Philip Sidney’s bold and nobly-worded letter of remonstrance with the Queen against the match was accepted in a better spirit. The virtues and talents of the writer, coupled with the disinterested patriotism which evidently inspired his protest, secured him against the vituperation which Elizabeth lavished on Walsingham and other Protestant champions who timidly ventured to offer not a tithe of Sidney’s outspoken opinions. “These” (the Protestants), said Sidney--“how will their hearts be galled, if not alienated, when they shall see you take a husband, a Frenchman and a papist, in whom, howsoever fine wits may find further dealings or painted excuses, the very common people well know this: that he is the son of a Jezebel of our age; that his brother made oblation of his sister’s marriage, the easier to make massacres of our brethren in belief. That he himself, contrary to his promise and all gratefulness, having his liberty and principal estate by the Huguenot’s means did sack La Charité and utterly spoil them with fire and sword! This I say, even at first sight gives occasion to all truly religious to abhor such a master, and consequently to diminish much of the hopeful love they long held to you.” The Queen wept over this, as well she might, but to her credit it may be said that she did not visit the writer with her displeasure as she would have done in the case of a less high-minded adviser. [Illustration] CHAPTER X. Simier’s departure with the draft agreement--The Queen suddenly cools towards the match--Her perplexity--Her efforts to temporise--Suggestions for an alliance with France-- Simier’s letters pleading Alençon’s cause--Alençon’s plans in Flanders--Signature of the Peace of Fleix--Queen Margaret’s intrigues against the Alençon match--Simier’s disgrace-- Catholic intrigues to gain Alençon--Alençon’s new envoys to England--Clausse de Marchaumont’s negotiations--His favour with the Queen--“La belle jarretière.”