Galitia where they had driuen by the storme This was put in execution betwéene the 8. and 10. of the same moneth the wind being then at the North which within a while changing vnto the South after that he was come within 40. leagues or there about of the coast of Spaine made him to cast a doubt of that which afterwards hapned indéed For laying this before him as his principall care according to the charge laid vpon him by her Maiesty to be diligent and carefull for the defence of the coast of England and considering that with the wind which was now changed and very good to make for England the enemy might set out and passe for England without discouery of his fléete he returned back with the whole nauy and the 12. of the same moneth he arriued at Plymouth there accordingly to prouide himselfe of all that was necessarie The 19. of Iune his honor had intelligence by a barke or pinnis whose captaine was Thomas Fleming amongst other behinde him in the Sléeue for discouerie that the Spanish fléete was discouered neare vnto the Lyzarde As appeereth in the 1. table the wind being then South and by West And therefore albeit that by reason of the great number of English ships which were in Plimouth it was with that winde very hard to bring them foorth from thence as the militarie art of the Sea and the condition of their affaires required yet was there such diligence vsed by the L. Admirall and the rest by his example as they indeuored therin with such aduise and earnestnes that many of the ships at the length warped out of the hauen As appeereth in the 2. table as if the winde had béen wholy fauourable vnto them which thing could not haue fallen out but through the long and certaine skill which the English Masters generally haue in marine discipline To the which reason this may be added that they were all of one nation of one toong and touched with a greiuous and equal hatred toward their enemies being mightily perswaded of their forces Whereupon we may in such cases assure our selues of what importance it is in seafaring matters for a fléete of any prince whatsoeuer inuading any forraine state or kingdome to encounter with a fléete ready for defense in such maner as the English nauie was for so much as the fléete inuading being prouided diuersly of Masters and Officers differing one from another in custome language and conceit cannot in any measure giue any assured hope of certain victorie how honorable soeuer the commander be Many of the ships therefore came foorth by reason that the men were mooued in the foresaid respects to labor diligently and so much the rather by how much the captaines and chéefe officers both by counsel and hand shewed themselues more diligent and industrious By these meanes the 20. day of Iune the L. Admirall accompanied with 54. ships came foorth with the same winde that the enemie had from the southwest Which thing certainly was not estéemed a small thing to be done in regarde aswell of the winde as of the narrownes of the place it selfe The Spanish fléete being manifestly discouered about 140. miles from Edestone and cléerely séene of euery one toward the west and so far off from Foye as the English fléete was that is 25. ordinarie English miles the next morning being the 21. of Iune all the ships which were now come out of the hauen had gotten the winde of the Spaniards and approching somewhat nearer found that their fléete was placed in battell araie after the maner of a Moone cressant being readie with her horns hir inward circumference to receiue either all or so manie of the English nauie as should giue her the assault her hornes being extended in widenes about the distance of 8. miles if the information giuen haue not deceiued my pen. The reason of their arraunging in this order arose vpon the foresight of the duke of Medina Sidonia general of the Spanish fléet who approching the coast sent out a smal ship to espy somewhat concerning the English fléete and hearing by certain fishermen taken prisoners that our fléet was in Plymouth he prepared himselfe as aforesaid for the auoiding of all such chances as might after befall Whereupon about 9. of the clocke before noone the L. Admirall commanded his Pinnesse called the Disdaine to giue the defiance vnto the duke of Medina after which he himselfe in the Quéenes ship called the Arcke went foremost As appeereth in the 2. table as was conuenient and began hotlie to fight with a great ship which was admirall of the Spanish fléete in which ship he thought by reason of certaine likely coniectures the duke of Medina to be considering also the said ship was so well accompanied by others The fight with hir continued so long and so hot that diuers other ships yea the most part of the Spanish fléete came to her succour As appeereth in the 3. table In the mean season the Viceadmirall sir Francis Drake with master Iohn Hawkins and master Martin Frobisher fought with a Galeon of Portugall wherein they thought Don Martin de Ricaldes the Viceadmirall to be This fight was so well maintained for the time it continued that the