{in 1 200
_O’sla’rtie_
{in _Irrise_ 2 Ships, the
Men
escaped
into
other
Vessels.
{in 1 Ship 70
_Gallway-Bay_
{in the 2 Ships 600
_Shannon_
{in the same 1 Ship burnt, the
Men
embarked
in
another
Ship.
In _Munster_, {in _Traylie, 1 Ship 24
Sept. 7._
{in _Dingle_ 1 500
{in _Desmond, 1 300
Sept. 10._
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
In all 17 Men
Ships. 5394
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
[128]Besides which, _Our Lady of the Rosary_, the Admiral Ship of the
_Guypuscoan_ Squadron, of near a thousand Tuns, and thirty Guns, that
had fifty Brass Field-Pieces on board, was lost upon the Rocks in
_Bleskey-Sound_; so that of five hundred Men, only one escap’d; and in
this perished the Prince of _Ascula_, a natural Son of King _Philip_,
_Mighel de Oquendo_ the Captain, and several other considerable and
eminent Persons.
According to other Accounts[129], nine _Spanish_ Ships were driven
ashore between the Rivers of _Lough-Foile_ and _Lough-Swilley_, many
whereof were broken to Pieces, and the _Spaniards_ forced to shelter
among the wild _Irish_.
[130]As for such of the _Spaniards_ as had the ill Fortune to be drove
upon the _Irish_ Shore, they met with the most barbarous Treatment; for
some of them were butcher’d by the wild _Irish_, and the rest put to the
Sword by the Lord Deputy Sir _William Fitz-Williams_, who fearing they
might join with the _Irish_ Malecontents, and observing that _Bingham_,
Governor of _Connaught_ treated them with more Gentleness than he had
several times ordered him to do; upon their Surrender, he dispatched
_Fowle_, Deputy Marshal, to execute his Orders; who first dislodg’d them
from the Places where they lay conceal’d, and then executed about two
hundred of them: But this Rigour the Queen condemn’d, and complain’d of
as too extreme: However, the rest being terrified by this way of
proceeding, tho’ they were sick and half famish’d, yet chose to trust
themselves to their shatter’d Barks, and the Mercy of the Seas; and so
became many of them a Sacrifice to the Waves. The Duke of _Medina_, with
twenty or twenty five Ships, keeping in the Ocean, return’d to _Spain_.
[131]About forty of the _Spanish_ Ships fell in with the _Irish_ Coast,
and intended to touch at Cape _Clear_, in hopes of meeting there with
some Refreshment; but the Wind proving contrary, and the Weather
tempestuous, many of them perish’d on that Coast; [132]of those that got
off, some were driven by a strong West Wind into the _English_ Channel,
where part of them were attack’d again and taken by the _English_,
others by the _Rochellers_, and some arriv’d at _Newhaven_ (or _Havre de
Grace_) in _Normandy_.
Such were the _Spaniards_ Losses of Men and Ships, in their return round
_Ireland_.
The Losses they had suffered before, were thus:
Loss Men.
of
Ships.
_July_ 21. The _Spanish_ 1 40
Vice-Admiral Ship
disabled at the first
Engagement near
_Eddystone_,
D. _Pedro de Valdez_’s 1 422
Gall. taken
_Oquendo_’s Ship, _St. 1 289
Anne_, burnt
_July_ 23. A great _Venetian_ Ship, 1
and other smaller
ones,} taken
The chief Galleass, 1 686
taken
A great Galleon, 1
sunk
A Galleon of _Biscay_ 1
sunk
Two Saicks 2
sunk
The Galleon, _St. Matth._ 1 397
taken
The Galleon _St. Philip_ 1 532
taken
both by the
_Flushingers._
A _Castilian_ Ship 1
wreck’d
30. Two _Venetian_ Ships 2 843
sunk
_Aug._ The _St. Matthew_ sunk 1 450
A _Biscayner_ 1 350
sunk
both on the Coast of
_Scotland_.
Two lost upon the Coast 2
of _Norway_,
──────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total Men
of 8000
Ships at
18 least.
──────────────────────────────────────────────────
So that by adding their several Losses together, it plainly appears,
they lost THIRTY FIVE Ships, and above THIRTEEN THOUSAND Men; besides
many others of which no Estimate was or could be made[133]; and above
two thousand Prisoners were taken in the Fight in _Ireland_, and the
_Low-Countries_: Those taken in _Ireland_ were brought to
_England_[134], and confined in _Bridewell_ ’till they were ransomed.
