The memorial was in the nature of an exhortation to sustain the religion, and to keep clear of all negotiations with idolaters and unbelievers; and the memorialists supported themselves by copious references to Deuteronomy, Proverbs, Isaiah, Timothy, and Psalms, relying mainly on the case of Jehosaphat, who came to disgrace and disaster through his treaty with the idolatrous King Ahab.  With regard to any composition with Spain, they observed, in homely language, that a burnt cat fears the fire; and they assured the Queen that, by following their advice, she would gain a glorious and immortal name, like those of David, Ezekiel, Josiah, and others, whose fragrant memory, even as precious incense from the apothecary’s, endureth to the end of the world.

It was not surprising that Elizabeth, getting on horseback on the 15th July, 1588, with her head full of Tilbury Fort and Medina Sidonia, should have as little relish for the affairs of Ahab and Jehosophat, as for those melting speeches of Diomede and of Turnus, to which Dr. Valentine Dale on his part was at that moment invoking her attention.

On the 20th July, the deputies were informed by Leicester that her Majesty would grant them an interview, July 20, and that they must come into his quarter of the palace and await her arrival.

Between six and seven in the evening she came into the throne-room, and the deputies again fell on their knees before her.

She then seated herself—­the deputies remaining on their knees on her right side and the Earl of Leicester standing at her left—­and proceeded to make many remarks touching her earnestness in the pending negotiations to provide for their religious freedom.  It seemed that she must have received a hint from Walsingham on the subject.

“I shall provide,” she said, “for the maintenance of the reformed worship.”

De Dieu—­“The enemy will never concede it.”

The Queen.—­“I think differently.”

De Dieu.—­“There is no place within his dominions where he has permitted the exercise of the pure religion.  He has never done so.”

The Queen.—­“He conceded it in the pacification of Ghent.”

De Dieu.—­“But he did not keep his agreement.  Don John had concluded with the States, but said he was not held to his promise, in case he should repent; and the King wrote afterwards to our States, and said that he was no longer bound to his pledge.”

The Queen.—­“That is quite another thing.”

De Dieu.—­“He has very often broken his faith.”

The Queen.—­“He shall no longer be allowed to do so.  If he does not keep his word, that is my affair, not yours.  It is my business to find the remedy.  Men would say, see in what a desolation the Queen of England has brought this poor people.  As to the freedom of worship, I should have proposed three or four years’ interval—­leaving it afterwards to the decision of the States.”

De Dieu.—­“But the majority of the States is Popish.”