enemie was enforced to leaue his place and to giue waie gathering toward the East In the which point of remouing As appeereth in the 3. table a great Galeon wherein Don Pedro de Valdes went as captaine falling foule with another ship of their fléete was depriued of hir foremast so that she could not follow the bodie of the fléete that forsooke her to the great maruel of the English men themselues whereby Don Pedro became prisoner as afterward shall be declared As appeereth in the 4. table Furthermore also there was at this time a great ship of Biscaie about 800. tunne in burthen that was spoiled by fire vpon this occasion The captaine of the soldiors that went in her hauing small regard as is reported of an orderly and ciuill life did insolently beat a certaine Flemish gunner what cause he had I know not whether vpon occasion of words touching his charge or by meanes of the gunners wife whom he had abused according to the custom of that nation Whereupon the perplexed man séeing himselfe among such a kind of people as not onely made him serue their turnes at their owne pleasure but disgraced him in as vile maner as if he were a slaue despairing both of life wife and his yoong daughter and perchance rather mooued with the dishonor of them then by his owne misfortunes which minde is many times in men euen of meane condition he set himselfe on fire in a barrell of gunpowder procuring therby through the losse of his owne life and the extréeme hazard of those that belonged vnto him the losse of many mens liues besides a cruell reuenge of his iniuries receiued by one onely man This example may serue
of peace greatly desired of all christian people and therfore for that purpose gaue commandement to certaine noble men of her priuie Counsell others with certain Gouernors of her forces in Flaunders to deale in this matter with the commissioners that should be there appointed in the name and behalfe of the said king And our commissioners after their departure and manifest declaration that they began to parle to some purpose concerning this treatie being driuen off a long time to small effect and without any manifest hope of agréement likely to ensue vntill such time as the Spanish fléete was not onely discouered in the English chanell but also withheld and brideled from their purpose in ioyning with the forces of the duke of Parma and transporting an armie into England and finallie vntill such time as it was inforced to withdraw it selfe and séeke some better fortune in the northren seas being euery where else vnable to make anie forceable resistance Therefore her Maiestie as well to declare her propense readines if on their part any sincere intent of peace had béene as her vigilant prouidence not to be deluded by so subtile and malicious an enemie furnished her selfe by sea with a mightie fléete and by land with no lesse diligence to resist so great forces as by all nations were reported to come against her For it was neuer knowne in the memorie of man that so great preparation was euer heretofore at one time made out either by king Phillip himselfe or yet by the emperor Charles the 5. his father although his power were much more and his occasions of warre far greater The diligence therefore of the Englishmen answerable vnto the care of the Prince was such and so great that her Maiestie was prouided of a mightie fléete to defend her by sea from the enimie betwéene the first of Nouember 1587. and the 20. of December next ensuing a time in truth very short for such a prouision in regard of so many yéeres spent by the said king in preparing of his fléete which notwithstanding did shew of what force it was by experience afterwards made thereof against the English nauie gathered togither within 50. daies and prouided and most excellentlie furnished of all things necessarie for such a purpose The care charge of this nauie was commended vnto the right honorable Charles L. Howard Baron of Effingham L. High Admiral of England who for his place office noble courage experience in martial affaires and nobilitie of blood and descent was thought most fit woorthy to be emploied in that seruice He had in his companie a sufficient number of honorable worshipful and valiant personages famous both in respect of their birth the gifts of mind desirous to serue their Prince and Countrie in such a cause as this being iudged of the whole English nation both iust and necessarie likewise of sea-faring men and priuate soldiors so competent a number as might be answerable vnto the power of so great a Prince in so weightie a cause The L. High Admirall therefore with these forces kéeping for a season the narrow seas and chanell betwéene England and Flaunders sir Francis Drake knight mentioned here also in honor of his good deserts was by the aduice of the Lords of the counsel his honor so commanding it sent towards the west parts with certaine of the Quéenes ships and others from certaine ports of England thereabout being in al not aboue the number of 50. saile of all sorts there to attend the L. high Admirall his comming with