It has just been shown that there was no such intimation at all in the letter; but as neither Grafigni nor Bodman had read the epistle itself, but only the copy furnished them, they could merely say that such an assertion; if made by the Prince, had been founded on no statement of theirs.  Bodman consoled his colleague, as well as he could, by assurances that when the letter was fairly produced, their vindication would be complete, and Grafigni, upon that point, was comforted.  He was, however, very doleful in general, and complained bitterly of Burghley and the other English counsellors.  He said that they had forced him, against his will, to make this journey to Brussels, that they had offered him presents, that they would leave him no rest in his own house, but had made him neglect all his private business, and caused him a great loss of time and money, in order that he might serve them.  They had manifested the strongest desire that Parma should open this communication, and had led him to expect a very large recompense for his share in the transaction.  “And now,” said Grafigni to his colleague, with great bitterness, “I find no faith nor honour in them at all.  They don’t keep their word, and every one of them is trying to slide out of the very business, in which each was, but the other day, striving to outrival the other, in order that it might be brought to a satisfactory conclusion.”

After exploding in this way to Bodman, he went back to Cobham, and protested, with angry vehemence, that Parma had never written such a word to the Queen, and that so it would prove, if the letter were produced.

Next day, Bodman was sent for to Greenwich, where her Majesty was, as usual, residing.  A secret pavilion was indicated to him, where he was to stay until sunset.  When that time arrived, Lord Cobham’s secretary came with great mystery, and begged the emissary to follow him, but at a considerable distance, towards the apartments of Lord Burghley in the palace.  Arriving there, they found the Lord Treasurer accompanied by Cobham and Croft.  Burghley instantly opened the interview by a defence of the Queen’s policy in sending troops to the Netherlands, and in espousing their cause, and then the conversation proceeded to the immediate matter in hand.

Bodman (after listening respectfully to the Lord-Treasurer’s observations).—­“His Highness has, however, been extremely surprised that my Lord Leicester should take an oath, as governor-general of the King’s Provinces.  He is shocked likewise by the great demonstrations of hostility on the part of her Majesty.”

Burghley.—­“The oath was indispensable.  The Queen was obliged to tolerate the step on account of the great urgency of the States to have a head.  But her Majesty has commanded us to meet you on this occasion, in order to hear what you have to communicate on the part of the Prince of Parma.”

Bodman (after a profusion of complimentary phrases).—­“I have no commission to say anything.  I am only instructed to listen to anything that may be said to me, and that her Majesty may be pleased to command.”