SECT. III.

BOTH Sides being thus fitted out, and prepared for Action, let us now proceed,

Thirdly, To give an Account of the Expedition, and the several Engagements between the two Fleets, with the final Event of the whole.

The King of Spain’s Instructions to his General, were^[46], To repair to Calais Road, and there wait for the Arrival of the Duke of Parma, who had Orders to join him with his Fleet and Forces; and, upon their meeting, to open a Letter directed to them both, with further Orders [particularly, to advance up the Thames, and attack London.] He was strictly enjoined, in the mean time, to sail along the Coasts of Bretagne and Normandy, in order to avoid being discovered by the English Fleet; and if unexpectedly he should meet them, not to offer Battle, but act only upon the Defensive.

With these Instructions, the Spanish Fleet set sail on the 19^th of May from the Tagus, and steer’d for the Groyne, the Place of general Rendezvous. But they had not been long at Sea, before they were so dispersed by a violent Storm, off of Cape Finisterre, that scarce the third Part of them reached, some Days after, the intended Port: And three of the Gallies, by the Stratagem of David Gwyn, an English Slave, assisted by some of the Moorish Rowers, were run into a Harbour of France^[47].

In the mean time, the Lord Howard having continued a good while upon the Narrow Seas between England and Flanders^[48], sent Sir Francis Drake towards the Western Coasts, with about fifty Sail, great and small; intending to follow himself, with a stronger Force, if there should be Occasion. For the present he remained in the Downs, with the Lord Henry Seymour his Vice-Admiral, where they had under their Command twenty Ships belonging to the City of London, with several other Vessels fitted out by the Coast-Towns, from the Thames to Newcastle. But News being brought of the Armada’s being ready to put to Sea, the Admiral left the Lord Henry Seymour with a convenient Number of Ships, to watch the Duke of Parma’s Motions; and setting Sail on the 21^st of May, with about thirty Vessels of all Sorts, arrived on the 23^d at Plymouth. Here he was joined by Sir Francis Drake, whom he constituted his Vice-Admiral, and whose Squadron, by the Addition of some Vessels from the Western Ports, amounted now to sixty Sail.

The Lord Howard, upon his Arrival at Plymouth, gave Orders for the Victualling, and putting in Readiness, the whole Fleet, which now consisted in all of about ninety Ships and Barks. As soon as it was ready he put out to Sea, and cruized at the Channel’s Mouth, between Ushent and Scilly, looking out for the Spanish Fleet. He thus continued cruizing for several Days, sometimes upon the Coast of France, and sometimes upon that of England; and, at last, hearing nothing of the Spaniards, returned to Plymouth, for a new Supply of Victuals, and other Necessaries.

Mean while, fourteen Spanish Ships were discovered between Ushent and Scilly, which were afterwards known to have been separated from the rest of the Fleet by the late Storm. But before they could be met with by any English Ships, they had a Northerly Wind, which carried them back to the Groyne; where, and at the neighbouring Ports, the whole Fleet took in their Soldiers and Warlike Provisions.

The Spanish Fleet, as has been said above, had been dispersed, and somewhat disabled by a violent Storm. This had like to have proved more fatal to the English than to the Spaniards themselves^[49]. For it being reported all over Europe, that the whole Spanish Fleet was destroyed, Queen Elizabeth and her Ministers thought that it was at least so damaged, as that it could not proceed ’till the next Year. Relying therefore upon this Intelligence, which they took for certain, Secretary Walsingham signified the Queen’s Pleasure to the Lord High-Admiral, to send back four of his largest Ships into Port. His Lordship had, in the mean time, likewise Intelligences sundry ways, that the Enemy’s Fleet was dispersed into several Ports of Spain, distressed, spoiled, in want of Provisions, and with a great Mortality among the Men. This, however, happened to be only a false Rumour. The Lord-Admiral not thinking it safe to depend upon such Uncertainties, when the Nation’s All was at Stake, got the Order countermanded; alledging how dangerous it was to be too credulous in a matter of such Importance, and that he would rather keep the Ships out at his own Charge, than hazard his Country’s Safety. But, in order to be fully satisfied, (as he was sure that the Coasts of England and France, which he had examined, were clear) he thought proper^[50], with the Advice of a Council of War, to take the Opportunity of the first Northerly Wind, and go in quest of the Spanish Fleet, in the Groyne, and other Ports of Gallicia; and there utterly destroy it, if it were already so disabled as was reported; or, if otherwise, to get certain Intelligence concerning its true State and Condition. Accordingly his Lordship made Sail for the Coast of Spain, with a Northerly Wind, and held the same Course for about three Days, from the 8^th to the 10^th of July. He was not then above forty Leagues from that Kingdom, when being informed that the Enemy’s Fleet was not so much damaged as reported, and the Wind coming to be Southerly, he judged it best (as his Instructions were to guard the English Coasts,) to return to Plymouth; lest the same Wind should bring the Enemies out, and carry them by him, unseen, towards England. He arrived at Plymouth the 12^th of July, and with great Expedition supplied his Fleet with whatever Necessaries were wanting.

