ther is non that comse from Spayne but bryngse this advertysment, and yf it be trew I am afrayd it wyll not be helped when the tyme sarvethe. Surly this charge that heer Majestie is at is ether to muche er to lyttell, and the stay that is maed of Sir Francys Drake going owt I am afrayd will bred graet parell, and yf the King of Spayne dow send forces ether into this Relme, Irland, or Scotland, the Queene's Majestie shall say, the Duke of Parme is tretyng of a pece, and therfor it is not pryncly downe of his master to dow so in the tyme of Trete, but what is that to the pourpos yf we have by that a Casado. And yf her Majestie chanot show the King's hande his sarvant's hande wyll be but a bad warant, yf they have ther wyshe. Sir, for my selfe I am detarmyned to end my lyfe in it, and the matter is not graet: I protest my graetest care is for heer Majestie's honour and surte. I send you a letter that now as I wryght, I receved from a man of myne, wyche afyrmeth the lyk. And so, Sir, I tak my leave from aboarde the Ark Rawly (Royal), the 9 Ma. at 12 o'clock at nyght. To the Righte Honorable my verie Your very lovynge frend, lovinge freinde Sir ffrances Walsingham, Knighte: Principall Secretare unto Her Majestie. C. HOWARD.* Drake was equally ready, and proceeded to Plymouth, where he hoisted his flag in the Revenge. The following is an abstract of the several squadrons composing the English and Spanish naval forces : 197 29,744 15,785+ * MS. State Paper Office. † Lediard's Naval History. The comparison then of the two forces will stand thus : - So that the Spaniards had double the force of the English, except in the number of ships; and in guns nearly four times the * The author, after consulting the best authorities and several manuscripts, does not hesitate to say that these lists of the two fleets are the most complete and perfect that have hitherto appeared. They also very nearly agree with an average obtained from demi-official returns. force. The only cannon of 60 lb. shot, in the whole of the English fleet, being nineteen pieces, and twenty-eight pieces of demi-cannon of 33 lb. shot. The rest of their armament consisted of culverins, demi-culverins, sakers, mynions, falcons, and other small pieces. How the merchant-ships were armed does not appear; but, looking at their tonnage, two-thirds of them at least would have been of but little, if any, service; and, indeed, it must have required uncommon vigilance to keep them out of harm's way. Even the best of the Queen's ships, placed alongside one of the first class of Spanish line-of-battle ships, would have been like a sloop-of-war by the side of a first-rate. Their high forecastles, always well manned, and bearing one or two tiers of guns, and their high poops equally well fortified, made it extremely difficult to board them; as the musketry from these castles would pick the men off on reaching the main-deck: and it was an article in the general Instructions of the Spanish fleet, that every ship should be supplied with a chest or cask full of stones to hurl down upon the boarders. The odds therefore were great against the English. But the English heart and English seamanship made ample amends for all deficiencies. The danger, however, was formidable. Spain at this time possessed the first navy in Europe; and her numerous and well disciplined army was inferior to none. In addition to their large ships, galleons and galiasses, they had a fleet of hulks stored with provisions and ammunition, and every article that could be required for establishing themselves on shore. So certain were they of success, that there were in the fleet upwards of 100 (some say 180) monks, or friars, and Jesuits, ad propagandam fidem among the heretics; and there were English papist traitors among them to instruct the others in the language. Every device was adopted to give a sacred character to the invasion; twelve of their ships were named after the twelve Apostles : and such was the prevailing enthusiasm, that every noble family in Spain had a son, or brother, or nephew, serving in the fleet as a volunteer. Nor was the enthusiastic spirit of the sons and relatives of the English. nobility and gentry less strong. A great number of them joined the auxiliary ships, which poured in to reinforce ( the fleet from all quarters. The citizens of London, in the first instance, requested they might send fifteen stout ships, with 5000 men, to the fleet; and ultimately they supplied no less than thirtyeight ships, and 10,000 men, of whom 2700 were seamen. Nothing, indeed, could exceed the general expression of love and duty towards the Queen; who, with a dignity of spirit equal to the wisdom of her measures, gave a striking example of devotion to her country and her faith; boldly placing herself at the head of her troops, and taking her stand at Tilbury Fort, to arrest the progress of the enemy, should they dare to approach her capital. The speech she delivered on the occasion was worthy of a great and noble mind : "My loving people," she said, “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 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 goodwill 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 kingdom, 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 think 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 should 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 number of troops that attended the Queen at Tilbury were-56,000 foot and 3000 horse; and 20,000 soldiers were stationed along the coast. Early in March the Lord High Admiral, having made his arrangements, hoisted his flag, as already stated, on board the Ark Royal; and proceeded to visit the stations on which his fleet was placed, beginning with that of Lord H. Seymour in the Downs, which was appointed to watch Dunkirk; and then intending to proceed to Plymouth, where Drake was preparing the Western Squadron.' SIR FRANCIS DRAKE TO THE LORDS OF THE COUNCIL. RIGHTE HONORABLE AND MY VERIE GOOD LORDES, 30 March, 1588. Understandinge by your good Lordships' letters her Majestie's goode inclynacion for the speedye sendinge of theise forces here unto the seas, for the defence of the enemye, and that, of her Majestie's greate favor, and your Lordship's good opynyon, you have made choice of me (althoughe the least of manye) to be as an actor in so greate a cause, I am moste humblie to beseeche my moste gracious Soveraigne and your good Lordships to heare my poore opynyon with favor, and so to judge of it accordinge to your greate wisdomes. If her Majestie and your Lordships thincke that the King of Spaigne meanethe any invasyon in Englande, then doubtlesse his force is and will be greate in Spaigne, and thereon he will make his groundworke, or foundation, whereby the prynce of Parma maye have the better entraunce, which in myne owne judgemente is most to be feared: but if there maye be suche a staye or stoppe made, by any meanes of this ffleete, in Spaigne, that they maye not come throughe the seas as conquerors (which I assure myselfe they thincke to doe) then shall the Prince of Parma have suche a checke therebye as were meete. To prevente this I thincke it goode that theise forces here shoulde be made as stronge as to your Honors' wisdomes shall be thoughte convenyente, and that for two speciall causes: ffirste, for that they are like to strike the firste blowe, and secondlie, it will putt greate and goode hartes into her Majestie's lovinge subjectes bothe abroade and at home, ffor that they will be perswaded in conscyence that the Lord of all strengthes will putt into her Majestie and her people coraige & boldness not to feare any invasyon in her owne countrie, but to seeke God's enemyes and her Majesties' where they maye be founde : ffor the Lorde is on our side, whereby we may assure ourselves our nombers are greater than theirs. I muste crave pardon of your good Lordships againe and againe, for my conscience hath caused me to putt my pen to the paper, and as God in his goodnes hathe putt my hande to the ploughe, so in his mercy he will never suffer me to turne backe from the truthe. My verie good Lords, next, under God's mightie proteccion, the advantaige and gaine of tyme and place, will be the onlie and cheife meane for our goode, wherein I most humblie beseeche your good Lordships to persever as you have began, for that with feiftie saile of shippinge we shall doe more good uppon their owne coaste, then a greate manye more will doe here at home, and the sooner we are gone the better we shall be able to ympeache them. There is come home, synce the sending awaie of my laste messenger one bark (whome I sente out as an Espiall), who confyrmeth those intelligences |