The Queen was not in such high spirits.  She was losing her temper very fast, as she became more and more convinced that she had been trifled with.  No powers had been yet exhibited, no permanent place of conference fixed upon, and the cessation of arms demanded by her commissioners for England, Spain, and all the Netherlands, was absolutely refused.  She desired her commissioners to inform the Duke of Parma that it greatly touched his honour—­as both before their coming and afterwards, he had assured her that he had ‘comision bastantissima’ from his sovereign—­to clear himself at once from the imputation of insincerity.  “Let not the Duke think,” she wrote with her own hand, “that we would so long time endure these many frivolous and unkindly dealings, but that we desire all the world to know our desire of a kingly peace, and that we will endure no more the like, nor any, but will return you from your charge.”

Accordingly—­by her Majesty’s special command—­Dr. Dale made another visit to Bruges, to discover, once for all, whether there was a commission from Philip or not; and, if so, to see it with his own eyes.  On the 7th May he had an interview with the Duke.  After thanking his Highness for the honourable and stately manner in which the conferences had been, inaugurated near Ostend, Dale laid very plainly before him her Majesty’s complaints of the tergiversations and equivocations concerning the commission, which had now lasted three months long.

In answer, Alexander made a complimentary harangue; confining himself entirely to the first part of the envoy’s address, and assuring him in redundant phraseology, that he should hold himself very guilty before the world, if he had not surrounded the first colloquy between the plenipotentiaries of two such mighty princes, with as much pomp as the circumstances of time and place would allow.  After this superfluous rhetoric had been poured forth, he calmly dismissed the topic which Dr. Dale had come all the way from.  Ostend to discuss, by carelessly observing that President Richardot would confer with him on the subject of the commission.

“But,” said the envoy, “tis no matter of conference or dispute.  I desire simply to see the commission.”

“Richardot and Champagny shall deal with you in the afternoon,” repeated Alexander; and with this reply, the Doctor was fair to be contented.

Dale then alluded to the point of cessation of arms.

“Although,” said he, “the Queen might justly require that the cessation should be general for all the King’s dominion, yet in order not to stand on precise points, she is content that it should extend no further than to the towns of Flushing; Brief, Ostend, and Bergen-op-Zoom.”

“To this he said nothing,” wrote the envoy, “and so I went no further.”

In the afternoon Dale had conference with Champagny and Richardot.  As usual, Champagny was bound hand and foot by the gout, but was as quick-witted and disputatious as ever.  Again Dale made an earnest harangue, proving satisfactorily—­as if any proof were necessary on such a point—­ that a commission from Philip ought to be produced, and that a commission had been promised, over and over again.