OBSERVATIONS ON A LIBEL. 445 



kingdom, and of her own inclination being affected 

 to peace, to conclude the same with such conditions 

 as she might : and yet the king of Spain in his dis 

 simulation had so much advantage as she was fain to 

 do it in a treaty apart with the French ; whereby to 

 one that is not informed of the counsels and treaties 

 of state, as they passed, it should seem to be a 

 voluntary agreement of her majesty, whereto the 

 king of Spain would not be party : whereas indeed 

 he left her no other choice ; and this was the first 

 assay or earnest penny of that king s good affection 

 to her majesty. 



About the same time, when the king was solicited 

 to renew such treaties and leagues as had passed be 

 tween the two crowns of Spain and England, by the 

 lord Cobham, sent unto him, to acquaint him with 

 the death of queen Mary ; and afterwards by Sir 

 Thomas Chaloner and Sir Thomas Chamberlain, 

 successively ambassadors resident in his Low Coun 

 tries ; who had order, divers times, during their 

 charge, to make overtures thereof, both under the 

 king, and certain principal persons about him ; and 

 lastly, those former motions taking no effect, by 

 Viscount Montacute and Sir Thomas Chamberlain, 

 sent into Spain in the year 1560 ; no other answer 

 could be had or obtained of the king, but that the 

 treaties did stand in as good force to all intents as 

 new ratification could make them. An answer 

 strange at that time, but very conformable to his 

 proceedings since : which belike even then were 

 closely smothered in his own breast. For had he 



