274 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 54. with France, for anything which would end a situation which he regarded as infinitely dangerous. The name of war however was intolerable to Elizabeth. She wrote to Sussex detailing her many embarrassments, and telling him that in some way he must keep the King's party together ' till she had time to make choice whether she would restore the Queen of Scots or not/ He might lay the blame on Morton ; he might say 'her backwardness had been rather his fault than hers ; ' ' his manner of dealing had been slow and uncertain, and she had not known what to look for from him : ' while, on the other hand, he might tell Maitland not to be foolish and ungrateful ; encourage the Protestants with hope; soothe the others with "' quiet means and messages/ and lead them both to de- pend upon England. So much for the Scots. ' But Sussex himself/ she said, ' would expect to know what she meant to do ; ancl she was obliged to own frankly that she could not tell. It would touch her in surety to have the King's party suddenly decay. It would touch her in honour if she should by her promises procure them to stand witt her, and in the end not see them main- tained or provided for ; and there was a danger wise that if she sent them money, they might take it and not serve her purpose after all. The whole cause was thus full of doubt. Morton desired to know whether she would support him against those who maintained the Queen's authority. She could but say that she would still commission Sussex to proceed against all
