THE SPANISH INVASION A Commemoration of that won­derful, and almost miraculous Deliverance afforded by God to this Nation from the Spa­nish Invation, Anno Christi, 1588.

THe year one thousand five hun­dred eighty eight, was foretold by an Astronomer of K [...]n [...]ngs­berg, above one hundred years before, that it should prove a wonderful year: and the German Chronologers presiged, that it would be the Climacte­rical year of the world, which was in some measure accomplished in that glorious and never to be forgotten Deliverance vouchsafed by God to us in England, and [Page 2] in that fatal overthrow of the Spanish Navy; A true Narrative whereof fol­lowes.

But that we may the better see what induced the Spaniard to make this hostile Invasion, we must be informed: both who were the inciters, and by what arguments, and artifices, they stirred him up thereun­to.

The Inciters were the Pope, and some traiterous English Fugitives who were en­tertained in Spain, and at Rome. The de­sign was, The Conquest of England; which had been hindred for the space of ten years by reason of the Spanish Wars in Portu­gal. The Arguments were, that seeing God had blessed the King of Spain with admirable Blessings and Successes; had given him in Portugal, the East Indies, and very many rich Islands belonging to the same; that he should therefore per­form somewhat that might be acceptable to God (the giver of so great and good things) and most worthy the Power, and Majesty of the Catholick King: That the Church of God could not be more glori­ously, nor meritoriously propagated, than by the conquest of England, extirpating Heresie, and planting the Catholick Ro­man Religion there. This War (they said) [Page 3] would be most just and necessary; conside­ring that the Queen of England was ex­communicated, and persisted contumaci­ous against the Church of Rome. That she supported the King of Spains Rebels in the Netherlands, annoyed the Spaniards with continual depredations; surprised, and sacked his Towns in Spain, and Ame­rica, and had very lately put the Queen of Scots to death, therein violating the Ma­jesty of all Kings.

Again, that this War would be no less profitable than just; For hereby he might add to his Empire other flourishing Kingdoms, extinguish the Rebellion in the Low-Countries, hitherto fomented and supported from England; secure his voy­ages from both the Indies, and abate his vast expences in convoying his Indian Fleets both forward and backward: For proof whereof (they suggested) that the English Navy was neither for number, nor greatness, nor strength comparable to that of Spain; especially having the Por­tugal Fleet now annexed unto it. That England was not fortified, and it wanted Commanders: Souldiers, a Cavalry, and Ammunition; was bare of Wealth, and Friends. That there were many in all parts of it addicted to the Romish Re­ligion, [Page 4] and would upon the first opportu­nity joyn their forces with his. In brief, that so great was the strength of the Spa­niard, and so unmatchable was their va­lour, that no man durst oppose against them, and therefore they might confident­ly assure themselves of victory. More­over, that now an opportunity was afforded by God himself to the King of Spain to effectuate this great design, having no cause to fear any other enemies, by rea­son of a Truce lately concluded by him-with the Great Turk, and the French (his old enemies) being now embroiled in Ci­vil Wars at home. They perswaded him likewise that England was an easier con­quest than the Netherlands: For that he had a shorter cut to it by Sea, and that an open Sea: neither was it so fortified with Cities, Castles, &c. as the Netherlands were: and that England being once con­quered, the Netherlands would soon fol­low of course, having lost their best sup­porter.

These, and such like arguments prevai­ling with the King of Spain, in the next place they held a serious Consultation about the manner of Invading England. Don Avares Bassano, Marquiss of Sancta Cruce; who was to command the Arma­do, [Page] [Page 5] advised that some Port-Town in Hol­land, or Zealand should suddenly be sur­prized by the Prince of Parma's Land For­ces (who was then Governor of the Ne­therlands under the King of Spain) and by some Spanish Ships sent to assist him by Sea, that so the great Fleet might have an Harbour from whence to begin their Invasi­on: with whom agreed in opinion the Prince of Parma himself, who was very forward to promote this expedition. But others opposed this by reason of the diffi­culty, danger, expence of time, and vast charge that it would require. They held that with the same charge England might easier be won, and that the Conquest there­of would be assured, if a well-appointed Army out of Spain, and the Low-Counties might be landed at the Thames mouth, and London (the Metropolis of England) surprised by a sudden assault. And this opinion, as the more probable, prevailed. And then again it was advised by some, that War should first be denounced by an Herald, both to remove suspicion and jea­lousie from neighbour Princes, and to drive our Queen to call in forraign Forces to assist Her: hoping that according to the insolent manner of mercenaries, they would raise mutinies, and spoil the Coun­try, [Page] [Page 6] which would make the Queens Sub­jects evil affected towards Her, so that all things would grow into confusion in Eng­land. But this motion was not hearkened to by men grown fierce, insolent, and con­fident of their own strength, only they de­sired the blessing of the Pope upon their Armado, and the prayers of the Catho­licks to God and the Saints for good suc­cess. And to strike the greater terror into the hearts of the English, They set forth Books with printed Maps, wherein was expressed the greatness of their Preparati­ons in each particular, which indeed was so great in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Sici­ly, that the Spaniards themselves were a­mazed at it, and procured the Pope to Chri­sten it by the name of the Invincible Ar­mado.

Now that the wonderful power and mercy of God to us in this poor Nation, in protecting us against the same, may the more gloriously appear, I shall in the next place set down what their preparations were for Ships, Mariners, Land-Souldi­ers, Ammunition, and other provisions for the carrying on of so great an under­taking.

The Spanish Navy, being the best ap­pointed for men, munition, and all man­ner [Page 7] of provision, that ever the Ocean saw, had been five years in preparing, consisted of one hundred and thirty Ships, whereof these were the principal.

The Admiral Gallion of Saint Martins, of a thousand Tun burden, had in her one thousand seventy and seven Mariners, three hundred Souldiers, fifty Canon, &c.

The Gallion of Saint Johns, of one thou­sand and seventy Tun, had in her one hun­dred and sixty Mariners, two hundred and thirty one Souldiers, fifty Canon, &c.

The Gallion of Saint Mark of seven hundred and ninety two Tun, had in it one hundred and seventeen Mariners, two hun­dred and ninety two Souldiers, &c.

The Gallion of Saint Phillip, of eight hundred Tun, had in it one hundred and seventeen Mariners, four hundred and fifteen Souldiers, forty Guns, &c.

The Gallion of Saint Lewis, of eight hundred and thirty Tun, had in it one hun­dred and sixteen Mariners, three hundred and seventy six Souldiers, forty Guns, &c.

The Gallion of Saint Matthew, of seven hundred and fifty Tun, had in it fifty Mari­ners, one hundred and seventy seven Soul­diers, forty Guns, &c.

The Gallion of Saint James, of five hun­dred and twenty Tun, had in it one hundred [Page 8] Mariners, three hundred Souldiers, fifty two Guns, &c.

The Gallion of Florence, of nine hundred and sixty one Tun, had in it one hundred Mariners, three hundred Souldiers, fifty two Guns, &c.

The Gallion of Saint Christopher, of three hundred fifty and two Tun, had in it ninety Mariners, three hundred Souldiers, thirty Guns, &c.

The Gallion of Saint Bernard, of three hundred and fifty two Tun, had in it one hundred Mariners, two hundred and eighty Souldiers, thirty Guns, &c.

A Ship of Saint Angelo, of seven hundred sixty and eight Tun, had in it one hundred and fourteen Mariners, three hundred and twenty three Souldiers, thirty Canons, &c.

The Gangrine, of one thousand one hun­dred and sixty Tun; had in it one hundred and ten Mariners, three hundred Souldiers, thirty six Canons, &c.

The Ship Saint James, of six hundred and sixty Tun, had in her one hundred and two Mariners, two hundred and fifty Souldiers, thirty Guns, &c.

The Manuel, of five hundred and twenty Tun, had in her fifty four Mariners, one hundred and thirty Souldiers, sixteen Guns, &c.

[Page 9]The Saint Mary, of seven hundred and 7 Tun, had in her fifty Mariners, two hun­dred and twenty Souldiers, thirty Guns, &c.

