CHAP. II. English armies raised. City of men. Value of the fleet. Opinion of In addition to these preparations, in which every man able to bear a weapon was eager to act his part, the queen directed two armies to be raised,-one, consisting of 22,000 foot and 2000 horse, encamped at Tilbury in Essex, under the Earl of Leicester; the other, which mustered 28,900 men, levied for the protection of her majesty's person, was commanded by Lord Hunsdon, her near kinsman, and a nobleman in whom she had a perfect confidence.* The city of London raised 10,000 men, which were exercised in the presence of Elizabeth; and in case of a more pressing emergency, they had a reserve in readiness. Thus the whole island, without exaggeration or metaphor, might be said, at this imperious challenge of Spain, to have stood up sword in hand, sheathed in complete steel. All this, however, against the overwhelming naval force of Philip might have proved insufficient. Some indeed thought the kingdom strong enough to cut any army to pieces the moment of its landing, and underrated the necessity of any great effort at sea; but the prime minister was aware that such an idea was not to be followed. Raleigh in particular, if we may be allowed to judge from his opinions given in the "History of the World,” must have deprecated so presumptuous a notion. "Making the question general and positive," says he, in an admirable passage of this work, "whether England, without help of her fleet, be able to debar an enemy from landing, I hold that it is unable so to do; and therefore I think it most dangerous to make the adventure: for the encouragement of a first victory to an enemy, and the discouragement of being beaten to the invaded, may draw after it a most perilous consequence." He proceeds to demonstrate the weakness of any argument drawn from France, or any other European countries, possessed of *Original documents in the State-paper Office. The supplies furnished by the city of London, and by the other parts of the kingdom, are minutely detailed in original Reports still preserved amongst the MSS. at Hatfield House. Hist. of the World, book v. cap. i. § ix. Works, vol. vi. p. 100. places. movement many fortified places; whereas the ramparts of England CHAP. II. consist only of the bodies of men. There is a difference, Want of he remarks, between an invasion by land and one by fortified sea, where the choice of the place of debarkation remains with the enemy; and he arrives at the conclusion, that such an attempt cannot be successfully resisted on the coast of England without a fleet. "There is no man ignorant," says he, "that ships, without putting themselves out of breath, will easily outrun the soldiers that coast them. 'Les armées ne volent poynt en poste ;" 'Armies neither fly nor run post,' saith a marshal of Celerity of France. And I know it to be true, that a fleet of ships may be seen at sunset, and after it, at the Lizard; yet by the next morning they may recover Portland; whereas an army of foot shall not be able to march it in six days. Again, when those troops, lodged on the seashores, shall be forced to run from place to place in vain, after a fleet of ships, they will at length sit down in the midway, and leave all at adventure.” He maintains, therefore, "that a strong army, in a good fleet, which neither foot nor horse is able to follow, cannot be denied to land where it list in England, France, or elsewhere, unless it be hindered, encountered, and shuffled together by a fleet of equal or answerable strength.”* These views, founded on a practical acquaintance with the comparative powers of a land and naval force, were adopted, and led to the equipment of a fleet suitable to the emergency. At this time the navy of England included among its commanders some of the greatest names in our history. Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher, the most intrepid and accomplished sea-officers in Europe, were in the vigour of their abilities. Lord Howard of Effingham, high-admiral of England, assumed the chief command, and Drake, Hawkins, Lord Henry Seymour, and Frobisher, were vice-admirals; whilst there also served under them such experienced captains as the Earl of Cumberland, Sir William Winter, Fenner, and many * Works, vol. vi. pp. 102, 103. Equipment 3 the English fleet. CHAP. II. others. Howard's division. Seymour. Drake. Fidelity of the Roman Catholics. * Howard's division amounted to sixty-six, including the merchantmen by which he was reinforced; Lord Henry Seymour commanded a squadron of thirtythree sail and these fleets were joined by eighteen merchant-adventurers from the river Thames; making in all a force of 117 ships, having on board 11,120 men. The lord-admiral, who