264 OF A WAR WITH SPAIN* 



enemy at their landing ; and the other of twenty- 

 five thousand for safeguard and attendance about 

 the court and the queen s person. There were also 

 other dormant musters of soldiers throughout all 

 parts of the realm, that were put in readiness 

 but not drawn together. The two armies were 

 assigned to the leading of two generals, noble persons, 

 but both of them rather courtiers, and assured to the 

 state, than martial men ; yet lined and assisted with 

 subordinate commanders of great experience and 

 valour. The fortune of the war made this enter 

 prise at first a play at base. The Spanish navy set 

 forth out of the Groyne in May, and was dispersed 

 and driven back by weather. Our navy set forth 

 somewhat later out of Plymouth, and bare up to 

 wards the coast of Spain to have fought with the 

 Spanish navy ; and partly by reason of contrary 

 winds, partly upon advertisement that the Spaniards 

 were gone back } and upon some doubt also that they 

 might pass by towards the coast of England, whilst 

 we were seeking them afar off, returned likewise 

 into Plymouth about the middle of July. At that 

 time came more confident advertisement, though 

 false, not only to the lord Admiral, but to the court, 

 that the Spaniards could not possibly come forward 

 that year ; whereupon our navy was upon the point 

 of disbanding, and many of our men gone ashore : at 

 which very time the Invincible Armada, for so it was 

 called in a Spanish ostentation, throughout Europe, 

 was discovered upon the western coast. It was a 

 kind of surprise ; for that, as was said, many of our 



