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.