greater forces if occasion should so require In the meane season the L. Admirall with his Vice admirall the L. Henrie Seymer kept the narrow seas accompanied with 20. ships more verie well furnished at the charges of the citizens of London besides manie other from diuerse parts on that side of the Realme that lieth from the towne of Douer vp to the northward which met all togither in good order and well appointed for the warres And here the Lord Admirall vnderstanding for a certaintie that the fléete of the enemie was alreadie lanched and at the sea he weighed ancre and leauing the L. Seymer with sufficient forces of the Quéenes ships and other vessels to watch what the duke of Parma would do or was able to vndertake by sea and parting from thence the 21. of Maie 1588. to the westward with her Maiesties nauie and 20. ships of London with some others he arriued at Plymouth the 23. of the same Moneth where sir Francis Drake with 50. saile which he had vnder his charge met with the L. Admirall in very good order And then the two nauies being ioyned togither into one the L. Admirall made sir Francis Drake his Viceadmirall Arriuing then at Plymouth his Lordship presently gaue order for prouision of victuall for the whole nauie that it might want nothing that should tend to the necessarie seruice ensuing The whole nauie was at this present about 90. saile of all sorts This prouision being complet he resolued with himselfe to put foorth to the sea againe about the 30. of Maie aforesaid But the winde not seruing his turne he kept himselfe abroad sailing vp and downe within the Sléeue betwene Vshant and Sillie attending some sight or report of the enemies fléete Where hauing waited a certain time somwhiles drawing neare to the coast of France somtimes to the coast of England he returned being thereto inforced by a great tempest with his whole nauie into the Port of Plymouth the 6. of Iune to refresh his companie there In the meane season there were discouered betwéene Vshant and Sillie certaine ships of the Spanish fléete not aboue the number of 14. which were knowen to be seuered from the whole fléete by violence of the aforesaid tempest But before they could be encountred withall by any of the English nauie the wind came about whereby they had opportunitie to returne backe againe sauing themselues from all perils in their hauen called the Groine into the which also the rest of the Spanish fléete was put to prouide themselues anew of other things which they wanted and specially of fresh water Of this thing the L. Admirall had intelligence and aduertisement from sundry parts as also that the Spanish fléete was by great fortune dispersed seuered into diuers places through penurie of many and those necessarie things through diseases and mortalitie of men although the report hereof could not afterwards be verified whereof the certain truth was that being troubled with tempest they were commanded to come a shoare at the Groyne The L. Admirall therefore séeing the coast of England and France cléere and frée from all danger as by diligent search it was vnderstood resolued by the aduise and opinion of his counsell to take the aduantage of the next wind that should blow from the North that passing to the coast of Spaine he might finde the enemies fléet so dispersed in the Groine and in other parts of
to instruct such as command ouer others how they ought to behaue themselues with lesse insolencie inasmuch as the minde of man is alwaies readie to reuenge after the custome of this our bloodie age if he be not borne vtterly void of a quicke wit and liuely spirit Through this mischance of theirs all the vpper decks were blowen vp all hir furniture marred and much other spoile done besides the death and maiming of her men so that being vtterly vnable all that night to helpe her selfe she was succored by the galliasses and for the time saued in the bodie of their fléete But to returne vnto our purpose This first skirmish continued not aboue two houres bicause the L. Admirall considering that he wanted as yet 40. ships which could not so readily come foorth of the hauen thought he should do better seruice if he staied their comming before he procéeded any further beating behinde vpon the enimie least he should bring the rest too much in hazard and therfore he thought it not profitable too much to embolden and pricke those forward that he had with him in a matter that was not greatly conuenient either for the honor of the Realme or his owne person neither did the militarie discipline of the English nation purchased by long experience at the sea giue him leaue to do it And therefore he put foorth his flagge to call the other captaines to counsell who agréeing vnto his determination receiued instructions concerning the order that they were to kéepe in following the Spanish fléete Then hauing giuen libertie to euery man to returne to their charge he gaue order likewise to his Viceadmirall sir Francis Drake to appoint the watch for that night and to beare out the light The same night the Spanish fléete lay about 