But I need not reckon up the rest. They had in all one hundred and thirty Ships, containing Ffty seven thousand, eight hun­dred and eight Tun; wherein were Eight hundred and forty five Mariners, Nineteen thousand two hundred and ninety five Soul­diers, and two thousand and eighty eight Gally-slaves. And so confident were the Spaniards that England should pay the shot, that they spared no cost for furnishing it forth with all things necessary. For which end they provided of Bullets for great shot two hundred and twenty thousand. Of Powder four thousand and two hundred Kintals, every Kintal containing a hundred pound weight: of Lead for Bullets a thou­sand Kintals: of Match a thousand and two hundred Kintals: Musquets seven thousand: of Partisans and Halberts ten thousand: with store of Murthering pieces, double Canon, and Field pieces for the Camp: they had also store of Furniture for Carria­ges, Mules and Horses; so that they were sufficiently provided both for Sea and Land. Bread and Bisket ready baked, and Wine laid aboard for six months provision. They had moreover six thousand and five hundred [Page 10] Kintals of Bacon; three thousand of Cheese, besides other Flesh, Rise Beans, Pease, Oil, and Venegar, with twelve thousand Pipes of fresh water. They had also store of Torches, Lamps, and Lanthorns, Canvas, Hides, and Lead to stop Leaks: Whips and Butcherly Knives to murder and tor­ment the poor English. In a word, the Ar­my was thirty two thousand strong, and cost the King of Spain thirty two thousand Ducats every day.

In this Army were five Regiments of old Spanish Souldiers of the Tertio's of Na­ples, Sicily, and the Tercera's, commanded by five Masters Del-Campo: The first was Don Diego de Piementel, a Knight of the Order of Saint John, and Brother to the Marquess of Taveras: The second Colonel was Don Francisco de Toledo, brother to the Earl of Orgas: The third Don Alonzo de Luzon: The fourth Don Nicholas de Illa: The fifth was Augustin Mexia; each Colonel having in his Regiment thirty two Companies, Besides the Castilian, and Por­tugal Bands, each of them having their pe­culiar Commanders and weapons.

The General of this mighty Army (the Marquess of Sancta Cruce being now dead) was Don Lodovicus Peres, the Duke of Medina Sidonia of the Order of the Golden [Page 11] Fleece. The Admiral was Don John Mar­tinez de Richald: The Marshal Don Fran­cisco Bovadille: Others were chief Coun­sellors for the War, and Don Martin Alar­con was Vicar General for the holy unholy Inquisition, in whose train were a hundred Monks and Jesuites: and Cardinal Allen was appointed the Superintendent of Eccle­siastical matters throughout England, who fearing to be unprovided, translated Pope Sex [...]us his Bull into English, that it might be the sooner published upon the arrival of the Spanish Fleet in this our Nation. Of voluntary Adventurers, there were a hun­dred and twenty four Noble men, and Gen­tlemen of all the greatest houses in Spain, hoping to be well paid with the Lands and Riches of England.

The Prince of Parma also in the Nether­lands, by the King of Spains Command; built Ships, and very many flat bottomed Boats, each of them big enough to carry thirty Horse, with Bridges fitted to them to ship and unship the Horses: He hired Mariners from East-Germany, set many thousands on work to dig and deepen Ri­ver; from Antwerp to Gaunt, and to Bruges: lading three hundred small Boats with Mu­nition and Victuals. Two hundred more flat-bottom'd Boats were made, though [Page 12] not so big as the former, which lay ready in the Haven of Newport, besides thirty se­ven Ships of War at Dunkirk: He prepa­red Piles sharpened at the nether ends, headed with iron, and hooked on the sides to pile up the mouths of Rivers: At Graveling he provided twenty thousand empty Casks with cords, and other furni­ture to make floating Bridges to stop up the Havens▪ beside an infinite number of fagots: He shipped likewise a great abun­dance of Saddles, Bridles, with other furni­ture for Horse, and Horses also for Carria­ges, with Ordnance and other provisions for War.

Neer unto Newport he had lying under the command of Camillo thirty Companies of Italians, two of Walloons, and eight of Burguignons every company containing a hundred men: At Dyxmew he mustered eighty companies of Netherlanders, sixty of Spaniards, sixty of High Dutch, among which were seven hundred fugitive English under the command of Sir William Stanley, who of all others were held in greatest con­tempt: neither was Stanley, nor the Earl of Westmoorland, not others which offered their service and counsel once heard, but for their treachery to their Country barred from all access, and as most unfortuate [Page 13] conductors, worthily with detestation re­jected. At Conick also he quartered other four thousand, and at Watene nine hundred horse, commanded by the Marquess of Guast. And to this land-service came the Duke of Pastrana, supposed to be the King of Spains base son: the Marquess of Buor­gon, one of the Duke Ferdinands sons: Don Vespasian Gonsaga of the house of Mantua, a great Souldier, who had been Viceroy of Spain: Don John de Medices, bastard of Florence: Don Amadeus, bastard of Sa­voy, with many others of the like quality.

Neither was Sixtus Quintus, Pope of Rome, any ways backward to shew his di­ligence, and devotion to this intended inva­sion; but sent abroad his Crusado (as he used to do against the Turks and Infidels ▪) wherein out of the treasure of the Church he gave plenary Indulgences, and pardon of all their sins to every one that contribu­ted his assistance hereunto: and for the fur­therance of this enterprise, himself under­took to contribute a million of Gold, the one half presently down, the other half when any notable Haven in our land should be won: yet with this Proviso, that the Crown of England should be held as Feuda­tory to the See of Rome; in earnest whereof he bestowed upon the King of Spain his A­postolical [Page 14] Benediction, and the Title of De­fender of the Faith: He sent also Cardinal Allen into the Low-Countries, and renewed the Bulls of Pius the fifth and Gregory the thirteenth, whereby Queen Elizabeth was excommunicated, deposed from her Throne, and her Subjects absolved from all allegi­ance to her.

Thus we see what preparations were made both at Sea and Land; at Rome, in Spain, and the Netherlands, for the subdu­ing of England, extirpating the Gospel, and subjugating us under the yoke of Spain: now let us see what provision and preparati­ons our Queen made to dispel this black cloud that hung over our head: And truly the first thing that she did was most Chri­stian; For as when Jehosophat was threat­ned with the like danger. 2 Chro. 20.3. He sought the Lord and proclaimed a fast; so did She, requiring all her subjects to humble themselves by fasting and prayer, knowing that these are the best weapons of the Church, that they by them might seek unto the Lord, and say in the words of Jehosophat, O Lord God, art not thou God in Heaven? and rulest not thou over all the Kingdoms of the Earth? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? O our God, wilt thou not [Page 15] judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us, neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon thee. But in the second place, know­ing that Prayers without endeavours and means are like Rachel, beautiful but barren, that She might not be taken unprovided, She prepared with all diligence as strong a Fleet as She could, and all things necessary for War; and She that in discerning mens parts and abilities was of a most sharp judg­ment, and ever most happy, having the free choice in her self, and not by the commen­dations of others, assigned to every office by name the best and fittest men.

The charge of her Navy she committed to Charles Howard of Effingham, Lord Ad­miral of England, of whose skill she had had former experience, and whom she knew both by his Moderation and Nobility, to be wary in providence, valiant industrious, and of great authority among the Seamen, and well beloved of them: Her Vice-Ad­miral she made the famous Sir Francis Drake, and these she sent to the West parts of England; and for the Guard of the nar­row Seas, she appointed Henry Lord Sei­more second son to the Duke of Somerset, whom she commanded also to lie upon the Coasts of the Low-Countries, with forty [Page 16] Ships, to watch that the Prince of Parma might not come forth with his forces: By Land She commanded the General forces of the Realm to be mustered, trained, and put in readiness in their special shires, for the defence of the whole, which accordingly was done, and whereof the Lord Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester was appointed Leeutenant; twenty thousand whereof were disposed along our South Coast for the guard thereof: besides which, she had two Armies; one of which consisting of a thousand Horse, and twenty two thousand Foot, was encamped at Tilbury neer the Thames mouth, whither the enemy fully intended to come: The other which was led by the Lord Hunsdon, consisted of thir­ty four thousand Foot, and two thousand Horse, which were to be the Guard of the Queens person: Her self in courage far surmounting her sex, as another Zenobia or rather Deborah, led forth the Lords Host against this great Sisera, and her Soul­diers valiant and skilful, both for courage and quick dispatch, might well be compared to those Gadites that came to aid David, whose faces were like the faces of Lions, and were compared to the Roes in the Mountains for swiftness.

