Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/378

 35* REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 60 less to say that Alva's engagement was not observed by the Inquisitors, and the natural goodwill between the English and the Spaniards was changed to hatred by the cruelties to which Elizabeth's subjects were still systematically exposed. But the utmost had been done on both sides to prevent the disintegration of the old alliance. The King of Spain himself was really acting in good faith. The exiles had fitted out a Catholic English pirate fleet. Don John of Austria, their chosen can- didate for the hand of the Queen of Scots, had given them encouragement ; but Philip had been coldly un- favourable. 1 Requescens's army had received its chief supplies from England, and when Orange threatened to stop the trade between the Thames and Antwerp, Elizabeth sent to tell him ' that she would not bear it at his hands, and would sooner join her forces to those of Spain ' to compel him to submit. 2 The French Court, encouraged by the success at Leyden, was willing to risk a war for the incorporation of the Pro- vinces ; Orange desperate of help from England was inclining to agree ; while the States of Holland, dread- ing France only one degree less than they dreaded 1 Sir Francis Englefield writes in cipher to Cotton, the pirate admiral : ' I am sorry and angry to see your service and diligence so ill requited by them that are to receive the chief profit. I have written in all fidelity both to Spain and Rome. From the first I have no answer ; which shows their little favour in whatever should cost them any penny. From the second I have answer, that the im- portance of your service is imparted to Don John and the chief cardinals, and shall be followed to the utter- most of their small credit.' MSS. Domestic. October, 1575. 2 Instructions to Daniel Rogers, June 8, 1575 : MSS. Flanders.