Part 2
However it be, or whenever these Preparations were begun, it is certain that King _Philip_ assembled so powerful a Fleet, and so well furnished with all kinds of Provisions and Ammunition, that, thinking it unconquerable by human Power, he gave it the Title of the INVINCIBLE ARMADA.
[7]This Fleet consisted of one hundred and thirty two Ships, (besides twenty Caravels for the Service of the Army, and ten Salves with six Oars apiece,) containing fifty nine thousand one hundred, and twenty Tons; three thousand, one hundred, and sixty five Cannons; eight thousand, seven hundred, and sixty six Sailors; two thousand and eighty eight Galley-Slaves, and twenty one thousand, eight hundred, and fifty five Soldiers; besides Noblemen and Voluntiers[8]. For there was not a Family in _Spain_ of any Note, but what had a Son, a Brother, or a Kinsman in the Fleet[9]. Of these Voluntiers there were two hundred and twenty four; attended by four hundred and fifty six Servants bearing Arms.
There were also two hundred and thirty eight Gentlemen more, maintained by the King; with one hundred and sixty three Servants. An hundred and seventy seven Persons, with two Engineers, one Physician, one Surgeon, and thirty Servants belonging to the Artillery; eighty five Physicians and Surgeons for the Hospital-Ships; three and twenty Gentlemen belonging to the Duke of _Medina-Sidonia_’s Court, and fifty Servants; seventeen Superintendants General of the Army; and one hundred Servants more, belonging to them, or to the Officers of Justice, who were twenty in Number[10].
Nay even there were in it one hundred and eighty Capuchins, Dominicans, Jesuits, and Mendicant Friars; with _Martin Alarco_, Vicar of the Inquisition.
And because none were allowed to have Wives or Concubines on board, some Women had hired Ships to follow the Fleet; two or three of which Ships were driven by the Storm on the Coast of _France_[11].
Most of the Ships of this ARMADA[12] were of an uncommon Size, Strength, and Thickness, more like floating Castles than any thing else; and they were cased above Water with thick Planks to hinder the Cannon-Balls from piercing their Sides. The Masts also were braced round with strong pitched Ropes, to save them from being soon shatter’d or broke by the Shot.
Then as to Ammunition, [13]this Fleet had a very great Number of Cannons, double Cannons, Culverins, and Field-Pieces for Land-Service; seven thousand Muskets and Calievers; ten thousand Halberts and Partizans; one hundred and twenty thousand Cannon-Balls; [14]one hundred Quintals of Lead for Bullets (each Quintal being a hundred weight,) twelve thousand Quintals of Match; fifty six thousand Quintals of Gunpowder; and also, Waggons, and other Carriages; Horses, Mules, and other Instruments and Necessaries for Conveyance by Land; Torches, Lanthorns, Canvas, Hides, Lead; Chains, Whips, Butchering-Knives, Halters, and other Instruments of Death and Slavery[15]; and Spades, Mattocks, Baskets, and every thing else requisite for Pioneers Work; as also eight hundred Mules for drawing the Ordnance and Carriages.
Proportionable to these Forces was their great Store of Provisions of every Sort: [16]for, besides Raisins in great abundance, they had eight thousand Quintals of Fish; three thousand Quintals of Rice; six thousand three hundred and twenty [17]Septiers of Beans, Pease, _&c._ eleven thousand three hundred and ninety eight Pounds of Olive-Oyl; thirty three thousand eight hundred and seventy Measures of Vinegar; ninety six thousand Quintals of Biscuit; three thousand four hundred and fifty eight Quintals of Goats Cheese; six thousand five hundred Quintals of Bacon; one hundred and forty seven thousand Pipes of Wine; twelve thousand Pipes of Water, _&c._—Provisions in a word they had for six Months; and so well furnished were they, that Sir _Francis Drake_ observes, in a Letter of his, [18]they had Provisions of Bread and Wine sufficient to maintain forty thousand Men for a whole Year.
The whole Fleet, in general, is said[19] to have contained thirty two thousand Persons, and cost every Day thirty thousand Ducats[20].
The General of the Land Forces, and the Commander in Chief in the whole Expedition, was Don _Alfonso Perez de Guzman_, Duke of _Medina Sidonia_; and the Admiral was Don _Juan Martinez de Recalde_.
But it was not in _Spain_ only, that such great Preparations were carrying on, for the Invasion of _England_. For, _Alexander_ Duke of _Parma_ was also making on his Side prodigious and amazing Preparations, to assist in this grand Design.