Arthur Lord Grey, Sir Francis Knolles, [Page 17] Sir John Knorris, Sir Richard Bingham, and Sir Roger Williams, all gallant men, and brave Souldiers, were appointed to consult about managing the Land Service: These advised that all the commodious landing places for the enemy, as well from Spain, as from the Low-Countries should be man­ned and fortified, as Milford Haven, Fal­mouth, Plimmouth, Portland, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, the open coast of Kent, commonly called the Downs, the Thames mouth, Harwich, Yarmouth, Hull, &c. and that the Trained Bands throughout the Coast Shires, should meet upon a signal given to defend the said places, and do their best to prohibit the enemies landing. But in case he should land, that then they should leave all the Country round about wast, that so they might find nothing for food, but what from their Ships they should carry upon their shoulders, and that they should hold the enemies busied both night and day with continual Alarms, but not to hazard a Battel till more Commanders with their Companies were come together.

Some suggested also to the Queen, that the Spaniards abroad were not so much to be feared as the Papists at home; for that the Spaniards would not attempt the Invasi­on of England, but upon confidence of aid [Page 18] from them: She thereupon committed some of them to prison at Wisbeach in the Fenns; by her Letters also she directed Sir William Fitz-Williams, Lord Deputy of Ireland what he should do.

The King of Scots she put in mind to be­ware of the Papists and Spanish Factions: By her frequent Letters she wrote to the States of the Vnited Provinces not to be de­ficient in assisting her what they could.

But amongst these preparations for War on both sides, Philip King of Spain, to cast a mist over her Majesties eyes, and to rock her into a sleep of security, importuned by all means the Realms unto peace, imploying the Prince of Parma to be his instrument therein, who dealt earnestly by Letters with the help of Sir James Crofts, a privy Coun­sellor, and a man much addicted to peace, as also by Andrew Van Loey, a Netherlan­der, that a treaty of Peace might be entred upon, affirming that he had Warrant there­unto from the King of Spain. Our Queen measuring other Princes by her own guile­less heart, gave ear to this deceitful lullaby, little suspecting that a deadly snake could be hid in so fair a Garden; yet resolved to treat of Peace with her Sword in her hand, neither was the Prince of Parma against her so doing.

[Page 19]In the month therefore of Feb. Com­missioners were sent into Flandeas, Henry Earl of Darby, William Brook, Lord Cob­ham, Sir Jamis Crofts, Valentine Dale, and John Rogers Doctors of the Law, who arri­ving there, were received in the Prince of Parma's name with all courtesy; who there­upon sent away Dale presently to him to know where the place of meeting should be, and to see his Commission from the King of Spain: the place he appointed to be neer Ostend, the Town it self being then in the English hands; and as for his Com­mission, he promised it should be produced at their meeting: Only he wished them to hasten the matter, lest any thing should hap­pen in the interim to interrupt the treaty: and one Richardot, which stood by him, said more openly, That he knew not what in the mean time might be done against Eng­land. Which being reported to the Queen, She sent Rogers to the Prince to know whe­ther there was any design for the Invading of England, as he, and Richardot by their words seemed to imply: The Prince an­swered that he had never any thought for the Invading England, when he wished the Treaty to be hastened, and was angry with Richardot, who denied that any such words had fallen from him.

[Page 20]Commissioners for the King of Spain were Maximilian Earl of Aremberg, Go­vernor of Antwerp, Richardot President of Artois, with some other Civilians.

These stayed at Bruges, and for all their pretended haste, much time was cunningly spun out about the place of their meeting, which should have the Precedency, and what hostages should be given for security of the Commissioners: yet at length the Spaniards yielded to the English Prece­dency, both in going and sitting: and the place wars in Tents near unto Ostend.

The demands for the Queen were, that there might be a surcease of Arms, with a present and undelayed Truce, she mistrust­ing the Spanish preparations at Sea: The sending away of forraign Souldiers out of the Low-Countries for Englands security: A restitution of such sums of mony as the Queen had lent to the States, and which the King had promised to restore: That the Netherlanders might enjoy their ancient liberties, and priviledges, nor be governed by a stranger, but by a Native Prince: That they might have liberty to serve God with Freedom of Conscience: And lastly, that the Articles of the Pacification of Gaunt, and other like treaties might be observed; which things if they were granted, she [Page 21] would condescend upon reasonable conditi­ons to deliver up the Towns in the Nether­lands, which she then had in possession, that it might appear that she had not for her own advantage, but for the necessary defence of the Netherlands, and her self taken up arms.

To these the Spaniards replyed, that touching their preparations at Sea, they did assure them that it nothing concerned Eng­land. That to send away the Souldiers, the King could not resolve till the Nether­landers had submitted themselves to him. Concerning their priviledges, that it apper­tained nothing to the Queen, neither should She prescribe to the King a Law. And so far was he from tolerating Religion, that he would not so much as hear thereof, o­therwise then he had allowed to other Towns that had submitted to his obedience. And as for those Towns which had been taken from the King, and the mony expen­ded about them, They said that the Spani­ard might demand as many Myriades of Ducats to be repayed to him by the Queen, as he had expended upon the Low-Country War, from the time that She supported the revolting Netherlanders, and took them into her Protection.

About this time went Dale by the Queens command to the Prince of Parma, [Page 22] and mildly expostulated with him about a Book lately published by Cardinal Allen, That English Renegado, wherein he exhor­ted the Nobility and People of England and Ireland to joyn with the Spanish Forces, under the conduct of the Prince of Parma, to execute the Popes sentence already pub­lished by his Bull against Queen Elizabeth; wherein she was declared an Heretick, Ille­gitimate, cruel, for putting to death the Queen of Scots, &c. And her subjects ab­solved from their Oath of Allegiance, and commanded to aid the Prince of Purma a­gainst Her. (And indeed there was a great number of these Bulls and Books printed at Antwerp, from thence to be dispersed all over England.)

The Prince denied that he had ever seen any such Book, or Bull, neither would he undertake any thing in the Popes name; howbeit that he must obey his Prince. But for the Queen of England, he prote­sted that he did so honour her for her Vertues, that next to the King his Ma­ster, he esteemed Her above all others, and would be ready to do Her service. For the manifestation whereof he said that he had perswaded the King to condescend to this treaty of peace, which would be more ad­vantagious for the English than for the Spa­niards: [Page 23] For (said he) if the Spaniards be overcome they will soon recover their loss; but if You be overcome, your Kingdom, and all is lost: To which Dale made this reply: Our Queen is provided with strength sufficient to defend her Kingdom, and you your self in your wisdom may foresee that a Kingdom cannot be lost with the fortune of one Battel; seeing the King of Spain after so long Wars, is not able to recover his ancient inheritance in the Netherlands. Be it so (said the Prince) These things are in the hands of the Al­mighty.

After this the Commissioners contended with mutual debates, and replies, still twist­ing and untwisting the same thread. For when the English pressed that a Toleration of Religion might be granted for the Vnited Provinces, at least for two years; It was answered, That as the Spaniard demanded not this for the English Catholicks; so they hoped the Queen in her wisdom would re­quire nothing of him which might be a­gainst the Honour, Oath, and Conscience of the Spaniard. When they demanded the mony due from the States of Brabant to our Queen; They answered, that it was lent without the Kings Knowledge or War­rant; and that the accounts being cast up, how much the said mony was, and how [Page 24] much the King had disbursed about the War, it would soon be known to whom the most ought to be repayed. With such answers as these they dallied with the Eng­lish Commissioners, till the Spanish Fleet was come within the view of England, and the thundring of the Ordnance was heard from the Sea, which put the English Commissioners into some suspicion and fear, having no hostages for their safe return. But they received a safe conduct from the Prince of Parma (who had in the mean time drawn down all his Forces to the Sea coast) and so were conducted to the borders near Calice. Thus came this Treaty to nothing, undertaken by our Queen (as was concei­ved) to divert the coming of the Spanish Fleet: and continued by the Spaniard to surprize England unprovided, and at una­wares So both sides put the Foxes skin upon the Lions head.

