The ill effects of Elizabeth’s coquetry too plainly manifested themselves at last, and Alencon had now a foothold in the Netherlands.  Precipitated by the intrigues of the party which had always been either openly or secretly hostile to Orange, his advent could no longer be delayed.  It only remained for the Prince to make himself his master, as he had already subdued each previous rival.  This he accomplished with his customary adroitness.  It was soon obvious, even to so dull and so base a nature as that of the Duke, that it was his best policy to continue to cultivate so powerful a friendship.  It cost him little to crouch, but events were fatally, to prove at a later day, that there are natures too malignant to be trusted or to be tamed.  For the present, however, Alencon professed the most friendly sentiments towards the Prince.  Solicited by so ardent and considerable a faction, the Duke was no longer to be withheld from trying the venture, and if, he could not effect his entrance by fair means, was determined to do so by force.—­He would obtrude his assistance, if it were declined.  He would do his best to dismember the provinces, if only a portion of them would accept his proffered friendship.  Under these circumstances, as the Prince could no longer exclude him from the country, it became necessary to accept his friendship, and to hold him in control.  The Duke had formally offered his assistance to the states-general, directly after the defeat of Gemblours, and early in July had made his appearance in Mons. Hence he despatched his envoys, Des Pruneaux and Rochefort, to deal with the States-general and with Orange, while he treated Matthias with contempt, and declared that he had no intention to negotiate with him.  The Archduke burst into tears when informed of this slight; and feebly expressed a wish that succor might be found in Germany which would render this French alliance unnecessary.  It was not the first nor the last mortification which the future Emperor was to undergo.  The Prince was addressed with distinguished consideration; Des Pruneaux protesting that he desired but three things—­the glory of his master, the glory of God, and the glory of William of Orange.

The French King was naturally supposed to be privy to his brother’s schemes, for it was thought ridiculous to suggest that Henry’s own troops could be led by his own brother, on this foreign expedition, without his connivance.  At the same time, private letters, written by him at this epoch, expressed disapprobation of the schemes of Alencon, and jealousy of his aggrandizement.  It was, perhaps, difficult to decide as to the precise views of a monarch who was too weak to form opinions for himself, and too false to maintain those with which he had been furnished by others.  With the Medicean mother it was different, and it was she who was believed to be at the bottom of the intrigue.  There was even a vague idea that the Spanish Sovereign himself might be privy to the plot, and that a possible