He gathered together out of _Spain_, _France_, _Savoy_, _Italy_, _Naples_, _Sicily_, _Germany_, and even out of _America_, a very considerable and choice Army; [21]consisting of about forty thousand Foot, and three thousand Horse; out of which he selected thirty thousand Foot, and eighteen hundred Horse, that were to be ready to pass into _England_. These Troops were quarter’d as follows: [22]Near _Nieuport_ there lay ready thirty Companies of _Italians_; ten of _Walloons_; and eight of _Scots_, and as many of _Burgundians_: At _Dixmude_ were eighty Companies of _Netherlanders_; sixty of _Spaniards_; sixty of _Germans_; and above seven hundred fugitive _English_, _Scots_, and _Irish_, under the Command of Sir _William Stanley_, and _Charles Nevil_ Earl of _Westmoreland_. There were moreover four thousand Men posted at _Corrick_, and nine hundred at _Watene_.
For the Transportation of these Forces, the Duke of _Parma_ prepar’d Ships at _Nieuport_, _Dunkirk_, _Antwerp_, and other Places; and caused some new ones to be built with such Expedition, that they seem’d, as _Strada_ expresses it, [23]to be transform’d in a Moment, from Trees into Ships.
More particularly: [24]In the River of _Watten_ he caused seventy flat-bottom’d Boats to be built, each of which could carry thirty Horses; and to each of them were Bridges fitted for the convenient Shipping, or Landing of the Horses. There were in most of them, two Ovens for baking Bread, with a great Quantity of Saddles, Bridles, Harness, and a good Number of Draught-Horses, to draw the Engines, Cannons, and other Ammunition, after the _Spaniards_ should be landed. Of the same Form he had provided two hundred other Vessels at _Nieuport_, but not so large. And at _Dunkirk_ he had assembled thirty eight Men of War; for the navigating of which, he had hired Sailors from _Bremen_, _Hamburgh_, _Emden_, and _Genoa_. In their Ballast he had put a great Quantity of Beams, or thick Planks, sharpned at the Ends, and covered with Iron; but full of Clasps and Hooks on the Sides, that they might be easily joined together. At _Graveling_, he had provided twenty thousand Casks, which might in a short Time be fastened together with Nails and Cords, and reduced into the Form of a Bridge. Whatever, in a Word, was necessary for making Bridges, or for choaking up the Mouths of Havens and Rivers, was by him got in readiness. And he had even caused a great Pile of wooden Faggots to be laid near _Nieuport_, for erecting a Mount or Rampart. Whilst he was thus furnishing himself with all proper Vessels and other Necessaries, he caused the shallow and sandy Places of Rivers to be cleared; and had deep Channels cut in proper Places, from _Ghent_ to _Ysendyck_, _Sluys_, and _Nieuport_, on purpose to convey the Ships built at _Antwerp_, _Ghent_, _&c._ into the Sea. Finally, he assembled at _Bruges_ above one hundred Hoys loaden with Provisions, which he designed to bring into the Ports of _Flanders_, either by the Way of _Sluys_, or through the forementioned Channels.
The Duke of _Guise_ had also twelve thousand Men on the Coast of _Normandy_, ready to land in the West of _England_ as soon as the SPANISH ARMADA had enter’d the Channel[25]; but the _Spaniards_ coming two Months later than they intended, (or for some other Reasons) the Duke dismissed his Forces about the End of _June_.
And that this famous Expedition might be supported with spiritual as well as temporal Weapons[26], Pope _Sixtus_ V created _William Allen_, a seditious _English_ Priest, Cardinal; and sent him as his Legate into the _Low-Countries_, with a Bull; wherein, after enumerating the several Causes of Complaint the See of _Rome_ had against Queen _Elizabeth_, (namely her suppressing the Catholic Religion, her putting the Queen of _Scots_ to Death, _&c._) he renewed and confirmed the Sentence of Excommunication pronounced against her by his Predecessors _Pius_ V and _Gregory_ XIII, deprived her, as illegitimate, and an Usurper, from all Princely Dignity, and Dominion over the Kingdoms of _England_ and _Ireland_; absolved her Subjects from their Allegiance; and strictly enjoined them, upon Pain of GOD Almighty’s Displeasure, not to lend her any Help or Assistance, but to join the _Spanish_ Army, and the Duke of _Parma_’s Forces, as soon as they should be landed: Promising withal a plenary Indulgence and the Pardon of all their Sins, to as many as would engage in so laudable an Undertaking.