And now we are come to speak of this Invincible Armado, which was the prepa­ration of five whole years at least. It bare it self also upon Divine assistance, having received a special Blessing from the Pope, and was assigned as an Apostolical Mission for the reducement of this Kingdom to the obedience of the See of Rome: and in fur­ther token of this holy Warfare, there were [Page 25] amongst the rest of the Ships, twelve, called by the names of the twelve Apostles. The Gallions and Galliasses were of such a vast size, that they were like floating Towers and Castles, so that the swelling waves of the Sea could hardly be seen; and the Flags, Streamers, and Ensigns so spread in the wind, that they seemed even to darken the Sun, and to threaten destruction which way soever they turned.

On the nine and twentieth day of May this Fleet set sail out of the River [...]ayo, bending its course towards the Groin in Galizia, the place appointed for the gene­ral Rendezvous, as being the nearest Ha­ven unto England: But whilest they hoy­sed and spread abroad their proud sailes to the wind; God, who is an enemy to such Nimrod-like undertakings, and hating such hostile actions, suddenly manifested his dis­pleasure, and poured out revenge by a sud­den and hideous tempest, which drave the Duke of Medina, the General, back again into the Groin; eight other of the Ships being dispersed on the Seas, had their Masts broken, and blown over board; besides three other Portugal Gallies which were driven upon the Coasts of Bayon in France, where, by the valour of one David Gwin, an English slave, and the help of other [Page 26] slaves, French, and Turks, they were deli­vered into the hands of the French, and they freed themselves by the slaughter of the Spaniards, amongst whom Don Diego de Mondrana was one.

About the same time the English Admi­ral, and Vice-Admiral, who had in all about one hundred Ships, whereof fifteen were Victuallers, and nine Voluntaries of Devon­shire Gentlemen, hearing for certainty that the Spanish Fleet was ready to hoise up their sails, resolved to put forth from Plymouth, and to meet, and fight them by the way; but were so met with by the same wind, that they could not get past the Syllies, and thence also were forced by the Tempest to return into their former harbour, to re­fresh their Ships, and Companies; only some of their Scouts at Sea descried some of the Spanish Ships, which likewise had been dispersed with the storm: but before the English could come near them, the wind vereing about, carryed them back to the Groine, where there rest of their Fleet lay in harbour.

Intelligence being brought that the Saa­niards were in want, their great Ships dis­persed, and the rest sorely shaken with the storm, and their men dying by multitudes of the Pestilence; the Lord Admiral How­ard [Page 27] intended with the first Northerly wind to take advantage, which coming about upon the eighth of July, he lanched forth, and bore his sails almost within the sight of Spain, purposing to surprise their weather-beaten Ships, and to fight them upon their own Coast. But then the wind suddenly changing into the South, and he wisely fore­seeing that the enemy might pass by with­out his discovery, that the Seas might be stormy, or his Fleet wind-bound, and that whilst he thus lay abroad, his service might be more necessary at home, and that his work was to defend the Coasts of England, he therefore presently returned and ancho­red his Fleet in the Haven at Plimouth, suf­fering his men to refresh themselves upon the Land.

At the same time there came more con­fident advertisement (though false) not only to the Lord Admiral, but to the Court, that the Spanish Fleet could not possibly come forth again that year, upon which re­ports (a dangerous matter in State affairs) so confident was our Queen, that she sent for four of her biggest royal Ships to be brought back to Chattam: But the Lord Admiral suspecting the worst, by a mild and moderate answer retarded it, desiring that nothing might be lightly believed in so [Page 28] weighty a matter, and that he might retain them though at his own charge. Wherein indeed a special providence of God did ap­pear, for just at that time news was brought to the Lord Admiral by one Captain Tho­mas Flemming, that the Spanish Fleet was entred into the British Seas, commonly cal­led the Channel, and was seen near unto the Lizard point, which came thus to pass.

The Spanish ships being new rigged, and their wants supplyed, their King still hot on his former resolutions, instantly urged and hastened his Commanders to put forth a­gain to Sea, which accordingly they did upon the eleventh of July with the same South wind which (as was said before) brought back our Navy into Plimouth; and so having a more favourable Gale, with brave shews, and full Sails, they entred our Channel, where casting Anchor, they dis­patched certain smal Pinnaces to the Prince of Parma, to signifie their arrival and rea­diness, and to command him in the name of their King to forward his charge for that service.

July the twentieth about noon, this ter­rible Fleet was descried by the English, coming forward amain with a South-west wind. It was a kind of surprise: For that (as was said) many of our men were gone [Page 29] to land, and our ships ready to depart: Nevertheless our undaunted Admiral tow­ed forth such ships as he could get in readi­ness into the deep Sea, not without great difficulty, certainly with singular diligence, and admirable alacrity of our Mariners, cheered up with the Admirals own presence and assistance among them at their halser­work, the wind blowing strongly into the Haven.

When they were forth they saw the Spa­nish ships with lofty Towers like Castles, in front like an half-moon, the horns where­of stretched forth in breadth about seven miles, sayling (as it were) with labour to the winds, the Ocean groaning under them; so that though with full sails, yet they came but slowly forward. They seemed as it were to make for Plymouth; but whether their Commission was otherwise, or because contrary to their expectation, they saw the English ships out of the Harbour, they stee­red by towards Calice, hoping to meet with the Prince of Parma: The English willing­ly suffered them to pass by, that they might the more commodiously chase them in the Reer with a fore-right wind.

Iuly the twenty first, the Lord Admiral of England sent before him a Pinnace called the Defiance, to denounce war by dischar­ging [Page 30] her Ordnance, himself following in the Ark-Royal, set upon the Admiral (as he thought) of the Spaniards but it proved to be Alonzo de Leva's ship, where fire, smoke, and loud thundring Cannons began the par­ley; and rending Bullets most freely en­terchanged betwixt them, were fiery mes­sengers of each others minds. Soon after came up Drake, Hawkins and Forbusher, playing with their Ordnance upon the hind­most Squadron of the Enemies, which was commanded by Rechalde, who laboured all he could to stay his Men from flying for shelter to the Fleet, till his own ship being much battered with shot, and now grown unserviceable, was with much difficulty drawn into the main Fleet. At which time the Duke of Medina gathered together his whole Fleet, scattered here and there by the English, and hoising more sail, kept on his intended course toward Callice; neither in­deed could he do otherwise, the wind fa­vouring the English, and himself finding the inconvenience of their great and high built ships, powerful to defend, but not to offend; to stand, but not to move; whereas on the contrary their enemies were nimble, and ready on all sides to annoy them, and as apt to escape harms themselves, being low built and so easily shot over. Here­upon [Page 31] he caused them to gather themselves up close in the form of an half-moon, and to slacken their sails that their whole Fleet might keep together. But our English Admiral having maintained an hot fight for the space of two hours, thought nor good to continue it any longer, thirty of his ships scarce coming to the work, the rest being as yet scarce gotten out of the Harbour.

In this first days fight the Saint Kathe­rine, a Spanish Ship, having been sorely bat­tered and much torn, was taken into the middest of their Fleet to be repaired: And an huge Ship of Biscaie of Don Oquendoes, in which was a great part of the Kings trea­sure, began to be all in a Flame by force of Gunpowder, which was fired on purpose by a Flemish Gunner, for being misused by them: But the fire was soon quenched by the assistance of some other ships sent in to her help. All this while the Spaniards for want of courage (which they called Com­mission) did what they could to decline the fight, casting themselves continually into Roundels (their strongest ships walling in the rest) in which posture they made a fly­ing march towards Callis: yet in the for­mer medly a great Gallion, wherein was Don Pedro de Valdez, Vasques de Silva, A­lenzo de Saias, with other Noble men, [Page 32] being sore battered with the English shot, in avoyding whereof she fell foul upon a­nother ship, and ere she could be cleared had her fore-mast broken off, which so hundred her sailing, that she was unable to keep way with the rest of the Fleet, nor were their friends of courage to succour these distressed Lords, but left both ship and them in this sudden and unexpected danger. But the night coming on, our Lord Admiral supposing that they had left neither men nor Mariners aboard within her, and fearing to lose sight of the Spani­ards, past by her, and followed the Lant­horn which he supposed to be carried by Sir Francis Drake, as it was appointed, but that brave Knight was eagerly pursuing five great Hulks which he took to be of the Spaniards, but when he came up, and haled them, they proved Easterlings and friends, and so were dismissed: yet by this mistake of his, the greatest part of our Fleet, want­ing the direction of his light, was forced to lye still: so that he and the rest of the Fleet till towards night, the next day, could not recover sight of the Lord Admiral, who all the night before with two other ships, the Bear and the Mary-Rose follow­ed the Spanish Lanthorn.

