Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/507

I57I-] THE RIDOLFI CONSPIRACY. 493 This, and this alone, ought, in the opinion of the council, to be the answer of the Spanish Government, and Philip at first wished to dismiss the envoy from the Court without so much as admitting him to his presence. When he consented at last to grant him an interview, it was to make the permission more insulting than a refusal. He was at the Palace of Aranjuez, thirty miles from Madrid. Cobham went down there, and the King saw him for a few minutes only ; the common form? of hospitality were not extended to him ; he was left to dine at an inn, and returned to the capital the same evening. The council thought that for the King's credit some small present might be given to him ; there was no precedent for the reception of an ambassador and his departure empty-handed. But Philip, being once launched upon the bold course, was more bitter than his advisers. ' Presents/ wrote the King in a side-note, 'are given to envoys when they come on a mission of goodwill, and they are given when they come to declare war. But this man comes merely to threaten and terrify us. If we bestow a present on him he will boast of it, we shall dispirit the Catholics, and inflate the heretics with the belief that we are afraid.' l De Feria in the character of an acquaint- June. ance delivered the private message.. Cobham tried to argue that Alva had been the aggressor ; but De Feria cut him short with saying, that he was sorry 1 ' Lo quo parece sabre el negocio de Cobham.' Aranjuez, Mayo 14 e 19 : MS 8. Simancas.