Ireland. Besides these troops, the Viceroy was directed to provide
immediately four thousand arquebuses and two thousand corslets. For the
expenses of the enterprize Philip would immediately remit two hundred
thousand crowns. Alva was instructed to keep the affair a profound
secret from his councillors. Even Hopper at Madrid knew nothing of the
matter, while the King had only expressed himself in general terms to the
nuncio and to Ridolfi, then already on his way to the Netherlands. The
King concluded his letter by saying, that from what he had now written
with his own hand, the Duke could infer how much he had this affair at
heart. It was unnecessary for him to say more, persuaded as he was that
the Duke would take as profound an interest in it as himself.

Alva perceived all the rashness of the scheme, and felt how impossible
it would be for him to comply with Philip's orders. To send an army from
the Netherlands into England for the purpose of dethroning and killing a
most popular sovereign, and at the same time to preserve the most
amicable relations with the country, was rather a desperate undertaking.
A force of ten thousand Spaniards, under Chiappin Vitelli, and other
favorite officers of the Duke, would hardly prove a trifle to be
overlooked, nor would their operations be susceptible of very friendly
explanations. The Governor therefore, assured Philip that he "highly
applauded his master for his plot. He could not help rendering infinite
thanks to God for having made him vassal to such a Prince." He praised
exceedingly the resolution which his Majesty had taken. After this
preamble, however, he proceeded to pour cold water upon his sovereign's
ardor. He decidedly expressed the opinion that Philip should not proceed
in such an undertaking until at any rate the party of the Duke of Norfolk
had obtained possession of Elizabeth's person. Should the King declare
himself prematurely, he might be sure that the Venetians, breaking off
their alliance with him, would make their peace with the Turk; and that