SECT. III.

The List of theEnglish Fleet[45].

2. Ships serving by Tunnage with the Lord Admiral.

3. Ships serving with SirFrancis Drake.

4.LondonShips, fitted out by the City.

5. Coasters with the Lord Admiral.

6. Coasters with the LordHenry Seymor.

7. Volunteers with the Lord Admiral.

8. Victuallers.

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 ofSpain’s Instructions to his General, were[46], To repair toCalaisRoad, and there wait for the Arrival of the Duke ofParma, 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 theThames, and attackLondon.] He was strictly enjoined, in the mean time, to sail along the Coasts ofBretagneandNormandy, in order to avoid being discovered by theEnglishFleet; and if unexpectedly he should meet them, not to offer Battle, but act only upon the Defensive.

With these Instructions, theSpanishFleet set sail on the 19thofMayfrom theTagus, and steer’d for theGroyne, the Place of general Rendezvous. But they had not been long at Sea, before they were so dispersed by a violent Storm, off of CapeFinisterre, that scarce the third Part of them reached, some Days after, the intended Port: And three of the Gallies, by the Stratagem ofDavid Gwyn, anEnglishSlave, assisted by some of theMoorishRowers, were run into a Harbour ofFrance[47].

In the mean time, the LordHowardhaving continued a good while upon the Narrow Seas betweenEnglandandFlanders[48], sent SirFrancis Draketowards 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 theDowns, with the LordHenry Seymourhis Vice-Admiral, where they had under their Command twenty Ships belonging to the City ofLondon, with several other Vessels fitted out by the Coast-Towns, from theThamestoNewcastle. But News being brought of the Armada’s being ready to put to Sea, the Admiral left the LordHenry Seymourwith a convenient Number of Ships, to watch the Duke ofParma’s Motions; and setting Sail on the 21stofMay, with about thirty Vessels of all Sorts, arrived on the 23datPlymouth. Here he was joined by SirFrancis 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 LordHoward, upon his Arrival atPlymouth, 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, betweenUshentandScilly, looking out for theSpanishFleet. He thus continued cruizing for several Days, sometimes upon the Coast ofFrance, and sometimes upon that ofEngland; and, at last, hearing nothing of theSpaniards, returned toPlymouth, for a new Supply of Victuals, and other Necessaries.

Mean while, fourteenSpanishShips were discovered betweenUshentandScilly, 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 anyEnglishShips, they had a Northerly Wind, which carried them back to theGroyne; where, and at the neighbouring Ports, the whole Fleet took in their Soldiers and Warlike Provisions.

TheSpanishFleet, as has been said above, had been dispersed, and somewhat disabled by a violent Storm. This had like to have proved more fatal to theEnglishthan to theSpaniardsthemselves[49]. For it being reported all overEurope, that the wholeSpanishFleet was destroyed, QueenElizabethand 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, SecretaryWalsinghamsignified 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 ofSpain, 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 ofEnglandandFrance, 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 theSpanishFleet, in theGroyne, and other Ports ofGallicia; 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 ofSpain, with a Northerly Wind, and held the same Course for about three Days, from the 8thto the 10thofJuly. 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 theEnglishCoasts,) to return toPlymouth; lest the same Wind should bring the Enemies out, and carry them by him, unseen, towardsEngland. He arrived atPlymouththe 12thofJuly, 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 ofMedina Sidoniasailed, with the whole Fleet under his Command, from theGroyne, on the 12thofJuly, (the very same Day the Lord Admiral arrived atPlymouth,) and in two or three Days detached a Yatch to the Duke ofParma, 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 intoEnglandunder his Convoy, as soon as he should be arrived in the Streights ofDover.

