Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/496

 480 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 67. the greatness of his character, formed the hinges of the fortunes of Europe. Elizabeth's lover was the first to go- Mortification, and perhaps debauchery, working on a feeble constitution, threw Alencon into a fever, of which he died at Chateau Thiery on the 3ist of May. 1 The King of Navarre was now actually heir-presumptive a Huguenot heir-presumptive in France, as the Catholic Mary Stuart was heir-presumptive in England. The Guises, the Jesuits, the great section of the French nation which had executed or approved the massacre of St Bartholomew, were known to have resolved never to submit to the accession of a Protestant, and a pro- tracted civil war had therefore become a certainty. The French King and his mother proclaimed openly their intention of recognizing the King of Navarre's rights. Walsingham advised his mistress to take the same line, and at once to send some one to him with congratula- tions, and with offers, if it was needed, of support. Elizabeth however had yet to give the last touch to her relations with the lost Alencon. She put the Court in mourning, she shut herself up in the palace, affecting to be overwhelmed with sorrow. She 'could by no means be brought to yield ' to Walsingham's suggestion. ' She did allege she could not love the King of Navarre, who was to succeed one whom she loved so entirely.' 2 She described herself to Mauvissiere as a forlorn widow who was robbed of her dearest treasure. ' She is a 1 June 9. 2 "Walsingham to Stafford, July 2 12: MSS. France.