No man who has, studied the history of those times, can doubt the universal and enthusiastic determination of the English nation to repel the invaders.

Catholics and Protestants felt alike on the great subject.

Philip did not flatter, himself with assistance from any English Papists, save exiles and renegades like Westmoreland, Paget, Throgmorton, Morgan, Stanley, and the rest.

The bulk of the Catholics, who may have constituted half the population of England, although malcontent, were not rebellious; and notwithstanding the precautionary measures taken by government against them, Elizabeth proudly acknowledged their loyalty.
But loyalty, courage, and enthusiasm, might not have sufficed to supply the want of numbers and discipline.

According to the generally accepted statement of contemporary chroniclers, there were some 75,000 men under arms: 20,000 along the southern coast, 23,000 under Leicester, and 33,000 under Lord Chamberlain Hunsdon, for the special defence of the Queen's person.
But it would have been very difficult, in the moment of danger, to bring anything like these numbers into the field.