His Caution was indeed very seasonable: For with the same Southerly Wind the Duke of Medina Sidonia sailed, with the whole Fleet under his Command, from the Groyne, on the 12^th of July, (the very same Day the Lord Admiral arrived at Plymouth,) and in two or three Days detached a Yatch to the Duke of Parma, with Notice of his being advanced so far. He pressed him at the same Time, to be ready with the Troops and Ships he was directed to provide, in order to pass over into England under his Convoy, as soon as he should be arrived in the Streights of Dover.

While the Spanish Fleet lay at the Groyne^[51], an English Fisherman that was taken and brought to that Place, gave the Enemies, either out of Ignorance or Design, this false Account: “That the English Fleet had lately been at Sea; but seeing no Prospect of the Spaniards pursuing their Design that Year, was returned, and the greater Part of the Men belonging to the Ships discharged.” This false Intelligence made the Duke of Medina Sidonia deviate from his Instructions; and as he vainly supposed that he could easily surprise our Fleet, and burn or otherwise destroy it, he resolved not to lose so glorious an Opportunity. Instead therefore of going directly to join the Duke of Parma, a Resolution was taken in the Spanish Fleet, to bend their Course towards England.

^[52]On the 16^th of July there was a Calm and a thick Fog ’till Noon. Then the North East Wind blew very strong, and presently after the West Wind ’till Midnight; and then the East-South-East Wind; insomuch that the Spanish Fleet being thereby dispersed, was hardly joined again ’till it came within Sight of England. At length this Fleet, after an indifferent Passage over the Bay of Biscay, arrived July 19, in Sight of England and entered the Channel. The first Land they made was the Lizard, which they took to be the Ram’s Head near Plymouth; but Night approaching, they stood off, designing the next Morning to attack the English Ships in Plymouth Harbour.

The same Day^[53], the Lord Admiral was informed by Captain Thomas Flemming, Commander of the Golden Hind Pinnace, who had been left in the Channel for Discovery, that |Plate 1.| the Spanish Fleet was seen near the Lizard, the Wind being then Southerly, or South-West. Tho’ the Wind blew hard into Plymouth-Sound, and the Intelligence was not received ’till about four o’ Clock in the Afternoon, yet his Lordship, with much Diligence and Industry, got out the same Evening with six of his Ships, and anchored with them alone the whole Night, without the Harbour.

^[54]The next Day, July 20, the Lord High-Admiral, accompanied with fifty four Ships of his Fleet, that had plied out of the Sound, notwithstanding the South-West Wind, advanced towards the Enemy. They were scarce got as far as the Eddystone, when they discovered, about Noon, the Spanish Fleet to the |Plate 2.|Westward, opposite to Fowey, in form of a half Moon (the Points whereof were about seven Miles asunder) coming slowly up the Channel, tho’ with full Sails. The English suffered them to pass by unmolested, that they might chace them in the rear, with all the Advantage of the Wind.

