GARDINER (_aside_). These princes are like children, must be physick'd, The bitter in the sweet. I have lost mine office, It may be, thro' mine honesty, like a fool. [_Exit_. _Enter_ USHER. MARY. Who waits? USHER. The Ambassador from France, your Grace. MARY (_sits down_). Bid him come in. Good morning, Sir de Noailles. [_Exit_ USHER, NOAILLES (_entering_). A happy morning to your Majesty. MARY. And I should some time have a happy morning; I have had none yet. What says the King your master? NOAILLES. Madam, my master hears with much alarm, That you may marry Philip, Prince of Spain-- Foreseeing, with whate'er unwillingness, That if this Philip be the titular king Of England, and at war with him, your Grace And kingdom will be suck'd into the war, Ay, tho' you long for peace; wherefore, my master, If but to prove your Majesty's goodwill, Would fain have some fresh treaty drawn between you. MARY. Why some fresh treaty? wherefore should I do it? Sir, if we marry, we shall still maintain All former treaties with his Majesty. Our royal word for that! and your good master, Pray God he do not be the first to break them, Must be content with that; and so, farewell. NOAILLES (_going, returns_). I would your answer had been other, Madam, For I foresee dark days. MARY. And so do I, sir; Your master works against me in the dark. I do believe he holp Northumberland Against me. NOAILLES. Nay, pure phantasy, your Grace. Why should he move against you? MARY. Will you hear why? Mary of Scotland,--for I have not own'd My sister, and I will not,--after me Is heir of England; and my royal father, To make the crown of Scotland one with ours, Had mark'd her for my brother Edward's bride; Ay, but your king stole her a babe from Scotland In order to betroth her to your Dauphin. See then: Mary of Scotland, married to your Dauphin, Would make our England, France; Mary of England, joining hands with Spain, Would be too strong for France. Yea, were there issue born to her, Spain and we, One crown, might rule the world. There lies your fear. That is your drift. You play at hide and seek. Show me your faces! NOAILLES. Madam, I am amazed: French, I must needs wish all good things for France. That must be pardon'd me; but I protest Your Grace's policy hath a farther flight Than mine into the future. We but seek Some settled ground for peace to stand upon. MARY. Well, we will leave all this, sir, to our council. Have you seen Philip ever? NOAILLES. Only once. MARY. Is this like Philip? NOAILLES. Ay, but nobler-looking. MARY. Hath he the large ability of the Emperor? NOAILLES. No, surely. MARY. I can make allowance for thee, Thou speakest of the enemy of thy king.