35& REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 66. are not certain, of the value, you shall, on first board- ing, search, pretending that you are to look for certain notorious traitors escaped out of England. Be sure to capture the entire fleet : let not one escape you.' * Ingenuity may invent excuses for Elizabeth. There may have been secret circumstances or secret intentions which might make her conduct not wholly indefensible ; yet the reverting a second time to the same resolution on the recurrence of the same circumstances, indicates a principle and a policy. She would have protected the United Provinces at all times, had she seen her way to it without open war ; but war, with its certain costs and uncertain issues, she did not choose to encounter ; and if the States were to be conquered, she hoped, by assisting Philip, to obtain a moderating voice in the terms of their submission, and a share at any rate in the spoils. The good genius of England stood between its Sove- reign and discredit, and the bad purpose was left un- executed. Three months later the Prince of Orange was again Elizabeth's dearest friend. Hopes of com- promise had vanished, and the war which she had waded through so many manoeuvres to avoid, stared her in the face. She was convinced, perhaps for the first time, that if Philip conquered, her own deposition was to be a condition of the pacification of Europe ; and again without a blush she sought the friendship of the only allies on whom she could rely. 1 Instructions to Captain Bingham, August 18, 1583 : MSS. Holland.
