Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/193

 1564.] THE EMBASSY OF DE SILVA. 173 reported to be of the Roman religion : so as surely the diversity of conscience did not in England make diversi- ties of duties or breed new disobedience/ l Some truth there 'doubtless was in this ac- count of the state of English feeling; yet Throgmorton could scarcely have felt the confidence which he expressed. The disaffection of the Catholics was but too notorious, although Philip had embarrassed their action by forbidding them to look to France for assistance. The loyalty or disloyalty of the English people how- ever did not touch the immediate question. Beyond the hundred and twenty thousand crowns the French offer would not rise. Throgmorton .wrote home for instruc- tions, and the proposal was met in the spirit which usually characterized Elizabeth's money transaction.-. The Queen replied with directing the ambassadors to demand four hundred thousand crowns ; if the French refused, she said that they might descend to three hun- dred thousand, and must protest that they had no power to go lower ; if there was no hope of obtaining three hundred thousand, ' they must do their uttermost to make the sum not less than two hundred thousand.' These instructions were delivered in the usual form to the State messenger Somers, and appeared to be an ultimatum ; but Somers carried with him a second sealed packet which he was not to deliver except at the last extremity. The ambassadors were to be able to say with 1 Throgmorton to Elizabeth, February 28 : French MSS. Poll* House.