The most eminent of the Prisoners were, Don _Pedro de Valdez_, Don
_Vasquez de Silvea_, Don _Alonzo de Sayes_, and others taken in the
Channel; in _Ireland_, Don _Alonzo de Luzon_, _Roderigo de Lasso_, _&c._
in _Zealand_, Don _Diego Piementelli_, _&c._ In a Word, there was hardly
a noble Family in all _Spain_, that did not lose a Son, a Brother, or a
Kinsman; upon which account the Mourning was so universal in that whole
Kingdom, [135]that King _Philip_ was obliged by Proclamation to shorten
the usual Time; as the _Romans_ of old, upon their great Defeat of
_Cannæ_, found it necessary to limit the publick Mourning to thirty
Days.
[136]The shatter’d Remains of the _Spanish_ Fleet after having weather’d
many Storms, and suffered all the Inconveniences of War and Weather,
arriv’d at last, about the End of _September_, at _St. Andero_, and
other Ports of _Spain_, laden with nothing but Shame and Dishonour. The
Duke of _Medina_ was forbid the Court, and ordered to go and live
privately; _Martinez de Recalde_ died immediately after his Return; and
two of their Ships were accidentally burnt in the Harbour not long after
their Arrival. Surely such a Series of ill Success was hardly ever known
in any other Age or Nation.
As for the _English_ they lost only Captain _Coxe_’s Ship
abovementioned, and not more than one hundred Men.
* * * * *
Such was the End of the formidable _Spanish_ Armada, that had been three
Years fitting out at a vast Expence; and which in less than three Months
was shamefully beaten, and put to a most ignominious Flight,
[137]without taking at the same time, in several Engagements, and in
many Days Fight, any _English_ Ship or Boat, or making one Prisoner; not
having so much as fired a Cottage at Land, or taken a Cock-Boat of ours
at Sea, as the Lord _Bacon_ observes[138], it wandered through the
Wilderness of the Northern Seas; and, according to the Curse in
Scripture, _Came out against us one way, and fled before us seven ways_.
Well might the _Spaniards_ marvel at this, and be heartily vexed, as one
of their Friends observes they did; [139]so as some of them to say in
their Anguish of Heart, “That in all these Fights, CHRIST shewed himself
a _Lutheran_! Surely it is most manifest, as he goes on, That in all
this Voiage, from the Armada’s coming out of _Lisbon_, even to the very
last, GOD shewed no Favour to the _Spaniards_ any one Day, as he did
continually to the _English_.”
For this signal Deliverance, the Thanks of all true Lovers of their
Country, and of the Protestant Religion, are due to that Almighty Being,
by whose Assistance their Ancestors obtained the Victory; and it ought
at the same time, to make them love and reverence the Memory of that
wise and excellent Queen, by whose Prudence and good Management they
were enabled to conquer.
[140]Upon the first News of this wonderful Deliverance and Victory, the
Kingdom was filled with Joy, and a Sense of Gratitude to GOD. The first
Notice given of it in publick, was on the 20th of _August_, when _Nowel_
Dean of St. _Paul_’s preached at the Cross a Thanksgiving Sermon before
the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and the Companies in their best Liveries.
Again _September_ the 8th being another and chief Thanksgiving Day, the
Preacher at St. _Paul_’s Cross moved the People to give Thanks for their
Enemies Overthrow; and at the same time were set upon the lower
Battlements of the Church, eleven Ensigns or Banners taken from the
_Spanish_ Fleet; one Streamer in particular, on which was represented
the Virgin _Mary_ with her Son in her Arms, was held in a Man’s Hand
over the Pulpit: These Banners were afterwards carried to the Cross in
_Cheapside_[141]; and the next Day, _September 9_, were hanged on
_London-Bridge_ towards _Southwark_, where the Fair was kept. The 17th
of _November_, being _Sunday_, was another Rejoicing-Day, as well upon
account of the Queen’s Accession to the Throne, as for this Victory. Her
Majesty intended to have been at _Paul_’s Cross, to hear a Sermon
preach’d by Dr. _Cooper_ Bishop of _Winchester_, and Provision had
accordingly been made for her Reception; but upon some Occasion or
other, her coming was put off ’till the _Sunday_ following: The 19th
being _Tuesday_ was a general Thanksgiving-Day throughout the whole
Kingdom. The next _Sunday, November 24_, the Queen, attended by her
Privy Council, by the Nobility, and other honourable Persons, as well
Spiritual as Temporal, in great number, the _French_ Ambassador, the
Judges, the Heralds, and Trumpeters all on Horseback, came in a Chariot
supported by four Pillars, and drawn by two white Horses, to St.
