AD. THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1588. 



foure squadrons : the principall whereof was committed 

 unto the lord Admirall : the second, to Sir Francis Drake : 

 the third, to Captaine Hawkins : the fourth, to Captaine 

 Frobisher. 



The Spaniards in their sailing observed very diligent 

 and good order, sayling three and foure, and sometimes 

 more ships in a ranke, and folowing close up one after 

 another, and the stronger and greater ships protecting 

 the lesser. 



The 25, of The five and twentie of July when the Spaniardes were 



-^^^ come over-against the Isle of Wight, the lord Admirall 



of England being accompanied with his best ships, 

 (namely the Lion, Captaine whereof was the lord 

 Thomas Howard : The Elizabeth Jonas under the 

 commandement of Sir Robert Southwel sonne in lawe 

 unto the lord Admirall : the Beare under the lord 

 Sheffield nephew unto the lord Admirall : the Victorie 

 under Captaine Barker : and the Galeon Leicester 

 under the forenamed Captaine George Fenner) with 

 great valour and dreadfull thundering of shot, en- 

 countered the Spanish Admiral being in the very midst 

 of all his Fleet. Which when the Spaniard perceived, 

 being assisted with his strongest ships, he came forth 

 and entered a terrible combate with the English : for 

 they bestowed each on other the broad sides, and 

 mutually discharged all their Ordinance, being within 

 one hundred, or an hundred and twentie yards one of 

 another. 



At length the Spaniardes hoised up their sayles, and 

 againe gathered themselves up close into the forme of 

 a roundel. In the meane while Captaine Frobisher had 

 engaged himselfe into a most dangerous conflict. 

 Whereupon the lord Admirall comming to succour 

 him, found that hee had valiantly and discreetly behaved 



[I. 600.] himselfe, and that hee had wisely and in good time 

 given over the fight, because that after so great a 



The 26 of batterie he had sustained no damage. 



juk ' For which cause the day following, being the sixe and 



218 



