This conviction that the enterprise had been already accomplished grew stronger in the King’s breast every day.  He was only a little disturbed lest Farnese should have misunderstood that 14th November letter.  Philip—­as his wont was—­had gone into so many petty and puzzling details, and had laid down rules of action suitable for various contingencies, so easy to put comfortably upon paper, but which might become perplexing in action, that it was no wonder he should be a little anxious.  The third contingency suggested by him had really occurred.  There had been a composition between the foreign mercenaries and the French King.  Nevertheless they had also been once or twice defeated, and this was contingency number two.  Now which of the events would the Duke consider as having really occurred.  It was to be hoped that he would have not seen cause for delay, for in truth number three was not exactly the contingency which existed.  France was still in a very satisfactory state of discord and rebellion.  The civil war was by no means over.  There was small fear of peace that winter.  Give Mucio his pittance with frugal hand, and that dangerous personage would ensure tranquillity for Philip’s project, and misery for Henry iii. and his subjects for an indefinite period longer.  The King thought it improbable that Farnese could have made any mistake.  He expressed therefore a little anxiety at having received no intelligence from him, but had great confidence that, with the aid of the Lord and of with his own courage he had accomplished the great exploit.  Philip had only, recommended delay in event of a general peace in France—­Huguenots, Royalists, Leaguers, and all.  This had not happened.  “Therefore, I trust,” said the King; “that you—­perceiving that this is not contingency number three which was to justify a pause—­will have already executed the enterprise, and fulfilled my desire.  I am confident that the deed is done, and that God has blessed it, and I am now expecting the news from hour to hour.”

But Alexander had not yet arrived in England.  The preliminaries for the conquest caused him more perplexity than the whole enterprise occasioned to Philip.  He was very short of funds.  The five millions were not to be touched, except for the expenses of the invasion.  But as England was to be subjugated, in order that rebellious Holland might be recovered, it was hardly reasonable to go away leaving such inadequate forces in the Netherlands as to ensure not only independence to the new republic, but to hold out temptation for revolt to the obedient Provinces.  Yet this was the dilemma in which the Duke was placed.  So much money had been set aside for the grand project that there was scarcely anything for the regular military business.  The customary supplies had not been sent.  Parma had leave to draw for six hundred thousand ducats, and he was able to get that draft discounted on the Antwerp Exchange by consenting to receive five hundred thousand, or sacrificing sixteen