Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/207

1572.] THE MASSACRE OF ST BARTHOLOMEW. 187 ' mockery/ Could the thing have been done at all, 1 neither the English council nor she herself should have been touched in the matter.' 1 Another request of Errington was hardly less disagreeable. The election of a Regent could not be delayed. Morton seemed to have no anxiety for the office. -He knew what Mar's difficulties had been, and that his own would probably be greater ; and, so far from seeking power, he inti- mated that he would decline the' nomination unless Elizabeth would give him a distinct and positive pro- mise of support. The meaning of this was explained by Killigrew, who wrote at the same time that France was pouring in money ; that, notwithstanding the hor- ror caused by the massacre among the people, if Eliza- beth 'spared to spend a little in return/ the nobles would choose some one in French interests ; and ' what that would mean, her Majesty was well able to judge/ * That the request for money at least was reasonable Elizabeth could not deny. The party of the Queen of Scots had been maintained by steady contributions from France, Spain, and Italy, in addition to her own dowry. The supplies had been suspended for a time, but were now to be renewed ; while Elizabeth, however gracious in her promises, had limited her substantial assistance to a thousand pounds, grudgingly bestowed, while she had withheld the single measure which would have been more valuable to her friends than millions, and had all along refused formally to acknowledge James as 1 Killigrew to Burghley and Leicester, November 23 : MSS. Scotland. 3 Killigrew to Sir Thomas Smith, November 6 ; MSS, Scotland.