After a pause, both the representatives of Parma began to wrangle with the envoy in very insolent fashion.  “Richardot is always their mouth-piece,” said Dale, “only Champagny choppeth in at every word, and would do so likewise in ours if we would suffer it.”

“We shall never have done with these impertinent demands,” said the President.  “You ought to be satisfied with the Duke’s promise of ratification contained in his commission.  We confess what you say concerning the former requisitions and promises to be true, but when will you have done?  Have we not showed it to Mr. Croft, one of your own colleagues?  And if we show it you now, another may come to-morrow, and so we shall never have an end.”

“The delays come from yourselves,” roundly replied the Englishman, “for you refuse to do what in reason and law you are bound to do.  And the more demands the more ‘mora aut potius culpa’ in you.  You, of all men, have least cause to hold such language, who so confidently and even disdainfully answered our demand for the commission, in Mr. Cecil’s presence, and promised to show a perfect one at the very first meeting.  As for Mr. Comptroller Croft, he came hither without the command of her Majesty and without the knowledge of his colleagues.”

Richardot then began to insinuate that, as Croft had come without authority, so—­for aught they could tell—­might Dale also.  But Champagny here interrupted, protested that the president was going too far, and begged him to show the commission without further argument.

Upon this Richardot pulled out the commission from under his gown, and placed it in Dr. Dale’s hands!

It was dated 17th April, 1588, signed and sealed by the King, and written in French, and was to the effect, that as there had been differences between her Majesty and himself; as her Majesty had sent ambassadors into the Netherlands, as the Duke of Parma had entered into treaty with her Majesty, therefore the King authorised the Duke to appoint commissioners to treat, conclude, and determine all controversies and misunderstandings, confirmed any such appointments already made, and promised to ratify all that might be done by them in the premises.’

Dr. Dale expressed his satisfaction with the tenor of this document, and begged to be furnished with a copy of it, but his was peremptorily refused.  There was then a long conversation—­ending, as usual, in nothing—­on the two other points, the place for the conferences, namely, and the cessation of arms.

Nest morning Dale, in taking leave of the Duke of Parma, expressed the gratification which he felt, and which her Majesty was sure to feel at the production of the commission.  It was now proved, said the envoy, that the King was as earnestly in favour of peace as the Duke was himself.

Dale then returned, well satisfied, to Ostend.

In truth the commission had arrived just in time.  “Had I not received it soon enough to produce it then,” said Alexander, “the Queen would have broken off the negotiations.  So I ordered Richardot, who is quite aware of your Majesty’s secret intentions, from which we shall not swerve one jot, to show it privately to Croft, and afterwards to Dr. Dale, but without allowing a copy of it to be taken.”