Note 226 — Chapter VIII · 1578-1584
Reading edition
Philip, in reply to the suggestion to bribe the English ministers, orders Mendoza to send a schedule of the sums to be paid to each. When he has quite satisfied himself that they will have value for the money the latter shall be sent. “It is necessary, however, that before doing anything, we should have this information, so as not to cast our seed on stony ground, nor give money to people who will cheat us and laugh at us.”