Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/575

 1585-] THE BOND OF AMOCIAT10X. $$g Sir William Wade was sent over to repeat her de- mands for the delivery of Morgan. The occasion was most inopportune, for he reached Paris on the day on which the Duke of Guise (March I 5 25) unfolded the banner of the Holy League, and the House of Lorraine published their intention of coercing their Sovereign, inflicting the decrees of Trent upon France, and cutting off the King of Navarre irom the succession. The Cardinal of Bourbon, the King of Navarre's uncle, had been put forward as the nominal head of the party. The plea was misgovern- ment and toleration of heresy. The Princes of the League said that they meant no hurt to the King ; but excommunication hung over him if he resisted ; and Guise, with twenty thousand men, paid out of the Spanish treasury, was expected in Paris. The rising, which had been long in preparation, had been pre- cipitated by the arrival of the Deputies from the States. It had not been prevented by the refusal to help them, and the question whether two religions could subsist side by side in France was to be tried by the sword. If Guise won, France and Spain would April then inevitably unite against England. Re- garded by the light of St Bartholomew, the movement seemed like ' a stratagem devised between the Court and the Duke for the overthrow of religion.' 1 Eliza- beth bade Stafford tell the King that if he would accept her help she would aid him with the whole power of 1 Valsingham to Stafford, March 22 April i : MSS. France.