160 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 64. he will be my enemy, and if I do, I am no longer mis- tress in my own realm/ The Archbishop said that her subjects only wished her to consult her own pleasure. ' And what say you, my lord ? ' she said to Cecil,
- you have not been at council these three days.'
' If you mean to marry, Madam/ said Burghley, ' do it ; no ill can happen to the realm. If you do not mean it, undeceive Alenc.on at once.' ' Other of my advisers do not agree with you, my lord,' she answered ; ' they woidd have me entertain him with half promises.' ' Madam/ Cecil replied, ' I have heard men say that those who would make fools of princes are the fools themselves.' l The trifling policy prevailed however, and the death of the King of Portugal and the immediate steps taken by Philip to make himself master of the country ren- dered the English alliance of more importance than ever to France, and enabled Elizabeth to have it on her own terms. It was not Portugal, not the sovereignty of the entire Peninsula only, which would fall to Philip, but the Portuguese East Indies, the Azores, and an enorm- ous trade ; and all the world had cause to fear the addi- tion of such vast resources to the already overpowering strength of the Spanish monarchy. The ease with which the annexation was effected increased the alarm. Don Antonio, Prior of Crato, attempted an opposing claim. 1 ' A que le replico Cecil que quien burlaba a los Principes se el habia oydo decir que burlaba a si mismo.' Ibid.
