AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1588. 



not good to permit unto him, because hee was loth to 

 exceed the limites of his commission and charge. 

 The 2"^. of Upon Tuesday which was the three and twentie of 



J^h- July, the navie being come over against Portland, the 



wind began to turne Northerly, insomuch that the 

 Spaniards had a fortunate and fit gale to invade the 

 English. But the Englishmen having lesser and nimbler 

 Ships, recovered againe the vantage of the winde from 

 the Spaniards, whereat the Spaniards seemed to bee more 

 incensed to fight then before. But when the English 

 Fleete had continually and without intermission from 

 morning to night, beaten and battered them with all their 

 shot both great and small : the Spaniardes uniting them- 

 selves, gathered their whole Fleete close together into a 

 roundell, so that it was apparant that they ment not as 

 yet to invade others, but onely to defend themselves and 

 to make hast unto the place prescribed unto them, which 

 was neere unto Dunkerk, that they might joine forces 

 [I. 599.] with the duke of Parma, who was determined to have 

 proceeded secretly with his small shippes under the 

 shadow and protection of the great ones, and so had 

 intended circumspectly to performe the whole expedition. 

 This was the most furious and bloodie skirmish of all, 

 in which the lord Admirall of England continued fighting 

 amidst his enimies Fleete, and seeing one of his Captaines 

 afarre off, hee spake unto him in these wordes : Oh 

 George what doest thou ? Wilt thou nowe frustrate my 

 hope and opinion conceived of thee ? Wilt thou forsake 

 mee nowe ? With which wordes hee being enflamed, 

 approched foorthwith, encountered the enemie, and did 

 the part of a most valiant Captaine. His name was 

 George Fenner, a man that had bene conversant in 

 many Sea-fights. 

 ^ great In this conflict there was a certaine great Venetian 



Venetian ship gj^- ^-^j^ other small ships surprised and taken by the 

 and othe?' small -r> ^i- , ^ ^ ^ 



ships taken by English. 



the English. The English navie in the meane while increased, where- 



unto out of all Havens of the Realme resorted ships and 



216 



