THE ALENCON MAR&IAGE. 4 ;t marry the Queen of England, or the Low Countries, or both. The King and his mother would assist him in obtaining either or all of these objects ; they desired only to be rid of him out of France : and if Elizabeth thwarted him, ' he would turn over all his forces to Don John and seek surety by the friendship of Spain.' This was his position, acknowledged without attempt at dis- guise, and Sussex formed a distinct idea that Monsieur's offer ought to be at once accepted. A marriage with him would give stability to the alliance with France, and would assure substantial toleration for the Hugue- nots. If children came of it, the succession would be settled, and either Philip would have to make peace with the Provinces on their own terms, or else Eliza- beth and Alencon could occupy them together, and an- nex them without danger to the English Crown. ' Thus/ Sussex said to her, ' you will give the law to the world, and settle your estate at home. You will be a serpent to the evil, and a dove to the good ; you will be the peace-maker of Christendom, and God will bless you.' Against these advantages were to be set Elizabeth's general dislike of marriage, and probably of Alencon in particular. Englishmen detested strangers, and espe- cially detested the French. Alencon might become King of France, and if there was one child and no more the Crowns might be united to England's injury. Pos- sibly also, as had been suggested when Alenon's brother, the present King, had been her suitor, 'Mon- sieur might but fraudulently seek her first/ to make away with her by unkindness, and then marry her younger
