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WhyWaitForever - London - History - Armada
This contemporary account of the Spanish Armada still stirs the soul.
The massive Spanish Aramada sailed along the English Channel with the aim of picking up troops in the Netherlands to land and conquer England. The Spanish ships were harried all the way by the lighter better sailed English ships.
The English Mecurie
Published by Authoritie
For the Prevention of false Reportes
Whitehall, July 23d, 1588.
Earlie this Morninge arrived a Messenger at Sir Francis Walsingham's Office, with Letters of the 22d from the Lorde High Admirall on board the Ark-Royal, containinge the followinge materiall Advices.
On the 20th of this Instant Capt. Fleming, who had beene ordered to cruize in the Chops of the Channell, for Discoverie, brought Advice into Plymouth, that he had descried the Spanish Armada neare the Lizard, making for the Entrance of the Channell with a favourable Gale.
Though this Intelligence was not received till near foure in the Afternoone, and the Winde at that time blew hard into the Sound, yet by the indefatigable Care and Diligence of the Lorde High Admiral, the Ark-Royal, with five of the largest Frigates, anchored out of the Harbour that very Eveninge. The next Morninge, the greatest Part of her Majestie's Fleet gott out to them. They made in all about eighty Sail, divided into four Squadrons, commanded by his Lordship in Person, Sir Francis Drake Vice-Admiral, and the Rear-Admirals Hawkins and Forbisher.
But about one in the Afternoone, they came in Sighte of the Spanish Armado two Leagues to the Westward of the Eddistone, sailing in the Form of a half-Moon, the Points whereof were seven Leagues asunder. By the best Computation, that could be made on the sudden (which the Prisoners have since confirmed), they cannot be fewer than one hundred and fifty Ships of all Sorts ; and severall of them called Galloons and Galleasses, are of a Size never seene before in our Seas, and appeare on the Surface of the Water like floatinge Castles.
But the Sailors were soe far from being daunted by the Number and Strengthe of the Enemie, that as soon as they discerned from the top-mast-Head, acclamations of Joy refounded through the whole Fleete. The Lord High admirall observing his generall Alacritie, after a Council of War had beene held, directed the Signall of Battle to be hung out.
We attacked the Enemy's Reare with the Advantage of the Winde : The Earl of Cimberland in the Defiance gave the first Fire : My Lord Howard himselfe was next engaged for about three Hours with Don Alphonso de Leyva in the St. Jaques, which would certaynly have struck, if she had not beene seasonably rescued by Anga de Moncada.
In the meane tvme, Sir Francis Drake and the two Rear-Admirals Hawkins and Forbisher, vigourously broadsided the Enemies sternmost Ships commanded by Vice-Admiral Recalde, which were forced to retreat much shattered to the maine Body of their Fleete, Where the Duke de Medina himself commanded.
About Sun set we had the Pleasure of seeing this invincible Armada fill all their Sails to get away from us. The Lord Admirall slackened his, in order to expect the Arrivall of twenty fresh Frigates, with which he intends to pursue the Enemie, whom we hope by the Grace of God to prevent from landinge one Man on English grounde.
In the Night the St. Francis Galleon, of which Don Pedro de Valdez was Captaine, fell in with Vice-Admirall Drake, who tooke her after a stout Resistance. She was disabled from keepinge up with the rest of the Fleete, by an Accident, which happened to her, of springing her Fore-maste. She carryes fifty Guns and five hundred Men, both Souldiers and Mariners. The Captours found on board five thousand Golde Ducats, which they shared amongst them after bringing her into Plymouth.
Such Preparations have beene long made, by her Majestie's Wisdom and Forefighte for Defence of the Kingdome, that (setting aside the common Accidents of War), no greate Danger is to be apprehended, though the Spaniards should lande in any Parte of it; since besides the two Campes at Tilbury and Blackheath, large Bodyes of Militia are disposed along the Coaste under experienced Commandours, with proper Instructions howe to behave, in case a Descent cannot be prevented til a greater Force may be drawne together, and severall of the principall of her Majesties Council and the Nobility have raised Troopes of Horse at their owne Charge, well trained and officered, which are readye to take the Fielde at an Houre's Warning.
