The Catholic party in France was again paramount, and by bribery and Catherine’s diplomacy, Alencon and his friends were bought over.  For the next three years the young prince held aloof from affairs, but in 1578 the hollow truce ended; he was suspected and placed under arrest, all his friends being cast into the Bastille.  In February, 1578, Alencon broke his prison and fled, and all France was plunged into turmoil.  Elizabeth was profoundly moved.  The keynote of English policy was the exclusion of France from Flanders, and if Alencon was secretly supported in his action by his brother, then Elizabeth must oppose to the death any interference in Flanders.

And so began the long and clever juggle by which she used Alencon’s ambition to wed her as a means to compass her ends without marrying him.  Huguenots flocked to Alencon’s standard, whilst he sent by every post love-lorn epistles to Elizabeth, praying her to aid him to free Flanders from the bloodthirsty Spaniards.  On July 7, 1578, Alencon entered Flanders with his army, and Elizabeth, still full of distrust of Frenchmen, feigned to Spaniards her deep disapproval, whilst she took care that many English and Germans in her pay slipped into Flanders at the same time, to prevent any French national domination.  Presently, persuaded that Alencon had no secret pact with his brother, Elizabeth took Alencon and the Flemish revolt into her own hands, and effusively welcomed Alencon’s envoys who came to promote his love suit.

He chose for his emissary one Jehan Simier, an experienced gallant, who soon wooed Elizabeth to such good purpose that she fell violently in love with the messenger, as well as with his absent master.  Protestant England took fright at the pending marriage of the queen with a papist of half her age.  Simier, whom she called her “monkey,” had bewitched her, said the courtiers, and remonstrances from all sides came to the queen.

V.—­The Battle of Wits

Alencon’s demands were high, but Elizabeth seems really for once to have lost her head, and but for the strong opposition of her Council, might have been drawn into the marriage.  Simier, seeing the deadlock, decided to bring Alencon over at all risks.  Leicester, deadly jealous, tried to assassinate Simier, who revenged himself by divulging to the queen Leicester’s secret marriage.  Elizabeth was beside herself with rage, and more in love than ever with Alencon and his envoy.  At length, in August 1579, the young French prince, in disguise, suddenly appeared at Greenwich.  The queen’s vanity was flattered, and though the visit was supposed to be secret, she hardly left her young lover, whilst he, to judge by his letters, was as badly smitten as she.  But though she promised him marriage, he had to return with little else, and as soon as he had gone she found many good reasons for delay and hesitation.