THE SPANISH ARMADA Tercentenary Celebration.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 293, 25 August 1888, Page 6

THE SPANISH ARMADA Tercentenary Celebration.

Kow that interest has been excited in the great event in English history of three Hundred years ago, which has lately been celebrated in England, many readers will be glad to have the following fac-siviile of a London newspaper of the time, containing au account of the first sighting of the formidable Armada : —

THE ENGLISH MERCUBIE. Publifhed by AUTHORITIE. For the Prevention of Falio Reportes. Whitehall, July 23rd, 15SS. EARLIE this Morninge arrived a Meffenger at Sir Francis Walfingham's Office, with Letters of the 22d from the Lorde High Adniirall on board the AryRoyal, containinge tho following materal Advices. On the 20tb of this Inftant Capt. Fleming, who had beeno ordered to cruize in the Chops of the Ohannell, for Difcoverie, brought Advice into Plymouth that he had defcried the Spanith Armado neare the Lizard, making for the Entrance of tho Channell with a favourable Gale. Though this Intelligence was not received till near foure in the afternoone, and the Winde at that time blew hard into the Sound, yet by the indefatigable Care and Diligence of the Lorde High-Admiral, the Ark-Royal, with fire of the largeft Frigates, anchored out of the Harbour that very Evenioge. The next Morninge, the greateft Part of her Majefcie's Fleet gott out to them. They made in all about eighty Sail, divided into tour Squadrons, commanded by his Loidship in Perfon, Sis Francis Drake Vice- Admiral, and the Rear- Admirals Hawkins andForbither. But about one in the Afternoone, fchey came in Sighte of the Spanifh Armado two Leagues to the Weftward of the Eddiltone, Points whereof were feven Leagues afunder. By the beft Computation, that could be made on the fudden (which the Prifoners have mice confirmed), they cannot be fewer than one hundred and nfty Ships ot all Sorts ; and a feverall of them called Galleons and Gallaifres, are of a Size never feene before in our Seas, and appeare on the Surface of the Water like fioa tinge Caftles. But the Sailors were foe far from being daunted by the Number and Stiengthe of the Enetnie, that as toon as they were difcerned from the top-malt-Head, acclamations of Joy refounded through the whole Fleete. The Lord High Admirall obferving his generall Alacntie, after a Council of War had been held, directed the Signall of Battle to be hunff out. We attacked the Enemy's Reare with the Advantage of the Winde : The Earl of Cumberland in the Defiance gave the firft Fire : My Lord Howard himfelfe was next engaged for about three Hours with Don Alphonfo de Levva in the St. Jacques, which would certaynly have f truck if fhe had not beene feafonably refcued by Ango de Moncada. In the mean tyme, Sir Francis Drake and the two Rear- Admirals Hawkins and Forbither vigoroufly broadfided the Enemies fternmotc Ships com manded by Vice-Adoiiralßecalde which >\ ere forced to retreat much fhafcteied to the maine Body of their Fleete, wheie the Duiie de Medina himfelf commanded. About Sun-fet we had the Pleature of teeing tins invincible Armado till all their Sails to get away from us. The Lord Admit all flackened his, in order to expect the Arrivall of twenty frefh Frigates, with wbioh he intends to purfue the Enemie, whom we hope by the Grace of God to prevent from laudinge one Man on Englifh giounde. In the Nig;ht the Sc. Francis Galleon of which Don Pedro de Valdez was Captaine, tell in with Vice- Admiral Drake, who tooke her after a ftout Retiftance. She was difabled from keepinge up with the reft of the Fleete by an Accident, which happened to her, of fpringtng her Fore Mafte. \She carryes tifty Guns and five hundred Men, both Souldiers and Mariners. The Captours found on board five thoufand Golde Ducats, which they fhared amongft them after bringing her into Plymouth. Such preparations have beene long made, by her Majeftie's Wifclom and Foitighte for Defence of the Kingdome, that (fotung adde the common Accidents of War), no great Danger is to be apprehended though the Spaniards fhould lande in any Parte of it; tince betides the two Campes at Tilbury and Blackheath, liige Bodyes of Militia are difpofed along the Coaste under experienced Commadoms. with proper instructions howe to beha\ c, in case a Defcent cannot be pre\ented till a greater Foiee m-iy be drawne together, and feveiall of the piinci(.'all of her Majesties Council aud the Nobihcy have raised Troops of Horse at then ot\ n charge, well trained and officered, which are readye to take the Field at an Home's warning. The Queene wad pleased to leview them laste Wceke in the Parke at Nonsuch, and expressed the highest Satistion at their gallant Appearance : In foe much, that by God's ble^f-mgs there is no doubte that this unjust and daremg enterprise of the King ot Spayne will turne out all Rankes of people, without Respect of Religion, feeme refolute to defend the sacred Persone of their sovereigne and the Lawes and Liberties ot this country, against all foreign Invaders. Ostend, July 27th N.S. Nothing is now talked of in these Partes. but the intended Invasion of England. His Highnefte the Prince of Parma has compleated his Preparationes", of which the following Accounte may be depended upon as exacte and authentique The Aimie defigned for the Expedition is selected out of all theSpahifh Troopes in the Netherlands, and consistos of thirty thousand Foote, and eighteen hundred Hoi fe. Af Nieuport are quartered thirty Companies of Italians, ten of Walloons, and eight of Burgundians, commanded by Camp-Ma&ter General Camillo de Monte. At Dixmuj'de lie readye eighty Companies of Flemings, fixty of Spaniards, fixty of Germans, and above ten hunched fugitive Englifh, and headed by the two Irish Arch-Traitours, theEatles of VVeftmorland,and Sir William Stanley. Befidcsthefe, four thoufand Men out of the old Spanifh Brigades are lodged in the Suburbs ot Corrick, and nine hundied Reifters at Watene, together with the Marquiffe de Guaft General of the Cavalrie. Volunteers of the first Qualities are arrived from different Countries, to fhare in the Honoure of this Enterprize, as the Duke de Paftrana, the Marquiffe of Biifgaw, (son to the Arch Duke Ferdinand), Don Juan de Medicis, Don Amadeus Baftaide of Savove, befided manic others of lefa note, whome we have not rooine to enumerate. For the Tranfportation of thefe Forces, Veflels of all Sortes are prepared at Dunkirk, Antwerp, and Nieuport. fitted up with all manner of Conveniences ! the flat-bottomed Boates for the Cavalrie have Bridges fixed to'them, for the more eafie Shipping or Dif embarkation of Horfe. The Tranfportes for the Foote containe each two Oyens, to bake Bread, in cafe they fhould be kepte longer at Sea then they hope to bee. Twenty thoufand Caikes are provided at Graveling, with Nailes and Cordage, which can foone be throwne into •he Forme of a Bridge : And a greate Pile ' of Fafcines is erected near Nieuport, defigned for the fillinge up of Ditches, covering Workemen at a Siege, and

