AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1588. 



whole navy she sent unto Plimmouth under the conduct 

 of the right honorable Lord Charles Howard, lord high 

 Admirall of England, &c. Under whom the renoumed 

 Knight Sir Francis Drake was appointed Vice-admiral. 

 The number of these ships was about an hundreth. 

 The lesser ships being 30. or 40. in number, and under 

 the conduct of the lord Henry Seimer were commanded 

 to lie between Dover and Caleis. 

 Her Majesties On land likewise throughout the whole realme, 

 land-forces. souldiers were mustered and trained in all places, and 

 were committed unto the most resolute and faithfull 

 captaines. And whereas it was commonly given out 

 that the Spaniard having once united himselfe unto the 

 duke of Parma, ment to invade by the river of Thames, 

 there was at Tilburie in Essex over-against Gravesend, 

 a mightie army encamped, and on both sides of the 

 river fortifications were erected, according to the pre- 

 scription of Frederike Genebelli an Italian enginier. 

 Likewise there were certaine ships brought to make a 

 bridge, though it were very late first. Unto the sayd 

 army came in proper person the Queens most roiall 

 Majestic, representing Tomyris that Scythian warlike 

 princesse, or rather divine Pallas her selfe. Also there 

 were other such armies levied in England. 



The principall catholique Recusants (least they should 

 stirre up any tumult in the time of the Spanish invasion) 

 were sent to remaine at certaine convenient places, as 

 [I. 596.] namely in the Isle of Ely and at Wisbich. And some 

 of them were sent unto other places, to wit, unto sundry 

 bishops and noblemen, where they were kept from en- 

 dangering the state of the common wealth, and of her 

 sacred Majestic, who of her most gracious clemencie gave 

 expresse commandement, that they should be intreated 

 with all humanitie and friendship. 

 The prepara- The provinces of Holland and Zeland, &c. giving 

 tion of the credite unto their intelligence out of Spain, made 

 preparation to defend themselves : but because the 

 Spanish ships were described unto them to be so huge, 



208 



united pro- 

 vinces. 



