Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/84

 64 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [011.41. ings been free from reproach, it was impossible for Conde, had he been ever so desirous of it, to make the imme- diate restoration of Calais a condition of the peace. Had the war been fought out with the support of England in the field till the Catholics had been crushed, even then his own Huguenots would scarcely have permitted the surrender. Had he held out upon it when the two factions were left standing so evenly balanced, he would have enlisted the pride of France against himself and his cause, and identified religious freedom with national degradation. Before moving on Havre he made an- other effort. He sent M. de Bricquemaut to explain his position and to renew his offers enlarged to the ut- most which he could venture. The young King wrote himself also accepting Elizabeth's declaration that her interference had been in no spirit of hostility to France, entreating that she would continue her generosity, and peace being made, recall her forces. 1 The ratification of the treaty of Cambray was promised again, with ' hostages at her choice ' for the fulfilment of it, from the noblest families in France. But it was all in vain. Elizabeth at first would not see Bricquemaut. She swore she would have no deal- ings with ' the false Prince of Conde,' and desired, if the French King had any message for her, that it should be presented by the ambassador Paul de Foix. When de Foix waited on her with Charles's letter she again railed at the Prince as ' a treacherous, inconstant, per- 1 Charles IX. to Elizabeth, April 30 : FORBES, vol. ii.