V. This other important Motive is assigned by _Hakluyt_[2]: “King _Philip_ deemed this to be the most ready and direct Course, to recover his hereditary Possession of the _Low-Countries_. For, having with little Advantage, for above twenty Years together, waged War against the _Netherlands_, after mature Deliberation, he thought it most convenient to assault them once more by Sea, which had been fruitlessly attempted several Times before for want of sufficient Forces. And he thought good to begin with _England_, being persuaded, that the Conquest of that Island was less difficult than the Conquest of _Holland_ and _Zealand_. Moreover, the _Spaniards_ were of Opinion, that it would be far more behoveful for their King to conquer _England_ and the _Low-Countries_ at once, than to be constrained continually to maintain a warlike Navy, to defend his _East_ and _West-India_ Fleets from the _English_.” * * * * * These (with a Desire of restoring the _Roman-Catholick_ Religion) seem to have been the real and true Motives of this great Expedition. The Reasons alleged by _Philip_ were these[3]: I. That _Elizabeth_ had, from the first assisted his rebellious Subjects in the _Netherlands_, with Men and Money, and spirited them up against him, her greatest Friend and Benefactor; whom she was indebted to for her Life, when her Sister Queen _Mary_ and _Gardiner_ were for removing her out of the Way. II. _Drake_, and others of her Subjects, had committed several Depredations in _Spain_ and _America_. III. She had been so unnatural as to stop his Money, when, for fear of Pirates, it had been landed in her Dominions; and had put an Embargo on the Vessels employed to carry it to the _Low-Countries_: (As is related by _Camden_, under the Year 1568.) IV. She had acknowledged his Enemy Don _Antonio_ King of _Portugal_, and armed him against _Spain_. V. That it was by her Instruction and Advice the Duke of _Alençon_ had been crowned King of _Brabant_. VI. And, moreover, she herself had accepted the Sovereignty of the _Low-Countries_, and sent the Earl of _Leicester_ thither with considerable Forces; which was an open Declaration of War. VII. That he undertook it, to revenge the Death of the innocent Queen of _Scots_. VIII. And in Compliance with the Holy Father _Innocent_ VIII.’s earnest Injunctions, who ceased not to exhort and importune him, to abolish Heresy in _England_, and replant the _Roman-Catholick_ Religion there. * * * * *