1572.] THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. 97 the mutiny to account, and Alva was well aware of the intentions with which France and England had drawn together. His object was, if possible, to divide them, and when the Spanish ambassador was dismissed, he bore the insult and did not recall the Commissioners, and Elizabeth, for her own purposes, was willing that they should remain. The reopening of the Flanders trade was of great importance to London, and the Queen was glad to keep in play with Spain as a means of escape, should all else fail, from the embraces of Alen9on. She began therefore at last, to interfere seriously to put down the privateers : their prizes were occasionally taken from them and restored to the owners ; and although de la Mark, the admiral, complained that ' he was but making war against the common enemy, the Duke of Alva/ he was told that if he remained any longer on the English coast, he would be treated as a pirate. 1 The officers of the ports were forbidden to furnish him with supplies, and the English sailors on board his ships received orders to leave him. It had been argued in the Admiralty Courts that ' the Prince of Orange, having the principality of his title in France, might make lawful war against the Duke of Alva ; ' and that the Queen would violate the rules of neutrality if she closed her ports against his cruisers. 2 1 De la Mark to the Council, January, 1572. 2 ' Aliqua ratione injuriosum vi- deri potest immiscere se actibus et litibus exterorum principura qualis constat liberum esse Principem Im- perii ; et, ut apparet, eum ipsi Im- peratori et Statubus Imperil accep- tum turn etiam Gailiarum Regi, in quo regno possessiones multas ob- est iste Princeps Orengianus, quern I tinet, satis gratum.' Responsio Ar* VQk. x.
