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him his children and grandchildren; who constantly sat round his table, and listened with delight to his instructive conversation. His constant example of devotion, in public and in private, failed not to produce the most salutary effect on all around him; and, when no longer able to kneel, he caused the prayers to be said aloud to him, as he lay in his bed. "I will trust no man," said he, if he be not of sound religion; for he that is false to God can never be true to man." The strictness of his moral conduct corresponded with his piety; and both had a powerful effect in confirming his fortitude in times of peril. When the dread of the Spanish Armada was mentioned in his presence, he replied with firmness, They shall do no more than God will suffer them."

E. H. L..

THE SPANISH ARMADA.

THE spirit of bigotry and tyranny, by which Philip II. of Spain, formerly wedded to Mary, Queen of England, was actuated, with the fraudulent maxims which governed his counsels, excited the most violent agitation among his own people, engaged him in acts of the greatest cruelty, and threw all Europe into alarm. He had long harboured a secret and violent desire of revenge against Queen Elizabeth; to execute which, he formed the plan of an invasion of England, by fitting out his invincible Armada.

Many circumstances contributed to his hatred of Elizabeth. The rejection of his hand, on the death of her sister; her support of the Protestant cause; the great and decisive part that she embraced, to prevent his oppression of the Netherlands; and her successes in Spanish America;-these circumstances excited the jealousy of Philip, and induced him to believe that, by her subjection, he should acquire the renown of re-uniting the whole Christian world in the Catholic communion.

At this period Spain was rich and populous. Philip

had lately annexed the kingdom of Portugal to his dominions.

All the princes of Italy, even the Pope and the court of Rome, were reduced to a kind of subjection under him, and seemed to possess their sovereignty on terms somewhat precarious. The Austrian branch in Germany, with their dependant principalities, was closely connected with him, and was ready to supply him with troops for every enterprise.

Three years had been spent by Philip, in secretly making great preparations for this enterprise. The project, indeed, was formed after the Queen of Scots had been persuaded to make over to him her right to England, as being the only plan to restore there the Catholic religion. Besides this vague right, conveyed by will, he thought he might justly claim the crown of England, as being the next catholic prince, descended by the female line, from the Duke of Lancaster, fourth son of Edward III. Pope Sextus IV., not less ambitious than Philip, excited him to the invasion of England. He again excommunicated the Queen. All the ports of Spain resounded with preparations for this alarming expedition; and the Spaniards seemed to threaten the English with a total annihilation.

The fleet, which, on account of its prodigious strength, was called "The Invincible Armada," was completed in 1588.

The English fleet, at this time, consisted only of twenty-eight sail, most of which were very small vessels; but the alacrity of Elizabeth's subjects, sufficiently atoned for the weakness of her navy. The maritime towns, the nobility and gentry, testified the greatest zeal on this occasion. The City of London fitted out thirty ships, though fifteen only had been required. The gentry and nobility hired and armed forty-three ships, at their own expense. Lord Howard, of Effingham, a man of great courage and capacity, was Lord Admiral, and took upon him the command of the navy. Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher, the most renowned seamen in Europe, served

under him. The main fleet was stationed at Plymouth; while a smaller fleet, consisting of forty vessels, under the command of Lord Seymour, lay off Dunkirk, in order to intercept the forces commanded by the Duke of Parma.

Twenty thousand land forces were cantoned along the southern coasts of England; another body of disciplined troops encamped at Tilbury, near the mouth of the Thames, under the command of the Earl of Leicester; whom the Queen, on this occasion, created General in Chief of all her forces; and the Lord Hunsdon commanded a third army, consisting of thirty thousand men, for the defence of her Majesty's person; and to march to that part of the coast on which the enemy might make their chief landing.

The chief hopes of Elizabeth were placed in the affections of her people. Party distinctions were forgotten, and every man exerted himself in the defence of his country.

The magnanimity of Elizabeth was remarkable on this trying occasion. She appeared on horseback, in the camp of Tilbury; harangued her army, and expressed an entire confidence in their loyalty and courage. The following was her truly noble speech on this occasion:

"My loving people, we have been persuaded, by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but I assure you, I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear: I have always so behaved myself, that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good will of my subjects. And therefore I am come amongst you, at this time, not as for my recreation or sport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my people, my honour, and my blood, even in the dust.

"I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a King, and

of a King of England too; and I think it foul scorn, that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realms: to which, rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms; I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.

"I know already, by your forwardness, that you have deserved rewards and crowns; and we do assure you, on the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you.

"In the mean time, my Lieutenant-General shall be in my stead; than whom never Prince commanded a more noble and worthy subject; not doubting, by your obedience to my General, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people."

The Armada was some time prevented from sailing, by the death of the Marquis of Santa Cruz. The Duke of Medina Sidonia, a nobleman of great family, but wholly unacquainted with maritime affairs, was appointed Admiral in his room. This interval was employed by Elizabeth in making new prepararations for rendering the design abortive.

At length the invincible fleet sailed from Lisbon, on the 29th of May; but being overtaken with a dreadful tempest, it was obliged to put into the Groyne, having received considerable damage.

After a delay of two months, the Armada sailed once more to prosecute the intended enterprise. The fleet consisted of 130 ships, of which near 100 were galleons, and of a greater burden than had ever before appeared on the coast of England.

The Armada advanced towards Plymouth. It was disposed in the form of a half-moon, and stretched to the distance of seven leagues, from the extremity of one division to the other. But this appearance dismayed not the English; they knew their huge vessels were so il constructed, and so difficult to be ma

naged, that they would not be able to support themselves against the repeated attacks of ships at a distance.

Two of the largest ships in the Spanish fleet were soon after taken by Sir Francis Drake; and, while the enemy advanced slowly up the Channel, the English followed their rear, and harassed them with perpetual skirmishes. The Spaniards now began to abate in their confidence of success; the design of attacking the English navy in Plymouth was laid aside, and they directed their course towards Calais.

The Armada, after many losses, came to an anchor before Calais, in the expectation of being joined by the Prince of Parma; but before that General could embark his troops, all hope of success vanished, by a stratagem of the English Admiral. He filled eight of his smaller ships with combustible materials, and, setting them on fire, sent them, one after another, into the midst of the enemy's fleet. Terrified at this appearance, the Spaniards cut their cables, and betook themselves to flight, in a very precipitate and disorderly manner. In the midst of this confusion, the English fell upon them with such fury, that twelve of their largest ships were taken, and several others were thoroughly damaged.

The ambitious Spaniards were now convinced that their scheme was entirely frustrated, and would willingly have abandoned the enterprise, and returned immediately to their ports, could they have done it with safety; but this was impossible; the wind was contrary, and the only chance of escaping was that of making a tour of the whole island, and reaching at last the Spanish harbours, by the ocean; but a violent storm soon overtook them, and completed the destruction of the Invincible Armada; not half the vessels returned to the ports of Spain.

Of the Armada there were taken and destroyed in the Channel 15 ships, and 4,791men; and on the coast of Ireland, 17 ships, and 5,394 men. In all 32 ships; and 10,185 men,

C. K.