OBSERVATIONS ON A LIBEL. 437 



diversity of religion was entered into both these 

 realms ; and that France was fallen unto princes 

 weak, and in minority ; and England unto the go 

 vernment of a lady, in whom he did not expect that 

 policy of government, magnanimity, and felicity, 

 which since he hath proved, concluded, as the 

 Spaniards are great waiters upon time, and ground 

 their plots deep, upon two points ; the one to profess 

 an extraordinary patronage and defence of the 

 Roman religion, making account thereby to have 

 factions in both kingdoms : in England a faction 

 directly against the state ; in France a faction that 

 did consent indeed in religion with the king, and 

 therefore at first shew should seem unproper to 

 make a party for a foreigner. But he foresaw well 

 enough that the king of France should be forced, to 

 the end to retain peace and obedience, to yield in 

 some things to those of the religion, which would 

 undoubtedly alienate the fiery and more violent sort 

 of papists ; which preparation in the people, added 

 to the ambition of the family of Guise, which he 

 nourished for an instrument, would in the end make 

 a party for him against the state, as since it proved, 

 and might well have done long before, as may well 

 appear by the mention of league and associations, 

 which is above twenty-five years old in France. 



The other point he concluded upon, was, that his 

 Low Countries was the aptest place both for ports 

 and shipping, in respect Of England, and for situation 

 in respect of France, having goodly frontier towns 

 upon that realm, and joining also upon Germany^ 



