the coaste of Spaine, to the Iles of Bayone, her pleasure is, that I shold not goe so far, but only, of and on, betwixte the coaste of Spaine and Englande, leste the Spanishe fleete shold com into the heighte of 50, and then should bend theire course directlie to this realme. Sr. For the meaninge we had, to goe on the coaste of Spaine, it was deepely debated by those, which the world dothe judge to be men of the greatest experience, that this realme hath, which are theise Sr. Fra. Drake, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Frobisher, and Mr. Thos. Fenner; and I hope Her Majestie will not thinke, that we wente soe rashlie to work, or without a principall and choice care, and respecte of the saftie of this realme, we wold goe on the coaste of Spaine, and, therfore, our grounde was, firste to look to that principall. And yff we founde they did but linger on theire owne coaste, or that they were put into the Isles of Bayone, or the Groyne, then we thought, in all menne's judgements, that be of experience here, it had bin moste fit, to have soughte some good waie, and the sureste we cold devise (by the good protectione of God) to have defeated them. For this we considered, that the Spanishe forces, beinge for so long time victualled, as they are, mighte in very good policie, detract time, to drive us to consume oure victualles, which, for any thinge we can see, is not to be supplied againe, to serve the turne, by all the meanes that Her Majestie, and all you can doe. And if Her Ma'ty doe thinke, that she is hable to detracte time, with the Kinge of Spaine, she is greatlie deceaved, whiche may breed her greate perill. For this abusinge of the treaty of peace dothe playnelie shewe, howe the Kinge of Spaine will have all thinges perfecte, as his plote is layed before he will proceede to execute. I am persuaded, he will see the Duke of Gwise bringe the French K. to his purpose, before he will assaile. Yf his intention be soe, I praie you, when our victualles be consumed, in gasinge for them, what shal becom of us. Whether this may not breade moste greate danger and dishonour, I leave it to Her Ma'tis. wisdome; but if yt shold fall out soc, I wold I had never bin borne; and soe I am sure, many heare wold wishe, noe lesse, on theire owne behalfe. And if we were tomorrowe, next on the coaste of Spaine, I wold not land, in any place, to offend anye, but they shold well perceave, that we came not to spoyle, but to sceke oute the greate force, to feighte with them; and soe shold they have knowne by message, which shold have bin the surest waie, and most honourable to Her Majestie; but nowe, as by your derectione, to lye, of and on, betwixte Englande and Spaine, the south west wind that shall bringe them to Scotland or Ireland, shall put us to the leewards. The seas are broade; but if we had bin en their coaste, they durst not have put of, to have left us on theire backs; and when they shall come, with the southwesterly wind, which must serve them, if they goe for Irelande or Scotlande, though we be as highe, as Cape Cleare, yet shall we not be hable to goe to them, as longe as the wind shal be westerlic. And if we lye so highe, then may the Spanishe ficete beare, with the coaste of France, to come for the Isle of Weighte, which for my parte, I thinke, if they come to Englande, they will attempt, then are we cleane oute of the waye of any service againstę them. But I must, and will obeye; and I am glad, there be such there, as are liable to judge, what is fitter for us to doe, than we here; but, by my instructions which I had, I did thinke it otherwise; but I will put them up in a bag; and I shall most humblie praye Her Majestie to thinke, that that which we ment to doe, was not rashlie determyned, and that which shall be done, shall be most care, fully used by us; and we will followe and obey Her Majestie's commandements. if we had bin nowe, betwixte Spaine and Englande, we had bin but in hard case, the storme beinge soe stronge, and continueinge so longe as it hathe don; but, upon the coaste of Spaine, we had had a land wind and places of succor. We ment not to have spoyled any towne or village, onely we muste, of necessitie, water; and when we lie betwixte both coastes, we muste come to this coaste to water, for soe we are enjoyned; and if the winde doe not serve us, to com on our owne coaste, then in what case shall we be, nowe that we muste not goe on the coaste of Spaine. But We laie 7 daies in the Sleeve, which was ast longe as we cold contynue there, without danger, as the winde was; and if som had bin with us, they should have seene, what a place of danger it is, to lye, of and on, in. Sr. You knowe it hath bin the opinion, bothe of Her Majestie and others, that it was the sureste course, to lye on the coaste of Spaine. I confess my erroure, at that time, which was otherwise; but I did, and will yeald, ever unto them of greater experience; yet you knowe, it was thoughte by Her Majestie, that we might go into Lisbone to defeate them, which was the strongest place. Therfore, I thought, that if we had hard, that they had bin at the Iles of Bayone, or in the Grovne, which was 10 times more easie to defeate them in, I thinke it wold have bin good service. But Sir, I will perswade noe more, but doe as I am directed. And God sende the winde doe not force us thither, otherwise, uppon my dewtie we will goe thither, nowe we knowe Her Ma'ties pleasure. And soe, Ibid you most hartelie farewelle. From on boarde Her Ma'tie's good shippe, Arke, in Plymouthe sound, the 15th of June | galleasse was taken, another sett on fire; by 1588. Your assured lovinge Frende, To the Righte Honorable my [Extract.] Letter from Sir Francis Drake to Sir F. Walsingham.