In another letter, of the 28th of April, Sir Francis acquaints her Majesty with the intelligence he had gained, that the merchant ships of foreign nations had been detained in the several ports of Spain, and had been einbargoed: he mentions also the reports he had received of the great preparations of the enemy; that he considers the embargo as a token of their intention of coming out; and suggests that her forces should go out and meet them at a distance from England: after this the letter thus proceeds: That if a goode peace for your Majestie be not forthwith concluded (which I as moche as anie man desirethe) then theise greate preparacions of the Spayneyerde maie be speedelie prevented as moche as in your Majestie liethe, by sendinge your forces to encounter them somewhat farre of, and more neere their owne coaste, which will be the better cheape for your Majestie and people, and muche the deerer for the enemye. Thus muche (as duetie byndethe me) I have thought goode to signifie unto your Majestie, for that it importethe but the hazerde or losse of all: The promise of peace from the Prince of Parma and these mightie preparacions in Spaigne agree not well together: Undoubtedlie I thincke theise advertisements true; ffor that I cannot heare by anye man of warre, or otherwise, that anie shippe is permytted to departe Spaigne, which is a vehemente presumpcion that they holde their purposed pretences: And for farther testymonie of theise reports I have sente this bearer, a Captaine of one of your Majestie's shippes, who (if it shall please your Highnes to permytte him) can deliver some thinges touchinge the same. Thus restinge all waies most bounden unto your Majestie for your gracious and favourable speeches used of me, both to Mr. Secretarie and others (which I desier God no longer to lette me live then I will be readye to doe your Majestie all the duetifull service I possiblie maie), I will contynewallie praye to God to blesse your Majestie with all happie victories. From Plymouthe this 28th of Aprill, 1588. FRA: DRAKE. On the 23rd of May, the Lord High Admiral announced to the government his arrival at Plymouth. He says that Drake had come out to meet him with sixty sail of ships very well appointed; he states, also, his intention to proceed to sea, and stand off and on, between the coasts of England and Spain, to watch the coming of the Spanish forces. Accordingly, the Lord High Admiral, with the western squadron, put to sea, and proceeded within a short distance of the coast of Spain, when a strong southerly wind drove them back to Plymouth. Here he found a letter waiting for him, dated the 9th of June, from Sir Francis Walsingham, written by command of the Queen, signifying her Majesty's pleasure, that he should not go so far from the English coast; and assigning, as the reason for this order, the importance of not leaving the shores of England unprotected. Lord Howard, in his reply, dated the 15th, says, "It was deeply debated by those whom the world doth judge to be men of the greatest experience, that this realme hath, which are these: Sir Francis Drake, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Frobisher, and Mr. Thomas Fenner; and I hope Her Majesty will not thinke we went so rashlie to worke, or without a principal, or choice care and respect of the safetie of this realme. And if we found they did but linger on their own coast, or put into the isles of Bayonne or the Groyne, then we thought, in all men's judgments that be of experience here, it had bin most fit to have sought some good waie: and the surest we could devise (by the good protection of God) to have defeated them." And he further gives her Majesty to understand, that if the fleet are to stand off and on betwixt England and Spain, the south-west wind, which might carry the Spaniards to Scotland or Ireland, would throw him to leeward; that on the contrary, if his fleet was high up in the Channel, the Spaniards might succeed in reaching the Isle of Wight. On the 23rd of June he addressed another letter to Sir Francis Walsingham : SIR, This Sonday about 7 of the cloke at nyght I recevid your letter of the 22 of this present, and the advertysments with them, wyche I dow most hartely thank you for: but I parceave by your letter there shuld another letter come from my Lordse to Mr. Dorell, and also a warante that the poursyfant should brynge, wyche shuld be open for me, but he nether browght the Lordse letter nor any suche warrant. Sir. I pray you pardon me that I dow not send yow the namse of the townse devyded, suche as be wyllyng, and suche as be not. Sir F. Drake hathe the newse of them, now at this ower is full ocupyed, as I am also. Our watche chame to us this last nyght about 12 of the cloke, and we wyll not ete nor slype till it be abourd us. We must not lose an ower of tyme. You shall see by a letter that I have sent Heer Majestie what advertysment I have. I meen to way presently and set sayle: this foull wether that was on Thursday, that forsed us in surty, disparsed the Spanyshe flyt: it shall goo hard but I wyll fynd them out. Let Heer Majestie trust no mor to Judises kyses; for let heer asure heerself ther is no trust to F. K. (French king) nor Duke