English/Spanish War
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1.The decision to send the Armada was the culmination of plans laid at least as early as the previous year: "In the fall of 1587, . . . Parma had been instructed by Philip that the invasion of England was to go forward without fail, and no peace was to be made on any terms" (192). The negotiations between England and Spain were slowed by Spain while Spain still gave the impression of wanting peace, with the intention of getting England to lower its guard while Spain prepared the Armada and the invasion. The ploy apparently failed (193) and Philip, abandoning his long-time caution (203), began to urgently press for the sailing of the Armada and the invasion. Mattingly seems to suggest that Philip was suddenly in the grip of the belief that God wanted him to invade England, another departure from what had been a modest attachment to religion and power: "He fretted and fumed . . . as if he . . . would be held accountable for the delay by the only Superior he recognized." Now he pushed for the attack on England "as confidently, as unswervingly, as blindly as any saint or world conqueror in history" (203). Part of his decision was based on the death of his wife and Mendoza's use of it to spur Philip on to attack. Also, Philip saw himself as a major world leader, perhaps the world leader, or at least European leader, increasing convinced that God wanted him to send the Armada, and at the same time the strategic and tactical circumstances produced a now or never situation. As it tur
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ope" and that "religious unity was not to be reimposed by force on the heirs of medieval Christendom" (401).
The effect on Philip seems to have been for the best, at least in terms of cooling his ardor for further war, whatever his pledges to return later for more fighting. Not only did he turn from war, but he took on a more humble attitude toward the will of God;
For the rest of his reign he was again the Prudent King, cautious, even to the point of what looked like timidity, hesitant, watchful. . . . "Even kings . . . must submit to being used by God's will without knowing what it is. they must never seek to use it" (392).
4. The fight between the English and Spanish involved "not just the fates of England and Scotland, France and the Netherlands, but all of Christendom" (v-vi) because at the heart of Philip's cause was the desire to unite all Christians in the two countries at the very least under his and the Catholic banner, defeating Protestantism which reigned in England. If there is one theme to the book, it is that Philip was possessed with the belief that this war would be waged according to God's will and desire that he personally advance the Catholic cause. As was mentioned in the previous answer, the major ramificat
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Approximate Word count = 1688
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
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