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 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 Lieutenant 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 near 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 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 Weight 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 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 In the month therefore of February Commissioners were sent into Flanders Henry Earl of Darby William Brook Lord Cobham Sir James 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 near 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 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 was 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 mitrusting the Spanish preparations at Sea The sending away of foreign Souldiers out of the Low-Countries for Englands security A restitution of such sums of money 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
the four Gallions 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 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 foemina 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 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 join 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-Marshal 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 monstrous 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 Government 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 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 Seamen 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 Oquendo 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 coming back of the Armado even at that time when they were wandring and making their perambulation upon the Northern Seas Queen Elizabeth lying one night in her Army at Tilbury the old Lord Treasurer Burleigh came thither and delivered to the Earl of Leicester the Examination of Don Pedro who was taken and brought into England by Sir Francis Drake which examination the Earl delivered unto me saith Dr Sharp mine Author that I might publish it to the Army in my next Sermon The sum of it was this Don Pedro being asked by some of the Lords of the Privy Council what was the intent of their coming stoutly answered the Lords what but to subdue your Nation and to root it out Good said the Lords what then meant you to do with the Catholicks we meant said he to have sent them good men directly to Heaven as all you that are Hereticks to Hell Yea but said the Lords what meant you to do with your whips of Cord and Wier whereof you have such great store in your Ships what said he we meant to whip you Hereticks to Death that have assisted my Masters Rebels and done such dishonour to our Catholick King and People Yea but what would you have done said they with their young Children They said he which were above seven years old should have gone the same way that their Fathers went the rest should have lived
in the Bear Sir Robert Southwel in the Elizabeth Captain Baker in the Victory and Captain George Fenner in the Gallion-Leicester It was also further appointed that out of every Squadron certain small Vessels should give you a charge from divers parts in the dead time of the night but the calm continuing this design 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 would have much endanger'd her but that Mexia 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 Triumph 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 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 leaveing 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 Earl 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 July the twenty seventh the Spanish Fleet making forward towards Evening came over against Dover and Anchored before Callis intending for Dunkirk there to joyn with the Prince of Parma's Forces wel 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 near 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 Noblemen 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 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 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 withdrawn 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
he was made to believe by his Companions that he should be bountifully rewarded for that his good service to the Catholick Cause now perceiving that on the contrary his Death had been contrived by them he thereupon freely confessed all that he knew concerning that horrid Conspiracy which before all the tortures of the rack could not force him unto The truth of all this was attested by Mr William Perkins an eminent Christian and Citizen of London to Dr Gouge which Mr Perkins had it from the mouth of Mr Clement Cotton that made our English Concordance who also had it from the Relation of Mr Pickering himself The Names of those that were first in this Treason and laboured in the Mine were Robert Catesby Robert Winter Esquires Thomas Percy Thomas Winter John Wright Christopher Wright Guy Fawkes Gentlemen and Bates Catesbies man Persons made acquainted with it and Promoters of it were Sir Everard Digby Knight Ambrose Rookwood Francis Tresham Esquires John Grant Gentleman Robert Keyes This prodigious contrivance did not only stupifie the whole Kingdom with consternation and amazement but Foreign Princes at least seemed to wonder at it also and though for the propagation of the Catholick cause they might have Conscience enough to wish that it had taken effect yet they had policy enough to congratulate the discoverers and some of them to take off the asperity of the suspect sweetned their expressions with many rich gifts to our King and Queen The Parliament by reason of the hurry occasioned hereby met not till the ninth of November at which time Henry Lord Mordant and Edward Lord Sturton not coming to the Parliament according to their Writ of Summons were suspected as having knowledge of the Conspiracy and so was the Earl of Northumberland from some presumptions and all three were Committed to the Tower The two Barons after a while were redeemed by fine in Starchamber but the Earl continued a Prisoner there for many years after How the Parliament was affected for this great deliverance of the whole Kingdom from ruine and destruction will appear by the Act which they made to have the fifth of November for ever solemnized with Publick Thanksgiving wherein they imputed the discovery of the Treason to the inspiring the King with a divine spirit to interpret some dark Phrases of the Letter above and beyond all ordinary construction they attainted also the blood of those Traytors that were executed as also of those that were slain at Holbach-House or that died in Prison and the King being not unmindful of the Lord Monteagle the first discoverer of this Treason gave him and his Heirs for ever two hundred pounds a year in Fee-Farm Rents and 500l l a year besides during his life as a reward for his good service But now to the Act it self An Act for a Publick Thanksgiving to Almighty God every year on the fifth of November FOrasmuch as Almighty God hath in all Ages shewed his Power and Mercy in the miraculous and gracious deliverance of his Church and in the protection of Religious Kings and States and that no Nation of the Earth hath been blessed with greater benefits than this Kingdom now enjoyeth having the