July the twenty second; Sir Francis [Page 33] Drake espied the aforementioned lagging Gallion, whereupon he sent forth a Pinnace to command them to yield, otherwise his bullets without any delay should force them to it: Valdes, to seem valorous, an­swered, that they were four hundred and fifty strong; that himself was Don Pedro, and stood on his honour, and thereupon propounded certain conditions: But the Knight returned this reply, that he had no leisure to parley, if he would immediately yield, so; otherwise be should soon prove that Drake was no dastard. Pedro hearing that it was the fiery Drake (whose name was very terrible to the Spaniards) that had him in chase, presently yielded, and with forty of his companions, came on board Sir Francis his Ship, where first giving him the Conge, he protested that he and all his were resolved to have dyed fighting, had they not fallen into his hands, whose valour and felicity was so great, that Mars and Neptune seemed to wait on him in all his attempts, and whose noble and gene­rous mind towards the vanquished, had often been experienced even of his greatest foes. Sir Francis to requite his Spanish Complements with English Courtesie, pla­ced him at his own table, and lodged him in his own Cabin: the residue of that com­pany [Page 34] he sent to Plimouth, where they re­mained prisoners for the space of eighteen months, till by payment of their ransoms they obtained their liberty: But Drakes Souldiers had well paid themselves by the plunder of the ship, wherein they found 55000 Ducats of [...]old, which they merrily shared amongst them. The same day Michael de Oquendo, Admiral of the Squadron Guy­pusco, and Vice-Admiral of the whole Fleet, suffered no less a disaster; whose ship being one of the greatest Gallions, fell on fire, and all the upper part of the ship being burnt, most also of the persons there­in were consumed: howbeit the Gunpow­der in the hold not taking fire, the ship fell into the hands of the English, which, to­gether with the scorched Spaniards there­in, was brought into Plimouth, a joyful spectacle to the beholders. All this day, the Duke of Medina laboured securely to set his Fleet in order; To Alphonso de Leva he gave in charge to joyne the first and last squadron together; To every ship he as­signed his quarter to ride in according to the form prescribed in Spain, commanding them upon pain of death not to desert their stations. Glitch, an Ensign-bearer, he sent to the Prince of Parma to acquaint him with his condition.

[Page 35] July the twenty third, early in the morn­ing the Spaniards taking the benefit of a Northerly wind, when they approached right against Portland, turned about against the English; but the English, nimble, and foreseeing all advantages, soon turned aside to the VVestward, each striving to get the wind of the other, which at last the English got, and so they prepared themselves on each side to fight; and the English conti­nued all day from morning till night to bat­ter those wooden Castles with great and small shot: The fight was very confused and variable, whilst on the one side the English bravely rescued the London ships that were hemmed in by the Spaniards, and on the other side the Spaniards as stoutly delivered Rechalde being in danger▪ Never was there heard greater thundring of Ordnance on both sides, the chiefest fight being perfor­med on this day; yet notwithstanding the shot from the Spanish ships for the most part flew over the English without hurting them, only Cock an Englishman dyed with honour in the midst of his enemies in a little ship of his. The English ships being far the lesser, charged that Sea-Gyant with marvellous agility, and having given them their broad sides flew off again presently, and then coming up, levelled their shot di­rectly [Page 36] without missing those heavy an un­weildy ships of the Spaniards. But the Lord Admiral would not hazzard a fight by grappling with them, as some unadvised persons would have perswaded him: For he considered that the enemy had a strong Ar­my in the Fleet, whereas he had none; that their ships were more in number, of bigger burden, stronger, and huger built, so that they could not be boarded but with extreme disadvantage: He foresaw also that the over­throw would turn to a greater dammage than the victory would avail him: For be­ing vanquished he should have brought England into extreme hazzard, and being conqueror he should only have gained a little glory to himself for overthrowing the Fleet, and beating the enemy. On this day the sorest fight was performed, where­in, besides other remarkable harms which the enemy sustained, a great Venetian ship with some other smaller were surprized, and taken by the English, and the Spani­ards were forced for their further safety to gather themselves close into a Roundel, their best and greatest ships standing with­out, that they might secure those that were battered and less.

July the twenty fourth, the fight was only between the four great Galliasses, [Page 37] and some of the English ships, the Spani­ards having great advantage, theirs being rowed with oars, and ours (by reason of the calm) having no use of their sails, not­withstanding which they sorely galled the enemy with their great and chain shot; wherewith they cut in sunder their tack­lings, cables, and cordage to their no little prejudice. But wanting powder which they had spent so freely, and other provision to maintain the fight, the Lord Admiral sent some of his smaller ships to the next Ports of England to fetch supply; which stirred up jealousies in the heads of many, that we should thus want upon our own Coasts. In which Interim a Council was called, wherein it was resolved that the English Fleet should be divided into four squadrons, and those committed to four brave Cap­tains, and skilful Seamen, whereof the Lord Admiral in the Ark-Royal was chief: Sir Francis Drake in the Revenge led the se­cond: Captain Hawkins the third: and Captain Forbusher the fourth. Other most valiant Captains there were in others of Her Majesties Ships, as the Lord Thomas Howard in the Lion, the Lord Sheffield in the Bear, Sir Robert Southwel in the Eli­zabeth, Captain Baker in the Victory, and Captain George Fenner in the Gallion-Lei­cester: [Page 38] It was also further appoined that out of every squadron certain small vessels should give you a charge from diverse parts in the dead time of the night, but the calm continuing, this designe could not be effe­cted.

July the twenty fifth, being Saint James day, the Spaniards were arrived against the Isle of Wight, where was a most terrible en­counter, each shooting off their whole broad sides, and not above sixscore yards the one from the other: There the Saint Anne, a Gallion of Portugal, which could not hold course with the rest, was set upon by certain small English Vessels, to whose rescue came Leva and Don Diego Telles Enriques with three Galliasses: which the Lord Admiral himself and the Lord Thomas Howard in the Golden Lion, row­ing their ships with their boats (so great was the calm) charged in such sort with their roaring Canons, that they had much ado, and that not without loss, to save the Gallion, from which time forward none of the Galliasses would undertake the fight. The Spaniards reported that the English the same day beat the Spanish Admiral in the utter squadron, rending her sore with their Great Ordnance, and having slain many of her men, shot down her main Mast, and [Page 39] would have much endanger'd her, but that Mexi [...] and Rechalde came in good time to her rescue. That the Spanish Admiral, assisted by Rechalde and others, set upon the English Admiral, which happily escaped by the sudden turning of the wind. That thereupon the Spaniards gave over the pur­suit, and holding on their Course, dispatch­ed again a Messenger to the Prince of Par­ma, to joyn his Fleet with all speed to the Kings Armado, and withal to send them a supply of great shot. But these things were unknown to the English, who wrote that from one of the Spanish ships they had shot down their Lanthorn, and from another the Beak-head, and that they had done much hurt to the third; that the Non-par­rella and the Mary Rose, had fought a while with the Spaniards; and that other ships had rescued the Tryumph, which was in danger: The truth is, they had so sorely battered those huge wooden Castles, that once more they forced them for their further safety to gather themselves into a Roundel.

