THE FIRST EARL OF SALISBURY 165
heard the same report. " Whereupon Cecil adjured the Earl of Southampton by all former friendship (which had been, indeed, very great between them) that he would declare the person ; which he did presently, and said it was Mr. Comp- troller (Sir William Knollys)." At Cecil's request Knollys was sent for, and being questioned, stated that about two years before, during a casual conversation, " Mr. Secretary told him that one, Doleman, had maintained in a book (not long since printed) that the Infanta of Spain had a good title to the Crown of England : which was all that ever he heard Mr. Secretary speak ot that matter." l This was the whole foundation of the story, and it turned out that Doleman had actually dedicated his book to Essex. The Earl now apologised for his misunderstandings, where- upon Cecil exclaimed : ' Your misunderstanding arose from your opposition to peace. It was your ambition that every military man should look up to you as his patron, and hence you sought to represent me and the councillors, who wished to put an end to the war, as the pensioners of Spain. I confess I have said," he continued, " that the King of Spain is a competitor of the Crown of England, and that the King of Scots is a com- petitor, and my Lord of Essex, I have said, is a competitor ; for he would depose the Queen, and call a Parliament, and so be King himself ; but as to my affection to advance the Spanish
1 Official " Declaration of the Treasons, &c.," printed by Spedding, II. 279 281.
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