_Paul_’s Church; where alighting at the West Door, she fell on her
Knees, and audibly praised GOD for her own and the Nation’s signal
Deliverance; and, after a Sermon suitable to the Occasion, preached by
Dr. _Pierce_, Bishop of _Sarum_, she exhorted the People in a most Royal
and Christian manner, to a due Performance of the religious Duty of
Thanksgiving; then going to the Bishop of _London_’s Palace, where she
dined, she returned in the same Order as before, by Torch-light, to
_Somerset-House_.
Those brave Men that had ventur’d their Lives in the Defence of their
Country, were considered and rewarded by the Queen. [142]She settled a
Pension on the Lord High-Admiral for his great Service, and bestow’d a
handsome yearly Allowance on the poor and disabled Seamen; and upon all
Occasions she distinguish’d the rest of the Officers, Soldiers, and
Sailors with particular Marks of her Regard and Esteem; but their
Rewards consisted generally more in Words than in Deeds.
A short EXPLANATION and ACCOUNT of what is contained in each of the ten
Tapestry-Plates, and the ten Charts.
The first Plate of the Tapestry and Chart I. represent the _Spanish_
Fleet coming up the _Channel_, opposite to the _Lizard_, as it was
first discovered. See _Account of the Spanish Invasion_, p. 12, 13.
Plate II. and Chart II. The _Spanish_ Fleet against _Fowey_, drawn up in
the Form of a Half Moon, and the _English_ Fleet pursuing them.
_Account_, _&c._ p. 13.
Plate III. and Chart III. At the left Hand Corner is represented the
first Engagement between the _Spanish_ and _English_ Fleets: After
which the _English_ give Chace to the _Spaniards_, who draw themselves
up into a Roundel. _Account_, _&c._ _ibid._
Plate IV. and Chart IV. _De Valdez_’s Galleon springs her Foremast, and
is taken by Sir _Francis Drake_. The Lord-Admiral with the _Bear_ and
_Mary Rose_, pursue the Enemy, who are in the Form of a Half Moon.
_Account_, _&c._ p. 13, 14.
Plate V. and Chart V. The Admiral of the _Guypuscoan_ Squadron being set
on Fire, is taken by the _English_. The rest of the _Spanish_ Fleet
continue their Course in the Form of a Half Moon: And when both Fleets
were against the Isle of _Portland_, they come to an Engagement.
_Account_, _&c._ p. 14.
Plate VI. and Chart VI. Some _English_ Ships attack the _Spanish_ Fleet
to the Westward. The _Spaniards_ draw themselves into a Roundel: And
afterwards keeping on their Course, are followed by the _English_.
_Account_, _&c._ p. 14, 15.
Plate VII. and Chart VII. Represent the sharpest Engagement that
happen’d between the two Fleets, on _July 25_, against the Isle of
_Wight_. _Account_, _&c._ p. 15.
In Plate VIII. and Chart VIII. the _Spanish_ Fleet is seen sailing up
the _Channel_, intending to stop at _Dunkirk_ or _Calais_, where they
were to be join’d by the Duke of _Parma_: The _English_ follow them
close. _Account_, _&c._ p. 16.
Plate IX. and Chart IX. The _Spaniards_ come to an Anchor before
_Calais_, from whence they are dislodg’d by the Fireships sent amongst
them in the Night: The _English_ prepare to pursue them. _Account_,
_&c._ p. 16, 17.
Plate X. and Chart X. The _Spaniards_ make the best of their way for the
Northern Seas; and are, in the mean time, very much battered by the
_English_, who closely pursue them. The chief Galleass is stranded
near _Calais_. _Account_, _&c._ p. 17, 18, 19.
The Reader is desired to observe, that the Border in Plate II, IV, VI,
VIII, X, is an exact Representation of the Border to the
Tapestry-Hangings, which is ornamented with the Portraits of the
principal Commanders; and is the same in all the Pieces of the Tapestry;
only the Heads are differently placed. But for more Variety, and in
order to bring in the Heads of Sir _Robert Carey_, the Earl of
_Northumberland_, Sir _Roger Townshend_, and Sir _Thomas Gerard_,
another Border has been contrived, being that which is round Plate I,
III, V, VII, IX.
