But Alexander, while straining every nerve to obey his master’s wishes about the invasion, and to blind the English by the fictitious negotiations, was not so sanguine as his sovereign.  In truth, there was something puerile in the eagerness which Philip manifested.  He had made up his mind that England was to be conquered that autumn, and had endeavoured—­as well as he could—­to comprehend, the plans which his illustrious general had laid down for accomplishing that purpose.  Of, course; to any man of average intellect, or, in truth, to any man outside a madhouse; it would seem an essential part of the conquest that the Armada should arrive.  Yet—­wonderful to relate-Philip, in his impatience, absolutely suggested that the Duke might take possession of England without waiting for Santa Cruz and his Armada.  As the autumn had been wearing away, and there had been unavoidable delays about the shipping in Spanish ports, the King thought it best not to defer matters till, the winter.  “You are, doubtless, ready,” he said to Farnese.  “If you think you can make the passage to England before the fleet from Spain arrives, go at once.  You maybe sure that it will come ere long to support, you.  But if, you prefer, to wait, wait.  The dangers of winter, to the fleet and to your own person are to be regretted; but God, whose cause it is; will protect you.”

It was, easy to sit quite out of harm’s way, and to make such excellent, arrangements for smooth weather in the wintry channel, and for the. conquest of a maritime and martial kingdom by a few flat bottoms.  Philip had little difficulty on that score, but the affairs of France were not quite to his mind.  The battle of Coutras, and the entrance of the German and Swiss mercenaries into that country, were somewhat perplexing.  Either those auxiliaries of the Huguenots would be defeated, or they would be victorious, or both parties would come to an agreement.  In the first event, the Duke, after sending a little assistance to Mucio, was to effect his passage to England at once.  In the second case, those troops, even though successful, would doubtless be so much disorganized that it might be still safe for Farnese to go on.  In the third contingency—­that of an accord—­it would be necessary for him to wait till the foreign troops had disbanded and left France.  He was to maintain all his forces in perfect readiness, on pretext of the threatening aspect of French matters and, so soon as the Swiss and Germane were dispersed, he was to proceed to business without delay.  The fleet would be ready in Spain in all November, but as sea-affairs were so doubtful, particularly in winter, and as the Armada could not reach the channel till mid-winter; the Duke was not to wait for its arrival.  “Whenever you see a favourable opportunity,” said Philip, “you must take care not to lose it, even if the fleet has not made its appearance.  For you may be sure that it will soon come to give you assistance, in one way or another.”