"Keep the negotiation alive till my Armada appears, and then carry out my determination, and replant the Catholic religion on the soil of England." The Queen was not in such high spirits.

She was losing her temper very fast, as she became more and more convinced that she had been trifled with.

No powers had been yet exhibited, no permanent place of conference fixed upon, and the cessation of arms demanded by her commissioners for England, Spain, and all the Netherlands, was absolutely refused.

She desired her commissioners to inform the Duke of Parma that it greatly touched his honour--as both before their coming and afterwards, he had assured her that he had 'comision bastantissima' from his sovereign--to clear himself at once from the imputation of insincerity.

"Let not the Duke think," she wrote with her own hand, "that we would so long time endure these many frivolous and unkindly dealings, but that we desire all the world to know our desire of a kingly peace, and that we will endure no more the like, nor any, but will return you from your charge." Accordingly--by her Majesty's special command--Dr.Dale made another visit to Bruges, to discover, once for all, whether there was a commission from Philip or not; and, if so, to see it with his own eyes.
On the 7th May he had an interview with the Duke.