One of his well-informed spy reported that only eighteen ships in the entire Spanish fleet were ready for sea. When she told Walsingham about this he said his agents in Spain saw no signs of such preparation in Spanish harbours. In the spring of 1586, Queen Elizabeth heard reports that Spain was preparing a huge invasion force to send against England. However, Walsingham was unconvinced by the story. This initial information came from a merchant who had heard about it in Italy. Walsingham, with his aggressive, almost fanatical desire to protect and promote his fledgling Protestant religion, had long feared Spanish military action against England. (1)ĭetails of the planned invasion reached England's spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham, as early as December 1585. Philip issued instructions to Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia, to "invade and conquer England, taking the Queen alive at all costs". His plan was for a great fleet to sweep the English Channel and leave it clear for Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, and his Spanish infantry to cross over from the Netherlands. He had been angered by the actions of Francis Drake in the West Indies and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, invasion of the Netherlands. Even before the execution of Mary Stuart, King Philip II of Spain began considering the invasion of England.
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