Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/88

 74 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 52. ment, and with the added strength from the adhesion of the Duke, they could make their success a cer- tainty. It was fortunate for Elizabeth that to this conspiracy the failure of the Hamburgh expedition had not to be added. Half a year's produce of the English looms had been consigned to that one adventure, and had Alva in- tercepted the fleet, or had the market proved unfavour- able, the effect might have been as serious as Don Gruerau anticipated. Happily however success had waited upon the attempt both by land and sea. Not a sail was missing of the flight of white- winged traders which swept through the North Sea. Not a bale of goods was left unsold, so many eager buyers had been set upon the watch by Killigrew. The ruin of trade at least the great citizens of London saw no reason to anticipate. They might pillage Spain with impunity, and sell their wares at a profit trebled and quadrupled by the ruin in which Alva had involved the industry of the unhappy Netherlands. The political danger Cecil thoroughly comprehended in its general bearings ; and though unaware of Norfolk's treachery, he understood his character too well not to suspect him. The musters were called out in the South- western and Midland Counties, and the officers were chosen from among those who were best affected to the Queen. As to the marriage, the genuine Protestants were instinctively opposed to it. The Earl of Hunting- don held meetings at his house to concert measures to prevent an alliance which they felt would be ruinous to