While theSpanishFleet lay at theGroyne[51], anEnglishFisherman that was taken and brought to that Place, gave the Enemies, either out of Ignorance or Design, this false Account: “That theEnglishFleet had lately been at Sea; but seeing no Prospect of theSpaniardspursuing their Design that Year, was returned, and the greater Part of the Men belonging to the Ships discharged.” This false Intelligence made the Duke ofMedina Sidoniadeviate 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 ofParma, a Resolution was taken in theSpanishFleet, to bend their Course towardsEngland.

[52]On the 16thofJulythere 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 theSpanishFleet being thereby dispersed, was hardly joined again ’till it came within Sight ofEngland. At length this Fleet, after an indifferent Passage over the Bay ofBiscay, arrivedJuly19, in Sight ofEnglandand entered the Channel. The first Land they made was theLizard, which they took to be theRam’s HeadnearPlymouth; but Night approaching, they stood off, designing the next Morning to attack theEnglishShips inPlymouthHarbour.

The same Day[53], the Lord Admiral was informed by CaptainThomas Flemming, Commander of theGolden HindPinnace, who had been left in the Channel for Discovery, that|Plate 1.|theSpanishFleet was seen near theLizard, the Wind being then Southerly, or South-West. Tho’ the Wind blew hard intoPlymouth-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,July20, the Lord High-Admiral, accompanied with fifty four Ships of his Fleet, that had plied out of theSound, notwithstanding the South-West Wind, advanced towards the Enemy. They were scarce got as far as theEddystone, when they discovered, about Noon, theSpanishFleet to the|Plate 2.|Westward, opposite toFowey, in form of a half Moon (the Points whereof were about seven Miles asunder) coming slowly up the Channel, tho’ with full Sails. TheEnglishsuffered them to pass by unmolested, that they might chace them in the rear, with all the Advantage of the Wind.

The next Morning,July21, all theEnglishShips being then come out ofPlymouth, and in number near a hundred, had recovered the Wind of theSpaniards[55], two Leagues to the Westward ofEddystone. About Nine o’ Clock, the Lord-Admiral sent his Pinnace, named theDefiance[56], to denounce War against the Enemy, by the Discharge of all her Guns. He himself immediately seconded her from his own Ship, theArk-Royal, by thundering furiously on one of the Enemy’s, commanded byAlphonso de Leva, which he mistook for theSt. Martin, the Admiral’s Ship; but she was, after a smart Engagement,|Plate 3.|rescued by theSpaniards. In the mean time, SirFrancis Drake, CaptainJohn Hawkins, and CaptainMartin Forbisher, vigorously engaged the Enemy’s sternmost Ships, under the Conduit of their Vice-AdmiralRecalde; in one of whichRecaldehimself 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 EngagementRecalde’s Ship lost fifteen Men[57].

At the same time, the Duke ofMedinagathered 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 theEnglish, and their Ships were so light and nimble, that they would charge, wind, and tack about with incredible Swiftness; whereas theSpanishgreat and heavy Slugs, stood like so many Butts for theEnglishShot. Although theSpaniardswere so briskly charged by theEnglish, 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 ofPlymouthHaven[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 theSpanishShips, called theSt. Katherine, having received much Damage in the Fight, was brought into the midst of their Fleet, to be repaired[60]. And a largeBiscayanShip of eight hundred Tuns, belonging toMichael de Oquendo, Admiral of theGuypuscoanSquadron, on board of which was the Treasurer of the Fleet, was designedly set on Fire by aDutchGunner, who had been ill used[61]; but theSpaniardstook 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 DonPedro 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,July22, into the Hands of|Plate 4.|SirFrancis Drake; who had her conducted toDartmouth, and sent the Captain, and some other Gentlemen who were on board, Prisoners toPlymouth, where they remained eighteen Months, ’till their Ransoms were paid. In this Galleon was found fifty five thousand Ducats of Gold, whichDrake’s Men shared amongst themselves.

