Europe was rife with faction, but Elizabeth preferred the prosperity of peace, to using up good money on warfare. A woman's notion, certainly. Now that she was no longer young, there seemed even less likelihood of teaching the main-landers just who ruled the seas. Dutch, French and Spanish were all guilty of insolence toward the English but the Spanish were the worst offenders. Also, Robert added practically, the richest. If war were declared, the inadequately defended outposts of the Spanish in South America and the Caribbean could be attacked. Much plunder awaited from the looting of these treasure houses, and any man appointed governor of one of the ports could have riches undreamed of.

Cecil was with the Queen, as he had always been, but there were others who felt as Robert did. Walsingham was ardently prowar, and his secret service extended to every country in Europe. There were those who said that he gained little information that was not already bandied about the court, and even less than Elizabeth herself, that most shrewd and artful diplomat acquired through more regular channels, but no one could be sure. Robert was a staunch member of the Walsingham ranks as were more distinguished men like Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester and his second cousin, Sir David Cassen.

It was on Sir David that Robert Finch's plans now hung. Cassen was firmly entrenched in the Walsingham faction. Although he appeared at court as a licentious dandy, he was an important go-between for the network of spies in Spain and France. Mary of Scotland was the subject for many a plot and if information could be obtained naming certain men as fellow plotters, many of the enemies of Walsingham's war policy could be eliminated.

It had been discussed that Finch would go back to court with Sir David as his secretary where he would have an opportunity to mix With many who might have useful information. Although staunch-ily Anglican himself, his family had been Catholic and he would stand a good chance of insinuating himself into that group who wished to see England once again under a Catholic ruler.