A.D. 1588.]

THE SPANISH ARMADA.

147

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, as you see, at this time, not for my own recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all, to lay down for God and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach 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 realm, 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."

The Armada sailed from the Tagus 20th May 1588, but on reaching Cape Finisterre, was delayed by a storm, which caused much damage. The fleet had, consequently, to put back to Corunna. Having been refitted it again set sail, and on the 19th July it was seen entering the English Channel in the form of a crescent. The English admiral observing the great size of the enemy's ships, resolved to rely mainly upon the more manageable character of his own smaller and more trim vessels, and upon becoming the attacking party, instead of merely standing on the defensive. The result justified his calculation; the English ships, obedient to the rudder, took advantage of every shift of the wind, which blew capriciously at the time, and, during six days' hard fighting, so harassed the unwieldy Spanish vessels, that it was with great difficulty they contrived to take shelter in the port of Calais (27th July). Meantime, the Spanish army, under Parma, was expected to form a junction with the fleet. It was necessary to prevent this. On the night of the 29th, which proved tempestuous, eight fire-ships sent by the English were seen coming down on the vessels at anchor in the port of Calais. A panic seized the Spaniards, the cables were cut, and the vessels put out to sea when at sea, a storm arose, which scattered them along the coast from Ostend to Calais. The vigilant Eng

lish fleet, meanwhile, attacked them vigorously in every quarter, doing serious damage. Crippled and dispirited, the Spaniards now determined to return home with the shattered remains of the Armada by the north of Scotland and Ireland, the English fleet still following in their wake. The result of Philip's attempt was the loss of thirty ships of war and 10,000 men.

That was

a proud day for Elizabeth on which she reviewed her victorious warriors at Tilbury fort. She welcomed back her sailors and army who rent the air with acclamations, while the remnant of the hostile fleet was struggling back to Spain, which few of the ships ever reached.

The more to weaken Philip, and support the Protestant interest abroad, Elizabeth lent £20,000 to the French king, Henry the Fourth, then the head of the Huguenots, and sent him 4000 troops under Lord Willoughby (1590). These supplies enabled Henry to march on Paris, and to worst his antagonist. The next year she sent more troops under Sir John Norris, followed by a further army of 4000 men under the command of the young Earl of Essex. The gallant conduct of the English served to raise the reputation of the army in the eyes of foreigners. By sea various attacks were made by the daring naval captains of this reign on the Spanish West Indian settlements and ships, to the great loss of the enemy, and the aggrandizement of the English. On 1st June 1596 an expedition was directed against Cadiz, under the Admiral Lord Effingham, the command of the troops being given to Essex. This expedition caused great loss to the Spaniards; upon the return of the fleet fresh preparations were made to meet another Armada which Philip was said to have prepared for the invasion of Ireland. Essex attempted to intercept and seize the fleet of Spanish galleons from the Indies, but the ships escaped, except three, which, however, contained treasure enough to repay the cost of the expedition; yet the people were dissatisfied with what, in consequence of past successes, they regarded as a failure.

A new field opened for the services of Essex in Ireland, where

A.D. 1601.]

TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF ESSEX.

149

the queen's troops, under Sir Henry Bagnal, had met with a severe defeat at the hands of the Earl of Tyrone, who had risen with the design of shaking off the English yoke. Essex was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1599), with almost unlimited authority, and an army of 20,000 foot and 2000 horse was placed at his disposal. He resolved to march at once into Ulster, the northern province; but was persuaded, by the council at Dublin, first to clear the province of Munster, in the south, in which attempt his army suffered much, without effecting any decisive result. He was compelled to call for reinforcements before he could undertake the meditated expedition into Ulster; and his army was so discouraged, that he thought it prudent to listen to proposals from Tyrone, whom he admitted to an interview (May 1599), when a truce was agreed upon. Elizabeth was enraged at what she considered so dishonourable a conclusion of the campaign. When he heard of the queen's displeasure, Essex flew to London, and rushing into the queen's dressing-room, threw himself at her feet, and implored a continuance of her favour. For a moment she seemed to relent, but could not on reflection overlook the faults he had committed, the more especially, as Lord Mountjoy, sent into Ireland after Essex's failures, had succeeded in putting down the rebellion. Essex, rigidly examined before the Privy Council, made full submission, but in private his resentment against the queen broke out in sarcasm on her age, affectation, and vanity, which eventually came to her ears, while he entered into secret negotiation with the King of Scotland, for the purpose of assuring him, that, on the queen's death, he would take care that his succession should at once be secured. He went farther still; for he formed a plot for the overthrow of those advisers of the queen whom he considered his enemies. His plan was to seize the Tower and occupy the palace, and then to throw himself at the queen's feet, entreat her to dismiss his enemies, and require her to call a Parliament. Hearing that his projects were betrayed, he wildly threw himself upon the citizens of London, fancying, that owing to his great popularity, they would rise at his call;

