Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/228

 212 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 64.

mised him unlimited supplies of money, a promise how- ever which, if Simier was to be believed, she hoped to escape from keeping. 1 In public she affected the deep- est sorrow at the Duke's compelled departure. In pri- vate she danced for joy at the thought that she would see him no more. Struggling and complaining, the vic- tim of her caprices submitted to be pushed along. He said it was but too clear that she did not love him, and that his own devotion deserved a better return. She swore that her desire that he should go rose only from her anxiety for his welfare. He said he could not go. He had her word, her letter, and her ring, and he would not leave her till she was his wife. She set Cecil upon him, who for very shame was as earnest for his departure as herself. She availed herself of the Spanish leanings of the council. She thought, according to Simier, of declaring publicly that she was going over to the Spanish side in the hope that Alenc,on would be recalled at once by the French Court. He was told that he had better go before the ist of January or he would have to make a New Year's present to the Queen. 2 Anything to be 1 Simier was in England, in as high favour as ever with the Queen, but no longer as devoted as he had been to the interests of his master. Elizabeth, Mendoza says, told Simier that Alenc.on pretended that he had gone into the war to please her and that she must give him money to carry it on. 'Not having other means to shake him off, she bad of- fered him a large monthly allowance.' ' But as soon as he was across the sea,' she said, ' I mean to represent to him that the council will not consent ; that the realm cannot af- ford him so large a contribution, without too much weakening the home defences, and that this cannot be suffered.' Mendoza to Philip, December 25 : MSS. Simancas. 2 Mendoza to Philip, December 25 : MSS. Simancas*