The Queene was pleased to review them last Weeke in the Parke at Nonsuch, and expressed the highest Satisfaction at their gallent Appearance : In soe much, that by God's Blessinge there is no doubte but this unjust and dareing Enterprise of the Kinge of Spayne will turne out to his everlasting Shame and Dishonour, as all Rankes of People, without Respect of Religion, seeme resolute to defend the sacred Persone of their Sovereigne and the Lawes and Liberties of this Country, against all foreigne Invaders.
Ostend, July 27th N.S.
Nothinge is now talked of in these Partes, but the intended Invasion of England. His Highnesse the Prince of Parma has compleated his Preparationes, of which the following Accounte may be depended upon as exacte and authentique.
The Armie designed for the Expedition is selected out of all the Spanish Troopes in the Netherlands, and consistes of thirty thousand Foote, and eighteen hundred Horse. At Nieuport are quartered thirty Companies of Italians, ten of Walloons, and eight of Burgundians, commanded by Camp-Master Generall Camillo de Monte. At Dixmuyde lie readye eighty Companies of Flemings, sixty of Spaniards, sixty of Germans, and above seven hundred fugitive English, and headed by the two Irish Arch-Traitours, the Earles of Westmorland, and Sir William Stanley.
Besides these, four thousand Men out of the old Spanish Brigades are lodged in the Suburbes of Corrick, and nine hundred Reisters at Watene, together with the Marquisse de Guast General of the Cavalrie. Volunteers of the first Qualitie are arrived from different Countries, to share in the Honoure of this Enterprize, as the Duke de Pastrana, the Marquisse of Brisgaw, (Son to the Arch-Duke Ferdinand), Don Juan de Medicis, Don Amadeus Bastarde of Savoye, besides manie others of less note, whome we have not roome to enumerate. For the Transportation of these Forces, Vessels of all Sortes are prepared at Dunkirk, Antwerp, and Nieuport, fitted up with all manner of Conveniences; the flat bottomed Boates for the Cavalrie have Bridges fixed to them, for the more easie Shipping or Disembarkation of Horse. The Transportes for the Foote containe each two Ovens, to bake Bread, in case they should be kepte longer at Sea then they hope to bee.
Twenty thousand Caskes are provided at the Graveling, with Nailes and Cordage, which can soone be throwne into the Forme of a Bridge : And a greate Pile of Fascines is erected near Nieuport, designed for the fillinge up of Ditches, covering Workemen at a Siege, and other Artes of that Nature.
The little Hoyes, and Barges loaded with Arms, Powder and Provisions, are to bee conveyed through Canals cut from Bruges and Ghent, to Antwerp, SLuys and Nieuport, and soe into the British Channell.
The Scheme is sayed to be settled, that as soone as their great Armado arrives in Sighte of the Flemish Portes, the Prince of Parma is to get out with his Transportes and joyne them. After which, they are in a Bodie to force their Waye up the River of THames, against all Impediments, and lande as near London as they can. But whilst these Harbours are so closely watched by the united Squadrone of her Majesttie and the States, commanded by the Lord Henry Seymor, it is the general Opinion, that his Highnesse will finde it impossible to put to Sea, and we hope the Lorder Admiral Howard will prevent the Spanish Navie from being in a Condition to raise the Blockade.
London, July 23d.
The Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Common-Council and Lieutenancie of the greate City wayted upon her Majestie at Westminster this afternoone, with Assurances of their hearty and unanimous Resolution, to stande by and support her Majestie at this criticall Juncture, with their Lives and Fortunes, when her invaluable Life, the true Protestant Religion, and all the Priviledges of free-borne Englishmen are threatened by an open Attack from our bigotted and bloode-thirsty Adversaries the Spaniards. The Queene received them very graciously, and assured them she did not doubte their zealous Endevours to serve theyr Country on the present very improtant Occasion ; that for her Part she relyed on God's Providence and the goodnesse of her Cause, and was resolvde to run all Risques with her faithfull Subjectes.
Imprinted at London by Christ. Barker,her Highnesse's Printer, 1588.