AD THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



1588. 



the warres, who with continuall and constant labour 

 might be vanquished, if they yeelded not at the first 

 assault. They were in good hope also to have mette 

 with some rebels against her Majestie, and such as 

 were discontented with the present state, as Papists, 

 and others. Likewise they looked for ayde from the 

 favourers of the Scottish Queene, who was not long 

 before put to death ; all which they thought would 

 have stirred up seditions and factions. 



Whenas therefore the Spanish fleet rode at anker 

 before Caleis, to the end they might consult with the 

 Duke of Parma what was best to be done according 

 to the Kings commandement, and the present estate of 

 their affaires, and had now (as we will afterward declare) 

 purposed upon the second of August being Friday, 

 with one power and consent to have put their intended 

 businesse m practise ; the L. Admirall of England being 

 admonished by her Majesties letters from the Court, 

 thought it most expedient either to drive the Spanish 

 fleet from that place, or at leastwise to give them the 

 encounter : and for that cause (according to her Majesties 

 prescription) he tooke forthwith eight of his woorst & 

 basest ships which came next to hand, & disburthening 

 them of all things which seemed to be of any value, 

 filled them with gun-powder, pitch, brimstone, and with 

 other combustible and firy matter ; and charging all 

 their ordinance with powder, bullets, and stones, he 

 The 28. of sent the sayd ships upon the 28 of July being Sunday, 

 ^^^^' about two of the clocke after midnight, with the winde 



and tide against the Spanish fleet : which when they had 

 proceeded a good space, being forsaken of the Pilots, and 

 set on fire, were directly carried upon the King of Spaines 

 Navie : which fire in the dead of the night put the 

 Spaniards into such a perplexity and horrour (for they 

 feared lest they were like unto those terrible ships, which 

 Frederic Jenebelli three yeeres before, at the siege of 

 Antwerpe, had furnished with gun-powder, stones, and 

 dreadfull engines, for the dissolution of the Duke or 



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