Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/229

 VOYAGE OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 213 quit of him. That was the necessity of the present hour ; the next might care for itself. Her changes had been so many and so violent that Burghley once more asked her if she was really and finally decided. She said she would not be Alencon's wife to be empress of the universe. 1 If this was true, the longer he remained the greater the danger ; and Burghley again urged him to begone. He said he had only meddled with the Provinces in the hope of marrying the Queen ; if she would not have him, he would con- cern himself no further with them ; he would complain to every prince in Christendom of the wrong which he had suffered, and his brother would see him avenged. Burghley could prevail nothing. The Queen took him in hand herself. She said she could not marry a Catholic. He swore he loved her so that he would turn Protestant for her sake. 2 She told him she could not conquer her disinclination ; she was sorry, but such was the fact. Might she not be a friend and sister to him ? In a tumult of agitation he declared that he had suffered anguish from his passion for her. He had dared the ill opinion of all the Catholics in Europe. He had run a thousand risks for her, and sooner than leave England without her, he would rather they both perished. 1 ' Al 25, en la noche, estando ha- blando con el Tesorero sobre esto, le dijo que aunque pensaba ser Erapera- triz de todo el mundo, no se casaria con Alenc,on.' Don Bernardino a su Mag*, 29 Deciembre, 1581 : MSS. Simancas. ' Poniendole delante cuan gran inconveuiente era para poder vivir con contento ser el de diferente reli- gion, Alenqon le aseguro con jura- mento que el dexaria la suya por su amor.' Mendoza al Key, 29 De- ciembre. Opposite these words Philip writes ' Ojo."