Nevertheless time wore on, and both the army and navy of England were quite unprepared, and the Queen was more reluctant than ever to incur the expense necessary to the defence of her kingdom.  At least one of those galleys, which, as Howard bitterly complained, seemed destined to defend Chatham Church, was importunately demanded; but it was already Easter-Day (17th April), and she was demanded in vain.  “Lord! when should she serve,” said the Admiral, “if not at such a time as this?  Either she is fit now to serve, or fit for the fire.  I hope never in my time to see so great a cause for her to be used.  I dare say her Majesty will look that men should fight for her, and I know they will at this time.  The King of Spain doth not keep any ship at home, either of his own or any other, that he can get for money.  Well, well, I must pray heartily for peace,” said Howard with increasing spleen, “for I see the support of an honourable, war will never appear.  Sparing and war have no affinity together.”

In truth Elizabeth’s most faithful subjects were appalled at the ruin which she seemed by her mistaken policy to be rendering inevitable.  “I am sorry,” said the Admiral, “that her Majesty is so careless of this most dangerous time.  I fear me much, and with grief I think it, that she relieth on a hope that will deceive her, and greatly endanger her, and then it will not be her money nor her jewels that will help; for as they will do good in time, so they will help nothing for the redeeming of time.”

The preparations on shore were even more dilatory than those on the sea.  We have seen that the Duke of Parma, once landed, expected to march directly upon London; and it was notorious that there were no fortresses to oppose a march of the first general in Europe and his veterans upon that unprotected and wealthy metropolis.  An army had been enrolled—­a force of 86,016 foot, and 13,831 cavalry; but it was an army on paper merely.  Even of the 86,000, only 48,000 were set down as trained; and it is certain that the training had been of the most meagre and unsatisfactory description.  Leicester was to be commander-in-chief; but we have already seen that nobleman measuring himself, not much to his advantage, with Alexander Farnese, in the Isle of Bommel, on the sands of Blankenburg, and at the gates of Sluys.  His army was to consist of 27,000 infantry, and 2000 horse; yet at midsummer it had not reached half that number.  Lord Chamberlain Hunsdon was to protect the Queen’s person with another army of 36,000; but this force, was purely an imaginary one; and the lord-lieutenant of each county was to do his best with the militia.  But men were perpetually escaping out of the general service, in order to make themselves retainers for private noblemen, and be kept at their expense.  “You shall hardly believe,” said Leicester, “how many new liveries be gotten within these six weeks, and no man fears the penalty.  It would be better that every nobleman did as Lord Dacres, than to take away from the principal service such as are set down to serve.”