[62]This Night theSpanishFleet bore along by theStart, and the next Morning was as far to the Leward as theBerry[63]. SirFrancis Drakehad been ordered to carry Lights; but being in full Chace of someGermanHulks, 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, SirFrancis, and the rest of the Fleet, did not come up ’till the next Evening with the Lord Admiral; who, accompanied only with theBearand theMary Rose, had pursued the Enemy, within Culverin Shot, all the foregoing Night.[64]Thro’ this Mistake, the rest of theEnglishFleet 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.

July22. This whole Day theSpanishAdmiral spent in disposing his Fleet in the best Order he could think of.[65]He commandedAlphonso de Levato bring the first and the last Squadron together; and assigning every particular Ship its proper Station in Battle, according to the Plan agreed on inSpain, enjoined their respective Commanders to keep the same on Pain of Death. He also dispatch’dGlich, an Ensign, to the Prince ofParma, to advise him of his near Approach, and inform him of the State of the Navy. In the mean time, the forementioned Ship ofOquendohaving been much damaged by the Fire, theSpanishAdmiral 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 LordThomas Howard, and CaptainHawkinsin 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 BarkFlemingto conduct her into some Port, and accordingly she was brought the next Day intoWeymouth.

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

On the 23dthe Wind turning to the North-East, theSpaniardstook the Advantage of it; and when they came over againstPortland, tacked about upon theEnglish, who presently tacked likewise, and stood in to the North-West, towards the Shore, as did theSpaniardsalso. But that Course not being good for theEnglishto recover the Wind of theSpaniards, the former cast about to the Eastward. And, after several Attempts on both Sides to get the Weather-gage, theSpaniardsoffering to board theEnglish, a smart Engagement began, which was managed with Confusion enough, and with Variety of Success. The Enemy seeing several of theEnglishShips waited their coming, particularly theArk, theNonpareil, theElizabeth-Jonas, theVictory,&c.they fell a stern theNonpareil, which was the hindmost Ship; and in the mean time, theTriumph, with theMerchant-Royal, theCenturion, theMargaretandJohn, theMary-Rose, and theGolden-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 ofEnglishShips, and several Merchant-Men attacked theSpanishFleet 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 theTriumphand 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 theSpaniardsa-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 theTriumph. This was immediately performed by theArk, theElizabeth-Jonas, the Galleon ofLeicester, theGolden Lion, theVictory, theMary Rose, theDreadnought, and theSwallow; for in that order they proceeded. The Duke ofMedinaperceiving their Design, came out with sixteen of his best Galleons, to intercept the Lord Admiral, and stop him from assisting theTriumph. But, after a very sharp Conflict, theSpaniardswere 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 SirWilliam Winter’s, nam’d theDelight, was slain by a great Shot, while he was bravely fighting against the Enemy.

Towards the Evening, four or five of theSpanishVessels edged out of the South-Westward, where they were met by some of our Ships; amongst which, theMay-Flower of Londonvaliantly 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 theSpaniardsShot flew, for the most part, over the Heads of theEnglish, without doing Execution[67]; the reason of which was, that theEnglishShips 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 theSpaniards, 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 theEnglishin 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 greatVenetianShip, with several other smaller ones were taken by theEnglish[68].

