Armada and the lack of shot — for which all the largest ships had made demands — he desired them to say whether it would be best to turn back to the English Channel, or, seeing that the Duke of Parma had not sent word that he would soon be able to come but, to return to Spain by the North Sea. The council was unanimously of opinion that the Armada should return to the Channel, if the wind permitted; but that, if not, it should, under the stress of weather, return by the North Sea to Spain, there being great lack of provisions in the fleet, and the vessels that had previously withstood the enemy being damaged and unfit for service. The wind, coming from S.S.W., continued to increase, and the duke stood to seaward, the enemy's fleet following him."[1]
"As to the fighting, and the turning to relieve and assist his ships, and the awaiting the attack of the enemy, the duke took counsel with the camp-master, Don Francisco de Bobadilla, whom, on account of his many years' experience of war by land and sea, he had ordered at Corunna to go on board the flagship, and to quit the San Marcos of the same squadron. The Marquis de Peñafiel, who also was in the San Marcos, had remained there, not desiring, by removing to the flagship, to leave the gentlemen who were with him. On the question, however, of the conduct of the fleet, and of matters relating to the sea, the duke had the advice of the general Diego Flores, whom also he had caused to remove into the flagship, he being one of the oldest and most experienced officers in sea affairs.
"On Wednesday, July 31st, the Armada pursued its course with a strong wind from the S.W. and a high sea, the enemy's fleet continuing to follow it. In the evening the wind decreased, and the enemy, under all sail, closed with our rear; whereupon the duke, there being few ships in the rear with Juan Martinez de Recalde, struck his topsails and lay to to wait for the rear, firing three guns for the main body also to lie to and wait for the rear and the flagship. Don Baltasar de Zuiga will report what our Armada did in consequence. But when the enemy perceived that our flagship had brought to, and that the galleasses of the rear and as many as twelve of our best ships had done likewise, their vessels also brought to and shortened sail, without firing at us. That night Juan Acles[2] turned back with his squadron.
"On Thursday, August 1st, we pursued our voyage with the same strong wind, the enemy's fleet keeping a long way off. In the evening, under all sail, it approached our Armada, and we counted the ships of Juan Acles[3] to be missing. Again the galleasses and our flagship lay to and waited for the enemy; whereupon he also brought to, and did not come within gunshot.
"On Friday, August 2nd, at dawn, the enemy's fleet was close up with ours. Seeing that we were in good order, and that our rear had been strengthened, it desisted, and turned back towards England, until we lost sight of it. After that time we had always the same wind, until we were out of the channel of the Sea of Norway, without having found it possible to return to the English Channel; although we desired to return until to-day, the 10th of August, when, having passed the isles at the north of Scotland, we are sailing for Spain, with the wind at north-east."
The Armada passed between the Orkney Islands and the Shetlands, and, turning gradually southwards, skirted the Outer Hebrides, and the west coast of Ireland. The story of its mis-
- ↑ "The 30th, one of the enemy's great ships was espied to be in great distress by the captain" (Robert Crosse) "of her majesty's ship called the Hope; who, being in speech of yielding unto the said captain, before they could agree on certain conditions, sank presently before their eyes." S. P. Dom. ccxiv. 42, i.
- ↑ It was not Hawkyns, but Seymour, who then returned.
- ↑ The ships, really, of Seymour.
