Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/356

 336 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 60. own countrymen. To the common sense of Europe it seemed a fair proposal a concession to the temper which had been shown in the meeting at Speyr. The re- establishment of the Catholic religion did not imply per- secution. Unsupported by foreign troops the bishops would have been powerless for anything save the main- tenance of external order. The chapels of the Calvinists would have been closed, but private opinion would have remained uninquired into, and the Protestants of Hol- land and Flanders would have been in the same position as the Catholics in England. English practical understanding decided at once that these offers ought to have been thankfully received. The Queen, who allowed no ' liberty of worship ' herself, could not consistently demand it for others, even if she had thought that it could be prudently granted : and when the Prince and the States sternly refused, they were considered to be offering gratuitous obstacles to the settlement of Europe. The English Catholics came forward in numbers making contributions for Reques- cens or taking service in the Spanish army. 1 Trade had reopened under Alva's treaty, between London and Antwerp ; the Flushingers insisted on a right of search lest munitions of war should be carried to the enemy ; and ugly quarrels rose in consequence. The Channel 1 ' Muchos gentilhombres, solda- dos y marineros, y otros de nuestro pays, ha pocos dias que vinieroii si esta tierra para ofrecer su servicio al Eey contra sus rebeldes ; y viendo que cada dia llegan aqui tanto nu- mero de Catholicos de nuestra nacion para servir al Rey, he hecho quanto he podido que su Excellencia formase uu regimiento de Ingleses Catholicos. Relation de M. de Copley, 1574 MtiS. Simancas.