He assured the King that he felt very doubtful as to what turn matters might take, after the soldiers were gone, seeing the great unruliness which even their presence had been insufficient completely to check.

He had hoped that they might be retained in the neighbourhood, ready to seize the islands at the first opportunity.

"For my part," he wrote, "I care nothing for the occupation of places within the interior, but the islands must be secured.

To do this," he continued, with a deceitful allusion to the secret projects of Don John, "is, in my opinion, more difficult than to effect the scheme upon England.

If the one were accomplished, the other would be easily enough managed, and would require but moderate means.