548 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 67. The States themselves meanwhile could not wait. Their own desire was to be annexed to England. Again and again and again they had offered themselves to Elizabeth, and half the council had been anxious that the offer should be accepted. War with Spain was held inevitable at all events. The extension of the Empire by the addition to it of Holland and Zealand ' would be acceptable to the generality of the realm ; ' ' the gain would be the greater and the peril less.' The more cautious ministers, who hesitated at the annexation, yet were in favour of accepting a protectorate, even with the certainty that the war would be precipitated. 1 But the Queen gave only vague answers ; vague answers could not check Parma ; and the States, feeling that to sit still was to be destroyed, made the same pro- posals to France. The third alternative then presented itself the joint action of France and England. The French Go- vernment had desired this all along, and they desired it still. Mauvissiere, under the instructions of the Queen- mother, continued to press the tripartite alliance a close union between France and England and Scotland, with a provision for the Queen of Scots as well as for the Low Countries. Again Elizabeth hesitated. She was afraid of tak- 1 Objections and answers touch- ing her Majesty's proceedings in aid of Holland and Zealand, 1584-5 : MSS. Flanders. Resolution of the conference had on the question, Should her Majesty relieve the States or no? October 10 20, 1584: MSS. Holland. 2 The Queen-mother to Mauvis- siere, December i, 1584 : TEULET, vol. iii.
