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Philip that the embargo might be extended to Spain and Italy, before the English could take the alarm and fly.

It seems that Elizabeth had expected that her excuse would be accepted, that she could accomplish safely by a trick what she would not venture to attempt by force. When she found that she had failed, her heart for a moment sank.' The catastrophe so long threatened had come, and Spain, the old ally, whose connection with England had outlived, so far, the shock of the Reformation, was an enemy at last. But it was too late to retire. A retaliatory edict was issued. All Spaniards and Netherlanders in England found themselves prisoners. The order of arrest was extended to the Channel, where every vessel owned by a subject of Philip was declared liable to seizure. At eleven o'clock on a January night, the mayor and aldermen went round to the merchants' houses, sealed up their warehouses, and carried them off from their beds to the Fleet. Frightened families of Spaniards crowded for protection to the ambassador. The ports were closed Don Guerau's own letters were intercepted, and he himself, to prepare for the worst, burnt such of his papers as were dangerous.

The immediate advantage in the arrest was largely on the side of England; even without Philip's silver, the value of the Spanish and Flemish goods detained

1 'A la Reyna le tomáron unas grandes cascas quando le sup ó.'-Don Guerau to Philip, January 8: MSS. Simancas.

far exceeded what had been seized by Alva. Yet the manner in which the breach had been brought about was not creditable. The suppression of trade created general discontent in London, and an affront so open to an ally could not but seem objectionable to the old English Peers, who looked on Orange as a rebel, and cared little for the heretics whom Alva was burning and beheading. The new question which had arisen divided parties in the same line on which they had been already separated by the cause of the Queen of Scots. The prospect of a war with Spain kindled the hopes of the Catholics, and made her friends more anxious than ever to secure Philip's interest for her. The Bishop of Ross told Don Guerau that all the noblemen who were interested for his mistress would stand by Spain in the present quarrel. Mary Stuart herself, so sanguine was she, sent him word that if the King of Spain would help her, she would in three months be Queen of England, and mass should be said in every church throughout the island;1 and stealthy language of the same kind began to be used to him by English Peers themselves. Don Guerau's instructions left him unable to enter into any engagements in Mary Stuart's interests; but under the new circumstances he held himself at liberty to hear what her friends had to say; and the Earl of Northumberland came one night

'La Reyna de Escocia dixó al criado mio, direis al Embajador que si su amo me quiere socorrer, antes de tres meses yo seré Reyna de Ingla

terra y la misa se celebrará por toda ella.'-Don Guerau to Philip, January 8: MSS. Simancas.

to his house, and had a long conversation with him. Unfortunately for the Catholic cause, an awkward quarrel had arisen among the noblemen most inclined to it. Lord Dacres of Naworth, the richest and most powerful of the Northern Peers, had died in 1566, leaving one son and three daughters. The son, while still in his minority, was killed three years later by a fall from his horse. The widow had married the Duke of Norfolk, and had died also a few months later, leaving the Duke the guardian of her children. According to ancient usage, the Dacres estate would have gone with the title to the late Lord's brother, Leonard. But Norfolk, not for his wards' sake entirely, but to secure the splendid inheritance in his own family, had betrothed the girls to his three sons, and claimed the property for them against their uncle. The suit was pending at this particular moment. Leonard DacresLeonard of the crooked back as he was called-had assumed the title and taken possession of Naworth Castle. He was a strong Catholic, and his cause was warmly supported by the Earls of Northumberland, Cumberland, and many of the gentry of the northern shires. There was a general unwillingness to see another great family perish out of the already attenuated ranks of the English Peerage. The Queen was holding the balance between the claimants, and the decision. seemed likely to rest rather with her than with the judges. With the prospect of a revolution which would transfer the crown to Mary Stuart, the Northern Lords had been throughout unfavourable to the scheme for

marrying her to the Duke of Norfolk, who was not a Catholic, and, too powerful already, would then carry all before him. They had communicated their views to the Queen of Scots herself, but she was anxious at any rate to use Norfolk's help till she was extricated from her difficulties, and begged them to be silent.1

The injunction however did not extend to the Spanish ambassador. Northumberland was ambitious for her, and he asked Don Guerau whether Philip himself might not, in the interests of the Church, be induced to take her. The ambassador, who was in bed, said nothing, but 'wagged his head on the pillow as though he meant it could not be.' 2 If the Queen of Scots wished it, he said that Don John of Austria might not be so impossible, but for the present union among the Catholics was of the first importance. They should agree together on some common course, and other questions could be settled afterwards. At all events it was agreed that the ambassador should urge Philip to take up the Queen of Scots' cause, while the Catholic nobles in the council and out of it should draw together, form a party with the more moderate Protest

1 'Some liked her marriage one | Queen sent to me, and I think to way and some another way. The some others too, to will us to seem Earl of Westmoreland and some of contented and to like the match.'the Nortons liked well the match Confession of the Earl of Northumwith the Duke. My cousin Dacres berland: Border MSS. Rolls House. and I wished her bestowed on a 2 Confession of the Earl of Northsound Catholic, even if it was some umberland: Border MSS. Rolls foreign prince; but this was kept House.

secret among ourselves, for that the

ants, and either force the Queen to change her policy, or place themselves at Philip's disposition.1

Don Guerau was now satisfied that Cecil had made a false move, and that he at least could be overthrown. He suggested to La Mothe Fénelon that they two together should demand Cecil's dismissal of the Queen, as the enemy of the quiet of Christendom. If she refused, France might unite with Spain in closing the harbours of the Continent against the English. The Catholics outnumbered the Protestants, and that one step, bringing ruin as it would on half the families in the country, would ensure a revolution.2 He wrote to Philip to the same purpose, advising him to use his influence with the Court of Paris. If Europe refused to trade with England till England was reconciled to Rome, Cecil would be overthrown, and without Cecil the Queen would do as the Catholics wished. It is Cecil,' he said, 'who rules all now, and prompts the villain tricks which trouble us. No words can tell the depth of Cecil's heresy; and as he sees the Protestantcause going to the ground he grows as furious as if possessed by ten thousand fiends.' And again:- The chief of the council is Cecil, a man of low extraction, cunning, false, malicious, full of all deceit, and so true an Englishman that he thinks all the sovereigns of Christendom cannot conquer this island. He it is who 1 The account of the interview | marriage which the Earl had progiven by Don Guerau to Philip jected for him. agrees closely with Northumberland's own confession. Don Guerau only did not mention to his master the

2 La Mothe à la Reyne-mère, December 28: Dépêches, vol. i.

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