We are inform’d by _Joachim de Sandrart_[143], that the _Designs_ of the
Tapestry were made by _Henry Cornelius Vroom_, a famous Painter of
_Harlem_, eminent for his great Skill in drawing all Sorts of Shipping;
and that it was _Wove_ by _Francis Spiring_.
EXPLANATION of the MEDALS and other ORNAMENTS round the Charts.
Gen. Chart. On the left Side BRITANNIA is represented darting Thunder
and Lightning, upon ENVY, SUPERSTITION, and the Kingdom of _Spain_,
delineated by those of _Castile_ and _Leon_, which lye groveling
below: On the other Side, TRUE RELIGION, represented by a Woman
sitting, and holding a Bible in one Hand, thunders down upon
HYPOCRISY, IGNORANCE, and POPERY: The Medal at the Top has, on one
Side, the _Spanish_ Fleet in a Storm, and this Inscription, FLAVIT ·
יְהֹוָה · ET · DISSIPATI · SVNT· 1588. _The Lord blew, and they were
dispers’d._ On the Reverse is represented a Church founded upon a
Rock, (meaning the Protestant Religion,) which the Waves beat against,
and the Heavens seem to frown upon; the Inscription is ALLIDOR · NON ·
LÆDOR, _I am beat_ (by the Waves) _but not hurt_. That at the Bottom,
which is of Silver, and in the Collection of Dr. _Mead_, has on one
Side, the Pope, Cardinals, and Bishops; the Emperor, King _Philip_,
and other Princes in their Robes of State, sitting in Consultation,
bound about their Eyes with Fillets, the Ends of which are sticking
up, and the Floor of the Room they are assembled in all full of
Pricks: The Inscription above them, O COECAS · HOMINVM · MENTES · O ·
PECTORA · COECA. _O the blind Understandings of Men! O their blind
Hearts!_ About the Circle, DVRVM · EST · CONTRA · STIMVLOS ·
CALCITRARE, _It is hard to kick against the Pricks_: On the Reverse, A
Fleet of Ships dash’d against Rocks, and sinking: Above, VENI · VIDE·
VIVE, 1588. _Come, see, live_, 1588: TV · DEVS · MAGNVS · ET · MAGNA ·
FACIS · TV · SOLVS · DEVS, _Thou, o God, art great, and dost great
things, thou art God alone._
Chart I. and II. Above is a profile Face of Queen _Elizabeth_ (taken
from a Minute of _Is. Oliver_, in the Collection of Dr. _Mead_,)
before which sits HISTORY with an Olive-Branch, recording her great
Actions; and behind her, FAME sounding her Praises. On each Side of
the Queen are moreover several warlike Instruments taken out of the
_Spanish_ Fleet, and now preserved in the Tower. From Queen
_Elizabeth_’s Picture hangs the Anchor of Hope, the Arms of the
Admiralty, surrounded by the Winds; and below stands NEPTUNE, the God
of the Sea, in his Chariot, to denote the Queen’s Dominion of the
Narrow Seas. At the Corner of the first Chart BRITANNIA sitting upon a
Rock in the Sea, and looking scornfully upon the _Spanish_ Fleet, has
this very pertinent Motto by her,
_Maturate fugam_, _&c._
_Hence to your Lord my Royal Mandate bear,
The Realms of Ocean, and the Fields of Air,
Are mine, not his._
VIRG. _Æn. l_. I.
Chart III. and IV. At the Top is a Picture of the Lord High-Admiral,
(taken from an original Painting of _Frederico Zucchero_, in
Possession of his Grace the Duke of _Kent_) having on one Side
PRUDENCE, _Janus_ like, with a double Face; and on the other, COURAGE:
Among which are intermix’d several _Spanish_ Weapons, now in the
Tower. The Silver Coin, which was struck on this glorious Occasion by
the _Zealanders_, has on one side two Ships engag’d, and under CLASSIS
· HISP. Round the Circle, VENIT · IVIT · FVIT, 1588. _The Spanish
Fleet came, went, was_, 1588. On the Reverse, the Arms of _Zealand_,
with this Inscription, SOLI · DEO · GLORIA, _Glory to God alone_:
Under the Lord-Admiral, VICTORY fitting, holds in her right Hand a
Laurel Crown, and his Lordship’s Arms: In her left, a Chain, to which
are fastened below the Duke of _Medina_, and the other chief _Spanish_
Commanders.
