352 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 60. be sufficient ; or if the Prince made difficulties after- wards, ' she promised to join with the King by force to compel the disobedient that should impeach it.' On the other hand, if the war was to continue, she said plainly that she would be driven into some other course. She did not wish to injure the King, but she could not, in the interests of England, let the Netherlands be annexed to France, and in default of help from her it was to France that they would certainly turn. 1 The weight of the message lay in the last paragraph. A war of religion would not be tolerated in England, but a war to prevent the aggrandizement of France would be warmly popular. It was thought that Philip knew enough of English politics to comprehend the distinction. To the Spanish people generally the mission was most unwelcome. The reception of a heretic minister was in itself a scandal which had been overcome only by a dispensation from the Pope. 2 Cobham could hardly find so much as a lodging at Madrid. The King, in his first interview, was cold and ambiguous : and the Nuncio, notwithstanding the Pope's permission, recom- mended, between advice and command, that the am- bassador should be dismissed without a second audience. 3 1 Heads of a message to the King of Spain, July i, 1575. Instructions to Sir H. Cobham. Drawn by Wal- siugham and signed by the Queen, July ; MSS. Spain. 2 'Como el Santo Officio ha hecho nmy complidamente, procu- raudo para ello y para mayor segu- ridad de la consciencia dissimulada- mente el consentimiento de la Santa Sede Apostolica.' Parecer de Hop- perus, October, 1575: MSS. Si- mancas. 3 A su Mag d del Nuncio, 24 de Nov bre 1575. Sobre echar de aqui a Cobham : MSS. Ibid.