The next Morning, July 21, all the English Ships being then come out of Plymouth, and in number near a hundred, had recovered the Wind of the Spaniards^[55], two Leagues to the Westward of Eddystone. About Nine o’ Clock, the Lord-Admiral sent his Pinnace, named the Defiance^[56], to denounce War against the Enemy, by the Discharge of all her Guns. He himself immediately seconded her from his own Ship, the Ark-Royal, by thundering furiously on one of the Enemy’s, commanded by Alphonso de Leva, which he mistook for the St. Martin, the Admiral’s Ship; but she was, after a smart Engagement, |Plate 3.|rescued by the Spaniards. In the mean time, Sir Francis Drake, Captain John Hawkins, and Captain Martin Forbisher, vigorously engaged the Enemy’s sternmost Ships, under the Conduit of their Vice-Admiral Recalde; in one of which Recalde himself was supposed to be. He did all that a gallant Officer could do to keep his Ships together; but the Fight was so briskly maintained, that, notwithstanding all his Endeavours, they were forced to retreat to the main Body of the Fleet; and at length, his own Ship being very much damaged with Shot, and grown unserviceable, he retired thither himself, tho’ with much ado.

In this first Engagement Recalde’s Ship lost fifteen Men^[57].

At the same time, the Duke of Medina gathered together his Fleet^[58], which was dispersed about; and hoisting more Sail, held on his Course with all the Speed he could make. Nor was it in his Power to do otherwise, seeing the Wind favoured the English, and their Ships were so light and nimble, that they would charge, wind, and tack about with incredible Swiftness; whereas the Spanish great and heavy Slugs, stood like so many Butts for the English Shot. Although the Spaniards were so briskly charged by the English, they made a running Fight of it; and, after a smart Engagement of two Hours, the Lord High-Admiral thought fit to desist, because forty of his Ships were not yet come up, being scarce got out of Plymouth Haven^[59]. So not proceeding any farther, he gave the Signal for a Council of War;——Wherein his Lordship’s prudent and considerate Advice being very much approved, Orders were delivered to each Captain, in what manner they should pursue the Enemy.

The Night following, one of the Spanish Ships, called the St. Katherine, having received much Damage in the Fight, was brought into the midst of their Fleet, to be repaired^[60]. And a large Biscayan Ship of eight hundred Tuns, belonging to Michael de Oquendo, Admiral of the Guypuscoan Squadron, on board of which was the Treasurer of the Fleet, was designedly set on Fire by a Dutch Gunner, who had been ill used^[61]; but the Spaniards took out the best Part of the Money, when they saw the Ship in Danger; and after her upper Part was burnt and blown up, the Flame was extinguished by some Ships that came seasonably to her Assistance. But one of them, a great Galleon, commanded by Don Pedro de Valdez, sprung her Foremast and Boltsprit, by falling foul of another Vessel in the Hurry and Confusion; and so, not being able to keep Company with the rest of the Fleet, was left behind. The Night being extremely dark, and the Sea running so high, that no Succour could come to her, she fell the next Day, July 22, into the Hands of |Plate 4.|Sir Francis Drake; who had her conducted to Dartmouth, and sent the Captain, and some other Gentlemen who were on board, Prisoners to Plymouth, where they remained eighteen Months, ’till their Ransoms were paid. In this Galleon was found fifty five thousand Ducats of Gold, which Drake’s Men shared amongst themselves.

^[62]This Night the Spanish Fleet bore along by the Start, and the next Morning was as far to the Leward as the Berry^[63]. Sir Francis Drake had been ordered to carry Lights; but being in full Chace of some German Hulks, or Merchant-Men, which he discovered late in the Evening, and took for Enemies, he happened to neglect it; which occasioned most of the Fleet to lye by all Night, because not seeing the Lights, they knew not whom to follow. For that Reason, Sir Francis, and the rest of the Fleet, did not come up ’till the next Evening with the Lord Admiral; who, accompanied only with the Bear and the Mary Rose, had pursued the Enemy, within Culverin Shot, all the foregoing Night. ^[64]Thro’ this Mistake, the rest of the English Fleet staid so far behind, that the next Morning the nearest could scarce be seen half Mast high, and very many were quite out of Sight.

