Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/116

 96 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 41. were distracting Philip's mind from Scotland. The death of Gfuise and the compromise between Conde and Cathe- rine had destroyed the party which he had raised in France. Ferdinand of Austria was on the edge of the grave. There was a project for marrying the daughter of Maximilian, who would succeed to the Empire, to Charles the Ninth ; and this alliance might serve to re- new the broken league among the Catholic powers, or at all events might relieve him of his fear that the prize- might be secured by Mary Stuart. A grave difficulty lay in the character of Don Carlos himself. ' The cruel and sullen disposition of the Prince of Spain ' was be- coming more dangerous as he grew towards manhood. His brain had been hurt by a fall. His appetite was so furious that no gluttony could satisfy it. His passions were so violent that the King himself durst not thwart him lest he should die in the suffocation of his rage. 1 Such a youth was no promising subject of a matrimonial intrigue no safe foundation on which to build a policy. Towards England Chaloner described Philip as ' un- certain whether the ancient league or present personal respects should most prevail with him/ The best- in- formed Spaniards held a war to be eventually inevit- able ; but they did not expect it immediately. The Pope was labouring to bring about a cordial action be- tween the Catholic sovereigns, and it was thought he would eventually succeed ; but the critical condition of Flanders fermenting on the edge of rebellion would 1 Minutes of Sir Thomas Chaloner, December 19 : Spanish MSS.