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CHAPTER XV.
THE CAMPAIGN OF THE SPANISH ARAMADA.[1]
Origin of the "Most Happy Armada"—Death of Santa Cruz—Incompetance of the new leader—Philip's instructions—The strategical plan—Its ambiguity—Philip's secret instructions—Co-operation with Parma—Changes in the scheme—Sidonia's general orders—The Armada leaves Lisbon—Philip’s view of England—England's view of Philip—English preparations—Desire of the English leaders to strike at the Armada while still on the coast of Spain—Difficulties concerning stores and victuals—Anxiety of Howard—News of the enemy—The government forbids the fleet to cruise in distant waters—Howard puts to sea—Disposition of the fleet—Dutch co-operation—The Armada leaves Corunna—It encounters a storm—English and Spanish armaments—The Armada sighted—Howard leaves Plymouth—The action of July 21st—Capture of Don Pedro de Valdes—Capture of the San Salvador—The action of July 23rd—The action of July 25th—The Armada off Calais—The fireships—The action off Gravelines—Flight of the Armada—The English pursue—Seymour and Wynter detached—The Spanish losses.
THE history of the Spanish Armada,[2] regarded from the naval, and not from the political point of view, begins with the year 1588, when the Spanish admiral, Santa Cruz, intoxicated by the success which he had recently gained off Terceira, proposed to Philip to employ his victorious arms agaiust England.[3] At considerable length he explained what preparations would he necessary; and he endeavoured, by anticipation, to combat some of his master’s possible objections to the scheme. “If,” he wrote, “we fall to considering the difficulties of the task, nothing will be done.”[4]
- ↑ The reproductions from Pine's engravings of the tapestry hangings in the old House of Lords (with which this chapter is illustrated) possess a special historical interest. The tapestries were made, after designs by C. Vroom, for Howard of Effingham himself, probably to some extent under his direction. James I. bought them, and gave them to the House of Lords; and they perished in the fire of 1834.
- ↑ “La Felicisima Armada” (the Most Happy Armada), was its official description. The origin of the description, “The Invincible Armada,” is a little obscure; but Captain C. F. Duro has adopted it as the title of his book ‘La Armada Invencilbe;’ (Madrid, 1884), numerous documents printed in which are cited below.
- ↑ An invasion of England had, indeed, been proposed by Alva as early as 1569.
- ↑ Duro, i. p. 242.
