the hunter who divided, with great liberality, among his friends the body and limbs of the wolf, before it had been killed—­have partitioned this kingdom and that of Ireland before the conquest has been effected.  But my royal heart is no whit appalled by such threats.  I trust, with the help of the Divine hand—­which has thus far miraculously preserved me—­to smite all these braggart powers into the dust, and to preserve my honour, and the kingdoms which He has given me for my heritage.

“Nevertheless, if you have authority to enter upon and to conclude this negotiation, you will find my ears open to hear your propositions; and I tell you further, if a peace is to be made, that I wish you to be the mediator thereof.  Such is the affection I bear you, notwithstanding that some letters, written by your own hand, might easily have effaced such sentiments from my mind.”

Soon afterwards, Bodman was again despatched to England, Grafigni being already there.  He was provided with unsigned instructions, according to which he was to say that the Prince, having heard of the Queen’s good intentions, had despatched him and Grafigni to her court.  They were to listen to any suggestions made by the Queen to her ministers; but they were to do nothing but listen.  If the counsellors should enter into their grievances against his Majesty, and ask for explanations, the agents were to say that they had no authority or instructions to speak for so great and Christian a monarch.  Thus they were to cut the thread of any such discourse, or any other observations not to the purpose.

Silence, in short, was recommended, first and last, as the one great business of their mission; and it was unlucky that men whose talent for taciturnity was thus signally relied upon should be somewhat remarkable for loquacity.  Grafigni was also the bearer of a letter from Alexander to the Queen—­of which Bodman received a copy—­but it was strictly enjoined upon them to keep the letter, their instructions, and the objects of their journey, a secret from all the world.

The letter of the Prince consisted mainly of complimentary flourishes.  He had heard, he said, all that Agostino Grafigni had communicated, and he now begged her Majesty to let him understand the course which it was proper to take; assuring her of his gratitude for her good opinion touching his sincerity, and his desire to save the effusion of blood, and so on; concluding of course with expressions of most profound consideration and devotion.

Early in July Bodman arrived in London.  He found Grafigni in very low spirits.  He had been with Lord Cobham, and was much disappointed with his reception, for Cobham—­angry that Grafigni had brought no commission from the King—­had refused to receive Parma’s letter to the Queen, and had expressed annoyance that Bodman should be employed on this mission, having heard that lie was very ill-tempered and passionate.  The same evening, he had been sent for by Lord Burghley—­who had accepted the letter for her Majesty without saying a word—­and on the following morning, he had been taken to task, by several counsellors, on the ground that the Prince, in that communication, had stated that the Queen had expressed a desire for peace.