Thirdly, To give an Account of the Expedition, and the several Engagements between the two Fleets, with the final Event of the whole.
The King of Spain’s Instructions to his General, were[[46]], To repair to Calais Road, and there wait for the Arrival of the Duke of Parma, who had Orders to join him with his Fleet and Forces; and, upon their meeting, to open a Letter directed to them both, with further Orders [particularly, to advance up the Thames, and attack London.] He was strictly enjoined, in the mean time, to sail along the Coasts of Bretagne and Normandy, in order to avoid being discovered by the English Fleet; and if unexpectedly he should meet them, not to offer Battle, but act only upon the Defensive.
With these Instructions, the Spanish Fleet set sail on the 19th of May from the Tagus, and steer’d for the Groyne, the Place of general Rendezvous. But they had not been long at Sea, before they were so dispersed by a violent Storm, off of Cape Finisterre, that scarce the third Part of them reached, some Days after, the intended Port: And three of the Gallies, by the Stratagem of David Gwyn, an English Slave, assisted by some of the Moorish Rowers, were run into a Harbour of France[[47]].
In the mean time, the Lord Howard having continued a good while upon the Narrow Seas between England and Flanders[[48]], sent Sir Francis Drake towards the Western Coasts, with about fifty Sail, great and small; intending to follow himself, with a stronger Force, if there should be Occasion. For the present he remained in the Downs, with the Lord Henry Seymour his Vice-Admiral, where they had under their Command twenty Ships belonging to the City of London, with several other Vessels fitted out by the Coast-Towns, from the Thames to Newcastle. But News being brought of the Armada’s being ready to put to Sea, the Admiral left the Lord Henry Seymour with a convenient Number of Ships, to watch the Duke of Parma’s Motions; and setting Sail on the 21st of May, with about thirty Vessels of all Sorts, arrived on the 23d at Plymouth. Here he was joined by Sir Francis Drake, whom he constituted his Vice-Admiral, and whose Squadron, by the Addition of some Vessels from the Western Ports, amounted now to sixty Sail.
The Lord Howard, upon his Arrival at Plymouth, gave Orders for the Victualling, and putting in Readiness, the whole Fleet, which now consisted in all of about ninety Ships and Barks. As soon as it was ready he put out to Sea, and cruized at the Channel’s Mouth, between Ushent and Scilly, looking out for the Spanish Fleet. He thus continued cruizing for several Days, sometimes upon the Coast of France, and sometimes upon that of England; and, at last, hearing nothing of the Spaniards, returned to Plymouth, for a new Supply of Victuals, and other Necessaries.
Mean while, fourteen Spanish Ships were discovered between Ushent and Scilly, which were afterwards known to have been separated from the rest of the Fleet by the late Storm. But before they could be met with by any English Ships, they had a Northerly Wind, which carried them back to the Groyne; where, and at the neighbouring Ports, the whole Fleet took in their Soldiers and Warlike Provisions.
The Spanish Fleet, as has been said above, had been dispersed, and somewhat disabled by a violent Storm. This had like to have proved more fatal to the English than to the Spaniards themselves[[49]]. For it being reported all over Europe, that the whole Spanish Fleet was destroyed, Queen Elizabeth and her Ministers thought that it was at least so damaged, as that it could not proceed ’till the next Year. Relying therefore upon this Intelligence, which they took for certain, Secretary Walsingham signified the Queen’s Pleasure to the Lord High-Admiral, to send back four of his largest Ships into Port. His Lordship had, in the mean time, likewise Intelligences sundry ways, that the Enemy’s Fleet was dispersed into several Ports of Spain, distressed, spoiled, in want of Provisions, and with a great Mortality among the Men. This, however, happened to be only a false Rumour. The Lord-Admiral not thinking it safe to depend upon such Uncertainties, when the Nation’s All was at Stake, got the Order countermanded; alledging how dangerous it was to be too credulous in a matter of such Importance, and that he would rather keep the Ships out at his own Charge, than hazard his Country’s Safety. But, in order to be fully satisfied, (as he was sure that the Coasts of England and France, which he had examined, were clear) he thought proper[[50]], with the Advice of a Council of War, to take the Opportunity of the first Northerly Wind, and go in quest of the Spanish Fleet, in the Groyne, and other Ports of Gallicia; and there utterly destroy it, if it were already so disabled as was reported; or, if otherwise, to get certain Intelligence concerning its true State and Condition. Accordingly his Lordship made Sail for the Coast of Spain, with a Northerly Wind, and held the same Course for about three Days, from the 8th to the 10th of July. He was not then above forty Leagues from that Kingdom, when being informed that the Enemy’s Fleet was not so much damaged as reported, and the Wind coming to be Southerly, he judged it best (as his Instructions were to guard the English Coasts,) to return to Plymouth; lest the same Wind should bring the Enemies out, and carry them by him, unseen, towards England. He arrived at Plymouth the 12th of July, and with great Expedition supplied his Fleet with whatever Necessaries were wanting.
His Caution was indeed very seasonable: For with the same Southerly Wind the Duke of Medina Sidonia sailed, with the whole Fleet under his Command, from the Groyne, on the 12th of July, (the very same Day the Lord Admiral arrived at Plymouth,) and in two or three Days detached a Yatch to the Duke of Parma, with Notice of his being advanced so far. He pressed him at the same Time, to be ready with the Troops and Ships he was directed to provide, in order to pass over into England under his Convoy, as soon as he should be arrived in the Streights of Dover.
While the Spanish Fleet lay at the Groyne[[51]], an English Fisherman that was taken and brought to that Place, gave the Enemies, either out of Ignorance or Design, this false Account: “That the English Fleet had lately been at Sea; but seeing no Prospect of the Spaniards pursuing their Design that Year, was returned, and the greater Part of the Men belonging to the Ships discharged.” This false Intelligence made the Duke of Medina Sidonia deviate from his Instructions; and as he vainly supposed that he could easily surprise our Fleet, and burn or otherwise destroy it, he resolved not to lose so glorious an Opportunity. Instead therefore of going directly to join the Duke of Parma, a Resolution was taken in the Spanish Fleet, to bend their Course towards England.
[[52]]On the 16th of July there was a Calm and a thick Fog ’till Noon. Then the North East Wind blew very strong, and presently after the West Wind ’till Midnight; and then the East-South-East Wind; insomuch that the Spanish Fleet being thereby dispersed, was hardly joined again ’till it came within Sight of England. At length this Fleet, after an indifferent Passage over the Bay of Biscay, arrived July 19, in Sight of England and entered the Channel. The first Land they made was the Lizard, which they took to be the Ram’s Head near Plymouth; but Night approaching, they stood off, designing the next Morning to attack the English Ships in Plymouth Harbour.