OF A WAR WITH SPAIN. 263 



preparation of five whole years, at the least : it bare 

 itself also upon divine assistance ; for it received 

 special blessing from pope Sixtus, and was assigned 

 as an apostolical mission for the reducement of this 

 kingdom to the obedience of the see of Rome. And, 

 in farther token of this holy warfare, there were 

 amongst the rest of these ships, twelve, called by the 

 names of the twelve apostles. But it was truly con 

 ceived, that this kingdom of England could never be 

 overwhelmed, except the land waters came in to the 

 sea tides. Therefore was there also in readiness in 

 Flanders, a mighty strong army of land forces, to 

 the number of fifty thousand veteran soldiers, under 

 the conduct of the duke of Parma, the best com 

 mander, next the French king Henry the fourth, of 

 his time. These were designed to join with the 

 forces at sea ; there being prepared a number of 

 flat-bottomed boats to transport the land forces, 

 under the wing and protection of the great navy. 

 For they made no account, but that the navy should 

 be absolute master of the seas. Against these forces, 

 there were prepared on our part, to the number of 

 near one hundred ships ; not so great of bulk indeed, 

 but of a more nimble motion, and more serviceable : 

 besides a less fleet of thirty ships, for the custody of 

 the narrow seas. There were also in readiness at 

 land two armies ; besides other forces, to the number 

 of ten thousand, dispersed amongst the coast towns 

 in the southern parts. The two armies were ap 

 pointed ; one of them consisting of twenty-five 

 thousand horse and foot, for the repulsing of the 



