Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/189

 1564.] THE EMBASSY OF DE SILVA. 169 The diplomatic correspondence which had January. continued since the summer had so far been unproductive of result. The French pretended that the Treaty of Cambray had been broken by the English in the seizure of Havre, and that Elizabeth's claims on Calais, and on the half million crowns which were to be paid if Calais was not restored, were alike forfeited. They demanded therefore the release of the hostages which they had given in as their security ; and they detained Sir Nicholas Throgmorton on his parole until their countrymen were returned into their hands. The English maintained on the other side that they had acted only in self-defence, that the treaty had been first violated by the French when Francis and Mary assumed Elizabeth's arms and style, that the House of Guise had notoriously conspired against her throne, and that Calais therefore had been already forfeited to themselves. Between these two positions Paul de Foix, the French ambassador in London, Sir Thomas Smith, Elizabeth's ambassador in Paris, and Throgmorton with a special and separate commission, were en- deavouring to discover some middle ground of agree- ment. The French hostages individually had proved them- be in this city and about it numbers of men in much necessity, some for lack of work and some for lack of will to work. If these, with others that have possessed the high- ways round about, be not by some I good means kept in awe, I fear there will be ill dwelling near unto Lon- don by such as have anything to take to.' Mason to Cecil, March 8 : Lansdowne MSS. 7.