* * * * *
Such were the extraordinary Preparations made by the _Spaniards_ for invading _England_. Preparations so great and so dreadful, that all _Europe_ was alarmed at them. Most Sovereigns expected for some Time, with the utmost Horror and Astonishment, where the threatening Storm, which had been so long gathering, would at last fall. But this, though kept as a great Secret, did not long escape the great Sir _Francis Walsingham_’s Sagacity. [27]He had Intelligence from _Madrid_, that King _Philip_ had told his Council, he had dispatched an Express to _Rome_ with a Letter writ with his own Hand to the Pope, acquainting him with the true Design of his Preparations, and asking his Blessing upon it; which for some Reasons he would not yet disclose to them, ’till the Return of the Courier. The Secret being thus lodg’d with the Pope, _Walsingham_, by the means of a _Venetian_ Priest retain’d at _Rome_ as his Spy, got a Copy of the original Letter, which was stolen out of the Pope’s Cabinet by a Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber, who took the Keys out of the Pope’s Pocket whilst he slept. Upon this Intelligence _Walsingham_ found a Way to retard the _Spanish_ Invasion for a whole Year, by getting the _Spanish_ Bills protested at _Genoa_, which should have supplied them with Money to carry on their Preparations.
Queen _Elizabeth_, it may well be supposed, could not help being extremely anxious about the issue of the great and dreadful Preparations that were going on, to deprive her of her Crown and Dignity, and perhaps of her [28]Life. This inclined her more readily to embrace some Overtures of Peace, made to her by the _Spaniard_[29]: But it being soon found out that they were intended only to lull her asleep, and induce her, by depending upon a Peace, to be careless of her own Defence; and moreover, _Henry_ III King of _France_ sending her Word, [30]she ought to stand upon her Guard; she did not therefore rely much on the Negociations in hand, but took all proper Measures for securing herself, and protecting her Dominions.
Her Situation was indeed very melancholy, and her Fears well grounded: For she was without so much as one Ally abroad, except the _United-Provinces_, which themselves wanted Assistance; and at home she had a factious and discontented Party, ready to join with the Enemy: But, by the Assistance of Heaven, by her good Management, and the sincere Affection of the Generality of her People, she surmounted all Difficulties, and came off Conqueror.
When she was sure the _Spaniards_ Preparations were design’d against her, that she might not be taken unprovided, she fitted out as strong a Fleet as she possibly could; and herein so great was the Diligence of her Subjects, [31]that though her Preparations were begun but about the 1st of _November_ 1587, yet her Fleet was ready to put to Sea by the 20th of _December_ the same Year.
[32]_Charles_ Lord _Howard_ of _Effingham_, High Admiral of _England_, a Person of great Prudence and Bravery, was appointed Commander in Chief of this whole Fleet. His Instructions were, To repair to the Westward, in conjunction with Sir _Francis Drake_ Vice-Admiral, and Captain _John Hawkins_, and Captain _Martin Frobisher_ Rear-Admirals: At the same Time, the Lord _Henry Seymour_, second Son of the late Duke of _Somerset_, had Orders to lye on the Coast of _Flanders_, with forty _English_ and _Dutch_ Ships (the latter under the Command of _Justin_ of _Nassau_, Admiral of _Zealand_) to prevent the Duke of _Parma_’s putting out to Sea with his Forces.
For Land Service, there were disposed along the Southern Coasts of _England_ twenty thousand Men. Besides which, two Armies were raised of choice, well-disciplin’d, and experienced Men; one (under the Command of _Robert Dudley_ Earl of _Leicester_, consisting of one thousand Horse, and twenty two thousand Foot,) was encamped at _Tilbury_, near the _Thames_ Mouth, for the Safeguard of the City of _London_; because it was given out that the _Spaniards_, after having joined the Duke of _Parma_, intended to come up the _Thames_, in order to make themselves Masters of the Metropolis of the Kingdom. The other Army, under the Command of _Henry Carey_ Lord _Hunsdon_, consisted of thirty four thousand Foot, and two thousand Horse, and was destined to guard the Queen’s Person.
