HELICS OF THE SPANISH ARMADA. 135 



dollar in the bottom of the Sound of Mull % How came it there % 

 Our theory is that the coin originally belonged to some one con- 

 nected with the great " Invincible Armada " of 1588. It is a well- 

 known historical fact that, after the defeat of the Armada, the 

 already shattered and discomfited fleet, in attempting to return to 

 Spain by sailing round Scotland and Ireland, was overtaken by a 

 dreadful storm, in which many of the ships were wrecked. One 

 ship, named the " Florida," ran for shelter into the Sound of Mull, 

 and while at anchor off Tobermory harbour, was captured and 

 destroyed by a body of Mull and Morvern men, under the com- 

 mand of Maclean of Duart. This fact is sufficiently attested by 

 a remission, under the Privy Seal, to that chief for his share in 

 the somewhat questionable transaction, bearing date the 20th March 

 1589. The " Florida " was destroyed by being blown up, with all 

 her armament and stores, and many of her crew — a treacherous and 

 cruel act, for Scotland at least was then at peace with Spain — and 

 it is probable that the Spanish doUar so recently examined by us 

 reached the bottom of the Sound on that occasion, and there 

 remained till fished up in the curious manner above related, up- 

 wards of two centuries afterwards. Some of the timbers of the 

 submerged " Florida " have from time to time been brought to the 

 surface, and a casket formed out of part of her windlass was 

 presented by Sir Walter Scott to George IV., during his visit to 

 Scotland in 1822. 



An unsuccessful attempt, by means of divers, was made 

 in 1740 to recover some of a large amount of treasure said 

 to have been sunk in her ; but some very beautiful brass guns 

 were brought up, one of which is still to be seen at the Castle of 

 Dunstaffnage, near Oban, and another, we believe, at Inveraray. 

 These were last made to speak loud and lustily, not against a 

 Queen of England, as was their original errand to our shores, but 

 in honour of the marriage of the daughter of a Queen of Great 



