Then, as to the rest of the Nation: [[36]]As soon as it was reported that the Queen was come near London, and the Spanish Fleet appeared in the Channel, the greatest Part of the Nobility, except those that were obliged to stay in each County on account of their Offices, repaired to London, to preserve the Queen’s Person; bringing with them goodly Bands of Horsemen, about five thousand in all, and maintaining them at their own Charge ’till the Spanish Navy was known to be passed beyond Scotland: These were the Lord Chancellor Hatton, the Earls of Lincoln, Warwick, Leicester, Essex, Worcester, and Hereford; the Lord Viscount Montacute; the Lords Burghley, Compton, Morley, Rich, Dacres, Windsor, Audley, Sandes, Mordaunt, Lumley, Mountjoy, Stourton, and Darcy.
In a Word, all Persons throughout England in general, unanimously concurred to be ready to serve for the Defence of the Queen and Kingdom[[37]]: In this there was no Difference between the Catholic and the Protestant, but herein appeared a perfect Sympathy, Concourse, and Consent of all Sorts of Persons, without respect of Religion. By this hearty Zeal, seconded with suitable Endeavours, it came to pass, that some Counties were able to bring into the Field twenty thousand, and others even forty thousand able fighting Men: The Maritime Counties, in particular, on the South and East of England, from Cornwall to Lincolnshire, were so well furnished with a stout and well regulated Militia, that there was no Place for landing foreign Forces, but within eight and forty Hours there could resort to that Place above twenty thousand fighting Men, with Ordnance and other suitable Provisions.
And that the Popish discontented Party at home might neither join the Enemy, nor favour their Descent, the Queen caused the most obnoxious of them to be imprisoned in Wisbich-Castle in the Isle of Ely.
She also directed [[38]]Sir William Fitz-Williams, Lord Deputy of Ireland, what to do, in case the Enemy should land in any Part of his Government, and pointed out to him what Precautions he should use to hinder the Irish from rising.
There remained only the King of Scots, of whom Queen Elizabeth had most Reason to be afraid; since she had newly given him an unpardonable Provocation, namely, in causing his Mother to be publickly beheaded, who was a Sovereign Princess, independent of her. This was sufficient to dispose him, out of a Principle of Revenge, to favour the Descent of the Spaniards in one Extremity of the Kingdom, by making a Diversion in the other. With that View he had been tampered with by the Duke of Parma, and had received from him Offers of Assistance[[39]]: But the politic Queen so effectually caress’d him, made him such advantageous Proposals, and so plainly convinc’d him, that the Loss of England would not fail of being attended with that of Scotland[[40]]; that he, sensible of the common Danger wherewith he was threatened, declar’d the Spaniards Enemies, and made Preparations against them with great Chearfulness and Alacrity: [[41]]Giving a strict Charge upon all the Sea-Coasts, that the Spaniards should not be suffered to land in any Part, but that the English might land, and be reliev’d of any Wants: [[42]]He moreover offer’d Queen Elizabeth his Forces, his Person, and all that he could command, to be employed against the common Enemy: And he humourously observ’d upon this Occasion[[43]], That he look’d for no other Favour from the Spaniards, than what Polyphemus promis’d Ulysses, that he should be reserv’d for the last Morsel.
After this general Account, the Reader will undoubtedly be pleased to see a particular List of the Fleets on both Sides, which I have accordingly subjoined hereunto.
SECT. II.
A complete List of the Spanish Fleet, called
the Invincible Armada[[44]].