Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/381

 THE RIDOLFt CONSPIRACY. 36? February. paign in Belgium would give full scope to his military ambition ; it would employ the swarm of soldiers whom the peace had let loose, and the success would be as certain as it would be easy. The Prince of Orange and the Germans would invade Holland. Elizabeth's fleet would seal the Channel against reinforcements from Spain, and the Eoyal Family of France would be re- venged for the death of their sister, whom they be- lieved, though without a shadow of foundation, that Philip had murdered. 1 Such was the programme which had grown up in Paris in connection with the English marriage, and Catherine was only anxious to see the work commenced by driving Alva into the sea. The Nuncio suggested to Anjou 'that if England was the mark he shot at it might be achieved easily by the sword, to his great honour and with less inconvenience than making so unfit a match/ 2 But Anjou's thoughts had gone off into another channel and could not for the moment be brought back. One misgiving only con- tinued to haunt the Queen-mother, that Elizabeth was trifling after all, that she would bring the Duke to the steps of the altar and then make him the laughing- stock of Europe. Guido Cavalcanti, for many years the unofficial minister of goodwill between the two Courts, 1 There is not the slightest douht of the existence of this conviction both in Charles and his brother. That it could gain credence at all is a proof how intense the national animosity against Spain continued to be. See the Despatches of Sir Henry Norris, 1570, 1571, passim : MSS. France, Rolls House. 2 "Walsingham to Cecil, February 8 : Complete Ambassador.