283 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 65. privilege, and had transmitted papers for her connected with the conspiracy. This was taken as another evi- dence of the had faith of the French Court. Walsing- hara bade Cobham keep his eyes open. ' If/ he said, ' the ambassador here has proceeded by direction of the French King and his mother, then are we to think that their protestations of amity are but abuses ; for if they desire unfeignedly an association against Spain, they would be careful to preserve the quiet of England, and advise Scotland to depend upon her Majesty.' 1 While the uneasiness was at its height, La Mothe Fenelon, the late ambassador in England, came over sud- denly with a request that the Queen would allow him to proceed to Edinburgh. His conduct while at Elizabeth's Court had been eminently conciliatory. All parties had liked him, and nothing could be more friendly than the professed object of his mission. He represented the French King as still extremely anxious for the Queen's marriage with his brother, and as being ready to make all concessions for it, short of giving up Calais : or if the marriage could not be, there was still room for a league offensive and defensive. The Queen-mother professed an intention of continuing her privateering war with Philip. She had commissioned La Mothe to ask Elizabeth to sell her ships for a fresh expedition to the Azores. 2 She wished them to be manned with Eng- lish officers and .seamen, and she promised that if Philip resented it, Elizabeth might count on France to stand 1 Walsingham to Cobham, Sep- tember 26, 1582 : MSS. France. 2 "Walsingham to Cobham, De- cember 13 : MSS. Ibid.