July 22. This whole Day the Spanish Admiral spent in disposing his Fleet in the best Order he could think of. ^[65]He commanded Alphonso de Leva to bring the first and the last Squadron together; and assigning every particular Ship its proper Station in Battle, according to the Plan agreed on in Spain, enjoined their respective Commanders to keep the same on Pain of Death. He also dispatch’d Glich, an Ensign, to the Prince of Parma, to advise him of his near Approach, and inform him of the State of the Navy. In the mean time, the forementioned Ship of Oquendo having been much damaged by the Fire, the Spanish Admiral ordered, after the Officers, Men, and Money were removed into another Vessel, |Plate 5.|that she should be abandoned, and set adrift^[66]. Whereupon, the Lord High-Admiral sent the Lord Thomas Howard, and Captain Hawkins in a small Skiff on board her, who found her in a very pitiful Condition. Her Decks were fallen in, the Steerage broken, the Stern blown out, and about fifty poor Creatures burnt with Powder in a most miserable manner. The Stench, as well as the horrible Spectacle, soon made them return to the Lord-Admiral; who ordered the Bark Fleming to conduct her into some Port, and accordingly she was brought the next Day into Weymouth.

The Night following prov’d very calm; during which, the four Galleasses of Naples singling themselves from the rest of the Enemy’s Fleet, gave Reason to suspect that they had a Design to distress some of the small English Vessels, which were short of the Fleet; but their Courage failing them, they attempted nothing.

On the 23^d the Wind turning to the North-East, the Spaniards took the Advantage of it; and when they came over against Portland, tacked about upon the English, who presently tacked likewise, and stood in to the North-West, towards the Shore, as did the Spaniards also. But that Course not being good for the English to recover the Wind of the Spaniards, the former cast about to the Eastward. And, after several Attempts on both Sides to get the Weather-gage, the Spaniards offering to board the English, a smart Engagement began, which was managed with Confusion enough, and with Variety of Success. The Enemy seeing several of the English Ships waited their coming, particularly the Ark, the Nonpareil, the Elizabeth-Jonas, the Victory, &c. they fell a stern the Nonpareil, which was the hindmost Ship; and in the mean time, the Triumph, with the Merchant-Royal, the Centurion, the Margaret and John, the Mary-Rose, and the Golden-Lion, were so far to the Leeward, and at such a Distance from the rest of the Fleet, that the Galleasses took Courage, and bearing down upon them, attacked them very vigorously; but they gave them a warm Reception for an Hour and a half, ’till some of her Majesty’s Ships came to their Relief.

The Wind then shifted to the South-East, and afterwards to the South-South-West; |Plate 6.|whereupon a Body of English Ships, and several Merchant-Men attacked the Spanish Fleet so sharply to the Westward, that it was all forced to give way. The Lord-Admiral perceiving this, and observing at the same Time the Distress which the Triumph and the five Ships above mentioned in her Company, were in, he ordered some Ships that were then near at hand, to follow him, and to set upon the Spaniards a-fresh; and he strictly charged them, to go within Musket-Shot of the Enemy, before they discharged any one Piece of Ordnance, that they might have a better Mark, and more effectually succour the Triumph. This was immediately performed by the Ark, the Elizabeth-Jonas, the Galleon of Leicester, the Golden Lion, the Victory, the Mary Rose, the Dreadnought, and the Swallow; for in that order they proceeded. The Duke of Medina perceiving their Design, came out with sixteen of his best Galleons, to intercept the Lord Admiral, and stop him from assisting the Triumph. But, after a very sharp Conflict, the Spaniards were forced to give way, and for their greater Safety to gather themselves close into a Roundel, their best and largest Ships standing outermost, and fencing the lesser and the most battered. In this Conflict, William Coxe, Captain of a small Pinnace of Sir William Winter’s, nam’d the Delight, was slain by a great Shot, while he was bravely fighting against the Enemy.

Towards the Evening, four or five of the Spanish Vessels edged out of the South-Westward, where they were met by some of our Ships; amongst which, the May-Flower of London valiantly discharged some Pieces of Cannon at them; and, on this and other Occasions, that Ship’s Company behaved with great Resolution and Courage.