of Parme. Let heer defend heerself lyke a noble and mightie Prynce: and trust to heer sworde and not to ther word, and then she ned not to feer, for heer good God wyll defend her. Sir, I have a pryvy intelligence, by a sure fello, that the flyt of Spayne dowthe meen to come to the cost of France, and ther to receve in the Duke of Guyse, and great forses: and it is very lykly to be trew. I meen, God wyllyng, to vyset the cost of France, and to send in small penyses to discover all the cost alongst. If I heer of them, I hope, ar it be long after, you shall heer newse. God Mr. Secretary, let the narro sees be well strantened (strengthened). What charge is ill spent now for service? Let the Hoyse of Harwyge (Harwich) goo with all speed agayne to my Lord H. Semor, for they be of great sarvyse. Sir, for these thyngs here I pray take order with Mr. Dorell, for I have no lesur to thynk of them. I pray you, Sir, delyver my letter unto Heer Majestie with my humble duty, and so in hast I bid you farewell. Abourd the Arke, this Sonday, at 12 of the cloke at nyght. (No date, but supposed June 23rd, 1588.) C. HOWARD.* Sir. God wyllyng, I wyll com sayll within this three houers. To my very lovyng frend, Mr. Secretary Walsyngham. *MS. State Paper Office. CHAPTER IX. THE SPANISH ARMADA, CALLED THE INVINCIBLE. 1588. The Armada in the Channel-Anecdote of Drake-First attack-Spanish MS. Journal-Daily proceedings of the two fleets-The Armada is dispersed by fire-ships-Driven into the North Sea-Its disastrous condition -Letters from the Lord High Admiral, Sir Francis Drake, and Lord Henry Seymour. THE day now approached when the great contest was to be decided between two of the most powerful fleets that had hitherto ever met in hostile array. On the 19th day of July, the Lord High Admiral received certain information from one Fleming, the master of a pinnace, that the Spanish fleet was in the Channel, near the Lizard Point; and great exertions were made to tow the British fleet out of Plymouth Harbour, although the wind was blowing in stiffly; but the alacrity and energy of the men and officers, encouraged by the Admiral in person, overcame all difficulties. It is reported, that when the news reached the British Navy of the sudden appearance of the Armada off the Lizard, the principal commanders were on shore at Plymouth playing bowls, on the Hoe: and it is added that Drake insisted on the match being played out, saying, that "There would be plenty of time to win the game, and beat the Spaniards too."* On the following day, the 20th, the Spanish fleet were discovered with their lofty turrets, like so many floating castles; their line extending its wings about seven miles, in the shape of a half-moon, proceeding very slowly, though with full sail; "The winds," says Camden, "being as it were tired with carrying them, and the ocean seeming to groan under the weight of their heavy burdens." On the 21st of July, the Lord High Admiral, on their pass* Tytler's Raleigh, Edin. edit., 1835. ing, sent out his pinnace, named the Disdain, in advance, and challenged the Duke of Sidonia to give the defiance, by firing off her ordnance, as a declaration of war, upon which being done, his own flag-ship, the Ark Royal, "thundered thick and furiously" upon a large ship which he thought to be the Spanish Admiral, but which was that of Alphonso de Leyva. At the same time Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher played stoutly upon the rear division of the fleet, commanded by General Juan de Recaldé; whose ship and others, being much shattered. made shift to get away to the main body, under the Duke of Medina Sidonia. A manuscript account of the Spanish Armada was sent, from the archives of Madrid, to a gentleman in the Admiralty, after the conclusion of the revolutionary war. It is entitled 'A Narrative of the Voyages of the Royal Armada, from the Port of Corunna, under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia, with an account of the events which took place during the said Voyage.' It is written in Spanish, and is evidently a journal kept by an officer of the Duke of Medina's flag-ship. It is temperately and modestly written, and many of the facts stated in the following pages have been taken from it. This narrative says that the ship of Alphonso de Leyva was disabled, her rigging cut up, and two shot lodging in her foremast: that the flag-ship took in her sails, and waited to receive her into the line; that the Duke now collected his scattered fleet, not being able to do more on this occasion, as the enemy had gained the wind. The English vessels, the author adds, were well fought, and under such good management, that they did with them what they pleased. The fight having continued two hours, and forty sail of the English fleet, those which had last come out of the harbour, not having yet joined, the Admiral deemed it expedient not to press the enemy further this day. The following letter from Lord Charles Howard describes the fight very briefly; it is SIR, LORD C. HOWARD TO SIR F. WALSINGHAM. 21st July, 1588. I will not trouble you with anie longe letter. We are at this present otherwise occupied then with writinge. Uppon Fridaie at Plymouthe I re |