Cecil probably entertained a suspicion that the sovereign lord and master, who had been employed, twenty years long, in butchering his subjects and in ravaging their territory to feed his executioners and soldiers, might almost be justified in treating human beings as beasts and reptiles, if they had not at last rebelled.  He simply and diplomatically answered, however, that he could not but concur with the Secretary in lamenting the misery of the Provinces and people so utterly despoiled and ruined, but, as it might be matter of dispute; “from what head this fountain of calamity was both fed and derived, he would not enter further therein, it being a matter much too high for his capacity.”  He expressed also the hope that the King’s heart might sympathize with that of her Majesty, in earnest compassion for all this suffering, and in determination to compound their differences.

On the following day there was some conversation with Gamier, on preliminary and formal matters, followed in the evening by a dinner at Lord Cobham’s lodgings—­a banquet which the forlorn condition of the country scarcely permitted to be luxurious.  “We rather pray here for satiety,” said Cecil, “than ever think of variety.”

It was hoped by the Englishmen that the Secretary would take his departure after dinner; for the governor of Ostend, Sir John Conway, had an uneasy sensation, during his visit, that the unsatisfactory condition of the defences would attract his attention, and that a sudden attack by Farnese might be the result.  Sir John was not aware however, of the minute and scientific observations then making at the very moment when Mr. Garnier was entertaining the commissioners with his witty and instructive conversation—­by the unobtrusive menial who had accompanied the Secretary to Ostend.  In order that those observations might be as thorough as possible, rather than with any view to ostensible business, the envoy of Parma now declared that—­on account of the unfavourable state of the tide—­he had resolved to pass another night at Ostend.  “We could have spared his company,” said Cecil, “but their Lordships considered it convenient that he should be used well.”  So Mr. Comptroller Croft gave the affable Secretary a dinner-invitation for the following day.

Here certainly was a masterly commencement on the part of the Spanish diplomatists.  There was not one stroke of business during the visit of the Secretary.  He had been sent simply to convey a formal greeting, and to take the names of the English commissioners—­a matter which could have been done in an hour as well as in a week.  But it must be remembered, that, at that very moment, the Duke was daily expecting intelligence of the sailing of the Armada, and that Philip, on his part, supposed the Duke already in England, at the head of his army.  Under these circumstances, therefore—­when the whole object of the negotiation, so far as Parma and his master were, concerned, was to amuse and to gain time—­it was already ingenious in Garnier to have consumed several days in doing nothing; and to have obtained plans and descriptions of Ostend into the bargain.