Thirdly, it was undesirable for Albert to leave the Netherlands at that juncture.  Nevertheless, it was suggested by the easy-going Admiral, with the same tranquil insolence which marked all his proposed arrangements, that as Rudolph would retire from the government altogether, Albert, as King of the Romans and acting emperor, could very well take care of the Netherlands as part of his whole realm.  Albert being moreover about to marry the Infanta, the handsome dowry which he would receive with her from the king would enable him to sustain his dignity.

Thus did Philip who had been so industrious during the many past years in his endeavours to expel the heretic Queen of England and the Huguenot Henry from the realms of their ancestors, and to seat himself or his daughter, or one or another of his nephews, in their places, now busy himself with schemes to discrown Rudolph of Habsburg, and to place the ubiquitous Infanta and her future husband on his throne.  Time would show the result.

Meantime, while the Protestant Ancel and other agents of the new league against Philip were travelling about from one court of Europe to another to gain adherents to their cause, the great founder of the confederacy was already secretly intriguing for a peace with that monarch.  The ink was scarce dry on the treaty to which he had affixed his signature before he was closeted with the agents of the Archduke Albert, and receiving affectionate messages and splendid presents from that military ecclesiastic.

In November, 1596, La Balvena, formerly a gentleman of the Count de la Fera, came to Rouen.  He had a very secret interview with Henry iv. at three o’clock one morning, and soon afterwards at a very late hour in the night.  The king asked him why the archduke was not willing to make a general peace, including England and Holland.  Balvena replied that he had no authority to treat on that subject; it being well known, however, that the King of Spain would never consent to a peace with the rebels, except on the ground of the exclusive maintenance of the Catholic religion.

He is taking the very course to destroy that religion, said Henry.  The king then avowed himself in favour of peace for the sake of the poor afflicted people of all countries.  He was not tired of arms, he said, which were so familiar to him, but his wish was to join in a general crusade against the Turk.  This would be better for the Catholic religion than the present occupations of all parties.  He avowed that the Queen of England was his very good friend, and said he had never yet broken his faith with her, and never would do so.  She had sent him the Garter, and he had accepted it, as his brother Henry iii. had done before him, and he would negotiate no peace which did not include her.  The not very distant future was to show how much these stout professions of sincerity were worth.  Meantime Henry charged Balvena to keep their interviews a profound secret,