In short therefore, the Aim and Design of the King of Spain in this great Expedition, was to conquer England, in order to come more easily at the revolted Netherlands, and facilitate their Reduction to his Obedience; as also, for the Sake of so meritorious an Action, as the bringing this Island back to the Catholick Religion: And to be revenged, at the same Time, for the Disgrace, Contempt, and Dishonour, he had, at several Times, received from the English Nation; and for divers others real or pretended Injuries, which had made a deep Impression on his proud and revengeful Spirit.

Animated and spurred on by these Motives, King Philip made such vast Preparations for his intended Conquest, as had hardily ever been known before in any Age, or Nation: Whether we consider the Time spent about them; or the prodigious Strength and Quantity of the Materials of all Kinds that were provided.

As for the Time spent about these Preparations; King Philip seems to have form’d this Design as early as the Year 1583. [[4]]For, in that Year, he ordered Alexander Duke of Parma, Governor of the Low-Countries, to procure an exact Account and Description of the Harbours, Castles, Rivers, and Roads belonging to England, and transmit them to him; which was accordingly done: And in this Francis Throckmorton appears to have been concerned. But, according to Rapin, [[5]]this Project was formed by Philip only from the Time Mary Queen of Scots had been persuaded to convey to him her Right to England, as being the only Means to restore the Catholick Religion[[6]]: According to the received Maxim in the Church of Rome, That an Heretick is unworthy and incapable of enjoying a Crown; Philip thought he might justly claim that of England, as being the next Catholick Prince descended from the House of Lancaster; namely, from Catharine Daughter of John of Ghent Duke of Lancaster, married in 1389 to Henry, then Prince, and afterwards King, of Castile. Upon this Descent therefore, and the Queen of Scots Conveyance and Will, he had projected the Conquest of England.

However it be, or whenever these Preparations were begun, it is certain that King Philip assembled so powerful a Fleet, and so well furnished with all kinds of Provisions and Ammunition, that, thinking it unconquerable by human Power, he gave it the Title of the Invincible Armada.

[[7]]This Fleet consisted of one hundred and thirty two Ships, (besides twenty Caravels for the Service of the Army, and ten Salves with six Oars apiece,) containing fifty nine thousand one hundred, and twenty Tons; three thousand, one hundred, and sixty five Cannons; eight thousand, seven hundred, and sixty six Sailors; two thousand and eighty eight Galley-Slaves, and twenty one thousand, eight hundred, and fifty five Soldiers; besides Noblemen and Voluntiers[[8]]. For there was not a Family in Spain of any Note, but what had a Son, a Brother, or a Kinsman in the Fleet[[9]]. Of these Voluntiers there were two hundred and twenty four; attended by four hundred and fifty six Servants bearing Arms.

There were also two hundred and thirty eight Gentlemen more, maintained by the King; with one hundred and sixty three Servants. An hundred and seventy seven Persons, with two Engineers, one Physician, one Surgeon, and thirty Servants belonging to the Artillery; eighty five Physicians and Surgeons for the Hospital-Ships; three and twenty Gentlemen belonging to the Duke of Medina-Sidonia’s Court, and fifty Servants; seventeen Superintendants General of the Army; and one hundred Servants more, belonging to them, or to the Officers of Justice, who were twenty in Number[[10]].

Nay even there were in it one hundred and eighty Capuchins, Dominicans, Jesuits, and Mendicant Friars; with Martin Alarco, Vicar of the Inquisition.

And because none were allowed to have Wives or Concubines on board, some Women had hired Ships to follow the Fleet; two or three of which Ships were driven by the Storm on the Coast of France[[11]].

Most of the Ships of this Armada[[12]] were of an uncommon Size, Strength, and Thickness, more like floating Castles than any thing else; and they were cased above Water with thick Planks to hinder the Cannon-Balls from piercing their Sides. The Masts also were braced round with strong pitched Ropes, to save them from being soon shatter’d or broke by the Shot.