Croft.--"My servant subsequently returned to the Provinces in order to
learn what the Prince might have said on the subject."
Bodman (with immense politeness, but very decidedly).--"Pardon me, Mr.
Comptroller; but, in this matter, I must speak the truth, even if the
honour and life of my father were on the issue. I declare that your
servant Norris came to me, directly commissioned for that purpose by
yourself, and informed me from you, and upon your authority, that if I
would solicit the Prince of Parma to send a secret agent to England, a
peace would be at once negotiated. Your servant entreated me to go to
his Highness at Brussels. I refused, but agreed to consider the
proposition. After the lapse of several days, the servant returned to
make further enquiries. I told him that the Prince had come to no
decision. Norris continued to press the matter. I excused myself. He
then solicited and obtained from me a letter of introduction to De Loo,
the secretary of his Highness. Armed with this, he went to Brussels and
had an interview--as I found, four days later--with the Prince. In
consequence of the representations of Norris, those of Signor Grafigni,
and those by way of Antwerp, his Highness determined to send me to
England."
Burghley to Croft.--"Did you order your servant to speak with Andrea de
Loo?"