Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/185

 VOYAGE OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 169 ought to pardon her, since she had herself been the chief sufferer by it ; and she said she would pray to God so to crown the long negotiation as neither the King should have cause to regret her decision, nor his brother the choice which he had made. She confessed that she still looked on marriage as too much happiness for an old woman like herself, for whom paternosters were more fitting than a bridal. If the Duke was dissatisfied with her, the King, who had so long pressed the mar- riage, would alone be to blame. 1 This letter really looked like business. But, as M. Simier had said long before, nothing but the candle being out and the happy pair established together behind the bed-curtains, would be really conclusive. The royal family of France had already been made sufficiently ridiculous, and before the appointment of another com- mission Alen90ii's secretary, M. Marchmont, was ordered over to ascertain if the Queen was serious at last. His task was not likely to be an easy one. ' Our dis- position here/ wrote Walsingham to Sir Eobert Bowes, ' is to prosecute nothing either throughly or season- ably ; ' and on the same day to Sir John Wallop, ' We shall continue our lingering and irresolute manner of 1 ' Pour dormer fin a ceste cy longue demeure, je impetreray de . Dieu ceste seule grace, qu'il pourra couronner toute 1'ceuvre, de sorte que Vous mesraes n'ayez jamais pensee de regretter ceste sentence, ny Mon- sieur tienne oncques cause de re- pentir son election de ma part. Je suys en ferine foy que ma felicite sera que trop bonne pour une vieille a qui les Paternosters suffiront au lieu des nopces ; et non obstant je seray tousjours preste a recevoir les commissaires quand il vous plaira a les m'envoyer.' Elizabeth to the King of France, January, 1581 : MSS. France.