Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/201

 1581.] VOYAGE OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 18$ go forward with his enterprise in the Low Countries, she would help him privately with money. He would perhaps say that he would prefer to abandon the enter- prise and marry instead ; but this could not be heard of. He might say that secret help would be valueless, that his brother would either go to war openly or not at all, and that she must follow his example. In this case, if it was clear that the mind of France was made up and there was no remedy, Walsingham was by his first instructions empowered to consent. He was di- rected to speak to the King as he had spoken to Mon- sieur ; to put off the marriage without committing her otherwise if he could, but at any rate to put it off; if secret assistance was refused, he was then ' to yield to the open sort of aiding, and declare frankly that Eng- land would stand by France in a war with Spain.' So Elizabeth thought on the 2ist of July. On the 22nd she had advanced on one side and receded on the other. The first instructions were cancelled. In the second she dwelt long and pathetically on her affection for Monsieur's person. Cruel circumstances had hitherto interfered with their union, but her love, she said, was not subject to change, and in time might still be brought to perfection. In time, but not at present. She could not ask him to sacrifice his prospects in the Low Coun- tries ; she could not marry her realm to a war ; and she loved her Prince too ardently to expose him to the dis- like of her subjects. For the present therefore she must postpone the accomplishment of her dearest wishes, and must beg him meanwhile to rely on the certainty of her