Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/504

 4 8 4 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 61. own precipitancy. She replied through Walsingham, that she had distinctly suspended her assent till she had seen her intending husband, that she would adhere to her resolution, and would conclude no article till she was satisfied that the matter would take effect. Simier might come if he pleased, and might arrange, should Alencon wish it, the outlines of a treaty ; but he must understand that he had to do with a woman who was no fool, and did not mean to be taken in. 1 The French Government, which had modified its whole policy in expectation of the marriage, began now to be alarmed. It was true that. the Queen had made her consent conditional on Alencon's coming, but she had taken so serious a step in recalling him from the Low Countries, that they had assumed as certain that she had resolved on accepting him. What did the Queen of England mean ? they began to ask. Could it really be that she was playing with them again ? Sir Amyas Paulet was clamorously questioned, but kept a prudent silence. ' I have been baited here a month or more as a bear at the stake/ he wrote, ' and had nothing to say ; but stood still at my defence for fear to take hurt.' 2 Mauvissiere's letters were somewhat reassuring. Elizabeth convinced Mau- vissiere, if she convinced no one else, that she was in I579 earnest; and Sirnier came to England in January. J armai y on h er own terms, bringing a letter 1 "Walsingham to Simier, No- vember 18: MSS. France. The letter was written immediately after a conversation with Elizabeth, and was evidently dictated by her. 2 Paulet to the Council, Decem- ber 6 : MSS. France.