Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/395

 157*] THE RIDOLFI CONSPIRACY. 3*1 was alarmed with rumours that a descent would be soon attempted, under the direction of Count Louis, on the islands at the mouth of the Scheldt ; 1 and although insult was accumulated on insult, and injury on injury, he felt himself compelled to smother his resentment, and endeavour, by smooth words and humiliating conces- sions, to prevent this fresh addition to his embarrass- ments. His best chance of escaping a war with France was to reconcile himself with England. He understood Elizabeth's character well enough to know that she would never marry the Duke of Anjou if she could help it ; but he believed also that she might be driven to it if pressed to extremities ; and, that the alliance between England and France thus cemented, would be followed by the serious movement against Spain, for which the Huguenot chiefs were longing, and which Walsingham so enthusiastically anticipated. Notwithstanding Chapin's failure therefore the Duke of Alva continued his pacific advances. A third time he sent over a commissioner ; not a soldier like the Marquis of Cetona, but a member of the Flemish Coun- cil, Count Schwegenhem. The open object was the 1 'Aqui tratan de molestar los Payses Baxos, creyendo por esta via escusar la molestia en sus Mas y aguardan aqui al Conde Ludovico de Nassau. Aperciben con tanta arti- lleria las naves destos Piratas Fla- mencas y Inglesas que es mavavilla, y la Eeyna les ha ofrecido cien pieces, y las cuarenta cargan ya en barcos para llegar a la Isla da Huict, donde M. de la Mark se llama Al mirante del Principe de Orange.' Don Guerau to Philip, October 28, 1570 : MSS. Simancas. This passage is underlined by Philip himself, and on the margin is one of his characteristic exclamations of distress, Ojo ! He might fairly think that he had not deserved this treatment at Elizabeth's hands.