Thus the Fight continued from Morning till Night, being managed with great Bravery; but the Spaniards Shot flew, for the most part, over the Heads of the English, without doing Execution^[67]; the reason of which was, that the English Ships being far less than the Enemy’s, made the Attack with more Quickness and Agility; and when they had given a Broad-Side, sheer’d off to a convenient Distance; and levell’d their Shot so directly at the larger and more unwieldy Ships of the Spaniards, as seldom to miss their Aim. Some advis’d the Lord-Admiral, with more Heat than Discretion, to grapple with and board them; but he thought it neither safe nor convenient; because the Enemy’s Fleet had a considerable Army on board, whereas ours had no such Advantage; besides their Ships far exceeded the English in Number and Bulk, and were much stronger and higher built; insomuch that their Men having the Opportunity to ply the others from such lofty Decks, must inevitably have destroyed those that were obliged, as it were, to fight beneath them. And he foresaw likewise, that the Damage and Disgrace of a total Defeat would much outweigh the Advantage of a Victory, should he happen to obtain it; since, if he was vanquished, it would have much endangered the Safety of the whole Kingdom; but if he got the better, he could obtain no more than the naked Credit of putting a Fleet in Disorder, and baffling an Enemy.——In this Day’s Engagement, a great Venetian Ship, with several other smaller ones were taken by the English^[68].

On the 24^th of July, there was but little done^[69]; the Fight being only between four great Galleasses and some English Vessels^[70]. The Spaniards, upon this Occasion had great Advantage, since their Ships had Oars, and ours, by reason of a Calm, had no use of their Sails. However, the English galled the Enemy very much with their Cannon and Chain-Shot; but at last, wanting Powder and other Necessaries to continue the Fight, the Lord Admiral sent some Vessels into the next Port for a Supply. In the mean time, a Council of War was held, wherein it was agreed, That the Fleet should be divided into four Squadrons, to be commanded, the first by the Lord Admiral himself in the Ark-Royal; the second by Sir Francis Drake in the Revenge; the third by Captain Hawkins; and the fourth by Captain Forbisher. ^[71]This Afternoon, his Lordship gave order, that in the Night, six Merchant-Ships out of every Squadron (as being the lightest) should set upon the Spanish Fleet in several Places at once; but it being calm all that Night, nothing could be done.

The next Morning, July 25, both |Plate 7.|Fleets being come over against the Isle of Wight, (which the Spaniards had resolved to make themselves Masters of,) and not above a hundred Yards asunder, a terrible Fight began^[72]. The St. Ann, a large Portuguese Galleon, being short of the rest to the Southward, because not able to keep up with them, was attack’d by some of Captain Hawkins’s Squadron, which stood next to it; who causing themselves to be towed along, attempted to board her, and went so close, that their Boats were beaten off with Musket-Shot: Leva and Don Diego Telles Enriques perceiving the Galleon’s Danger, issued out of the Spanish Fleet with three Galleasses, and endeavoured to rescue her; but they were so warmly received by the Lord Admiral himself, and the Lord Thomas Howard in the Golden Lion, who, by reason of the Calm, had their Ships tow’d along with Boats, that the Galleon was got off with much Difficulty, and not without Loss; for one of the Galleasses was forc’d to be carried away upon the Careen; another, by a Shot from the Ark, lost her Lanthorn; and the third her Peak-head. Thus many Shots were interchanged between the Ark and Lion and the Galleasses, in Sight of both Fleets, which looked on, and could not come near by reason of the Calm. At length it began to blow a small Gale, whereupon the Spanish Fleet edged up to succour their Galleasses, and so rescued them; but so roughly were the Galleasses handled, that after this none of them would venture upon any new Engagement.

^[73]Then the Fleets drawing near one another the Fight was renewed; but it did not continue long; except that the Nonpareil and the Mary Rose were for some time engaged with the Enemy, and striking their Topsails, lay a while by, and braved the whole Fleet of Spain. In the mean while, the Triumph, to the Northward of the Spanish Fleet, was so far to Leward, that being apprehensive some of the Enemy might weather her, she towed off with the Help of several Boats, and so recovered the Wind. The Bear and the Elizabeth Jonas perceiving her in Distress, bore down to rescue her, and by their Boldness put themselves into the like Danger; but they, however, made their party good, ’till they had recovered the Wind. And thus ended this Day’s Fight, which was very sharp for the time.

