Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/192

 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. . 64. resented it lie might still rely upon her support. 1 France swarmed with disbanded soldiers, and an army for short service was easily brought together. Alencon collected a few thousand men with Elizabeth's help, and moved on Cambray. Parma, unwilling to fight an action which might force France into the field, raised the siege ; and Alencon, having strengthened the garrison, thrown in supplies, saved his credit with the Low Countries, and at all events, compromised himself, fell back into his expecting attitude, waiting for Elizabeth to reward him. She, on her part, had no sooner seen the ambassadors turn their backs, than she commissioned a political agent, a Mr Somers, to go to Paris to undo their work, and by exacting more and more concessions make the marriage impossible. The King had said that he would make a league with her on reasonable conditions. She wished to know what those reasonable conditions were. Would France follow up the war in the Low Countries effectu- ally without putting her to expense ? Otherwise ' she could not without offence to her realm consent to the marriage.' The King would probably say that he could not go to war unless he was assured that she would join 1 ' Assimismo para cualquiera de los designos que el tenga de la in- vasion de los Payses Bajos 6 alte- rarse contra su hermano, no se puede hacer sin dinero ; y que la Reyiia lo daria con mayor facilidad, pidiendose lo el por su persona, a titulo de que hacia la empresa por complacerla, principalmente que el Marchmont le habia advcrtido que cuando el Rey de Francia respondio que de ningnna manera qucria declarar guerra a. V. Magd, le dixo la Reyna que si el lo hiciera, ella le ayudaria con 500 mil libras esterlinas ; que aunque son palabras que dice con artificio, moverian a Alencjon para esperar sacar fruto dellas.' Don B. de Mencloza al Rey, 6 Junio : Sitmncos.