igS THE CALL OF THE SEA 



The Spanish Armada (1588) -^c^ •'O 



(From The History of England) 



A LL being thus in order, the Prince of Parma 

 ^^ ready to embark, the paternal admonition to 

 the Enghsh nation to commit treason prepared for 

 circulation, and the last touches added to the 

 completeness of the fleet in the Tagus, the Duke 

 of Medina Sidonia sailed from Lisbon on the 

 I9th-29th of May. The northerly breeze which 

 prevails on the coast of Portugal was unusually 

 strong. The galleons standing high out of the 

 water, and carrying small canvas in proportion to 

 their size, worked badly to windward. They were 

 three weeks in reaching Finisterre, where, the wind 

 having freshened to a gale, they were scattered, 

 some standing out to sea, some into the Bay of 

 Biscay. Their orders, in the event of such a 

 casualty, had been to make for Ferrol. The wind 

 shifting suddenly to the west, those that had gone 

 into the Bay could not immediately reach it, and 

 were driven into Santander. The officers, how- 

 ever, were, on the whole, well satisfied with the 

 qualities which the ships had displayed. A mast 

 or two had been sprung, a few yards and bow- 

 sprits had been carried away ; but beyond loss of 

 time there had been no serious damage. 

 The weather moderating, the fleet was again 



