Nothing more, worthy of commemoration, occurred during this concluding interview; and the envoy took his leave at Bruges, and returned to Ostend.

I have furnished the reader with a minute account of these conversations, drawn entirely, from the original records; not so much because the interviews were in themselves of vital importance; but because they afford a living and breathing example—­better than a thousand homilies—­of the easy victory which diplomatic or royal mendacity may always obtain over innocence and credulity.

Certainly never was envoy more thoroughly beguiled than the excellent John upon this occasion.  Wiser than a serpent, as he imagined himself to be, more harmless than a dove; as Alexander found him, he could not, sufficiently congratulate himself upon the triumphs of his eloquence and his adroitness; and despatched most glowing accounts of his proceedings to the Queen.

His ardour was somewhat damped, however, at receiving a message from her Majesty in reply, which was anything but benignant.  His eloquence was not commended; and even his preamble, with its touching allusion to the live mothers tendering their offspring—­the passage:  which had brought the tears into the large eyes of Alexander—­was coldly and cruelly censured.

“Her Majesty can in no sort like such speeches”—­so ran the return-despatch—­“in which she is made to beg for peace.  The King of Spain standeth in as great need of peace as her self; and she doth greatly mislike the preamble of Dr. Rogers in his address to the Duke at Ghent, finding it, in very truth quite fond and vain.  I am commanded by a particular letter to let him understand how much her Majesty is offended with him.”

Alexander, on his part, informed his royal master of these interviews, in which there had been so much effusion of sentiment, in very brief fashion.

“Dr. Rogers, one of the Queen’s commissioners, has been here,” he said, “urging me with all his might to let all your Majesty’s deputies go, if only for one hour, to Ostend.  I refused, saying, I would rather they should go to England than into a city of your Majesty held by English troops.  I told him it ought to be satisfactory that I had offered the Queen, as a lady, her choice of any place in the Provinces, or on neutral ground.  Rogers expressed regret for all the, bloodshed and other consequences if the negotiations should fall through for so trifling a cause; the more so as in return for this little compliment to the Queen she would not only restore to your Majesty everything that she holds in the Netherlands, but would assist you to recover the part which remains obstinate.  To quiet him and to consume time, I have promised that President Richardot shall go and try to satisfy them.  Thus two or three weeks more will be wasted.  But at last the time will come for exhibiting the powers.  They are very anxious to see mine; and when at last they find I have none, I fear that they will break off the negotiations.”