OF A WAR WITH SPAIN. 267 



able to guard and protect the vessels of transporta 

 tion ; when it fell out to the contrary that the great 

 navy was distressed, and had enough to do to save 

 itself; and again, that the Hollanders impounded 

 their land forces with a brave fleet of thirty sail, ex 

 cellently well appointed ; things, I say, being in this 

 state, it came to pass that the duke of Parma must 

 have flown if he would have come into England, for 

 he could get neither bark nor mariner to put to 

 sea : yet certain it is, that the duke looked still for 

 the coming back of the Armada, even at that time 

 when they were wandering, and making their 

 perambulation upon the northern seas. But to 

 return to the Armada, which we left anchored at 

 Calais : from thence, as Sir Walter Raleigh was 

 wont prettily to say, they were suddenly driven 

 away with squibs ; for it was no more but a strata 

 gem of fire boats, manless, and sent upon them by 

 the favour of the wind in the night time, that did 

 put them in such terror, as they cut their cables, and 

 left their anchors in the sea. After they hovered 

 some two or three days about Graveling, and there 

 again were beaten in a great fight ; at what time our 

 second fleet, which kept the narrow seas, was come 

 in and joined to our main fleet. Thereupon the 

 Spaniards entering into farther terror, and finding 

 also divers of their ships every day to sink, lost all 

 courage, and instead of coming up into the Thames 

 mouth for London, as their design was, fled on 

 towards the north to seek their fortunes ; being still 

 chased by the English navy at the heels, until we 