On the 24thofJuly, there was but little done[69]; the Fight being only between four great Galleasses and someEnglishVessels[70]. TheSpaniards, 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, theEnglishgalled 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 theArk-Royal; the second by SirFrancis Drakein theRevenge; the third by CaptainHawkins; and the fourth by CaptainForbisher.[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 theSpanishFleet 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 ofWight, (which theSpaniardshad resolved to make themselves Masters of,) and not above a hundred Yards asunder, a terrible Fight began[72]. TheSt. Ann, a largePortugueseGalleon, being short of the rest to the Southward, because not able to keep up with them, was attack’d by some of CaptainHawkins’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:Levaand DonDiego Telles Enriquesperceiving the Galleon’s Danger, issued out of theSpanishFleet with three Galleasses, and endeavoured to rescue her; but they were so warmly received by the Lord Admiral himself, and the LordThomas Howardin theGolden 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 theArk, lost her Lanthorn; and the third her Peak-head. Thus many Shots were interchanged between theArkandLionand 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 theSpanishFleet 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 theNonpareiland theMary Rosewere for some time engaged with the Enemy, and striking their Topsails, lay a while by, and braved the whole Fleet ofSpain. In the mean while, theTriumph, to the Northward of theSpanishFleet, 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. TheBearand theElizabeth Jonasperceiving 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]TheSpaniardsgave a different Account of this Day’s Engagement; for they said that theEnglishdid miserably batter, with their great Guns, theSpanishAdmiral, 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 notMexiaandRecaldecome timely to his Assistance; but that, after this, theSpanishAdmiral and his Men, seconded byRecalde, and others, set upon theEnglishAdmiral, who by the turning of the Wind happily escaped; that theSpaniardsfrom that time gave over the Chace, and keeping on their Course, dispatch’d a Messenger to the Duke ofParma, 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, theEnglishhad so battered the Enemy in the last Conflict, that the latter had Recourse to the Form of a Roundel for their better Security.

[76]OnFriday, July 26, the Lord High-Admiral sent for the LordThomas Howardthe LordSheffield,Roger Townshend, CaptainMartin Forbisher, CaptainJohn Hawkins, on board his own Ship theArk; 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 theSpaniardsagain ’till they came to the Streights ofCalais; because they would there be joined and reinforced by the Squadron under the Command of the LordHenry Seymourand SirWilliam Winter, stationed in those Parts to block up the Duke ofParma; and might, at the same time, receive a plentiful Store of Ammunition from our Coasts.

[78]So theSpanishFleet sailed forward,|Plate 8.|this and the best part of the next Day, with a gentle Gale at South-West and by South, theEnglishfollowing 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 ofOxford,Northumberland, andCumberland; the LordDudley; SirThomas, SirRobert, andWilliam Cecil; SirHenry Brooke, SirWilliam Hatton, SirCharles Blount, SirWalter Raleigh, SirRobert Carey, SirAmbrose Willoughby, SirThomas Vavasor, SirHoratio 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 ofSussex, SirGeorge 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, theSpanishFleet came to an Anchor beforeCalais;[82]intending forDunkirk, where they were to join the Prince ofParma’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 thanCalais; theEnglish, on their part, followed them close, and anchored within Culverin-Shot of them; and, by the accession of the Ships under the LordHenry Seymourand SirWilliam 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.

TheSpaniardsnow sent several Messengers, one after another, to the Duke ofParma, 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 theEnglish; 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 inEngland; 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 toHollandandZealand, commanded by CountJustin de Nassau, continued to block up the very Mouth of the Harbours ofDunkirkandNieuport, 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 theSpanishFleet, he sent a Pinnace to inform the Duke ofMedina, “[84]That he could not be ready for them ’till theFridayfollowing,September 4;” but theSpanishFleet was forced to depart before that time, in the utmost Hurry and Confusion.

[85]For, onJuly 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 theSpanishFleet, under the Conduct of ——Youngand ——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 theSpaniards, but it put their whole Fleet into the utmost Consternation. Many of the Soldiers on board had been at the Siege ofAntwerp[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]TheSpaniardsreported, 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 ofFlanders.

However it was, theSpanishFleet being by this successful Stratagem thus driven from their Station inCalais-Road[89], another very sharp Engagement began the next Morning about Eight o’ Clock,July 29, and continued eight Hours. The chief Galleass, commanded byHugo 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.|CalaisHarbour; 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, whereinHugo de Moncadawas 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 theEnglishhad freed three hundred Galley-Slaves which were on board, and taken out fifty thousand Ducats of Gold, of the King ofSpain’s Money, fell, as a Wreck to MonsieurGourden, Governor ofCalais[91].

