THE SPANISH ARMADA ad. 



1588. 

 they relied partly upon the shallow and dangerous seas 

 all along their coasts. Wherfore they stood most in 

 doubt of the duke of Parma his small and flat-bottomed 

 ships. Howbeit they had all their ships of warre to 

 the number of 90. and above, in a readinesse for all 

 assayes : the greater part whereof were of a small 

 burthen, as being more meete to saile upon their rivers 

 and shallow seas : and with these ships they besieged 

 all the havens in Flanders, beginning at the mouth of 

 Scheld, or from the towne of Lillo, and holding on to 

 Greveling and almost unto Caleis, & fortified all their 

 sea-townes with strong garrisons. 



Against the Spanish fleets arrivall, they had provided 

 25. or 30. good ships, committing the government of 

 them unto Admirall Lonck, whom they commanded to 

 joine himselfe unto the lord Henry Seymer, lying 

 betweene Dover and Cales. And when as the foresaid 

 ships, (whereof the greater part besieged the haven of 

 Dunkerke) were driven by tempest into Zeland, Justin 

 of Nassau the Admiral of Zeland supplied that squadron 

 with 25* ships being of no great burthen, but excellently 

 furnished with gunnes, mariners and souldiers in great 

 abundance, and especially with 1200. brave Musquetiers, 

 having bene accustomed unto sea-fights, and being chosen 

 out of all their companies for the same purpose : and 

 so the said Justin of Nassau kept such diligent ward 

 in that Station that the duke of Parma could not issue 

 foorth with his navy into the sea out of any part of 

 Flanders. 



In the meane while the Spanish Armada set saile out T/ie Spa-aish 

 of the haven of Lisbon upon the 19. of May, An. Dom. fleete set saile 

 1588. under the conduct of the duke of Medina ^.^'^^^^^ '9- 

 Sidonia, directing their course for the Baie of Corunna, 

 alias the Groine of Gallicia, where they tooke in soul- 

 diers and warlike provision, this port being in Spaine 

 the neerest unto England. As they were sailing along, 

 there arose such a mightie tempest, that the whole 

 Fleete was dispersed, so that when the duke was re- 

 IV 209 o 



