mighty bredth of the South sea, land upon the Luzones in despight of the enemy, enter into alliance, amity, and traffike with the princes of the Moluccaes, & the Isle of Java, double the famous Cape of Bona Speranza, arive at the Isle of Santa Helena, & last of al returne home most richly laden with the commodities of China, as the subjects of this now florishing monarchy have done? IV. MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS AND THE ARMADA The following letter from Elizabeth to James VI of Scotland, which was written by her own hand, and in which she disavows all responsibility for the execution of James' mother, Mary Queen of Scots, is a better illustration of Elizabeth's deceit than it is of the real history of the time. She was certainly responsible for the execution of Mary. My deare Brother : I would you knewe (though not felt) the extreme dolor that overwhelms my mind for that miserable accident which (far contrary to my meaninge) hath befalen. I have now sent this kinsman of mine, whom ere now yt hath pleased yow to favor, to instruct yow trewly of that which ys to yerksom for my penne to tell yow. I beseche yow that as God and many moe knowe, how innocent I am in this case; so you will believe me, that yf I had bid ought I owld have bid by yt. I am not so bace minded that feare of any livinge creature or prince should make me afrayde to do that were just, or don to denye the same. I am not of so base a linage, nor cary so vile a minde. But, as not to disguise, fits not a kinge, so will I never dissemble my actions, but cawse them shewe even as I ment them. Thus assuringe yourself of me, that as I knowe this was deserved, yet yf I had ment yt I would never laye yt on others shoulders; no more will I not damnifie my selfe, that thought yt not. The circumstance yt may please yow to have of this bearer. And for your part, thincke yow have not in the world a more 231. Elizabeth to James, king of Scotland lovinge kinswoman, nor a more deare frend that my self; no: any that will watch more carefully to preserve yow and your estate. And who shall otherwise perswade yow, judge them more partiall to others then yow. And thus in hast I leave to troble yow; besechinge God to send yow a longe reign. The 14th of Feb., 1587. Your most assured lovinge sister and cosin ELIZAB., R. The two following official letters, written in the midst of the fight with the Spanish Armada, show the success of the English, but at the same time their difficulties for want of ammunition and food, and the great danger to England if the weather and other chances had not favored her. 232. Admiral Sir : Howard to Secretary I will not trouble you with any long letter; we are at this Walsingham present otherwise occupied than with writing. Upon Friday, at Plymouth, I received intelligence that there were a great number of ships descried off of the Lizard, whereupon, although the wind was very scant, we first warped out of harbor that night, and upon Saturday turned out very hardly, the wind being at southwest; and about three of the clock in the afternoon descried the Spanish fleet, and did what we could to work for the wind, which by this morning we had recovered, descrying their fleet to consist of 120 sail, whereof there are 4 galeasses and many ships of great burden. At nine of the clock we gave them fight, which continued until one. In this fight we made some of them to bear room to stop their leaks; notwithstanding we durst not adventure. to put in among them, their fleet being so strong. But there shall be nothing either neglected or unhazarded that may work their overthrow. Sir, the captains in her Majesty's ships have behaved themselves most bravely and like men hitherto, and I doubt not will continue, to their great commendation. And so, recommending our good success to your godly prayers, I bid you heartily farewell. From aboard the Ark, thwart of Plymouth, the 21st of July, 1588. Your very loving friend, C. HOWARD. Sir, the southerly wind that brought us back from the coast of Spain brought them out. God blessed us with turning us. back. Sir, for the love of God and our country let us have with speed some great shot sent us of all bigness; for this service will continue long; - and some powder with it. Right Honorable: 233. Captain Drake to Secretary The bearer came aboard the ship I was in in a wonderful good time, and brought with him as good knowledge as we Walsingham could wish. His carefulness therein is worthy recompense, for that God hath given us so good a day in forcing the enemy so far to leeward as I hope in God the prince of Parma and the duke of Sidonia shall not shake hands these few days; and whensoever they shall meet, I believe neither of them will greatly rejoice of this day's service. The town of Calais hath seen some part thereof, whose mayor