Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/457

 1578.] THE ALENCON MARRIAGE. 437 to recognize the Regency as a lawful Government at all. 1 Alencon's inclination ultimately settled on the Low Countries. The Prince of Orange, resolute not to submit to Spain on Elizabeth's terms, was as little disposed to sit still for fear of offending her. Alencon, hoping either to turn the Netherlands into a kingdom for himself, or if his brother died without children, to take them with him and annex them to France, offered to assist at his own charge for two months, with twelve thousand men. Orange saw no reason for rejecting so seemingly gen- erous a proposal. Secretary Davison was sent from England to entreat and to threaten. The Prince told him shortly that ' the necessities of the time ' left him no choice, ' seeing her Majesty's delay, and the resolution of the King of Spain to destroy them.' He was sorry to displease the Queen, b"t it could not be helped. The Walloon pro vinous would revolt if Monsieur's offer was refused. 2 Davison could not blame him ; and when blamed himself for the failure of his diplomacy, he spoke out the truth with unflinching plainness. 'The Prince,' 1 ' Speaking with Mr Vice-Cham- berlain (Sir T. Heneage), I asked him how her Majesty was disposed to deal with the ambassadors of Scotland. He said it was against her heart to entertain them as am- bassadors, and she spared not to make the fault light, and a common fault, for which they bad deprived her. I replied that if her Majesty made a scruple in that case it were good to hold another course and per- suade her to send home the Scotch Queen and set the crown on her head, and so assure herself of her friendship, and not in this sort lose the one and not embrace the other. He said he had told her so much in effect, but what she would do he could not tell.' Edmund Tremayne to Walsingham, July 29, 1578: MSS. Holland. 2 Davison to Walsingham, May 18: MSS. Ibid.