lis
said, "perceiving our weakness, maketh daily attempts upon your
subjects, who are much abashed to see the courage of your enemies,
whom they are not able to hurt nor yet defend themselves." He
entreated that a larger force should be sent immediately, and
maintained in the Pale during the war. The charge would be great, but
the peril would be greater if the men were not provided; and as her
majesty had been pleased to enter into the war, her honour must be
more considered than her treasure.[617]

[Footnote 616: _Calais MSS._ bundle 10.]

[Footnote 617: Cornwallis to the Queen: _Calais
MSS._ bundle 10.]

The arrival of the army under Pembroke removed the immediate ground
for alarm; and after the defeat of the French, the {p.296} danger
was supposed to be over altogether. The queen was frightened at the
expenses which she was incurring, and again allowed the establishment
to sink below the legitimate level. Lord Wentworth was left at Calais
with not more than five hundred men. Grey had something more than a
thousand at Guisnes, but a part only were English; the rest were
Burgundians and Spaniards. More unfortunately also, a proclamation had
forbidden the export of corn in England, from which Calais had not
been excepted. Guisnes and Hammes depended for their supplies on
Calais, and by the middle of the winter there was an actual scarcity
of food.[618]

[Footnote 618: When all your majesty's pieces on
this side make account to be furnished of victuals
and other necessaries from hence, it is so that of
victuals your highness hath presently none here,
and the town hath none; by reason that the
restraint in the realm hath been so strait, and the
victuallers as were wont to bring daily hither good
quantities of butter, cheese, bacon, wheat, and
other things, might not of late be suffered to have
any recourse hither, whereby is grown a very great
scarcity.--Wentworth to the Queen: _Calais MSS._
bundle 10.]

Up to the beginning of December, notwithstanding, there were no
external symptoms to create uneasiness; military movements lay under
the usual stagnation of winter, and except a few detachments on the
frontiers of the Pale, who gave tr