July the twenty sixth, the Lord Admiral, to encourage and reward the Noble At­tempts of his gallant Captains, bestowed the Order of Knighthood upon the Lords Howard and Sheffield, Roger Townsend, John Hawkings, Martin Forbusher, and [Page 40] others: And yet the vain glorious and boa­sting Spaniards caused a report to be spread in France, that England was wholly con­quered by them. It was resolved by our men that from thenceforth they should as­sail the enemy no more till they came to the British Frith, or strait of Callis, where the Lord Henry Seimore and Sir William Winter, with the ships which they had for the guard of the narrow Seas, waited their coming; and so with a fair gale from the South West and by South, the Spanish Fleet sailed forward, the English Fleet fol­lowing it close at the heels. And so far was it from terrifying our English Coasts with the name of Invincible, or with its huge and terrible spectacle, that our brave Eng­lish youth with an incredible alacrity, leav­ing parents, wives, children, kinsfolk, and friends out of their entire love to their na­tive country, hired ships from all parts at their own proper charges, and joyned with the Fleet in great numbers, amongst whom were the Earls of Oxford, Nor­thumberland and Cumberland: Thomas and Robert Cecil: Henry Brook: Charles Blunt: Walter Raleigh: William Hatton: Robert Carey: Ambrose Willoughby: Thomas Ge­rard: Arthur Gorges, and many others of great note.

[Page 41] July the twenty seventh, the Spanish Fleet making forward, towards evening, came over against Dover, and anchored before Callis, intending for Dunkerk there to joyn with the Prince of Parma's forces, well perceiving that without their assistance they could do nothing: They were also warned by the Pilots, that if they procee­ded any farther it was to be feared lest they should be driven by the force of the tide into the Northern Ocean. The English Fleet following up hard upon them, cast Anchor so neer that they lay within Cul­vering shot; at which time the Lord Henry Seimore, and Winter joyned their ships to them, so that now the English Fleet consi­sted of one hundred and forty sail, all able ships to fight, sail, and turn about which way soever they pleased. Yet were they not above fifteen that sustained the greatest burden of the fight. From hence once more the Duke of Medina sent to the Prince of Parma to hasten forth his long expected, and much desired forces: with which mes­sengers many of the Spanish Noble men went to land, having had enough of the Sea; amongst whom was the Prince of Ascoli, the Kings base son, who returned to his ship no more; and indeed well it was for him, for that his Gallion was af­terwards [Page 42] cast away upon the Irish Coast, and never returned to salute Spain. These messengers earnestly prayed the Prince of Parma to put forth to Sea with his Army, which the Spanish Fleet should protect, as it were under her wings, till it was landed in England. And indeed the Prince of Par­ma, hearing the best, and not the worst of this voyage, made all things ready that lay in his charge, whose hopes were so fixed upon Englands Conquest, and the glittering Diadem upon Queen Elizabeths head did so dazel his ambitious eyes, being assured by Cardinal Allen that he was the man de­signed to be crowned therewith, that neg­lecting the Coronet of the Low-Country Government, he transferred the charge thereof upon Count Mansfield the Elder, and having made his vows to the Lady of Hall in Heinault, he was already in con­ceit no less than a King. But the date of his reign was soon expired, and his swel­ling tide fallen into a low shallow ebb: For the day following in his march to Dunkirk, he heard the thundring Ordnance ringing the passing peal of his hopes and title, and the same evening had news of the hard suc­cess of the Spaniards, the hoped advancers of his dreamed felicity; and indeed do what he could, he could not be ready at the [Page 43] Spaniards call: His flat-bottomed boats for the shallow Channels leaked; his provisi­on of victuals proved unready, and his ma­riners (having hitherto been detained a­gainst their wills) had withdarwn them­selves: there lay also watching before the Havens of Dunkirk and Newport, whence he was to put forth to Sea, the men of War of the Hollanders and Zelanders, so well provided with great Ordnance and Muske­tiers, that he could not put from the shore unless he would wilfully cast himself and his men upon eminent perils and dangers of destruction: and yet he being a skilful and experienced Commander, omitted no means, being inflamed with a desire to conquer England.

But Queen Elizabeths foresight pre­vented both his diligence and the credulous hope of the Spaniards. For by Her com­mand the next day after the Spaniards had cast Anchor, the Lord Admiral made rea­dy eight of his worst ships, filled with wild-fire, pitch, rosin, brimstone, and other combustible matter: their Ordnance were charged with bullets, stones, chains, and such like things, fit instruments of death; and all the men being taken out, upon the Sabbath day, July the twenty eighth, at two of the clock after midnight, were they [Page 44] let drive with wind and tide, under the guidance of Young and Prowse, amongst the Spanish Fleet. And so the Pilots re­turning, and their trains taking fire, such a sudden thunderclap was given by them, that the affrighted Spaniards, it being the dead time of the night, were amazed, and stricken with an horrible fear, lest all their ships should have been fired by them. And to avoid this present mischief, being in great perplexity, they had no other reme­dy to avoid these deadly engines, and mur­thering inventions, then by cutting their cables in sunder, the time being too short to weigh up their Anchors, and so hoising up their sails to drive at random into the Seas: in which hast and confusion the grea­test of their Galliastes fell foul upon another ship, and lost her rudder: and so floted up and down, and the next day fearfully ma­king towards Callis, ran aground upon the sands, where she was set upon by the Eng­lish. This Galliass was of Naples: Her General was Hough de Moncado, who fought the more valiantly, because he ex­pected present help from the Prince of Par­ma: But Sir Amias Preston gave such a fierce assault upon her, that Moncado was shot dead with a bullet, and the Galliass boarded, wherein many of the Spaniards [Page 45] were slain, and a great many others leap­ing into the Sea were drowned, only Don Antonio de Matiques, a principal Officer, had the good hap to escape, and was the first man that carried the unwelcome news into Spain, that their Invincible Na­vy proved vincible. This huge bottom manned with four hundred Souldiers, and three hundred slaves, that had in her fifty thousand Ducats of the Spanish Kings trea­sure, fell into the English mens hands; a reward well befitting their valour, who sharing it merrily amongst them, and free­ing the miserable slaves from their fetters, would have fired the empty vessel: but Monsieur Gourden, Governour of Callis, fearing that the fire might endanger the Town, would not permit them to do it, bending his Ordnance against those which attempted it.

Had not this politick Stratagem of the fire-ships been found out, it would have been very difficult for the English to have dislodged them; for those huge ships had their bulks so strengthened with thick planks, and massie beams, that our bul­lets might strike, and stick, and yet never pass through them: So that the greatest hurt which our English Canon did, was on­ly by rending their Masts and tacklings.

[Page 46]The Spaniards report that the Duke of Medina, when these burning ships approa­ched, commanded the whole Fleet to weigh Anchor to avoid them yet so, as having shunned the danger, presently every ship to return to her former station, which ac­cordingly he did himself, giving a signal to the rest to do the like, by discharging one of his great Guns; but in this general con­sternation the warning was heard but of a few, the rest being scattered all about which for fear were driven some into the' wide Ocean, and other upon the shallows of Flanders.

July the twenty ninth, after this mise­rable disaster, the Spaniards ranging them­selves into the best order they could, ap­proaching over against Graveling, where once again the English getting the wind of them, deprived them of the conveniency of Callis road, and kept them from supply out of Dunkirk, from whence rested their full hope of support. In the mean while Drake aad Fenner played incessantly with their great Ordnance upon the Spanish Fleet, and with them presently joyned Fenton, Southwel, Be [...]on, Cross, Ri­man, and lastly the Lord Admiral him­self, with the Lords, Thomas Howard, and Sheffield: On the other hand, the Duke [Page 47] of Medina, Leva, Oquenda, Richalde, and others of them, with much ado got clear off the shallows, and sustained the charge as well as they could, yet were most of their ships pitifully torn and shot through, the fight continuing from morn­ing till night, which indeed proved very dismal to the Spaniards; for therein a great Gallion of Biscay perished, the Cap­tains whereof to avoid ignominy; or to be reputed valorous, desparately slew each other. [...]n which distress also two other great ships presently sunk. The Gallion Saint Matthew under the command of Don Diego Piementelli, coming to rescue Don Francisco de Toledo who was in the Saint Philip, was, together with the other, miserably torn with shot, their tacklings spent, and their bulks rent, so that the water entred in on all sides, which sight was maintained against them by Seimore and Winter; In which distress they were dri­ven near Ostend, where again they were shot through and through by the Zelan­ders: Their desparate condition being known, the Duke of Medina sent his own skiff for Don Diego Piementelli, Camp-master, and Colonel over thirty two Bands: But he in a Spanish Bravado refused to leave his ship, and like a Souldier assayed every [Page 48] way to free himself: But being unable to do it, he forthwith made towards the coast of Flanders, where being again set upon by five Dutchmen of War, was required to yield, which finally he did unto Captain Peter Banderdness, who carried him into Zeland: and for a Trophy of his victory hung up his Banner in the Church of Lei­den, whose length reached from the very roof to the ground: Another also of the Spanish ships coasting for Flanders, was cast away upon the sands.