but finding them indisposed to support him, he surrendered at discretion. The queen gave orders for his trial, and he and his principal associates were condemned to death (19th February 1601). He confessed his guilt, for which he expressed contrition, but had the weakness to betray the names of the accomplices whom he had himself instigated to take part in his own violent proceedings. The queen had always entertained a great affection for Essex, and was so desirous of saving his life, that she only required a petition for clemency to be sent to her, in order to extend forgiveness to him; but not receiving this, she, after many struggles, signed his deathwarrant, and he was executed privately in the Tower, 25th February, being only 34 years of age. Elizabeth never recovered her spirits after this nobleman's death.

The Irish rebellion was suppressed by Lord Mountjoy at cruel cost to the unhappy natives, who, driven into their bogs and woods, perished by famine. The Parliament liberally responded to the queen's demands for money, and she in return abolished many odious monopolies by which the prices of commodities had been enhanced for the benefit of the few. These measures gained for her great popularity; but nothing could give her satisfaction or restore her spirits. The final blow was dealt when it was revealed to her that the Earl of Essex had, before his execution, sent her a ring which she had once given him with a promise, that should he ever incur her anger she would, upon his sending this ring, admit him to her presence to sue for pardon. It was the Countess of Nottingham who, on her death-bed, under the sting of conscience, revealed that she had betrayed the unfortunate Essex, by keeping back the ring. After a burst of rage, Elizabeth sank into despondency which lasted until she died, 24th March 1603, after a reign of 45 years, having before her death named the King of Scotland her successor. The greatness of the public acts, the vigour of administration, and the presence of the illustrious men-illustrious both in arts and arms-which made her reign glorious above all others, have hid from view many things in the conduct of this mighty queen that deserve condemnation.

A.D. 1600.]

COMMERCIAL AND SOCIAL PROGRESS.

151

Elizabeth, like her father, was imperious and despotic, and the good sense and vigour of her ministers must have tended to give strength to the Crown; but we are not to suppose that Parliament had fallen asleep, or failed to assert its privileges. On the contrary, the Puritans--that portion of the Protestants who wished to carry the Reformation still further, and expel from the Church the ceremonies which still clung to it, and which Elizabeth loved-were a strong body in the Commons, and gave free utterance to their thoughts. They were the leaders in the struggles which now commenced between the Parliamentary authority and that of the Crown,-a struggle which we find continued throughout the seventeenth century, and attended by much discord and bloodshed. Nor did they fail to inquire into grievances of all kinds, and to suggest remedies.

Among the social reforms of Elizabeth's government was a law for the relief of the poor-a law as wise as it was beneficial. The success of Drake had led to the establishment of the East India Company in 1600. Virginia had been colonized, and tobacco and potatoes introduced into this country by Sir Walter Raleigh. Tea was imported by the Dutch; while the strong government and consequent domestic tranquillity developed foreign commerce generally, stimulated the trade of the inland towns, and thus increased the wealth of the whole country. In manufactures, England no doubt reaped great advantages from the number of skilled workmen who fled to this country from the persecutions in the Low Countries, Germany, and France. Monopolies were repealed, and competition thus encouraged. The modern luxuries of a more advanced civilisation were not yet known. Silk stockings were not worn by the queen herself till the third year of her reign. Pocket watches were first introduced from Germany in 1577, and three years afterwards coaches were first made. Elizabeth wrote and translated books, being acquainted with Greek and Latin; but being of a parsimonious disposition, she did little for the help of men of letters.

Great as this reign was in all that gives dignity and vitality to