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.”

Farnese had also been strictly enjoined to deal gently with the English, after the conquest, so that they would have cause to love their new master.  His troops were not to forget discipline after victory.  There was to be no pillage or rapine.  The Catholics were to be handsomely rewarded and all the inhabitants were to be treated with so much indulgence that, instead of abhorring Parma and his soldiers, they would conceive a strong affection for them all, as the source of so many benefits.  Again the Duke was warmly commended for the skill with which he had handled the peace