Francisco de Toledo also, being likewise a Colonel over thirty two Bands in the other Gallion, taking his course for the coast of Flanders, his ship proved so leak, that himself with some others of the chief betook themselves to their skiff, and arri­ved at Ostend, the ship with the residue be­ing taken by the Flushingers.

The Spaniards now finding their wel­come into England far worse than they ex­pected, were content to couch their Fleet as close together as they could, not seek­ing to offend their enemies, but only to defend themselves, and the wind coming to the South-west, in the same order they passed by Dunkirk, the English still fol­lowing them at the heels. But left the Prince of Parma should take this advan­tage [Page 49] to put forth to Sea, the Lord Admi­ral dispatched the Lord Henry Seimore with his squaron of small ships to the Coast of Flanders, to joyn with those Hollanders, which there kept watch under Justin of Nassau, their Admiral: This Holland Fleet consisted of thirty five ships, furnished with most skilful Mariners, and twelve hundred Muskiteers, old experienced Souldiers, whom the States had culled out of several Garisons: Their charge was to stop up the Flemish Havens, and to prevent entercourse with Dunkirk, whither the Prince of Par­ma was come, and would fain have adven­tured forth, though his men were unwilling, hearing how their friends had been enter­tained at Sea: Only the English fugitives, being about seven hundred in number, under that treacherous Knight, Sir William Stan­ley, were very forward to be the first that should assault England.

July the 31 betimes in the morning the North-west-wind blew hard, and the Spa­nish Fleet laboured by that advantage to re­turn to the narrow strait, but were driven towards Zeland: whereupon the English gave off the chase, because they saw them carried almost to their utter ruine; for they could not but run a ground upon the sands and shallows neer Zeland: but the wind [Page 50] turning presently into the South-west and by West, they sailed before the wind, by which means they were cleared of the shal­lowes, and so that evening they called a Council what to do, and by consent it was resolved to return into Spain by the Nor­thern Ocean: for that they wanted many necessaries, especially great shot; their ships also were pitifully torn, and there remained no hope that the Prince of Parma would or could bring forth his Fleet.

The Armado having now gotten more Sea-room for their huge bodied bulks, spread their Main sails, and made away as fast as wind and water would give them leave: More fearing the small Fleet and forces of the English (though far inferiour to them) then standing upon terms of ho­nour either for the credit of their Comman­ders, or their Invincible Navy: But surely if they had known the want of Powder ours sustain [...]d (a fault inexcusable upon our own Coasts) they no doubt would have stood better to their tacklings: But God in this, as in all the rest, infatuated them, and would have us to acknowledge that our delive­rance was by his own gracious Providence and power, and not by any strength or poli­cy of our own.

The Spanish Fleet beeing now carried [Page 51] forth into the deep, they directed their course Northward, and our English Ad­miral followed them, lest they should at­tempt to put into Scotland, against whom they now and then turned head, but stood not to it: Yet most men thought they would return, whereupon our Queen with a manly courage took a view of her Army and Camp at Tilbury, and walking through the ranks of Armed men placed on both sides, with a Leaders Truncheon in her hand, sometimes in a martial pace, and other sometimes like a woman, incredible it is how much she strengthened and encou­raged the hearts both of her Captains and Souldiers with her speech and presence. But contrary to expectation, the enemies with their sails spread, betook themselves to an absolute flight, and leaving Scotland on the West, they bended their Course towards Norway, being ill advised therein, (but their necessity urged, and God had infatuated their Counsels) thus to adven­ture to put their shaken and battered bot­toms into those black and dangerous Seas: Neither was the Climate heathful for the crazed Bodies of the Spaniards, over-beaten, and tired with wants, they being now entred the fifty seventh degree of Nor­therly Latitude; from whence our Lord [Page 52] Admiral returned, leaving only some Scouts to discover their success.

When the Prince of Parma came to Dunkirk, the Spaniards entertained him with opprobrious speeches, as if in fa­vour of Queen Elizabeth, he had neg­lected his opportunity, and willingly over­thrown so hopeful a Design. The Prince to give them some satisfaction punished his Purveyors of Victuals, yet withal laugh­ing in his sleeve at the insolency of the Spaniards, having heard them formerly to make their boasts that whithersoever they went they carried assured victory along with them, and that the English durst nor once abide to look them in the face.

The Spaniards (as was said even now) being freed from the English that had haunted them like their Ghosts, consul­ted most seriously what was next to be done: they were very tender of the Popes Credit, who had prophesied, that this attempt would be fortunate and successful: The wrath of King Philip of Spain was to be feared, his vast Expences being thus lost, and his hopes frustrated: other Adventurers would be undone: the glory of the Spaniards would be laid in the dust: the Invincible Navy become a scorn, and England would still be England, not lorded over by the Spa­niards, [Page 53] if without further attempt they should return into Spain. But on the other hand they considered that 5 thousand of the Souldiers were slain: a multitude of their Survivors lay sick or maimed upon their hands: Twelve of their greatest ships were sunk, lost, or taken: their Cables, Masts, and Sails were cut; rent and broken with the English shot: Their Anchors left in the road of Callis: their victuals fai­led: Their fresh water was spent: and their enemies no less fierce, undaunted, and successful than at the first: The Prince of Parma though long in preparing, yet still unready, and kept in by the Dutch, Queen Elizabeths firm Allies: which cir­cumstances wisely ballanced, the vote went currant for their hastning to Spain.

But withal knowing that the King of Scots (fast knit in affection and blood to our Queen) would yield them no sup­plies; and having as little hope that Nor­way would afford them any, they cast all their, Horses, and Mules overboard, for the sparing of their fresh water: and so framing their course to sail about Cathenes, and the Coasts of Ireland, they steered between the Orcades and the Isles of Farr unto the six­ty first degree of Latitude: From whence the Duke of Medina, with his best stored [Page 54] ships, took Westward over the main Ocean towards Biscay, and at last arrived safely in Spain: where for his welcome, he was deposed from all his authority, forbidden to come at Court, and commanded to live private, neither could he give satisfaction by his bad excuses, albeit he imputed it to the treachery of his Mariners; to their ignorance; and small experience of those Northern Seas. The want of succours from the Prince of Parma; the Tempests, Ship­wracks and ill fortune: but not a word of the judgement of God, upon that Giant-like undertaking to enslave all England to the Spanish yoke.

The residue of the Ships, being about forty in number, fell nearer with the coast of Ireland, intending to touch at Cape Clare, well hoping there to refresh them­selves, and supply their wants: but the winds proving contrary and tempestuous upon those dangerous Seas, many of their ships perished upon the Irish shores, and amongst others a great Galliass, wherein Michael de Oquendo was Commander, and two other Venetian ships of great bur­den, besides thirty eight more, with most of the Spaniards contained in them Such as got clear off the danger, put forth to Sea: some of which by a strong West Wind [Page 55] were driven into the English Channel, where some of them were again set upon and taken by the English, others by men of Rochel in France; and some arrived at New Haven in Normandy: So that of one hundred thirty four ships that set fail out of Lisboa, only fifty three returned into Spain: Of the four Galliasses of Naples but one: of the four Oallions of Portugal, but one: of the ninety one Callions, and great Hulks from divers Provinces, only thirty three returned, fifty eight being lost. In brief, they lost in this voyage eighty one vessels, thirteen thousand, five hundred and odd Souldiers. Prisoners taken in England, Ireland, and the Low-Countries were above two thousand: Amongst those in England, Don Pedro de Valdez, Don Vasques de Sil­va, and Don Alonzo de Saies, and others were kept for their ransome. In Ireland Don Alonzo de Luzon, Roderigo de Lasse, and others of great account: In Zeland was Don Diego Piementelli: To be brief, there was no famous, or noble family in all Spain, which in this expedition lost not a son, brother, or kinsman. And thus this Armado which had been so many years in preparing, and rigging with such vast ex­pence, was in one month many times as­saulted, [Page 56] and at length wholly defeated with the slaughter of so many of her men, not one hundred of the English being lacking, nor one small ship of theirs taken, or lost, save only that of Cocks: and having tra­versed round about all Britain, by Scot­land, the Orcades and Ireland, most grie­vously tossed, and very much distressed, and wasted by stormes, wracks, and all kinds of misery, at length came lamely home, with perpetual dishonour: whereupon Me­dals were stamped in memory thereof: A Fleet flying with full sailes; with this in­scription, Venit, vidit, fugit, It came, it saw, it fled: Others in honour of our Queen, with flaming ships, and a Fleet in a great confusion, and this Motto, Dux fae­mina facti, A woman was conductor of the fact.

