563 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 67. the King of Navarre. She knew that the Prince of Orange being dead she had no truer friend in Europe ; but she knew also, that having launched himself into the struggle, 'he could not be conquered in a single season, and she could afford to take time to consider. She had promised indeed ; but gossamer was not lighter than the threads of the obligations which bound her to struggling Protestants. She was entangled also, as will be seen in the next chapter, with engagements into which she had entered with the Low Countries, and was equally endeavouring to evade the fulfilment of them. She was at issue with her whole council, of all parties and all shades of opinion. After her old manner, she was ' refusing to enter into the action otherwise than underhand ; ' and every one of her Ministers ' con- curred in opinion that it was a dishonourable and dangerous course for her, and that it was impossible she should long stand unless she acted openly and roundly.' l Conscious that she was wrong, yet unable to act up- rightly, she quarrelled with everything that was pro- posed to her. By her own act she had brought Sgur to England. When every minute lost cost a man's life, she kept him two months waiting before she could determine what to do. Her deliberations resulted at last in an offer to lend the King of Navarre 25,000^. a sixteenth part of what she had wasted on Alencon to save France from her own deadliest enemy, and even 1 Walsingham to Stafford, July 22 August I : MSS. France.
