pleased  to  drain  her  substance,  so  that  when  she  is  exhausted  and
bereft  of  money  they  may  be  able  to  treat  her  country  as  they
treat  others.  Beg  her  to  consider  this  whilst  it  is  yet  time,  and
avoid  the  danger.  If  it  be  an  injury  to  me  that  the  French  should
nest  in  the  Netherlands,  it  is  none  the  less  an  injury  to  her  also,
and  it  will  be  unwise  for  her  to  reject  this  advice  of  mine  because  she
thinks  it  may  be  inspired  by  considerations  of  my  own  interests ;
and  to  turn  against  good  and  old  friends  for  the  sake  of  embracing
the  natural  and  ancient  enemies  of  her  coimtry,  in  the  belief  that
they  will  change  their  nature.
You  will  argue  in  this  way,  touching  the  various  points  as  you
see  may  be  advisable.  As  you  know  their  temper  so  well  I  leave
to  your  discretion  the  details  of  your  proceeding,  so  long  as  you
bear  in  mind  that  the  object  is  to  open  the  Queen's  eyes  to  the  evil
of  having  the  French  for  neighbours,  and  making  her  suspicious  of
them.  Report  what  you  do.  I  recollect  that  on  various  occasions
the  Queen  has  suggested  that  she  might  be  instrumental  in  effecting
a  general  pacification  in  my  Netherlands,  and  although  it  is  easy
to  imagine  what  sort  of  a  peace  would  be  made  by  her  means,  I
shall  be  glad  to  hear  from  you  what  is  meant  by  it,  and  with  what
object  or  result  she  might  intervene  in  the  matter.* — Almerin,  6th
May  1582.
15  May.    262.     Bernardino  de  Mendoza  to  the  King.
