Carta del negociador De Loo a Lord Buckhurst.

Having been troubled by a tertian fever, I have had neither spirit not strength to reply to your lordship's very welcome letter of April 28 ; from which I am comforted to learn your firm opinion of the perfect intention and sincerity of her Majesty for the conclusion of a holy peace.... For my part, I have ever been assured of the same, nor has the Duke himself felt any doubt as to her Majesty's good disposition and affection to him, although he fears sometimes whether she may not listen to some who would persuade her of the contrary.

It would truly be a great pity if by such means this pious negotiation were disturbed.... As to his Highness, since he has seen your letter, which I gave him translated into Italian, he seems not a little satisfied, whereas before that I had left him much displeased, forasmuch as he had granted all that could be desired, and that from the first it had always been declared that his Highness could not settle the matter of religion.

I am sure you will know how to arrange about sending of the deputies to treat. The king of Spain, as I hear, has expressly commanded that no consent shall be given to the exercise of any religion but his own ; so that therein the Duke can do no other but will concede them all other favours which they can desire, wherein I am sure he will go as far as possible ; indeed I find his Highness most desirous of quiet as I believe her Majesty is also.

And it would grieve him if by reason of Drake or any other occurrence, he were ordered to make a stay of the treaty, as it would then be out of his power to do what he now desires for the general good.

I pray you to give your aid therein. His Highness returns your greeting, and desires to know you personally. Without your letter, he would have remained very ill-satisfied. I cannot yet learn when I shall have my dispatch, his Highness saying to me, the last time I spoke with him, that he had done his part, and if her Majesty will give order for the deputies, those on his side will be quite ready.

It will be a great favour to me if you will let me know what your wisdom has been able to accomplish in persuading those people to be willing to embrace the peace.

Brussels, 17 May, 1587.

Copy in de Loo's handwriting. Endd. Italian. 1 pp. [Flanders I. f. 275.]