6 April.
Estado, 594. |
265. Duke of Parma to the King.
After I had written the enclosed despatch and was on the point
of setting out for Bruges, Dr. Rogers, one of the English Peace
Commissioners, arrived here. In order to hear him and reply to
him, I remained yesterday and to-day. The object of his visit was
to urge with all his strength and eloquence that our Commissioners
should first go to Ostend, if only for an hour, and after that the
Queen's Commissioners would come unhesitatingly to one of your
Majesty's towns. He was politely informed that this was impossible ;
and that it would be less objectionable for our
Commissioners to go to England itself than to one of the towns
in these dominions occupied by their troops. The most they could
demand was that the negotiations should be conducted in some
neutral place, which was the ordinary course under such circumstances ;
and I said they ought to be contented with the politeness
I had shown to the Queen as a lady, in conceding to her the choice
of a place, instead of their trying to depart from the arrangement
agreed upon. He was very emphatic as to the bad effect that
would be produced by the negotiations being abandoned for so
trifling a reason as this, and by the war being thus allowed to
proceed, to the great injury to Christendom, and the shedding of
human blood, particularly as in return for this piece of politeness
to the Queen she would not only restore to your Majesty all she
holds in these dominions, but would also aid in recovering the
portion that still held out.
At last, in order not to break off the negotiations, and to give
him some amount of satisfaction, I adopted the expedient of avoiding
giving him a decided answer, and said I would send President
Richardot to Ostend, who would try to give them all the satisfaction
possible. This hardly contented him at first, as he was desirous
of taking the answer back with him, but he was reconciled to it
and seemed pleased that a person of Richardot's position and parts
should go to see them. The president's visit, if it be delayed for a
day or two, will draw out the matter for a week, and if the English
have to await a reply from England, a week beyond that. Rogers
mentioned the question of the powers, and it is evident that he
wished to know the form in which they were granted, as he hinted
it to Richardot, who diverted him from the subject, as I myself had
done, by saying that the point would be discussed at its proper
time. It is certain that my general power as Governor of the States
will not suffice, nor will any particular instructions from your
Majesty on the matter. The power will have to be a special one,
in due and ample form, as full as so important a matter requires.
All this makes me suspect that, even if we arrange as to the first
meeting where the powers are respectively produced, they will not
be satisfied with my authority, and will break off the negotiations,
much as I may try to continue them.—Ghent, 6th April 1588. |