^[74]The Spaniards gave a different Account of this Day’s Engagement; for they said that the English did miserably batter, with their great Guns, the Spanish Admiral, who lay in the rear; came so near him as to kill many of his Men; brought his Mainmast by the board; and he was in great Danger of being lost, had not Mexia and Recalde come timely to his Assistance; but that, after this, the Spanish Admiral and his Men, seconded by Recalde, and others, set upon the English Admiral, who by the turning of the Wind happily escaped; that the Spaniards from that time gave over the Chace, and keeping on their Course, dispatch’d a Messenger to the Duke of Parma, to desire him to come and join the Armada with his own Squadron as soon as possible; and to send them withal some great Shot for the use of the main Fleet.

^[75]However it be, the English had so battered the Enemy in the last Conflict, that the latter had Recourse to the Form of a Roundel for their better Security.

^[76]On Friday, July 26, the Lord High-Admiral sent for the Lord Thomas Howard the Lord Sheffield, Roger Townshend, Captain Martin Forbisher, Captain John Hawkins, on board his own Ship the Ark; and there confer’d on them the Honour of Knighthood, as well for a Reward of their good Services in the late Engagement, as for an Encouragement to the rest of the Officers.

^[77]Next, a Council of War being held, it was determined, as our Ships began to want Powder and Shot, that they should not attack the Spaniards again ’till they came to the Streights of Calais; because they would there be joined and reinforced by the Squadron under the Command of the Lord Henry Seymour and Sir William Winter, stationed in those Parts to block up the Duke of Parma; and might, at the same time, receive a plentiful Store of Ammunition from our Coasts.

^[78]So the Spanish Fleet sailed forward, |Plate 8.|this and the best part of the next Day, with a gentle Gale at South-West and by South, the English following them close, and driving them like Sheep before them; and so far was this Invincible Armada from alarming the Sea-Coasts with any frightful Apprehensions, that a great many of the young Nobility and Gentry entered themselves Volunteers, and taking leave of their Parents, Wives, and Children, did, with incredible Chearfulness, hire Ships at their own Charge; and, in pure Love to their Country, joined the Grand Fleet in vast numbers: ^[79]Among which were, the Earls of Oxford, Northumberland, and Cumberland; the Lord Dudley; Sir Thomas, Sir Robert, and William Cecil; Sir Henry Brooke, Sir William Hatton, Sir Charles Blount, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Robert Carey, Sir Ambrose Willoughby, Sir Thomas Vavasor, Sir Horatio Pallavicini; Thomas Gerard, Henry Nowel, Edward Darcy, Thomas Woodhouse, William Harvey, Arthur Gorges, and others; ^[80]and at the same time, the Justices of Peace in the maritime Counties, as also the Earl of Sussex, Sir George Carey, and the Captains of the Forts and Castles along the Sea-Coasts, sent Ships, Men, Powder, Shot, Victuals, and all kinds of Provisions, for the Relief and Assistance of the main Fleet.

^[81]July 27. This Day, towards the Evening, the Spanish Fleet came to an Anchor before Calais; ^[82]intending for Dunkirk, where they were to join the Prince of Parma’s Forces; ^[83]but their Pilots having told them, that, if they ventured any farther, they should be in danger of being carried away by the Force of the Tide into the Northern Channel, for that Reason they proceeded no farther than Calais; the English, on their part, followed them close, and anchored within Culverin-Shot of them; and, by the accession of the Ships under the Lord Henry Seymour and Sir William Winter, consisted now of a hundred and forty Sail, all stout Ships, and nimble and good Sailors; tho’ the main Brunt of the Engagement lay but upon fifteen or sixteen of them.

