VOYAGE OF SIX FRANCIS DRAKE. 195 did never look to charges, when their treasure was not so great as your Majesty's, nor subjects so wealthy or so willing to contribute. I pray Gfod the abatement of the charges towards the nobleman that hath the custody of the bosom serpent, hath not lessened his care of keeping her. 1 Morton is taken away, the King alienated, a general revolt threatened in religion. Nothing being done to help -this is a manifest argument that the peril is so fatal as can no way be prevented if this sparing and improvident course be held still. I conclude there- fore in the heat of duty that there is no one that serve** in the place of a councillor, that either weighs his own credit or carries that sound affection to your Majesty that he ought to do, that would not wish himself in the farthest part of Ethiopia rather than enjoy the fairest palace in England. The Lord God direct your Majesty's heart to take that way of counsel that may be most for your honour and safety.' 2 The diplomacy at Paris came at last to a feeble end. Ungraciously, because without it, France would have broken from her altogether, the Queen sent Monsieur i_ privately two hundred thousand crowns ; and Henry in return renewed, with slight amplifications, the defensive league which Charles IX. had made with her at Blois. Monsieur's connection with the Low Countries was con- tinued on his own responsibility ; and war with Spain was left conditional on the marriage, or on the consent 1 The allowance made by the Queen to the Earl of Shrewsbury had been largely reduced. 2 Walsingham to Elizabeth, Sep- tember 2 : DIGGES.
