to her by that engagement;
that it was agreed, if the English should, during the interval, commit
hostilities upon France, they should instantly forfeit all claim to
Calais; and the taking possession of Havre and Dieppe, with whatever
pretences that measure might be covered, was a plain violation of the
peace between the nations: that though these places were not entered by
force, but put into Elizabeth's hands by the governors, these governors
were rebels; and a correspondence with such traitors was the most
flagrant injury that could be committed on any sovereign: that in the
treaty which ensued upon the expulsion of the English from Normandy, the
French ministers had absolutely refused to make any mention of Calais,
and had thereby declared their intention to take advantage of the title
which had accrued to the crown of France: and that though a general
clause had been inserted, implying a reservation of all claims, this
concession could not avail the English, who at that time possessed no
just claim to Calais, and had previously forfeited all right to
that fortress.[*] The queen was nowise surprised at hearing these
allegations; and as she knew that the French court intended not from
the first to make restitution, much less after they could justify their
refusal by such plausible reasons, she thought it better for the present
to acquiesce in the loss, than to pursue a doubtful title by a war both
dangerous and expensive, as well as unseasonable.[**]

* Haynes, p. 587.

** Camden, p. 406.

Elizabeth entered anew into negotiations for espousing the archduke
Charles; and she seems, at this time, to have had no great motive of
policy which might induce her to make this fallacious offer: but as she
was very rigorous in the terms insisted on, and would not agree that
the archduke, if he espoused her, should enjoy any power or title in
England, and even refused him the exercise of his religion, the
treaty came to nothing; and that prince, despairing of success in his
addresses, married the daughter of Albert, duke of Bavaria.[*]

* Camden, p. 407, 408.

CHAPTER XL

ELIZABETH.

{1568.} Of all the European churches which shook off the yoke of papal
authority, no one proceeded with so much reason and moderation as the
church of England; an advantage which had been derived partly from the
interposition of the civil magistrate in this innovation, partly from
the gradual and slow steps by