A few days later, Bodman had another conversation with Burghley and Cobham.

Reluctantly, at their urgent request, he set down in writing all that he had said concerning his mission.
The Lord Treasurer said that the Queen and her counsellors were "ready to embrace peace when it was treated of sincerely." Meantime the Queen had learned that the Prince had been sending letters to the cautionary towns in Holland and Zeeland, stating that her Majesty was about to surrender them to the King of Spain.

These were tricks to make mischief, and were very detrimental to the Queen.
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.
A week afterwards, Bodman saw Walsingham alone, and was informed by him that the Queen had written an answer to Parma's letter, and that negotiations for the future were to be carried on in the usual form, or not at all.

Walsingham, having thus got the better of his rivals, and delved below their mines, dismissed the agent with brief courtesy.
Afterwards the discomfited Mr.Comptroller wished a private interview with Bodman.

Bodman refused to speak with him except in presence of Lord Cobham.