Next, if we look into Flanders, we shall find, [[115]]that on the 29th of July, the Duke of Parma having paid his Addresses to our Lady of Halle, came to Dunkirk, tho’ something of the latest; for which Reason the Spaniards received him in a very reproachful manner; as if, out of some By-Regards to Queen Elizabeth, he had designedly slipt so fair an Opportunity of doing Wonders for the Service of his Country. The Duke, to appease this Storm, punish’d those who had the Charge of Victualling his Fleet; but, however, he did not attempt to put to Sea, being still block’d up by the Lord Henry Seymour’s and Sir William Winter’s Squadron, which were returned from the Chace. In the mean time, he could not but secretly laugh at the saucy and insolent Brags of the Spaniards, whom he had heard talking at this vain rate, “That where ever they turn’d their Sails, a most certain Victory waited upon their Course, and that the English would not have Courage enough to look them in the Face.”
To return now to the two Fleets. We left the Spaniards sailing Northward, and the English in Pursuit of them: [[116]]When the latter were come to fifty five Degrees thirteen Minutes North Latitude, and thirty Leagues East of Newcastle, the Lord High Admiral determined to attack the Spanish Fleet again on the Friday following, August 2, but he thought fit to alter his Resolution, chiefly upon these two Accounts: Because he plainly perceived by the Enemies Course, that they had no other Intention but to save themselves, by sailing North, round the British Islands; and, because several of his Ships wanted Victuals and other Necessaries; which was not so much owing to any Neglect, as to the Victuallers not knowing where to send to the Fleet; for the Queen had most amply and carefully provided whatever was convenient and necessary.
It was therefore concluded, to leave the Spanish Fleet to pursue their Course, and to sail for the Firth of Forth; both to get Refreshment, and to perform some other Business which the Lord Admiral thought necessary to be done; but the Wind coming contrary, that is Westerly, the next Day his Lordship altered his Course, and sending only some Advice-Boats to observe the Enemies farther Motion, he returned with the whole Fleet back to England, where they arrived, some at Yarmouth, some at Harwich, and others at the Downs, about the 7th of August.
The Spaniards being now got clear of their troublesome Pursuers, resolv’d to make the best of their way for Spain. [[117]]Some Suspicions there were, that they design’d to betake themselves to the King of Scots, who was provok’d to an high degree for his Mother’s Death; and therefore, the better to keep him in Temper, Ashby, the Queen of England’s Ambassador in Scotland, made him very considerable Offers, which, however, were not performed: But the Spaniards having now laid aside all Thoughts and Hopes of returning to attack the English; and perceiving their main Safety lay in their Flight, they made no Stop at any Port whatever. [[118]]About twenty five Ships now remain’d with the Duke of Medina, and forty with Recalde; [[119]]these, with the rest of the Fleet, sail’d about Cathness for the Coast of Ireland, and pass’d between the Orcades and Fair-Isle, to the sixty first Degree of North Latitude; [[120]]an unaccustom’d Place for the young Gallants of Spain, that had never felt Storms on the Sea, or cold Weather in August.
[[121]]When the English left off pursuing the Spaniards, the latter wanted of their whole Fleet fifteen or sixteen Ships; and had lost, in the several Engagements, and by Sickness, eight thousand Men at least.
And here their ill Fortune did not stop, but continued to persecute them all the rest of their Voyage; [[122]]for on the Coast of Scotland they lost the two following Ships, which had been so extremely battered by the English Shot, that they founder’d at Sea; namely, the St. Matthew, a Ship of five hundred Tuns, in which four hundred and fifty Men were drowned; and a Biscainer of St. Sebastian’s, of four hundred Tuns, in which three hundred and fifty Men perished: [[123]]Moreover, in these or other Ships, above seven hundred Soldiers were cast on Shore in Scotland, who, by the Duke of Parma’s Mediation with the King of Scots, and with Queen Elizabeth’s Permission, were sent over, a Year after, into the Low-Countries.
[[124]]About four Days after the English Fleet left the Spaniards, they came to an Island in the North Part of Scotland, where they staid not, nor had any Relief: And at this Place the Duke of Medina calling all the Ships together, charged them to make the best of their way for the Coasts of Spain or Portugal, because they were in the utmost Distress for want of Victuals and other Provisions.
[[125]]For an Addition to their Misfortunes, about the 23d of August, when there were seventy eight Ships of them together sailing in the Ocean, a violent Storm arose at South-South-West, which continued from Four o’ Clock in the Afternoon ’till Ten the next Morning, and separated them so, that not above twenty seven of them were to be seen together: And again, on the 2d of September, they had another violent Storm, with a Mist, which so dispersed them, that of the foresaid twenty seven, only three came together into Dingle-Bay; [[126]]and during their Passage round the North of Scotland, they had so terrible a Sickness, that their Mariners and Soldiers died daily in great Multitudes.
As for the Particulars of the Ships sunk, and Men drowned, killed, and taken upon the Coast of Ireland, during the Month of September, they were as follows[[127]]: