She expressed her surprise to Farnese that he had not written to her on the subject of the Grafigni and Bodman affair.  The first, she said, was justified in all which he had narrated, save in his assertion that she had sent him.  The other had not obtained audience, because he had not come provided with any credentials, direct or indirect.  Having now understood from Andrea de Loo and the Seigneur de Champagny that Parma had the power to conclude a peace, which he seemed very much to desire, she observed that it was not necessary for him to be so chary in explaining the basis of the proposed negotiations.  It was better to enter into a straightforward path, than by ambiguous words to spin out to great length matters which princes should at once conclude.

“Do not suppose,” said the Queen, “that I am seeking what belongs to others.  God forbid.  I seek only that which is mine own.  But be sure that I will take good heed of the sword which threatens me with destruction, nor think that I am so craven-spirited as to endure a wrong, or to place myself at the mercy of my enemy.  Every week I see advertisements and letters from Spain that this year shall witness the downfall of England; for the Spaniards—­like the hunter who divided, with great liberality, among his friends the body and limbs of the wolf, before it had been killed—­have partitioned this kingdom and that of Ireland before the conquest has been effected.  But my royal heart is no whit appalled by such threats.  I trust, with the help of the Divine hand—­which has thus far miraculously preserved me—­to smite all these braggart powers into the dust, and to preserve my honour, and the kingdoms which He has given me for my heritage.

“Nevertheless, if you have authority to enter upon and to conclude this negotiation, you will find my ears open to hear your propositions; and I tell you further, if a peace is to be made, that I wish you to be the mediator thereof.  Such is the affection I bear you, notwithstanding that some letters, written by your own hand, might easily have effaced such sentiments from my mind.”

Soon afterwards, Bodman was again despatched to England, Grafigni being already there.  He was provided with unsigned instructions, according to which he was to say that the Prince, having heard of the Queen’s good intentions, had despatched him and Grafigni to her court.  They were to listen to any suggestions made by the Queen to her ministers; but they were to do nothing but listen.  If the counsellors should enter into their grievances against his Majesty, and ask for explanations, the agents were to say that they had no authority or instructions to speak for so great and Christian a monarch.  Thus they were to cut the thread of any such discourse, or any other observations not to the purpose.

Silence, in short, was recommended, first and last, as the one great business of their mission; and it was unlucky that men whose talent for taciturnity was thus signally relied upon should be somewhat remarkable for loquacity.  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.