_Arthur_ Lord _Grey_, Sir _Francis Knolles_, Sir _John Norris_, Sir _Richard Bingham_, and Sir _Roger Williams_, Knights, and excellent Soldiers, were chosen to consult about the best Way of managing the War at Land. After mature Deliberation, they thought fit that the most convenient Landing-Places for the Enemy, as well out of _Spain_ as out of the _Low-Countries_, should be well mann’d and fortify’d, namely _Milford-Haven_, _Falmouth_, _Plymouth_, _Portland_, the Isle of _Wight_, _Portsmouth_, the open Coast of _Kent_ called the _Downs_, the _Thames_ Mouth, _Harwich_, _Yarmouth_, _Hull_, _&c._ that the Train’d Bands, all along the Maritime Counties, should meet in Arms upon a Signal given, to defend the said Ports, and do their best to prevent the Enemy’s landing; and, in Case of their landing, that they should lay all the Country waste round about, and leave neither Booty nor Forage for them; that they should annoy them Night and Day with continual Alarms, so as to give them no Rest; but not venture the Hazard of a Battle, ’till more Commanders with their Companies should come up; of whom one in every Shire was nominated Chief.
Moreover, the active Queen, in order to quicken the Zeal and Diligence of her Subjects, especially of those who lay near the Sea-Coasts, caused Letters to be sent to the chief of them: Wherein, after putting them in mind of the common and imminent Danger the whole Nation was in, she told them, that she “expected on this extraordinary Occasion, a larger Proportion of Furniture, both for Horsemen and Footmen; thereby to be in their best Strength against any Attempt whatsoever, to be employed, whether about her own Person, or otherwise. And the Number she required them to signify to her Privy-Council[33].” She required moreover the Nobility in the several Counties, to provide themselves, and their Servants and Dependants in like manner, with Horses and Armour, to be ready to repair upon Summons to the Queen, for Defence of her Person: And to this Purpose Letters were address’d to them from the Lords of the Council, by her Command.
Such were the Directions given. [34]And accordingly Cities, Counties, Towns, and Villages, the Cinque-Ports, and all other Havens of _England_, manifested as great Forwardness in their zealous Love and Duty, as either Subjects could perform, or Prince expect. The City of _London_, in particular, being requested by the Privy-Council, to find five thousand Men, and fifteen Ships, they willingly and cheerfully furnished thirty Ships provided with all Necessaries, and ten thousand able Men, well armed and trained; besides which, they kept in readiness thirty thousand Men more, prepared to march wherever there should be Occasion[35]; and also lent the Queen fifty one thousand nine hundred Pounds, in ready Money.
Then, as to the rest of the Nation: [36]As soon as it was reported that the Queen was come near _London_, and the _Spanish_ Fleet appeared in the Channel, the greatest Part of the Nobility, except those that were obliged to stay in each County on account of their Offices, repaired to _London_, to preserve the Queen’s Person; bringing with them goodly Bands of Horsemen, about five thousand in all, and maintaining them at their own Charge ’till the _Spanish_ Navy was known to be passed beyond _Scotland_: These were the Lord Chancellor _Hatton_, the Earls of _Lincoln_, _Warwick_, _Leicester_, _Essex_, _Worcester_, and _Hereford_; the Lord Viscount _Montacute_; the Lords _Burghley_, _Compton_, _Morley_, _Rich_, _Dacres_, _Windsor_, _Audley_, _Sandes_, _Mordaunt_, _Lumley_, _Mountjoy_, _Stourton_, and _Darcy_.
In a Word, all Persons throughout _England_ in general, unanimously concurred to be ready to serve for the Defence of the Queen and Kingdom[37]: In this there was no Difference between the Catholic and the Protestant, but herein appeared a perfect Sympathy, Concourse, and Consent of all Sorts of Persons, without respect of Religion. By this hearty Zeal, seconded with suitable Endeavours, it came to pass, that some Counties were able to bring into the Field twenty thousand, and others even forty thousand able fighting Men: The Maritime Counties, in particular, on the South and East of _England_, from _Cornwall_ to _Lincolnshire_, were so well furnished with a stout and well regulated Militia, that there was no Place for landing foreign Forces, but within eight and forty Hours there could resort to that Place above twenty thousand fighting Men, with Ordnance and other suitable Provisions.
And that the Popish discontented Party at home might neither join the Enemy, nor favour their Descent, the Queen caused the most obnoxious of them to be imprisoned in _Wisbich-Castle_ in the Isle of _Ely_.
She also directed [38]Sir _William Fitz-Williams_, Lord Deputy of _Ireland_, what to do, in case the Enemy should land in any Part of his Government, and pointed out to him what Precautions he should use to hinder the _Irish_ from rising.
