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 Elizabeth would, perhaps, conclude that marriage with the Duke of Alencon which now seemed but a pleasantry.  Moreover, he expressed his want of confidence in the Duke of Norfolk, whom he considered as a poor creature with but little courage.  He also expressed his doubts concerning the prudence and capacity of Don Gueran de Espes, his Majesty’s ambassador at London.

It was not long before these machinations became known in England.  The Queen of Scots was guarded more closely than ever, the Duke of Norfolk was arrested; yet Philip, whose share in the conspiracy had remained a secret, was not discouraged by the absolute explosion of the whole affair.  He still held to an impossible purpose with a tenacity which resembled fatuity.  He avowed that his obligations in the sight of God were so strict that he was still determined to proceed in the sacred cause.  He remitted, therefore, the promised funds to the Duke of Alva, and urged him to act with proper secrecy and promptness.

The Viceroy was not a little perplexed by these remarkable instructions.  None but lunatics could continue to conspire, after the conspiracy had been exposed and the conspirators arrested.  Yet this was what his Catholic Majesty expected of his Governor-General.  Alva complained, not unreasonably, of the contradictory demands to which he was subjected.