Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/214

 1 9 B REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 64. a full and absolute conclusion of the said marriage.' x Mendoza was incredulous as ever ; but he could not conceal from himself that France and England were for the present closely united, and that together they might declare war against Spain was at least a possibility. He desired to submit Elizabeth's disposition to some de- ciding test. Hearing that Don Antonio was fitting out a fleet at Plymouth with the crown jewels of what was now his own realm, Philip had directed Don Bernar- dino to present a remonstrance. Uncertain of the tone which it would be desirable to assume, the King of Spain wrote three letters to his sister-in-law of graduated severity, leaving his ambassador to choose between them. Don Bernardino selected the sharpest, which contained a demand for the arrest and extradition of Don Antonio's person, requested an audience, and, with some difficulty, obtained it. The Queen was at Rich- mond, and received him in the chamber of presence, sit- ting under the cloth of state in a satin chair. Usually, when Don Bernardino came to see her, she rose from her seat ; on this occasion she sat still, with a cold excuse that she had rheumatism. The ambassador apologized for troubling her when she was unwell, but she said nothing, and, after allowing him to stand for some time uncovered, she asked for his master's letter. Don Bernardino gave it. She ran her eye over the contents, and then said that Don Antonio had left Eng- land, and that if she had cared to help him, the Indian 1 The Queen to Sir H. Cobham, November. 1581: MSS. France,