Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/377

 1575-1 THE SPANISH TREATY. 557 he would receive them to mercy at her Highnesses hands, but he would adventure all his estate, rather than license any exercise of religion other than the Catholic Roman. As to the merchants and seamen, strangers must observe the laws established by the Inquisition, and if they offended must be punished by the law. The religious administration was independent of himself, and he was bound by his oath to respect the privileges of the Inquisition/ 1 The principal matter was thus really left in the Archbishop's hands, and the lives and properties of Englishmen were insecure as ever. Alva however made a private arrangement with Cobham, for the' ful- filment of which, he said, he would be himself respon- sible. Out of special regard for the Queen, the law against heresy should be so far relaxed that no English subject should be liable to arbitrary arrest and examin- ation. 2 The English, in return, if they chose to enter Spanish churches, must behave as others did. If they encountered the Holy Sacrament in the streets they must kneel, nor must they proselytize or introduce heretical books. With this reply Cobham took his leave. It is need- 1 Answer to Sir H. Cobham, November, 1575 : MSS. Simancas. A marginal note shows that Quiroga had given a sort of consent but had refused to commit the In- quisition by a positive engagement. ' Esto fue conforme a lo que habia dicho el Inquisidor General que aunque to-dos los estrangeros que han hereticado fuera del Reyno son cas- tigados por ello se dissimularia con los Ingleses. Pero que no se les habia de decir que procedia de la In- quisition porque no lo tomasen por ley o permission, y asi se puso en papel a parte y se lo dio al Duque de Alva.' Discurso del Duque de Alva, 2 de Deciembre ; MS8. Simancas.