her Majesty is beholden unto. Business commands me to end. God bless her Majesty, our gracious sovereign, and give us all grace to live in his fear. I assure your honor this day's service hath much appalled the enemy, and no doubt but encouraged our army. From aboard her Majesty's good ship the Revenge, this 29th of July, 1588. Your Honor's most ready to be commanded, FRA. DRAKE. There must be great care taken to send us ammunition and victuals whithersoever the enemy goeth. Yours, FRA. DRAKE. Admiral Howard planned to follow the Spanish fleet up through the North Sea till it should be destroyed or scattered, but finding the English vessels short of 234. Agree- 1588) 235. Extracts from the memoirs of Robert Carey (1588) provisions and ammunition, called a council of the cap tains at which the following agreement was made. We whose names are hereunder written have determined and agreed in council to follow and pursue the Spanish fleet until we have cleared our own coast and brought the Frith west of us; and then to return back again, as well to revictual our ships, which stand in extreme scarcity, as also to guard and defend our own coast at home; with further protestations, that, if our want of victuals and ammunition were supplied, we would pursue them to the furthest that they durst have gone. C. HOWARD FRA. DRAKE JOHN HAWKYNS THOMAS FENNER GEORGE CUMBERLAND The following narrative is by a young courtier, Robert Carey, who, hearing the news of the arrival of the Spanish fleet, hurried away from court to take part in the fighting, and after the crisis was past returned to court, all within twelve days. The next yeare the king of Spain's great Armado came upon our coast, thinking to devour us all. Upon the newes sent to court from Plimouth of their certain arrivall, my Lord Cumberland and myselfe tooke post horse, and rode streight to Portsmouth, where we found a frigot that carried us to sea; and having sought for the fleets a whole day, the night after wee fell amongst them: where it was our fortune to light first on the Spanish fleet; and finding ourselves in the wrong, we tackt about, and in short time gott to our own fleet, which was not farre from the other. At our coming aboord our Admirall, wee stay'd there awhile; but finding the ship much pestered and scant of cabins, we left the Admirall and went aboord Captain Reyman, where wee stay'd and were very welcome, and much made of. It was on Thursday that wee came to the fleete. All that day wee followed close the Spanish Armado, and nothing was attempted on either side: the same course wee held all Friday and Saturday, by which time the Spanish fleet cast anchor just before Calais. We likewise did the same, a very small distance behind them, and so continued till Munday morning about two of the clocke; in which time our counsaile of warre had provided six old hulkes and stuffed them full of all combustible matter fitt for burning, and on Monday at two in the morning they were lett loose, with each of them a man in her to direct them. The tide serving they brought them very near the Spanish fleet, so that they could not misse to come amongst the midest of them; then they set fire on them, and came off themselves, having each of them a little boate to bring him off. The ships set on fire, came so directly to the Spanish fleet, as they had no way to avoid them, but to cut all their halsers, and so escape; and their haste was such that they left one of their four great galeasses on ground before Calais, which our men took and had the spoil of, where many of the Spaniards were slaine with the governour thereof, but most of them were saved with wading ashore to Calais. They being in this disorder, wee made ready to follow them, Sea fight where began a cruell fight, and wee had such advantage both before Calais of wind and tide as wee had a glorious day of them; continuing fight from foure o'clocke in the morning, till almost five or six at night, where they lost a douzen or fourteene of their best shippes, some sunke, and the rest ranne ashore in diverse parts to keep themselves from sinking. After God had given us this great victory, they made all the hast they could away, and wee followed them Tuesday and Wednesday, by which time they were gotten as farre as Flamboroughhead. It was resolved on Wednesday at night, that by four o'clocke on Thursday, wee should have a new fight with them for a farewell; but by two in the morning, there was a flagge of counsaile hung out in our Vice-Admirall, when it was found that in the whole fleet there was not munition sufficient to make halfe a fight; and therefore it was concluded that we should let them passe, and our fleet to return to the Downes. That night wee parted with them, wee had a mighty storme. Our fleet cast anchor, and endured it; but the Spanish fleet, |