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So after a hurried conversation with Mucio, who insisted on an interview with the King, she set forth for the Louvre, the Duke lounging calmly by the aide of her, sedan chair, on foot, receiving the homage of the populace, as men, women, and children together, they swarmed around him as he walked, kissing his garments, and rending the air with their shouts.
The letter-writer of the Escorial, who had earnestly warned his faithful Mucio, week after week, that dangers were impending over him, and that "some trick would be played upon him," should he venture into the royal presence, now acquiesced in his assassination, and placidly busied himself with fresh combinations and newer tools.
Beggared and outcast, with literally scarce a shirt to his back, without money to pay a corporal's guard, how was he to maintain an army? But 'Mucio' was more successful than Joyeuse had been, and the German and Swiss mercenaries who had come across the border to assist the Bearnese, were adroitly handled by Philip's great stipendiary.
Dangerous Discord in North Holland Leicester's Resignation arrives Enmity of Willoughby and Maurice Willoughby's dark Picture of Affairs Hatred between States and Leicestrians Maurice's Answer to the Queen's Charges End of Sonoy's Rebellion Philip foments the Civil War in France League's Threats and Plots against Henry Mucio arrives in Paris He is received with Enthusiasm The King flies, and Spain triumphs in Paris States expostulate with the Queen English Statesmen still deceived Deputies from Netherland Churches Hold Conference with the Queen And present long Memorials More Conversations with the Queen National Spirit of England and Holland Dissatisfaction with Queen's Course Bitter Complaints of Lord Howard Want of Preparation in Army and Navy Sanguine Statements of Leicester Activity of Parma The painful Suspense continues.
He was quite sensible of the necessity of giving Mucio the money to prevent a pacification in France, and would send letters of exchange on Agostino Spinola for the 300,000 ducats. Meantime Farnese was to go on steadily with his preparations for the invasion. The secretary-of-state, Don Juan de Idiaquez, also wrote most earnestly on the great subject to the Duke.
But, indeed, the French King was not so well informed as he imagined himself to be of the authorship of these troubles. Mucio, upon whose head he thus threatened vengeance, was but the instrument.
In their hands was the vast correspondence with Mendoza and Parma, and Olivarez at Rome, and with Mucio; in which all the stratagems for the subjugation of Protestant Europe were slowly and artistically contrived. Of the great conspiracy against human liberty, of which the Pope and Philip were the double head, this midnight triumvirate was the chief executive committee.
The uncle Guises were stipendiaries of Philip, Philip was the slave of the Pope. Mucio had frightened the unlucky Henry III. into submission, and there was no health nor hope in France. For England, Mary Stuart embodied the possible relapse into sloth, dependence, barbarism. For Elizabeth, Mary Stuart embodied sedition, conspiracy, rebellion, battle, murder, and sudden death.
England was to be conquered in order that the rebellious Netherlands might be reduced; and 'Mucio' was to be let slip upon the unhappy Henry III. so soon as it was thought probable that the Bearnese and the Valois had sufficiently exhausted each other. Philip was to reign in Paris, Amsterdam, London, and Edinburgh, without stirring from the Escorial.
Procrastinating and indolent himself, he was for ever rebuking the torpid movements of the Guises. "Let Mucio set his game well at the outset," said he; "let him lay the axe to the root of the tree, for to be wasting time fruitlessly is sharpening the knife for himself." This was almost prophetic.
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