Chart V. and VI. At the Top is a Portrait of Sir _Francis Drake_, (taken
out of Mr. _Knapton_’s Collection of illustrious Men,) and adorned on
each Side with proper Naval Ornaments. The Coin at the Top has on one
Side the Arms of _Zealand_ crown’d, with this Inscription, NON · NOBIS
· DOMINE · NON · NOBIS, 1588. _Not to us, o Lord, not to us_: Reverse,
The _Spanish_ Fleet flying, thus circumscribed, SED · NOMINI · TVO ·
DA · GLORIAM, _But to thy Name give the Praise_: That at the Bottom
represents on one Side Queen _Elizabeth_, sitting in a triumphal
Chariot, holding in her right Hand a Palm Branch, the Emblem of
Victory; and in her left a Book open, in which is the Beginning of the
LORD’S Prayer in _Dutch_, and round the Circle, TANDEM · BONA · CAVSA
· TRIVMPHAT, 1588. _At last the good Cause triumphs_: Upon the
Reverse, a Tree in which is a Nest full of small Birds, that jointly
defend themselves against a Bird of Prey, by whom they are attack’d:
At the Bottom BELLVM · NECESS. _A War of Necessity_: Round the Circle,
SI · NON · VIRIBVS · AT · CAVSA · POTIORES, _Superior, if not in
Strength, yet in the Goodness of our Cause_. At the Bottom of these
two Charts is represented Sir _Francis Drake_, distributing amongst
his Officers and Sailors, the Money, _&c._ that was found in a great
Galleon brought to _Dartmouth_, See _Account_, _&c._ p. 13, 14. Others
are driving the Prisoners before them.
Chart VII. and VIII. At the upper Part are the Portraits of Sir _M.
Forbisher_, and Sir _J. Hawkins_ (taken from _Holland’s Herologia
Anglicana_) with a naval Crown between them, and other suitable
Decorations. Below them, upon a _Columna Rostrata_, (_i.e._ a Pillar
adorned with the Beaks of Ships,) stands _Victory_, holding a Shield,
upon which are the Names of those brave Persons that were knighted by
the Lord-Admiral, as is represented at the Bottom. See _Account_,
_&c._ p. 16. Others are bringing Weapons out of the _Spanish_ Ships.
Chart IX. and X. At the Top is a curious Portrait of Queen _Elizabeth_,
(taken from a Gold _Alto Relievo_, in the Collection of Dr. _Mead_,)
thundering down upon _Philip_ II. King of _Spain_, Pope _Sixtus_ V.
(taken from a Copper Medal in the Collection of _Tho. Sadler_ Esq;)
and _Alexander_ Duke of _Parma_, whom she holds in Chains. At the two
bottom Corners are two Boys weeping, and pointing at the _Spanish_
Fleet, which is represented as shipwreck’d, and in the utmost
Distress. The Coin at the left Hand Corner of the Top, was struck by
the _Zealanders_, and exhibits the _Spanish_ Fleet in a violent Storm,
the Sun above, breaking out of a thick Cloud; the Inscription is, POST
· NVBILA · PHOEBVS, _After cloudy Weather Sun-shine_; or, _After a
Storm a Calm_. On the Coin at the Right Hand, are four Persons upon
their Knees, looking up to Heaven, with this Inscription, HOMO ·
PROPONIT · DEVS · DISPONIT, _Man proposeth, God disposeth_: The
Reverse, which is not copied here, had this Inscription, HISPANI ·
FVGIVNT · ET · PEREVNT · NEMINE · SEQVENTE.
The above Medals, excepting those taken from the Collections mentioned,
are from _Histoire Metallique des Pays Bas, par G. van Loon_.
_This Account was drawn up by the Rev. Mr. Philip Morant, M.A. Rector of
St. Mary’s_, Colchester.
---------------------------------------------------------
_ERRATA._
Page 3. Col. 1. Line ult. _for_ Sailor _read_ Sailors.
of Notes,
_Ibid._ _for_ Books _read_ Book.
Page 8. Col. 1. Line 54. _for del Barrio 130_ _read
530._
_Ibid._ Col. 2. Line 38. _for_ Rama _read_ Lama.
------------------------------------------------------------------------