376 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 60 promising that if she would accept Alencon, she should find more than a brother in himself. 1 'Her Majesty,' said Walsingham once, impatiently,
- trusts much in fortune. I would she would trust more
in Almighty God/ Yet Elizabeth might be pardoned for relying on a power which so steadily befriended her, and in nothing more than in the character of the two great sovereigns which divided Catholic Europe. The weakness of Henry and the bigotry of Philip were alike defences to English independence. She had assisted Alencon ; she had not offended the King. But the issue was still uncertain. Should Monsieur's victory be complete he was morally certain to offer help to the Low Countries, and in that case she could only prevent the States from throwing themselves into his arms by becoming herself their protectress. Should he be de- feated, she might require the help of the States herself, in the coalition which might then be formed against her. So long as the uncertainty lasted therefore she amused St Aldegonde with fair words and promises. In February, the King of Navarre slipped from the Court as Alencon had done. Rumours prophetic of the future said that he was playing at dice with Guise, in the King's cabinet, when suddenly ' great round drops of blood appeared upon the board between them ; ' and Navarre believing it to be an omen of his fate, if he waited longer, fled to his friends. 2 1 The King of France to Elizabeth, December, 1575: MSS. France. 2 This curious story was current in Paris a week after. Dale to "Wai- singham, February 14: MSS. France.
