220 Negociation of De Bouillon and De Sancy, in 1596. [April 1, 
gently dropped a word about Calais. 
“ When I had a desire, (she said), of 
having that place, it was only in order 
to preserve it; as [ saw plainly that the 
king, distressed elsewhere, might not be 
able to retain it. ; 
The king took the proposition of Sid- 
ney very il: he turned his back upon 
himy saying, ‘* that he would rather be 
titten by a lion than by a lioness,’ and 
plundered by enemies rather than allies.” 
On Wednesday the 24th, Sancy ap- 
peared before the queen, to urge the 
departure of the succours: Sidney had 
returned with the king’s answer, m the 
form ofa letter. 
[Here follows the letter: but as it-is so 
general, as not to contain a single word 
*ot business; in short, 1s nothing but an 
appeal to mutual regard, and highly gal- 
Jant; the translator omits it. Henry gets 
off the cession of Calais, by saying, that 
he had not then time to deliberate upon 
a matcer of such moment. | 
Sancy found the queen very much 
displeased ; and resolved not to send the 
succours, but upon condition of the 
sirrender of Calais. Sancy sent the 
sieur de Saint Aubin, his brother, to 
communicate this resolution to the king 5 
and after dinner he wrote to the queen, 
begging her, according to the relation 
and expressions of Du Vair, to expedite 
the succours; and reserve herself tll her 
army should have passed to Boulogne, 
concerning the request to the king. 
It was perhaps a manceuvre of the 
ambassador to endeavour to persuade 
the queen, that Henry, generous and 
grateful as he was, would, upon seeing 
the arrival of the. succours requested, 
freely and voluntarily grant, wiiat he 
thought it co his honour to refuse when it 
was Imperiously demanded of him, and 
under. penalty of being deprived of the 
necessary aid: but itis certain, that the 
expressions of Du Vair preclude every 
idea of a dispute between the queen and 
Sancy, upon the proposition concerning 
Calais ; though Sancy, in the memoir 
quoted. has celebrated his argument 
with Elizabeth upon that topic, and 
boasted of baving told her some strong 
truths upon the subject. 
His relation ts this: 
time when Sancy was treating with 
prince Casimir, son of the elector pa- 
Jatine, m order to procure for Henry iV. 
the succuurs of Germany, and engage 
—He ascends toa 
Casimir to make war upon the duke of 
Lorraine. Casimir consented; but de- 
suanded the surrender of the town and 
citadel of Metz: upon Sancy’s refusal, 
Casimir said to him, “ Should you prefer 
secing the piace fall into the hands of the 
duke of Lorraine?” “ Yes,” (replied 
Sancy.) “it would be better for his ma- 
jesty’s service, that the duke or Lorraine 
should take the place by force, than that 
the king should commit it to a strange 
pr ince, whoever he might be; because the 
king is obliged, as far as he is able, to 
preserve his. “kingdom entire.” “* M.‘de 
Revol, to whom I related all this dis- 
course, (adds Sancy,) wrote to me, that 
they had all highly approved the answer 
which I had made to duke Casimir, and 
wonld make use of it towards the queen 
of England, who made them a similar 
demand ; and who, for security of the 
succours which they were perpetually 
asking, pressed to have Calais and Bou- 
logne.” Thus, when the queen, in the 
nevociation of 1596, made the same pro- 
position to Sancy, she found him quite 
prepared to answer her as he had done 
prince Casimir. He said to her theu, 
that it was better for the king, that the 
‘Spaniard should take Calais by force, than’ 
tuat the king should render it to her, for 
the reasons below: and he added, “ if 
the Spaniards should take it, we should 
hope to recover it from them ; but if we 
gave it up to her, we should not know” 
by what means to regain it. And when 
we wished it, we should offend her; and, 
instead ef one enemy, have two.” She 
made no other answer than an affir- 
mation, that she did not believe he had 
it in instruction from the king, his mas- 
ter, to make such a reply: which he con- 
fessed ; because the king had not enter- 
tained a thought, that she. would make 
such a demand of him in his affliction. 
If we wish to know, which deserves 
the most credit, the relation of Vair, or 
the memoir of Sancy, I answer, that 
upon this article, it is the memoir of 
Sancy. That of Du Vair himself even 
proves it- At the end of his relation, 
he aiiduces the letter which Sancy wrote 
to the queen, upon the same day; and 
‘which is perfectly analogous to what he 
boasts of having said : 
“Madam, not to deceive you, I shall 
tell you frankly, that the king, my mas- 
ter, cannot persuade himself, that this 
proposition proceeds from your incli- 
nation: be knows too well your goodness 
and sincerity, of which he has bad too — 
many proofs, not to think that you do 
not mean to take advantage of his neces-— 
sity, at the expense of his honour. Mas | 
dam, it is not ingratitude for the favours — 
which — 