The Spaniards now sent several Messengers, one after another, to the Duke of Parma, to press and importune him to send out forty Fly-Boats to their Assistance; without which, by reason of the Unwieldiness of their Ships, they could not, as they said, engage the light and active Vessels of the English; they entreated him likewise, with great Earnestness, to use all Speed in embarking his Army, and be ready to take the first Opportunity, under their Protection, of landing in England; but it seems he was not ready, and so could not answer their Summons; his flat-bottom’d Boats were all leaky, his Provisions not yet all brought in, and his Sailors, who had been hitherto kept together against their Wills, had deserted in great numbers; besides, thirty five Men of War belonging to Holland and Zealand, commanded by Count Justin de Nassau, continued to block up the very Mouth of the Harbours of Dunkirk and Nieuport, from whence alone he could put to Sea; and so well were they furnished with great Guns and small Arms, that he could not possibly put from Shore, without running a very great and manifest Danger; however, intending as soon as he conveniently could, to join the Spanish Fleet, he sent a Pinnace to inform the Duke of Medina, “^[84]That he could not be ready for them ’till the Friday following, September 4;” but the Spanish Fleet was forced to depart before that time, in the utmost Hurry and Confusion.

^[85]For, on July 28, the next Day |Plate 9.|after their coming to an Anchor, the Lord Admiral, by the Queen’s express Command and Direction, singled out eight of his worst Ships; bestowed upon them good Plenty of Pitch, Tar, Rosin, and Wildfire; lined them well with Brimstone and other combustible Matter; and loaded all their Cannon with Bullets, Chains, and the like destructive Instruments; thus equip’d, he sent them with the Wind and Tide, about two o’ Clock in the Morning, into the midst of the Spanish Fleet, under the Conduct of —— Young and —— Prowse; who when they were come within Cannon-Shot, set Fire to the Trains, and then retired. The Approach of these Fire-Ships, and the dreadful Blaze which the Fire made all the Sea over, was no sooner perceived by the Spaniards, but it put their whole Fleet into the utmost Consternation. Many of the Soldiers on board had been at the Siege of Antwerp^[86], and seen the destructive Machines made use of there: Suspecting therefore that these were big with other Engines of Slaughter, besides the destructive Element that show’d itself without, they began to raise a most hideous Clamour of, Cut your Cables, or get up your Anchors; ^[87]and in a panic Fright put to Sea with all the Confusion and Precipitancy imaginable.

^[88]The Spaniards reported, however, That their Admiral, upon the Approach of the Fire-Ships, made the Signal for weighing Anchor, and standing out to Sea; and ordered that each Ship, after the Danger was over, should return to her Station; that he did return himself, and fired a Gun as a Signal for the rest to do the like; but the Report thereof was heard but by few; because their Fears had so dispersed them, that some were got a considerable way out to Sea, and others among the Shoals on the Coast of Flanders.

However it was, the Spanish Fleet being by this successful Stratagem thus driven from their Station in Calais-Road^[89], another very sharp Engagement began the next Morning about Eight o’ Clock, July 29, and continued eight Hours. The chief Galleass, commanded by Hugo de Moncada, having in the last Night’s Confusion lost her Rudder, by falling foul of another Ship’s Cable, and floated up and down for some time before the Wind, endeavoured to save herself by rowing into |Plate 10.|Calais Harbour; which the Lord Admiral perceiving, he dispatch’d Mr. Amias Preston, one of his Lieutenants, into his Long-Boat, with Mr. Thomas Gerrard, Mr. William Hervey, and others, to take her; she did not however surrender ’till after a sharp and doubtful Dispute, wherein Hugo de Moncada was killed, by a Shot in the Head; and the Soldiers and Rowers to the number of four hundred, either drowned or put to the Sword: ^[90]The Ship and Guns, after the English had freed three hundred Galley-Slaves which were on board, and taken out fifty thousand Ducats of Gold, of the King of Spain’s Money, fell, as a Wreck to Monsieur Gourden, Governor of Calais^[91].

^[92]In the taking of this Galleass, Mr. Gerard and Mr. Harvey signalized themselves; for they entered it only with their Swords; a thing then commonly spoken of with Admiration, the like having never been hazarded before, considering the Height of this Galleass compar’d to a Ship’s Boat.

^[93]The rest of the Spaniards in the mean time, managed their Fleet as well as they could, and stood over against Graveling, where the English once more getting the Weather-Gage of them, deprived them of the Conveniency of Calais-Road, and kept them from receiving any Supplies from Dunkirk.