true and free profession of the Gospel under our most Sovereign Lord King James the most Great Learned and Religious King that ever reigned therein enriched with a most hopeful and plentiful Progeny proceeding out of his Royal Loyns promising the continuance of this happiness and profession to all Posterity the which many malignant and Devillish Papists Jesuits and Seminary Priests much envying and fearing conspired most horribly when the Kings most Excellent Majesty the Queen the Prince and all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons should have been Assembled in the Vpper House of Parliament upon the fifth day of November in the year of our Lord 1605. suddenly to have blown up the said House with Gunpowder an invention so inhumane barbarous and cruel as the like was never before heard of and was as some of the principal Conspirators confess purposely devised and concluded to be done in the said House that where sundry necessary and Religious Laws for preservation of the Church and State were made which they falsly and slanderously term cruel Laws enacted against them and their Religion both place and persons should be all destroyed and blown up at once which would have turned to the utter ruine of this whole Kingdom had it not pleased Almighty God by inspiring the Kings most Excellent Majesty with a divine spirit to interpret some dark phrases of a Letter shewed to his Majesty above and beyond all ordinary construction thereby miraculously discovering this hidden Treason not many hours before the appointed time for the Execution thereof Therefore the Kings most Excellent Majesty the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and all his Majesties faithful and loving Subjects do most justly acknowledge this great and infinite blessing to have proceeded meerly from Gods great mercy and to his most holy name do ascribe all Honour Glory and Praise And to the end this unfeigned thankfulness may never be forgotten but be had in a perpetual remembrance that all Ages to come may yield praises to his Divine Majesty for the same and have in memory this joyful day of deliverance Be it therefore enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and by the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That all and singular Ministers in every Cathedral and Parish Church or other usual place for Common-Prayer within this Realm of England and the Dominions of the same shall alwaies upon the fifth day of November say Morning Prayer and give unto Almighty God thanks for this most happy deliverance and that all and every person and persons inhabiting within this Realm of England and the Dominions of the same shall alwaies upon that day diligently and faithfully resort to the Parish Church or Chappel accustomed or to some usual Church or Chappel where the said Morning Prayer Preaching or other service of God shall be used and then and there to abide orderly and soberly during the time of the said Prayer Preaching or other service of God there to be used and ministred And because all and every person may be put in mind of this duty and be the better prepared to the said holy service Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that every Minister shall give warning to his Parishioners publickly in the Church at Morning Prayer the Sunday before every such fifth of November for the due observation of the said day And that after Morning Prayer or Preaching on the said fifth day of November they read distinctly and plainly this present Act. Upon the Powder-Plot OH Murtherous Plot Posterity shall say 'S Vnholyness o'reshoots Caligula The Pope by this and such designs 't is plain Out-Babels Nimrod and out-Butchers Cain Monteagle's Letter was in dubious sence And seem'd a piece of
England's Remembrancer A True and Full NARRATIVE OF Those two never to be forgotten DELIVERANCES One From The Spanish Invasion in 88. The other from The Hellish Powder Plot November 5. 1605. Whereunto is added The like Narrative of that signal Judgment of God upon the Papists by the Fall of the House in Black-Fryers London upon their fifth of November 1623. Collected for the Information and Benefit of each Family by Sam. Clark formerly Pastor in Bennet Fink Behold the wicked travelleth with iniquity and hath conceived mischief and brought forth falshood He made a Pit and digged it and is fallen into the ditch which he made His mischief shall return upon his own head and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate Psal. 7. 14 15 16. LONDON Printed for J. Hancock and are to be sold at the three Bibles in Popes-Head Alley next to Cornhill 1677. TO THE HONOURABLE And his Much Honoured Friends EDWARD RVSSEL Esq Son to the Right Honourable Francis Earl of BEDFORD AND TO The Lady PENELOPE His prudent and pious Consort Sir Madam I Take the boldness to present you with these Narratives not for that they are new or supposing your selves to be strangers to them but as a Testimony of my Gratitude for those favours I have received from you The high Heavens may be seen in the lowest valleys So may a large heart in the least Gift But truly though the Gift be worthless yet so is not the matter contained in it which sets forth such eminent and signal deliverances as no Church or people in these latter Ages of the world have received And there must be a recognition of Gods mercies or else there will neither follow estimation nor retribution Hence Micah 6. 5. O my people saith God many hundreds of years after remember now what Balack King of Moab consulted and what Balaam the Son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord. If there be not such a recognition of former deliverances we that should be as Temples of his praise shall be as graves of his benefits Our souls indeed are too like filthy Ponds wherein fish die soon and frogs live long Rotten stuff is remembred memorable mercies are forgotten whereas the soul should be as an holy Ark the memory as the pot of Manna preserving holy truths and special mercies as Aarons Rod fresh and flourishing Oh! let us imitate that man after Gods own heart If the Lord will be Davids Shepherd he will dwell in Gods house to all perpetuity Psalm 23. 1 6. If God deal bountifully with him he will sit down and bethink himself what to render for all his benefits Psalm 116. 7 12. A Christian counts all that he can do for God by way of retribution but a little of that much he could beteem him and thinks nothing more unbeseeming him than to bury the mercies of God in oblivion His two mites of Thankfulness and Obedience he daily presents and then cryes out as that poor Grecian did to the Emperour If I had a better present thou shouldest be sure of it What then may we judge of those persons in our daies who labour to extenuate yea annihilate these deliverances that would have no publick commemorations of them that study how to invalidate them and to blot out the remembrance of them To render good for evil is Divine Good for good is Humane Evil for evil is brutish But evil for good is Devillish Yet alas how ordinary an evil is this among us to abuse our deliverances to Gods dishonour But Do ye thus requite the Lord O foolish people and unwise Is not he thy Father he hath bought thee c. Deut. 32. 