ABSTRACT
The idea of a Spanish invasion of England was far from new in the mid-1580s. As early as 1571 Philip II had suggested to Alba a possible direct attack of this kind on Elizabeth. This, however, was no more than a gesture; for the king gave his general none of the money or other resources that an enterprise of this scope demanded. In 1577–78, again, Don John of Austria had dreamed of leading such an invasion, placing Mary Stuart on the throne and then marrying her himself. But it was one of the virtues of Philip II, cautious and sometimes even timid, that he was untouched by such dreams. None the less Don John was fully justified in insisting that the subjection of England to Spanish influence would be the longest step of all towards the crushing of the Netherlands revolt. ‘Everyone believes’, he told Philip, ‘that the only remedy for the disorders of the Netherlands is that England should be ruled by someone devoted to Your Majesty. If the contrary case prevails it will mean the ruin of these countries and their loss to your crown.’ 1
