They  have  martyred  in  England  two  priests  who  had  been  exiled
and  had  returned  to  labour  in  that  vineyard.  They  suffered  with
holy  firmness.  God  be  praised  for  thus  giving  them  strength  and
spirit  to  return,  for  there  are  more  priests  in  England  now  than
ever  there  were. — Paris,  6th  March  1586.
30  March.   431.    Bhbnardino  de  Mendoza  to  the  King.
kI^'ioG^.  ^5.''  Letters  from  England  dated  12th,  advise  that  the  Queen  had
sent  Master  Heneage  of  her  chamber,  to  Holland  to  see  the  earl  of
Leicester.  Some  people  thought  the  object  was  to  ireprehend  him
for  certain  things,  others  that  it  was  to  inform  him  that  Lord  Grey
was  going  over  with  troops,  and  to  arrange  for  Leicester's  return.J

Four  of  the  Queen's  ships  fully  armed  were  at  the  mouth  of  the
Thames.  The  others  were  said  to  be  still  in  course  of  preparation,
but  it  is  asserted  that  only  four  of  them  were  seaworthy,  all  the
rest  being  old  and  rotten.  Some  new  vessels  were  therefore  being
built  with  all  speed  at  a  port  at  the  mouth  of  the  Thames  in  Kent,
at  Plymouth,  and  other  places.  The  Queen  has  also  some  armed
merchant  ships,  but  with  no  intention  at  present  of  undertaking  any
particular  voyage,  they  being  simply  ready  awaiting  the  Queen's
orders.  Nine  thousand  mariners  also  had  been  notified  all  over  the
country  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  in  case  of  need.  Some  of
the  ships  are  constantly  sallying  under  letters  of  marque  to
plunder,  as  the  Queen  is  quite  ready  to  grant  such  letters  against
your  Majesty's  subjects.
♦  As  an  instance  of  the  care  with  which  Philip  read  the  despatches,  the  decipherer
had  omitted  the  above  words  in  brackets,  and  the  King  has  put  a  marginal  note  pointing
out  the  omission.
