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Updated: June 16, 2025
Her Majesty would accordingly hold herself in readiness to receive the honourable commissioners alluded to, feeling sure that every step taken by his Highness would comport with her honour and safety. At about the same time the other partner in this diplomatic enterprise, William Bodman, communicated to Alexander, the result of his observations in England.
In spite of their care, it would seem that the Argus-eyed Walsingham had been able to see after sunset; for, the next evening after Bodman had been introduced with the same precautions to the same company, in the same place Burghley, before a word had been spoken, sent for Sir Francis.
Forlorn Condition of Flanders Parma's secret Negotiations with the Queen Grafigni and Bodman Their Dealings with English Counsellors Duplicity of Farnese Secret Offers of the English Peace-Party Letters and Intrigues of De Loo Drake's Victories and their Effect Parma's Perplexity and Anxiety He is relieved by the News from England Queen's secret Letters to Parma His Letters and Instructions to Bodman Bodman's secret Transactions at Greenwich Walsingham detects and exposes the Plot The Intriguers baffled Queen's Letter to Parma and his to the King Unlucky Results of the Peace Intrigues Unhandsome Treatment of Leicester Indignation of the Earl and Walsingham Secret Letter of Parma to Philip Invasion of England recommended Details of the Project.
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.
His master sends him to buy horses, and he commences a peace-negotiation between two kingdoms. It would be well he were chastised. As regards the Antwerp matter, too, we have had many letters, and I have, seen one from the Seigneur de Champagny, the same effect as that of all the rest." Walsingham. "I see not to what end his Highness of Parma has sent Mr. Bodman hither.
Grafigni was also the bearer of a letter from Alexander to the Queen of which Bodman received a copy but it was strictly enjoined upon them to keep the letter, their instructions, and the objects of their journey, a secret from all the world. The letter of the Prince consisted mainly of complimentary flourishes.
Bodman replied that these were merely the idle stories of quidnuncs; and that the Prince and all his counsellors were dealing with the utmost sincerity. Burghley answered that he had intercepted the very letters, and had them in his possession.
He soon informed the King that according to Champagny and Bodman the Lord Treasurer, the Comptroller, Lord Cobham, and Sir Christopher Hatton, were more pacific than they had ever been. These four were represented by Grafigni as secretly in league against Leicester and Walsingham, and very anxious to bring about a reconciliation between the crowns of England and Spain.
Bodman found them all, on his arrival, anxious as he said, "to get their necks out of the matter;" declaring everything which had been done to be pure matter of accident, entirely without the concurrence of the Queen, and each seeking to outrival the other in the good graces of her Majesty.
Unutterable was the amazement, as we have seen, of Bodman and Grafigni when they had suddenly found themselves confronted in Burghley's private apartments in Greenwich Palace, whither they had been conducted so mysteriously after dark from the secret pavilion by the grave Secretary of State, whom they had been so anxious to deceive; and great was the embarrassment of Croft and Cobham, and even of the imperturbable Burghley.
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