Howard had cruised for a few weeks between England and Spain, without any results, and, on his return, had found it necessary to implore her Majesty, as late as July, to “trust no more to Judas’ kisses, but to her sword, not her enemy’s word.”

     Etext editor’s bookmarks: 

     A burnt cat fears the fire
     A free commonwealth—­was thought an absurdity
     Baiting his hook a little to his appetite
     Canker of a long peace
     Englishmen and Hollanders preparing to cut each other’s throats
     Faction has rarely worn a more mischievous aspect
     Hard at work, pouring sand through their sieves
     She relieth on a hope that will deceive her
     Sparing and war have no affinity together
     The worst were encouraged with their good success
     Trust her sword, not her enemy’s word

HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS

From the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year’s Truce—­1609

By John Lothrop Motley

History United Netherlands, Volume 57, 1588

CHAPTER XIX.  Part 1.

Philip Second in his Cabinet—­His System of Work and Deception—­His vast but vague Schemes of Conquest—­The Armada sails—­Description of the Fleet—­The Junction with Parma unprovided for—­The Gale off Finisterre—­Exploits of David Gwynn—­First Engagements in the English Channel—­Considerable Losses of the Spaniards—­General Engagement near Portland—­Superior Seamanship of the English

It is now time to look in upon the elderly letter-writer in the Escorial, and see how he was playing his part in the drama.

His counsellors were very few.  His chief advisers were rather like private secretaries than cabinet ministers; for Philip had been withdrawing more and more into seclusion and mystery as the webwork of his schemes multiplied and widened.  He liked to do his work, assisted by a very few confidential servants.  The Prince of Eboli, the famous Ruy Gomez, was dead.  So was Cardinal Granvelle.  So were Erasso and Delgado.  His midnight council—­junta de noche—­for thus, from its original hour of assembling, and the all of secrecy in which it was enwrapped, it was habitually called—­was a triumvirate.  Don Juan de Idiaquez was chief secretary of state and of war; the Count de Chinchon was minister for the household, for Italian affairs, and for the kingdom of Aragon; Don Cristoval de Moura, the monarch’s chief favourite, was at the head of the finance department, and administered the affairs of Portugal and Castile!

The president of the council of Italy, after Granvelle’s death, was Quiroga, cardinal of Toledo, and inquisitor-general.  Enormously long letters, in the King’s:  name, were prepared chiefly by the two secretaries, Idiaquez and Moura.  In their hands was the vast correspondence with Mendoza and Parma, and Olivarez at Rome, and with Mucio; in which all the stratagems for the subjugation of Protestant Europe were slowly and artistically contrived.  Of the great conspiracy against human liberty, of which the Pope and Philip were the double head, this midnight triumvirate was the chief executive committee.