Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III Proposal to marry Philip to Queen Mary of England—The need for alliance with England—The negotiations of Renard— Opposition of France—Unpopularity of the match in England —Philip's voyage to England—His affability—His first interview with Mary—The marriage—Philip made King of Naples —Failure of the objects of the marriage—Philip's policy in England — Pole's mission — Philip and the persecution of Catholics in England—Philip's disappointment and departure. In the meanwhile Philip was doing well in Spain. He had raised both men and money in plenty to reinforce the emperor, and Alba himself was sent to command them. He pushed on vigorously the negotiations for his marriage with his Portuguese cousin, whose dowry would once more provide the sinews of war. But King John III. was less liberal with a dowry for his sister than he had been for his daughter, and the project hung fire month after month on this ground alone, notwithstanding the efforts of Ruy Gomez, who was sent by Philip to Portugal in June 1553 to persuade the king to loosen his purse strings and send his sister to Spain with a rich dowry. Then, almost suddenly, the whole aspect of affairs changed. It had been known for some time that theyoung King of England, Edward VI., was in failing health, and would probably die without issue, but the uncertain element in the situation had been the extent of the Duke of Northumberland's power and the strength of Protestantism in the country. Hardly pressed as he was, Charles's principal preoccupation with regard to England was to keep on good terms with it, although doubtless many a time his busy brain must have conjured up circumstances which would admit of fresh combinations being formed in which England should share. The events in Germany, the terms of the peace...