_WE have been persuaded by some that are careful of our Safety, to
take heed how we commit ourselves to armed Multitudes; but I assure
you, I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving
People. Let Tyrants fear; I have always so behaved myself, that
under_ GOD _I have placed my chiefest Strength and Safeguard in the
loyal Hearts and Good-Will of my Subjects; and therefore I am come
amongst you, as you see at this time, not for my Recreation and
Disport, but being resolved, in the Midst and Heat of the Battle, to
live or die amongst you all; to lay down for my_ GOD, _and for my
Kingdom, and for my People, my Honour and my Blood, even in the
Dust. I know I have the Body but of a weak and feeble Woman, but I
have the Heart and Stomach of a King, and of a King of_ England
_too; and think foul Scorn that_ Parma _or_ Spain, _or any Prince
of_ Europe, _should dare to invade the Borders of my Realm; to
which, rather than any Dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will
take up Arms, I myself will be your General, Judge, and Rewarder of
every one of your Virtues in the Field. I know already for your
Forwardness, you have deserved Rewards and Crowns; and we do assure
you, in the Word of a Prince, they shall be duly paid you. In the
mean time, my Lieutenant-General shall be in my stead, than whom
never Prince commanded a more noble or worthy Subject; not doubting
but by your Obedience to my General, by your Concord in the Camp,
and your Valour in the Field, we shall shortly have a famous Victory
over those Enemies of my_ GOD, _of my Kingdoms, and of my People_.
[111]It is scarce to be conceived what a Spirit of Bravery this great
Queen’s Presence and noble Behaviour infus’d into the Officers and
Soldiers: [112]They saluted her with Cries, with Shouts, with all Tokens
of Love, of Obedience, and of Readiness to fight for her; they praised
her stately Person and princely Behaviour, prayed for her Life and
Happiness, and cursed all her Enemies, both Traitors and Papists, with
earnest Desire to venture their Lives for her Safety: [113]One who was
an Eye Witness relates moreover, that “the whole Armie in every Quarter,
did devoutely, at certaine Times, sing in her hearing, in a very tunable
manner, divers Psalmes put into Forme of Prayers in Praise of Almighty
GOD, which she greatly commended, and with very earnest Speech thanked
GOD with them[114].”
Next, if we look into _Flanders_, we shall find, [115]that on the 29th
of _July_, the Duke of _Parma_ having paid his Addresses to our Lady of
_Halle_, came to _Dunkirk_, tho’ something of the latest; for which
Reason the _Spaniards_ received him in a very reproachful manner; as if,
out of some By-Regards to Queen _Elizabeth_, he had designedly slipt so
fair an Opportunity of doing Wonders for the Service of his Country. The
Duke, to appease this Storm, punish’d those who had the Charge of
Victualling his Fleet; but, however, he did not attempt to put to Sea,
being still block’d up by the Lord _Henry Seymour_’s and Sir _William
Winter_’s Squadron, which were returned from the Chace. In the mean
time, he could not but secretly laugh at the saucy and insolent Brags of
the _Spaniards_, whom he had heard talking at this vain rate, “That
where ever they turn’d their Sails, a most certain Victory waited upon
their Course, and that the _English_ would not have Courage enough to
look them in the Face.”
* * * * *
To return now to the two Fleets. We left the _Spaniards_ sailing
Northward, and the _English_ in Pursuit of them: [116]When the latter
were come to fifty five Degrees thirteen Minutes North Latitude, and
thirty Leagues East of _Newcastle_, the Lord High Admiral determined to
attack the _Spanish_ Fleet again on the _Friday_ following, _August 2_,
but he thought fit to alter his Resolution, chiefly upon these two
Accounts: Because he plainly perceived by the Enemies Course, that they
had no other Intention but to save themselves, by sailing North, round
the _British_ Islands; and, because several of his Ships wanted Victuals
and other Necessaries; which was not so much owing to any Neglect, as to
the Victuallers not knowing where to send to the Fleet; for the Queen
had most amply and carefully provided whatever was convenient and
necessary.
