The Courtships of Queen Elizabeth: A history of the various negotiations for her marriage
David Hume · en
and satisfy her rather by deeds than by words.”[124]
[Illustration]
CHAPTER XI.
Great French embassy to England to settle the Alençon match--
Elizabeth’s efforts to gain her objects without marriage--
Alençon’s determination to relieve Cambrai--Henry III.
strenuously opposes his brother’s plans in Flanders--Alleged
flying visit of Alençon to England--Catharine’s efforts to
divert Alençon from his plans in Flanders--Elizabeth attempts
to draw France into war with Spain without her marriage with
Alençon.
At length, after endless bickering about the rank of the proposed
ambassadors and the Queen’s assent had been received by Alençon, the
envoys were ordered to rendezvous at Calais. There they were delayed
for some weeks, first for the young Prince Dauphin, of Montpensier,
whom the King had added to the list of ambassadors to please the Queen
at Alençon’s request, and then by the illness of other members of
the embassy. Early in April, 1581, however, all was ready for their
crossing, and then the English Council began to get alarmed at the
number of their following and the sumptuous nature of the embassy,
which most of the councillors knew was destined to return with the
marriage still undecided. At last, however, a general passport was
granted at the instance of the Queen, who said she could not afford
to offend Alençon at this juncture. Workmen were set on in furious
haste to build a grand-stand in the palace at Westminster, wherein
to entertain the visitors. Ten thousand pounds’ worth of plate was
ordered for presents, and jousts, banquets, and balls were hastily
organised. “The Queen went to the length of issuing an order in Council
that shopkeepers were to sell their cloth of gold, velvets, silks, and
other such stuffs at a reduction of one quarter from the price per
yard, as she says she wishes them to do her this service in order that
the ladies and gentlemen may be the better able to bedizen themselves.
“This seems an evident sign that her only object is to satisfy her
own vanity and keep Alençon in hand.”[125] The writer goes on to say
that the Queen is paying no heed to the weighty questions which will
have to be settled by the embassy, but is entirely absorbed by the
consideration of new devices for jousts, where a ball is to be held,
what beautiful women are to be at Court, and such-like trifles. On the
14th of April the glittering embassy embarked at Calais. It consisted
of nearly five hundred persons in all, and included Francis de Bourbon,
Dauphin of Auvergne, the son of the Duke of Montpensier; Charles de
Bourbon, Count of Soissons, the youngest of the Condé family; Marshal
de Cossé; the Counts of Sancerre and Carrouges; Lansac, Barnabé
Brisson, the famous president of the parliament of Paris; La Mothe
Fénélon; Pinart, Catharine’s Secretary of State; de Vray; Jean Bodin,
and others of high rank. Lord Cobham, Warden of the Cinque ports, the