Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/353

 '573-1 THE SPANISH TREATY. 333 Philip with demands for the expulsion of the English refugees from Flanders, which had been promised in the provisional treaty. Out of such a condition of things it appeared as if only war could follow ; but Alva, who, unlike the Catholics generally, had formed a high estim- ate of Elizabeth's power, preferred any humiliation to driving her into an alliance with Orange. He con- sidered Drake's performance a fair equivalent for the Ridolfi conspiracy. So far from advising Philip to de- mand reparation of his sister-in-law, he saw in it only a further motive for seeking a close alliance with her. 1 If your Majesty had listened to me/ he said, 'if you had not trusted Chapin Yitelli, and had attended to the considerations which I placed before you, these present difficulties would not have arisen. It is now of the highest importance to show Europe that there will be no war between England and Spain/ 1 Even the question of the volunteers the Duke was not inclined to press upon Elizabeth. She had recalled Sir Humfrey Gilbert, the only officer who held a commission from herself. With the rest he discovered for himself a more successful method of dealing. England was swarm- ing with adventurers of no particular creed, careless whom they served so they served their own interests. Some hundreds of these made advances to Alva through Antonio de Guaras, the Spanish factor in London. Alva un Catholico en Inglaterra, Junio T 9- r 573- Tn tk 6 hand of de Guaras : MSB. Sfmancas. 1 Alva to Thilip, July 7 ; com- pare Philip to Alva, July 8 ; Alva to Secretary Cayas,. July 8 ; Cayas to Alva, July 17. Correspondence of Philip IL: GACHARD.