THE SPANISH MENACE 



and the ships hung on to the skirts of the Spaniards, who had now little 

 idea of landing until they could reach Parma, and apparently had no 

 conception of the bad state of the defenders' ships. It is interesting to 

 note that the Lord High Admiral took advantage of this very short and 

 uncertain lull in the proceedings to call to his flag a number of his sub- 

 ordinates and knight them on the deck of the Ark, a proceeding which 

 must have greatly increased the confidence and enthusiasm of the fleet. 

 We inflicted more damage than we received, but the fighting was really 

 quite indecisive. 



Calais. 



Medina Sidonia had intended to get into touch with the Duke of 

 Parma at Dunkirk, but on the evening of the 27th the Spanish Fleet 

 anchored off Calais, and the English also anchored outside them and 

 within comfortable cannon shot. He communicated with Parma, and 

 although we had been reinforced with the Dover squadrons, all fresh 

 ships and spoiling for a fight, we certainly could not afford to let the two 

 forces unite. All through the night and the next day feverish prepara- 

 tions were going on for an attack by fireships, a method which seemed 

 particularly promising by the huddled position of the Spanish ships to 

 leeward and the condition of their crews which had already been made 

 obvious. The confusion that was caused when the blazing ships blew 

 down on the enemy must have exceeded all expectations ; the Spaniards 

 either slipped or cut their cables, and the British ships put the final touch 

 to their panic. No opportunity was allowed to pass, and the guns of the 

 English completed what had been done by fear and countless collisions. 

 On top of it all came the news that Parma seemed in no hurry to join the 

 fleet and made no effort to embark his forces. The Armada was hope- 

 lessly scattered ; many of the ships were without ground tackle, and their 

 anchorage off Calais was very insecure even if they could regain it, 

 which was by no means certain. By the time they had reached Grave- 

 lines the English had made a number of prizes, other ships had been 

 driven ashore, and there was little left but flight. 

 The Flight. 



Medina Sidonia has recorded his intention of trying to regain the 

 Channel and he may perhaps have harboured that hope, but the 

 practical man knew better. The only two alternatives were flight or 

 fight, and most of the Spanish captains had already had quite enough of 

 the latter. By this time they were very short of shot and most of them 

 were leaking badly, so that after a council of war it was decided to make 

 Spain by the only route possible — the North Sea and the Scottish coast. 

 Nothing could please the English better, and they were very well con- 

 tent and well advised to follow them at a distance to make sure that 

 they did not attempt a landing or any further operations. The Spaniards 

 made every attempt to keep with the flagship as she gave the course 

 between the Shetlands and Orkneys and along the west coast of Ireland, 

 but their ships were never weatherly and such a voyage would try the 

 best ships of the age. All the way home to Spain the shores were strewn 



87 



