And that this famous Expedition might be supported with spiritual as well as temporal Weapons[26], Pope _Sixtus_ V created _William Allen_, a seditious _English_ Priest, Cardinal; and sent him as his Legate into the _Low-Countries_, with a Bull; wherein, after enumerating the several Causes of Complaint the See of _Rome_ had against Queen _Elizabeth_, (namely her suppressing the Catholic Religion, her putting the Queen of _Scots_ to Death, _&c._) he renewed and confirmed the Sentence of Excommunication pronounced against her by his Predecessors _Pius_ V and _Gregory_ XIII, deprived her, as illegitimate, and an Usurper, from all Princely Dignity, and Dominion over the Kingdoms of _England_ and _Ireland_; absolved her Subjects from their Allegiance; and strictly enjoined them, upon Pain of GOD Almighty’s Displeasure, not to lend her any Help or Assistance, but to join the _Spanish_ Army, and the Duke of _Parma_’s Forces, as soon as they should be landed: Promising withal a plenary Indulgence and the Pardon of all their Sins, to as many as would engage in so laudable an Undertaking. * * * * * Such were the extraordinary Preparations made by the _Spaniards_ for invading _England_. Preparations so great and so dreadful, that all _Europe_ was alarmed at them. Most Sovereigns expected for some Time, with the utmost Horror and Astonishment, where the threatening Storm, which had been so long gathering, would at last fall. But this, though kept as a great Secret, did not long escape the great Sir _Francis Walsingham_’s Sagacity. [27]He had Intelligence from _Madrid_, that King _Philip_ had told his Council, he had dispatched an Express to _Rome_ with a Letter writ with his own Hand to the Pope, acquainting him with the true Design of his Preparations, and asking his Blessing upon it; which for some Reasons he would not yet disclose to them, ’till the Return of the Courier. The Secret being thus lodg’d with the Pope, _Walsingham_, by the means of a _Venetian_ Priest retain’d at _Rome_ as his Spy, got a Copy of the original Letter, which was stolen out of the Pope’s Cabinet by a Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber, who took the Keys out of the Pope’s Pocket whilst he slept. Upon this Intelligence _Walsingham_ found a Way to retard the _Spanish_ Invasion for a whole Year, by getting the _Spanish_ Bills protested at _Genoa_, which should have supplied them with Money to carry on their Preparations.