Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/129

 1569.] THE RISING OF THE NORTH. to have some professional opinion on the relative strength of the Queen and the Catholics. Chapin was sent over to negotiate should negotiation prove possi- ble with all sincerity. If any disturbance broke out, he was to avail himself of it to obtain better terms for his master ; but he was not intended to take part actively under any circumstances, and was merely to use his eyes in case ulterior measures should be event- ually necessary. 1 The heated imagination of the Catho- lics however saw in him the herald of the coming army of liberation. The news spread over the kingdom, and the fire which was beginning to smoulder shot again into a blaze. The impression was confirmed by the great anxiety of the Court. Sixty gentlemen who attended Chapin from Flanders were detained at Dover, and he was allowed to take on with him no more than five attendants ; 2 while, owing to the suspension of the 1 That the hopes held out by Don Guerau to the Catholics were not as yet to be fulfilled is perfectly clear from a letter written by Philip during the autumn. Speaking of the proposed insurrection and the over- tures of the Catholics to Don Guerau, Philip says : ' No se puede ni debe tratar dello hasta ver al fin que tiene la negocia- tion que se trae sobre restitucion de Lo arestado, que si sucede como se pretende, por mi parte no se dejarfr de levantar adelante la antigua amis- tad que mis pasados y yo habemos tenido con esa corona: pero no se haciendo asi, ya entonces seria mcnester tomar otro camino, y para tal caso es muy conveniente que vos me vais siempre avisando como lo haceis.' Philip was just then troubled with an insurrection of the Moors, and having Flanders on his hands also, was most unwilling to add to his embarrassments. The English Ca- tholics might rebel if they pleased. If they could overthrow Elizabeth with- out assistance from himself, he would be very well satisfied, and if vague promises held out in his name encour- aged them to rebel, the insurrection would at least incline Elizabeth to come to terms with Spain 2 La Mothe to the King, Octo- ber 8.