-24th July, 1588. We have the army of Spayne before us, and mind, with the grace of God, to wrestle or fall with them. There was never any thing pleased me better, than the sceing the enemie flying, with a south wind, to the northwards. God grant they have a good eye to the Duke of Parma, for, with the grace of God, if we live, I doubt it not, but ere it be long, so to handle the matter with the Duke of Sidonia, as he shall wish himself at St. Marie among his orange trees. God give us grace to depend upon him, so shall we not doubt victory; for our cause is good. Humbly taking my leave, this last of July, 1588. Your Honor's faithfully to be co'manded ever, Fra. Drake. P. S. I crave pardon of your Honor for my haste, for that I had to watch, this last night, upon the enemy. Your's ever, Fra. Drake. We discover in these sentiments the very reasonings of the immortal Nelson : let us now survey the force concerning which our Admiral's fear was, not their coming forward but their getting away. The Substaunce of certain Maryners' Report, touching the Spanish Fleet. August, 88. Certain marvners of this countrie to the number of 19, which have bene in the Spanysh fleete, ever since they first putt to sea, and are nowe fledd awaie from them, having made sailes, for their cockboats, with their shirtes, do reporte and say; that all the fleete, being 150 saile, did sett forth out of Lisborne, the 20th May, and commyng ncere England, were driven back again, by contrary winds; that, in all the whole number of them was but 20,000 men, whereof 10,000 good soldiers, the rest common men; that theie were victualled for 3 months, and, for any great sicknesse, there was none, as it was reported, nether did land any more sick persons at the Groyne, than 309, from whence they putt to sea, the 2nd July, stilo-vetere, and came to the Lande's Ende by the 28th of the same, and till they came over against Plimuth, they met with no man, where 40 of her Ma'ty's shippes did skirmish with them, and one reason the captaine falling into a rage with the gunner, and threatening to kill him if he shot no righter; the gunner cast fire into the powder barrels, and threwe himself overboard. In this shipp, theie say, was the treasure, and 5 ensigns of Spaniards. After this againe at Portland, and the Isle of Wight, her Ma'ty's navie sett upon them, but no great hurte done; but betweene Cales and the Blacknes, most furiouslie, where a great galeass was taken, and three other great shipps with 1000 men a-piece sunk downe right about the Goodwines; besides another Italian ship, which they take to be sunk also, because they made signs for helpe, but none made towards them; that there, about Cales theie were forced to cut their cabels, by the ships of fire which came upon them, out of her Ma'ty's fleete, and soe, from thence fledd awaie with all speede; that they were driven thus above Dunkerke, and there about Blanckenburgh, one of their greate shippes was grounded on the Wheelings, and taken by them of Flushing, wherein were 500 Spaniards, of whome 150 are come to Roterodamn, the rest cast overboard; that before their fight, about Cales, which was on the Sundaye, the D. of Parma sent them word, he would assist them the rext daie; but for that he kept not promise, theie generallie crie out against him That on the Satterday, he did what he could to imbarque his men, but it would not be, notwithstanding that with his own handes he did kill some souldiers and captaynes; that, in all, theie had not above 300 horse, and some mules for carriage of their field ordinance; that, generallie, the Englishmen have greatlie endamaged them with ordinance; and that in the fleete, they did see, through the port-holes, an Italian ship all full of blood, which yet mainteined the fight, in her ranke, 3 hours after; that one of her Ma'ty's ships valiantlie passed through them, to charge the Admirall, who fledd away, and, as theie say, doth secme to be wonderfully dismaied and discouraged; that when theie left them, and fledd awaie, theie were as high as Walcheren, yet about 100 saile, but uncertain what course to take, or where to turn in, for relief; for into Spaine theic dared not returne, because at their coming out, they were all threatened hanging, if they conquered not England, and that theie had brought great store of halters to hang up all Englishmën; but, they think, they will round about Scotland; that her Ma'ty's navie followed them, alwaies hard, and drove them, like a flock of sheepe, but, durst not aboard them, because theie are so high built, so as 40 of our's were troubled, to take one of their greatest armadas, at the last fight, on Mondaie; that as they think, they should have landed, about the Isle of Wight; that, 3 days and 3 nights, after they came upon the coast of England, they did hull without sailes, minding to come to Dunkerke upon the spring tiers; that they have greate neede of maryners, especially of pilots; for that ship which came on ground, upon the Wheelings, had but one pilot, and he was of Flushing; that when they sett forth, out of Lisborne, there were