deciding where the treaty should be held, one of Parma's retinue remarked that "he knew not what in the mean time might be done against England." The expression was mentioned to Elizabeth, who sent one of her commissioners to the Duke of Parma for an explanation, and to ascertain whether there was an intention of invading England, as the words implied. The duke declared that when he wished to hasten the treaty, he had no thought of the invasion of England. He was also angry with Richardot, the individual who had used the words, and who now denied that he had uttered them. This was an instance of duplicity on the part of the Duke of Parma; for he well knew that the armament then in the ports of Spain was intended to act against England, and that the treaty was entered upon simply for the purpose of lulling the suspicions of Elizabeth and her wise and active ministers*.

There were other instances of treachery in these negotiations. The Duke of Parma pretended to be in a great hurry for the treaty to commence: and yet much time was wasted in discussing certain questions respecting the place of meeting, and the point of precedency. When these points had been settled, and allusions had been made to Philip's naval preparations, the Spanish commissioners assured the English plenipotentiaries that they were

* CLARK's England's Remembrancer, 19; CARLETON's Thankful Remembrancer, 138.

not intended to act against England *. It was in this way that the duke attempted to blind the eyes of the English people to the designs of his master, King Philip.

The deliberations were protracted by various means, until at last ALLEN's Admonition to the People of England was actually printed. The circumstance was made known to the ministers of Elizabeth, for a copy was transmitted, shortly after it was printed, by one of the Lord Treasurer's spies, to the council in England: and Dale, one of the commissioners, was ordered to go to the Duke of Parma, and to remonstrate with that prince on the subject. Allen exhorted the English people to join the Duke of Parma against their Queen, as soon as he should land in the country. The duke denied that he had seen the work, or even the Pope's bull, which Allen had translated into English for dispersion among the people, and therefore could say nothing of its contents: he moreover declared that he would not undertake any enterprise at the command of the Pope, though he would obey his sovereign King Philip. The treacherous prince even pretended that, next to his own master, the English Queen was the highest in his estimation. As a proof of his affection for Elizabeth, he remarked to Dale that he had persuaded Philip to condescend to the treaty, since, as he observed, a peace would be much more advantageous to England *CLARKE's England's Remembrancer, 19.

than to Spain. The reason assigned for the advantage on the side of England was this: that if the Spaniards should be overcome in a war, they would soon recover their loss; but that if the English should be conquered, all would be lost. Dale replied that the English Queen was provided with sufficient strength to defend her kingdom*. A most notorious falsehood was put forth by the Duke of Parma, when he declared that he had not seen Allen's book, nor the Pope's bull: yet such a course was perfectly consistent with Popish principles; it was constantly resorted to and enjoined by the Jesuits; and Parma himself considered that he was doing God service in attempting to overreach the English heretics.

Is there any reason for believing that such treachery would not be deemed lawful in the present day, if the interests of the Church of Rome required it? Something analogous to the treachery of Parma, in denying all knowledge of Allen's proceedings, may be found in the conduct of certain Roman Catholic members of parliament, respecting the oath imposed upon them by the Emancipation Bill. The conduct of these individuals affords abundant evidence that Popery is now what it was in the days of Queen Elizabeth, and that the same evasions and subterfuges are resorted to in the present day, as were

* CAMDEN, 545; England's Remembrancer, 23; CARLTON'S Thankful Remembrancer, 141-2; Biographia Britannica, i., 79.

practised in the more prosperous seasons of the Romish Church*.

The treaty was broken off when the armada appeared in the English Channel: but before we detail the particulars of the sailing of the armament, it may be desirable to submit a sketch of the Queen's preparations to meet the threatened invasion. Before the treaty closed, it was evident to the ministers of

*The Spaniards never wished for peace. All they wanted was the subjugation of England to the Spanish yoke. It is stated that the Spanish ambassador, some time before the sailing of the Armada, submitted to Elizabeth the terms on which she might expect peace, in the following Latin verses.

Te veto ne pergas bello defendere Belgas :
Quæ Dracus eripuit nunc restituentur opportet:
Quas pater evertit jubeo te condere cellas:
Religio Papæ fac restituetur ad unguem.

The Queen replied extempore.

Ad Græcas, bone Rex, fient mandata calendas.

Fuller, the Church historian, translates them in the following

manner.

These to you are our commands,
Send no help to the Netherlands:
Of the treasure took by Drake,
Restitution you must make;
And those abbies build anew
Which your father overthrew:
If for any peace you hope,
In all points restore the Pope.

THE QUEEN'S REPLY.

Worthy King, know this, your will
At latter Lammas we'll fulfil.

See Biographia Britannica, iii., 1736.

Elizabeth that King Philip was determined, if pos sible, to subdue England. At that time some of the wisest men who ever lived sat in the councils of England: nothing escaped their observation. They were informed of the intentions of Spain, and they acted with energy and decision.

Twenty thousand men were stationed along the southern coast. Two other armies were raised: the one consisting of 1000 horse, and 22,000 infantry, was stationed at Tilbury to guard the approach to the metropolis: the other, of 2000 horse and 34,000 foot, was under Lord Hunsdon, as the Queen's own personal guard*. These were the actual forces of the country: but besides these there were vast numbers of gentlemen and others, who volunteered their services from all parts of the kingdom.

It was decided by a council of war, that the places which were deemed most convenient for the landing of troops should be fortified: for it was supposed that the Spaniards would select one of such places for a descent. The places specified by the council were Milford, Falmouth, Plymouth, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, the Downs, Yarmouth, the mouth of the Thames, and a few otherst. It was also determined, that if the landing could not be prevented, the inhabitants should retire as the enemy advanced, and lay waste the country, so that no supplies might be procured for the support of the + ECHARD, i., 869.

* CARTE, iii., 624.