guarded the west coast, divided his force into three parts, himself commanding the centre, in which were the largest vessels. On the side of Ushant he stationed Drake, with twenty ships and five pinnaces, to give the earliest notice of the enemy's approach; whilst Hawkins took a position between the admiral and the Scilly Islands. In this manner the whole line of the west was covered against attack. It was possible, however, that the Armada might make Cape Clear, double Dungsby Head, and join the armament of the Duke of Parma in the Narrow Seas. To provide against this Lord Henry Seymour and Count Justin of Navarre, admiral of Zealand, were stationed off Dunkirk, with orders to cruise along the coast of Flanders, block up its ports, watch the approach of the Spaniards by the Channel, and maintain a constant communication with Lord Howard. Elizabeth, at this trying crisis, experienced the fidelity of the great body of her Roman Catholic subjects; though on one side the Protestants assaulted them with suspicion and odium, and on the other they were invited by the Pope to throw off their allegiance, and combine in a general insurrection. But bred up as they had been in the errors of their fathers, these brave and honourable men were still devotedly attached to the land of their birth; and hence many nobles of that faith served as volunteers in the fleet and army. Some fitted out vessels at their own expense, intrusting the command to Protestant officers; while others encouraged their dependants to neglect at such a moment the distinctions * Original List in the State-paper Office. of politics and religion, and to unite in the efforts to repel CHAP. IL an act of unprincipled aggression.* spirit of the queen. The queen, meanwhile, omitted nothing which might Prudence an encourage her army and increase her popularity. Of her feelings in this great crisis a memorable record has been preserved. It is a private prayer or meditation, which having met the eye of Sir R. Cecil was sent by him to the generals of her army at Portsmouth."Most Omnipotent, and Guider of all our world's masse, Her prayer that only searchest and fadomest the bottom of all hearts' conceits, and in them seest the true original of all actions intended; how no malice of revenge, nor quittance of injury, nor desire of bloodshed, nor greediness of lucre, hath bred the resolution of our now set out army; but a heedful care, and wary watch, that no neglect of foes, nor over surety of harm, might breed either danger to us, or glory to them. These being grounds, Thou that didst inspire the mind, we humbly beseech, with bended knees, prosper the work, and with the best forewinds guide the journey, speed the victory, and make the return the advancement of thy glory, the triumph of thy fame, and surety to the realm, with the least loss of English blood. To these devout petitions, Lord, give thou thy blessed graunt. Amen."+ Meanwhile, the camp at Camp at Tilbury, where the queen's favourite the Earl of Leicester commanded, exhibited the appearance of a continual fête. She resided in the neighbourhood, frequently visited and held conferences with the officers, and when the arrival of the Armada began to be daily expected, reviewed the army in person. On this occasion Elizabeth appeared in armour, holding a marshal's truncheon in her hand, and riding a war-horse. Essex and Leicester held her bridle-rein, whilst the lord-marshal, Sir * Kent, Memoirs of Illustrious Seamen, p. 275. Stowe p. 747. +MS. British Museum, Otho, E. ix. f. 183; dorso-" Her Majestie's private meditation upon the present expedition, sent from Sir Robert Cecil to the generals of her highness' army, at Plemouth-enclosed in this letter here underwritten." There is no letter enclosing it. Tilbury. CHAP. II Elizabeth's address at Mlbury. 66 John Norris, attended on foot; and placing herself at their head, she made this memorable oration to her soldiers :-"My loving people," said the lion-hearted princess, 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, as you see, at this time, not for my 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 my 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 Bold appeal 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. I know already, for your forwardness, 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 or worthy subject; not doubting but, 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 kingdoms, and of my people."* On the 20th of May,t the Armada sailed from the *Cabala, p. 373. + Substance of certain Mariners' Report touching the Spanish Fleet, in State-paper Office. A transcript of the original plan for the Armada, drawn up in Spanish, is amongst the MSS. at Hatfield. |