THE SPANISH ARMADA ad. 



1588. 

 Majesties commandement he must send backe foure of 

 her tallest and strongest ships unto Chattam. 



The lord high Admiral of England being thus on The L. Ad- 

 the sudden, namely upon the 19. of July about foure ^^^^^^^ ^'^^rt 

 of the clocke in the afternoone, enformed by the pin- '^^J^^^^^f^^ 

 asse of captaine Fleming aforesaid, of the Spaniards July. ' 

 approch, with all speed and diligence possible he warped 

 his ships, and caused his mariners and souldiers (the 

 greater part of whom was absent for the cause afore- 

 sayd) tocome on boord, and that with great trouble and 

 difficultie, insomuch that the lord Admiral himselfe was 

 faine to lie without in the road with sixe ships onely 

 all that night, after the which many others came foorth 

 of the haven. The very next day being the 20. of July The 20. of 

 about high noone, was the Spanish Fleete escried by •^^^• 

 the English, which with a Southwest wind came sailing 

 along, and passed by Plimmouth : in which regard [I. 597.] 

 (according to the judgement of many skilful navigators) 

 they greatly overshot themselves, whereas it had bene 

 more commodious for them to have staied themselves 

 there, considering that the Englishmen being as yet un- 

 provided, greatly relied upon their owne forces, and 

 knew not the estate of the Spanish navy. Moreover, 

 this was the most convenient port of all others, where 

 they might with greater securitie have bene advertised 

 of the English forces, and how the commons of the land 

 stood affected, and might have stirred up some mutinie, 

 so that hither they should have bent all their puissance, 

 and from hence the duke of Parma might more easily 

 have conveied his ships. 



But this they were prohibited to doe by the king 

 and his counsell, and were expressely commanded to unite 

 themselves unto the souldiers and ships of the said 

 duke of Parma, and so to bring their purpose to effect. 

 Which was thought to be the most easie and direct 

 course, for that they imagined that the English and 

 Dutch men would be utterly daunted and dismaied 

 thereat, and would each man of them retire unto his 



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