Note 229 — Chapter VIII · 1578-1584

Vargas Mexia at once saw the immense importance of this declaration and wrote to Philip (13th February): “Such is the present condition of England, with signs of revolt everywhere, the Queen in alarm, the Catholic party numerous, the serious events in Ireland, and the distrust aroused by your Majesty’s fleet, that I really believe that if so much as a cat moved, the whole edifice would crumble down in three days beyond repair. If your Majesty had England and Scotland attached to you, directly or indirectly, you might consider the States of Flanders conquered, in which case you could lay down the law for the whole world.” The adhesion of Guise as Philip’s servant made all the difference.—Spanish Calendar, vol. iii. It was certainly not the case that Guise and Beton had persuaded Mary to take this course. It is far more likely that she persuaded them, as she had seen for many years, as has been proved in the chapters of this book, that her only hope of effectively establishing her claim was to obtain Spanish support. Up to this time the Guises had rather obstructed this than otherwise, as they looked to Mary’s elevation to serve their own ambitions, which were not identical with those of Philip. The Duke of Guise in question was Mary’s first cousin, Henry of Lorraine, aged at this time thirty years.