Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/181

 VOYAGE OF SIR WANCIS 165 French meant to possess themselves of those countries, and unless Philip would conciliate them by making con cessions, which he had hitherto refused, ' she would be forced, contrary to her liking, to set in foot and make herself a party/ l The emphasis with which she spoke provoked a doubt of her sincerity. When Elizabeth meant what she was saying her voice was always low, thin, clear, and unimpassioned. She had already sent privately to France, to tell the King that if he would go to war with Spain she would furnish him underhand with the means. 2 Alone afterwards with Mendoza she told him that she had spoken so strongly only to please the council, that at bottom she desired nothing so much as to preserve her friendship with the House of Burgundy, or draw closer to it by a renewal of the league ; 3 while again a few weeks after, on the news of the landing at Srnerwick, she directed Cobham, her ambassador at Paris, to propose a joint expedition of French and English into Portugal, to establish Don Antonio. 4 As to sending a force to the Netherlands she never 1 Heads of speeches delivered to the ambassador of Spain, July 10 : MSS. Spain. A Spanish translation is at Simancas. 2 Instructions to Mr Middlemore, June, 1580 ; Sir H. Cobham to Burghley, August i : MSS. France. Mendoza to Philip, July 4 : MSS. Simancas. 3 ' Despues se aparto sola con- migo, y me dixo que ella habia hecho este officio para cumplir con sus consejeros ; y que no dixesen que faltaba en lo que tanto le iba : que no deseaba sino conservar la antigua amistad que habia tenido siempre con la casa de Borgona, y si necesario fuese estrecharla, ratift- cando las ligas de nuevo.' Mendoza al Rey, 16 Julio. 4 Walsingham to Sir H. Cobham, September 18, 1580: MUKDIN.