Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/502

 488 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 56. beth expected : the pirates on one side, and the support continually given to the Prince of Orange by the Flem- ish refugees who had found an asylum in England, had troubled his peace of mind. He had been taught by Alva to, distrust the resources of the English Catholics, and he was ready to endure considerable humiliation if he could be relieved at once of a source of perpetual un- easiness and danger. His father's last advice to him had been to hold fast by the English alliance ; and Eng- land whether Protestant or Catholic, was of equal politi- cal importance to him. The endurance of his subjects however had been ex- hausted, if Philip himself continued patient. On the appearance of Cobham a memorial was presented to the King by the Spanish merchants, setting forth that, be- sides the losses which they were daily experiencing from the pirates, the property already taken from them by the English privateers amounted to more than three millions. 1 As the flag of Spain was no longer a pro- tection to them, they said that they must decline for the future to fulfil their contracts with his Majesty, or make themselves responsible for the transport of further money or stores to the army in Flanders. 2 The remonstrance of the merchants was followed by a remarkable letter from the Duke of Feria. to Philip's secretary, written no doubt for the King to see, but without the constraint which must have been imposed upon his pen had he addressed himself to Philip directly 1 3,000,000 ducats. J Madrid to the King of Spain, April 1<! Address of the merchants at I 28 : MSS. Simancas.