mention of
the plan, and probably it took its rise in their minds. Their object was
manifest: if France could be united to Protestant England by so
distinguished a marriage, the permanence of the peace of St. Germain might
be regarded as secure. Under such auspices, the Huguenots, long proscribed
and persecuted, might hope for such favor and toleration as they had never
yet enjoyed.

Catharine de' Medici, when approached on the subject, gave indications of
hearty acquiescence. Of late there had been a growing estrangement between
the French and Spanish courts. The selfishness and arrogance of Philip and
his ministers had been particularly evident and offensive during the late
war. It was sufficiently clear that the Catholic king opposed the peace
less from hatred of heresy or of rebellion, than because of his scarcely
disguised hope of profiting by the misfortunes of France. The queen mother
was consequently quite inclined to tighten the bonds of amity and
friendship with England, when those that had previously existed with Spain
were loosened. The prospect of a crown for her favorite son was an
alluring one--doubly so, because of Nostradamus's prophecy that she would
see all her sons upon the throne, to which she gave a superstitious
credence, trembling lest it should involve in its fulfilment their
untimely death. It is true that, in view of Elizabeth's age, she would
have preferred to marry the Duke of Anjou to some princess of the royal
house of England, whom Elizabeth might first have proclaimed her heir and
successor.[814] However, as the English queen was, perhaps, even more
reluctant than the majority of mankind to be reminded of her advancing
years and of her mortality, Catharine's ambassador may have deemed it
advisable to be silent regarding the suggestion of so palpable a "memento
mori," and contented himself with offering for her own acceptance the hand
of one whom he recommended as "the most accomplished prince living, and
the most deserving her good graces."[815] Elizabeth received the proposal
with courtesy, merely alluding to the great difference between her age and
Anjou's, but admitted her apprehension lest, since "she was already one
whose kingdom rather than herself was to be wedded," she might marry one
who would honor her as a queen rather than love her as a woman. In fact,
the remembrance of the amours of the father and grandfather made her
suspicious of the son, and the names of Madame d'Estampe