certain galcasses in their companye, but they came not with them, from the Groyne; that a greate Britayn shippe was also taken, or sunk, by the English. In summe, theie confess, the D. Medina to be wonderfully amazed and to stagger, which way he may turn himself; that there were a greate number of the Hidalgos of Spain in their armye, and that now theire chiefe bulwarks and armades being discomfited, they may easily be overthrown, if they be followed as they should. The ship, whose prisoners are brought to Roterodam, was taken betweene Dunkerke and Ostendt, and had been shot through 350 times; being grounded, 5 shippes of this countrye tooke them to mercie; another was also taken by 7 of this country fleet, between Cales and Dunkerke. The names of certain prisoners of accompt, taken in the former ship are theis, Don Diego de Pomentello, frere du Marquis de Tauvror, mayster du camp du tiera du Sicile. Don Jhan de Velassa, frere du Conte Servinello. Le Capt. Martin d'Auales. Le Capt. Marques. In the one shippe were 32 pieces of brass, and in the other 63. Prince Dascoli, as Comander, the Conte de Feuntes, the Conte de Paredes. Item, 25 Knights of the second order, beinge sonnes and brothers to Marquisses and Earles. We the rather have inserted this paper, because there are two dukes of Medina: Medina Sidonia, and Medina Coeli. Hume has left this commander unidentified by only naming him Duke of Medina; and Rapin has erred by calling him Duke of Medina Coeli. The Sidonian estates are near Cadiz, and are supposed to take their names from the ancient Sidonians who traded and settled in this place. The estates ot Medina Coeli we believe, are towards Grenada, on the opposite coast of The two families are perfectly Spain. distinct. Hull Bristowe 23 8 7 Hoys, Barks, and under 80 tons Of these London had Newcastlę Hull Bristowe 74 44 The coast counties including London report Masters Mariners and Seamen 11,515 Item, Pinasses. 24 2,299 957 soldiers 16,000 23 Coasters, under the Lord Henry Sey- Totallis { 195 Shippes. 15,334 Men. 1,093 The following document was found at the state paper Office, without a date; but from the names of the Privy Council inserted in it, it must have been drawn up under Edward VI. 1548. Beside giving the general abstract, we insert the counties at length, for the sake Such was the then naval ability of Eng- of comparison with the present times. land! Abstract Quotas of Men, furnished by the Counties. Comparison of the same Counties, only; the other Counties being omitted. 1803. The following numbers do not include 5916 officers of any kind; they are given at the foot of the account. Whether a similar omission is made in the returns of 1548 we cannot affirm; but incline to think so. The foregoing lists afford grounds for various important remarks; as 1. The comparative population of the whole kingdom, which we may fairly suppose bore some analogy to the numbers of effective men able to bear arms, and ready for martial exploits. 2. The relative numbers enrolled in each County, by which the population of that County may be estimated, and the difference of its number of inhabitants guessed at. For instance, Cornwall, which formerly yielded only 575 men (perhaps excluding officers) has yielded 16,996 men, officers included. 3. The number of horsemen; of which e. gr. Essex yielded only 57, is now 1251. And with this department, may, without impropriety, be connected the idea of the proportionate comfort and wealth of the people only those whose business is of sufficient magnitude to require the assistance of this useful animal, or those whose easy circumstances permit them this enjoyment, usually incurring the expense and trouble attending it. In the estimate of the comparative population must be included, our settlers abroad, in the East and West Indies, &c. our soldiers in distant garrisons and possessions; our seamen, as well those in the royal navy, as in the merchants' service; the various bodies of sea-fencibles on the coast, &c. &c., of which no returns are here noticed. Of such absentees very small was the amount in Queen Elizabeth's days but in the present day their whole number is very great. It will be observed too, that the numbers we have taken are ONLY those of theVolunteer and Yeomanry corps, from a return made to Grand Total 379943 the Honorable the House of Commons, December 6, 1803. We should pursue these inferences further, and should consider them more ing any reasonable conjecture as to the closely, if we had proper data for formproportion which the men in arms bore to those who were capable of military duties; and what proportion these might bear to the whole of their sex. The fact is, we know not how far these levies were voluntary; where, when, or how, or on what terms they were enrolled, with many other particulars. If we consider these as being much the same in both periods, the absolute strength of this kingdom in men, will appear to have increased prodigiously, in the last two centuries, notwithstanding the ravages of war, civil, continental, and maritime, and the still more considerable, because perpetual drain occasioned by emigration. We come now to that important article which the French very significantly denominate ammunition de bouche. The footmen were allowed, 700 lb. For 7 dayes. Breade Biskett Beere Wyne Beeif Butter Cheese Breade 1050 lb. Biskett 700 lb. 350 gall. - 700 quarts 1750 lb. |