Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/29

 1569-] ENGLISH PARTIES. 15 doubt the prudence of an immediate rupture. Eliza- beth affected the tone of an injured person who had had a quarrel thrust upon her. After a few weeks of chafing, the Duke sent over M. d'Assonleville, a mem- ber of the council of the Netherlands, to try the effect of remonstrance. It is not pleasant to contemplate the number of lies told about this 'treasure.' In the face of the corre- spondence of Cecil with the Devonshire gentlemen, it can scarcely be pretended that Elizabeth at no time intended to appropriate the money. She may have changed her mind, compromised matters with Cecil by consenting to detain, while she intended eventually to restore it, and so have saved her conscience. So it was however that both Cecil and the Queen insisted that the chests had been landed at the request of the Span- iards themselves, and that the thought of laying v-'olent hands on them had never been entertained for a moment. They pretended that the passage of the Channel was extremely dangerous from the pirates ; the Queen had accidentally discovered that the money was the property of the Italian merchants, and she had doubted whether it would be well to expose so large a sum to further risk, and whether she might not borrow it herself. This was all that she had thought of, and was most innocent ; but whilst she was hesitating the Duke of Alva, without provocation, right, or justice, had seized upon the ships of her subjects. If this was her position Alva had only to accept it, prove the right of the King of Spain in the treasure,