14. miles off from the Stert The next day following early in the morning it was vnder the winde not so far off as Berie As appeereth in the 4. table In the mean time the English fléete wanting light because the Viceadmiral sir Francis Drake leauing his place to follow 5. Hulkes which were discouered in the euening very late it came to passe that all the other ships staied behinde not knowing that they were to follow or whither to direct themselues so that there might haue followed some great inconuenience had they had to do with an enemie more practized in our seas But as it séemed by report the said Viceadmiral was moued to do this by means of a certaine curious diligence and a militarie suspicion growing in his mind vpon certaine and very probable coniectures grounded on circumstances of matter considered in his mind and therefore he gaue them the chase thinking that they had béen enemies But being ouertaken and their officers examined and being knowen to be friends or at the least wise not enemies he permitted them to go their way returning him selfe vnto the fléete the day following The L. Admirall notwithstanding accompanied with the Beare and the Marie Rose comming a little behind his sterne As appeereth in the 4. table by reason of the cléerenes of the aire which at that time of the yéere is ordinarilie very great through out all England followed the enemy all that night within a Culuerin shot By occasion whereof the rest of the fléete was cast so far behind that the morning after the nearest part thereof could hardly descrie the tops of the other ships As appeereth in the 5. table and many of them were cleane out of sight so that with all the force of their sailes they could hardly come all together the whole day following vntill the euening The next day the Viceadmirall sir Francis Drake being in the Quéenes ship called the Reuenge hauing also the Roebucke and a Pinnesse or two in his company tooke Don Pedro de Valdes who as was said before had lost the foremast of his ship and hauing receiued the said Valdes as his prisoner and certaine other gentlemen of most account that were therein he sent the ship togither with the prisoners vnto Dartmouth vnder the conduct of the Roe-bucke and he himselfe made toward the L. Admirall vnder whose lée he came that night The same daie being the 22. of the moneth a little before the Viceadmirall sir Francis Drake was returned vnto the fléete the Spaniards forsooke the ship which the day before was spoyled by fire To the which ship the L. Admirall sent the L. Thomas Howard and with him M. Iohn Hawkins who being in the cockboate of the Victorie went a boord her and there found a lamentable sight For all the vppermost decks of her being torne and spoyled by the fire there were in her 50. men miserablie burnt with the powder The stinke in her was so great and the ship it selfe so filthie that the L. Howard departed presently from her and returning with M. Iohn Hawkins to the L. Admirall they informed him of that they found and saw there For which cause there was presently commandement giuen that the little pinnesse of captaine Fleming should conduct her vnto some port of England where they might most cōmodiouslie helpe themselues Wherevpon it was carried to Waymouth the next day following For al the mishap that befell this ship they vnderstood that the Spaniards had taken out of her al the best things that they could casting off the bulke of her togither with certaine grosse stuffe therein as for that time altogither vnprofitable About this time her Maiestie séeing that all hope of peace was frustrate called home againe her Cōmissioners from Flanders who were by the duke of Parma most curteously dismissed very honorablie accompanied and themselues and their cariages safe conducted to the marches of Calis which way they tooke their iourney But to the matter the night last before mentioned there befell a great calme and therevpon 4. Spanish Galliasses seuered themselues from the rest of their fléete This thing made the Englishmen to doubt that that night they had resolued to giue the onset vpon some of their lesser ships imagining that they might annoy them the rather for that they were the rereward of the fléete But afterwards the Galliasses whatsoeuer the occasion was enterprised nothing either for that they saw they could not safely do it or else bicause their mindes were not throughly setled vpon that which before they thought to do a thing many times faling out in such persons as are but poore in counsell and resolution that they continue in their perplexed conceites without any effect or commoditie ensuing thereof As appeereth in the 5. table The morning following being Tuesday the 23. of the moneth the wind was at North East wherupon the Spaniards came backe vpon the Englishmen with the aduantage of the wind directing their course toward the land the which course was not profitable for the Englishmen Therefore to take the aduantage of the Enemie they cast about toward the west with a reasonable compasse their ships being very good both of