say, a Man fram'd to the Mode of the Court. Nothing hinders an Embassador from seeing and entertaining the Ladies; but if on these Occasions, where even Kings themselves show themselves communicative and familiar, he should affect to be grave, and keep up the Character of Embassador; I would not say that he would render himself ridiculous, but he would not be far from it. … I have spoken … of the Instruction Queen Elizabeth gave in the Year 1570 to Francis Walsingham,[1] who went on her Part in the Quality of Embassador into France. It contains almost all the general Duties of an Embassador in Ordinary … In these few Lines you find the two first Functions of an Embassador, who is represented there as a Messenger of Peace on one side, and as an honourable Spy on the other … One of the first Things that the Embassador ought to do, to succeed in the Profession of a Spy, is to study well the Humour and Genius of the Ministers that compose the Council of the Prince with whom he is to negotiate … All Ministers are Men, and as such they have their Foible … Commines says, there is not any Court but has Malecontents in it: and I think I may add; there are none without Traytors;
- ↑ See Foreign Calendar, 1569–71 ; and the first 'instructions' in 'The Compleat Ambassador: or Two Treaties of the Intended Marriage of Qu: Elizabeth of Glorious Memory; comprised in Letters of Negotiation of Sir Francis Walsingham, her Resident in France. Together with the Answers of the Lord of Burleigh, the Earl of Leicester, Sir Thos: Smith, & others. Wherein, as in a clear Mirror, may be seen the Faces of the two Courts of England and France, as they then stood; with many remarkable passages of State, not at all mentioned in History. Faithfully collected by the truly Honourable Sir Dudley Digges Knight, late Master of the Rolls.' Small folio, 1655, pp. (xiv +) 441 (and Index of 6 pp.). 'A. H.' in his words 'To the Reader', written in 1654, says regarding Walsingham that the Papers brought together in this volume show 'how vigilant he was to gather true Intelligence; what means and Persons he used for it; how punctual he was in keeping to his Instructions, where he was limited; and how wary and judicious where he was left free; still advancing, upon all occasions, the Reputation and Interest of his Great Mistress, with a most lively and indefatigable Devotion.' 'For the second Treatie,' writes 'A. H.', 'which was set on foot in the year 1581 with Monsieur the Duke of Alanson I do conceive that it was really intended by the French, and by the chief of the English Councel, except Leicester (who had pretensions of his own;) but for her own Mind, what that really was, I must leave, as a thing doubly inscrutable, both as she was a Woman and a Queen'—'To the Reader'.
