whom  she  might  appoint,  or  the  kiug  of  Fnince  either.  He  thus
answered  as  a  good  vassal  should ;  but  doubtless  the  reason  why
these  people  thought  they  could  tempt  him  was  that  they  saw  he
was  needy  and  had  left  the  shelter  of  my  house,  although  he  had
done  so  witliout  my  wish.  Since  then  I  have  offered  him  what  I
possess,  as  he  has  not  received  his  wages  as  your  Majesty  ordered.
I  humbly  beg  you  to  favour  him,  and  grant  him  his  petition  thiit  he
should  bp  allowed  to  leave  here.  This  would  not  only  be  a  favour
to  him,  but  would  be  greatly  to  your  Majesty's  own  interest.
There  was  some  talk  of  attacking  the  island  of  Madeiia  with  the
fleet  which  was  to  leave  here,  after  it  had  succoured  Terceira.  It  ia
believed,  to  judge  by  the  talk  of  Portuguese  who  favour  Don
Antonio,  that  they  have  some  understanding  there,  and  it  is  thought
they  would  go  thence  to  the  coast  of  Brazil.  As  the  initial  project
has  now  fallen  through,  the  others  must  naturally  cease,  but  it  may
be  worth  while  to  advise  the  Madeira  people  to  be  on  the  watch.
Don  Antonio  sees  the  Queen  nearly  every  day  with  Leicester.
He  goes  from  London  in  a  boat,  with  two  or  three  men.  I  am  told
that  he  is  beginning  to  complain  that  the  Queen  is  cooling  towards
him,  and  that  he  would  like  to  get  possession  again  of  the  diamonds
he  entrusted  to  Leicester. — London,  27th  August  1581.
27  Aug.     128.    Bernardino  de  Mendoza  to  the  King.