^[94]Whilst the Lord Admiral was employed in taking the forementioned Galleass, Sir Francis Drake in the Revenge, with Mr. Thomas Fennar in the Nonpareil, and the rest of his Squadron, warmly engaged the Spanish Fleet; soon after Sir John Hawkins in the Victory, accompanied with Mr. Edward Fenton in the Mary Rose, Sir George Beeston in the Dreadnought, Mr. Richard Hawkins in the Swallow, and the rest of that Squadron; together with Sir Robert Southwell in the Elizabeth-Jonas, and Mr. Robert Cross in the Hope; bearing up with the Middle of the Spanish Fleet, there continued all that Forenoon a furious Engagement, wherein Sir George Beeston behaved himself very valiantly; they were in the mean time seconded by the Lord Admiral, the Lord Thomas Howard, and the Lord Sheffield, who also acquitted themselves very bravely: Astern of these a great Galleon was attack’d by the Earl of Cumberland and Mr. George Ryman in the Bonaventure, and was likewise battered by the Lord Henry Seymour in the Rainbow, and Sir William Winter in the Vanguard; and tho’ she then recovered the Fleet, yet she sunk the Night following.

^[95]On the other hand, the Duke of Medina, with the rest of the Spanish Captains, as Leva, Oquendo, Recalde, &c. having with much ado got clear of the Shallows, were forced to stand the Brunt of the English Fire, ’till they were miserably torn, and in several Places shot through; ^[96]and a great Galleon of Biscay, of five hundred Tuns, with two Saicks, were sunk. The Galleon St. Matthew, of eight hundred Tuns, commanded by Don Diego de Piementelli, coming to the Assistance of Don Francisco de Toledo, in the St. Philip, another Galleon of seven hundred Tuns, they were both miserably shattered by the Lord Henry Seymour and Sir William Winter; ^[97]and being driven on the Coast of Ostend, were likewise there roughly handled by the Zealanders; but Piementelli refusing to leave his Ship, (though the Duke of Medina sent him his own,) did all he could to disengage himself; and therefore making towards the Coast of Flanders, he was there again attacked by five Dutch Men of War, and forc’d at last to strike to Peter Dousa^[98], one of the Dutch Captains, who carried him into Zealand and, for a Trophy of his Victory, hung his Flag in the Church of Leyden, which reach’d from the top of it to the bottom; ^[99]during which, a Castilian Ship of four hundred Tuns, was cast away on the Flemish Coast. The St. Philip, after having been driven almost as far as Ostend, where her Commander left her because she proved extremely leaky, was seized by some Ships of Flushing.

Thus did the Fight continue for the best part of this whole Day; during which the Spanish Fleet was closely pursued, extremely battered, and reduced to the utmost Distress^[100]. The English Commanders in general, shewed on all Occasions great Resolution and Bravery; and in this last Action, the Earl of Cumberland, the Lords Henry Seymour, Thomas Howard, and Edmund Sheffield; Sir William Winter, Sir Robert Southwell, Sir George Beeston, Sir John Hawkins; and the Captains Edward Fenton, Richard Hawkins, George Ryman, and ^[101]Robert Cross signalized themselves in a remarkable manner; the latter, in particular, sunk the great Galleon of Biscay above mentioned, and two other Vessels. As for the Spaniards, though some of them performed their Duty, and fought with great Bravery, yet, in general, they acted but faintly, and stood for the most part only upon the defensive, especially after they saw themselves disappointed of the Duke of Parma’s Assistance. “The Duke of Medina, we are told^[102], to his Dishonour, was lodged in the Bottom of his Ship for his Safety, and the rest of the Commanders would never turn their Ships, nor stop them, to defend any of their own Friends that were forced to tarry behind, but suffered divers to perish; and so fearful was the Admiral, that if the English had offered to board the Spanish Ships, it was thought they would have yielded without making any Resistance.” ^[103]In this last Engagement the Spaniards lost five thousand Men, a thousand whereof were drowned^[104]; and the next Day two Venetian Ships sunk, having eight hundred and forty three Men on board, which all perished.