He expressed his disgust and resentment in language more energetic than courtly; and protested that he was not to blame.

"I always thought," said he bitterly, "that your Majesty would provide all that was necessary even in superfluity, and not limit me beneath the ordinary.

I did not suppose, when it was most important to have ready money, that I should be kept short, and not allowed to draw certain sums by anticipation, which I should have done had you not forbidden." This was, through life, a striking characteristic of Philip.

Enormous schemes were laid out with utterly inadequate provision for their accomplishment, and a confident expectation entertained that wild, visions were; in some indefinite way, to be converted into substantial realities, without fatigue or personal exertion on his part, and with a very trifling outlay of ready money.
Meantime the faithful Farnese did his best.

He was indefatigable night and day in getting his boats together and providing his munitions of war.
He dug a canal from Sas de Gand--which was one of his principal depots--all the way to Sluys, because the water-communication between those two points was entirely in the hands of the Hollanders and Zeelanders.