De Loo insiste en celebrar la conferencia de paz.

DE LOO to BURGHLEY.

Having been recalled by the Duke of Parma (as I informed your lordship from "Cales") after long discourse I succeeded in inducing him to write to the Queen, expressing his desire for the general quiet and to give her Majesty all satisfaction possible; but (as he said to me) if the means to do this should be taken from him by procrastination, he will be deeply grieved at losing so good an opportunity; and yet it only wants the deputies to set out at once for Berghes up Zoom to begin to treat ; and so soon as they send for me, I will go there, taking with me, for their satisfaction all those things of which your lordship's three letters of the 13th and 15th ult. make mention ; the Duke being ready to start any hour (his destination unknown); but it matters little even if he should go upon some enterprise, for it will not comport with his honour (as he has declared to me) to keep so many troops without making use of them; but no sooner shall the deputies be arrived than he will make known his desire for peace, although he is so great a warrior. I will also take to Berghes the safe-conduct in like form to that from her Majesty.

There need be no fear about Spain, or of the great preparations on that side, because a messenger will be sent thither in all haste to stay whatever the King may have in his mind to do. It will be seen that there is now a determination for peace, the Duke swearing to me the other day, on the faith of a gentleman, that he was put to shame over the time he had lost, but that if the deputies come at once, her Majesty shall be satisfied of his sincerity, and that, regardless of his own interests, his chief study is to give satisfaction to the world and to keep his promises.

I expected to be myself the bearer but having met Edward Morris here at Ghent, I have sent him back at once to hasten the coming of the deputies ; after which, all will go very well. Her Majesty may rest assured that the good or ill of the business depends on the shortening or prolonging of the time.

Meanwhile, I will go to let his Highness know how matters stand. But I pray you to expect of me no other reply, although I will not fail to write generally by every good opportunity.

Ghent, 4 November, 1587. Add. Endd. by Burghley, as "sent from Gaunt by Morryce." Italian, 2 pp. [Flanders I. f. 365.]