THBEATENED CONFLICT OF ENGLAND AND SPAIN 191 that the passage was free and without impediment towards the north, but by reason of the Spanish fleet and unfortunate time of Mr. Secretary's death, the voy- age was omitted and never sithins attempted." Events had taken place which fixed the eyes of the nation on a very different route. On the assumption of the crown of Portugal by Philip n of Spain in 1580, one of the rival claimants, Don Antonio, Prior of Crato, appealed to arms, was defeated, and sought shelter in England. The union of the two Iberian monarchies, with the command of the joint resources of the East and West Indies which it gave to Philip, seemed a menace to all Europe. France and England drew closer together, and Elizabeth encouraged the fugitive An- tonio to the furthest limits short of a rupture with Spain. Some relief she could openly afford to an unfor- tunate prince in whose veins the blood royal of Eng- land, even if tainted by illegitimacy, flowed. In Novem- ber, 1581, the 'Spanish ambassador gave a check to her hesitating designs and official disclaimers by demand- ing the arrest of the pretender. The armed ships bought for Don Antonio in the Thames, he declared, had sailed past the queen's own window at Greenwich with the flag of Portugal displayed. " Your Majesty will not hear words, so we must come to cannon, and see if you will hear them." Elizabeth, without raising her voice, told him that if he used such threats she would throw him into a dungeon. But she was not yet prepared for an open breach with Philip. She was willing, however, to see her subjects do
