A.D. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1588. 



meanes might be sufficiently revenged for the disgrace, 

 contempt and dishonour, which hee (having 34. yeeres 

 before enforced them to the Popes obedience) had 

 endured of the English nation, and for divers other 

 injuries which had taken deepe impression in his 

 thoughts. And also for that hee deemed this to bee 

 the most readie and direct course, whereby hee might 

 recover his heredetarie possession of the lowe Countreys, 

 [I. 592.] having restrained the inhabitants from sayling upon the 

 coast of England. Which verily, upon most weighty 

 arguments and evident reasons, was thought would 

 undoubtly have come to passe, considering the great 

 aboundance and store of all things necessary wherewith 

 those men were furnished, which had the managing of 

 that action committed unto them. But now let us 

 describe the matter more particularly. 

 The prepara- The Spanish King having with small fruite and com- 

 tionofthe moditie, for above twentie yeeres together, waged warre 

 toTubdueEnz- ^g^^^^^^ ^^^ Netherlanders, after deliberation with his 

 land and the counsellers thereabout, thought it most convenient to 

 lowe Coun- assault them once againe by Sea, which had bene 

 ^^^y^' attempted sundry times heretofore, but not with forces 



sufficient. Unto the which expedition it stoode him 

 nowe in hand to joyne great puissance, as having the 

 English people his professed enemies ; whose Island is 

 so situate, that it may either greatly helpe or hinder all 

 such as saile into those parts. For which cause hee 

 thought good first of all to invade England, being 

 perswaded by his Secretary Escovedo, and by divers 

 other well experienced Spaniards and Dutchmen, and by 

 many English fugitives, that the conquest of that Hand 

 was lesse difficult then the conquest of Holland and 

 Zeland. Moreover the Spaniards were of opinion, that 

 it would bee farre more behoveful for their King to 

 conquere England and the lowe Countreys all at once, 

 then to be constrained continually to maintaine a warlike 

 Navie to defend his East and West Indie Fleetes, from 

 the English Drake, and from such like valiant enemies. 



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