Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/203

 VOYAGE OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 187 extreme. A third set of instructions was a repetition of the first. She was to be delivered from the marriage at all hazards, even by a promise of going to war ; and finally when Walsingham waited on her personally to take leave, she told him that she was not prepared to go to war, and that he was not to commit her to it. 1 Well might Walsingham consider a lodging in the Tower preferable to going to Paris on such an errand. His own expectation was that unless something definite was done, the King and the Duke, feeling themselves trifled with, would revolt to the Catholic faction, and revenge themselves for the imbecile caprices which were making them ridiculous before the world. 2 But it was not a time when a loyal minister could afford to throw up his office. Walsingham had taken his place beside Elizabeth to do his best for her and the realm, and her own humours were among the unhappy condi- tions of the service. He went. He saw Monsieur first as he was directed, and Monsieur received his message precisely as he expected. ' After his long pursuit publicly known to the world,' the Duke said, ' his re- pulse would be greatly to his dishonour.' The war in the Low Countries was no new matter. He had con- 1 ' My instructions, in case the King insist on assistance, and with- out it will not move, give me au- thority to yield thereto. But her Majesty's own speech since the sign- ing of those instructions has re- strained me in that behalf. Let me therefore know her Majesty's plea- ! sure: lest if, upon my denial of yielding to open assistance, there ensue a breach of the treaty, the blame hereafter might be laid on me.' Walsingham to Burghley, July 28, 1581 : DIGGES. 3 Ibid.