It was therefore concluded, to leave the _Spanish_ Fleet to pursue their
Course, and to sail for the Firth of _Forth_; both to get Refreshment,
and to perform some other Business which the Lord Admiral thought
necessary to be done; but the Wind coming contrary, that is Westerly,
the next Day his Lordship altered his Course, and sending only some
Advice-Boats to observe the Enemies farther Motion, he returned with the
whole Fleet back to _England_, where they arrived, some at _Yarmouth_,
some at _Harwich_, and others at the _Downs_, about the 7th of _August_.
The _Spaniards_ being now got clear of their troublesome Pursuers,
resolv’d to make the best of their way for _Spain_. [117]Some Suspicions
there were, that they design’d to betake themselves to the King of
_Scots_, who was provok’d to an high degree for his Mother’s Death; and
therefore, the better to keep him in Temper, _Ashby_, the Queen of
_England_’s Ambassador in _Scotland_, made him very considerable Offers,
which, however, were not performed: But the _Spaniards_ having now laid
aside all Thoughts and Hopes of returning to attack the _English_; and
perceiving their main Safety lay in their Flight, they made no Stop at
any Port whatever. [118]About twenty five Ships now remain’d with the
Duke of _Medina_, and forty with _Recalde_; [119]these, with the rest of
the Fleet, sail’d about _Cathness_ for the Coast of _Ireland_, and
pass’d between the _Orcades_ and _Fair-Isle_, to the sixty first Degree
of North Latitude; [120]an unaccustom’d Place for the young Gallants of
_Spain_, that had never felt Storms on the Sea, or cold Weather in
_August_.
[121]When the _English_ left off pursuing the _Spaniards_, the latter
wanted of their whole Fleet fifteen or sixteen Ships; and had lost, in
the several Engagements, and by Sickness, eight thousand Men at least.
And here their ill Fortune did not stop, but continued to persecute them
all the rest of their Voyage; [122]for on the Coast of _Scotland_ they
lost the two following Ships, which had been so extremely battered by
the _English_ Shot, that they founder’d at Sea; namely, the _St.
Matthew_, a Ship of five hundred Tuns, in which four hundred and fifty
Men were drowned; and a Biscainer of _St. Sebastian’s_, of four hundred
Tuns, in which three hundred and fifty Men perished: [123]Moreover, in
these or other Ships, above seven hundred Soldiers were cast on Shore in
_Scotland_, who, by the Duke of _Parma_’s Mediation with the King of
_Scots_, and with Queen _Elizabeth_’s Permission, were sent over, a Year
after, into the _Low-Countries_.
[124]About four Days after the _English_ Fleet left the _Spaniards_,
they came to an Island in the North Part of _Scotland_, where they staid
not, nor had any Relief: And at this Place the Duke of _Medina_ calling
all the Ships together, charged them to make the best of their way for
the Coasts of _Spain_ or _Portugal_, because they were in the utmost
Distress for want of Victuals and other Provisions.
[125]For an Addition to their Misfortunes, about the 23d of _August_,
when there were seventy eight Ships of them together sailing in the
Ocean, a violent Storm arose at South-South-West, which continued from
Four o’ Clock in the Afternoon ’till Ten the next Morning, and separated
them so, that not above twenty seven of them were to be seen together:
And again, on the 2d of _September_, they had another violent Storm,
with a Mist, which so dispersed them, that of the foresaid twenty seven,
only three came together into _Dingle-Bay_; [126]and during their
Passage round the North of _Scotland_, they had so terrible a Sickness,
that their Mariners and Soldiers died daily in great Multitudes.
As for the Particulars of the Ships sunk, and Men drowned, killed, and
taken upon the Coast of _Ireland_, during the Month of _September_, they
were as follows[127]:
Men.
In _Tirconnel_, in _Loughfoyle_ 1 Ship 1100
and
others
that
escaped.
{in 3 great Ships 1500
_Slego-Haven_
{in _Tirawley_ 1 Ship 400
{in 1 300
_Clare-Island_