Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/178

 1 62 REIGX OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 64. the French into Flanders; while the marriage treaty grew and dissolved and was put together and ravelled out again, like the web of Penelope. 1 Indecision how- ever could not last for ever. The Catholics and the patriotic party were so nearly balanced in France, that slight causes were continually turning the scale. The annexation of Portugal had discredited the Duke of Guise; religious disturbances threatened to restore him to as- cendancy ; and so critical was the condition of things at the Court that a revulsion of policy was always on the cards with a Spanish marriage for Alengon. The Queen-mother, who hated Philip with Italian malignity, was more than willing to hold on to Elizabeth. She was ready, and the King with her, to make a league with England in favour of Don Antonio, to invade Flanders, to declare war against Spain, to do anything and everything that Elizabeth might wish, could they but have a guarantee that Elizabeth would stand by them ; but they knew their good sister of England too well to run the risk of committing themselves alone; they feared, and with good reason, that when France was entangled in war, Elizabeth would snatch the oppor- tunity to arrange her difficulties with Spain. How much in her conduct was deliberately insincere, how much arose from legitimate uncertainty, the sur- viving historical materials make it difficult to decide. The inquirer is beset on all sides with contradictions, with demonstrations of one kind made in public, and 1 ' Qtiieren que sea la tela de Penelope.' Mendoza al Rey, 21 Maio, 1580 : MSS. Simanca*.