6. Should we not remember that good-turns aggravate unkindnesses and our offences are not a little encreased by our obligations Ingrateful persons are like the Snake in the Fable who said to the Country-man when he had shewed it kindness Summum praemium pro summo beneficio est ingratitudo Ingratitude is the greatest reward of the greatest benefit How many such Snakes have we amongst us that return evil for good and unkindness for kindness Is not this to fight against God with his own weapons as David did against Goliah as Jehu did against Jehoram and as Benhadad did against Ahab with that life that he had lately given him For the preventing whereof if it may be are these things published being almost worn out of remembrance more than the very names of them Besides though they may be found in larger Volumes yet are they not so fit for every Family And as I have presumed honourable and beloved to publish them under your protection so I doubt not but they will find the better entertainment for the same My earnest desire and prayer for you is that the God of Peace will fill you with all joy and peace by believeing multiplying his Blessings upon you and yours And that you would afford me a room in your Albe among those that Sir Madam From my Study in Thridneedle-Street Octob. 22. 1657. Love honour and serve you Sam. Clark THE Spanish Invasion A Commemoration of that wonderful and almost miraculous Deliverance afforded by God to this Nation from the Spanish Invasion Anno Christi 1588. THE year one thousand five hundred eighty eight was foretold by an Astronomer of Koningsberg above one hundred years before that it should prove a wonderful year and the German Chronologers presaged 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 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 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 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 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 Alvares Bassano Marquiss of Sancta Cruce who was to Command the Armado 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-Countries 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 Foreign Forces to assist Her hoping that according to the insolent manner of mercenaries they would raise mutinies and spoil the Country 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 appoinâ—ed for Men Munition and all manner 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 hundred 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 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 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. 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 Fifty seven thousand eight hundred and eight Tun wherein were Eight hundred and forty five Mariners
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 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 than 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 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 Parma 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 Spaniard 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 Netherlánds 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 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 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 Tayo 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 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
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 of their utter ruine for they could not but run aground upon the sands and shallows near Zeland but the wind 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 Northeru Ocean for that they wanted many necessaries especially great shot their Ships also were pittifully 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 than 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 sustained 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 being now carried 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 healthful 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 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 not 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 if without further attempt they should return into Spain But on the other hand they considered that five 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 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 judgment of God upon that Giantlike 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 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 Sail out of Lisbon only fifty three returned into Spain Of the four Galliasses of Naples but one of
only we would have branded them in the Foreheads with the letter L. for Lutheran and reserved them for perpetual bondage This I take God to witness saith my Author I received of those great Lords as upon examination taken by the Council and by Commandment published it to the Army The next day saith he the Queen rode through her Army attended by Noble-Footmen Leicester Essex and Norris then Lord Marshall and divers other great Lords where she made an Excellent Oration to her Army and withal commanded a publick Fast to be kept Her Oration was this MY loving people we have been perswaded by some that are careful of our safety to take heed how we commit our selves to armed multitudes for fear of treachery but I assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people Let Tyrants fear I have alwaies so behaved my self that under God I have alwaies placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good will of my Subjects and therefore I am come amongst you as you see at this time not for my recreation and disport but being resolved in the middest and heat of the battel to live or die amongst you all to lay down for my God and for my Kingdom and for my people my Honour and my Blood even in the dust I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble Woman but I have the Heart and Stomach of a King and of a King of England too and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain or any Prince of Europe should dare to invade the Borders of my Realm to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me I my self will take up Arms I my self will be your General Judge and Rewarder of every one of your vertues in the Field I know that already for your forwardness you have deserved Rewards and Crowns and we do assure you in the word of a Prince that shall be duly paid you In the mean time my Lieutenant General Leicester shall be in my stead than whom never Prince commanded a more Noble or Worthy Subject not doubting but by your Obedience to my General by your Concord in the Camp and your valour in the Field we shall shortly have a famous Victory over those Enemies of my God of my Kingdoms and my people 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 Thanksgivings 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 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 to give all the glory to God as the Author of this wonderful deliverance and when that was ended Her Majesty Her self 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 thankfulness 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 Country with this Inscription Glory to God alone and on the reverse the Portraicture of great Ships under written the Spanish Fleet and in the Circumference It came 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 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