THE SPANISH ARMADA ad. 



1588. 

 English ships which they thought could by no meanes 

 withstand their impregnable forces, perswading them- 

 selves that by means of their huge Fleete, they were 

 become lords and commaunders of the maine Ocean. 

 For which cause they marveled much how the English 

 men in their small ships durst approch within musket 

 shot of the Spaniards mightie woodden castles, gathering 

 the wind of them with many other such like attempts. 



Immediately after, Valdez and his company, being a 

 man of principal authoritie in the Spanish Fleete, and 

 being descended of one and the same familie with that 

 Valdez, which in the yeere 1574. besieged Leiden in 

 Holland, were sent captives into England. There were 

 in the sayd ship ^§. thousand ducates in ready money of 

 the Spanish kings gold, which the souldiers merily shared 

 among themselves. 



The same day was set on fire one of their greatest 

 shippes, being Admirall of the squadron of Guipusco, 

 and being the shippe of Michael de Oquendo Vice- 

 admirall of the whole Fleete, which contained great store 

 of gunnepowder and other warrelike provision. The 

 upper part onely of this shippe was burnt, and all the 

 persons therein contained (except a very few) were con- 

 sumed with fire. And thereupon it was taken by the ^ great Bis- 

 English, and brought into England with a number of ^^^^^ ^^^P 

 miserable burnt and skorched Spaniards. Howbeit the % ^\ / ^ ^ 

 gunpowder (to the great admiration of all men) remained 

 whole and unconsumed. 



In the meane season the lord Admirall of England in 

 his ship called the Arke-royall, all that night pursued the 

 Spaniards so neere, that in the morning hee was almost 

 left alone in the enimies Fleete, and it was foure of the 

 clocke at afternoone before the residue of the English 

 Fleet could overtake him. 



At the same time Hugo de Moncada governour of the 

 foure Galliasses, made humble sute unto the Duke of 

 Medina that he might be licenced to encounter the 

 Admirall of England : which libertie the duke thought 



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