There remained only the King of _Scots_, of whom Queen _Elizabeth_ had most Reason to be afraid; since she had newly given him an unpardonable Provocation, namely, in causing his Mother to be publickly beheaded, who was a Sovereign Princess, independent of her. This was sufficient to dispose him, out of a Principle of Revenge, to favour the Descent of the _Spaniards_ in one Extremity of the Kingdom, by making a Diversion in the other. With that View he had been tampered with by the Duke of _Parma_, and had received from him Offers of Assistance[39]: But the politic Queen so effectually caress’d him, made him such advantageous Proposals, and so plainly convinc’d him, that the Loss of _England_ would not fail of being attended with that of _Scotland_[40]; that he, sensible of the common Danger wherewith he was threatened, declar’d the _Spaniards_ Enemies, and made Preparations against them with great Chearfulness and Alacrity: [41]Giving a strict Charge upon all the Sea-Coasts, that the _Spaniards_ should not be suffered to land in any Part, but that the _English_ might land, and be reliev’d of any Wants: [42]He moreover offer’d Queen _Elizabeth_ his Forces, his Person, and all that he could command, to be employed against the common Enemy: And he humourously observ’d upon this Occasion[43], _That he look’d for no other Favour from the Spaniards, than what_ Polyphemus _promis’d_ Ulysses, _that he should be reserv’d for the last Morsel_.
* * * * *
After this general Account, the Reader will undoubtedly be pleased to see a particular List of the Fleets on both Sides, which I have accordingly subjoined hereunto.
SECT. II.
A complete List of the _Spanish_ Fleet, called the INVINCIBLE ARMADA[44].
The Squadron of _Portuguese_ Galleons, _&c._ under the particular Command of the Generalissimo, the Duke of MEDINA SIDONIA.
Number Number of of
Ships. Burden Guns. Mariners. Soldiers. Tuns.
The _St. Martin_, Captain 1000 50 177 300 General of all the Fleet,
_St. John_, Admiral General, 1050 50 170 231
_St. Mark_, 792 117 292
_St. Philip_, 800 40 117 415
_St. Lewis_, 830 40 116 376
_St. Matthew_, 750 40 50 177
_St. James_, 520 30 100 300
Galleon of _Florence_, 961 52 100 300
_St. Christopher_, 352 30 90 300
_St. Bernard_, 352 30 100 280
Zabra _Augusta_, 166 13 55 55
Zabra _Julia_, 166 14 50 60
────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 7739 389 1242 3086 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
The Fleet of _Biscay_, commanded by Don JUAN MARTINEZ DE RECALDE, Captain General.
_St. Ann_, Admiral, 768 30 114 323
_Grangrina_, Admiral, 1160 36 100 300
_St. James_, 660 30 102 250
_Conception of Zubelzu_, 468 20 70 100
_Conception of Juan del Cavo_, 418 24 70 164
_Magdalena de Juan Francesco 330 22 70 200 d’ Ayala_,
_St. John_, 350 24 80 130
_Mary_, 165 24 100 180
_Manuel_, 520 16 54 130
_St. Mary de Monte Majore_, 707 30 50 220
_Mary of Aguiare_, 70 10 23 30
_Isabella_, 71 12 23 30
_Michael de Susa_, 96 12 24 30
_St. Stephen_, 78 12 26 30
────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 5861 302 906 2117 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
The Fleet of _Castile_, commanded by Don DIEGO FLOREZ DE VALDEZ, General.
The _St. Christopher_ Galleon, 700 40 120 205 General,
_St. John Baptist_ Galleon, 750 30 140 250
_St. Peter_ Galleon, 530 40 140 130
_St. John_ Galleon, 530 30 120 170
_St. James the Great_ Galleon, 530 30 132 230
_St. Philip and St. James_ 530 30 116 159 Galleon,
_Ascension_ Galleon, 530 30 114 220
Galleon of our Lady _del 130 30 108 170 Barrio_,
Galleon of St. _Medel_ and 530 30 110 170 _Celedon_,
_St. Anne_ Galleon, 250 24 80 100
Ship, _Our Lord of Vigonia_, 750 30 130 190
_Trinity_, 780 30 122 200
_St. Katherine_, 862 30 160 200
_St. John Baptist_, 659 30 130 200
Pinnace of our Lady _della 24 25 30 Rosaria_,
_St. Anthony of Padua_ 16 46 300 Pinnace,
────────────────────────────────────────────────────── 8054 474 1793 2924 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
The _Andalusian_ Squadron, commanded by Don PEDRO DE VALDEZ, General.