Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/200

 1 84 REIGN Of ELIZABETH. [CH. 64. operation. It was the first step towards war, and had made the message brought by Somers doubly irritating. Walsingham, though imperfectly in his mistress's se- crets, was convinced that, notwithstanding the prepara- tions at Plymouth, she had no intention of countenancing Don Antonio. 1 It was with a feeling therefore ap- proaching disgust, that he found himself suddenly selected to take Somers' s place at Paris, entangle France in the war with Spain, and extricate Elizabeth both from a share in it and from her promise of marriage also. He told the Queen he would rather she sent him to the Tower. His task was an impossible one. He would fail and would be held responsible for failing. 2 His instructions, as they were drawn up by Burgh- ley, were ' so to deal as to acquit her Majesty of the marriage/ drag her any way out of the mess into which she had plunged, and to bring France to agree to a leagup against Spain, in which England should not be committed to go to war. Monsieur, being of softer materials than Secretary Pinart, was to be the first object of his arts. He was to tell Monsieur that the Queen loved him dearly, but was embarrassed by self- willed subjects. Being, as he was, at open war with Spain, the English people would not allow her to marry him ; yet, as it was of great consequence that he should 1 ' However France shall incline to assist Don Antonio, I see some cause to judge that there will be no- thing done in his favour or assist- ance, or rather in the assisting of her Majesty's self by the abating of the pride and force of that Prince who desires nothing more than hei ruin.' Walsingham to Cecil, July 7 : MSS. Domestic. 2 Walsingham to Somers, July 19 : MSS, France.