Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/508

494 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. to hear an English ambassador condescend to falsehoods. Cobham asked for the answer in writing, but lie could not have it, and he was then sent for by the council. Spinosa, the Cardinal President, made a difficulty in addressing a heretic, and would have transferred the duty to a lay member of the Cabinet. The words how- ever it was thought would come with more imposing effect from one who might be supposed to speak in the name of God as well as of man. The Cardinal there- fore swallowed his scruples, and thus delivered the reply of Spain to the Queen of England : ' If that Queen would fulfil the office of a good neighbour and friend, his Majesty had given proofs already that he would not on his part be found want- ing towards her. It would please him much if the differences between the two countries could be com- pounded, and as a step towards it his Majesty trusted that the Queen of England would at once restore the Spanish treasure. The details of the negotiation how- ever were committed to the management of the Duke of Alva, and to him she was referred.' 1 With this answer and without his present Sir Henry Cobham returned to England, sick at heart with the same fears which haunted Cecil, and little dreaming then how soon he would again be at Madrid with the same message, to find the note of defiance dying away in prostration and humility. 1 ' Lo que parece se debe re- sponder & Enrique Cobham de pala- bra, y ninguna cosa por scripto. Mayo, 1571.' MSS. Simancas.