The imperial ambassador in London had advised him to come with as little state as possible, “in order not to excite the jealousy of the English,” but perhaps the philosophy of the younger man was deeper than that of the statesman. The good-will of a people may be won by frank simplicity; their ill-will is rarely conquered but by a display of power and circumstance, which commands their respect.
After an agreeable sail of a few days, the Spanish fleet encountered that of England, commanded by Lord William Howard, who was lying in wait for the Prince, in order to conduct him into British waters. The Admiral at once offended the Spaniards, by speaking of their ships as mussel-shells; and it was reported, that on nearing the Spanish fleet, he ordered a salvo of cannon to be fired, to oblige the Spaniards to lower their flag in returning the salute, thereby acknowledging the supremacy of the English. If these reports reached Philip’s ears, they would be eloquent to him of the spirit stirring beneath the apparent cordiality of his welcome. But there was nothing in the grave courtesy of his manner, and in the high breeding which gave dignity to his slight and otherwise almost insignificant figure, to indicate that he was not solemnly satisfied with all that he heard and saw.
On the 19th July, the united fleets anchored in Southampton water. Immediately, a number of small craft put out, and foremost among them the Queen’s own yacht, superbly decorated, and manned with officers wearing the royal livery of green and white, to bring the Prince to land.[444]
FOOTNOTES:
[378] Ambassades, vol. ii., p. 310.
[379] Nevertheless, Froude has no authority for the assertion, in support of which he has interpolated words into Renard’s despatch of the 17th December 1553, to the effect that the Queen was bent on Elizabeth’s death (vol. vi., p. 129). No such words occur in the letter to which he refers (Record Office Transcripts, vol. i., p. 853) or in any other.
[380] Record Office Transcripts, Belgian Archives, vol. i., p. 603.
[381] Ibid.
[382] Ambassades, vol. ii., p. 310.