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desired to see a papist on the throne, now were less disposed to disturb the government.

Among other documents existing in reference to this affair, there is in the Vatican a letter addressed to the pope, written by Mary, the day after the sentence of death was first communicated, by which she leaves her right to the throne of England to be disposed of by the pope and Philip as they should see fit, if her son refused to become a papist. This would act as a fresh stimulus to Philip, whose armada was now nearly ready to sail; but it was delayed by various causes: among other means, a plan is said to have been resorted to, by the advice of a merchant, sir Thomas Gresham: by causing large draughts to be made upon the bank of Genoa, he prevented the supply of money necessary for the final despatch of the fleet being furnished. This delay also may have been occasioned by the success of an expedition against Cadiz, under sir Francis Drake, who destroyed a number of vessels in the outer road, and ascertained the extent of preparation going forward. Arrangements were made in England to meet the attack; but they were much inferior to those of the invader, excepting in the general spirit of the people. This was decidedly aroused; very few, even of the most bigoted papists, desired the success of the Spaniards. Ships were hastily built or fitted out; arms and munitions of war were collected, and the sea-ports fortified.

The conduct of the earl of Leicester was injurious to the states. Two officers appointed by him were negligent or treacherous; they surrendered the posts committed to their care. Leicester returned to the Netherlands with a reinforcement; but he was not successful against Parma: his conduct excited a quarrel with the states, which ended in the queen causing him to resign his command, in December, 1587. Prince Maurice was appointed governor, while the command of the English auxiliaries was given to lord Willoughby, who was directed to conciliate the leaders of the confederated states.

The attention of Europe was now directed to the proceedings of Spain. The armada consisted of one hundred and thirty-five ships, many of them very large, manned with eight thousand seamen, and carrying twenty thousand veteran soldiers; while in Flanders upwards of thirty thousand men were prepared, with transports or boats adequate for their conveyance. The whole royal navy of England consisted of thirtyfour vessels, of which only five were above eight hundred tons; but the city of London fitted out thirtythree, and eighteen were sent out by private individuals, while about ninety, chiefly small craft, were hired. Lord Howard, of Effingham, was appointed admiral. He was not experienced in nautical affairs, but able officers were placed under him, among whom were Drake, Hawkins, and others, who had already acquired fame in naval expeditions against the Spaniards. Land forces were ordered to assemble, but only one large army was actually embodied. It was stationed in Essex, on the river Thames, to protect the capital, and the approach to it. The chief reliance was placed on the fleet, assembled at the entrance of the Channel; but the nobles and persons of property were ready to conduct their dependents to any points whither they might be directed. The pious composure of lord Burghley is to be remarked: when the overwhelming force of the Spaniards was noticed, he firmly replied, "They shall do no more than God will suffer them."

On May 29, 1588, the armada, solemnly blessed by popish prelates, and proudly denominated "the invincible," sailed from the Tagus, not only as an expedition to invade an enemy's country, but, as the litany prepared for this occasion was expressly entitled, "against the English heretics." Many friars were on board, with stores of popish trumpery, as well as the muniments of war; and all was prepared to extirpate the Protestant faith of England! Another bull, ordering that Elizabeth should be hurled from her throne, had been issued by the pope Sixtus v., expressly absolving

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Ships of the Spanish Armada and of the English Fleet.

her subjects from their allegiance. Cardinal Allen was sent to Flanders, to co-operate from thence in matters under his control.

A storm shortly arose, which compelled the armada to take shelter in Corunna for three weeks, to repair the damage it had sustained. It being reported that the expedition was effectually disappointed, the queen ordered four of the largest ships to be laid up but the admiral refused to weaken his force, and stood out to sea to obtain correct intelligence of the state of the Spanish fleet. A south-west gale compelled him to return, while the armada, favoured by the same wind, steered for England. The commander, the duke of Medina Sidonia, purposed to attack the English fleet at Plymouth, although his orders forbade him to make any attempt before he had communicated with the prince of Parma: this intention was laid aside when he found the English ships had been again at sea.

Lord Howard was informed of the approach of the armada, on which he hastened to leave the port. The next day, July the 20th, the Spanish fleet was seen sailing slowly up the Channel, in the form of a crescent, the extremities of which were seven miles apart. The whole of the English fleet had not joined; the admiral, therefore, allowed the main body of the armada to pass, while he followed, and attacked the rear. The English seamen being superior in skill, and their vessels more manageable, they were able to do considerable injury to their opponents. One Spanish vessel was burned, another was captured and sent into Dartmouth. More would have been effected, but the English ships were so ill supplied with ammunition, that many of them had to retire from the fight, and go into the nearest ports to procure a supply. Some cannonading took place on the following days; but the English admiral resolved to forbear any general conflict till he could join the ships stationed off Dover.

The progress of the armada was slow; on July 27 it anchored near Calais. The Spanish troops were

partly embarked in the small craft prepared for them, when, on the night of July 28, the English admiral sent eight small vessels, fitted as fire-ships, into the thickest of the Spanish fleet. A general consternation followed: orders were given for all the Spanish ships to stand out to sea; they did so in much confusion. Drake closely engaged a part on the following day, when twelve large Spanish ships were taken or destroyed, and many were much damaged. A gale of wind increased their difficulties; the prince of Parma refused to commit his troops to the hazard of the winds and waves, in the doubtful state of the main armament. Medina Sidonia then deemed further efforts useless, and having called a council of war, it was resolved to return to Spain, by sailing round Scotland and Ireland. The fleet was reduced to about eighty sail, many of them much damaged.

on;

The Spanish invincible armada then took flight; the English fleet pursued till their ammunition again failed; but what their force could not accomplish, the elements effected under the Divine command. A storm came but most of the English ships were in harbour, while the armada was fully exposed to the rage of the tempest. Several Spanish ships were wrecked on the coasts of Scotland and Ireland, the crews being mostly drowned, or killed by the natives. In September, the poor remains of this numerous and mighty armada returned to Spain; only fifty-three vessels reached home, and those in a shattered condition. Such was the result of this remarkable expedition, in which the hand of Divine Providence was manifestly stretched out for the preservation of the English queen and her subjects; for though her fleet, inferior as it was, fought gallantly, yet numbers and combined effort must have prevailed, had not God willed otherwise. The queen_ordered this signal defeat to be commemorated, and the cause piously acknowledged, by a medal, which bore the impress of a tempest-beaten fleet, with the motto, "Afflavit Deus, et dissipantur;" "God caused the

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