1564-] THE EMBASSY OF DE S1LVA. [Si Scots which compelled the Spanish ministers to post- pone their resentment against English piracies, and drove them rather to dread their own inability to retain their Low Countries than to seek opportunities for in- terference abroad. The King of Spain had intended to send no more ambassadors to England till Mary Stuart was on. the throne : on the Peace of Troyes he changed his mind, and resumed or affected to resume his friendly relations with Elizabeth. Guzman de Silva received his commis- sion as de Quadra's successor ; and once more in the old language Luis de Paz, the Spanish agent in London, reported to Granvelle ' the affliction and discontent of the English Catholics, who had been encouraged to hope that their trials were at an end, who had rested their entire hopes on Philip, and now knew not where to turn/ l Mary Stuart, as her hopes of the Prince of Spain grew fainter, was pausing over the answer which she should make to Elizabeth's last proposals. She had been in communication throughout the winter with the Netherlands, and was perhaps aware in some degree of the difficulties created by the Prince's character. She had iiejasd^ely_refused the Archduke of Austria whom Philip wished her to take in his son's stead ; and al- though the Spanish Court, waiting probably for some 1 ' Los Catolicos del Reyno estan muy afligidos con gran descontento, viendo que todas las esperangas que tenian eran en su Mag d ., y que no veen semblante ninguno para prin- ciple de remediar tanta desventura.' Luis Romano to Granvelle, 1564- MS. Simancas.
