1581.] VOYAGE OF SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. 209 the French King would not consent. Leicester thought she had gone dangerously far. Hatton asked how she would extricate herself if the King did consent. ' With words/ she answered, ' the coin most current with the French : when the field is large and the soldiers cowards there are always means of creeping out.' l She had need of her skill. Henry instantly sent over Secretary Pinart to congratulate and to conclude the settlements. Walsingham, who had too well-founded misgivings, asked him how much money the King would look for as damages if no marriage came off after all. Pinart inquired with wide eyes if there were still doubts about it. He soon learnt that he had come across on a fool's errand. Elizabeth first demanded the dissolution of the Seminary at Rheims. Pinart intimated that this would be conceded. The abolition of the Scotch league was next asked for, and after that the restitution of Calais. Leicester, frightened for what might follow, proposed to raise 200, oool. by privy seals, give them to Alencon to buy off his displeasure, and set him up on his own account in the Netherlands. Elizabeth, ridi- culing the very thought of throwing away such a sum, announced that if Alengon would truck her affection for money he should have neither the one nor the other, and might go where he pleased. 2 She had to lower her en hablandola le habia asegurado.' Al Rey, I Noviembre, 1582. 1 ' Preguntando Hatton en que manera pensaba exirairse si el Rey de Francia embiaba el scripto, dix- ole, con palabras, que es la mejor moneda que corria entre Franceses ; y cuando la campana era larga, y medrosos los soldados, nunca faltaba lugar para descabullirse.' Ibid. J Mendoza to Philip, December II : MSS. Simaneas. 14