[92]In the taking of this Galleass, Mr.Gerardand Mr.Harveysignalized 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 theSpaniardsin the mean time, managed their Fleet as well as they could, and stood over againstGraveling, where theEnglishonce more getting the Weather-Gage of them, deprived them of the Conveniency ofCalais-Road, and kept them from receiving any Supplies fromDunkirk.

[94]Whilst the Lord Admiral was employed in taking the forementioned Galleass, SirFrancis Drakein theRevenge, with Mr.Thomas Fennarin theNonpareil, and the rest of his Squadron, warmly engaged theSpanishFleet; soon after SirJohn Hawkinsin theVictory, accompanied with Mr.Edward Fentonin theMary Rose, SirGeorge Beestonin theDreadnought, Mr.Richard Hawkinsin theSwallow, and the rest of that Squadron; together with SirRobert Southwellin theElizabeth-Jonas, and Mr.Robert Crossin theHope; bearing up with the Middle of theSpanishFleet, there continued all that Forenoon a furious Engagement, wherein SirGeorge Beestonbehaved himself very valiantly; they were in the mean time seconded by the Lord Admiral, the LordThomas Howard, and the LordSheffield, who also acquitted themselves very bravely: Astern of these a great Galleon was attack’d by the Earl ofCumberlandand Mr.George Rymanin theBonaventure, and was likewise battered by the LordHenry Seymourin theRainbow, and SirWilliam Winterin theVanguard; and tho’ she then recovered the Fleet, yet she sunk the Night following.

[95]On the other hand, the Duke ofMedina, with the rest of theSpanishCaptains, asLeva,Oquendo,Recalde,&c.having with much ado got clear of the Shallows, were forced to stand the Brunt of theEnglishFire, ’till they were miserably torn, and in several Places shot through;[96]and a great Galleon ofBiscay, of five hundred Tuns, with two Saicks, were sunk. The GalleonSt. Matthew, of eight hundred Tuns, commanded by DonDiego de Piementelli, coming to the Assistance of DonFrancisco de Toledo, in theSt. Philip, another Galleon of seven hundred Tuns, they were both miserably shattered by the LordHenry Seymourand SirWilliam Winter;[97]and being driven on the Coast ofOstend, were likewise there roughly handled by theZealanders; butPiementellirefusing to leave his Ship, (though the Duke ofMedinasent him his own,) did all he could to disengage himself; and therefore making towards the Coast ofFlanders, he was there again attacked by fiveDutchMen of War, and forc’d at last to strike toPeter Dousa[98], one of theDutchCaptains, who carried him intoZealandand, for a Trophy of his Victory, hung his Flag in the Church ofLeyden, which reach’d from the top of it to the bottom;[99]during which, aCastilianShip of four hundred Tuns, was cast away on theFlemishCoast. TheSt. Philip, after having been driven almost as far asOstend, where her Commander left her because she proved extremely leaky, was seized by some Ships ofFlushing.

Thus did the Fight continue for the best part of this whole Day; during which theSpanishFleet was closely pursued, extremely battered, and reduced to the utmost Distress[100]. TheEnglishCommanders in general, shewed on all Occasions great Resolution and Bravery; and in this last Action, the Earl ofCumberland, the LordsHenry Seymour,Thomas Howard, andEdmund Sheffield; SirWilliam Winter, SirRobert Southwell, SirGeorge Beeston, SirJohn Hawkins; and the CaptainsEdward Fenton,Richard Hawkins,George Ryman, and[101]Robert Crosssignalized themselves in a remarkable manner; the latter, in particular, sunk the great Galleon ofBiscayabove mentioned, and two other Vessels. As for theSpaniards, 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 ofParma’s Assistance. “The Duke ofMedina, 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 theEnglishhad offered to board theSpanishShips, it was thought they would have yielded without making any Resistance.”[103]In this last Engagement theSpaniardslost five thousand Men, a thousand whereof were drowned[104]; and the next Day twoVenetianShips sunk, having eight hundred and forty three Men on board, which all perished.

Back to Index Next