556 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 67. France and Spain at war, and herself to hold in her hands the keys of the Zealand harbours ; but her diplomacy was baffled, and she could not conceal her irritation. An opportunity offered itself for the display of her temper. Morgan, whom Parry had named as having insti- gated him to kill her, was residing in Paris. She de- manded, through Lord Derby, that he should be arrested and sent to England. She promised to spare his life ; but she desired to extort out of him ' the circumstances of the practice.' Had the King been false he would have given the man a hint to escape. He so far com- plied however that Morgan was thrown into the Bastile. His rooms were searched and his papers were seized. He had time to destroy the most important ; but a letter was found from Parry on the subject of the murder, containing an allusion to some one, who was probably the Scotch Queen, and, after being looked over by the council, it was placed with the other documents in Lord Derby's hands. But this was not enough. The Queen said she must have Morgan himself. The French council offered to try him, and punish him if he was found guilty. She was not satisfied. It was hinted to Stafford that before he could be brought to the bar ' he would have some melancholick drug in the Bastile, and peak away with- out accusing anybody,' and the accusation was what Elizabeth desired. She wanted to learn and to be able to publish the names of the persons who were setting the assassins to work. She had already got at the Pope. She required the names of the rest.
