven to fear that we are deserted, and, against our natural inclinations, we turn our eyes towards the French, in whom alone we see the necessary courage, energy, spirit, and resolution. Your Grace may be assured that we neglect no exertions to keep our people loyal to the Crown of Spain ; but, in our own defence, and in return for the confidence which his Majesty places in us, we beseech your Grace to explain to him that we shall be powerless, if he allows France to fore- stall him in moving on our behalf. All the world sees that conscience, duty, loyalty, justice, even gratitude, will then oblige us to go with the rest, and in the serv- ice of God and of our lawful sovereign (the Queen of Scots), accept the assistance of the first prince who will espouse our cause. ' The King can receive no more from us than we possess. Our hearty desire is to be his in all sincerity, and, without doubt, had our powers equalled our good- will, the position both of England and Scotland to- wards him would have been now far different from what it is. which the French have gained for themselves by their exploit last summer. The good all the world over now look to them. And it is the more necessary that the Catholic King should exert himself to retrieve his name and credit. The French, as he well knows, arc quick to resolve and swift to execute. Their influence at present is immense, both with the Holy See and with the
 * You can hardly imagine the honour and glory