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

ceaved intelligence that there were a greate number of ships descried of the Lisarde. Wheruppon, althoughe the winde was very skante, we firste warped out of harbour that nyghte, and uppon Saterdaie turned out verie hardly, the wind beinge at southe weste, and aboute 3 of the clock in the afternone descried the Spanishe fleete, and [] did what we could to worke för the wind, which [-] morninge we had recovered discryinge theire [· -] consiste of 120 saile: Whereof there are 4 g[-] and many ships of greate burthen. At nine of the [-] we gave them feighte, which contynewed untill [- -] feighte. We made som of them to beare roome to stop their leaks. Notwithstandinge we durste not adventure to put in amongste them, theire fleete being soe stronge. But there shall nothinge be eather neglected or unhasarded that may worke theire overthrowe.

Sir, the Captaines in her Majestie's ships have behaved themselves moste bravely and like men hitherto, and I doubte not will contynewe to their greate commendacion. And soe recomendinge oure good successe to your godlie praiers, I bid you hartelie farewell. From aboard the Arke, thwarte of Plymouthe; the 21 of Julie 1588.

Youre verie lovinge freind,

C. HOWARD.*

(Postscript.) Sir, the sowtherly wynde that browght us bak from the cost of Spayne browght them out, God blessed us with tornynge us bak. Sir, for the love of God and our country, let us have with sume sped some graet shote sent us of all bignes, for this sarvis wyll contenew long, and sume powder with it.

The Righte Honorable

my verie lovinge friende,

Sir Francis Walsingham, knight.*

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE TO LORD HENRY SEYMOUR.

RIGHT HONORABLE AND MY VERIE GOOD LORD,

I AM commaunded by my good Lord, the Lord Admiral, to send you the Carvaile in haste with this letter, geivinge your Lordship to understand that the armye of Spaigne arrived uppon our coaste the 20th of this presente, the 21th we had them in chase; and so cominge upp unto them there hath passed some comen shotte betweene some of our fleete and some of theirs ; and as farre as we perceive they are determined to sell their lives with blowes. Whereuppon his Lordship hath commaunded me to write unto your Lordship and Sir William Wynter, that those shippes servinge under your charge should be putte into the best and strongest manner you maie, and readie to assiste his Lordship for the better incountering of them in those parts where you nowe are. In the meane tyme what his Lordship and the rest here following him maie doe, shall be suerelie performede. His Lordship hathe

* MS. State Paper Office. Many of the letters of Lord Howard and Sir Francis Drake are so tattered, and the writing so obliterated and in parts so illegible, that it is impossible to follow the meaning.

K

comaunded me to write his hartie commendacions to your Lordship and Sir William Wynter. I doe salute your Lordship, Sir William Wynter, Sir Henry Pallmer, and all the rest of those honorable gentlemen serving under you with the like. Beseeching God of his mercie to geive her Majestie our gratious Soveraigne alwaies victorie against her enemyes. Written abord her Majesties good shipp the Revenge of Steart, this 21th (July), late in the evening, 1588. Your good Lordship's

This letter, my honorable good Lord, is sent in haste; the fleete of Spanyards is somewhat about a hundredth sailes; many great shipes, but trewly I thinck not half of them of warre, haste, your Lordship's assured, FRA. DRAKE.

To the Right Honorable

the Lord Henry Seymour,

Admirall of her Majesties Navie in the narrowe

Seas, or, in absence, to Sir William Wynter, knyght,
geive theise with speed-hast, hast, hast.*

In the evening of this day a large ship of Biscay, bearing the flag of Oquendo, and having the King's Treasurer on board, was set on fire; designedly, as was supposed, by a Dutch gunner, who had received some ill-treatment, and who employed gunpowder for the purpose. The flame was, however, happily extinguished by some vessels which came to her relief; but not before the two decks and the poop blew up. In the Spanish narrative already referred to, no mention is made of the Dutch gunner.

Another accident happened this evening. There was a large galleon, commanded by Don Pedro de Valdez, which in tacking fell foul of another, sprung her fore-mast, and was left behind; the night being dark, and the sea running high, no succour could be afforded her. Diego de Florez represented to the duke the danger of lying to for this ship; that if he did so, as the main body of the Armada was getting much a-head, he would find himself in the morning with only half his ships; and that, the enemy being so near at hand, the safety of the whole fleet ought not to be hazarded for a single vessel; in short, that, by doing so, the object of the expedition would be sacrificed.

"The next day following," says Speed, "Sir Francis Drake, espying this

*MS. State Paper Office.

lagging gallon, sent forth a pinnace to command them to yield, otherwise his bullets should force them without further favour; but Valdez, to seeme valorous, answered, that they were foure hundred and fifty strong; that himself was Don Pedro, and stood on his honour, and thereupon propounded certain conditions. But the Knight sent his reply, that he had not leizure to parley; if he would yield, presently doe it; if not, he should well prove that Drake was no dastard; whereupon Pedro, hearing that it was the fiery Drake (ever terrible to the Spaniards) who had him in chase, with 40 of his followers, came on board Sir Francis his ship; where, first giving him the conge, he protested that he, and all his, were resolved to die in defence, had they not falne under his power, whose valour and felicity was so great that Mars and Neptune seemed to attend him in his attempts, and whose generous minde towards the vanquished had often been experienced, even of his greatest foes. Sir Francis, requiting his Spanish compliments with honourable English courtesies, placed him at his owne table, and lodged him in his owne cabbin. The residue of that company were sent into Plymouth, where they remained eighteene months 'til their ransoms were paid; but Sir Francis his souldiers had well paid themselves with the spoile of the shippe, wherein were fifty-five thousand ducats in gold, which they shared merrily among them."

This ship was sent into Dartmouth.

On the 22nd of July there was no fighting. In the course of the day the duke formed the Armada into two divisions, he taking the van, and Don Alonzo de Leyva the rear.

"The Duke," says the Spanish narrative, "summoned to him all the Sargentos Mayores, and ordered them to proceed in a patache, so that each ship should keep the position assigned to her in the new order of sailing; and he further gave them written orders, directing, that in case any ship did not observe the order, and quitted her post, the captain should forthwith be hanged, the Sargentos Mayores taking the provosts with them for that purpose; and for the better execution of the order, they were distributed, three in the van and three in the rear division. On the same day the captain of the flag-ship of Oquendo reported to the Duke that she was sinking, on which he ordered that the crew and the Treasurer's money should be taken out of her, and the ship sunk."

The crew and the treasure were accordingly removed into other vessels; but the ship, instead of being sunk, was turned adrift, and was soon afterwards boarded by Lord Thomas Howard and Captain Hawkins, who found her decks fallen in, her steerage ruined, the stern blown out, and about fifty poor wretches burnt in a most miserable manner. The Admiral ordered a small bark to take possession of her, and in that shattered condition she was carried into Weymouth.