But craftily as the King and Duke had been dealing, it had been found impossible to keep such vast preparations entirely secret.  Walsingham was in full possession of their plans down to the most minute details.  The misfortune was that he was unable to persuade his sovereign, Lord Burghley, and others of the peace-party, as to the accuracy of his information.  Not only was he thoroughly instructed in regard to the number of men, vessels, horses, mules, saddles, spurs, lances, barrels of beer and tons of biscuit, and other particulars of the contemplated invasion, but he had even received curious intelligence as to the gorgeous equipment of those very troops, with which the Duke was just secretly announcing to the King his intention of making his triumphal entrance into the English capital.  Sir Francis knew how many thousand yards of cramoisy velvet, how many hundredweight of gold and silver embroidery, how much satin and feathers, and what quantity of pearls and diamonds; Farnese had been providing himself withal.  He knew the tailors, jewellers, silversmiths, and haberdashers, with whom the great Alexander—­as he now began to be called—­had been dealing;

["There is provided for lights a great number of torches, and so tempered that no water can put them out.  A great number of little mills for grinding corn, great store of biscuit baked and oxen salted, great number of saddles and boots also there is made 500 pair of velvet shoes-red, crimson velvet, and in every cloister throughout the country great quantity of roses made of silk, white and red, which are to be badges for divers of his gentlemen.  By reason of these roses it is expected he is going for England.  There is sold to the Prince by John Angel, pergaman, ten hundred-weight of velvet, gold and silver to embroider his apparel withal.  The covering to his mules is most gorgeously embroidered with gold and silver, which carry his baggage.  There is also sold to him by the Italian merchants at least 670 pieces of velvet to apparel him and his train.  Every captain has received a gift from the Prince to make himself brave, and for Captain Corralini, an Italian, who hath one cornet of horse, I have seen with my eyes a saddle with the trappings of his horse, his coat and rapier and dagger, which cost 3,500 French crowns. (!!) All their lances are painted of divers colours, blue and white, green and White, and most part blood-red—­ so there is as great preparation for a triumph as for war.  A great number of English priests come to Antwerp from all places.  The commandment is given to all the churches to read the Litany daily for the prosperity of the Prince in his enterprise.”  John Giles to Walsingham, 4 Dec. 1587.(S.  P. Office Ms.)

   The same letter conveyed also very detailed information concerning
   the naval preparations by the Duke, besides accurate intelligence in
   regard to the progress of the armada in Cadiz and Lisbon.