Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/179

 I 5 8o.] VOYAGE OF SIR FKAA'CIS DRAKE. 163 Julv 10. explanations and retractations in private. Elizabeth's pleasure was to swim in the backwater of the main stream, and to shift her front in the continual eddies. A paper, dated the loth of July, in the handwriting of Lord Burghley, places us for a moment on firm ground. Elizabeth had led Alenon to believe that she would not object to his interference in Flanders. The Prince of Orange, finding that she had entirely deserted him, finding that she would not even redeem the bonds which had been issued on her credit, 1 had invited Alencon to become sovereign of the Low Countries. It was under- stood that the offer would be accepted, that the King would support his brother, and that those countries would be annexed to the Crown of France. The day when France became possessed of Holland and Zea- land, Lord Burghley considered, would be the last of English independence. Yet how was the difficulty t6 be met ? The Queen would not say whether she would marry Alengon or not. The Prince of Orange could not be forbidden to seek help from France, and France would not give it except on one or other of those con- ditions. Even now, Lord Burghley said, it was not too late for the Queen to take up the cause of the Prince of Orange. The Prince still infinitely preferred her protection to 1 ' Her Majesty has not made payment to the Italian merchants, Pallavicino and Spinola, for money which they lent to the States at her Majesty's request and on her bonds.' Note in Burghley' s hand, July 10 : MS'S. Holland.