Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/397

 '57I-J THE RIDOLFI CONSPIRACY. 383 revival of the old alliance. 1 Don Guerau was obliged to apologize for Count Schwegenhem's failure, as if the cause of it had rested with the Commissioner; and Leicester, as a new year's gift, presented Elizabeth with a group of figures wrought in gold, in which she was herself represented on a throne with the Queen of Scots in jchains at her feet; France and Spain were being overwhelmed in the waves of the ocean, and Neptune, with the globe in his hand, was paying homage to the English Sovereign. 2 Extravagant, or at least premature yet, amidst the suspicions and jealousies of the Continental Powers, the actual position of England was scarcely exaggerated ; and the absurd spectacle was presented to the world of an excommunicated princess balancing herself so critic- ally that it was supposed a push would overthrow her, 3 yet treating Spain with disdain, holding as a prisoner the Queen Dowager of France, making her country aD asylum from which the refugees of the whole of Europe levied war upon their respective sovereigns, and all this time with these very sovereigns suing for her favour, and able to dictate the terms on which she would re- ceive them again as her friends. But there was one Potentate who was not disposed to sit down meekly in so disgraceful a situation. It was not to see them thrust aside like dishonoured bills, 1 "VValsingham to Cecil, March 5 : Complete Ambassador. 2 Don Guerau to Cayas, January 9 : MSS. Simancas. 3 ' Tiene su sceptro tan sobre palillos que cualquiera pequena fucrca le derribaria.' Ibid.