154 COBNWAXL AND THE SPANISH ARMADA. 



The defences of the sea coast having been left in almost the 

 same state as during the reign of Henry VIII, when war with 

 Spain became daily more imminent and the advent of the Spanish 

 Armada was expected, measures were taken for the strengthening 

 of the bulwarks and castles along the coast. 



As early as 1579 the Earl of Bedford writes from Tavistock 

 advising that Tyndagell Castle in Cornwall, under the handes of 

 a servant of Sir John Arundell, and the Mount, should be fortified 

 to resist the Spaniards,^'' the only other forts along the sea coasts 

 at that time being the Castles of St. Mawes and Pendennis 



Nothing appears, however, to have been done in this 

 matter, and there is a memorial a few years later in Lord 

 Burley's handwriting for the better defence of Devon and 

 Cornwall dated November 17th, 1587, as foUows.f 



Lieuts. Sir Francis Godolphin. 

 Sir Wm. MoJiun. 

 Peter Edgcumhe. 

 RicM. Carew. 



Cornwall — Instead of Mr. Thos. Carminowe to have Mclis- Trevenion. 



To send 3 or 4 lieutenants into Cornwall to serve under y^ Captaynes of 



y6 bands. 

 To remove Harvise farmer of y" woods and to place in his stead 



allowying to y^ farmer his yerely proffitt. 

 To have y^ ordonance out of y'' great phillipp to be bestowed upon places 



undefended both in Cornwall and Devon. 

 To have y^ ordonance also that was lost out of a shipp called ye Newbark 



near to Padstow y"^ ordinance is at Mr. Godolfyns. 



" To urge ye Lieutenants of Cornwall to confer with Sir Rich''- Grenf eld for 



•'ys trenching of places upon y^ sea coste where now danger is of 



"landinge." 



The arming of the Castles on the coast, and furnishing them 

 when requisite, with cannon and further supplies of shot and 

 other necessaries, was also attended to ; the ordnance and stores 

 for St. Mawes being set forth in detail in the following inventory.]: 



• state Papers, Domestic, vol. 131. 



t State Papers, Domestic, Elizabetli, vol. 205. 



:|: state Papers, Domestic, Elizatoeth, vol. 114. 



