be used at the time was published under this title : A Form of Prayer necessary for the present Time and State. Whitgift, at that time Archbishop of Canterbury, sent his directions to all his suffragans, couched in the following terms. "Considering the dangerousness of the time, I think it very convenient that you cause public prayers to be had in every several parish within your diocese, according to the letters heretofore written unto you: forseeing that no order of fasting or other exercise be used than such as you shall prescribe, according to the laws and orders of the Church established. I have caused a book, upon the like occasions penned, to be newly printed, with some additions, which you may have for your diccese, if you send for the same. Lambeth, the 10th of July, 1588*."

The men of that day always pursued such a course in seasons of danger and difficulty. It was a frequent practice to set apart a day for public and national humiliation, or the Wednesday and Friday in each week during the continuance of the danger, were observed in that character. In short, Elizabeth and her ministers acted as true Protestants. They had suffered under the yoke of popery, they understood its character, and were resolved to use every lawful means for the preservation of their Protestant privileges. A acknowledge all power, strength, and victory to come from thee; therefore we pray unto thee, O Lord; thou art our help and our shield."

* STRYPE'S Whitgift, i., 526, 527.

F

prayer is preserved in Strype which was used in the Queen's chapel during the time when the invasion was expected. It had this title: For Preservation and Success against the Spanish Navy and Forces. It merits the attention of the Protestant of the present day. I submit a few passages to the notice of the reader.

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"O Lord God, heavenly Father, the Lord of Hosts, without whose providence nothing proceedeth, and without whose mercy nothing is saved; in whose power are the hearts of princes, and the end of all their actions, have mercy upon thine afflicted Church; and especially regard thy servant Elizabeth, our most excellent Queen; to whom thy dispersed flock do fly in the anguish of their souls and the zeal of thy truth.

Consider, O Lord, how long thy servant hath laboured to them for peace; but how proudly they prepare themselves unto battle. Arise therefore, maintain thine own cause, and judge thou between her and her enemies. She seeketh not her own honour, but thine; not the dominions of others, but a just defence of herself; not the shedding of Christian blood, but the saving of poor afflicted souls. Come down, therefore, come down, and deliver thy people by her. To vanquish is all one with thee, by few or by many, by want or by wealth, by weakness or by strength. The cause is thine, the enemies thine, the afflicted thine; the honour, victory, and triumph shall be thine.

"Give unto all her councils and captains wisdom, wariness, and courage, that they may speedily prevent the devices, and valiantly withstand the forces of all our enemies, that the fame of thy Gospel may be spread unto the ends of the world*."

Happy would it be for England if those in authority would copy the example set them by Elizabeth and her ministers. Such a course would draw down especial blessings upon our beloved country. May all who are invested with power remember that they must give a strict account of its use or abuse to that glorious Being by whom kings reign, and princes decree justice.

* STRYPE'S Annals, vol. iii., part ii., p. 546. This prayer was written by Anthony Marten.-Ibid. 31.

Sailing of Armada. Is driven back. English Admiral sails towards Spain. Returns. Armada sails again. Appears off Lizard. Actions at Sea. Parma. The Fire Ships. Armada dispersed. Resolution to return by the North Seas. The **Queen at Tilbury. Dr. Lingard's Misrepresentations.

ALL the preparations being completed, the Armada sailed from Lisbon on the 29th of May, 1588. The vessels were of large size for that period; and twelve of them were named after the twelve apostles. It was imagined by the Spaniards that they were sailing under the divine guidance, and that to reduce England to subjection to the see of Rome, would be a work most meritorious and most acceptable to God: at least, such was the purport of the language used by the priests and by the leaders of the expedition. With respect to success, they never for a moment believed that they could be disappointed. Going forth under the auspices of the Pope, they viewed the mission on which they had entered as apostolical and divine. When they quitted the river Tagus on the 29th of May, it was intended to steer their course towards one of the harbours, which was nearest to the coast of England. In this object, however, they were disappointed: for a sudden storm overtook the fleet, and compelled the Duke of Medina to put into

the harbour of Corunna and other neighbouring places. Several of the vessels were so shattered, that they were rendered altogether unfit for sailing: and some of them were actually lost on the coast of France.

The English admiral, knowing that the Spaniards were about to sail, made an attempt to put to sea; but was prevented by the same storm from accomplishing his purpose. He was compelled, therefore, to return to his former station. Some of the Spanish vessels, which had been separated from the fleet by the storm, were seen by certain English ships, which also had been dispersed by the winds. It was reported in England that the Spanish fleet had sustained so much damage, that it would not be possible for it to put to sea again this year: a report which Elizabeth, who was ready to believe what she wished, was inclined to credit. She thought that the intention of invading England would be relinquished until the next summer. Acting under the influence of this idea, and being anxious to curtail her expenses, the Queen ordered the admiral to send to Chatham four of his largest ships. This distinguished officer, suspecting that the intelligence respecting the Spanish fleet could not be depended on, and fearing that the armament might suddenly appear in the Channel, ventured to disobey Her Majesty's orders. He solicited as a favour that he might be permitted to retain the ships, even at his own expense, rather than send them home. He hinted that the intelligence from