other Arfces of that Nature. The little Hoyes, andßargesloaded with Anns, Powder and Provifions, are to bee conveyed through Canals cut from Bruges and Ghent to Antwerp, Sluys and Nieuport, and foe into the British Ghannell. The Scheme is fayed to bo thus fettled, that as foone as their great Armada arrives in Sighte of the Flemifh Portes, tho Prinqe of Parma is to get out with his Trantports and joyne them. After which, they are in a Bodie to force their Waye up the River of Thames, againft all Impediments, and lande as near London as they can. But whilffc thefe Harbours are fo clofely watched by tho united Squaclrone of her Majeftie and the States, commanded by the Lord Henry Seymor, it is tho general Opinion, that hif Highneffe will h'nde it impoffible to put to Sea, and we hope the Loido Admiral Howard will prevent the Spanifh Navie from being in a Condition to raife the Blockade. London, July 23rd. Tho Lord Mayor, Alderman, Common-Council and Lieutenancie of this greate City wayted upon her Majeftio at Weftminfter this aftornoone, with Atturances of their hearty and unanimous Refolution, to ftand by and fupporfc her Majeftie at this critical Juncture, with their Lives and Fortunes, when her invaluable Life, the true Proteftant Religion, and all the Priviledges of free borne Englifhmen are threatened by an open Attack from our bigotted and bloode-thirfby Ar> vevf ai ies the Spaniaids, The Qusene received them very gi-acioufly, and affuied them fhe did not doubte their zealous Endeavour to ferve theyr Country on tlie prefent very important Occafion ; that for her Part fhe relyed on God's Providence and the goodnefte of her Caufo, find was refolved to run all Rifques with her faithful Subjects. Imprinted at London by Chrift. Barker, her HighnehVs Printer, 1588.