which the designation imposed
upon him; and if the English were deserted their resentment would
explode in a revolution of which Mary would be the instant
victim.[654]

[Footnote 654: Renard found it necessary to warn
Philip of this, in a despatch written in October:
_Granvelle Papers_, vol. v. p. 225.]

{p.314} Mary, indeed, would soon cease to be a difficulty. She was
attacked in September by the fever which was carrying off so many of
her subjects. The fresh disease aggravated her constitutional
disorder, and her days were drawing fast to their end. But Philip's
hold on England need not perish with the death of his wife, if he
could persuade her sister to take her place. His policy, therefore,
was for the present to linger out the negotiations; to identify in
appearance his own and the English interests, and to wait the events
of the winter.

At the opening of the conference it was immediately evident that
France would not part with Calais. The English commissioners had been
ordered to take no part in the discussion, unless the restitution was
agreed on as a preliminary; and when they made their demand, Henry
replied that "he would hazard his crown rather than forego his
conquest."[655] The resolution was expressed decisively; and they saw,
or thought they saw, so much indifference in the Spanish
representatives, that they at first intended to return to England on
the spot.

[Footnote 655: Arundel, Thirlby, and Wotton to the
Council: _French MSS._, bundle 13.]

"To our minds," they wrote, "Calais is so necessary to be had again
for the quieting of the world's mind in England, and it should so much
offend and exasperate England, if any peace was made without
restitution of it, that, for our part, no earthly private commodity
nor profit could induce us thereto, nor nothing could be more grievous
to us than to be ministers therein."[656]

[Footnote 656: Ibid.]

They were on the point of departure, when a letter from Philip
required them to remain at their posts. Contrary to their expectation,
the king promised to support England in insisting on the restoration,
and his own commissioners were instructed equally to agree to nothing
unless it was conceded.[657] Thus for a time the negotiation remained
suspended till events should clear up the course which the different
parties would follow.