In the aforementioned wracks above se­ven hundred Souldiers and Sailors were cast on land in Scotland, who (upon the inter­cession of the Prince of Parma to the King of Scots, and by the permission of Queen Elizabeth) were after a years time sent o­ver into the Low-Countries: But more un­mercifully were those miserable wretches dealt withal, whose hap was to be driven by tempest into Ireland: Some of them be­ing [Page 57] slain by the wild Irish (their old friends) and others of them being put to death by the command of the Lord Deputy: For he fearing lest they might joyn with the Irish to disturb the peace of the Nation, comman­ded Bingham, Governour of Connaught to destroy them: but he, refusing to deal so rigorously with those that had yielded them­selves, He sent Fowle, Deputy-Marshall, who drew them out of their lurking holes, and cut off the heads of above two hundred of them; which fact the Queen from her heart condemned, and abhorred as a fact of too great cruelty. The remainder of them being terrified herewith, sick and starven as they were, committed them­selves to Sea in their shattered vessels, and were many of them swallowed up by the waves.

The Spaniards charged the whole fault of their overthrow upon the Prince of Parma, as if in favour to our Queen he had wilfully and artificially delayed his com­ing to them: But this was but an inven­tion, and pretention given out by them, partly upon a Spanish envy against that Prince, he being an Italian, and his Son a Competitor to the Kingdom of Portugal: But chiefly to save the scorn and monstous [Page 58] disreputation which they and their Nation received by the success of that enterprise: Therefore their colours, and excuses (for­sooth) were, That their General by Sea had a limited Commission, not to fight till the Land Forces were come in to them, and that the Prince of Parma had particular reaches and ends of his own to cross the de­signe.

But it was both a strange Commission, and a strange Obedience to a Commission, for men in the midst of their own blood, and being so furiously assailed, to hold their hands, contrary to the Laws of Na­ture and necessity. And as for the Prince of Parma, he was reasonably well tempted to be true to that enterprise, by no less promise than to be made a Feudatory or Beneficiary King of England under the Seignory (in chief) of the Pope, and the protection of the King of Spain. Besides, it appeared that the Prince of Parma held his place long after of the Govenment of the Netherlands, in the favour and trust of the King of Spain, and by the great im­ployments and services that he performed in France. It is also manifest that this Prince did his best to come down, and put to Sea: The truth was, that the Spanish [Page 59] Navy, upon those proofs of Fight which they had with the English, finding how much hurt they received, and how little, hurt they did, by reason of the activity and low building of our ships, and skill of Sea-men; and being also commanded by a General of small courage and experience, and having lost at first two of their bravest Commanders at Sea, Pedro de Valdez, and Michael de Oquenda, durst not put it to a Battel at Sea, but set up their rest whol­ly upon the Land enterprise. On the other side, the transportation of the Land Forces failed in the very foundati­on; For, whereas the Council of Spain made full account that their Navy should be Master of the Sea, and therefore able to guard and protect the Vessels of Trans­portation: When it fell out to the con­trary, that the great Navy was distres­sed, and had enough to do to save it self, and that their Land Forces were impounded by the Hollanders. Things (I say) being in this state, it came to pass that the Prince of Parma must have flown, if he would have come in­to England, for he could get neither Bark, nor Mariner to put to Sea. Yet certain it is that the Prince looked for the comming [Page 60] back of the Armado even at that time when they were wandring, and making their perambulation upon the Northern Seas.

Thus we see the curse of God and his threatning in Scripture accomplished: They came out against us one way, and they fled seven wayes before us: making good (even to the astonishment of all Posterity) the wonderful Judgments of God poured out commonly upon such vast and proud aspirings.

After this Glorious Deliverance of our Land by the Power of the Omni­potent, and the wild Boar repelled that sought to lay waste Englands fair and fruitful Vineyard, our Gracious and God­ly Queen (who ever held Ingratitude a Capital sin, especially towards her Al­mighty Protector) as she had begun with Prayer, so she ended with Praise, com­manding solemn Thanksgiving to be ce­lebrated to the Lord of Hosts at the Ca­thedral Church of Saint Paul in her chief City of London, which accordingly was done upon Sabbath day the eighth of September: at which time eleven of the Spanish Ensignes (the once badges of their bravery, but now of their vanity and ig­nominy) [Page 61] were hung upon the lower battlements of that Church, as Palmes of Praise for Englands Deliverance: a shew no doubt more pleasing to God than when their spread colours did set out the pride of the Spaniards, threatning the blood of so many innocent and faithful Christians.

Queen Elizabeth her self, to be an ex­ample unto others upon Sabbath the twenty fourth of September, came from her Palace of White-Hall in Westminster, through the streets of London (which were hung with blew Cloth, the Com­panies of the City standing in their Live­ries on both sides with their Banners in goodly order) being carried in a Cha­riot drawn with two Horses to St. Pauls Church, where dismounting from her. Chariot at the West door, she humbled her self upon her knees and with great devotion, in an audible voice She praised God as her only Defender, who had de­livered Her self and People from the bloody designes of so cruel an enemy. The Sermon then preached tended wholly wholly to give all the glory to God, as the Author of this wonderful deliverance: and when that was ended, Her Majesty [Page 62] Herself, with most Princely and Christian speeches exhorted all the people to a due performance of those religious services of thankfulness which the Lord expected and required of them.

About the same time the Fair being kept in Southwark, the Spanish Flags were hung up at London Bridge to the great joy of the beholders, and eternal infamy of the Spaniards proud attempts, as irreligious as unsuccessful. But the solemn day ap­pointed for Thanksgiving throughout the Land was the nineteenth of November be­ing Tuesday, which accordingly was ob­served with great joy and praising of God; and well it were if it had so continued still, being no less a Deliverance than was that of Purim amongst the Jews, which they in­stituted to be kept holy throughout their Generations.

The Zelanders also to leave a memori­al of their thnakfulness to God, and their faithfulness to our Queen, caused Medals of Silver to be stamped, having engraven on the one side the Armes of their Coun­trey; with this inscription, Glory to God alone, and on the reverse, the pourtracture of great Ships, under written, the Spanish Fleet, and in the circumference, It came, [Page 63] It went, It was, Anno 1588. In other me­dals also were stamped ships floating, and sinking, and in the reverse, Supplicants upon their knees, with this Motto, man proposeth, God disposeth, 1588. The Hol­landers also stamped some medals with Spa­nish ships and this Motto, Impius fugit ne­mine sequente: the wicked fly when none pursues.

Our Queen, to shew her gratitude as well to the instruments as to the Author of this great Deliverance, assigned cer­tain yearly Rents to the Lord Admiral for his gallant service, and many times commended him, and the other Captains of Her Ships, as men born for the Preserva­tion of their Country. The rest she gra­ciously saluted by name as oft as she saw them, as men of notable deserts, where­with they held themselves well apaid, and those which were wounded, maimed, or poor, She rewarded with competent pen­sions.

The Lord of Hosts having thus dispel­led this storm, the Queen dissolved her Camp at Tilbury, and not long after the Earl of Leicester ended his dayes, having been a Peer of great estate and honour, but liable to the common destiny of Great [Page 64] ones, whom all men magnifie in their life time, but few speak well of after their death.

THis Admirable Deliverance was con­gratulated by almost all other Na­tions, especially by all the reformed Churches, and many Learned Men ce­lebrated the same in Verse, amongst which I shall onely mention two: The first was that Poem made by Reverend Mr. Beza; Translated into all the chief Languages in Christendom, to be per­petuated to all ensuing Posterity. It was this.